Yeah, a lot of you saw this one coming.
It was going to be two chapters, but I condensed it down to one, because, well, maximum feels.
On the up-side, we have some extra-special guest stars!
Nothing Left To Talk About
They arrived at the White Lotus compound outside the capital of the South Pole in the late afternoon of the day after they left Republic City. Asami had spend hours coaxing every last bit of power she could out of the airships engines, pushing them far past their official limits and into unknown territory. She was tired, hungry and covered from head to toe in oil and soot, but felt a great seance of achievement, both in herself and her company. The captain had complained that she'd tuned his ship to the point where flying it was like tap-dancing on a razor over a tank of hungry leaped-seals, but he had always been a bit tightly wound in Asami's book, so she placated him with the promise of a rise and a promotion to senior test pilot.
Naga had bounded down the gangplank even before it was fully lowered, the polar-bear dog evidently overjoyed to be back in her native element for so long. Any other time, that would have made Korra laugh, and run down to join her in her frolicking in the snow. But Kya was waiting for them, a pained expressing on her face, heavy bags under her eyes. Lin disembarked first, talking to her old friend in hushed tones for a moment before embracing her. Korra slowly made her way down the ramp, followed by Asami, who was carrying Aang, then her parents and daughters.
"It's bad." Lin explained, her voice uncharacteristically soft, "The doctors don't expect her to make it through the nigh."
Korra looked at Kya, her eyes filled with sorrow she was unable to put into words. Katara and her family had welcomed the young Avatar into their hearts and their homes as if she was one of them, even if her very existence was a constant reminder of the loved one they had lost. Katara had been her friend, mentor and confidant during her long years being trained by the White Lotus Society, becoming almost a second mother to Korra. And now that part of her life was coming to an end, and it burned her to know that, for all the awesome power that was hers to command as the Avatar, there wasn't a single thing she could do to prevent it. As Katara herself had taught her, to everything there was a time; a beginning and an end, and it would be the highest hubris to think that anyone had the right to try and change that.
"She's been asking to see you." Kya's voice was at the point of breaking, but she was forcing herself to remain strong, "Ever since she heard you were on your way, she's been asking if you'd arrived."
Korra nodded, not trusting herself with words, and walked the short distance to Katara's quarters. Bumi was sat outside, a thick coat over his new Air Nation robes. It was clear that he'd been crying, something almost impossible to imagine from the normally jovial bear of a man, but Korra wouldn't begrudge him his grief; she would have been the same in his position, and as it was, she could feel the tears building up in her eyes. Stepping inside, she found Tenzin, Pema and their children standing around the Katara's bed, the family matriarch looking far older than she had when Korra had last seen her. It was painful to see her like that; she had always been so full of life, so vibrant, despite her age, that the shock struck Korra with near physical force.
"Hello, Korra." the old waterbending master wheezed, "It is good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too, Master Katara." Korra bowed her head in respect, placing her left fist against the palm of her right hand, "I... only with it was under better circumstances."
"It's my time; nothing anyone can do about that." Katara managed a weak smile, "And I'll finally see so many people I love again; Aang, Sokka, Suki, my parents, Pakku and Gran Gran."
"I..." Korra's voice faltered and her eyes fell.
"Life is what it is, and I've led a full one. I've been a healer and a warrior, a general and a peacemaker. I have travailed further and seen more wondrous things that I ever though possible. I married the love of my life and raised three children of whom I could not be prouder." Katara held out a hand to the Avatar, "And then there's you; I've gotten to watch you grow from the precocious in undisciplined little girl I first met into the woman I see before me now. I've seen you face adversity, triumph, defeat and disrepair and come through it all stronger. I've seen you find your true love and start a family of your own. Speaking of which... is he here?"
Korra looked round and nodded to Asami, who had been waiting in the doorway with their son in her arms. She handed him over to his mother, who knelt down beside her friends bed to allow her to look. The baby fidgeted, but remained silent as Katara looked at him with loving eyes.
"Hello little one. I give unto your care the world my friends and I created for you." Katara carefully placed a hand on the babies head, "I do this knowing that you will be up to the task of maintaining it, until it is time for you to pass it onto those who will follow you."
Asami sat starting into the low fire in the middle of the room; she had put the children to bed hours ago, having left Korra with Katara and her family. In truth, she was glad of the excuse to get away, the whole thing having brought up painful memories of her own mother death. She realised that she had never fully processed her feelings over what had happened, but rather had locked them away deep inside her heart. But it wasn't the time to unlock that door; Korra would need her to be strong, to be there for her. And the last thing she wanted to do was fail her wife, having seen the consequences of that.
Still, right there and then there was only the fire for company, and she found herself drifting off to sleep.
The sound of the door opening awoke her some time later, the fire having almost completely died down. Looking round, she saw Korra standing in the doorway, tears streaming down from bloodshot eyes. She didn't have to ask; all she had to do was open her arms and her wife was in them in a heartbeat, her face buried in her neck as she wept openly and freely. Asami just held her, rubbing her back with one had to try and sooth some of the pain as her own tears started. Korra cried until she had no more tears left, then simply huddled at Asami's side, her wife pulling a blanket up around them as she held the Avatar. No words passed between them, for no words were needed. They both fully understood each-other's feelings, and all they needed was for the other to be there for them.
All attempts to keep the funeral small and intimate failed; Katara had been a legend in her own lifetime, a hero of the Hundred Years War, wife of an Avatar, a world renowned and respected waterbending master and highly skilled healer. Friends and acquaintances descended upon the South Pole from around the world, as well as those who wanted to make a show of being there for their own reasons. Korra found herself bighting her tongue more than once to avoid starting an incident, not wanting to make it any harder on her mentors family than it already was. There had been quite the fuss made when Toph arrived unannounced, complaining about how difficult it was for her to 'see' when walking over snow and ice. Some saw it as a sign of disrespect, but those who knew her, and of her close, life-long friendship with Katara knew that it was her way of coping.
"What. The. Hell?!" Korra hissed suddenly, her nostrils flaring and her fists clenched, and Asami followed her eye-line to see the arrival of Lord Zuko and a large group from the Fire Nation. At first she didn't understand what had her wife so agitated, then she recognised the slender, white-haired woman with the golden eyes that were indicative of the Fire Nation royal family.
"Azula..." She whispered, a deep sense of dread rise up inside her; all her life she had heard stories of the Mad Princess, the brutal conqueror of Ba Sing Se, who had killed Avatar Aang, all be it temporarily. Her mood swings and temper were the stuff of legend, as was the Agni Kai she fought against her brother that had all but destroyed the Royal Palace. Everything she knew about the woman told her that there was no good reason for her to be there, and her mind was filled with images of how Korra would react if the princess started to gloat.
She looked around the room, trying to work out where everyone else was; Tenzin, Kya and Bumi were standing together at the far end, talking to a long-line of well-wishers, and it didn't look like they'd seen the new arrivals just yet, but it was only a matter of time. Toph was standing with Lin, but it was clear from her stance and the way her head was cocked slightly to one side that she knew exactly who had just walked in, which was good, as it meant that the two of them would be ready should anything happen. Korra's parents were with Pema and the children in one corner, thankfully out of the direct line of fire... Asami kicked herself for even thinking that word, but it was none the less true. The ebb and flow of the gathering had created an open path between the door and where the couple were standing, and there was an unmistakable look of recognition on Azula's face when she saw them, and with a smile that wouldn't have looked out of place on a sandshark, she started to stride purposely and confidently towards them.
Asami took Korra's hand, forcing the fingers apart to try and ground her wife's obvious anger.
"So, you're the new Avatar?" Age hadn't robbed Azula's voice of its almost musical quality, but much to Asami's surprise, while there was a hint of amusement there, there was no sign of malice, "I have to say, you're an improvement on the last one."
"I..." Korra blinked, "Avatar Aang was a great man and..."
"Yes, yes yes, I've heard it all before." Azula interrupted with a wave of her hand, "Trust me; I faced him in battle. I know exactly what kind of man he was. He was a god in the body of a boy. But you?" She looked Korra up and down appreciatively, "Well, whatever power is responsible for picking the next host chose well this time."
Korra stood with her mouth hanging open, dumbfounded.
"I know, I know; everyone expects me to be all ranting and raving and frothing at the mouth." Azula rolled her eyes, "Reputations, huh? Once you get one for being a violent psychopath with a healthy dose of pyromania thrown in for good measure, it's impossible to ditch it."
"You'll have to forgive my wife," A graceful woman in a dark red dress appeared as Azula's side and took her arm, "her sense of humour is still very much a work in progress."
"Lady Ty Lee." Asami bowed her head, "I've been reading your books on Chi Blocking; they have been most helpful and insightful."
"I'm impressed; only the most ardent of students seek them out." Azula smiled slyly, "Most look for the cheaper manuals written by that fool who couldn't make it as a Kyoshi Warrior."
"'zula, dear: manors." Ty Lee petted her wife on the arm.
"What?" The princess looked confused, "Katara as much as said the same herself."
"I... why are you here?" Korra managed to ask.
"To pay my respects. I know it is common knowledge that Katara and I had our... differences, but that was a long time ago." Azula locked eyes with the Avatar, "Things were different back then; I was different back then. But I can honestly say that I bid her no ill-will since my... return. In fact, I had a great deal of respect for her, if for no other reason than the fact that she was one of the few people to ever defeat me in battle. Trust me when I say I can count the number of people who did that on the fingers of one hand. But more than that, she helped show me that, just because you have great power, you don't have to obtain great power."
"They had a somewhat complex relationship." Ty Lee explained with a sweet smile.
"Don't we all." Toph appeared, "Hello Azula, Ty Lee."
"Toph." the Princess replied dryly, while her wife enveloped the metalbending master in a hug, much to her annoyance.
"Still trying to learn how to make friends and influence people, I see." Toph smiled sarcastically.
"That's funny," Azula dead-panned, "I didn't think you could see anything?"
"Okay, I'll give you that one, hot-head." Toph's smile warmed slightly, "Trying to freak out our new Avatar? Good luck; she's a far tougher nut to crack then Twinkletoes ever was."
"You're... playing some kind of game with me?" Korra blinked, looking at the three older woman.
"When you get to our age, you'll find you need to get your jollies where you can." Toph slapped her on the back, "Oh, and by the way; incoming."
Korra didn't even have time to react before she felt something grab her around the left leg, the force of the impact almost knocking her off balance. She looked down to see Yin wrapping her arms around her, something she had a tendency to do when nervous or around strangers.
"Our illustrious Avatar, almost taken down by an infant." Azula chuckled, "And here I was thinking Toph was the blind one."
"Zing!" Toph held up a finger, "Score one for the Fire Princess."
"What's wrong?" Korra looked down at her daughter, ignoring the verbal barbs aimed at her.
Yin simply looked up at the three strangers and burred her head in the fabric of the Avatar's dress.
"There's no need to be afraid of us, little one." Ty Lee knelt down, a warm smile on her face, "You're Yin, right? I think I remember hearing that you're a firebender. This lady with me is also a firebender." She gestured to her wife, "Would you like to show her what you can do?"
Shyly, the little girl held out one hand, palm open, and a small flame appeared in it. She concentrated, and it moped into the shape of a ballerina, slowly spinning round on one leg.
"Oh my..." Azula's eyes went wide with genuine surprise, "Fire sculpting is a very rare skill; I've only ever seen it a handful of times in my entire life." She looked at Asami, "Your family is from the Fire Nation?"
"Originally, yes. They were among the first to move to the colonies, back during the war." the engineer nodded, "Her father's mother was from the Fire Nation too."
"Ah, yes; the firebending detective. I remember reading about him in the papers." Azula nodded thoughtfully, "Well, where ever she gets it from, she has a gift, one you should encourage. I'll arrange to have some books sent to you."
"Thank you." Asami blinked, surprised at just how kind the notorious war criminal was being.
A young woman about the same age as Asami, with the same golden eyes as Azula appeared and whispered something into the princesses ear. Her voice was too low for Asami or Korra to hear, but it was clear by the look on her face that Toph could make out every world.
"When?" The earthbender snapped.
"A few hours ago." The newcomer sounded urgent, "We only just got word."
"What's going on?" Korra asked with a growing sense of dread.
"It's the Southern Air Temple." Toph's voice betrayed the anger and fear building up inside her, "They're under attack by raiders."
To Be Continued...
(yeah, I love cliffhangers)