Chapter 1: Arrival

As the light faded Asami and Korra found themselves in a meadow of brilliant magenta flowers dotted with trees that bore the appearance of the Tree of Time. The meadow was situated in a small valley surrounded by ice-like crystalline formations. The sky was calm and midnight blue but grew lighter in color as it drew near the portal. They parted with hands still held.

"W... wow... that was... wow." stuttered Korra as she tried to untangle her tongue long enough to say something.

Asami smiled saying, "I guess that's one way to distract you." Korra flushed bright red. "Probably shouldn't let your enemies know or I'll have to get jealous." Here eyes widened slightly and she too flushed.

Korra looked at Asami and finally worked out exactly what she wanted to say for so long. Ever since they reunited she had noticed something different. Her heart would jump slightly whenever Asami was around. The burden she carried felt a little bit lighter and the world felt just a little bit brighter.

"Asami," she said seriously, "I love you."

Asami looked at her, "I know... and I love you too."

Korra realized that she didn't need a clearer answer. There was no doubt in her mind that the love that she held for Asami was the same love that Asami held for her. Smiling she pulled Asami out farther into the meadow. She was eccstatic. Nothing could go wrong. And then she tripped sending the two of them tumbling into the flowers at their feet. She didn't feel any pain she just lay there laughing. She looked to her side and saw that Asami had laughed to the point of tears. Her heart warmed seeing Asami so happy. For a long time she would smile but always had a meloncholy air to each smile. It was refreshing to see her best friend and person she loved smiling without a care in the world. She rolled over and knelt over Asami. Looking deep into her brilliant green eyes she saw the very woman she wanted to spend every moment of her life with. She leaned down and kissed Asami and when the kiss was returned she felt her heart race and her body warm.

It was still nighttime in the Spirit world but the stars shone bright in the inky blue night. Asami and Korra set up camp at the base of one of the larger trees that lay scattered about in the meadow. They were exhausted, it had only been a few hours since the end of the wedding and neither of them had slept as they had spent the time preparing. They crawled into their sleeping bags and, as they held hands, fell asleep facing one another, smiles on their face. As the night progressed the two unconsciously inched closer to one another until they were somewhat entwined. Breathing deeply they settled into their dreams.

It wasn't long before the sun began to rise casting the sky into an artistic splatter of delicate pink clouds contrasted against a brightening blue sky. The dawn's light spilled into the meadow and slowly crawled towards the camp.

The sunlight slowly illuminated the sleeping couple. As the sunlight crept up on them things started to warm up. Korra found herself almost uncomfortably warm and decided, against her better late rising instincts, to wake up. A soft light filled her closed eyes and soon it was impossible to ignore the light. She sat up rubbing her tired looking eyes.

Hmmmmmm... I hate mornings...

She stretched and looked to the pile of sleeping bag and Asami next to her. She was almost stunned to see that Asami's hair had become a chaotic ebony mess and the long locks covered her face. It was something she had never seen in the usually prim and proper woman.

Well no wonder she can sleep. No sunlight can get through those gorgeous locks.

She reached over and brushed aside the hair to get a better look at Asami. Her face was absolutely beautiful. Even without the makeup her skin was like porcelin and her full lips practically glowed even without the crimson lipstick she generally wore. But then Korra saw her eyes. From the corners of her perfectly shaped eyes flowed a line of tears. She was crying.

"Dad... why dad... why did you have to go?" said Asami so quietly that Korra only barely caught the words.

Korra felt terrible. She had hoped the vacation would have distracted Asami from the horrible memories of the last day of fighting. Her reasons were partially selfish and that is what made her feel even worse. Korra didn't know what to do. She wanted to comfort Asami but it wasn't like she could relate. Her parents were fine and still alive. Asami, despite everything that had happened had just lost her father. What was worse was that they had finally made peace with everything that had happened four years ago.

Korra crawled closer to Asami who was still quietly crying to herself in her sleep. She carefully slipped herself into Asami's sleeping bag and held her gently letting her sob quietly into her chest. It was as much as Korra felt she could do. She couldn't always be the one that needed help. This time she was committed to helping Asami as much as Asami had helped her.

"I'm here Asami... I'm here...," Korra whispered, "I will never leave your side. No matter what."

The light was still weak and Korra was starting to feel sleepy again. She wanted to stay awake but it had grown difficult. She closed her eyes intending only to rest them, but her eyelids grew heavy and she eventually drifted into sleep again.


It was a nightmare. Asami was back in the hummingbird. She saw a spiderweb crack form as ice from the frozen arm cracked and broke off slamming into the window. She looked down and saw her father jaw set and eyes determined. His forehead beaded with sweat from concentrating.

"Dad! We need to go NOW!" her pleas were oddly muffled as though she wore earplugs.

The colossal arm broke free of the ice and began swinging down at a terrifying speed.

"Goodbye Asami. I love you."

Before she could say anything her father flipped the ejection switch but only for her seat. She felt a sudden jerk and a blast of air as her seat flew out the back of the hummingbird. She watched in horror as the hand of the colossal mech smashed the hummingbird with her father inside.

"NOOOOOOO!" she screamed, but the cries were still muffled. Her hand reached out trying to get back to the crushed mech despite knowing it was fruitless. The crumpled and flattened body of the mech slipped into the city wreckage below.

She had lost count of the number of times she had seen the nightmare. She didn't understand, she had gone to sleep happy knowing that Korra felt the same about her as she did about Korra. But the warmth of that quickly faded and she plunged into a never ending loop of worst moment in her life. Darkness enveloped her and she closed her eyes as tightly as she could praying that the scene wouldn't repeat but knowing that it would and that it would haunt her forever.

But this time it didn't repeat. She felt a warmth and cautiously cracked an eye open. She saw a light shining in the darkness. A soft words drifted from the light but she couldn't make sense of them. She crawled towards the light and heard Korra's voice.

"I'm here... Asami... I'm here." The voice was muffled but it was definitely Korra. "I'll never leave your side... No matter what."

Asami felt her heart jump as she heard those words. She scrambled closer to the light and reached out to pull it closer. Her hands surrounded the light and she pulled it to her chest. The darkness pulled back, its oily edges kept at bay by the light. The light's warmth soothed her aching heart and brought peace to her battered soul. The darkness was still there and it was still powerful but as long as she had the light she felt safe... and loved... And she knew in her heart that she was not alone and that she never would be again.


Asami woke up and found her face buried in Korra's chest and her arms wrapped gently around her head. Korra's shirt was damp with Asami's tears. She pulled back slightly catching a view of Korra sleeping. Her face was peaceful but still betrayed a hit of concern. Concern that had driven her to comfort Asami even while she was asleep and trapped in her dream.

She pulled herself up until her face was level with Korra's. She looked into her sleeping face and then kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Thank you..." a single tear traced a glistening line down Asami's face. She wiped it away and settled back into sleep, safe in Korra's arms. The nightmare didn't return.


Hey Readers, Hope you enjoyed the true first chapter of this fic. As always leave any comments and criticisms you'd like. I like getting in touch with my readers so feel free to leave me messages. I will do my best to respond. I hope you enjoy the later content.