"What do you remember?" Tenzin asked when they sat down around the dining table the next morning.

"My name is Mizuki. I was born on Kyoshi Island. I have a father, mother, sister, and brother."

"Do you remember us?" Bolin asked.

"Not yet, Meiyu is starting in my childhood. I'm getting my memories in order."

"Oh," Bolin was disappointed. "Then we won't be for a while."

"Well, I remember how I got this scar on my right elbow," she pointed to it. "Bumi gave Askari a motorcycle for his birthday."

"Hey, that's pretty good," Bumi commented. "Though I try not to think of that day. Your mother was quite terrifying."

"Tenzin, when did I get a waterbending master? Did I learn to heal?" Mizuki wondered.

Everyone looked to him to see how he would answer. "I believe it is best that you remember on your own. Telling you your memories ahead of time will be too confusing."

"I already know I learned how to waterbend in the North Pole. How else did I know Unalaq? Plus look at all this hair!" She grabbed her tresses in each hand. "I mean I never imagined growing it out this much. Must have done that to keep warm in the cold. Not that I mind." She began swaying her head, flipping her hair in the air. Her friends were amused by her juvenile behavior. "Come on, Tenzin, not even one miniscule clue?"

He crossed his arms. "No."

She stopped her swaying. "But my friends are all here and I don't even know who they are! Right now, in my head, I'm stuck on Kyoshi Island with my parents, my perfect sister, and my annoying brother."

"I can relate to having favored siblings," muttered Bumi.

"I'm sure we can at least tell her our names," Asami compromised.

"Yes, and how we met," added Mizuki.

Tenzin sighed. "Be very careful. She'll try to weasel more information out of you. Try not to slip up."

"We won't, sir," Yuan Fen confirmed. He turned to his right and caught Mizuki staring at him. She flinched and began gathering her hair towards her side, trying to form a makeshift barrier between them to hide her embarrassment.

She walked on the deck with her friends. "What if I try to guess? I mean if I'm right, that means that it's already in my mind."

"I don't think you could guess the last several months of your life," said Mako.

She groaned in frustration. "Well, at least I know I can do this." She performed a backflip and twirled with her feet en pointe. She hopped onto the edge of the deck and walked across using only her hands.

"Mizuki-" Yuan Fen warned.

"It's fine. Muscle memory. Plus you jumped over the deck last night without a problem."

"She's got you there," said Bolin.

"You told me your names, anything else I can know without Tenzin throwing a fit?"

"Um- Mako and I are brothers, Korra's the Avatar, Asami owns Future Industries, Yuan Fen's a reporter?"

"So all of us are friends?" Mizuki questioned.

"Well…" Bolin began. The four of them all looked at Yuan Fen.

"I knew it! He's the outsider of our group!"

"Why are you picking on me all of a sudden?" he asked.

"It's kind of obvious, you're older than all of us. You don't really fit into the group dynamic, I mean Mako is already established as the moody one."

"Hey!" Mako responded.

"Sorry bro, but it's true," said Bolin.

"You know the Mizuki I remember didn't act like this," Mako countered.

"Well I'm not her because you guys won't help me remember."

"Ooh guilt-tripping, Tenzin warned us about this," said Bolin.

"Though I have one question for you, Yuan. Why are you here then? Did I know you before I met everybody else?"

"Not really."

Mizuki bit her lip. "Are we like… distantly related or something?" She grinded her teeth.

"NO!" he choked. "We're friends!"

"Oh thank goodness, because I was thinking you were sort of cute and it would've been weird if-" She planted her hand over her mouth. "Never mind. I'm going to take a nap. I think it might be easier for Meiyu to give me my memories if I'm unconscious." She trotted away before her friends noticed the redness of her face.

"You're blushing," Asami told Yuan Fen.

"What? I'm not! She-"

"You need to stop denying it. We all know you like her that way," said Mako.

"Look, right now it's all fun and games. She's remembering up to what- her late childhood? How are we going to help her when she relives losing her grandparents and Kaimu all over again?"

"You're right. Meiyu said she'll remember more at once the further along she gets. But this time she doesn't have to go through this alone," said Korra.

"I remember how to waterbend, thanks for the help by the way, everyone," she said sarcastically. She began playing with her soup.

There was a tense moment between Aang's children as the three of them looked at each other. "And anything else?" Kya added.

"Nothing really. Unalaq was pretty distant, but considering he was planning on turning me into a spirit puppet from the beginning, things make sense. Eska and Desna don't fare better in my thoughts. There's these two guys I kept hanging around with. Did I ever keep in contact with them? I mean I remember having a huge crush on Tarik and Kaimu was-" She stopped waterbending and had a look of concentration. "Oh. Excuse me, Meiyu needs to help me process some things." She got up from her seat and ran away.

"I was afraid of this." Yuan Fen followed after her.

"It's the way it has to be though. She wouldn't be herself without all of her memories. She has to make a decision eventually," Tenzin sadly acknowledged.

"I just wish she didn't have to go through any more pain after what Unalaq did to her," said Korra.

She walked to the edge of the deck and collapsed into tears.

"Are you okay?" Yuan Fen flinched after asking such an impudent question.

"Great, just great," she sniffled. "But I think I've had enough. I want Meiyu to stop it. All of it."

"What are you saying?"

"In my first moments of self-awareness, I've learned Meiyu was forced to become a dark spirit by Unalaq who tried to use me as a weapon against the Avatar. I've had to relive some of the worst moments of my life and now I have to keep waiting for more of them? I can't take it, all that suffering and grief. I'm not strong enough."

"If you allow all your memories to come back, you will find out how strong you really are."

"Nice try, but I hope I couldn't be that easily tricked."

"You weren't."

She smiled a little at that. "Why can't I take the slower path then? Become a better me than I was?"

"That's not possible."

"For me to become a better person? I wouldn't think you had such little faith in me."

"No," he took a deep breath, "you're afraid. What you experienced would terrify anyone, all of us were afraid."

"Then let me forget the pain and suffering from the past again. How else can I cope with such a frightening future?" Mizuki argued.

"I would do anything to spare you from any suffering," he took her hand gently in his, "because you are the last person to deserve it." Yuan thought about how ironic it was that he so cruelly mocked her for her 'sheltered life' when he first met her. How he wishes he could rewrite history for her.

"You're very kind," a few tears streaked down her face. "What was I like?"

"You were-you are…" He had seen her in her darkest moments: heart-broken, damaged, and cursed. And yet… she was still the most beautiful being he had ever seen. Even with her memories and mind partially erased, this template of her retained the compassion, intelligence, and empathy he had come to admire in her. How could he even begin to describe her when he misjudged her so harshly in the beginning? "Everything."

"Why can't I just skip and remember you?" she wished.

He abruptly cleared his throat. "We- we didn't have the easiest time together, but that was more my fault. I have issues trusting other people. You always saw the light amidst the darkness."

"Was I ever afraid?"

"Yes, though you never tried to show it. You were always kind even when you felt alone, smiled even when you were sad, and you would help anyone in need even when you were the one who needed help the most."

"I must seem so damaged and empty to you then," she wiped away a few more tears.

"No, I see her in you, you just need a little help getting her back."

"I still feel very afraid, but I don't feel alone or sad." She moved her other hand and placed it on his cheek, "I found my light in the darkness."

"Mizuki!" Korra called out. The two of them stepped away from each other in embarrassment. Mizuki headed towards her friends.

"Do you need to talk anything out?" Asami offered.

"No, it's okay. In a strange way, I'm starting to feel more like my old self… I couldn't stay in childhood forever, right?"

"Right," Mako sadly agreed. "At least you're getting closer to remembering us."

Her scream pierced the night as everyone dashed to her room.

"I'm okay. Just g-go back to sleep." She wrapped her arms around herself, gripping them tightly. "It's not real, just a memory," she chanted. Yuan Fen headed for her bedside and pulled her into a hug.

"Korra beat Amon, he's gone. You're safe now and Jian, too. The two of you are close friends now." She sniffled in his arms and held onto him tightly as her lifeline. He rubbed the small of her back, whispering comforting thoughts into her ear.

She eventually went back to sleep and after a few minutes, everyone else retired for the night except for Korra and Yuan Fen.

"I believe the worst in people really. Not that difficult when you've seen so much corruption and suffering in my line of work. It's easier not to get my hopes up, plus bad news sells faster." He sighed. "Then I meet her. And I think to myself, this girl is not possible. There has to be something she's hiding. No one is truly that kind and honest. Not this girl I've just met. She's not my family or Lili."

"And you find out she is," said Korra.

"You also find out she wasn't supposed to be possible in the first place." He stood over her sleeping form and moved his hand to brush a strand of hair from her face.

"Does that make you care about her any less? Having a spirit inside her?" Korra interjected.

"Never."

"Do you love her?"

He said it without hesitation. "Yes."

"But you won't tell her?"

"I don't want to take advantage of her current state. She knows me before ever remembering how we met."

"Don't you see the way she looks at you?"

"She was confused. She could've confused me for Kaimu or even Tarik."

"You know for a smart guy, you're really dumb."

He let it slide that the Avatar just insulted him. "Would you- could you separate her and Meiyu?"

She looked away. "I don't know. But if that's her choice, I'll have to." He knew that was the answer he should have expected, but hearing it was another experience.

Mizuki slept through most of the day, but he found himself often standing by the entrance to her cabin as he wondered around the ship. He was surprised to see her exit her room when he walked by again. She locked eyes with him, walked right up, and punched him in the arm. "Ow! What was that for?" he yelled.

"For jumping off the deck like an idiot! You could've drowned! What were you thinking?" she shouted back.

"Well, it worked. I distracted evil Meiyu and you're back to normal now. Especially considering you're physically violent towards me again."

"Why are you here? You should be in Republic City with your mom and sister. Plus don't you get seasick?" She knew she was really grasping at straws at that point.

"Are you really that upset I'm here?" he questioned. She shook her head and avoided eye contact with him. He sighed and rubbed his arm. "How's your memory?"

"It's intact, in fact I can remember old memories more clearly," she stated.

"About?" He was concerned about old scars reopening.

"Don't worry. They're happy ones. Like when my dad taught me how to swim or my mom telling stories to me and my siblings. I've almost forgotten how much they loved me."

"They still do, Mizuki. Maybe it's time to see them again," he said.

"No." She walked away from him.

He gave an irritated grunt and followed after her. "You and Meiyu are at risk. You'll be safe with your family at Kyoshi Island. You're not going to confront Unalaq."

"Try and stop me then." He grabbed her arm. "Let go!"

"And what about your family?"

"If Vaatu wins, he will destroy them whether or not I will be there. At least this way I can protect them from the battlefield."

"This is not your battle."

"No, I am a part of this, from the moment I stepped foot into that Spirit Oasis," she wriggled her arm away.

"Mizuki-"

"I wasn't worth it." Her voice began cracking. "I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to exist in the first place."

"Not supposed to?" He gripped her shoulders and had her face him directly. "You were born, you were merged with a spirit, and you live. That has already happened. You are the girl who believes in destiny."

"And you are the boy who is not supposed to believe in that kind of stuff."

"Well I changed my mind or rather you did."

"Really, it has nothing to do with all these dark spirits roaming around the world?"

"I can tolerate a few dark spirits, you are on a whole different plane of existence from them."

"Please don't try to make me feel better about being… this abomination." She quickly wiped away some of her tears.

"There are real monsters out in this world, but you are not one of them. I didn't come along to argue with you."

"That's shocking."

"You care so much about the people you love. Why is it so hard to accept that they feel the same way about you?"

"I was created because Yue was so alone. She loved Sokka, but she could never be with him after she chose to become the Moon Spirit. That is my nature: to love and to never be loved."

"Meiyu, that is you talking, not her."

"We share the same mind, remember?"

"Fine, but you and Meiyu are not the same."

"We will be, in about a couple of centuries. A human mind like mines won't be intact for so long."

"Don't-" He didn't want to think about that possible future for her.

"You know this as well as I do. You're in denial. Everyone I ever knew and loved will age and die before me. Children not even born yet into my family will age and die before me. And what happens to me? I will be alone, trapped in the shell of my body. I can't live that way."

"So you will choose to die now?"

"You think I'm cowardly, that choosing to die means I'm giving up. The only thing I'm giving up is an existence that will only offer suffering."

"No one is dying! Korra-"

"Her duty is to restore the balance. She cannot do that while I still exist. This has gone far enough because one man tried to prolong the inevitable for a dying little girl."

"That man was your grandfather and he did it because he loved you."

"And it was selfish of him to do what he did. It was selfish of Meiyu to do what she did as well."

"You see selfishness, I see love."

"Should I not do everything in my power to help Korra?"

"You know what my answer would be. That's not fair of you to ask me that."

"Perhaps now you understand. I can help save everyone."

"You're still human."

"Part of me. I'm not human, Yuan Fen. Not really. One life for the entire world? Is that such a terrible price to pay?" He did not give an answer to her. She reached for his hand. "I'm living on borrowed time. I told my grandfather I was ready to die when I was getting worse. I was lying. I was so scared and I'm still scared. But I'm not four anymore and I know this is the right decision. I can die in peace knowing everyone I love has a future."

"Fine, you'll be at peace! What about me then? You say you're not strong enough, but in the end, it's really me that's weak. I can't be as selfless as you! I can't…" He clenched his fists. "We'll find a way. Korra saves the world and you live. We can recreate that mental barrier between you and Meiyu, you'll be as you were before all this happened," he presented. "You were right, secrets protect people. In this case, it will save your life."

"So every time I start showing cracks, you glue me back together until I become damaged again and the cycle repeats. All the while, my brain's becoming fractured and I lose memories, pieces of myself. What kind of life is that?"

"Next time, we'll be prepared-"

"You can't predict the future, what if next time, I'm too far gone? Press the reset button and erase my entire personality?"

That struck a dagger in his heart. "You're right." He covered his face with his hand. "We should- you should tell the others your decision."

"I'm more selfish than you think I am," she whispered.

"What?"

"I don't want to be the one left behind again. All of you… gone one day. That will be what really kills me in the end." She looked up to him. "Especially when I lose you." His voice was caught in his throat when she rushed up to him and kissed his lips. He pulled her tightly into his arms and tilted his head, deepening the kiss. For a second, he felt all his worries melt away and only focused on the girl he loved before him.

She pulled away first, but he still held onto her. It was then he noticed the painful expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Dark spirits, Meiyu feels them here," she alerted.

"Korra!" Yuan Fen cried out. Tentacles gripped the side of the deck and a dark spirit climbed up, spouting a roar. A swirl of water surrounded it and the spirit dissolved into light.

"I don't understand, Unalaq knows I'm on my way to face him. Why attack us now?" Korra questioned.

"It's Meiyu," Mizuki realized.

The rest of their group ran up to them. "What happened?" said Tenzin.

"Vaatu wants Meiyu back. She's a powerful water spirit from Yue's line. However, we're attached… something he could easily amend."

Yuan Fen grabbed her hand. "We need to leave now. Get Oogi ready."

"No! You think getting away by air would stop them? They will wipe out the rest of you. All they need is to keep Korra alive and the Avatar State will protect her."

"I won't let them hurt any one of us," Korra declared.

"Wherever you go, I'm following you," said Yuan Fen. "Trust us."

She choked back her tears. "Okay."

"Stay close to me," Korra ordered. They ran inside the ship, it was better than waiting for them in the open out on the deck.

Bolin was their guide since he explored much of Varrick's ship in his spare time. "Stay out of there, that's the cat-gator deck," he warned, pointing to a door.

Mizuki barely heard him, she could only will her legs to move as she clutched Yuan Fen's hand. Glass from the window next to her shattered. Yuan Fen pushed himself on top of her, making sure none of the shards hit her. Several smaller spirits began crawling in from the opening. Mako launched fireblasts at them. Yuan Fen picked himself up and carried her in his arms. "This seems familiar: us running for our lives except it's not away from the Equalists, me carrying you. Isn't it how we met?" He saw her give him a small smile and he could feel her slightly relax because she trusted him.

"No, it's not. I remember it now," she said.

"To be honest, I count Tarrlok's gala as the first time. You sort of shoved me out of the way to get to Korra."

"After all of you reporters hounded Korra about Amon."

"I am not afraid of anybody! If the city needs me then... I'll join Tarrlok's task force and help fight Amon," Korra declared.

"There's your headline folks!" Tarrlok yelled out.

"Excuse me. Pardon me." Mizuki began working her way through the swarm of journalists. She tapped on the shoulder of the one in front of her and she cleared her throat. "Ahem. Excuse me." He ignored her and continued snapping photos. She was sure he had heard her and decided to ditch proper etiquette. "Move it!" she pushed him to the side, making him almost drop his camera.

"Hey!" he called out, but she ignored him in return and headed towards Korra.

"I never did say sorry."

"I complained to Lili a bit, but I got over it."

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess."

"It was my choice. You're everything to me." The ship violently shook towards the side. They slammed against the wall, but he took the brunt of the impact.

"Yuan!" she cried. He looked into those blue and brown eyes full of fear, but for him. She didn't care what would happen to her as long as everyone else was safe. The ship tilted back to its normal position. The dark spirits took advantage of everyone being distracted by the chaos and tendrils wrapped Mizuki's arms around her waist, pulling her back outside.

"NO!" Korra entered the Avatar State and went after them. A swarm of dark spirits surrounded the one that had Mizuki.

"Korra, don't. You have to save your strength," she warned.

Yuan Fen finally reached outside and saw the standoff. "Mizuki!" They had her, his worst fears coming true. They were going to rip apart Meiyu and Mizuki and it would kill her in the process.

"It's going to be okay," she cried out. Even when her life was in danger, she tried to comfort him. Everything happened in slow motion in his mind as he ran to the edge of the deck. She slipped away from him though, her sudden gasp as the spirit pulled her into the water, and the look of terror in her eyes. She was gone. He thought about diving in, but he knew it was too late.

"Like water, time must flow, but we are frozen…" Meiyu had prolonged her death, but now she could feel her time flowing once more. Only now did she wish she could freeze it again as she flashed back to all the memories Meiyu returned to her. She wanted just one more moment at least, to tell Yuan Fen… She fell into the water and all her thoughts ceased as she succumbed to the darkness.