"Don't worry my dear, I'm sure someone will come looking for you soon. I wish I could offer you some tea but, well, you see why I cannot."

Iroh said with a sympathetic smile. Asami Sato sat before him, her hands bound behind her back to a stake in the ground. A seamless metal band had been wrapped securely around her head, covering her mouth and preventing her from speaking. Iroh had simply been wandering around, admiring the beauty and mystery of the ever changing Spirit World. Finally he saw in the distance what he'd been looking for, the light of the newly opened portal. Curious to see it, he'd been casually searching ever since hearing word of the Avatar's last great battle. To his great surprise he instead happened upon a living young woman chained to the ground. For nearly two days he'd sat with her, keeping her company as they waited for her rescue. He'd tried to free her but his hands simply passed through the chains. The living can't bend the elements of the Spirit World, and it would seem as though spirits can't interact with materials from the living world as well.

"Perhaps you would like to hear a song instead?" He asked. Asami simply nodded, hoping he could tell she was trying to smile. He pulled a small stringed instrument from his seemingly bottomless bag that had already produced the large blanket they now sat on, and the full tea set spread out beside them.

Iroh cleared his throat as he strummed the instrument, making sure it was in tune. Before he could begin playing however, the portal began glowing even brighter, catching their attention. Soon after a silhouette could be seen moving towards them. Asami panicked at first, but then breathed a sigh of relief as she realized the figure was that of a young woman's.

Korra...

The light of the portal slowly dimmed as the figure crossed fully into the Spirit World. As she stepped out into the flowery meadow, Asami's relief turned to shock and confusion, then fear.

No... No you have to get out of here... Please, run...

Kuvira stood there, looking out at the field as she remembered the last time she were here.

Now, if I were Asami Sato where would I... Oh. Well that was easy.

She thought, eyes widening in surprise when she saw Asami sitting no further than fifty yards away. Her eyes immediately narrowed however when she saw the old man sitting next to her.

Is that... No, he's too old. So who is he then?

Iroh stood, the cheerful look on his face gone as soon as he noticed the shocked one on Asami's. In a stern, almost threatening voice that she could not imagine coming from this kind man, he called out to Kuvira.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" Kuvira yelled back. Cautiously she began moving towards the two, fists clenched, ready to attack. She stopped short about ten feet away, sizing up this strange old man.

"My name is Iroh, and I have lived here for quite some time. Now tell me, who are you?"

"Iroh?... General Iroh?"

"No one has called me that in a very long time. Tell me who you are, don't make me ask again."

Kuvira relaxed immediately, a slight smile on her face as she remembered the story Korra told her about meeting the great General Iroh.

"I'm sorry General, I didn't realize who you were. My name is Kuvira."

"Kuvira?... So, you're the Great Uniter. Oh yes, I know who you are." He said when he noticed the confusion in her eyes. "Did you do this?"
He asked, gesturing towards Asami.

"No, I've come to save her and find the person who took her here."

"Is that so?" He asked, looking down at Asami for confirmation. She nodded, signaling that Kuvira wasn't a danger. Iroh smiled immediately, picking up a tray from the blanket behind him.

"Well in that case, may I offer you some tea?"

...

"Thank you for all your help General. I'm sorry to cut the visit short but we really need to get out of here." Kuvira said a short time later. She, Iroh, and a now unchained Asami all sat together.

"What's your hurry? It's not often I get visitors here." Iroh said jokingly, making the usually stoic Kuvira smile for the umpteenth time since arriving in the Spirit World.

"Well... Technically speaking I broke out of prison to come here. I'm going to turn myself in as soon as I know Asami is safe, but the sooner I do the better. Republic City is probably tearing itself apart trying to find me."

"I see. The Avatar spoke highly of you the last time she came to see me. I did not believe her at first, after everything you did. But meeting you now, I know she was right... My nephew was once much like you. But he changed, as you have, and he dedicated his life to making the world a better place. Perhaps you will too, Kuvira." He said. With one last smile and a nod to Asami, he vanished, surprising both girls.

Once the shock wore off, Kuvira turned to Asami. "Can you walk?"

Asami nodded before shakily getting to her feet. Kuvira stood as well, and once she was certain Asami was alright, gave her a quick hug.

"Sorry... I'm just really glad you're okay." Kuvira said when she stepped back and saw the strange look Asami was giving her. She then looked back at the portal and sighed. She was so tempted to just send Asami back alone and stay in the Spirit World...

You made a promise Kuvira, and you're going to keep it.

"Well, come on Asami, we should go back to the city." She said, as she began walking towards the gateway to the living world. She was stopped short however when Asami grabbed her wrist.

"What's wrong?" She asked, caught off guard by the fear she saw in Asami's eyes.

"Mmphf!"

"Oh, right. I'm sorry but I can't bend here, the second we're back in the city I'll get that thing off alright?"

"Mmmoh!" Asami sighed heavily, frustration clear in her eyes. With a resigned nod she began walking with Kuvira towards the portal. When they were almost there she stepped in front of Kuvira, making it clear she wanted to go first. Though she found this strange, Kuvira simply gestured to the portal; "lead the way."

Asami stepped into the light, and slowly began to fade away. As soon as she was gone Kuvira stepped in after her, and moments later they were both back in Republic City.

"Mmmmph! Mmm!" The urgency in Asami's voice could be heard even through the thick steel covering her mouth. Kuvira reached around the back of her head and separated the metal band, peeling it forward like tape. A second later it fell to the ground.

"It's a trap! You have to go Kuvira! NOW!"

But it was already too late. Before she could even form a response she felt her muscles seize and twitch, the blood flowing through her body became painfully slow and heavy. She was paralyzed, unable to even speak. Suddenly a voice broke through the ringing in her ears. A voice she'd heard in every nightmare she'd ever had for the last two decades. Her blood would've boiled if it weren't already ice in her veins.

"Kuvira... It's been far too long since I've seen my little niece, and my how you've grown! I hope you haven't missed me too much."