Two groups began approaching the station's briefing room from the opposite side. The first group made its way as they directed their steps to the long table that was placed at the center. At the right side, Southern Water Tribe Chief Tonraq led his companions towards the table. Following him, his daughter, Korra the Avatar. The visitor that they were hosting took a seat beside Tonraq, the green, silver and black of her robes a stark contrast to the blues clad by her hosts. Father and daughter engaged in an amiable chat while the matriarch of the Metal Clan, Suyin Beifong remained with a calm expression that hid the emotions brewing within, absorbed in her own thoughts. The sound of a door opening caught their attention as a second group began making its way inside. Captain of the island garrison Jin led the small retinue, followed by four guards flanking a dark haired woman. Chief Tonraq stood up and approached the captain while Suyin leaned over towards Korra, murmuring something barely audible on the opposite side of the room where the newcomers stood. The metalbender observed all of this, a mixture of anxiety and expectation colliding inside her. She wasn't prepared for this, although she doubted there could be the day were she could feel ready for it anyway. But she knew she had to face this sooner or later. This meeting was inevitable, whether it was today or in 30 years, it would come out to be just the same.
Kuvira didn't know what she could expect from this. The only certainty she had was this was the required first step out of many if she was that fortunate, to hope to find some closure with the woman who was her former mentor. The former Zaofu captain had been so concentrated in her own reflection that she barely noticed that Korra was addressing the audience in the room.
"Suyin has agreed to this visit at the request of King Wu and President Zhu Li Moon in order to confirm that the conditions agreed on regarding the prisoner Kuvira are being fulfilled. She can see by herself the remoteness of this place makes any escape attempt or any other ill intention unlikely."
Kuvira looked at Suyin. She seemed to be giving a clinical evaluation to the place and to her current aspect. She didn't seem particularly pleased; she wasn't bound by handcuffs but the unworried demeanor manifested by the Southern Water Tribe members seemed to put her suspicions to rest, at least momentarily.
"Kuvira" Korra was speaking to her now. "Su wishes to meet you in private. Do you agree?"
Although her expression remained noncommittal, inwardly Kuvira was unnerved by this request. She wouldn't have Korra for support. She would be on her own.
"I do" replied the former dictator. She could sense Suyin's hard emerald glance dissecting her as the Chief led Korra and the guards out of the conference room. In her meditations, she had faced herself with this scenario, attempting to steel herself for this day. As she had concluded through her spiritual exercises, she needed to let go of any anger and disillusionment towards the Metal Clan matriarch even if there were plenty of things still unresolved from their relationship from the moment she left Zaofu behind. She needed to return to the child she once was, scared, distrustful and hesitant, the one who captured the attention of the youngest Beifong sibling in such a way she took her under her tutelage. Kuvira hoped Suyin would still be able to see that little girl in the woman who stood in front of her now, one who had chosen to forego resentment and pain and instead accepted the path towards forgiveness and redemption.
The door closed and the last person left the room leaving the former teacher and student alone facing each other. Kuvira drew in a sharp breath, her shoulders straightening and her head held high, her face displaying a quiet dignity interlaced with humility instead of the arrogance and hubris of old. She stared into Suyin's eyes with a warm, nostalgic glimmer.
"It's been a long time Su." And so Kuvira's quest for forgiveness thus began.
-The End-
Final Notes:
This story has two additional books which came into existence after I finished The Path. You can continue Kuvira's road to redemption with The Crucible and Reparations.
Thank you to those who taken their time to leave their feedback. It is really appreciated. ^_^
This fic breaks a years long hiatus since my last published story. I'm a latecomer to the ATLA/LoK fandom and after finishing LoK, I knew I wanted to write something. I originally had thought it would be Korrasami, taking advantage of the continuity of the story with the recent published graphic novels. Then Game of Thrones Season 8 happened and from Korrasami, I took interest in Kuvira's character. Something about my disappointment with S8 and the botched treatment of characters like Dany and Jaime and the internet's inevitable comparisons to series with better endings and better character arcs brought both ATLA and LoK to mind. So in a sense, this story came out as an outlet to my disappointment with S8 and how I decided to explore a good character gone bad like the Mad Queen but done better and so that's how I ended up with this story. I think The Great Uniter as well as Korra and the rest might stir more stories out of me but for now, I hope you've enjoyed this one. Thanks for reading!
