Kuvira clapped her hands. "Alright, let's go through the routine one more time." A collective groan rumbled through the dance studio, as the group of dancers hung their heads and reluctantly returned to formation. "I know, practice has already run late, but we have a recital next week and we're still a little behind where we should be. One more time and we'll call it a day, alright?"

The dancers lined up in position around the giant metal lotus flower at the center of the studio. When they were ready, Kuvira turned on the radio. A steady, uptempo beat pulsed through the studio. The dancers began the routine, spinning around the flower in synchronization with the music. Partway through the routine, half the dancers reached towards the ceiling and shot out a metal cable from their wrist guards. The cables latched onto a rotating wheel above and lifted the dancers into the air. As they continued spinning above the flower, the remaining dancers stepped back and began to bend the large metal petals.

"Okay, good." Kuvira circled them, watching closely. Three months of work, and they almost had the routine down to perfection. Coaching Zaofu's dance troupe had occupied a lot of her free time, but it gave her something else to do aside from her matriarchal duties. Something a little more personable. While taking over another one of Suyin's old jobs had been a little awkward at first, she had grown into it. Perhaps Su might even be proud of her.

"Flyers, extend your legs more for added momentum." At her command, the dancers spinning around on cables extended their legs farther. "Just like that, good. Pullers, try to be a bit more fluid with your arms. You have the dance motions down, but your bending has to be just as graceful. Like Korra's doing."

Kuvira glanced towards one of the pullers on the far side of the flower. Korra looked back at her with a smile. Convincing the Avatar to join the dance troupe had taken quite some time, but now she was one of Kuvira's best students. Korra's bending motions were elegant and graceful, in perfect rhythm with the music. "Better, good. Jumpers... now!"

Two of the flyers released their cables and descended through the air at the open flower. The petals caught them and rippled down to the ground. When the petals sprang upward again, the jumpers joined hands and flew through the air, performing a choreographed set of spins and flips. When they finished the routine, they fell back into the center of the flower and the petals closed. A moment later, the petals peeled open once more, revealing the two jumpers now in a fluid pose, with one dipping the other low to the ground. Sinn, the dancer being dipped, glanced up at Kuvira expectantly, hoping for confirmation.

"Excellent!" Kuvira clapped her hands again, and turned off the radio. "That was great, everyone. I'll see you next week. Remember to meet back here the day before the recital so we can run a full rehearsal."

The dancers all heaved out relieved sighs in unison, as they began to pack up their things and head to the locker room. Sinn gave a parting wave on her way by, while Korra stayed behind, waiting for the others to leave.

"I think we're coming along great," Korra said, making her way towards her girlfriend.

Kuvira smirked, and leaned close to give her a gentle kiss. "Especially you, my most improved student."

"Hey, so I started out a little rough. I got better."

Kuvira raised an accusatory eyebrow. "Well, considering you tore apart the entire flower on your first attempt, the only way to go from there was up."

Korra recoiled, embarrassment twisting across her face. "I already told you, I didn't know it was that fragile!"

"Yeah, yeah, now hit the showers," she said, giving Korra's rear a playful slap. "I'll be waiting for you when you get home. I might just be wearing that thing you like."

"Oh, is that right?" Korra moved in for another kiss. "Well, you won't be waiting long in that case."

Kuvira grinned. "I'll see you at home. Love you."

"Love you, too."


Korra giggled playfully, as Kuvira trailed kisses down her bare abdomen. She squirmed atop the bed, back arching. With a sharp gasp, her giggles morphed to pleasured moans. They hadn't had this kind of alone time in nearly a week, and they'd be damned if they wasted even a second. Dinner could wait. Right now, the only thing Korra's mind focused on was Kuvira's face buried between her legs. She squealed with a shrill gasp, tightened her fingers in Kuvira's hair, pushed her pelvis forward...

The phone rang.

"Don't answer it..." she moaned. Kuvira attempted to lift her head, but Korra pushed her back down. "Don't answer... Just keep... keep going."

Kuvira forced herself upward, huffing out a disappointed sigh. "I have to answer."

Korra groaned, flopping her head back against the pillow. Kuvira was right, of course. Judging from the distinct type of ring, someone was calling the separate work line meant specifically for the matriarch. That line was only utilized for emergencies or other urgent matters.

Kuvira wiped her lips and scooted towards the edge of the bed to grab the phone off the end table. "Hello? Yes, this is she. What? Alright, send him over to the estate. I'll be waiting for him in my office."

"What was that about?" Korra asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Well, according to the airfield, Lord Zuko just landed in Zaofu on his dragon." Kuvira slid off the bed and grabbed her robes. "He asked to meet with both of us."

"Zuko?" Korra rolled herself off the mattress and began searching for her discarded clothes. "What's he doing here?"

"I don't know. I wasn't expecting any visits from other nations until my meeting with Asami next month. Must be urgent."

Korra sighed, squirming slightly as she pulled her pants on. "Well, looks like this will have to wait..."

"Not for long, I'm sure." Kuvira fixed her green robes in place, and gave Korra a kiss on her way out the bedroom. "Now hurry up. He'll be here soon."


Kuvira sat straight behind her desk, as the door to her office opened. Korra stood at her side, while the large white form of Naga lounged near the back of the room. A familiar old man dressed in Fire Nation robes entered through the doorway, prompting the polar bear dog to raise her head with an excited pant in greeting.

Kuvira stood up and offered a polite bow. "Lord Zuko, welcome. It's a pleasure to meet you again."

"You as well, Matriarch Kuvira, Avatar Korra." Zuko returned a bow to both of them. Naga trotted over to him and licked at his hand, eliciting a soft chuckle from the old man as he patted the top of her head. "You too, Naga.."

Korra bowed in kind. "It's great to see you, Lord Zuko. What brings you to Zaofu?"

Zuko straightened himself, breathing out a heavy sigh. "There have been some developments in the Fire Nation, and the Dragon Empire. Urgent matters that need to be discussed."

"Oh, I see." Kuvira seated herself at the desk and folded her hands together. "It must be urgent if you didn't send a message ahead of your arrival."

"Yes, I'm afraid that would have been impossible," he replied.

"What do you mean?"

"He means, we're fugitives." A second man entered the doorway, this one wearing Water Tribe clothing and carrying a warrior club on his back.

Kuvira lit up with with a smile. "Anraq!"

"Hello, ladies." The waterbender flashed a smile of his own and gave an over dramatic bow. Naga sauntered away from Lord Zuko and made her way over to Anraq with a delighted lick to the side of his face. He recoiled with a sputtering chuckle, wiping the side of his face dry. "And Naga. Good to see you."

"It's so great to see you again," Korra said, with a friendly grin. She paused, taking a moment to look him over. "You're looking more like your normal self."

Anraq smirked. "Yeah, I like it, too."

Kuvira calmed herself with a deep breath, allowing her smile to fade into a more stern expression. This was still a meeting, after all. "So, what was that about you being fugitives?"

"Oh, yeah," he muttered, shifting his gaze to the side. "Some crazy stuff happened recently. It wasn't pretty."

"Crazy how?"

A third figure entered the office, a woman dressed in a simple travel outfit of red and black, with baggy sleeves and a pair of swords strapped across her back. "Crazy in that my empire is now in the control of a madwoman bent on destroying me and conquering other nations."

Kuvira stiffened, tightening her fingers around the edge of the desk. "Azula."

"What are you doing here?" Korra asked, narrowing her gaze with focused intent.

"What, I can't stop by and say hello to my dear friends?" The only response Azula received was a pair of unamused stares. She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "That was a joke. Honestly, try to have a sense of humor."

Naga circled away from Anraq, focusing an intense glare on Azula. Her lips curled back to show her pointed teeth, and a low growl rumbled out of her throat. Defensive, as if ready to attack.

"Oh shut it, you mangy mutt," Azula said, glaring back at the polar bear dog with equal disdain. "I'm not in the mood."

"Okay, enough," Kuvira muttered, holding her fingers against the bridge of her nose. No sense trying to snap at each other right now. If Azula was here along with both Zuko and Anraq, something significant had happened. They needed to focus on that. "What were you saying about your empire?"

"I'm saying it's not my empire," Azula replied. "Not at the moment, at least."

Anraq took a step forward, a deep sigh easing from his throat. "It's Yula. She's changed a lot more than you can imagine. She took control of the Dragon Empire, nearly killed us in the process, and now plans on expanding her rule to other nations."

"What?" Kuvira's eyes flared wide, snapping to attention. "Are you—our Yula?"

Zuko nodded. "I'm afraid it's true. She's become obsessed with power, and proving to the world how strong she is. Doesn't matter to her how she has to do it, either. Threats, torture, executions, as long as it's in the name of the empire. Her empire, now."

"Yes," Azula sighed, "apparently I taught her a little too well."

"But it's Yula," Korra insisted. "Can't she be reasoned with?"

Anraq shook his head. "We tried that. Almost got incinerated."

"I don't believe this." Kuvira sank against her chair and held a hand to her forehead. This didn't make any sense. The Yula she knew never would have done anything like this. Granted, she had only known Yula for a few weeks. Nearly an entire year had gone by since then. She might well have changed, but that much? How could such a sweet, innocent woman transform into something so extreme?

"There's more," Zuko said. "It's a complicated matter that we can explain in more detail later, but the gist is that Yula is far more powerful now. Her firebending is at the same level as Azula's was before this whole mess happened, far beyond any other firebender. Furthermore..."

Azula grumbled, tightening her arms across her chest. She let her gaze fall away, averting from the two women behind the desk. "I... I've lost my bending. I can't firebend anymore."

"You're serious?" Kuvira raised a questioning brow. The claim seemed far-fetched. Benders losing their bending wasn't exactly a common occurrence, and yet there was a genuine, lingering pain deep in Azula's tone. Shame, and sorrow.

"It's why we came here first." Zuko took a step closer, aiming a pleading look at the Avatar. "Korra, I know you can restore a person's bending. I'm asking you, as a favor to me, please do the same for my sister."

Korra balked. "You want me to what?"

"You heard him," Azula said, waving a flippant hand at her. "If we could hurry this up, that would be great. We don't have all day."

Korra's demeanor shifted with a seething glare at the former empress. "You must be joking! After everything you've done, and all the people you've hurt... Now you say you've lost your bending and you want me to give it back to you? Just like that? You must think I'm stupid!"

"Well, if the shoe fits..."

"Azula," Zuko said, tightening a grip around his sister's shoulder. The gesture elicited a relenting sigh from her lips. He turned his gaze back to Korra. "Avatar Korra, please..."

"Lord Zuko, I know she's your sister, but I have to agree with the Avatar on this," Kuvira said. "Azula has caused way too much harm and she's far too dangerous to be trusted with having her bending restored. If anything, this is a only a good thing."

"Excuse you," Azula snapped. "I'm standing right here."

Kuvira shot a brief glare towards the former empress, before shifting her focus back to Zuko. "Furthermore, you're also telling us that Azula is no longer a world leader. In fact, she's a fugitive. What we should be doing is finally arresting her so she can answer for her crimes."

"Hey, no." Anraq moved forward, directly in front of the desk. "That's not why we came here."

"No, but it's what should be done," Kuvira insisted.

Anraq frowned, smacking his palms against the desk. "Yeah, well we're all fugitives, remember? You arrest her, you arrest all of us."

"Anraq—"

"No, I'm talking still. Please, just listen to me."

Zuko backed away from the standoff, and pulled at his sister's shoulder again. "Perhaps it's best if we wait outside?"

Azula rolled her eyes, following him out of the office. "Fine. These two were starting to annoy me anyway."

When the door closed behind them, Anraq leaned forward across the desk. "Look, I know you don't like Azula. I get it. But you don't know anything about her. You take one look at her and you think she's some heartless monster who enjoys hurting people. Well, she's not!"

"She hasn't really done much to show otherwise," Kuvira said.

"You have no idea what she's been through in her life, what made her the way she is. She's suffered more than anyone should have to, and she's had to do it alone." Anraq bowed his head, easing a heavy sigh. "I know that doesn't excuse her actions by any means, but she's changing. I've seen it. There's another person in there. A good person. She's already come so far. She's getting better. She's trying." He lifted his gaze, staring Kuvira straight in the eyes. "Please, you should know better than anyone that a person can change. That their past doesn't have to define them. I'm asking you to give her a chance."

Kuvira's posture softened. She'd only ever heard Anraq speak with this kind of passion about things he truly cared for. What on earth had happened during the past year to make him feel that way for Azula?

"Kuvira's case was different," Korra insisted. "She actually showed remorse for the things she did, and wanted to become better. Can you honestly say the same for Azula?"

Anraq nodded, meeting the Avatar's gaze with an unflinching certainty. "Yes, I can. I wouldn't be standing in front of you now if I didn't believe it. I've seen the good in her. I've seen her happy, and smiling, and laughing. I've seen her be genuine. I wouldn't have stuck by her side for so long, or be defending her so strongly if I didn't think she'd ever change, that she'd always be the same cruel, malicious person. I know you don't like her. You don't have to like her, or be her friend, or anything. You just have to give her a chance. Please, let her try to set things right. Let her heal."

Kuvira folded her hands together and raised them over her lips, watching Anraq closely. A spark ignited in his eyes, stern and impassioned. She knew him well enough to know this wasn't something he would back down from, no matter what she said. "You really feel that strongly about her?"

"I do. I care about her, so much." His eyes closed, and a gentle, almost silent laugh burst from his throat. He smiled. "More than I ever thought I would. Or could." He opened his eyes again, focusing with renewed sternness. "I made her a promise I'd stick by her, and help her however I could. I meant it.

Korra shifted a cursory glance towards Kuvira. No doubt what that look meant. Korra had noticed the same thing in Anraq during this conversation. His passion, his caring, his confidence, all of it for Azula. He was genuine. Naga only reinforced the sentiment, curling up next to him with a high pitched whine, as if sensing his sincerity. Anraq offered the polar bear dog thankful scratches against her large fluffy belly.

"Well, what do you think?" Korra asked.

"I still think it's a bad idea," Kuvira said, with a shake of her head, "but you're the Avatar. It's your call. I'll trust whatever decision you make."

Korra closed her eyes, thinking carefully. When her eyes opened, she met Anraq's gaze with equal measure. "Alright, I'll do it."

Anraq lit up, immediately running around the desk to hug her. "Thank you! Really." He let go, and took a step back, a deep grin spread wide across his face. "Oh she'll be so happy."

"Just keep in mind," Korra said, "it's your job to make sure I don't regret this."

Anraq snapped to attention and offered a firm salute. "Yes ma'am, Avatar."


Azula stood in silence outside the office, staring at the floor. Annie's words echoed in her mind. She'd heard his entire conversation with Kuvira and the Avatar, with how loudly he had been raising his voice. Hearing him speak about her only reaffirmed what she had learned over the past few months. He had such hope for her, even when she couldn't figure out why. Was he right? Was there a better side to her, one that didn't always have to be so cruel?

She glanced towards Zuko, who stood a few steps away. No doubt he had also heard the others speaking. They met each other's gaze, but didn't say anything. Azula could feel his thoughts. He felt the same way, didn't he? That there was good in her. They had to be getting their hopes up about her, surely. Someone like her couldn't ever really change. Even now, when she had people in her life who truly cared about her, in ways she had never actually imagined before. People who wanted to help her. Who were willing to risk anything and everything to give her a chance.

What if they were right? They both felt so strongly about it. About her. Perhaps she owed it to them to try? What was it that Anraq had said? You don't have to be afraid. It is there. You just have to reach for it. Maybe it was, but if she did reach for it, would she be able to hold on?

When the door opened, Azula steadied herself and folded her arms, steeling her expression with her usual smug cockiness. "So, what's the final verdict? Is the almighty Avatar going to help me, or not?"

Anraq beamed. "She sure is! See, I told you to leave things to me."

"Well, good," she said. "As it should be."

Korra led the way down the hall. "Just follow me. We'll do it outside."


Azula gave the courtyard a quick look over. These Beifongs certainly knew how to live with style. The mansion itself had been grand enough, but the fountains and gardens here were elegant, befitting someone of her tastes. Fire Nation design was still far superior, of course, but this metal city wasn't so bad. Certainly better than the frozen Water Tribes. If she never set foot in the North or South poles again, it would be too soon.

"Alright, so what do I do?" she asked, as Korra led her to the front of a gazebo. Kuvira, Zuko, and Anraq followed close behind.

"You don't do anything." Korra pointed to the ground. "Just kneel down. I'll take care of the rest."

Azula rolled her eyes, and dropped down to her knees. "As the Avatar commands."

Korra inhaled a deep breath and closed her eyes, reaching forward to place one of her thumbs on Azula's forehead. With her other hand, she held Azula's shoulder. A surge of energy flooded outward from Korra, as she opened her eyes with a bright white glow, empowered by the Avatar State. That same searing glow burned from her grasp on Azula. Moments later, the light faded, both from Korra's hands and her eyes. She took a step back, and allowed Azula to stand.

Azula looked down at her hands. "Did it work?"

"It should have," Korra said. "I definitely felt something happen. Give it a try."

With a deep, steady breath, Azula shifted herself into her signature firebending pose. She let the breath out, and took another. When she her breathing became controlled and focused, she thrust her hands forward with her fingers extended. Her heart fluttered, expecting to see a pair of blue flame jets burst from her fingertips and light up the night sky. Instead...

Smoke. Two tiny puffs of smoke.

"What was that? That was pathetic!" Azula scowled, snapping her focus back to the Avatar. "I thought you fixed me!"

"I did!" Korra insisted. "I did the same thing to you that I did to everyone else who lost their bending."

"Then why didn't it work?" Azula took a step closer, clenching her hands into fists. "Why can I still not I bend?"

Korra threw her hands up with an unknowing shrug. "Don't ask me! I don't even know how you lost your bending in the first place! Maybe it's something I can't fix."

"Okay, both of you, calm down!" Anraq ran between them, holding his arms out to ease them away from each other. "Azula, you did bend. Sort of. You made smoke. Before that, you couldn't create anything, remember?"

Azula looked at her hands again. Her scowl deepened, and she immediately shifted through a basic firebending set. No matter how she punched, or kicked, or breathed, the only thing she produced were small puffs of white smoke. Her frustration grew with each pathetic attempt. By the time she finished the set, she was seething.

"Well, that's all I can do! That doesn't help me. That's not bending! It's a joke!" She looked to the Avatar again, anger evaporating in her gaze. Pleading, desperate panic took over. "You have to do something else. Fix this!"

"I've done all I can do!" Korra countered. "Whatever happened to you, it's beyond my ability to reverse. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

Azula hissed out an angry groan and marched away from the gazebo. She didn't know anything about this estate, didn't have any idea where she was going. Didn't matter. She just wanted away from these people.

"Azula!" Anraq took a step to go after her, but a firm grasp on his shoulder held him back.

"Let her go," Zuko said. "She needs her space right now."

Anraq watched her storm away through the courtyard, disappearing into the darkened line of hedges in the garden. When she was gone, he hung his head with a sigh.

"So..." Kuvira said, taking a step towards them. "Anyone care to explain to us now how this actually happened?"

"Yes, I suppose we'd better," Zuko replied. "Perhaps we could discuss it over tea?"

Kuvira nodded, and gestured for them to follow her back into the mansion. "Alright, I'll put on a pot. Follow me."