And we're back! We are so close to the end of Book 2 and things are ramping up! This chapter is quite a bit shorter than the last one and it segways right into the next one which I hope will come out next month. With that said, I hope you all enjoy chapter 12!

Edit: There was a mistake with one line of dialogue where I had written that Unalaq said the line when it was really Vaatu so I just fixed it. A reviewer pointed that out so thanks!


Chapter 12: Harmonic Convergence


The sun dawned on a cold Southern morning. A still silence had settled over the compound. With most of the soldiers gone to fight, the compound was fairly empty and the remaining Southerners were only just waking up, hoping to receive good news from the city.

Ichigo sat alone inside the eating hall with his sword placed across his lap. His eyes were cold and his expression was stoic. His mind was now totally made up. After weeks of debate within himself, it felt somewhat cathartic to have finally reached a decision. He was going home, and he was beginning to desensitize his emotions to the reactions that he'd undoubtedly get from those he left behind. The only issue now was to get to the Portal before Harmonic Convergence.

The doors to the hall opened and Senna made her way inside. At first, she didn't notice Ichigo and her expression was troubled. She had evidently not gotten much sleep. Ichigo shifted in his seat and she jumped with surprise.

"Ichigo, you're back!" She hurried up to the table. "How did the battle go? Did we win? Where's Tonraq?"

Ichigo looked up at her and swallowed. "We were making good progress until the dark spirits arrived. Tonraq ordered that I retreat and wait for Korra to come. I don't know what happened to him or his soldiers. I'm sorry."

Senna put her head in her hands and collapsed into a chair at the table. "Oh Ichigo, what do we do now? You don't think they killed him, do you?"

"No, he's too valuable to kill. I guess we just have to hope that Korra will be here soon. It's now or never because we're running out of time."

Senna took a deep breath and settled herself. "I'm going to send out a distress signal. Korra or no Korra, we need help. Unalaq will come here next and wipe us all out. He's too power-hungry to let us go free."

Suddenly, bells began to toll around the compound. They heard the sound of the gate opening and rushed outside together. Some of Tonraq's soldiers struggled past the gate and collapsed onto the snow. They were beaten up badly and there weren't many of them left.

One of them, less injured than the rest, called out to Ichigo. "Reaper! Help us!"

Senna dashed over to the them and Ichigo followed. "What happened?" Senna demanded.

"Unalaq has Tonraq in captivity. He let us go so we could tell you. We're all that's left."

A crowd had begun to gather and Senna began barking out orders. "Take these men to Katara in the infirmary. Close the gates and engage all defences. I'm sending out a distress signal." She bustled off to the radio room.

Ichigo stayed motionless in the middle of the square and then he turned to the right as he heard a door opening. Asami stepped out from their bedroom into the sunlight and their eyes met. She approached him slowly and then stood in front of him. They continued to stare at each other until she gently placed her hand on his cheek and offered a smile.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

He nodded. "Yes."

"Good. So I guess we're just waiting for Korra now?"

"I guess so."

"It'll be nice to see everyone again. We haven't seen them since we left Republic City."

"Yeah."

Asami looked down. "Well, I'm gonna go help Senna. What are you going to do?"

He looked away. "I don't know."

Asami opened her mouth to say something but then shut it and walked away. She was tired of confronting him and asking him to talk to her, he'd totally shut himself off now. She was very sad about the state of their relationship but she hadn't given up hope yet. I need to make him believe that it's worth it to stay here. I need him to believe that I'm worth it.

Ichigo watched her leave with misery in his eyes. I'm sorry, Asami, I really am. But it's the beginning of the end for us. This is my one and only chance to go home. Talking with Rukia, seeing those horrible dreams, all that has led me to this choice. I'd take you with me but that would make leaving the others harder, especially with everything going on with Vaatu and Unalaq. I just have to rip off the band-aid and leave. This world can sort its own problems out without me in it. I never belonged here. I don't even know why I was sent.


Varrick's battleship cut through the waves with precision. The water gurgled up against the sides of the vessel but the seas were calm. They had been travelling for several days and were only now nearing the gates of the Southern Water Tribe.

It was a cloudy morning and Korra was practicing her airbending on a straw dummy that they had erected onboard the ship. Below deck, Kya had Jinora's body placed in a tub of water and she continually ran her healing powers through the water up and down the girl's body, attempting to keep her alive as her spirit was still trapped in the Spirit World.

Bumi was playing a solemn tune on his pipe as he rested against the furry side of Oogie and Mako watched Korra while Tenzin gave her instructions. She beat attack after attack at the dummy relentlessly and Mako's expression showed a hint of trepidation. Bolin, dressed in a long purple trench coat and eating a piece of pie, went up to him.

"What's up with that coat?" Mako asked. "And where did you get that pie?"

"It's a Varrick ship. You never know what you're gonna find," Bolin explained. "There's a whole level filled with fun house mirrors," he sighed. "I miss that guy. He really knew how to make a long trip interesting. So, have you told Korra about how you guys broke up and how you almost went on a date with Yumi while she was getting attacked by dark spirits?"

"You want to keep it down? I'm waiting for the right moment."

"Oh, Mako. You know, a wise man once told me that delivering bad news to a girlfriend was like ripping off a blood-sucking leech. You just have to do it fast and get it over with."

Mako groaned. "I hate it when you listen to me. Fine. I'll do it."

"Unalaq will be waiting for you," Tenzin said to Korra. "You'll need all of your Avatar power to stop him!"

"I'm going to close the Spirit Portals, lock Vaatu away for another ten thousand years and make Unalaq wish he'd never been born!" Korra blasted fire at the dummy and knocked it's head off into the sky. It's charred remains fell at Mako's feet and he picked it up awkwardly.

Korra came over to him and he gingerly handed the head to her. "Thanks, Mako."

"Uhh… umm…"

"Did you want something?"

"Uh, no, no. Nothing."

She walked away and he grumbled to himself as Bolin slid up to him with a smug look on his face.

Kya stepped out from below deck and joined Tenzin and Korra.

"As soon as we reach the Southern Water Tribe," Tenzin said, "we'll blast through the blockade at the main port. Then we can rendezvous with Ichigo and Asami, and Tonraq and his troops, crash through the defences around the portal and enter the Spirit World."

"Whoa," Kya said, "since when does my little brother want to crash or blast through anything?"

"I'll do whatever it takes to save my daughter."

"We all want to save Jinora," Bumi said as he approached. "But I think your plan might be a tad overaggressive, seeing as there are only six of us and one ship."

"Really? Then what do you suggest?" Tenzin said derisively.

"An attack like this calls for strategy. I remember when I was surrounded by pirates in the hurricane straits. We managed to capture them all with just a feather, two eggs and a barrel of molasses."

"I don't want to hear any of your crazy stories now, this is serious!"

Bolin and Mako came over. "Are we almost there?"

"Let's go to the bridge," Korra said. "We'll have a better idea from there."

The six of them trouped up to the bridge and Bumi manned the radio. Kya checked the navigation system and the maps then looked outside.

"Looks like we're almost there. I can kind of make out the coastline."

"Head towards the city," Korra ordered.

"Hang on, guys," Bumi said. "I'm intercepting a distress signal. It's from the Southern troops! They say that Tonraq has been defeated and captured and that they are all alone up in the compound."

"My dad's been captured?"

"What about Ichigo and Asami?" Mako asked.

"It doesn't mention them. Wait, yes it does. The Reaper still lives and fights on, it says."

"Ichigo's still alive," Korra said. "And that means Asami is too. Change course. We have to get to the compound and meet up with them."

They headed away from the city and up to the coastline to the place where Korra had found Ichigo all those months ago. Korra leapt on Naga while the rest of them travelled on Oogie as they made their way to the compound. The gates opened for Korra as Oogie flew in from above.

Senna rushed out of the infirmary to meet her daughter. "Korra!"

"Mom!"

The two women embraced as Mako lowered Jinora's body to Tenzin off Oogie.

"I'm so happy you're here," Senna said.

"What happened to Dad?"

"Unalaq wiped out the entire Southern resistance and captured your father."

"I'll get him back."

"Guys!" They all turned at the voice as Asami ran up to them.

"Asami!"

They all laughed and hugged excitedly. "It's been so long," Asami said. "I've missed you guys."

"How have you been?" Mako asked.

"You missed the finale of Nuktuk!" Bolin complained.

She laughed. "Yeah, sorry about that, Bolin. I'm alright, thanks. Just a little tired of this war and all the pain and stress its caused."

Mako nodded. "We all are."

"Where's Ichigo?" Korra asked.

Asami sighed. "I'll find him. Just… don't be surprised if he seems a little different."

"Why, what happened?"

"I don't know. He hasn't been himself since we got here."

"Is he okay?" said Bolin. "Korra said he seemed fine when she saw him last."

"I don't know. I guess you'll just have to see for yourselves. Maybe he'll brighten up now that we're all together again. We've been waiting."

Tenzin came forward with Jinora in his arms. "Where is my mother?" He asked Senna.

"She's in the healing hut," Senna replied. "So many injured."

They went inside the infirmary while Asami went off to find Ichigo. The wooden floors were littered with wounded soldiers. Some of them were on cots while others just lay prostrate on the ground. Nearly all of them wore bandages on various parts of their bodies. Katara was at the far side of the room and she turned as the door opened.

"What happened?" She asked, running over.

"Her soul is trapped in the Spirit World," Tenzin said.

"Oh my goodness. How long has she been away?"

"Almost a week," said Kya. "I've tried to keep her energy flowing but I can feel her slipping away. You're the only one who can help her now, Mom."

They placed Jinora's body in a shallow pool of water and Katara sat down next to her and began to bend. The water glowed blue as she caused it to pass back and forth, up and down Jinora's body.

"How much longer can she survive like this?" Tenzin asked.

"I don't know," Katara replied. "But she's very strong to have lasted this long."


Ichigo was sitting in the eating hall by himself with his head in his hands. Ugh, we don't have any time! If Korra doesn't get here soon, I'm going to have to go to the Portal alone. He looked up as the doors opened and Asami walked through.

"Korra and the others are here, Ichigo," she announced. "Let's go."

Ichigo stayed still and then rose to his feet. "Finally," he said.

Together, they walked out of the eating hall and headed to the infirmary where Mako and Bolin were waiting outside. Bolin waved and jogged over.

"Ichigo! How are you? I missed my co-star!" He gave him a hug and Ichigo gingerly returned it.

"I'm good, Bolin," Ichigo said and nodded at Mako. "Good to see you."

Mako nodded back. "Yeah, it sure is. Korra's in the infirmary. We should go inside."

They opened the doors and the injured soldiers looked up and Mako noticed their mixed reactions to Ichigo's presence. Some still bore expressions of admiration while others held begrudging respect and still others regarded him with distrust and even animosity. Korra stepped out of the far room where Jinora's body was and her and Ichigo's eyes met across the infirmary.

She smiled and came over to give him a tight hug. He returned it awkwardly and she held on for far longer than he was comfortable with.

"I missed you," she said. "It feels like forever since I saw you in person."

"It hasn't been that long. I-I missed you too."

"Thank you for everything you did with Wan. I think he's really happy that you're still alive. He misses you."

"I still don't remember him," said Ichigo coldly.

"You will. One day."

She finally pulled away and breathed in deeply as she looked into his eyes. "I feel like I'm seeing a whole new you after everything I've learned from Wan and about your mother. I don't even know what to say right now."

"That's a first."

"Good to see you haven't lost your attitude," she chuckled.

Ichigo didn't smile. "What's the plan? Harmonic Convergence is soon, isn't it? We don't have time to waste."

She nodded. "You're right. Head back outside; I'll bring the others."

Ichigo obeyed and left the infirmary. Mako, Asami and Bolin followed him uncertainly.

"Is it just me or is Ichigo kinda… cold?" Bolin whispered.

"He's barely showed any emotion since we got here," Mako agreed.

"He's been like this since he got back from the battle," Asami said. "I don't know what's wrong with him."

"Maybe he's just super focused on taking down Unalaq and getting this over with?" Bolin offered.

"I hope so."

Korra and the others joined them outside the infirmary. Tenzin nodded to Ichigo. They hadn't seen each other since Tenzin and his family left them before Korra had even opened the Southern Portal.

"It's been a while," Tenzin said.

"Yeah. How's Jinora?"

"We're working on it."

Korra observed the conversation and then took Ichigo aside.

"Ichigo," she said, "I didn't want to mention this in the infirmary but are you sure you're alright? Asami says you haven't been yourself lately. I thought after seeing your mother and remembering your purpose that you'd be good."

Ichigo hesitated. "There's a lot more going on than just my mother, Korra," he replied. "But it's nothing that you should worry about."

"Stop hiding the truth, Ichigo," Asami said, having heard their exchange. "Why don't you tell her what's really going on? Why don't you tell her about your friend Rukia and the whole reason we left in the first place? Why don't you tell her about your nightmares?"

"Asami…" Ichigo warned. "Now is not the time."

"Then when is the time? You won't tell me anything in private so I feel like I have to bring your issues out into the open with everyone."

"Can we just focus on what's important here?" Ichigo argued. "Harmonic Convergence is only a few hours away and we're standing here bickering. We don't have time for this!"

"Ichigo's right," Tenzin said. "Jinora's life is on the line and we can't waste a single minute."

Korra nodded. "Our personal issues have to wait. Alright, listen up everybody. I talked to the rebels in the infirmary. They said Unalaq's got the Southern Portal surrounded. Harmonic Convergence is only a few hours away."

"Then we have to break through the enemy lines ourselves and get to the portal now."

"I agree. There's no use in talking anymore. We know what our mission is."

"A suicide mission," Bolin muttered.

"You know," said Bumi, "I was in a similar situation once. My platoon had crawled through the desert with no water for a week. But when we finally located the only oasis for a hundred miles, it was surrounded by angry sandbenders. I realized our only chance to get to the water was to drop in from above! So I fashioned together a catapult, and with the help of a few well-trained hog-monkeys-"

"Enough of your ridiculous lies!" Tenzin exclaimed. "Can't you see that the fate of the world and Jinora's life depends on what we do here today?"

"Hold on, maybe Bumi's right," Asami said. "We don't have a catapult and hog-monkeys but we have a flying bison and there's a plane on Varrick's ship. Maybe we can attack from above."

"What are you thinking?" Korra asked. Ichigo stood to the side with his arms crossed as Asami explained her plan.

"Mako, Bolin and I can use the plane to create a distraction and scatter some of the defences. You, Tenzin, Bumi and Kya can fly into the Spirit Portal on Oogie when you see an opening. Ichigo will shadow the plane and provide us with cover when we create our distraction, and when you guys go through the opening, he's fast enough to follow you."

Korra nodded. "Let's get moving."


At the Northern military base surrounding the Southern Portal, Eska and Desna entered a pitched tent. Unalaq was sitting inside meditating by himself as his two children approached.

"What are we still doing here, Father?" Eska asked.

"The invasion was completely successful and the Southern Water Tribe is under our control," Desna said. "The Spirit Portals are open."

"You've restored balance. Now we would like to go home."

Unalaq rose to his feet. "You don't understand. Everything I've achieved so far will pale in comparison to what I'm about to accomplish."

"What else is there? The Water Tribe is united."

"After today there will be no more Water Tribe; no more nations of any kind. The world is about to be transformed into something magnificent and new. And I will lead this glorious revolution. You remember what I taught you, those stories I recounted every night when you were children. This is it. The balance I spoke about is not contingent on the Water Tribes. You will see the true balance of the universe that is the culmination of all my life's work."

The twins looked at each other and Desna spoke. "We trust you, Father. And we know you don't pay much attention to Kurosaki Ichigo, but the prophecy still exists and we missed our chance to take him out at the battle. How can you guarantee that he won't stop all this?"

"You need not worry about the Soul Reaper. He has been taken care of and will play no part in Harmonic Convergence that could hinder us. Vaatu has made sure of that."

"But Father-" Eska protested.

"You trust me, don't you?" Unalaq said raising his voice. "What I have said will come to pass. Now go outside and get the troops ready to defend the portal."

"From whom? We've already beaten everyone and you just said not to worry about Ichigo."

"The Avatar will be here soon. She has no choice."


Oogie soared through the air amidst heavy clouds on their way to the Spirit Portal. Korra, Ichigo, Tenzin, Kya and Bumi were all sitting in his saddle. Beside them, Asami flew up in Varrick's blue bi-plane. Mako and Bolin were secured to the wings by ropes and clasps and they held on tightly as the plane chugged along.

Asami gave a thumbs up and Ichigo leapt off of the sky-bison and landed on the plane. He hunkered down on the top wing as Oogie pulled into the sky above them.

"Are you ready?" Asami called out.

"I'm an earthbender strapped to the wing of a plane hundreds of feet in the air, so no?" said Bolin fearfully.

"Don't worry!" Mako shouted. "There's no way they'll be expecting this."

They broke through the clouds and came upon the portal. Dozens, maybe hundreds of dark spirits swirled around the blue beam of energy. At the base, blockades of metal and ice had been built and soldiers and mecha-tanks lined up in defensive formation. They observed the oncoming plane and prepared to attack.

"I think they were expecting it!" Bolin yelled.

"God's sake," Ichigo muttered.

Giant shards of ice began to shoot towards them, streaking across the sky like arrows. Asami banked right and Bolin screamed in terror as he and Mako held on for dear life. Ichigo gripped the plane's wing tightly and rose to his knees. Asami avoided a few more barrages and lined up the plane to make a pass through the encampment low to the ground.

"Get ready!" she called. "Fire!"

Mako unleashed his flames and Bolin began shooting discs of earth from a bag on his back. They attached to several mecha-tanks and then he pressed a detonator switch in his hand. The discs exploded and sent shards of metal across the camp. Mako's firebending did some fair damage as well. Ichigo cautiously let go of the plane and fired a Getsuga Tenshou which cleaved through a tower and decimated some of their defences.

Back up on Oogie, Tenzin steered him towards the portal but the spirits still circled round it, having not bothered to engage the others.

"I don't see an opening," Korra said.

"Let's circle around and see if we can find a way in from the other side," said Tenzin.

Suddenly, dark spirits left the portal and immediately converged on them. Tenzin banked hard left and towards the ground. "Hold on!"

A large spirit latched onto Oogie's legs and began to bring the bison down. Others crawled their way up his legs to the saddle. Korra and Kya beat them away with their bending. Oogie let out an angry groan.

"The spirits are weighing Oogie down; we're losing altitude!"

Bumi began kicking at a spirit. "Get off of him you sticky, nasty little blob of goo! Whoa!" The spirit swept out his legs from under him and he grabbed hold of its shoulders to keep himself from falling off. "If I go, you're coming with me!" It hissed loudly and pushed off Oogie and landed hard in the snow with Bumi still holding on.

"Bumi!" cried Kya.

The ice missiles were still firing at the plane. Asami dodged left and right and Ichigo did his best to guard them. Mako blasted fire at the Northern troops, charring some of their defences and Ichigo shunpoed in front of them to defend. A shard hit him solidly in the chest and drove him painfully into the wing of the plane. The rest of the shards pierced the aircraft and it began to smoke.

Bolin fired more bombs at the trenches and barricades, detonating them instantly. "I wish Varrick was filming this," he called. "We could call it Nuktuk: Sky Warrior!"

"Shut up and focus!" Ichigo yelled as he clung onto the wing.

Below them in the camp, Eska and Desna shot two water attacks at the plane, destroying the entire back half behind the pilot seat. The plane was going down and was poised to crash into the side of a mountain.

"I can't control it!" Asami cried out. "The steering's shot!"

Ichigo jumped to the front of the plane and began to push against one wing, trying to turn it away from the mountain. The propeller slashed against his shoulder and he shouted with pain. Turning his back to it so that Zangetsu took the brunt of the propeller, he yanked the wing down and the plane veered away from the mountain and crashed into the snow.

Mako, Asami and Bolin were flung from the crash unconscious, Ichigo couldn't get clear in time and the plane exploded right in his face, launching him against a rock face totally unconscious as well.

After a struggle, Oogie was brought down and Korra, Tenzin and Kya were tossed into the snow. Korra groaned and opened her eyes only to see a Northern soldier's boot come flying at her face and then she knew no more. Their attack had completely failed.


Korra opened her eyes painfully. The world around her was blurry but she could tell that she was lying on her side. As her vision cleared, she saw her father chained up to a wooden post with heavy wounds across his body. Tenzin and Kya were there too. They seemed to be in a tent, most likely at the base they had just attacked.

"Dad," she said, getting up slowly to her knees.

His eyes opened and he regarded her weakly. "Korra. I'm so sorry. I failed you."

"Don't give up. Harmonic Convergence isn't here yet. We still have a chance."

She heard a moan and gasped. Ichigo was propped up against a wooden box with his hands also in chains. His robes were tattered and burns seared across the front of his body. They seemed to be healing but he was still unconscious and his head lolled from one side to the other.

"Ichigo," Korra crawled over to him and winced at his wounds. She sat down next to him against the box and sighed. "What are we going to do now?" she murmured to herself.

Ichigo's eyes fluttered. "You'll win," he groaned.

"You're awake?"

"Barely. Where are we?"

"I think we're in the base around the portal."

"So we lost?"

"Yup."

He coughed. "Perfect."

"You're hurt."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"What happened?"

"Plane. Exploded."

"What about the others?" she said in fear.

"No idea. I think they were thrown clear of the explosion. They should be fine." He seethed with pain.

"Are you able to fight?"

He lifted an arm weakly. "I need some time. You guys should leave me."

"With Unalaq's goons? No way. They'll kill you."

"I'd like to see them try."

"Me too," she chuckled.

"Don't worry about me. You have to beat Vaatu."

"Hopefully I can close the portals before he even gets free."

Ichigo blinked. "Yeah. I think you can beat him anyway."

"Don't you mean we, bro?" She fist-bumped his arm playfully.

"First of all, ow. Second, you'll be fine with or without me."

"Yeah, but we're in this together, aren't we? You and Wan started this. Now you and me will finish it."

Ichigo gave her a small smirk. "We gotta get out of here first."

"Maybe the others escaped and they're on their way to rescue us right now."

"Yeah. I doubt that."

Light shone onto them as the tent flap was opened. Mako, Bolin and Asami, also chained, were flung inside by Eska and Desna.

"We tried," Mako said.

"Congratulations, everyone." Unalaq said as he entered the tent behind them. "You've all got front row seats to the beginning of the new world order."

"You don't know what you're doing, Unalaq," Korra said. "Freeing Vaatu won't make you powerful, it will only make you a traitor to everything good that's happened for the last ten thousand years."

"You think what Avatar Wan did was good? Driving almost all the spirits from this world? The Avatar hasn't brought balance, only chaos. You call yourself the bridge between the two worlds. But there shouldn't be a bridge. We should live together as one. My colleagues in the past were wrong to obsess about you, it was the spirits behind you that were all so important."

"Even if Vaatu escapes, I'll put him right back in his prison. Just like Wan did."

"It's true that when Wan fused with Raava after the Soul Reaper's intervention he tipped the scales in her favour. But this time I'll be here to level the playing field. When Harmonic Convergence comes, I will fuse with Vaatu and together we will become the new Avatar: a dark Avatar. Your era is over."

"Think about what you're doing," Tonraq growled. "I know that you've always had a deep connection with the spirits. But you're still a man. You're still my brother. You're Kahinna's husband. You're Eska and Desna's father. Are you willing to throw your humanity away to become a monster?"

"I'll be no more of a monster than your own daughter. I never sought power, only balance. But I soon realized that power and sacrifice are necessary to achieve that balance. The only difference between your daughter and I is that while she can barely recognize her own spiritual power, I will be in complete alignment with mine. When I have fused with Vaatu, you will stand no chance. And not even your precious Soul Reaper, the fabled warrior of prophecy, the one you trust ever so much will be able to stop me." He turned to his children who bore uncertain looks on their faces. "Keep them locked up. After the Harmonic Convergence, I will come for Korra."

"Yes, Father," Eska said.

Tenzin and Kya were leaning against each other. "I failed in every way," Tenzin said. "We've lost Jinora forever."

"There's still a chance," she replied. "They didn't get Bumi."

Tenzin groaned.


Amidst the snowdrifts outside the base, a foot forced its way into the open air. Bumi struggled out of the snow that he'd been buried in and his body creaked painfully. In front of him, the dark spirit that had brought them down was hovering passively. Bumi backpedalled with fright and then stood to his feet at it approached.

"Oh, you wanna play some more? Well, bring it on."

He raised his fists and unleashed a furry of blows on the spirits face but they had no effect. Then he wound up for a powerful uppercut, connecting with its jaw. The spirit growled and Bumi laughed awkwardly before it launched him back into the snow with a punch.

"Oh, we're playing dirty, huh?"

He flung a knife from his jacket pocket but it only was shot straight back at him. Bumi rolled to the side with a cry of fear as the spirit attacked. Rummaging about in his pockets he whipped out his little pipe pathetically. The spirit immediately became docile and regarded the instrument with earnest interest.

Bumi noticed this and played a little tune. The dark spirit turned light.

"Hmm. Looks like we've got a music lover here."

He continued to play and the spirt started dancing. Behind him, he heard the howl of a dog and he turned to see Naga barrelling towards him with Pabu clinging on for the ride. They had followed them from the compound and had only just arrived.

"Aha! Reinforcements!" Bumi put his fist to his chest in salute. "Alright, soldiers, looks like it's on us to save the day. Luckily I've got a plan."


Back in the tent, Eska and Desna regarded the many dark spirits that swirled around the portal through the tent flap.

"Eska, Desna, listen to me," Korra said. "You've gotta help us stop Unalaq. I know he's your father but Vaatu has made him completely crazy."

"We will never turn on our father," Eska said.

"Please. If you let me out now I can still stop him from destroying everything. Once he fuses with Vaatu, no one will be safe. Desna, he won't be your father anymore."

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Desna reacted angrily. "Our father is the wisest man in the world. If he says what he is doing is right, I believe him."

Ichigo regarded all this in silence.


Bumi was hiding up against a wall with Naga and Pabu just outside the gate of the base around the Spirit Portal. A guard walked by and he jumped him and took his uniform. He stepped out into the camp and withdrew his pipe.

"Alright, spirit army, your general is here. Follow me!"

He played the same tune and the spirits instantly noticed and surrounded him. "It's working!" He kept playing and then suddenly they all attacked him. "It's not working!" He fled and the spirits began to chase him around the camp. They were all around him and he searched desperately for an escape route. There was a mecha-tank behind him and he jumped inside and latched the cockpit doors.

The spirits phased into the machine and electricity began sparking on all the controls. Turning itself on, the mecha-tank burst to life and accelerated forward, crashing through several tents.

"Get me out of here!" Bumi shrieked.

He mashed all the buttons and wrenched at all the levers. A cord shot out of the mecha-tank's arm and caught hold of a metal tower right in the center of the camp. With the accelerator still pushed down, and still being attached to the tower the tank began to careen around the camp in circles, destroying everything in its path.

Spirits started phasing into the cockpit and Bumi pulled the eject handle and was shot out of the tank as it circled round to demolish more tents and barricades. Bumi was sent flying through the air and hurtled towards the last remaining tent.

"Aghhh! Woohoo!" He cried as he sailed into the tent, knocking over Unalaq's kids and stopping just in front of his friends. "Alright, guys! Rescue time!"

Naga came up behind him, bopping the twins together and knocking them unconscious. Korra, Ichigo and the others stared at Bumi in shock. Tenzin's jaw had hit the floor. They went inside to find the camp in flames as the tower finally fell.

"Bumi," Tenzin said, "how were you able to take out this entire encampment on your own?"

"I did it all with my trusty flute and- Oh never mind, you wouldn't believe it anyway. Let's get moving."

Korra put her hand on Ichigo's back. "You alright to come with us? If you're too hurt then you don't have to come."

He shook his head. "I'm coming. I got this far. No use going back now."

She smiled. "That's right. We're in this together for the long haul."

Ichigo offered her a strained smile in response. The group headed towards the spirit forest and Ichigo narrowed his eyes. He could feel the spiritual pressures shifting. Some of the reiatsu's felt familiar. His world was very close now. Looking around at his friends, he swallowed deeply. This is it. I'm really going through with this. If all goes to plan, the portals will be open when Harmonic Convergence comes and I'll be home free. It feels… liberating. But I know that I'll strongly regret this decision at times. But I have to do it. My family and friends are waiting for me.

"This must be familiar for you, huh?" Korra said, interrupting his thoughts.

"What?"

"Travelling with the Avatar to stop Vaatu before Harmonic Convergence. You've already done this before."

"I still don't remember."

"If you don't remember after this battle, then I don't know what would jog that memory of yours." She walked forward to the head of the group.

Asami came up to him. "Are you alright?" she asked.

He looked at her for a few seconds and then nodded. "Yeah." His burns and wounds had healed a bit. He was having some trouble walking but he could still function.

"What do you think we'll find in there?"

"Nothing we can't handle."

Asami smiled slightly. "I'm glad you're here. I'm sorry for calling you out in front of everyone. That wasn't right."

"It's okay. I'm glad you're here too."

They had now entered the forest and stopped in a clearing just outside the portal. Tonraq, who had been helped along by Mako and Bolin on their way there due to his heavy injuries, coughed and addressed everyone.

"You run into the portal. I'll try to hold off anyone who comes after you."

"No, you're too hurt. You need a healer," Korra insisted. "Asami, can you take Oogie and my dad back to my mom?"

Asami hesitated and looked at Ichigo. He gave her a simple nod and she sighed her agreement.

"This is my fight now," Korra continued to Tonraq.

"Korra. I love you." They embraced closely.

"I love you too, Dad."

"I don't want to leave you guys," Asami said to Ichigo. "Not when I could help you in there."

"It's for the best," Ichigo replied softly. "Tonraq needs you and I don't really want you going in there with Vaatu prowling around."

"Why?"

"Because- because it's better for you outside."

She looked down and then nodded slowly. "Okay." She turned to go. Ichigo stood watching her then he grimaced and brushed away a quick tear.

"Wait."

She looked back at him and he ran forward and embraced her tightly. She seemed surprised but then her arms eventually wrapped around him and they stood there hugging.

"Thank you," Ichigo whispered into her ear.

"For what?"

"Everything. You've given me so much and I could never pay it back. I just want you to know how thankful I am for every second that I've spent with you."

"Well, there'll be plenty more seconds for us to share together, right?"

They were still hugging and Ichigo went silent. He just held her tighter. The others were beginning to watch them awkwardly. They had been embracing for at least two minutes and Asami started to pull away.

"You have to go," she said. "Harmonic Convergence is so soon."

He sighed and let his hold on her relax. "Yeah."

She smiled and cupped his cheeks in her hands. "I'm thankful for you too. Now go kick that bastard's ass for me."

Ichigo chuckled. "Get outta here."

She kissed him quickly and climbed on Oogie as they helped Tonraq into the large saddle. Asami and Ichigo met eyes one last time. The wind picked up as Oogie left the ground and Asami could've sworn she saw a small tear fall from his eye but it was gone with the wind in an instant.

Ichigo watched her leave, never taking his eyes off her as the sky bison faded into the clouds. Well, she's gone. And I never told her the truth. He gritted his teeth and held his hand against his eyes to hide the tears. I never told her the truth. What kind of person am I? I lied to her for weeks and hid my true thoughts. I couldn't even say goodbye. I don't deserve her. I don't deserve any of this. All that's left for me now is to leave.

"Once we're inside," Korra said to Tenzin, "You go find Jinora. Mako, Bolin and Ichigo will hold off Unalaq while I close the portals so Vaatu can't escape."

"Wait a second!" Bolin said. "Worst case scenario: so we're fighting Unalaq, you close the portals, let's just say… something happens to you. Are we gonna be trapped in there for eternity?"

"Nothing will happen to her," Ichigo said. "I'll be right beside her."

She nodded. "If everything goes as planned, we'll all walk out together after Harmonic Convergence. If not…" she sighed. "Let's go."

They all ran inside the portal and emerged into the rocky clearing where Vaatu's tree stood. Dark spirits flew around it like they did around the portal. Unalaq was waiting for them at the base of the tree. He instantly leapt onto a dark spirit and charged at them.

"Tenzin, go find Jinora," Korra ordered. Tenzin, Kya and Bumi rushed off into the Spirit World as Korra entered the Avatar State. She unleashed a wide wave of air that blew most of the spirits away but Unalaq leapt over it, landing smoothly on some ice he created. Mako and Bolin stepped forward to fight him while Korra rushed to the portal to close it.

Ichigo looked towards the tree and he felt like Vaatu was staring right at him. He could see the portal closing and he began to panic. Unalaq dodged this way and that, holding off the bending brothers with ease. Bolin earthbent the ground beneath Mako's feet, flinging him into the air. The firebender blasted a torrent of his element but Unalaq struck him down first with water. Bolin came at him but Unalaq met him solidly and overpowered him.

Korra was struggling with the portal and Ichigo looked back and forth. Vaatu was staring hard at him now as if pleading with him to intervene. A spirit lashed out and caught Ichigo by surprise, sending him back against the portal right beside Korra, causing her to stumble and lose half her progress.

"You're running out of time, Raava," Vaatu said, "I know you feel it coming."

Above them, the planets aligned. The humming from the portals increased drastically and Korra was launched back by a shockwave of energy. The portals, crackling with spiritual electricity bent together and met above the tree. Unalaq grinned wildly as Korra sank to her knees in shock. Ichigo stared above at the beams of energy.

His pulse raced and his head began to spin. Memories and emotions assaulted his mind. This was it. His world was so close now. So very, very close.

The single arc of energy turned a bright yellow and a giant purple shockwave echoed out from their meeting, blanketing the entire planet in an ethereal and ugly purple mist. It covered every single nation and ocean. Beifong braced herself against its impact in Republic City. Auras like the Northern Lights shone in the skies across the world.

Lastly, great lightning bolts shot into the tree from the arc of energy and it began to glow a crimson red. Then everything went black. Suddenly with a burst of light, the prison walls of the tree exploded and the great spirit of darkness floated into the sky in all his bloated glory. Vaatu was free.

Everyone stared in horror as his laughter boomed in the expanse around them. Unalaq turned to face them with a triumphant smile as Vaatu bent down to address the Avatar.

"Raava, nothing could stop this moment. Harmonic Convergence is upon us again."

"I'm not going to let you fuse with Unalaq," Korra said. "You're going right back in that cell."

Vaatu ignored her and hovered towards Ichigo. "Soul Reaper. The warrior in black. I think at last, I understand you. I feel the pure, unbridled conflict within you. Being imprisoned for so long has given me… perspective. I know what it's like to be trapped in a place where I don't belong. And I too would long to see my family. Especially if they may need me. You know what you must do. Make your choice, Kurosaki Ichigo. Stay and die with your friends. Or abandon them and return to your world."

Korra's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Don't you remember how he faced this same choice before and chose to save Wan? You're a fool, Vaatu."

Ichigo flew up and looked at the arc of energy. He could literally see the fabric of the worlds peeling apart for him. He was so close. His friends, his family, they were all waiting for him on the other side. All it would take is one more step and he'd be home. But then he turned back.

Korra stared up at him along with Mako and Bolin. Confusion was written across the brothers' faces. Korra's expression was calm but as she studied his face, it slowly shifted to concern. Ichigo looked across the expanse of the Spirit World. He could see a lot from here. It was dark and crags jutted out everywhere. There was no light to be seen. All of its beauty, all of its majesty had been sucked up and bathed in an inky foreign blackness.

Ichigo looked back down and then at last he made his choice. Forgive me, Asami.

"I'm sorry, Korra," he said sadly. "I hope one day you'll understand."

With that, he entered the light and he was gone.


And yeah that's the end of chapter 12. I really wanted this one to be shorter and a bit more fast paced and I hope it came out that way. There's only two chapters left now in Book 2 and I'm really excited to see how it ends and where the story goes from here. Thank you all again for reading and I hope you enjoyed. See you next time!