Nearly three days had passed since Korra's rampage. Tenzin reluctantly allowed the renegade members of the white lotus to stay on the island. The pleading from his eldest daughter and the promise to help rebuild didn't hurt. Lin, Mako and the Avatar sought an audience with the president in preparation for the worst. For the first time in nearly four years, Korra's approval ratings were actually higher than Reiko's. They left out most details regarding Xin for the time being, much to the distaste of Chief Biefong, deciding to go with an Avatar vision instead. Asami had a meeting with her board of directors, handing over the reins to Varrick and Zhu Li temporarily while she helped the Avatar through the coming crisis.
Xin managed to find a quiet little spot on the beach to meditate while the others finished dinner.
"So? When do you plan on telling her?" Ming'Yung asked from the confines of her mind.
Xin tried with every fiber of her will to suppress her swelling emotions. "I don't know if I can Ming."
"You have to Xin, how do you think she'll-"
"I know MIng." her tone was sharp but she managed to keep the volume to a minimum. "I know I do."
"I know how hard this is for you Xin, but you've raised her well. Rya can take care of herself. She won't be happy, but she'll understand. She's a very resourceful young woman, kinda like someone I used to know."
Xin smiled.
"Are we early?" Korra interrupted, staggering in on a single crutch, Asami in tow.
She stopped to find a decent rock to settle down on.
"Easy sweetie." the avatar's girlfriend purred with concern.
"Sami, I'm fine." Korra replied with a smirk, easing onto the smooth boulder.
Xin broke her stance, staggering on one knee before standing. "No, no, you're fine. Have you spoke with the others like I asked?"
"Yeah." Asami added. "Tenzin and Bolin will be here in a few minutes and Mako's with Rya. He shouldn't be to much longer."
The bending veteran smiled, "My, she seems to have taken a liking to him. I shouldn't be worried should I?"
Korra laughed, "Of coarse not, he's a good guy."
"I'm just glad she's finally out side and not buried in books and meditation all day."
"Well, that actually sounds like Mako, minus the meditation." said Asami.
"We were just talking." Mako rounded the corner of the cove. His brother and Tenzin by his side. "We both happen to enjoy a good crime novel."
"Now, what's so important that you need to talk to us in private?" Tenzin asked. His tone dancing on the border of politeness and demanding.
"Your certain no one can hear us from this side of the island?"
"Yes!" Tenzin was eager for an answer. "Now what do you need with Zaheer's cell?"
"What do you want with Zaheer's prison!? You just told me you needed to discuss a few more details about your visions?" Korra asked, with a look of confusion.
Xin slowly tucked her head, rubbing the bridge of her nose in defeat. "That's where we'll be delving into your mind Korra, for everyones safety. And I still do."
"I figured we'd have to doit somewhere familiar to me, like my room or something?" Korra narrowed her brow. "You saw something, didn't you Xin?
The crew looked to the woman.
She diverted her eyes for a moment, searching for the courage to finally spill. "It has to be there. It's the most secure place for what we have to do." She took one final breath before continuing. "That thing can't stay inside you Korra. We're going to delve into your mind, draw it out...then let it posses my body instead."
"What!?" the group nearly shouted in unison.
"Keep your voices down." Xin spoke calmly. "Only Lee and Jorin know outside of you five now. I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea."
"Wrong idea!?" Korra said in a low roar.
"I'm not an innocent person Korra, just because you trust me doesn't mean everyone else does. Chief Biefong, Tenzin, even you Mako. And rightfully so, you shouldn't trust me."
"Every fiber of my being tells me I shouldn't trust you, that I can't trust you." Mako was the first to voice his concerns. "But my gut tells me otherwise. The fact that you went through all of this trouble, all of this careful planning when it would have been just as simple to kill Korra and be done with it."
"That was my first thought," she replied. "but it's not that simple. Ming thinks this thing works like the Avatar cycle. If I killed Korra it would simply find a new vessel. And in the particular time branch that I peered into, the new vessel was Jinora."
Tenzin's eyes nearly widen to the size of the full moon. "Why Jinora!? Why is it always my little girl?"
"I wasn't just saying that a few days ago Tenzin. Your daughter is very gifted." Xin reassured. "Her spiritual power is far above any normal bender. I can only assume that's why it would want her. I have a lot of spiritual power too, I assume that's why it shows interest in me as well. The dark figure covered in green flames from my vision? It was me and now I understand why."
"But why are you doing this? There has to be another way." The Avatar's irritation shifted into determination.
"There isn't Korra. If I don't do this it will come back and take full control of you and there won't be anything I, Raava or anyone will be able to do. At least this way, it won't have the Avatar or Jinora to play with your emotions."
"You have a daughter Xin. What about Rya?" Asami added.
Her face curled with disgust. "You think I haven't thought of that!?" For the first time her voice was thick with anger, the side of her she warned about. "In my thousand years of life, Rya is the only person I've ever cared about. I'd die for her!" Xin took a deep breathe, her rage melting away into calm tears of sorrow. "I've lived through six Avatars, four wars and the destruction and rebirth of an entire culture. And I saw it all centuries before it happened. I've lived far longer than any human was ever meant too."
She took a seat on a smooth outcropping, wiping the salty excretion from her eyes. "I've killed men, woman and even children, all for coin. I've been nothing but selfish and self destructive my entire life. Even after I joined the white Lotus and fused with Ming, I still did those terrible things. Only this time, I killed men and women that were destined to become tyrants and monsters. Killing was always my first and last choice. Until I found that beautiful little girl, or rather she found me.
The others listened intently as she continued. "I never saw her in a vision and I took her in on a whim. Rya was only nine when she decided to steal an apple from me. Instead of turning her in, I offered her a choice; keep the fruit and continue living a life of self destruction or come with me and become something more. Eventually she came around and I took her in. I saw myself in her. The same attitude, same horrid childhood, and the same look of fear in her eyes. Not a fear of people but a fear of loneliness. I swore I would do everything in my power to keep her from walking in my footsteps." A soft smile broke out across the woman's cold face. "Rya is the only good thing I've ever done in a life full of pain and violence. It's because I love that girl so much that I'm doing this. This is the only form of redemption I'm ever going to get."
The story drew tears from everyone but the officer and the seasoned airbender, merely because they were able to keep there emotions restrained. As much as they wanted to give in to their better natures, she had done a lot of horrible things without regret.
"Xin," Mako spoke softly, "everything you do has a purpose. If killing Korra would simply cause this thing to reincarnate, then why go through the trouble of pulling it into you?"
"Because I think it's suppressing Raava, and the only way Korra can get back in touch with her is to remove it. We'll delve into her mind to draw it out. After Ming and I lock it within myself, I'll bring us back to reality. I think we can restrain it long enough to drink a poison that will lock my chakra's and prevent me from bending."
Asami spoke next, "So what are we suppose to do when it takes you? Act surprised!?"
"Exactly. I'll explain it to everyone else as the last resort, even though it's our only option. I don't want people to think I'm conspiring with that thing. In addition to the poison, I'll be chained in the cell. I hope that's enough to hold me while Korra reconnects with Raava."
Korra felt she should ask the obvious. "Xin, you have to tell Rya."
"I know, I know. I'm heading to her next."
Korra tossed restlessly in bed, waking her partner for the second time.
"Sweetie," Asami moaned. "I know your nervous but you have to try and get some sleep."
She slowly turned to face the plain ceiling of the room Tenzin let them use. They both felt it wise to remain on the island, but needless to say, they're break seemed to work wonders for their relationship. Korra's better half slowly brushed away some loose hair from her cheek before planting a kiss, forcing a smile from the Avatar.
"I'm not nervous or worried for my sake, it's Xin." She turned to lock eyes with her lover. "Is this how you felt when I gave myself to Zaheer? Did I worry everyone this much?"
"Of coarse you did," she spoke in a light hearted tone. "you worried us to death. Not to mention all the grief afterwards." Asami wrapped her arms around Korra, who pulled her in for a close embrace.
"I can't say sorry enough for-"
"Stop," the green eyed angel cut her off. " you don't need to apologize for that. How many times do I have to tell you?"
The two held each other in silence for a few moments before the older woman spoke again. "Just like you, she's doing this because she has to, no one's making her, let her have this Korra." Asami managed to cuddle even closer. "Honestly, I'm more worried about Rya."
It was nearly midnight in Republic City. Mako had only been home for a few hours after his meeting with the bloodbender that was responsible for the murders in his recent case. His mind was buzzing with all the recent developments, trying to piece together all of the possible outcomes. He was far to awake to even attempt sleep. A late night walk through Avatar Korra park always cleared his head.
Only a few minutes into the stroll, he came across a peculiar sight. An eaglewolf nestled under a tree near the pond. Xin's eaglewolf. He approached silently, not wanting to startle the beast.
"Rya?" he asked. "Or did Nala fly off on her own?"
The wolf perked its head when his feet made contact with the firm grass. It growled for a moment before her master sspoke. "It's fine Nala, it's just Mako." Rya spoke, tucked safely behind her protecter. She faced the clear water, tossing in the occasional stone to disturb the tranquility.
Mako approached from the left, rubbing Nala just under the right ear.
"You know, your one of the few people she likes." Rya forced a smile, trying to distract him from her red and swollen eyes.
"I have a way with animals I guess." He motion to a spot next to her. "Mind if I take a seat?"
She nodded. "Couldn't sleep either?"
He plopped next to her, pulling his right knee close andresting his chin. "Nope. Got a lot on my mind, coming here always helps clear my head."
Rya said nothing. Only pulling her legs close to her chest, forcing back more tears.
He looked to her awkwardly. "...I assume she talked to you about tomorrow?"
Rya bobbed her head again, choosing to remain silent.
"You know, I've never really been good with situations like this. Or expressing my feelings for that matter."
She remained silent.
"But I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character. Comes with the job I guess."
Still silence.
"You know your mom loves you right? That's the main reason she's doing this."
"I know okay!" she snapped. "I know she loves me and I know she has to do this. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I think I'm entitled to a little sulking if you ask me." Rya hid her head between her legs and slowly began sobbing.
Mako did the first thing that came to mind. He snuck closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulder in hopes to comfort the girl. "Both my parents gave their lives so that Bolin and I could live. I know exactly what your going through, and it sucks."
She slowly peeked up to the man as he continued.
"He came out of nowhere and jumped us on our way home from a pro-bending match. I watched him take my father when he refused to give him any money. My mother stepped in and told me to take Bolin and run, that she would be right behind us." The officer stopped long enough to wipe a stray tear. "When I went back for her, they were both gone and we were alone."
Rya wasn't sure what to say. But in an odd way, she felt better. As better as she possibly could be, knowing the time with her mother was limited.
"Sometimes fate is a funny thing. Would I give anything to have my parents back? Of coarse I would. Hell, I would give anything just to have five minutes. But if we hadn't gone through that, I'm not sure I'd be who I am today. I may have never met Asami, Korra, Lin or anyone I call a friend now. I may have never became a cop." He smiled, hoping his words would ease Rya's pain.
"My parents didn't even want me." the young waterbender finally opened up. "They made sure to tell me that every day. When I was seven, I got outta that hell hole the first chance I got. For two years I lived on the streets, stealing what I could to survive." She smiled through a light chuckle. "Stealing from Xin was the best decision I've ever made. She saved me."
"Do you drink coffee?"
"Yeah, why?" she replied, a bit confused.
He stood, helping the girl to her feet as he rose. "I know this nice little place about a block from here that's open if you want? It's getting a little cold out. And besides, Korra and I used to go there all the time, so they have a place for Nala."
Rya grinned smearing the last of her tears from her cheeks. "Sounds good."
Kuvira approached the desolate mud hut. The full moon high in the clear midnight sky.
"This doesn't feel right Zu." Speaking to her new found conscience.
"I promise you, Toph wouldn't mind." Zu replied. "You told me you met her when Su first took you in. How did that go?"
Kuvira entered cautiously. "It was...a unique experience." She used what remained of the flashlight to scour the interior. "I met her last year too."
"And?"
"She told me I gave metalbenders a bad name. I can't believe how deluded I was." She scowled at herself, combing through empty shelves. "What are we even looking for?"
"I know it's in here somewhere, she liked to wear it whenever she took a rare trip into town. Surprisingly, Toph wasn't real big on fame in her old age."
As if in response to her question, the answer appeared. She found a dark baggy cloak with a long hood tucked behind a dusty dresser. Kuvira shook it off before trying it on. It hung a mere three inches from the ground. It fit loose enough to hide her feminine curves and with the hood pulled up, it was nearly impossible to discern her identity. It was perfect.
"See? Told you we needed this. Now we don't have to stick entirely to the country."
She padded off the last remaining clump of dirt from the cloak. "It does seem effective." Kuvira took one last glance over the den before heading back into the murky swamp.
"Now, with any luck we can make it to Republic City within a week. Before that thing does any real damage."