I've finally decided just how I'm going to end the amnesia plot. It's not going to be quick and I'm not saying all of you are going to like it, but it's what feels right to me.

Far From Home

Korra stood looking out across the endless expanse of the Si Wong Desert, Naga at her side; there was nothing but sand and stars for as far as her keen eyes could see. She could sense the camp around her, the men and women of the United Forces unit tasked with dealing with the raiders who were striking at the trade caravans that criss-crossed the desert. It was simply too big to go around in a reasonable time-frame, and building a railway across its ever shifting surface was nigh impossible, even with someone like Varrick on the job. They'd tried flying over it, but there was still a limit to how much even the largest airship could carry, and the bulk cargo carriers tended to be slow and unwieldy, easy pray to the bandits, who had managed to acquire a number of ex-Earth Nation military airships and even a handful of biplanes. Sky Piracy, the more sensationalist newspapers and radio stations were calling it, rousing the public interest to such heights that the expeditionary force had been saddled with a gaggle of reporters and even a Movers team to document everything. Twice Korra had been forced to restrain herself from punching one reporter who had some crazy romantic image of the raiders. She felt sure the young man would have felt a little different if he'd seen the aftermath of one of the more recent raiders, where a passenger ship had been forced down near a Buzzard Wasp hive. After securing the ships strong box, the raiders had trashed the ships radio so they couldn't call for help, then left the completely unarmed survivors to fend for themselves.

There hadn't been many survivors when a patrol ship sent out to search for the transport after it failed to make scheduled radio contact with a nearby military outpost spotted the plume of smoke and investigated. Korra had seen the bodies they had managed to recover and spoken to the commander of the rescue ship, the poor woman looking like she was about to either pass out or lose her lunch, possible both.

Korra left a cold breeze drift over the camp; having grown up in the Arctic wastes, she was no stranger to the cold, but it was still a surprise just how quickly the almost unbearable heat of the day had vanished, the temperature seeming to drop with the setting sun. she could hear people in the camp talking in hushed voices, but made no effort to join them. Most of them seemed to be in awe of her, almost to the point of timidness. Not for the first time, Korra wished that General Iroh had been in command, given how easy he seemed to find conversing with those under his command. But he'd been called back to the Fire Nation the day before they had left Republic City, and the United Forces had scrambled to find a replacement, a stern looking woman from one of the independent City States that had sprung up in the wake of the Civil War who Korra had never met before. She seemed competent, if a little put out that Raiko had forced the Avatar upon her, and seemed intent on maintaining a strictly professional relationship.

"Here." Kai appeared seemingly out of nowhere, the years having not diminished the former thief's ability to move silently and unnoticed when he wanted, "I thought you might like some tea."

"Thank you." Korra took the offered cup and held it with both hands, feeling the warms against her skin, "You didn't have to come, you know; I'm sure Bumi could have found another Air Ranger..."

"I kind of get the feeling that he's still a little... upset, with me over the whole 'getting Jinora pregnant and not marrying her' thing." The young airbender looked down at his own cup, "Something about the way he said 'and you can consider yourself on punishment duty until told otherwise' before handing me my orders."

"He's just... overly protective of his family." Korra nudged her friend with a shoulder, "Still, I can understand how you feel; I remember when Asami was..."

Her words trailed off into an uncomfortable silence, Kai unsure if he should say something or not. He opened his mouth to speak a couple of times, but his voice failed him every time.

"Want some free Avatar wisdom?" Korra asked, downing her tea in a single gulp, savouring the feel of it burning its way down her throat, "Make every moment you have with Jinora count." With that she handed the cup back and started to walk away, "And get some sleep; tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Asami sat looking at the bed before her; it was freshly made, and looked much more comfortable and inviting than the one she'd had at the hospital. Part of her wanted nothing more than to slip between the sheets, wrap herself up in the comforter and just drift away.

It has been a long day, starting when Kya had come to see her just after breakfast and told her that there was nothing more the doctors at the hospital could do for her, and that in their medical opinion, she'd be better off at home. Only Asami didn't have a home; the hospital was all she could remember, all she knew of the world. She's tried to convince them to let her stay, but the older healer had been insistent that she needed a change of scenery. Even if her memories never returned, she needed to get out and experience the world first hand. And with much trepidation, and the encouragement of her father, she had agreed to at least give it a try. The drive from the hospital had been somewhat daunting, given what she had been told of the accident hat had landed her there in the first place, but the streets had been cordoned off, allowing the small convoy to make the journey quickly and uneventfully.

She'd been more than a little shocked when she arrived at their destination; the house looked even bigger than the hospital, with gardens and grounds that seemed to stretch off into the distance. Dozens of strangers, some evidently staff, others dressed in the white and blue uniform she had come to recognise as that of the Order of the White Lotus, stopped what they were doing and turned to watch as her car made its way up the long drive to the main house, where an older woman with dark hair that was just starting to go grey around the edges stood waiting.

Her father had introduced the woman as Senna, Korra's mother, and Asami had been shocked by the warm and friendly embrace she had found herself in. It was clear that the other woman had strong feeling for her, but she found herself standing like a somewhat uncomfortable statue until finally Senna stepped back with an apology. She had been quickly ushered inside the house, and found herself quickly lost as she was given an all-too-quick tour of the main building. More than once during the day she'd gotten turned around and found herself having to ask one of the staff for directions. It was clear that they were all glad to have her back, and loved and respected her, but it was also clear that all that adoration was for the person she had been before the accident. Once it became clear that she wasn't the same person she had been, it felt like everyone was taking a step back, leaving her feeling alone and isolated.

A discrete enquiry informed her that the children were staying with Mako and Kuvira for the time being, with Senna staying on to act as a liaison between the two households. Asami was grateful for that, given that she had no idea how to act around children that where hers, but at the same time, total strangers. She had no idea how she'd deal with them when the time came, no idea what was expected of her. The amnesia had robbed her of all the memories that made her her, but somehow left her with an understanding of the world around her. She knew the name of the city, how the government worked, the names and uses of every day items and felt fairly certain that, given the opportunity, she could have driven herself home from the hospital... although she'd had no idea where 'home' was, so perhaps it was best that someone else had driven.

Much of the day had been spent looking at even more photographs; her as a child, with her parents, then just her father. These gradually changed into her as a young adult, graduating high school in a cap and gown, Valedictorian. There were several that showed her in in overalls, tinkering with some piece of machinery or another, evidently taken at one of her fathers factories. She seemed happy, content in them. Then came a couple with Mako, and while it was clear that they were having a good time, there didn't seem to be a real connection between them. Then she came to the ones with Korra, and something seemed to change. At first, it was clear that they were just friends, but as the photos went on, she could see a softening of smiles, a change in the way they stood with each other, growing closer.

It was intermediately evident when she came to the photos of them as a couple, even without the betrothal necklaces she wore. Asami felt herself reaching for her neck, searching for the missing symbol of her marriage, feeling somehow incomplete without it there. There were photos of two weddings, one with her in a figure-hugging black kimono with red roses, Korra in a white and blue kimono that did nothing to hide her toned but feminine shape. The second showed her in a white wedding dress, while Korra was in a ice-blue gown. It was a bit surprising to see herself holding Korra in her arms and kissing her deeply, but it was clear that they had been deeply in love.

More family photos followed; Asami pregnant with what must have been her twin daughters, then her in what looked like a hospital room, looking warn out but happy as she cradled a baby in each arm, Korra standing beside her with a look of absolute devotion on her face. Then came a photo of the two of them dozing on a couch, Korra actually drooling onto Asami's shoulder! She had no idea who'd taken that photo, or why she'd let them, but there it was. Then came an official looking photo of the four of them, and more of them at some kind of ball or gala event, followed by them at the wedding of a young couple she didn't recognise, dressed as bridesmaids. More photos of family life followed, until it became clear that Korra was pregnant, then one of the Avatar holding a baby, Asami sitting beside her on a bed, her arm around the other woman as she smiled at the two of them.

Putting the photos down, she had looked around her room for a while, trying to get a feel for the place. She found a red box at the back of the closet, but it was locked and she had no idea where the key might be. Whatever it was, someone had gone to the trouble of hiding it from casual searches, and she made a mental note to ask Korra about it the next time they talked. Then she came across her diary, and started to read.

To Be Continued...