Korra stood on her toes for a better look over the rush of people packing the sidewalk. Where on earth was Asami? They had agreed to meet here ten minutes ago, and it wasn't like Asami to be late. Granted, with how crazy things had been lately, she had probably got caught up at City Hall. Couldn't blame her for that. She was the president, after all. Soon enough, Korra spotted those familiar green eyes looking back at her through the crowd. With a beaming smile, she ran over to greet her.

"Hey!" Korra exclaimed, pulling Asami in for a hug. "So glad you could make it."

"Me too," Asami replied, squeezing tight. "It's been almost impossible to get away from the office this week."

Korra eased a deep sigh as she pulled away from the hug. "A lot of preparing to do, huh?"

Asami nodded, huffing a breath of exhaustion. "You don't know the half of it. I've been coordinating with General Iroh and the other world leaders nonstop lately. We have to make sure our defenses are perfect if we're going to have a chance. Yula's already proven she's willing to do anything to get what she wants."

"I still can't believe what she did to Lord Zuko..." Korra muttered, crossing her arms square across her chest. The news had been as shocking as it was devastating. Becoming a little power hungry was one thing, but to kill Zuko, a man Yula must have respected and considered a friend while in the Fire Nation? Just how far gone was she?

"I know... It's a tragedy, and Yula has to answer for it." Asami groaned, and rubbed a tired hand against her forehead. "We've actually been trying to contact her, to see if we can at least talk to her before she gets here. A lot of good that's done. That Dragon Empress has no interest in diplomacy."

"Really?" Korra lifted her eyebrows. "But she must know by now that we have her sister."

"I'm sure she does," Asami said. "Unfortunately, she might not care that we do. Or she doesn't want to do any negotiating until her army gets here, which worries me."

"Me too... There's no telling what she might do when it comes to Shayu."

Asami raised a hand, rubbing her fingers against her eyes. "I just hope using Shayu as a bargaining chip actually works. Otherwise, things will get real messy, real fast."

"What about evacuation plans?"

"We have everything prepared for evacuations," she explained. "Citizens have already been given warning and the information they need to ready themselves for when it happens. As soon as we know where and when the attack is coming, we'll have a better idea on where to send everyone and get them out of the city as soon as possible. We would be evacuating earlier, but with the size of Yula's forces, and our lack of insight on her troop movements, we can't blindly send people to other parts of the United Republic, or they could end up right in the path of her army."

Korra gave a slow nod of understanding. "I just wish we didn't have to cut it so close."

"Me neither. Fortunately, since this is something we're prepared for, evacuations should go much smoother than last time."

"Well, you know you'll have my help when that time comes," Korra said, with a reassuring smile. "For now, let's forget about this mess. At least for tonight."

Asami returned a pleasant smile of her own. "I'd like that. I'd really, really like that."

Holding a hand to Asami's back, Korra ushered her towards the restaurant behind them. "Come on, Mako and Bolin are waiting inside."

Their table had been set up near the back of the restaurant behind a partition for privacy, a small luxury that could be attributed to the celebrity status of their group—the Avatar, the president, the city police lieutenant, and Nuktuk. That kind of clout afforded you the best seat in the restaurant, even if it did sound almost like a bad joke. Mako and Bolin were already seated at the table. When Korra and Asami arrived, Bolin jumped up from his seat to give them both a hug.

"Hey!" he called, with a delighted chuckle. "You guys made it!"

"It's great to see you both." Mako flashed a smile, and got up from the table to give them both a hug as well. "It seems like ages since we've all been together like this, just the four of us."

"Yeah, I know," Korra said, curling a delighted grin as she sat at the table. "It's been way too long."

Asami nodded, and sat down next to her. "I guess life has just been pulling us in different directions lately, keeping us all busy."

"Well, it's pulled us back together at least for tonight," Bolin said. "So let's make the most of it."


Shayu stared out her hospital window, lost in an empty daze. A light snowfall drifted down from the darkened night sky, lit up by bright city lights. She watched the people on the streets below, watched the satomobiles drive by, watched families laughing and smiling with each other... What she wouldn't give to be home with her family now, with her mother and Yula, all this crazy nonsense gone and forgotten. She had been in Republic City now for days, and still she hadn't been allowed to leave the hospital room.

Not as though she could just get up and walk out, even if there weren't police officers standing outside the door. A nauseous bubble lifted into her throat, as she glanced down at her wheelchair. Paralyzed, the doctors had told her. Kuvira's blade had severed a nerve in one of her vertebrae that Kya hadn't been able to heal. She'd never walk again, they said. She'd never stand again, or run again, or dance, or jump, or be able to dress herself... She was trapped in here now. Trapped in this room, and trapped in this chair. No way to escape.

"Shayu?"

The sound of her name dragged her back to reality. When she turned her head to look towards the door, the sight of a familiar man standing in the entrance lifted a smile to her face. For the briefest of moments, she forgot her grief.

"Anraq!" she exclaimed, turning her wheelchair around to face him. Her arms struggled momentarily to move it, still not used how it worked. "It's so good to see you."

"You too," he replied, with a gentle nod. His gaze drifted down to the wheelchair, and his eyes softened. Was that sympathy? Or was it pity? "How are you doing?"

A self-conscious jolt of embarrassment flooded through her. She shrank backwards against the chair, bowing her head with a deep frown. "I'm okay..."

"You don't sound okay."

"That... That's because I'm really not." Shayu paused, heaving out a deep breath. A wet blur filtered in front of her eyes, forcing her to wipe them dry. "The doctors say they're keeping me here for further treatment, but I'm not stupid. I've seen the guards outside the door, and I'm not allowed out of this room. I'm a prisoner."

"Well of course you are," said another voice. Seconds later, a woman strolled into view through the doorway. A familiar woman, wearing Fire Nation attire and a topknot hairstyle. "Right now, you're the biggest asset we have against your sister."

Different emotions twisted through her gut. Anger, disgust, hate. There mere sight of this woman made her want to scream. This terrible, awful woman. "Azula... I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you'd say that. You were always afraid of Yula."

"Afraid?" Azula glared at her with a flash of incredulity. "Absolutely not. Consider who you're speaking to. I may loathe her, but I'm certainly not afraid of her."

"Right, like you didn't try to have her killed when you realized how much stronger than you she is."

Azula's face contorted with further confusion. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Don't try to deny it," Shayu retorted. "Yula told me how you were afraid of her power so you sent assassins after her, but she was too strong and it failed. Then she came after you and took your throne, since you didn't deserve it anymore."

Azula blinked at her in stunned silence, only to then tilt back her head and let loose an amused cackle. "Oh is that what she told you?" The amusement vanished from her face almost as instantly as it appeared, as she refocused with an intense glare. "Your sister is a liar. She's the one who tried to have me killed. She betrayed me. She stole the throne from me because she wanted it for herself, nothing else. Because she's a selfish, power-mad dictator."

Shayu recoiled, as a furious, heated wave tore through her. "Shut up! Don't lie about Yula like that!" First Kuvira, now Azula telling lies, trying to turn her against Yula. Why did they keep doing that? Why did they keep saying such mean things?

"Shayu..." Anraq shifted a sympathetic gaze towards her. She looked back at him. Expectant, hopeful. Surely he would be the voice of reason. Surely he would tell Azula how wrong she was. "It's not a lie... That's what actually happened."

"What...?" Shayu blinked, her face contorting with confusion and disbelief. Anraq, too? He was lying? How could he? "But... No, no that's not right. You're wrong. Mistaken. Yula's not like that."

Azula scoffed. "It's almost sad, this delusion you have of your sister. Yula is a monster, plain and simple, and that's not a word I use lightly."

"No! Stop lying! Both of you!" Shayu clasped her hands over her head, fingers tugging at her hair. She squinted her eyes shut and sank deeper against her wheelchair. Spirits, why couldn't she just disappear? "Yula is a good person! She's trying to help people. She's not a monster!"

"Oh really?" Azula countered. "Was she helping my brother when she murdered him?"

Shayu's eyes snapped open. "W-what? Lord Zuko?"

"Shot him in the back with lightning, like a coward." Azula came closer, leaning over the wheelchair so she could stare Shayu directly in the eyes. "I watched him die in front of me, because your sister killed him!"

"No!" she shrieked, burying her face against her hands. Why wouldn't they go away? Why wouldn't they leave her alone? She didn't want to hear anymore! "No, no, no, no... She wouldn't do that! Lord Zuko was nice, and kind... She wouldn't."

"It's true, Shayu." Anraq's voice again. His tone was soft, mournful. "I was there. She killed him."

"No no no no no..." She shook her head back and forth, squinting her eyes as tight as possible, desperate to stifle her tears. No use. Within moments, wet streaks poured down her cheeks. A shrill wail burst from her throat, as she broke into frantic, uncontrolled sobs. Why all these lies? Why were there so many lies?

Azula scoffed again, straightening herself with her arms folded across her chest. "Blubber all you like, Shayu. The truth hurts, and you need to know the truth about your sister. She gambled your own life to advance her goals. That's why you're here in the first place, sitting in that wheelchair. Yula didn't care what kind of danger she put you in. She doesn't care about you."

Shayu drowned out their words. She pressed her hands against her face, squealing and crying and coughing. This wasn't happening. This wasn't real! Spirits, why couldn't she stop sobbing? Lord Zuko wasn't dead. He couldn't be. Yula would never do something like that. They were lying. They had to be. These were all lies!

Weren't they?

"We should probably go," Anraq said, holding a gentle hand to Azula's shoulder.

"Fine by me," Azula muttered. "I've had just about enough of this."


Mako leaned forward against the table, fighting to hold back his laughter. "So then he says, 'honestly, Officer, I have no idea what you're talking about. What money?' Now first of all, 'Officer'? I'm a lieutenant. What's the point of having the title if no one's going to respect it, am I right? Second of all, I tell him, 'I just saw you throw the bags on the truck. Who do you think you're trying to fool'? So I try to get him to tell me where the truck went and he tries to play the victim, raises his hands and says 'please, Officer, don't hurt me!' And what falls out of his sleeve?"

The others around the table waited expectantly, all smiles and laughs as Mako told his story. Bolin cut into the last of his dumplings as he listened, while Asami sipped at a dwindling glass of wine. Korra had long since finished her meal in its entirety, and now leaned across the table with a smile, eager to hear what happened next.

"A big fat roll of yuans," Mako continued, with a deep chuckle. "His explanation? 'Oh, that's just the bus fare my grandmother gave me.' I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they were going to fall out of my head. I mean really, his grandmother? Bus fare? Come on, I've heard better excuses than that from ten-year-olds."

Korra laughed, broadening a wide grin across her face. "Well, no one said the triads were the smartest bunch of criminals in the world."

"Now that is an understatement," he replied.

"So, how are things going with you, Bolin?" Asami said, shifting her attention over to the earthbender. "Ready to be a dad?"

"Well at first I was super nervous about it," Bolin said, with a matter-of-fact nod. "But I got over that and now I'm really excited. I mean, there's gonna be a little me running around, isn't that great? Oh, I am going to spoil this kid so much. I am going to give him—or her—everything that I never had growing up, and I'll be the best possible father I can. And the best part? If I make a mistake, Opal will be there to help keep things in order. Honestly, I don't know if I'd be able to do this without her."

"Yeah, she's kind of an important part of that whole process," Korra said, stifling another chuckle. "Pretty sure there wouldn't be a kid without her."

"Do you have any names picked out yet?" Mako asked.

Bolin waved off the question and shook his head. "Nah, we have plenty of time to think of names. We decided to wait until after the wedding to worry about that." His lips pursed thoughtfully, as he reached for his glass of juice. "Although..."

Mako lifted an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Well, I was going to suggest a couple of names to Opal..." Bolin took a quick sip of his juice, and set the glass back down. "Naoki if it's a girl, and San if it's a boy." He uttered a deep sigh, bowing his head. "I know, stupid right? I mean they were our parents' names and all, but... I don't know, it just feels right."

Mako patted his brother on the back and smiled. "I think they're great names."

"Yeah, I'm sure Opal will love them," Korra said.

Bolin looked back and forth between them, offering a smile of his own. "I really hope so."

Korra turned in her seat, focusing on Asami next to her. "So, Madame President, how are things going with Sinn?"

Asami stiffened upright, caught off guard by the question. Her cheeks began to blush bright red, but she played it off with a simple nod and a smile. "Great, actually. We've been seeing each other whenever we can over the past couple weeks, and she's a lot of fun. She's sweet, and caring, and smart..." Her tone drifted with a gentle sigh. "Gorgeous..."

"Asami," Mako said, with a pointed smirk. "You're blushing."

"Oh!" Asami cleared her throat and stuffed her wine glass up to her lips in attempts to partially hide her face. "Uhh, well... excuse me."

"That's good to hear in any case," Korra said. "I'm happy for you, really."

"Thanks. I don't know if things are going to get serious with us or anything, but I really like her. We have another date tomorrow night, assuming everything goes according to plan and I can get out at a reasonable time."

Korra nodded. "Here's hoping."

"So, uh..." Mako glanced at Korra now, tapping his fingers awkwardly against the table. "What about you and Kuvira? Things are, you know, actually going well there?"

"Yes, Mako, things are going fine," she insisted, with an amused smirk. "You don't need to be so surprised."

"Right, sorry, it's just... I still have trouble wrapping my head around it sometimes," he said, scratching at the back of his neck. "I mean, it's Kuvira. The same woman who almost vaporized you with a giant spirit laser?"

"That was a long time ago," Korra said, with a simple shrug. "She's really changed since then. We all have."

Mako nodded, and eased out a slow sigh of agreement. "Yeah, I guess we have."

"What about you, Mr. Bachelor?" she shot back. "Got your eye on anyone special?"

"What? Uh, no..." Mako grabbed at his water and shoved the glass up to his lips to take a sip. In spite of his best efforts, the way he squirmed in his seat belied any denial he tried to make. "There's no one special or anything. Nope."

Asami folded her arms across her chest and laughed. "Oh, and you thought the bus fare guy was a bad liar?"

"Come on, Mako, who's the lucky lady?" Bolin said, giving his brother a nudge with his elbow.

"Alright, fine." Mako huffed out a defeated breath and set his water glass back on the table. "Her name's Jun. She's a detective, and we've worked together a few times. I asked her out a couple days ago. We have a date this weekend."

Korra beamed at the news. "That's awesome!"

"Yeah, way to go, Mako," Asami said, offering a congratulatory grin.

"Just try not to mess this one up like the last two," Bolin laughed, smacking his hand against his brother's back. He immediately recoiled with a cringe, glancing back at Korra and Asami. "Uh, I mean... sorry, just ignore me."

Mako shook his head and chuckled. "Thanks, though, really. I think this will be good for me."

"You know, I have to say, I've really enjoyed tonight," Asami said. "It's been great, having the old team back together again."

"You said it," Mako replied.

"Here's to the original Team Avatar!" Bolin announced, holding up his glass to the center of the table. "Uh, well not the original original Team Avatar, the original new Team Avatar. Since we're not, you know, Avatar Aang and his friends, we're... Okay you know what I mean."

Korra fought down a laugh, and held her own glass to his. Mako and Asami joined their glasses as well. "Here's to lifelong friends."


Asami uttered a deep yawn, as she entered through the front doorway of her mansion. With a look to the clock in the main hall, the yawn shifted into a sharp groan. Nearly midnight now, way later than she'd meant to stay out. Worth it, in any case. Losing a few hours of sleep was a small price to pay for a night out with friends.

As she made her way towards the stairs that led up to the second floor balcony, a shrill ring echoed through the hall. She groaned again, dropping her face into her palm. Who could be calling at this hour? With a grumbling sigh, she wandered over to the table near the bottom of the stairs, grabbed the phone, and pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"

"President Sato, we need you down at city hall right away!" The voice was urgent, but familiar—her secretary.

"Lora, do you have any idea how late it is?" she said, with another deep, lingering yawn. What on earth was her secretary even still doing at City Hall this late? Asami had given her leave to go home hours ago. "Can't this wait until morning?"

"I'm afraid not," Lora replied. "This is an emergency. The other world leaders are already here waiting for you."

Asami blinked, straightening her posture. "What's going on?"

"Our border scouts just spotted Yula's army approaching United Republic territory!" Lora replied, her voice shrill and frantic. "They'll be here in a day and a half. We need to start evacuations immediately!"

Any exhaustion lingering in Asami's mind evaporated, as a sudden surge of energy exploded through her. Her gaze sharpened, fingers tightening around the phone. "Sound the citywide evacuation alarm. I'm on my way."