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Asami's POV

I watched as Senna soothingly ran the glowing water down Korra's back, unknotting the muscles. The teen let out a few whimpers at this, still sore from Amon's last attack. She was on her belly, gripping the sheets tightly before relaxing if only slightly. I sighed at this, thinking about recent events.

We had successfully rescued Iroh, Katara and her but that monster had made sure she didn't go unscathed. He had revealed that he had used Bloodbending on her while he raped her, using her own body against her. Now we had confirmation about just how sick and twisted this demon truly was.

Her parents had helped sooth her and so had Mako and I but I knew that now this revelation was planted in the back on her head. We tried to make her understand that it wasn't her fault, that she had fought hard to get away from him, that it had been out of her reach what he did to her.

After a moment the water stopped glowing and Senna placed the water back in the bucket, rubbing soothing circles on her daughter's back. Korra let out a sigh at this, and I could tell she was feeling a lot better than before. She sat up and smiled at her mother before sitting up and placing a shirt over her head. She smiled at me and I did the same.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Better," the teen replied.

"Mako has been going crazy," I commented after a moment. The Firebender hadn't been allowed to be with her, since she had to be without a shirt, along with her father.

She smiled a little at this. "I better go see him then," the Water Tribe girl said as she got up and exited the tent.

"How is she?" I asked after a while. I needed to know if she was okay, physically at least.

"The muscles are slowly unknotting," Senna answered. "But I'm worried about her. She cries and screams in her sleep."

I nodded. The girl had stopped doing this after her parents arrival but now…now she was regressing back into her shell, and I feared that if she went back in, she would never be the same again.

"Have you heard the broadcast?" I whispered.

The girl's mother nodded. "Three people each day she doesn't confront him," the mother answered. "It's been two days."

I sighed and nodded again. It was only a matter of time before Korra found out and when she did…I didn't even want to know how she'd react. I left the tent after, looking for her and found her sitting in between Mako's legs, his arms wrapped around protectively. For the first time since her rescue, she actually looked calm.

I sat down and looked over to where Tenzin was. He and Iroh had been spending a lot of time together, trying to contact Commander Bumi, the Airbender's older brother. Pema and the kids where with Katara, who held the youngest child, Rohan. The elder had talked to Korra shortly after the rescue while guiding Senna in how to undo the knots caused by Bloodbender. Korra had looked relieved at seeing the elder again, but that quickly changed to guilt when she found out the war hero could no longer Bend.

"Hey Asami," Bolin greeted, sitting down next to me. "What are you doing?"

I opened my mouth to speak but the radio cracked and I quickly turned to look at Mako. He nodded at me and got up, asking Korra to follow him and the teen did so until the revolutionist's voice was heard.

"Good evening citizens of Republic City," he said. Korra immediately stilled, causing Mako to do the same. "As you all know, I will be killing three Benders every day the Avatar does not turn herself in to me. This is day three, meaning she has already let nine Benders die."

I could see the horror reflected on the girl's face. The Firebender gently gabbed her arm, trying to get her to follow him but she wouldn't budge.

"I have the three Benders ready," Amon continued. "And as usual I will broadcast their deaths, so you can hear them-" I stood up and turned the radio off, looking over at Korra.

The girl shook her head before turning to look at Mako, and I could see the accusation and pain in her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Korra, you were in pain," he explained. "I didn't want you to worry."

"Didn't want me to worry?" the girl asked. "Mako, people have been dying because of me!"

The Firebender opened his mouth to speak but she turned around and ran as fast as she could into the tunnels. He made a move to follow her but I stopped him, grabbing his arm and shaking my head.

"I'll go after her," I said. Mako opened his mouth but I cut him off. "She needs a girl talk. Let me handle it."

I ran after her and found her not too far off, leaning against the tunnel walls, her face hidden behind the palms of her hands. For a moment I thought she was crying but when she heard me, her hands lowered and I saw no tears.

"Hey," I called. "Are you ok?"

She looked up at me, her eyes staring at me so contemplatively that I felt like I (italics) was the one being studied for once. I suddenly imagined this was what a bug felt when they put it under a microscope and I couldn't help but think that Korra suddenly looked so much older than she was. She seemed so worn down and exhausted.

"Have you ever thought, even for a second, that the world would be a better place if you weren't in it?"

I tensed, ever muscle in my body tightening. Where was this coming from? I thought we were passed this.

"Why can't you save anybody?" she asked as she leaned her head back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling, as if looking for her answer there. After a moment she closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "I'm just so tired, Asami."

"Korra, talk to me," I told her gently, sitting down next to her. I had to stop her before her thoughts suffocated the life out of her.

"People are dying because of me," Korra whispered.

"This isn't your fault," I tried reasoning. "You can't keep blaming yourself for something that is out of your control."

"It is my fault," she countered. "If I hadn't escaped…if I hadn't snuck out that night…none of this would have happened. People wouldn't die if I didn't exist."

"Don't say that," I replied. "Korra, we are born, we live, and then we die. That's how life works. You can take yourself out of the equation but that doesn't change things. Life would still go on, death would still happen."

The teen stared at me for a moment before leaning against my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her. I could see silent tears falling down her face and I rubbed my hand up and down her arm. I didn't know how to make her understand that it wasn't her fault.

"I want this war to be over," Korra whispered after a moment. "I want it all to go away so I can go home. I miss the snow."

"It's going to end soon," I assured. "Bumi is already on his way. He should be here in a day or two."

"Are you sure?" she asked, pulling away. I nodded. "Then I need to be ready too."

I raised a brow at this. "Korra, you don't have to fight if you don't want to," I told her.

"I have to," the teen replied, determination in her eyes. "Maybe you're right and death happens with or without me. But I won't let it happen anymore. I'm going to face Amon and bring him down once and for all."

I opened my mouth to say something, I'm not really sure what, but then I stopped. Her eyes, just moments ago were aged and tired, now were filled with a bright blaze like the fire she commanded. Her attitude had pulled a one eighty in a matter of seconds. She was ready.

So, I simply smiled at the younger girl, my friend, and nodded my head. "Alright then."

Lin's POV

Korra had found out what Amon had been doing. I couldn't help but yell at everyone who had been close by for leaving the radio on. It was as if these people didn't know what Korra had been through…well most didn't but those who did had to be careful, dammit!

I paced around, waiting for her to come back after she had run off. We had made so much progress…worked hard to bring back her self esteem but I feared that even something as simple as what she'd heard might send her spiraling downhill again.

I stopped my pacing when I saw her come back, the Sato girl next to her and I let out a sigh of relief. As she drew closer I saw the determination on her face and in her eyes and I smiled. The Avatar was back.

She called Katara over and the elder got up, walking over to her former pupil as we all did. What was she planning?

"Korra, what's going on?" the ex-Waterbender asked.

The teen breathed deeply. "You're going to need to trust me," the girl said. "Close your eyes. There's something I want to try."

Katara eyed her before doing as she was told. I didn't think much of the request but I couldn't help but wonder. The girl took deep breaths as she too closed her eyes before placing a thumb on the elder's forehead and another over her heart.

What happened next surprised not only me, but everyone else.

When Korra opened her eyes, they weren't their normal cobalt blue, they were glowing. The Avatar state. Her thumbs also began to glow and she stood this way for a few moments before the glowing stopped and she stepped back.

The war hero opened her eyes as well and blinked a few times before looking over to the well of water we had. She took in a deep breath and raised her hand, the water in well rising as well, bending to the will of the elder. Everyone's mouth dropped, mine included. She had gotten her Bending back. Katara smiled at this and placed the water back.

"Thank you, Korra," she said, embracing the teen. I could see the look of relief on the young Avatar's face and I knew what needed to happen.

"It's time we take back the City," I began. "But we are going to do this my way. Outside the law."

The teen nodded. "We'll need to split up," Korra added. "It's time to end this."

"My Metalbenders and I will take back City Hall," I replied. "Once we have the heart of the city, it shouldn't take much to take the rest."

"The council needs to be rescued," Tenzin added. "Republic City is in chaos and we need to keep peace."

"What about Commander Bumi?" Iroh asked. "He's going to need help."

"Well then, lets organize ourselves," Korra said as everyone went over the battle plan.

I glanced over the teen, a small smile tugging at my lips. The Avatar was back. But more importantly, Korra was, and that's all that mattered.