From the other side of the door Kuvira heard rustling followed by heavy footsteps getting louder.

The door opened. Korra stood at the other end and off to the corner of the room; Asami was sitting at the coffee table with her head turned toward the door.

Both of them were blushing and Kuvira wondered whether she interrupted something intimate.

"Looks like this is a bad time – I'll come back," Kuvira said, turning to go.

"No, no. We were just figuring out who, er, I mean what to eat."

Asami coughed.

"Because we're hungry… for food," Korra said.

The Avatar appeared flustered and that's when the former Great Uniter knew for sure the couple was doing something naughty. But that's the thing – the act of love between lovers, what could be so naughty about it?

Korra stepped to the side and cleared her throat before appearing to shake off whatever mood Kuvira found her in by straightening up and looking focused.

Kuvira entered the room and noticed Asami's glare, decided it was better to stand. But from where she stood, she glanced at Asami's blouse, which had one or two extra buttons open at the top. Asami noticed this look, blushed and buttoned up. Kuvira was humiliated by this blunder of her eyes. But still, she wondered whether she had translated Asami's look correctly moments ago. She thought it was one of pure volatility but perhaps there was something more to it.

Either way, she was there for a reason. After the confrontation the day before and the revelation her ankle bracelet didn't work, not to mention the look on Opal's face when it was revealed she slept with Korra, Kuvira spent the rest of the day and night alone in her room, thinking.

Something was amiss within her and had long been. She could easily escape but kept herself in Zaofu at the Beifong estate. Why? To pay penance for her crimes? To reform herself? It was true to an extent, but really she was guilty for not feeling guilty, a feeling seemingly slightly but profoundly different from repentance.

But now, more than anything, she wanted to know if what she aimed to accomplish was righteous after all. She needed to know whether her lack of guilt was warranted and the world misunderstood her or if there was something more sinister within her. If the latter was true, she was willing to pay for it. No longer would she allow anyone to consider her a coward.

"Avatar Korra, and especially you, Asami," Kuvira began, "I wanted to apologize. For everything. Yesterday I said I didn't do anything wrong – but that was a lie. I meant since I was under house arrest in Zaofu. But that was also a lie. I disabled my ankle bracelet a long time ago."

Korrasami looked down toward Kuvira's ankle and noticed she wasn't even wearing it anymore. She removed it.

"Why keep yourself here then?" Korra said.

"This wouldn't have happened if you wore an electrode ankle bracelet," Asami said, referring to her own tech and sparking Kuvira's memory of when she wore Asami's clothes and was incidentally shocked by the belt, which was electrode powered and button triggered. This woman sure did like shocking people, Kuvira thought.

"There's still the tracker, but either way, I could easily remove it any time, regardless of my ability to disable it. Bataar's lab has lots of tools to help with the simple operation. I just kept up with the charade because… to be honest, I don't know. What would be the point of escaping?" Kuvira looked to the ground. "I have nowhere else to go."

Korra's focus softened and even Asami relented her galvanizing stare at the former Great Uniter.

"And Asami, I am especially sorry for your father's death. Know that I did not mean it as a personal vendetta, it was just –"

"War," Asami finished. She scoffed. "Nothing personal, right? To you it wasn't personal, but to me it was. Your actions, even if you perceive them to be just, have consequences that can hurt others. Profoundly and personally."

Kuvira knew Asami was right, but she didn't have a consoling word to say. Realizing the impact of the death of one man, Asami's father, gave her insight into the pain she no doubt caused others.

"Which is also why I'm here," Kuvira said, turning to Korra. "I came to apologize, but also to seek judgment. And justice. I wish to go to the Spirit World to see the Judgment Spirit, and I would like you to please guide me, Avatar Korra."

Korra was silent a moment, then responded.

"It's not that easy. There are only two ways to enter the Spirit World. One way is physically walking through one of the three portals – the southern portal at the South Pole, the northern portal at the North Pole, and the newest portal, the one you and I created, in Republic City. The other way is to meditate. And while you may seem free at the moment, you are still on house arrest, so – "

"I want to meditate into the Spirit World."

"Also, I want to add that it's not that easy to meditate into the Spirit World. It took me, the Avatar, a long time before I could forge any type of spiritual connection. And Tenzin is Avatar Aang's son and an airbending master, and he can't meditate into the Spirit World at all. What makes you think you can?"

"I know I can because I've done it before."

The other two women in the room seemed shocked by this revelation. Kuvira took this as her cue to continue:

"I was a temperamental child. My parents ignored me most of the time, leaving me to play by myself with my toys. They couldn't handle me, didn't want to," Kuvira began, a misty haze collecting in her eyes. "Anyway, being a lonely only child, I immersed myself in games in my head, and before I knew it, I found myself in the Spirit World. It was wonderful at first, but it was also a scary place for me, a little girl who couldn't control her emotions, and so I stayed away from the Spirit World by blocking myself off from the thought of it. Eventually I convinced myself it was my imagination."

"And you want my help getting it back?" Korra said.

"Even if you could, what makes you think you can handle it now? I mean, you come off all cool and collected, but I've seen you lose your temper," Asami said.

Korra nodded in agreement.

"I did a lot of work on myself and spent a large part of my life working to control my emotions – to be a master, a true master, one must also master themself."

Korra raised an eyebrow at Kuvira.

"But like I told you before, Avatar, I'm still working on it!" Kuvira spat back before Korra could respond but collected herself just as quickly. "I'm not a true master yet, but I'm working on it. I need to – fulfill my karma."

"Who or what is the Judgment Spirit?" Asami said. She was no longer sitting and was now standing among the other women.

"It's an old and powerful dogfish spirit that reads your heart and judges your deeds," Kuvira said.

"I heard about this spirit from my uncle, Unalaq. If it finds blemishes on your heart or evil Karma, it'll take you to be cleansed… but that's all I know," Korra said, adding, "Kuvira, I'm not sure about this."

"I am," Kuvira said. "I need to know. I want… to do what's right."

"Then do it. Keep doing what you're doing! Train me," Korra retorted. Kuvira could see the Avatar getting worked up.

Kuvira shook her head.

"No, now I see I was selfish. It's time to face Judgment, Korra."

Korra slumped where she stood, defeated by Kuvira's resolve. Asami rubbed Korra's back for support but she seemed not to push back against Kuvira's reasoning, except to protect her girlfriend.

"I'll guide you," Korra said. "I need to make sure my sifu is safe."

"And I need to make sure you're safe," Asami said turning to Korra.

Korra kissed Asami, "Don't worry baby. I've faced much worse."

"It's settled then," Kuvira said.

"Does Su or Opal know?" Korra said.

"Yes they know. Opal insists on watching over me and helping with the ceremony, and Su… she doesn't think it's a good idea," Kuvira responded. "But she promised not to interfere."

With that the women planned Korvira's trip to the Spirit World for later on that evening.

···················

They met by the river at the embankment where Korra and Kuvira had their little dancing lesson. – Kuvira, Korra, Opal, and Asami. The waxing moon was low in the sky and reflecting off the coursing river, and the autumn blew a fine evening wind.

Korra walked over to the stream and stuck her hand in it. The near-freezing water jolted her senses but the rhythm of it flowing against the rocks in tandem with the natural order of things made the chi within Korra's body hum.

She remembered the lesson Kuvira taught her here, how they danced and Korra reconnected with a part of herself that had long been buried. And now she was here to help Kuvira do something similar, except with higher stakes.

If it came down to it and Kuvira was judged unfavorably by the dogfish spirit, she wasn't sure what she would do – would she respect Kuvira and the spirit's wishes, or would she intervene? Despite it all, Kuvira had become Korra's friend. And as much as she loved Asami and hated to see her love suffer over losing her father, Korra couldn't help but be grateful for her own father's life, thanks to Kuvira who saved him from Zaheer.

The women prepared for the long ride entering the Spirit World. There was no guarantee Kuvira would even be able to get in, but they were going to try. Asami and Opal would watch over Korra and Kuvira respectively, who prepared the fire. Kuvira walked over to where Korra gazed at the reflection of the moon in the stream and bent several stones out of it, hovering and laying them in a circle around the scorched bit of earth where they had their last bonfire. Korra brought some logs and Asami assisted while Opal prepared the incense and cleansed the area with airbending. Once the logs were stacked, Korra bent fire and they all sat around.

Korrasami were nestled against each other, gazing into the fire. There was something utterly relaxing and mesmerizing about staring into it, which seemed to dance a lyrical freestyle and crackle to its own beat. Perfect for this occasion.

Korra kissed Asami then, out of the blue, because she felt like it and because she was entering the spirit world soon, and going in there with a wild card made her nervous.

Kuvira and Opal watched this public display of affection from their side of the fire. Kuvira looked at Opal who smiled shyly while watching them, her feet digging into the earth with her knees akimbo. She wondered what this look meant. Was Korrasami's love something Opal wanted? Had?

"Opal, I want you to know," Kuvira said. "That I'm also doing this for us. I want to be… good, and I want to be good enough for you."

"What are you talking about?" Opal said, turning to Kuvira.

"What do you mean?" Kuvira said.

"You want to be good? Kuvira you are good. Being good and being right are two different things."

"I was wrong, then."

"A lot," Opal said, smiling and tucking her hair behind her ear. "But I see you trying. I do. And I love it."

Kuvira's heart fluttered and her head went light a moment. She wanted to scoop Opal up and kiss her and do things to her with Korrasami as their witness. But she couldn't. Not yet. Instead, she reached out a hand and put it over Opal's which was resting on her knee. She felt Opal tremble beneath her and pulled it away.

"Sorry, I –" Kuvira started to say, but Opal reached over and took her hand and they sat there quietly.

Finally, Opal broke the silence:

"I'm nervous for you. I… don't want you to go."

"But I –"

"Have to. You really don't. But I understand why you feel you do. That's why I –"

Opal stopped herself mid-sentence and Kuvira needed to know what she was going to say.

"You what?"

Opal shook her head. "Nothing. I mean I like that about you."

Kuvira grinned at this, her body electric from holding Opal's hand there sweetly, innocently.

They looked back over at the other two women, who were still kissing. It looked as if they needed to be alone, and it excited Kuvira a little to watch this display.

Ah to be in love like that. To know someone's body and heart and mind and soul like that. Kuvira had hoped she would once again experience this, though she was well on her way.

She caught herself being turned on by the other women and looked at Opal who thankfully didn't seem to notice but was also navel-gazing.

"You shouldn't stare," Kuvira teased Opal, who responded by pulling away her sweaty palm from the other woman's grasp and swiping at her playfully.

"I can't help it. Just look at them," Opal said. She tugged at Kuvira's lustrous braid playfully. "I was always enamored with your hair. It's so thick and silky."
Kuvira pulled her long braid around to the front and looked at it proudly.

"It is said to be a sign of strength and vitality. Of a warrior," she said, then chuckled to herself: "But of course you know these old stories because you also grew up being told them by your mother."

"I was lying too, partially. Truth was I was jealous of you. A lot. Not just your hair, but everything. And the way Mom looked at you as she taught you bending. She was so proud of her little protégé. And I was just a… nonbender," Opal admitted.

"I had no idea you felt that way. And to be fair, I never thought you were weak – exactly the opposite. Anyway, I was jealous of you too," Kuvira said. She looked down. "Because your mother loved you."

"My mom loved, I mean she loves you," Opal said.

"I mean my mother."

Opal leaned in to hug Kuvira and they lingered there a moment before pulling away, both of them getting worked up by the way their bodies pressed against each other.

Finally, Kuvira called out to the Avatar and her girlfriend: "Korra, Asami, shall we?"

The other women detached their lips from each other and nodded in agreement.

It was time.

Kuvira and Korra faced each other with the fire in the middle and sat cross-legged. Opal brought out an ancient Air Nation singing bowl and tapped it once every great while, when the vibrations of the previous ring had near fizzled out or met with the next solid thing or traveled with the current of the stream.

Korvira closed their eyes and concentrated on this sound and everything in between, the crackling fire, the rushing river, their own breathing.

Several minutes passed and Korra lifted an eyelid.

"Anything yet?"

"Not yet." Kuvira said.

"Oh. Me neither,"

"Duh, and shh!"

"Oops, sorry," Korra said, leaning over to scratch her butt.

Kuvira, meantime, was starting to feel tension in her neck and lower back. She was a dancer and flexible but had to admit sitting still was difficult. She fidgeted where she sat, and Opal said:

"Try to relax."

"I am relaxed!" Kuvira retorted, before realizing she wasn't and laughing at herself.

She readjusted until she was comfortable and began again.

In, out, in, out, Kuvira breathed slowly, traveling inward with her mind and keeping her mind's eye transfixed on the dancing flame. Even though her eyes were now closed, she could see the flame behind her eyelids and inside of her mind. That's where she focused. Until there was nothing else left. No thought, except for a gentle, focused nudge of her spirit to a subtler world.

The next time she opened her eyes, the world had transformed.

Kuvira found herself in an open field with stalks of soft purple grass swaying gently in the breeze. Everything was more vivid. The world seemed contradictory – permanent, yet transient.

Off in the distance were mountains, or was it the ocean? It was both and depending on how she looked, one took firmer shape over the other. Kuvira looked around and saw no one.

"Korra? Korra?" She called.

A meerkat spirit popped out of a hole in the ground and said, "You don't mean Avatar Korra do you? And you don't mean to say she's coming to the Spirit World?"

"Yes and yes," Kuvira said.

"Great, just great. Every time she does anything it's always a big to do. Well, I'm to-done!" The spirit said, crossing their cute little furry arms.

"By the way, you don't happen to know where I can find the dogfish spirit?" Kuvia said.

"the dogfish spirit!?" The meerkat spirit said. "Why would you want to see her?"

"It's personal," Kuvira said. "Now tell me where it is – please."

"Okay, okay, no need to be so authoritative."

"She lives in the sea o'er yonder. Go as if you're headed somewhere, then get lost on the way. And once you're lost, listen for the faint call, and follow it until it pierces your ears."

"Oh, that's all?" Kuvira said, not understanding this little spirit's logic.

"Dems the directions," the spirit said, and they dipped back into their hole.

Kuvira looked off in the distance and saw the vast ocean had taken permanent shape before her eyes. She walked toward it in a time that seemed like forever but was also instantaneous. Suddenly she was at the edge of the sea at a small dock that held a sail boat.

Climbing onto the boat, she inspected the sail and all of its parts. She didn't know much about sailing but this was the Spirit World, and that was a spirit boat. What she figured in the end was that she would need a partner to help with the jib.

"Need a hand?" Kuvira heard a voice say.

She turned around and saw Korra standing at the dock.

Kuvira said gleefully, "Avatar, I'm glad you made it after all."

"What are you talking about? I was right behind you the whole time," the Avatar said, winking.

"If you say so," Kuvira said. "All aboard!"

"Aye aye, Captain Kuvira."

"By the way, I don't know a single thing about boats," Kuvira said. "Do you trust me now?"

"Nope, but I'm taking the risk anyway, friend. I got your back."

Korra climbed in. Luckily, she knew a thing or two about sailing from growing up in the Southern Water Tribe and sailing around the world when she went on her spirit-searching journey. She couldn't use her bending here, so she had to do it the spirit-fashioned way.

·

They sailed toward nowhere, occasionally turning here and there and remembering to duck when the boom came swinging, until they were good and lost. The mist collected around them in the open sea and they couldn't see much of anything.

"Anything yet?" Korra said.

"Nothing. Wait. Shh! I hear something!" Kuvira whispered excitedly.

A faint hum sounded – was it a woman singing? No, a woman couldn't make those sounds, but it was sweet, and it seemed to call out to them.

"Follow that sound," Kuvira said.

"There's no more wind here," Korra said. "Wait -"

Suddenly the wind picked up and bellowed the subtle sound of the music. They followed it, letting the wind guide them, the sound becoming a beautiful melody.

"Oh Spirits, it's so beautiful," Korra said, her blue eyes losing focus as she became transfixed on the sound.

"It's, it's gorgeous. I needed to feel something – and now I have." Kuvira fell to her knees.

Finally, the sound distorted and became a painful loud ringing that broke their reverie, and they found themselves clapping their hands to ears to muffle the sound, even though it rang all around and within them. They didn't know how long they had daydreamed before their rude awakening, but Kuvira felt as if she was lost in place for ages, as if something had taken the time to scan her entire being.

The boat docked against the shore of a forest, and the two women climbed out and walked toward the beckoning, now silent but ringing inside of them. The dogfish spirit knew they were coming.

As they walked, spirits ran about hither and thither, showing themselves and then quickly disappearing in the shadows. The forest became dark and the trees took on menacing angles against the night sky. Glowing eyes populated the trees – small, vexing spirit animals.

Kuvira was afraid and cold, shaking to her core. She felt a sense of dread envelop her and her body resisted from going any further. She stopped.

"What's wrong?" Korra said, placing a hand on Kuvira's shoulder.

"Nothing, it's just – "

But Kuvira now found herself a child again – Baby Kuvira with her longish braid and rounded tummy and green Earth Nation outfit. Everything was so big, and she was frightened by the tall figure next to her.

"Ahh! Who are you? I want to go home! I want my mommy!" Kuvira cried.

She dashed off deeper into the forest and away from Korra.

"Kuvira, wait!" Korra called, and chased after her.

The tree branches scratched Korra as she ran; the abject sounds of the forest reeked of dark spirits.

She found little Kuvira sitting curled into herself, crying.

"There there, don't cry," Korra tried to reassure her.

"You're not my mommy!" Kuvira yelled.

"OK then, cry. Maybe you need it. What's wrong? Wanna tell me about it?"

Kuvira was silent and pouting with her little beauty mark resting beneath her tired eyes from crying. Korra saw what she had to do, and she transformed into Baby Korra with pigtails and a rounded outie belly that stuck out below her shirt.

"Who are you?" Kuvira looked up at the scruffy looking girl, who stood next to her closer to eye level.

"I'm Korra. What's your name?"

"Kuvira," she sniffled.

"Why are you so sad?"

"I… don't know. I miss my mommy," she said, lowered her head. "I'm lonely."

"I'm sorry. I don't know where your mommy is but I can keep you company. Will you be my friend?" Korra said, holding out a dimpled little hand toward Kuvira.

Kuvira looked up, hesitant at first but then saw the way Korra smiled with her big blue eyes and said. "OK." She reached up and grabbed Korra's hand.

The woods were still dark but had transformed into something less terrifying, and the spirits seemed less agitated in the shadows, their bright eyes turning from menacing slits to round and blinking.

Baby Korra and Kuvira walked hand in hand until they came upon a clearing with a pond in the middle. They unfastened hands and approached the pond, looking down into the blackness. It was small but something told them it was also immeasurably deep.

They peered at their own reflections in the pond and realized it was not what they were used to seeing anymore, before transforming back into adult versions of themselves.

···················

The fire crackled. A couple of hours had gone by, and the late evening sky was littered with stars. Asami sat next to Korra and was staring into the fire while Opal sat next to Kuvira and did the same. The two didn't speak much after the previous day's awkward exchange. But still there was an understanding between them, and the awkwardness would inevitably fade.

"How are things over here, ladies," Suyin's voice came from behind Asami.

Opal looked up and Asami turned around to greet the matriarch of the metal clan approaching them.

"We don't know. Everything seems fine, as far as we know."

"Kuvira was starting to sweat earlier, and a tear came down her eye," Opal added.

Suyin walked over to Kuvira and looked at her for any other signs of distress. Her face seemed peaceful at the moment. She sat next to the fire and leaned Kuvira's head to cradle into her and joined the watch party. Asami grabbed another log and placed it into the fire.

"I found out Jr. helped Kuvira out of her ankle bracelet. He seemed deeply sad about something," Suyin said, shooting Opal a knowing look as she rubbed Kuvira's back gently.

Opal squirmed a little and tried to think of something to say, but Suyin continued:

"But he also seemed at peace about something. Whatever was between them before, whatever unfinished business – they finished it yesterday."

Opal smiled and tried not to make it seem obvious to her mother and Asami, but it was. She couldn't hide from her mother's knowing look and she suddenly felt like a teenager again.

"Mom, I – um, well, Kuvira and I – " Opal began.

"I don't know what's going on, and frankly I don't need to – not yet anyway," Su said.

And they kept it at that for now.

The three women sat there patiently, quietly in the night. The silence except for the fire and the stream and the nighttime cicadas was deafening. But they sat through the uncomfortableness until it once again became comforting to realize they were all there for the same reason – to support the women they cared about.

···················

The Avatar and the Great Uniter stood next to each other at the edge of the pond, unsure of what to do next.

"Oh wise dogfish, we're – well, I'm here to seek judgment," Kuvira said with a steady and confident voice.

Just then the pond bubbled and out climbed a dog with fins and shiny black scales and front paws and a hind fish tail. It rested at the edge of the pond, keeping its tail swimming in the water, its gills opening and closing at the side of its face.

It did not look as menacing as Kuvira had pictured in her mind. On the contrary, it was kind of cute and inviting – a dog after all. That is, until it spoke, and a deafening growl heaved from its mouth.

Korra and Kuvira stepped back. Korra lowered her head but Kuvira kept her stare on the dog's eyes. She was no coward, she told herself.

"The Avatar… and the Great Uniter," the dogfish spirit hissed. "Two zesty humans come to play with powerful spirits. To seek answers to questions you don't understand."

Kuvira began: "I –"

"Silence!" the dogfish spirit said, now swimming around the edge of pond. "I have peered into your souls, into your human spirits. You have no idea about anything, and you know nothing! You seek judgment? Hahahaha!"

"Not me," Korra intervened, lifting a finger. "I don't seek judgment."

"I said SILENCE!" A roar deafened both women into submission; the dogspirit turned to Korra. "You think this is the only other world? You, the almighty bridge? The Spirit World is the gateway to still more worlds, higher worlds. And lower. I decide whether your spirit deserves to swim in purgatory for 1000 years, or if you will be reborn an ant in the physical world, only to be crushed by a human foot! I decide whether to take to you a higher world or to throw you down to the dregs of pain and darkness for what feels like eternity because time does not exist there."

The dogfish began crawling out and toward Kuvira; it had grown considerably and was several times its size by the time it towered inches above the former Great Uniter, who forced herself to stand her ground despite fear encompassing her.

"I need to know," Kuvira demanded, "Whether I should suffer for what I've done."

Again, the dogfish laughed. The sound filled the forest and echoed across the sea, distorted by and rising with the mist. Korra was alert and ready for action in case things quickly turned ugly.

The dogfish continued: "What you have done? You are insignificant! You have done nothing!"

"I hurt people! I was selfish and power hungry! And… I almost killed my mother."

"And you are selfish now to come here seeking penance without feeling true remorse; you wish to suffer for no reason but to prove to others you are not a coward. But are you willing to sacrifice… to give up what you hold dear?"

Kuvira wondered what that could be. She held her empire dear and lost that. Bataar, Su, Opal?

"You will suffer yet," the dogfish said, adding, "but I am a benevolent spirit. I see greatness – and darkness – in both of you. You are not ready to be judged. First you must learn, and live."

The dogfish transformed down to size and was cute again. Korra furrowed her brow and made a face seemingly at the last thing the dogfish said.

"Consider this my warning. To judge you now would not bode well – for either of you. Leave here, and don't come back for a long, long time – perhaps lifetimes. Oh, and once you leave the forest, you will find yourself where you need to be."

Korvira bowed at the dogfish, who slinked back to the pond and shook its head and mumbled "humans" to itself before descending into the water.

Kuvira was dumbfounded by the whole ordeal. She did not understand what the dogfish meant. And by the looks of it, neither did Korra. But now her companion seemed troubled by something.

"Korra, what is it?"

"Something about what the dogfish spirit said about darkness" The Avatar shook her head, dismissing it for now, "but it's nothing. C'mon, let's get outta here."

Korra led the way and Kuvira followed. They walked and walked until they came upon the edge of the forest.

"Ready to face what's out there?" Korra looked to her traveling companion who came to stand side by side with the Avatar.

Kuvira nodded.

They stepped out of the forest in a vast and beautiful grove of thick-trunked trees and large canopies providing shade from the dusky sun, which cast a reddish haze over the area. Korra looked around before halting her gaze; the blood drained from her face turning her copper skin a pale brown.

"Oh no," Korra said.

"Now what? Where are we?" Kuvira was confused.

"Xai Bau's Grove," an older masculine voice called from under one of the trees where Korra and now Kuvira fixated their eyes.

"Zaheer!" The women said in unison.