Hey, so I decided not to make it a sequel on this site, I'll just continue the story here. I still don't know what I am doing but I hope you guys enjoy


Lin hid away on the airship; everyone was on edge due to the failure in Republic City. Lin was on edge, but there was nothing to kill that feeling in her entirely. The airship was painfully dry, she had something else to knock off her bite on the long trip to the fire nation, but she had to wait for everyone to sleep. She couldn't be seen doing that activity.

Tenzin had dragged himself to her room on the darkest day for her, they couldn't go to the grave, but he had wanted to be with her as a family. Tenzin felt somber as he entered where Lin had lain low away for the past few days. She was passed out. He gently awakened her. She stared at him with heavy eyes

"What do you want." Her words slur as she sits up quickly. She hoped she had returned her items in her bag. She had, her head still span, but the euphoria was still there.

"Sorry to wake you. It's morning. We were going to light incense and pray in remembrance of the baby." Lin didn't look well, but she had not left the room in days.

"Shit, I'll-be there in a few," she nods dejectedly. She had to fix herself a little. She hoped he didn't notice she was slightly strung out. She felt the dried blood that was hidden away in her uniform. Lin thought back to somebody knocking to ask at some point, but time started being the same to her when she wasn't losing chunks of it.

Tenzin headed over to where the others were, prompting himself to breathe. It had been impossible to get his ex out of her room in the airship. He hoped she would show. It had not been healthy for her to withdraw. Kya said it was a shame Lin felt to let everything down back in Republic City, but he couldn't understand why she felt responsible for the whole city. His sister sat with Pema and the children sharing with them about their half-brother that passed at birth and how they would be together as a family; he was happy to see the kids be receptive. They had many questions. Bumi sat with the team avatar who was setting up diligently. They had gotten Raiko and Buttercup to go with Wu somewhere, luckily. Tarrlok was there, but he wouldn't go. Tenzin felt better for having his family and friends there, except Tarrlok. They all cared, and we're supportive of him.

Lin came out, eyes glued to the floor. She attempted to keep her mood to herself, wishing she had something substantial to burn her throat to remind her she was alive. Her full lips were dry, and her eyes looked a bit red. Ikki crashed into her, giving her a hug along with Su. It was like they could feel the waves of blue Lin emitted as she got closer. She didn't pull away, but she didn't emote or talk either. She just waited for them to commence. She didn't notice anyone in particular. She was blinking heavily, staring at the floor. Her high fades slowly. Reality hurts. She tries to breathe while Tenzin leads them in the small ceremony. Tenzin's voice keeps her in the room with them as he prays. It never fails her how greatly it throbs even though it was so long ago. She must have cried at some point because her face felt damp. She noted people were hugging Tenzin. He must be crying too. She never realized he cared. She bitterly thought about the family he had now, how she was desolate. She wanted to pull herself together, but she still remembered Kya telling her the baby had died inside her; it still moved. Everything felt unreal as she delivered him. Lin breathed, trying to pull herself together, and watched as everyone's eyes glistened at the moment. Once it was over, Lin stood around and waited until it seemed okay to leave. She still had tears in her eyes.

She thought back to the phone booth between Lake and Kyoshi Lane. It was how it was years ago the last time she called Zolt like this. She was 16. She pleaded with Zolt. She pointed out what a failure she was. It didn't matter anymore. He suggested to the clinic that it wouldn't be worth it. He would even go with her. She didn't languish. Nobody would have been able to predict such an attack how she was astonishing for combatting Amon, getting out of his blood-bending grip even if she had lost to a group of blood benders. She snapped and suggested finding it herself. He didn't understand her. Zolt surrendered, giving her his address. Instead, she got the stuff from him, and he wouldn't provide her with anything dirty.

The city was a disaster nobody noticed the unraveling of Chief Beifong nobody looked for her leadership. She felt cast aside in favor of everything but her oversight. She felt guilty bringing him into such a jumble. She had said she had it under control 39 years ago. Like right now, but she was a mess of pressure with no escape route. He had partaken in use with her. He hoped for the best as he felt a feeling he hadn't felt in 39 years; Amon had still reached around Zolts dreams in the silhouette of his night world, he wasn't a bender anymore, and he's not sure if that haunted him more before or at the moment. He had not asked for a thing. He just wanted her to be safe. Zolt didn't want her to ruin all she accomplished for herself out of despair.

She felt someone near it pull Lin out of her trance. Kya wrapped her arms around Lin, and Kya always smelt like what she imagined a home would spice food with an inkling of earthy and something just cozy. She held on to Lin for a while. Lin figured it would be nice if she weren't so detached. She didn't feel worthy; she was a dreadful person, a failure in every sense of the word.

"I'm glad you came out. I was worried about you, Lin." Kya was honest. Lin assumed it was about what she found the last time they spoke. It was a safe affliction. Lin stopped herself, but she couldn't say if it had been a few days or a few hours ago. She decided not to press down.

"I, just. Need-"

"Don't worry. I understand it's been a hard few weeks."

Lin decided not to speak. She minded the window, all the hues in the sky, but everything felt grey. She was still in Kya's embrace when Tenzin neared timidly with Pema. They looked out the window with her. It was so quiet but so loud they all heard it, an unstated exchange. Tenzin plopped a large friendly hand on the uncharacteristically unruly arid hair of the chief. It had been like he was an overgrown child. Lin didn't move her eyes or smile like she had when he first grew taller than her, he wasn't a sanctuary and an ear to listen to her anymore. They were nothing. She felt he was a stranger in a book she loved to read a long time ago, familiar. The words were something she had heard before, but they didn't resonate with her as the first read did. She was nothing to him anymore, and nothing could restore that scar for her.

Tarrlok watched her from a distance. He wished he could do something anything to ease her pain. Lin had shared that day with him the seven years they had been involved. He stopped her from ending her life the year before Korra. He blew it after. He felt relief. At least this year, she wasn't alone.

"Lin, we're escorting the president and his wife to gather some food; care to join us." Su invited softly. It was hard to see Lin in a disorderly state, Raiko almost commented, but even Wu had the sense that it wasn't the moment to judge. Tarrlok glared at the president.

"Pass," she didn't move her eyes from the softly fading yellow into magenta hazes.

"We can bring you something if you want, some rolls." Korra's voice was soft. She understood Lin's desire to isolate herself.

" I'm fine. I'll keep watch of the ship." Lin muttered

Su hugged Lin, suggesting she try for her. Lin felt whatever control she had left the withdrawal from liquor and the crisis at hand Lin couldn't hold back her irritation.

"I don't want to, please." Lin marched out and back to her room.

Su looked at the others and sighed. "I guess I overdid it." She looked to where Lin stood eternities ago, wondering what she was thinking about when she looked at the remarkable sunrise.

"We should be landing soon," Korra says, holding Su's shoulder. She felt really inadequate. Su's struggles to touch her older sister were unsuccessful.

"Right," she glares at Raiko and Buttercup. They clearly seemed to be enjoying a chat with Wu. He didn't seem to care that her sister was not okay. She wasn't sure if they were together, but he still felt scummy to her. She didn't see what Lin saw in the guy.

Bumi jumped off the Airship and ran over to where Lord Zuko and Fire Lord Izumi stood. He hugged Zuko. He and his uncle Sokka had always been his favorite adults.

" Good to see you both." Bumi contained himself and gave a bow realizing he was too old for the lack of manners to slide. The others bowed to them both. The Fire Lord approaches Kya and gives a small smile.

" Shame to reunite like this." She didn't hide the twinkle in her eye seeing her best friend.

" We have to catch up. I'm sure we will have time." Kya said brightly.

They led them into a chamber with a fireplace. There was a lovely waft of fire nation cuisine, and Katara and Toph were chatting amongst themselves. Toph had her feet up. Lin felt relief she decided to be put together. Chief Tonraq and Chief Eska and Desna had also been seated. It was tense on their side. They engaged in awkward conversation, mostly about how hot it was.

" oh, Lin, you're going to get a heatstroke in that; we're having a massive heatwave."

" Apologies Fire Lord Izumi. I will not be allowing you to change my clothes."Lin had a playful edge in her tone nobody's heard in a while.

"Aw, that stinks." Izumi tsked,

"Remember when she was tiny, we would dress her up so she could hang out with Tenzin" Kya teased reminiscing about it

"They were so little and cute, better than stuffy old dolls. They could stand on their own wedding cake."

"Im pretty sure you did that Izumi." Lord Zuko chimed in. Pema looked at Tenzin, she tried imagining it, a small smile filled her young children in love was cute to imagine.

"To bad their years where incompatible, A dragon and a rabbit." Izumi said thinking it made the most sense, Kya nooded and Lin rolled her eyes. Lin felt flustered, but it was better than speaking to her mom. Bolin cooed, imagining it for himself. He began asking questions that naturally made Lin put the fear of death in him, not that that stopped him from asking for young kid adventures of the decedents of team avatar. Zuko smiled a bit. He wondered where the time went. Katara looked over at her old friend. She knew the feeling remembering her own share of moments with them as small children. She looked to her grandchildren, how she wished Aang could know them.

"If you let me pick out an outfit, I won't tell them-"

"Fine… Let's go" Lin hurried off cutting off whatever embarrassment was coming. Izumi had too much ammo.

"Great job in Republic city, chief" Lin heard a snarky call which instantly damped the mood her mom had been carrying Su and Opal.

Kya wasn't sure why Lin's mood dropped; from her perspective, Toph sounded proud. Kya did know that their relationship was complicated she held resentment towards Toph for her own reasons. They decided to leave while the others occupied themselves. Lin informed Izumi of the mess she got into last time Kya was involved in dressing her, describing the gown moment at the gala.

"Lin, you dog." Izumi had been surprised but then she looked to Bumi ,"To be honest, Bumi would have been the first thing I did if I got cheated on by Tenzin." She privately enjoyed the new Air Nation wingsuits.

"Izumi, stop. Those are my brothers." Kya felt protective of her two pain-in-the-neck brothers.

"Didn't stop Lin." Izumi joked,

Lin didn't respond, giving them the chance to talk while Lin dreaded being around her mother, she didn't know if she would be strong enough to desk with her.

Korra, he'd been glad Bumi suggested fire nation clothes for the trip. The heat was fierce; everyone had been dressed down. Mako made an off-colored joke about how Sozin's comet didn't just kill them if this was a causal heat wave at 120 degrees. Eska glared at Opal, hissing at her Bolin decided to hide behind Opal anyway.

When the three of them returned, the conversations went smoothly as everyone was reacquainting. Lin felt less got under her uniform but made she nobody saw her injured arm, including Izumi, who she saw as an older sister. Luckily, Kya sensed Lins's anxiety and gave her a red wristband to put on beforehand, which she appreciated. The conversation could officially start with Korra taking the lead on the information. She had Lin laying her head on Izumi's lap and Izumi running her hands through her friend's head. Lin was glad nobody commented, focusing on Toph, who decided to remind everyone she saw the whole fight and how pathetic everyone was.

" Either way, gathering everyone here as works leaders is a risky move, but we all need to be on the same page if they try coming here or the water tribes," Korra looked to the faces in the room, feeling the tension. "there may be red lotus members in the tribes and fire nation and with Zaheer and Amon teaming up." Korra paused. She wasn't sure what to say.

"We got them before," Su said. She wasn't worried. "Republic city was just a message, though, and the possibility of a dark avatar."

"A dark avatar," Katara trembled a bit. She thought back to these strange dreams of glowing orange eyes. Was Aang trying to tell her something all this time?

"Yes, an informant of mine witnessed glowing eyes similar to Korra but orange," Lin said absentmindedly. She was enjoying Izumi's affection.

" I have had disturbing nightmares about a man with red glowing eyes," Katara admitted.

Lord Zuko thought back. Has he had strange dreams? He only had one he decided to share. He had a weird dream about a guy. When he described him, Mako shot up.

"That was one of them, as well. When did you guys have dreams?" Mako felt an anxious pang again, and it was like when Haruk came into the police station all that time ago. It would worsen if avatar Aang were trying to pass messages in dreams.

" It was a few nights ago," Katara sat up straighter.

"Same," Katara and Zuko look at each other. They then looked at Toph, who was picking her feet.

"I don't see things in dreams."

"Your kidding." Zuko had never sounded drier. He was not in the mood for Toph.

"Nothing to add." She was in a bad mood. She didn't care to be there.

"Can you see them here since you can see through vines or something?" Bolin asked

"Nothing I have seen. I don't know why you assumed they would attack the fire nation."

"Well, if they're not here yet, they will eventually come. No point in chasing them." Asami said, "yeah, but I think I will try and see if I can see them." Korra finally spoke, and she decided to find a place to go with Jinora, Bolin, Asami, and Mako..

When they were gone, Su turned to her mother, "What's eating you, mom? You seem pissed."

"I'm just disappointed, but I don't know what's going on, and I would like you people to have had a clue before dragging me out here."

"What are you disappointed in mom, we all have to figure this out together." Su calmly asked her mother. She knew something was up. She looked at Lin, pretending not to be aware of her mom's sour attitude.

"Su, I don't have to do anything. I want to be in peace. I'm just tired of watching people do stupid things bringing shame to their families." Toph said in an abrasive tone. Su looked back at her mother. She knew she was baiting Lin for a fight. Whatever she saw, she had to shame her in front of everyone. Katara glared at her old friend.

"I'm sure whatever you feel is shameful is just you, Toph."

"Yeah, now isn't the time for that," Lord Zuko spoke. He could never understand her lack of relationship with her oldest child. His daughter was his world. Pema decided to take her children and disbursed them as the others had. Only the other world leaders were trying to get in touch with their nations or figure out of they could figure out the Dark avatar bit.

"Well, Su wanted to know why I was in a bad mood." Toph contained picking at her feet.

Kya and her siblings looked at Lin. They hoped it would be over soon and Toph would decide to be helpful.

"So, you decide to watch me now that I'm 54 years old?" Lin finally said, knowing nothing would move forward if she didn't let her mom rip her up for whatever upset her now.

"I decided to open my eyes to what a horrible decision that was made, leaving Republic City in your hands. To think somebody hypocritical and weak lasted this long is almost shocking." Toph said harshly, Lin inhaled.

"It's shocking you even bothered to show up, considering you always had everyone else do your dirty work for you." Lin sat up now, a fire in her gaze small but deciding she had enough.

"Shouldn't you be getting your butt kicked somewhere, or I don't know, acting like a disgraceful little hussy with the president, or criminals or whoever looks in your general direction?" Toph spat back with great animosity

"Well, this was a stupid fucking idea. Was anything I ever did good enough for you?" Lin asked after thinking for a second; she realized she should hold her tongue for a second despite her growing rage. Kataras mouth was in a thin line.

"You were soft and pathetic. You are always a victim, weak." Toph pointed her finger at her child.

"At 7? It was your job to protect me. When I almost died twice due to your negligence, or maybe it was when I raised your kid so you could drink and fuck threw half of Republic City, you have some nerve." Lin was ready to explode. She had barely listed half of her grievances. Nobody else was in this room, just their raised voices.

"And I made you a fighter. You should've been the best bender and surpassed me. Look, I said I forgave you for all your garbage years ago. You never-"

"You made me think I was best when my life is shit. And now my life is shit. What did I ever do, Toph? You made that true. I don't want that-" Lin and Toph's voices only got louder and louder

"You would have picked it in a heartbeat! You should be thanking me, not blaming me. You were an embarrassment. You were my biggest disappointment, Lin. I lied when I said you were a great kid and that you were the best fit, chief." Toph's words were daggers. Kya and Izumi's eyes filled with empathy, knowing that it was said just to hurt Lin. Su stood frozen. She didn't know how to make it stop.

"Did you ever love me? Or anything even?" Lin's words were broken, her flame blown out. It was quiet now. Toph is momentarily heaved. But she compensates promptly.

"You think my mother loved me? Poor fucking you," Toph's voice was snarky but then shouted again. "I didn't stay home making coddling you like everyone else parent. No, I made you powerful! Knowing you'd hate me for it. That's the choice a mother makes, not that you would know." Lin felt tears run down her face. She inhaled sharply. Toph continues, "I wish I had a mother like me. Instead of nice. Nice gets you shit!" Toph shouted even louder, "I didn't like my mother either. So what? I gave you strength so that you can fix it yourself. I gave you a blessing." Toph finished angrily. The bitterness shocked everyone, and Team avatar had come back having forgotten they needed a guide for the fire nation. They had heard most of the ordeal.

"You cursed me. You made me into your image."Lin said after a moment. She stomped off, feeling embarrassed and ashamed when the kids saw that whole thing. Her mother refused to care about her feelings that she genuinely was nothing to the woman that birthed her.

"Act your age, Lin, your too old to be stomping off like a teenager," Toph said, calling out cooly, ignoring that her daughter had cried while she spoke. She didn't understand why Lin was so lily-livered and spineless.

"Unforgivable," Katara said, glaring at the small woman.

"What is wrong with you, mother," Su said, shaken by her mother's callousness.

"Why would you say that, Toph." Lord Zuko said. Bolin shook his head. Was that his hero?

Kya and Izumi attempt to follow Lin but return when they lose Lin. They glare at Toph, deciding she is a monster.

Toph chuckled at the tense, angry air, " The Red Lotus and Equalists are hiding in a cave. They got in it. They were on an Airship."

" You are unbelievable, Toph, how dare you," Katara yelled, infuriated with her old ally.