AMS

BORN AGAIN

"Together again. There's nothing we can't accomplish together, brother!" enthusiastically said Noatak.

Tarrlok stared at his older brother's back with a bored expression.

"Yes, Noatak," responded Tarrlok dryly.

Noatak's gaze softened as the pleasant memories played in his head.

"Noatak... I had almost forgotten the sound of my own name," said Noatak.

Looking between his older brother and the Equalist gloves, Tarrlok quietly reached for a glove and fastened it on his hand and then quietly screwed off a piece of the boat, placing the glove over the hole.

"It will be just like the good old days," promised Tarrlok.

A tear left Noatak's eye, knowing what his brother was about to do. BOOM!

After that, Korra went on to practice air bending with the air kids, and try to tell Tenzin she had mastered air bending. Everyone went to the Glacier Festival where they met the Northern Tribe's chief, Unalaq and his two children, Eska and Desna. Several events later and Unalaq had fused with Vaatu, the spirit of darkness and chaos. Together, they separated Korra and Raava, then destroyed Raava, severing Korra's connection to her past lives. With the help of Tenzin, Korra meditated in the Tree of Time and became a giant, blue spirit, and attacked Unavaatu who was attacking Republic City. Sadly, Korra was about to be destroyed by Unavaatu until Jinora's spirit came, holding the remnants of Raava, and sped up Raava's rebirthing process. Korra tore Raava out from Unavaatu, defeated him, and re fused with Raava before Harmonic Convergence ended. Korra would be the new Avatar Wan. Unfortunately, no one seemed to want to appreciate everything Korra had done for the world, all because of a few vines. After Korra saved a new air bending man from falling off Kyoshi bridge, President Raiko banished Korra from the city. She then went to look for the new air benders who were popping up all over the Earth Kingdom. During the night in Zaofu, the Red Lotus leader, Zaheer, was stabbed through the heart by Suyin's metal shards, and soon after, the others were apprehended and locked up. While in Zaofu, Korra decided to meditate on how to fix the vine problem once she got back to Republic City. One of the Red Lotus members had escaped from their prison cell and killed Korra during her meditation while everyone else was asleep. The next morning, Korra's body had been found and the guards noticed the Red Lotus members had escaped. Tenzin, the most rational of all of them, stated how he would train the air benders to one day help serve everyone of all nations. The others stated how they would do what they can to help the world in Korra's absence. Twelve months later, Opal and Bolin had a healthy baby boy. They had no time to be parents however, so they sent their son to Ba Sing Se to live with a nice, nonbending family.

"Oh John I'm so happy we have a baby now!" chirped Beth as she fed the baby boy a bottle of formula.

John walked over and stroked the baby's head.

"I can't help but feel like he's going to do great things one day. Although, why didn't his parents already pick out a name for him?" asked John.

"I asked the air lady that, and she said she didn't want to get too attached to her son since she's giving him away. I guess we'll have to name him," Beth replied, perky.

John was thoughtful for a moment, and he remembered Ba Sing Se's former King, Kuei.

"How about Quey? I don't know why, but when I look at him, he reminds me a bit of the old Earth King. Except Quey is spelled q-u-e-y," offered John.

Beth lit up at the suggestion.

"That's a great name for a future leader. Just look at that face! That's the face of a leader if I've ever seen one," cooed Beth.

Meanwhile, back on Air Temple Island, Meelo, Ikki, and Jinora were taking their training much more seriously. It was hard for them to concentrate on their lessons though, when all they could think about was how much they still missed Korra.

"No time for crying, kids. The world needs its air benders while it waits for its new Avatar!" scolded Tenzin.

His scolding would only make Ikki cry more. Meelo would toughen up and puff out his chest, saying he was ready to keep going whereas Jinora would wipe her tears, and put on a poker face, numbing her feelings.

"Honey, you're being too hard on the kids. I've never seen them so stressed before. At this rate, they're going to go gray before we do," Pema said, trying to reason with Tenzin.

"I have to be hard on them, now more than ever. We just lost the Avatar, and right now, the new Avatar is most likely just a newborn, unable to do anything to help the world. Right now, I am the only master air bender alive. I have to train the new air benders to create more masters!" responded Tenzin.

Pema wrapped her arms around her husband and softly cried. He didn't know that Korra's death had an impact on Pema as well. She had been putting on a brave front for everyone to try and keep everyone from falling apart.

"At least the guys who killed the Avatar are also dead, thanks to the spirits," whispered Pema.

Tenzin nodded, stroking his wife's back.

"Indeed. I never meant for the new Air Nation to have to use their bending to kill. I taught them the vacuum technique for emergencies only, but I guess everyone felt a mix of fear and hatred towards them for killing Korra. But, everything happens for a reason," sighed Tenzin tiredly.

"Daddy?"

Tenzin and Pema looked over to see Ikki in their doorway.

"What is it, sweetie?" asked Tenzin.

Ikki came forward, fidgeting with her hands.

"I can't concentrate on my training until I can get over Korra's death, and you yelling doesn't make it better. As long as Meelo and Jinora are making progress, could I take the time I need to accept her death? The Air Nation has more air benders now, anyway," meekly asked Ikki, afraid he might yell at her.

Tenzin sighed tiredly and rubbed his face.

"I realize you are not as emotionally strong as your brother and sister, but I want you to try in your training. How about I just promise to stop yelling whenever you cry and instead, allow small breaks in between training sessions? Deal?" asked Tenzin.

Ikki looked up with surprise on her face. Her eyes were red and glossy, and Tenzin's heart broke for her.

When a smile stretched on her beautiful, tired face, Tenzin felt relief in him.

"Thank you, daddy."

One year later...

Jinora had been anointed as an air bending master. The other air benders were excited for her, and some felt pangs of jealousy. By this point, Bolin had learned how to bend metal as well as lava, and was a cop who worked with his brother, Mako. Asami had finally gotten Future Industries back on its feet with the help of Varrick. At the ceremony, Varrick had brought his wife, Zhu Li, and their ten year old waterbending daughter, Saika Moon.

In Ba Sing Se, Quey was just learning how to walk.

"Come on, Quey! You can do it! Just come to me," urged Beth while John was on the side, holding up a camera, recording Quey who had a serious look on his small face and he pushed himself up on his little feet, swaying back and forth while swinging his arms wildly, accidentally air bending for the first time.

"No...way. I thought he was going to be an earth bender like his father! I never would have guessed that he'd have inherited his mother's air bending," said John excitedly.

"In a way it makes sense! He was born shortly after Harmonic Convergence after all. That might have made the air bending gene dominant in him rather than his earth bending gene," explained Beth.

After Quey wobbled all the way into Beth's arms, she went to the nearest phone to call Tenzin. He picked up on the fifth ring.

"Hello?"

He sounded so exhausted. There was a female voice in the background, telling Tenzin to go rest and that she would take over the phone call.

"This is Master Jinora," said Jinora.

"Oh! Congrats, Jinora. We're calling on behalf of Quey, Opal and Bolin's child. Something crazy happened," happily said Beth.

"Oh? What happened?" asked Jinora.

"He started air bending! We were wondering if, when he's five, if we could send him to Air Temple Island to live temporarily to master his element," asked Beth.

"Of course you can. I am so excited to learn that he turned out to be an air bender. Must have been from being born shortly after Harmonic Convergence. If it wasn't for that, he most likely would have had earth bending since earth is a more dominant trait than air. Thank you for calling. I'm gonna have to go now though to get some sleep. Good night," responded Jinora who then hung up.

Jinora went to tell her brother, sister, and parents the news. All were equally excited and Tenzin even teared up a bit.