Though Korra had planned to stay with Asami through the weekend after the hearing to criminalize Spirit Vine research, the knowledge that Toph Beifong was in town sent her back to Air Temple Island the day after the session. Asami had been flexible, probably because she would be working all day every day on her new project again.

Naga was waiting for her at the docks. Korra redirected Naga's shaking excitement into a calm sit before rubbing her down and folding her close. "Missed you, girl."

For the first time in weeks, Korra felt like she could finally take a breath. She sat down and held Naga's great head against hers, releasing a shuddering sigh as the reality of her relief swept in. Spirit vine research was criminalized. They'd won. That was one giant to-do crossed off her list.

Tenzin found her half an hour later where she played fetch and ran through commands with Naga. He held out his hand to shake hers with uncharacteristic formality. "Congratulations, Korra. That was a coup. You managed to bring about the protection of spirit vines legally in a very short time frame."

"I had a lot of help, you know. Some airbending master shuttled me around and made me talk to a lot of lawmakers."

He glanced away coyly before his smile gave him away. "I helped, but you were a large reason why the votes went your way. And Asami, of course. I hope you thanked her."

"I did that." She would be doing a hell of a lot of thanking in the weeks to come. That Asami would consider closing her company to prevent Future Industries from doing spirit vine research still blew her away. She'd settled into a comfortable albeit strong feeling for Asami, but it had to be a rush of love that zapped her from her scalp to her toes when she heard Asami's testimony.

"You have visitors, by the by."

Korra followed Tenzin to the communal dining room. There sat not only Suyin and Lin but their mother as well. Suyin smiled kindly and lowered her head in a slight bow. Lin raised a hand and said, "Yo."

Toph folded both arms and harrumphed. "Took you long enough!"

Korra couldn't suppress her grin. "Hey, Toph!"

"Now don't go getting ideas about hugs and all that. Sit down. I have a bone to pick with you!" Toph wagged a bony finger at her.

"Mother." Suyin attempted to intervene, but Korra had heard enough of Toph's diatribes to know there was no stopping them.

"Don't you 'mother' me!" Toph snapped at her. She turned back to Korra. "My swamp is fucked up! It tried to eat me the other day. What are you going to do about it?"

"I think I just fixed it. Or at least what's been going on recently. And now spirit vine research is criminalized in the United Republic."

"As if you won't have stupid fools breaking the law in the hope it's overturned. What about all the other territories?" That was a blow. Toph seemed oblivious to how much her words hurt. She frowned and folded her arms. "Destroying resources and spirit vine experimentation is the cause of all this ruckus?"

"I think."

"You 'think'? You're supposed to be the expert. What are you going to do about it?"

"There was an environmental summit." Korra remember with relief that as an independent territory, Gaoling had immediately outlawed harvesting of the Banyan Tree.

Toph made a rude noise. "Bunch of talking? Worthless. You need to step up and make people listen to you. Knock some heads together—"

"That's never worked for me before."

"Hogwash!"

"I mean it. I have to work with governments to legally get things passed."

"Have you talked to the spirits?" Toph asked her after a brooding moment.

Korra hesitated. "I tried. They don't like talking about it. They said I wasn't ready."

"I don't give a crap if they don't like it, and you shouldn't either. Step up. This isn't about making friends; this is about keeping people safe. If you're such a big fan of talking, I don't see why you wouldn't talk to them in the first place!"

She was right, and that hurt. Korra had been so swept up in the White Lotus, in the government, in her own education, and mostly in Asami that she'd neglected it. She nodded. "I will, Toph."

"Good. Now that that's settled, someone bring me whatever booze may be on this island. I'm gonna drink you under the table again, Avatar."

"I'm not drinking with you, Toph. Last time I did, you puked on me!"

"Ah, it was all natural. I told you I was gonna puke, but you didn't move out of the way." She pointed a gnarled finger at Korra. "I'm going to drink, and tomorrow you're learning how to earthbend blind. You hear me?"

Korra stared at Toph. "Why?"

"Aang thanked me for the things I taught him." Toph kept a glare for just a moment longer before she grinned. "Truthfully, I'm bored. I had a lot of fun throwing you around in the swamp."

"You're going to kill me."

"Not if you learn how to dodge, Twinkle Toes."

An hour later, Toph was as drunk as she'd threatened, and Lin and Pema were in an argument over legal maternity leave. Korra faded into the vivid memory of Asami playfully taking off her own clothes, revealing her lacy underwear and then the skin beneath. Her naked mons had been a shock, but there was something disturbingly arousing about burying her face against smooth, soft skin. She felt her body react as she remembered tasting Asami, the way Asami shook against her and cooed in response to her touch... She'd been okay with gentle that time.

"May I speak with you?"

Korra jerked upright and could feel the blush come over her features. She must have dozed off. Su raised a slow eyebrow in question. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"That's okay."

"I'd like to speak with you in private. Unless you'd rather retreat back to that thought."

"No, let's go." Korra led Su down the hall to Tenzin's office. They sat down on cushions on the floor and faced each other.

"I was told that I left poison inside of you, Korra."

Korra stilled, looking up in surprise. There were several people who knew, but she hadn't considered the information would get back to Su. "It was only a little bit."

"I searched several times, Korra. I missed it. Where was it?"

"It was… It was in my head. I got it out."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I failed you. And I never said it, but I'm sorry for the position I put you in at Zaofu. Asami was right; it was unfair to you."

Korra hesitated, unsure what to feel about Asami's name in this context. "You were doing what you thought you had to do. I just wish you had told me."

"You were going to let Kuvira kill you."

"I was at that point, yeah."

"Are you better now?"

"Yeah. I've kind of reached a point of happiness."

"Has Asami told you yet that she's in love with you?"

Su's words and her smirk were equally surprising. Korra thought she and Asami were still discreet in public. "How did you know that?"

"We had a revealing conversation a few months ago about how my actions endangered you. I don't think I've ever seen her that angry. She was right about some of it. Korra, I hope you don't think…"

"Think what?"

"That I did it purposefully."

"No, of course not!" Korra reached out to hug Su, shocked that she would even say that. "It wasn't your fault. I do have a question though."

"Ask, please."

"What caused the rift between you and Kuvira?"

Suyin's face closed off. "I have no idea."

"There's more to it than a difference in ideals."

"Korra, I don't have the answer for you."

Korra felt like she was pleading. She couldn't understand why Su wouldn't talk about this. "It would help me understand why she did what she did, and why she feels so strongly about things now."

Defensiveness gave Su's expression and tone an edge. "She did what she did because she's a narcissistic person. She seduced my son for his engineering genius, and she conquered a nation to reflect upon her own power. She did those things to feel better about her own insecurity, selfishness, and blindness."

"If you don't want to tell me, don't tell me," Korra retorted, her suspicion and temper raised. "Because what you just said sounds like you're holding a grudge too. This isn't just what you talked to me about before."

"All due respect, Korra, don't get into something you won't understand."

That stung. Korra knew she needed to look past it. She took a cleansing breath and brought up something she wouldn't ignore. "Did you bring Toph?"

Suyin's smile returned. "While I didn't feel comfortable giving testimony for another country, I knew my mother would want to speak. She holds more sway in the United Republic than I ever would."

"Thanks."

Su folded her into a hug. "You're more than welcome. I hope she helped."

As they walked back to the dining room, Su continued, "I had one more thing to discuss with you."

"What's that?"

"I've been reading that you're been giving back bending to criminals in the city."

That word irritated her. "Past criminals who already served their crimes."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Su's disapproval was a surprise. Korra would have thought a woman all about freedom and socialism would agree with her decision. Korra stepped into the dining room and firmed herself for the coming argument as she said, "No, but I have to do it."

"'Have to'? Are you compelled by United Republic law to restore their bending?"

"I'm compelled to do what's right."

"Those men and women have proven to be a danger to society. Bending is a privilege."

"Oh," Lin sneered from the corner. "Big of you to think that now, criminal."

"It was a petty crime—"

Toph slurred but somehow strung two thoughts together despite being drunk. "They're gonna be criminals with or without their bending. The way I see it, they never should have lost it anyway. I always thought it was real shitty of Aang to do that to people. Better to kill if you're gonna to do that."

"Mother!"

"What? I'd rather die than lose my bending." She pointed at Korra and sloshed the liquor in her cup. "And you, Avatar?"

"I'm giving bending back. No one is going to change my mind."

Su's expression shifted into a smug smile. "At least you're firm about it, Korra. I always say, commit and do and never have doubts."

That, more than Suyin's disapproval, gave Korra pause.


At midday the next day, Toph called Korra back to Air Temple Island. Shiza sent her without hesitation. Toph belched her way through a late breakfast while Korra's dread and anticipation built. "My metabolism's better than it was forty years ago. Let's dance, Twinkle Toes."

Toph's good mood usually meant an extra hard beat-down. When they were all outside, Su tied on Korra's blindfold and squeezed the back of her neck gently. "Relax. You'll get it down."

"What do you feel?" Toph asked Korra as Su stepped away.

Korra wiggled her bare toes against the cold earth. "The ground is cold."

A rock smacked her in the shoulder. "Ow!"

"Stop being a smartass. Feel for the vibrations of my movement."

"Can I use my hands?"

"No! What kind of a moron bends over to feel earth?"

Korra took a deep breath, closed her eyes unnecessarily beneath the blindfold, and reached out as if earth were water. It was stiff, impenetrable, but the tickle of vibration hit her. It was a soft sense, much more subtle than the movement of water. As Toph walked in circles around her, she felt high frequency vibrations work through the hardness of earth.

Another slower shiver moved through earth, and she heard the quiet steps of someone farther away.

Her water sense impeded her in this. She was used to taking in the whole of the fluid motion of an entire body of water, but earth sense was more like feeling tiny raindrops on the surface of a wide lake. She focused so much into tracking tiny details that she missed the rock coming at her hip.

Korra hit the ground with a cry, her hip barking at her in pulsing pain. That was going to bruise.

"What do you think this is, ballet practice? Move your feet!"

"Warn me next time!" Korra said as she got up. Korra rolled quickly as she felt earth move at her head.

"Better," Toph sneered. "Now get up and get ready for a real fight."


She was beaten over and over and over again, and each time, Toph commanded her to stand up. Korra dodged more and more, but inevitably, she'd get hit again. Toph substituted one of her daughters to continue lessons every so often. Korra liked Lin the most. Lin never hit to hurt, and her lessons were calm and logical compared to Toph's death matches. Even Suyin hurt her. She claimed it was for a purpose, but that didn't make a rock hurt less.

By midafternoon, Korra was sweating, bruised, bleeding, and exhausted.

"Korra!"

Korra turned towards Pema's voice and took a rock to the gut for it. She collapsed to her knees and tried to breathe against the fluttering of her diaphragm. Su's warm arms surrounded her. "It'll be okay. Just relax. You have plenty of air for now." Her hand pressed on Korra's belly. "Relax. Relax. Press against my hand."

Korra took a gulping breath, then another, and by the third she felt the panic fade.

"Are you hurt?"

"No more than before I took that hit. So yes, I'm hurt." Korra took off her blindfold, flicked away Toph's pebble of punishment for doing so, and stepped away from Su when she continued to support her weight. "Pema, what is it?"

Pema's expression tightened into motherly consternation as she surveyed the scene. "Iroh is on the phone for you."

Korra gingerly climbed from their impromptu earthbending platform. She hurt more now that she focused on it. She'd need some waterbending healing to be up to speed when Asami got there that night. Pema grunted in irritation as they walked down the meditation platform. "Apparently his phone call saved your life. Those Beifongs are all too rough. I never thought I'd say this, but Lin is the gentlest of them all."

"Did Iroh say what the call was about?"

"No, he just asked to speak with you."

The radio tower steps hurt like hell, and it hurt to sit down too. She picked up the earpiece and leaned to the mouthpiece. "Iroh?"

After a delay, Iroh responded. "Hello, Korra. How are you?"

"Just got my ass handed to me by the Beifongs."

"Sounds like a real opportunity."

"What makes you call?"

"I got your letter. I have no knowledge of money exchanging hands, Korra, but I've been ordered not to speak of the events surrounding the Reeducation Camp of the Kolau Mountains."

"Ordered? By who?"

"I can't say." He hesitated. "If I had to guess why, I would assume if word got out about the timeline of the Reeducation Camp and how horrific conditions were, it would reflect badly on the United Republic military."

"I'm going to talk to the press, Iroh."

"And I don't disagree with that. But my hands are tied. It was said I would be court-martialed and discharged without honor from the military if I gave the public any information about what happened. "

"That would be bad, wouldn't it?"

"It would be a way out, but I don't want one, not yet."

"Thanks for telling me, Iroh."

"Good luck, Korra."

"Oh, and I told your mother, but I had no idea Suntoq would try to give out my hand in marriage or whatever you want to call it."

"I presumed as much, Korra. No harm, no foul. I'll talk to you again."

"Yep, definitely. Good luck with your lady friend."

An awkward pause hit the line. "Thanks."


Maybe her fear of reentering the training platform sent her to Tenzin's office. He took one look at her and ushered her into his chair. "My goodness, Korra. What has she been doing to you?"

"Beating me up. As usual. Can I talk to you about something?"

"Anything."

"I just got off the radio with Iroh. He told me that the military ordered his silence on the Reeducation Camp. I found a piece of paperwork that showed that a military branch of the United Republic donated to the White Lotus right after the reeducation camp incident. The White Lotus apparently destroyed letters from a man who asked me to give an account of the incident."

Tenzin's shoulders slumped. "I had wondered. It's an unfortunate thing. The United Republic didn't handle that well from start to finish. Let me get Bumi."

When Bumi arrived, his grin faded into a sober look. "Let me guess, I didn't win the best airbender beard raffle this month."

Korra summarized the issue for Bumi. He folded his arms as he considered his reply. "It's a hard place to be. The public shouldn't know everything the government does, Korra. I'm all for transparency, but if your average Jhee and Lo knew every dark secret of the world, society would have a hard time getting the little stuff done. There was some dark stuff going on in the Earth Kingdom Wilds when I was a soldier—research into a plague weapon... Still gives me nightmares. No one needed to know about that because one, we took care of it, and two, we don't need to give anyone ideas."

"They're trying to cover up people being tortured by Kuvira's army."

Tenzin stroked his beard and glanced at his brother. "At least cover up their ineptness in the scenario. If you feel it is right, go to the press, Korra, but please understand instability comes from many places. Those men gained justice—"

"And the families of the people who were in those camps, the survivors, did they get anything?"

"A small sum of money."

"I suppose this is different than a plague bomb after all. It'll still scare people, Korra."

"Those people, the victims, didn't get justice. They don't need money; they need to know there are consequences to that kind of evil act."

"I'm not sure what could be done for them that would help. It was a horrible thing," Tenzin said.

"People should know about it. Knowing helps prevent the same mistake again."

"Or teach others it can be done," Bumi warned. He glanced between them. "Well, you two can brood. I have a hot date tonight!"

Tenzin got up to make tea after Bumi left. They sat in their silence. Korra wondered what he was thinking about as she tried not to focus on the imagine of the flayed man or the woman she'd pulled down from a post…Sun, whose children had been eaten in front of her.

Korra closed her eyes and thought of Asami brushing her hair back. She thought of Karraq's letter sitting in her room, his awkward request that she visit him when she returned south. She thought of the short conversation she'd had with her mother and father the week before. She thought of the fun she'd had with Mako and Bolin at their last probending practice. Good things were in her life, and good overshadowed the bad—even that bad.

Tenzin set a teacup on the desk in front of her. "Asami has asked for my help in proposing a new piece of legislature for the council to vote on."

"What is it?" Korra winced at the taste of the tea, but she knew Tenzin meant well. He'd brewed willow bark into it, poor man's aspirin.

"Limiting donations to any official in office and regulating campaigning. It's a good piece of legislature, one that I hope will reduce corruption and the temptation for corruption of those in public office. I've discussed it with several councilors, who are more than willing to put it forward. There will be publicity—a great deal of it—for this to go through. Your endorsement would mean a great deal."

"It seems like men and women who make money off of something aren't going to vote to reduce their own power or wealth."

"It will be difficult, but most important things are. The United Republic is a young government, and now is the time to make the changes needed."

Korra thought of the Avatar dreams she'd had; of the Avatars of the past overreaching, interfering; and of Kyoshi's Dai Li. "Am I interfering too much?"

Tenzin cocked his head. "You're doing what's right, Korra. If your 'interference' has inspired your friends to step in to make a positive change to the United Republic's government, then so be it."

"Kyoshi created the Dai Li."

"I'm aware. She never meant for it to become what it was."

Korra shook her head. "She created it because she was blackmailed by the Earth Queen to create a secret police after the rebellion. She knew exactly what it would be."

"How do you know this?" Tenzin seemed to take her information at face value despite his surprise.

"I've been having dreams about past Avatars. I guess I haven't thought to talk to you about it."

Tenzin turned to study her. Pema must have taken clippers to his eyebrows; they were the same length again. That had to be a sign of true love: trimming someone's eyebrows. Korra tried hard not to think of what part of her Asami had offered to trim.

Tenzin was oblivious to her inappropriate thoughts. "What are they about?"

"Nothing relevant to the world right now, but it all feels so real. I dream about Kyoshi a lot. I had one about a Water Tribe Avatar too, Avatar Hana. Her daughter was murdered by a Fire Nation assassin; I woke up as she decided to destroy the Fire Nation. I just don't know why I'm having them."

"Can you communicate with their spirits?"

"No. I am the Avatar in my dreams. They're like these vivid memories of moments of their lives. It's more detail than any textbook would have though. I can't exactly fact check them."

"Perhaps the Tree of Time could let you delve into those memories."

Korra was afraid he'd say that. "I've been afraid to go."

"Why?" he asked in true concern.

"A spirit told me recently that I'm light and dark. Zaheer thinks that I have both Raava and Vaatu inside me. When I speak in the Avatar state, I hear Vaatu's voice. I've been seeing...myself in the Avatar state. I fought that vision in the Earth Kingdom. It's a dark spirit, but…" Tears thickened her voice. "I guess I'm terrified of myself. I'm afraid of what I'll learn about myself if I go delving into those dreams."

"Oh Korra." Tenzin folded her into a close hug. He smelled like sweat and incense. His beard tickled her cheek. "How long have you been struggling with this?"

"I was afraid I would just give you another reason to coddle me."

"Always confide your fears in me. Please. It's why I'm here." Tenzin pressed her back to study her. "Have you spoken to Zaheer about this at least?"

"Only about a few things. Asami knows about the shadow. Karraq, my grandfather, he saw a dark spirit take that form."

"You're good, Korra. You're just. You're selfless. No dark spirit will ever change that."

"What keeps me from becoming Flesher if I have Vaatu inside me?"

Tenzin studied her. "You pulled Raava from Vaatu after she was destroyed. Even if there wasn't a piece of Vaatu in her when you removed her from him, Vaatu might grow within Raava as she did in him. But if Vaatu is inside you, he won't change who you are. Neither will Raava. You're Korra, my strong, unyielding, and fearless student."

"What if he does though?"

"By all logic, Vaatu would have been merged with Raava for at least four years now. You are not less generous, good, and selfless as you were before Harmonic Convergence."

"I'm more powerful. I've killed men. I dream of the rage of other Avatars. My temper is still terrible."

"You have a just anger. You killed men that committed acts most people would never conceive. Your generosity and thoughtfulness are what Republic City knows you for now."

"What if all the good I do is because I'm afraid I'll become something terrible?"

Tenzin abruptly smiled; his tone was light. "Oh, philosophers argue whether altruism is actually selfless or if we feed off the social reinforcement, the endorphins the brain releases. But it's all good, Korra. Even if your motivation is fear—which I know it isn't because I know you—that makes no difference to the people you help. Trust yourself Korra, and trust your Avatar spirit, even if it contains Vaatu now. And as for the dreams you've been having, go to the Tree of Time to explore them. Perhaps the answer will surprise you." He took a long breath. "And if you feel that you should take Zaheer with you, do so. But be careful."

"Really? You're the first person who hasn't told me he's going to kill me." Trust herself. Trust herself somehow by trusting the people who surrounded her. Tenzin had told her honestly that he hadn't approved of her using death as a tool, but he still supported her. She looked at her teacher now and took everything he'd told her to heart.

Tenzin stroked his beard. "I've been visiting Zaheer too. He's at least given satisfactory answers. I don't trust him, and you shouldn't either. Remain cautious. But I can tell when you've set yourself on something. If he helps you, who am I to judge his motivations?"


Korra endured two more hours of pain before Toph declared her joints were too creaky to continue the training session. She demanded more alcohol over dinner. Korra didn't drink, but she accepted the help of two White Lotus waterbender healers to soothe her cuts and bruises. Her dinner tasted good, but she could hardly raise her chopsticks to her mouth.

After dinner, Korra escaped Toph's loudness to sit in the quiet of her meditation platform. She hadn't realized how much she'd been straining her ears all day to catch even the whisper of movement to help guide her earthbending. The quiet around her was soothing.

She attempted to meditate but fell asleep instead.

"Korra."

Su's voice woke her. She bent over to meet Korra's gaze and offered a gentle smile. "I seem to be making a habit of waking you."

Korra rubbed her face and slowly got to her feet. She hurt all over. "Hey. What's up?"

Su stepped closer to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Want company?"

"Korra!"

Asami's voice surprised her more than Su's had. She grinned but was surprised by the startled look on Asami's face. Korra stepped by Su to approach. "What's wrong?"

Asami glanced from Su to Korra; she shook her head. Then, to Korra's surprise, she pulled Korra close to kiss her gently on the mouth. "Nothing. You look like you've had a rough day."

"You can say that again. There's some dinner left inside."

"I ate at work. I'd like a bath and sleep though."

"Will it be too hard for us to head back to your apartment? My bruises need your soft mattress."

"Will you bring Naga?"

"I don't think I can ride her. Let's let her out before we go and stop by the bison handlers."

"Sounds like a plan. Suyin," Asami said coolly.

"Hello, Asami. Is our meeting at two tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'll see you then." She turned away from Su in a clear dismissal.

On the drive back, Korra asked, "What spooked you earlier, back on the meditation platform?"

Asami hesitated and glanced over at Korra. "Suyin was…close to you."

"What?" Korra caught her implication and couldn't believe anyone would think that. "No way. Asami, that's silly."

Asami remained dubious. "Korra, you clearly had no idea how attractive you are."

"She's older than my mother. She'd never feel that way about me. She's a mentor."

"Age doesn't stop people."

"You're being silly."

"I know what I saw," Asami responded firmly. "Whether she meant it that way or not, I can't say, but if I had seen Mako touching you like that, I would have slapped him. Then I may have slapped you."

"Hey! I hug Mako all the time."

The glare Asami leveled at her melted into a smile. So she did know how ridiculous she was being.

Asami ran a hot bath when they got to her apartment. She supplied Korra with a stronger anti-inflammatory than Tenzin had given her, water, and a lovely blend of chamomile tea. Asami's fingertips ghosted over Korra's skin as Korra eased herself into the bath.

"Toph did this to you?"

"Toph and Su. Lin got my shoulder, but she was the nicest."

"Korra, this is abuse."

She shrugged. "A hard brand of bending lessons."

"Would you ever teach someone bending like this?" Asami asked sharply.

"They didn't do it to hurt me."

"That makes it even worse!"

Korra was too tired to fight. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to focus on the hot water.

"Please don't let them do this to you again."

"I'll be better tomorrow. They won't be able to hit me as much."

"That isn't what I meant."

"This is part of what I do to learn new things. I won't get hit so hard tomorrow because I'll be better. It's how earthbenders do things sometimes. Tenzin was the gentlest of all my masters because of the nature of air. I was burned by my firebending instructors, and Katara froze me and whipped me and soaked me when I was learning waterbending."

Asami pointed sharply to the deep purple bruise on Korra's shoulder. "This is not okay. Would you be okay with a child being treated the way you were today, having these bruises?"

"No. But I'm an adult now, and I chose to step back on that training platform. Bruises heal. I don't want to fight."

"I don't want you hurt."

"Babe," Korra heard herself say. She paused. Asami sank back in the bath and raised both eyebrows. "Babe?" she repeated neutrally.

"Sorry."

"You couldn't even go for 'honey'?"

"Sorry," Korra repeated, vacillating between humor and embarrassment.

Asami sighed and carefully settled up against Korra's side to rest her head on Korra's less bruised shoulder. "I guess it's the fact you used an endearment that's important, not what you used."

"It wasn't a conscious choice. Hey, you want to shave me?"

Asami pulled back in definite interest. She raised an eyebrow saucily. "You won't fall apart on me if we have sex, will you?"

"Just don't move me too much. And maybe we should be in bed with lots of pillows."


An hour later, they were settled in for the night. Korra lay on her back, relaxed and satiated and aching all over. Asami's mattress felt like a caress on her sore body. She wondered if the novelty of her lack of hair would outweigh the fact she'd probably itch like hell as her hair grew back in.

Out of the blue Asami asked, "What do you identify as?"

Korra opened one eye to glanced over at Asami, shifting to wake herself up enough to understand that question. Asami was propped up on her pillows with an open book in one hand. The title of her book was: Sexuality through the Ages. "I don't know. It's not important to me."

"Bisexual?" she pressed.

"Does it matter?" Korra asked because it really didn't, not to her. "I know I don't have much experience, but it doesn't matter that you're a woman and Mako is a man. It's just anatomy. The person underneath it all is the important part. I'd love you the same if you were a man."

A slow flush went from Asami's neck to her ears. "How can you possibly say that?"

Korra was surprised that her answer had made Asami angry. She wasn't awake enough for this conversation.

"How can you possibly know that?!" Asami snapped her book shut definitively. "My gender isn't just anatomy. It's shaped every part of me. The struggles I go through, my body, my identity—all of that is tied up in my gender. I would be a completely different person if I were a man."

"But you'd be you. Your spirit, your personality."

"No, I wouldn't!"

"You wouldn't love me if I were a man?" Korra asked, curious in part by how upset Asami had become. She wanted to ask why Asami had started this conversation if it was just going to make her mad, but she knew that was a dangerous place to go.

"Of course not!"

Now Korra was irritated to be dismissed so readily. "But—"

"If you, as a man, had looked at me, rolled your eyes, and asked me if I was going to take you shopping or give you a makeover, I would have dismissed you as a chauvinistic misogynist shit and had nothing to do with you after that."

"Wow." Korra was stung by Asami's labels, but she thought back on her first assumptions more critically. "I guess I was kind of sexist."

"Maybe I was too because I didn't dismiss you because you were female. I wanted to prove you wrong. Meanwhile, if I had been male, you would have already assumed that I knew how to defend myself, liked engineering, and enjoyed racing cars."

Korra grunted in agreement. Asami continued, "Though maybe you wouldn't have liked me nearly so much in that case because I wouldn't have shocked you."

"That was an eye-opener. You were cooler than Mako or Bolin, and I totally overlooked it. I didn't want to like you though. Remember? I was jealous you were going out with Mako."

"I understand your point, Korra. But I don't agree with it."

Upon reflection, Asami's ire made sense. Sexuality was important to her so gender had to be too. Korra tried again. "You said a long time ago that you didn't think we'd be friends if your mother hadn't died, and I disagreed. Well, that's the way I feel about this too. We were meant to be together. Gender, our past, our professions… None of that matters. We just had to meet, and the rest was waiting to happen."

Asami took her hand and brushed her fingertips over Korra's knuckles. She kissed the back of her hand. "How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Say exactly the right thing."

"I mean it; I wasn't just saying it," Korra said earnestly.

"I know. You're too romantic for your own good." Asami kissed her hand again. She deflated with a sigh. "It shouldn't threaten me that you don't identify as a lesbian, but a part of me constantly worries that I'll ever be enough as a woman if you're also attracted to men."

Korra was dismayed that Asami had carried that fear for so long. "That's not how it is. How could I love someone else? I'm so filled up with my love for you that there wouldn't be room for anyone else."

Asami wasn't smiling as she turned away. Korra heard her swallow. She turned back in time for Korra to see tears track down her cheeks. "I'm such an idiot. I love you too. Let's come out. Let's go out and kiss in public, and I'm going to sell this damn apartment and buy a place that Naga can be without hiding her in the back entrance. I want everyone to look at me and know what you mean to me, and look at you and know what I mean to you."

Korra leaned close to kiss Asami gently, bemused by how touched Asami had been by her words. "Let's do it."


The city was burning.

Her dragon chuffed and nudged her gently with her snout. She touched her furry cheek as she stared down at the fire that was slowly working through Capital City. It was a cleansing fire, one that she shouldn't have aided by virtue of her identity, but she couldn't stand aside any longer. This was history, and she needed to aid it as a citizen of the Fire Nation even if not as the Avatar.

They stood on the edge of the dead volcano, and Capital City was laid out like on a map. The young woman who stood beside her took a long breath as she stared down at the city below them too. She must also smell the scent of death, burning flesh, and ashes.

She turned to her companion. The young woman's golden eyes were wide as she gazed down at the fire that engulfed her home. Her dark hair was rumpled. Her princess's hairpiece was clutched in one hand. Yet she still had the dignity befitting her station, and more importantly, she was old enough to feel ownership of the reaches of the nation.

"Are you ready?" she asked her princess.

The girl's eyes shimmered with tears. "I'll have to kill my baby brother. And for what, to rule the ashes of the Fire Nation?"

"He's fourteen. No baby. A baby would not strip women of the right of citizenship or murder those who spoke out against him."

"On counsel of his aids."

"Did they also counsel him to call you a senseless whore, murder your betrothed, start a war with the North, drink with a wanted traitor of the Earth Kingdom, and take three concubines?"

The princess winced but had no answer.

"He doesn't think of you as his sister. You mustn't remember the baby he used to be. He will kill you if you do. Hazana."

Hazana looked back at her and focused.

As the Avatar, she was old enough to feel her age, old enough to think of this girl as the daughter she never had, to grieve for a girl that had no chance to be a child. "Sometimes the hottest fire has to scorch the earth to renew life. We must be that fire to usher in a new age, Fire Lord. We must destroy the Fire Nation to save her."

The princess dropped her hairpiece. Her own dragon circled her, giving a low rumble. Her royal face hardened, and she mounted her dragon. "Let's finish with the burning then, Avatar. I'm tired of the smell."

Korra gasped as she sat up, then she groaned as her body protested the movement. Asami stirred beside her. The dread of that dream tightened her stomach and made her sick. Korra slipped out of the room quietly and prepared a bot of tea. She sat on the couch and closed her eyes, picturing Capital City burning and the beautiful, frightened face of a girl who was younger than she was, about to assume the mantle of Fire Lord by killing her younger brother. Being the first woman to take the title would open her up to any criticism. Someone who wasn't the first could make mistakes, but any mistake of the first was considered invalidation.

Maybe she sympathized with that.

She sipped her tea and sighed. The week before her professor had lectured on the rise of equality between genders in the Fire Nation. There was no mention of a female Avatar aiding the Fire Lord, but Korra knew it was true now. Had the lecture triggered the dream, or was it tied up in Asami's fears of her gender?

She set her cup down and slipped into the spirit world. She felt for Zaheer's presence and was surprised to find him here in the middle of the night.

"Do you not sleep?" she asked as she materialized by him.

Zaheer lay on his back wrapped up in a few flat leaves. His position looked comfortable. Several large leaves unfolded and beckoned Korra to lie down.

"It's safe," Zaheer said as if guessing her concern. "I sometimes have trouble finding my sleep-wake rhythm without daylight. What's troubling you, Korra?"

Korra climbed onto the leaf and grunted when it began to massage her shoulders and legs. "I realized I haven't told you, but I've been having Avatar dreams."

"What does that mean?"

"I just had a vivid dream about being a female Avatar a thousand years ago when the Fire Nation women overthrew the government and declared equality between genders. It was just a snapshot, but I was the Avatar, about to take Princess Hazana down to declare Agni Kai on her little brother."

"Do you have these dreams often?"

"Maybe once every few weeks. Sometimes I dream the same ones twice, but this one was new."

"And you know it's a memory?"

"It's too vivid to be a dream, but maybe I'm just being hopeful. I sat in a lecture about the revolution in the Fire Nation last week."

"You think it was triggered then. Can you call them up at will?"

"No."

"What other dreams have you had?"

"Nothing helpful. I've had Kyoshi dreams more than any others."

"The same?"

"No. Different points in her life. One she was thinking about whether to deal with Chin. Another was after she suppressed the rebellion in Ba Sing Se. The queen of the Earth Kingdom threatened her wife. Most of these dreams are disturbing, honestly."

Zaheer raised his head. The leaf swept up to gently caressed his forehead and pushed it back down. "Kyoshi was a lesbian? Perhaps you share that, then."

"I'm not a lesbian."

"Female then?"

"No. I've had some Aang and Roku dreams, but they weren't as vivid."

"Gender is important, Korra."

"So I'm hearing. I just don't know why I'm having the dreams. The Avatars aren't there. I can't just call out Aang or Kyoshi to ask them a question."

"There's a great deal we don't know about Raava's power or her memory or even your own. She was stripped of you once, but you were fused before and after. Perhaps you share some knowledge of hers that remained even after her destruction. Shall we go to the Tree of Time?"

"Tenzin thinks I should. I'm a little afraid to."

"Why?" His eyebrows raised as he guessed the answer. "You fear the confirmation of Vaatu. Knowledge cannot hurt you, Korra. I'll go with you." Zaheer got out of his leafy bed and addressed the leaves. "Thank you. That was most relaxing."

Korra's leaf gave her one last gentle massage and then a searching grope. She yelped. "Hey, not there, okay? What is it with you spirits and my boobs? I have to get to know you a lot better before you can do that to me. But thanks for the massage."

The leaves perked up and waved goodbye.

Korra followed Zaheer to the Tree of Time. She glanced at him as he motioned her inside the trunk. When she sat down, she felt the warmth of Raava. Her own memories sharpened abruptly. One that struck her was Tenzin telling her she was more than the Avatar. Korra examined that memory and smiled. She owed her mentor so much. It was a lesson she'd heard in the moment and had promptly forgotten. She still needed reminding.

She focused on her dreams and was startled again by their clarity. She remembered the dreams, but there were no memories or Avatars she could just pull out at will. It was an expected disappointment.

Zaheer's voice was soothing. "Go into meditation. I wait with you."

She settled deeper into herself. It was a terrifying thing, an aching tug to pull herself enough away from her spirit to separate their consciousnesses. "Raava."

"Korra," Raava's smooth voice echoed. Korra was alarmed to hear the deeper undertone of a male voice rumbling below. "The answers you seek are not here."

"Why do I keep having these dreams?"

"You remember even after I lost my own memories. When I was stripped from you, Vaatu took my knowledge too, which I retained in part even as you pulled me from within him. They are but shards of memory, Korra."

"So we can never restore the past Avatars?"

"They were but brief moments in time, taken at the end of each Avatar's lifetime, tainted by their human perspectives. They faded with each cycle, becoming ghosts of what once was. Even this place cannot restore what I have lost to time. Perhaps we can gain more of these memories, but the knowledge I had of each of their wholes is gone. We are complete without them, Korra."

"And Vaatu?"

"We are one spirit now, Korra, which you hold in balance. Do not fear any part of yourself. You guide us; we do not guide you."

"But Unalaq was merged with Vaatu, and he was corrupted by Vaatu."

Now Vaatu's voice overtook Raava's. "Unalaq corrupted me. I will always wish for chaos to guide change, Avatar Korra, but Unalaq wanted to destroy everything to reflect on his power. I wish for change as Raava wishes for stability. I destabilize and change spirits while Raava purifies and stagnates them. There cannot be one without the other, but our instincts do not reflect yours."

Since she'd learned about Raava and Vaatu, she'd always assumed she was guided by a greater power that was separate from her human self. What they now told her contradicted the assumption she'd carried around for years. Korra didn't have to voice her confusion for Raava and Vaatu to try to answer her.

"Whatever acts you complete will be your own, Korra. You would exist without us, but we cannot truly exist without you."

"But…"

Vaatu's voice strengthened again. "I merged with Unalaq to bring chaos to the world, and you alone defeated us without Raava's power or guidance. You are more than human, just as we are more than spirits now. You use our powers, but we do not and will never control you."

Korra felt that truth in the strange warm communication of the spirit world. She was overtaken by relief. The White Lotus had taught her all about the legacy of the other Avatars, of their wisdom and decisiveness. They led her to believe that Avatars were gravid with perfection, and she's created a mold in her mind of someone who ultimately wasn't human. Korra had assumed it would happen for her one day, and she was left disappointed in herself when she laughed at Bolin's fart jokes or had no idea how to answer a political or ethical dilemma.

Finally she understood she could be both herself and fulfill the Avatar's role. She and all the other Avatars had been imperfect humans, doing their damnedest to do what was right even without knowing the right answer.

Korra took a long breath and exhaled. This was who she was, and she wouldn't waste any more worry over what she no longer had or even what she could become. Vaatu was with Raava, something that had never happened before, but she doubted many Avatars knew about Raava. Even without the knowledge of what Raava was, they'd tried to do right and so had she. Vaatu made no difference in that.

"Good," Raava and Vaatu whispered. "Find peace, Korra."

She pulled out of that uncomfortable separation and sighed, studying her palms as she collected her thoughts. When she stepped out of the Tree of Time, Zaheer was waiting for her. He offered a faint smile. "You found your answer."

"Yeah."

"Good. Go to sleep, Korra. When you're rested, perhaps we may discuss that answer. For now, goodnight."

After he faded, she found herself back on the couch. Asami sat beside her with her book in her lap. Korra touched her wrist. "You didn't have to get up."

"Come back to bed."

At three in the morning, it really was that simple.


Korra made time to go back to Asami's apartment the following night. Her bruises had faded to dark purple, and she'd accumulated a few new ones, though not enough to prevent her from riding Naga through town. Because she had Naga, she took the back entrance to Asami's apartment. The man who answered the service door brightened when he saw her. He tipped his hat and petted Naga with permission.

"Hey, Li."

"Always a pleasure, Avatar Korra. And you too, Naga."

At the sound of her name, Naga wagged her tail. The elevator took a few minutes to return to ground floor, and they waited as several employees dragged out one of the biggest couches Korra had ever seen. The two men moving the couch sectional took a few moments to greet Korra.

On the way up, she asked, "Do you know if Asami is in yet?"

"No, ma'am, I don't know." He cleared his throat. "Will we see you tomorrow night? My wife was talking about baking some dog biscuits for Naga."

"Aw, that's sweet. I think I won't be back until next week though."

"They'll probably keep. Have a good night." He tipped his hat as she walked out of the elevator.

Korra fished Asami's key from her pocket and unlocked the front door more for show than anything. She could easily use bending to open the lock. Naga walked around her to collapse in the dog bed at Korra's command.

"Asami?" Korra called.

"I'm here."

Naga's head lifted at the sound of Asami's voice. Her tail thumped hard on the wall. She'd stay until Asami came out to greet her. Naga could squeeze into the bedroom without causing havoc, but if Asami was in her bathroom, she'd destroy the narrow doorframe.

Asami's voice had come from down the hall. Korra toed off her boots and glanced for Asami in each room. Asami was in the process of shrugging off her bra in front of the bathroom vanity. Definitely a night in, though Asami looked especially alluring in just her nylons and skirt.

There was something so magnetic about her: her body, her skin, and Korra's love for Asami. Korra reached out without thought to press her hands against Asami's cool back. Asami's pale skin with sparse freckles contrasted with the dark skin of Korra's hands, and it drew Korra's mouth too. She kissed Asami's shoulder and moved those kisses up to her neck. Asami tilted her head back, met her gaze through the mirror, and sighed when Korra massaged the marks her bra had made in her skin.

"How are you?" she asked against the skin of Asami's neck.

"Mm," Asami murmured in a so-so sound.

"Sorry I woke you up last night."

"Don't be sorry," was Asam's rote response.

Korra took a deep breath of Asami's hair and skin, releasing it in a soft moan as she rubbed her hands down Asami's body from her breasts to her belly. Asami was relaxed against her, but Korra felt the subtle tension in her body.

"I don't feel well," Asami said, confirming Korra's suspicion.

"Cramps?"

"Yes. Not terrible, but the first day is always the worst."

Korra knew the more common waterbending remedies. She cupped her right hand against the soft curve below Asami's navel and found the chi point—jinglu, Katara would have chastised—connected to Asami's uterus, one that told her body to contract too powerfully and cause pain. She tickled the jinglu, allowing it to vibrate as she gently cupped Asami's body and eased the pressure of those aching contractions.

Asami gasped and jumped in her arms, pulling away to face Korra. Her eyes were wide, and she cradled her lower abdomen in her arms protectively. "What was that?"

As soon as Asami pulled away, Korra knew she'd done wrong. It could hurt for a moment before the relief, and she'd done it without warning. "I was trying to help your cramps. I should have asked first. I'm sorry."

"I'm not angry." Asami only seemed surprised as she touched her belly.

"No, really. Katara does it to me, and I hate it. I should have asked."

"To be fair, our relationship has gotten to a point where we understand most consent without words. But, yes, you should have asked about this. I do feel better."

It made Korra feel sick. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Asami stepped forward to cup Korra's cheeks and kiss her softly on the mouth. She tasted like coffee. "Make it up to me. Cook me dinner."

They exchanged soft kisses and rocked together through their next murmured exchange. "What are you feeling?"

"Something light."

Korra knew Asami's favorite, a favorite that she was personally getting tired of. "Egg drop soup again?"

"Extra tomatoes please."

Korra laughed. "That's almost too easy." She turned to make her way to the kitchen and jumped when Asami slapped her butt.

"You have an unhealthy fixation with my butt."

"Your butt is fantastic. So are your boobs."

"I'm sensing a theme. Do you like my eyeballs too?"

"You're also silly."

Asami fell asleep on the couch after dinner. Korra carried her to bed and snuggled in despite the early hour. Naga wriggled so that her massive head was positioned between them. Despite their comforting presences, Korra was worried enough about her schedule to get up to a check her planner.

She had a lecture highlighted in her planner, but there was a pencilled meeting at the White Lotus offices with a few more individuals who needed their bending returned. No university for her the next day. The afternoon was blocked off entirely for something that made her gut clench in nervous energy: Reeducation Camp Interview.

"Korra," Asami called from the bedroom.

She set her planner back against her glider and climbed into bed, taking Asami's hand over Naga's head. Asami fell back asleep. It took Korra a few minutes to settle into a place of peace. Tonight she didn't dream.


The reporter looked around him as he walked down the meditation platform on Air Temple Island. When he caught sight of Opal and Korra, he reached out to shake their hands. "Thank you for meeting with me."

"I'm sorry it took so long."

He shrugged. "No one seems inclined to talk about that place, but from what I have heard, it's a painful thing to remember."

"That's putting it mildly," Opal said softly.

"I have a series of questions, but I'd like to hear your accounts of what happened first."

Tenzin let them use his office for this, giving them the privacy they needed to discuss their accounts. It hurt to relive the memories, to pull them out, examine them, and put to words the horrors they'd seen. Opal broke down into tears more than once, and Korra fought her stomach through some of it. She went on a tangent about Kuvira and was embarrassed by it after.

They pushed through the entire interview that afternoon. Fang kept a level face, but he gave them a weary smile before he left. "This could push me to drink again. I'm sorry for bringing back such horrifying memories, but it's for a good cause."

"If you need me to testify or anything, just tell me. I shouldn't have left it this long."

"Me too," Opal said quietly.

"Thank you both. I'll contact you again when needed." Fang bowed traditionally before he turned and walked away.

"That sucked," Opal said quietly.

"Yeah. Let's get a drink. Just us."

"Let's. If I drink I might be able to stomach something to eat too."

Instead of going out, Opal brought a bottle of whiskey she'd smuggled onto the island to Korra's room. "I was afraid Grandma would sniff it out, but she hasn't." They each took a shot, laughing at their own juvenile attempt to be heavy drinkers, and played Pai Sho through the evening with the radio tuned to Republic City's jazz station.

"How are you and Bolin?"

"Good. If he asks me to marry him, I'm going to say yes. Screw my mother."

"Opal," Korra chastised. Opal had really turned into a spitfire since living away from her family. She was more like her mother than she probably liked to admit.

Now Opal shot her a pure Beifong glare. "If you mother told you Asami was a waste of air, what would you say?"

"Su said that?"

"Of course she did. She wants me to marry an engineer and settle down and have lots of brilliant babies." Opal sighed. "I love her, but sometimes she pisses me off. My brothers get to be whatever they want, but as the girl, I have to stay close and follow her every wish."

"Sorry."

"Sorry for you. I saw your bruises in the bath. Made me glad I'm not an earthbender."

"I'm getting better at using earthbending to sense my surroundings."

Opal waved it off. "Of course you are. You're amazing. What I want to know is how you and Asami are doing."

"Great."

"Lots of 'booms'?" Opal asked teasingly.

Korra laughed and blushed, probably confirmation enough. "She's starting to come around to being public about our relationship."

"That's pretty big."

"I know. If she changes her mind, I'll understand, but I really want to be able to be her girlfriend in public."

"Ask her to marry you."

Korra dropped her tea, spilling it all over the board. Opal burst into laughter as she started to mop up the mess. "I didn't know I'd scare you by saying that!"

"Marry? Are you serious?"

"If you want to declare to the public that she's your lover, then yes, marry her. There's no question then and no question about if you're eligible. I bet Asami gets a lot of offers."

"Of marriage?"

"No." Opal looked at her like she was crazy. "Sex and dating. She's rich, beautiful, successful, and really smart. Anyone with half a brain would want her to take care of them. She'd be one hell of a rice mama."

"Rice mama?"

"Yeah, a woman who has a lot of money and attracts someone to have sex with for that reason."

Korra giggled. "What would I be then?"

"A kept woman?"

They both laughed at that. "Where did that phrase come from?"

"Rice is the old currency, so rice was what people traded for sex."

"Rice means everything."

"That's the point."

"You're weird."

"Excuse me!" Opal kept her outrage for a moment before she laughed.

A light knock sounded on the door. Bolin's voice came through the door. "Opal? Korra?"

"There's my rice daddy," Opal said with a wink. She grabbed her still full whiskey bottle and saw herself out. Bolin only got a wave in to greet Korra before Opal had him by the collar and tugged him down the hall.


For the first time in weeks, Korra dreamed of Flesher. She dreamed she was using one on him, stripping his skin away as he laughed in her face. When she pushed the final hard cut into his chest, the skin peeled away, and it wasn't Flesher but her dark shadow that stared at her with wide white eyes. Her shadow's mouth opened in a harsh grin.

Korra awoke with a gasp. She pushed away Naga, who was whining and nudging her shoulder. She sat up, pressed her face into her hands and took several shuddering breaths. She wished Asami was here for comfort.

"I'm okay," she told Naga. "I'm okay."

She escaped her room to walk along the meditation walkway. The moon was bright but it didn't outshine the golden spirit portal. Korra stared at that column of light. Inside her firmed her abrupt decision. Toph had said, 'Do your job.' It was time to do just that.

Korra didn't hesitate. She dove off the meditation platform and swept water up around her, using a hard push of waterbending to propel herself beneath the water and towards shore.

A few minutes later, she pushed herself out of the bay and slung water from her hair and clothes with a quick shake. This time of night there was little traffic, but one car did pull up as Korra walked along the sidewalk. She realized she should have grabbed her glider.

"Do you need help?" the driver asked her.

Korra looked down at herself. She'd worn a dark tank that night at least so she hadn't shown anything too revealing. She only had her underwear on, but hers covered a lot more than Asami's skimpy panties.

"I'm okay. Can you give me a ride to the spirit portal? I left my glider back on Air Temple Island."

The man brightened immediately as recognition swept his features. "Sure thing. Why are you out so late, Avatar?"

"Spur of the moment idea."

"I'm Tintin, by the way," the man said as she buckled up. He cleared his throat as he turned onto the street. "So, um, are you getting back into probending?"

"Yep. For a fundraiser. I don't think I'll have time to do more than that, but we'll see."

"I'll be there. Tickets are going to be crazy expensive."

"I'd say that sucks, but that's kind of the point, right?"

He laughed and pulled onto a side street. Two blocks down, a cluster of vines could be seen. "I don't want to get any closer. Hey, Avatar, do you mind signing something for me? So I can prove to some of my buddies I was the one that gave you a ride tonight?"

"Sure."

His grin was pure delight. He reached across her to open the glovebox and pulled out an old parking ticket and a pen. She wrote: Thanks for the lift, Tintin! Get in touch with me later, and maybe I'll score you a ticket or two for the probending tourney. -Avatar Korra

"You mean it?!" he asked, reading it with a huge grin.

"Sure thing. Thanks, Tintin." She hopped out of his car and jogged down the block towards the vines. It took her another ten minutes to navigate through the maze of vines that had grown thicker in recent weeks. Stepping into the spirit portal was a relief.

Apparently she was expected. There was a ring of at least a hundred spirits waiting for her. Korra was spooked by them for a moment before she studied the quiet surroundings. There was no hint of darkness here.

The eel spirit floated nearby, but he didn't approach. Instead, the baboon spirit caught her eye and stepped close. His voice was deep and easy. "Avatar Korra."

"Hello. Will you answer my questions?"

He nodded, stroking his chin sagely. "We will try."

"I want to help you, but I need to know more about you. Why do you go dark? Why don't you help each other? How can I fix you?"

He cocked his head. Then he said, "My name is Tong."

Korra bowed to him, understanding the gesture for what it was. "Thank you, Tong."

His entire body rippled, and suddenly he reached out to press his hands between her breasts. He pushed inside her, an agonizing pressure, and then he was wiggling into her chest, bit by bit. Her skin felt stretched tight and painful, and she could feel him inside her body, her spirit, and it was wrong. Korra rocked back and screamed, and he screamed with her, and suddenly it was only ache and darkness and a dead part inside that she needed to cut away, moving upward and onward and it was wrong.

Names layered on top of each other as more spirits pushed inside her until she was fit to burst with their essences.

Then they were gone.

She came back to herself with a deep gulp of air. She sobbed and rolled onto her side, an echo of a scream in her ears; her throat hurt. It was too much, too many, and her name was rolled up in so many others that had been given to her. These names knew each other, felt each other, were each other, and they flooded her singular existence.

Korra, came a soft, deep whisper from within her. Raava, tugging her out, opening her up, and rooting her into herself again. In the soft female voice of Raava, the deep rumble of Vaatu spoke too: Korra. Korra. She was Korra.

Korra slowly rolled onto her back. The next breath she took seemed to balloon her body that had been so filled before. Tong stood over her. "It has been a long time since we've shared with a human. Forgive the intrusion. Do you see now why?"

She put her hand to her chest as she rolled to her side. 'Intrusion' was an understatement. Her voice was hoarse and wet, and her tears dripped onto the ground. "Where does it come from? The darkness?"

"You saw," he admonished her gently. "Could you point to a part of your body to identify where the poison arises? Corruption may be traced back to its roots from the corrupted, but we can't focus on the truth of another spirit without its truth becoming ours."

She felt it, the echo of oneness between all spirits. They distinguished among themselves—they each gave themselves names—but they were all part of a greater whole. Reaching for the truth of a corrupted spirit pushed another closer to corruption. She remembered the little yellow spirit's words: "If she corrupts more… She'll be on her own." Not because of lack of care, but out of necessity. They all knew each other's truths until that truth hurt.

"You disconnect from corrupted spirits."

"Yes," Tong said evenly. He held out his hand to pull Korra up. When they touched, she felt his disquiet. "Our corruption has grown alarmingly since you opened our world to the physical world."

"So this corruption is from the physical world?"

"Yes," he responded. His fingers brushed over her arms, and where he touched her, she felt familiarity and warmth. His touch was gentle, and it soothed the ache of her sore, bruised muscles. "Heal us," he said quietly. "Help us."

She felt his sorrow now. Korra wiped away her tears and nodded. "I will. I'm trying."

He faded from her sight, and one by one, the other spirits faded.

The little yellow spirit sat on her knee, and they simply existed together as others slipped away. Korra looked at him and saw the truth of it now: he was both dark and light and held a delicate balance of those energies. If she reached out to pluck the darkness from him, he would die.

Whatever was making spirits dark wasn't tainting them; it was either stripping the light spiritual energy or causing the dark to overgrow.

"How do I fix you without killing you?" she asked him.

"We don't know," the little yellow spirit responded softly. "We can't change our energies, but you can. You did when you created the spirit portal: the great imbalance became balance."

"What about the vines draining people?"

He frowned in concentration, and the few spirits floating nearby scattered like a school of fish. "They only do what you have taught them."

Though his touch, she knew the truth of it. It was an achingly alien thing to understand the primal motivations of a spirit vine—pure spiritual energies in physical form. The yellow spirit shifted, drawing her attention back to him. "Korra, my name is Tom."

"Tom," she said quietly. "It's good to meet you."

He reached out and brushed his cheek against hers. With that touch came another gentle influx of knowledge and experience. Tom was older than she could guess, but he wasn't close to Tong's great age.

"I should have done this a long time ago, shouldn't I?"

Tom only smiled. "You weren't ready. Today you are. We'll come to you again, Korra."

"Thank you, Tom."

"Thank you. You've opened a whole new world to us, Avatar. We're fuller for knowing it."

She watched him fade away and put a hand over her heart. She cried for them, for herself, and for the new open knowledge she held of the spirit world. She cried for the hope of finding a way to fix it all and the relief of finally understanding why.