Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter. We're moving on into the Book One finale. Also, I have some announcements to make at the end of the chapter so be sure to stick around for that. So without further delay, let's get on with it:

I was greeted with the grayness of morning as I opened my eyes. Winter had well and truly set in by now, which meant that the mornings were cold and gray, the evenings were cold and gray, actually all day was cold and gray. As was such in this part of the world. A vast majority of the coastal regions along the Mo Ce Sea were like this during the winter months, which was why Ember Island was such a popular vacation spot.

As I went to get up, I noticed a weight on my arm, pinning me to the bed. I narrowed my eyes in confusion and looked down to find the top of Korra's head. She was lying with her head on my chest as she slept. Her hair was down as she breathed softly, having not awoken yet. It took a moment for the sleep to clear and for me to remember the night before.

After getting back to the city and informing everyone what was going on, I had elected to go straight to bed. The strain of a long journey, coupled with Tarrlok's beheading and our narrow escape from Amon was enough to make anyone tired. Korra had come to my room later, after everyone had gone to bed.

Now before you go making assumptions, the answer is no, we didn't do anything. The encounter with Amon, on top of the experience of being kidnapped by an insane bloodbender was a little taxing on her and she had simply come seeking my presence as a way to relax. We'd fallen asleep together, apparently.

I shifted my shoulder slightly and tried to slide out from under her, but Korra groaned in her sleep before latching on to me, pulling me in closer to her. Considering how things had been a few months ago when we were looking for Bolin, I couldn't help but smile. Regardless, I still tried to wiggle free without actually waking her.

It felt nice, sharing a bed with someone again after a long time. But, as much as I didn't want this to end, I still had things to do. Like my morning workout routine, and answering nature's call, you know, the important stuff. Korra moaned again and further tightened her grip on me, burring her face in my neck and slinging her leg across mine. I couldn't help but smile at the fact that her sleeping form was so determined to keep me in place that she was basicly laying on top of me.

I leaned forward and kissed the top of her forehead. Somehow, after everything that I had tried so far, THIS was what brought her out of her slumber. Cyan blue eyes slowly opened and looked up at me.

"Morning," I said, smiling down at her. She blinked, and I could see the gears turning in her head as she tried to clear the sleep from her mind. Suddenly her eyes went wide and she sat up straight.

"Did we...?!" she asked before looking down as the blanket fell away from her. She was wearing a pair of trousers and an undershirt for pajamas.

"No, we didn't, as you can tell," I replied. She breathed a sigh of relief before her cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

"Sorry, I didn't mean...it's not that I don't want..."

"Korra, relax. We'll get to that point when you are ready," I reassured, placing my hand on her upper arm.

"It's just...your my first boyfriend. I've never done anything..."

"Relax. You forget, I was once like you. Nervous, unsure of myself," I said. She fell silent at that. A lot of people, particularity the ones that knew me really well, tended to forget that I had a normal upbringing just like everyone else. The only difference was, while everyone reached their twilight years and eventually passed on into the eternal night, I was still here.

"Wasn't Kyoshi your first?" she asked. I gave her a pointed look.

"Come on. I didn't meet her until I was twenty," I said.

"And my question still stands."

"No. She wasn't. I had a girlfriend or two before her."

"So why her? What was it about Kyoshi that kept you around for so long?" she asked.

"Do you really want to know the inner workings of one of your past lives' sexual escapades?" I asked. Her face turned red as a tomato as a look of horror came over her face. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight as I got up.

"I'd slip out the window if I were you and I didn't want to get caught," I said. Korra looked at the window before looking at the door, debate clearly on her mind.

"You know, I'm not sure I really care if they find out about us or not," she said. I shrugged.

"I don't either. Personally the only reason I'm holding off is cause I don't want to deal with the drama that will come with it," I explained. She got up and gave me a hug and a short kiss.

"So we'll tell everyone soon?" she asked.

"Whenever you want. Just be prepared to deal with the consequences," I warned. She smirked, gave me a final peck on the lips before slipping out the window. I watched her go before heading down to the kitchen in order to get something for breakfast. Pema was there, cooking what was a fairly decent sized meal.

"Oh, Ryou. Good morning," she said.

"Pema," I greeted as I grabbed and apple and took a large bite of the fruit.

"Breakfast will be ready shortly. Oh, I forgot to tell you yesterday, a package arrived for you," she said, waving toward a small wooden crate that sat in a nearby corner. I gave her a puzzled look before making my way over to the box.

It was the size of a small footlocker and painted a faded olive drab color. The thing looked old and worn, like it had seen more then its fare share of travel. There was no markings, no return address, nothing to indicate where it had come from. Setting my apple to the side, I undid the latches and opened the box slowly, unsure of what I would find.

Inside, I found two things. The first was a black kodachi, and the second was a smooth, black oval stone. I picked up the short sword first and unsheathed it. The blade was highly polished and razor sharp, allowing me to see my reflection in it's curved shape. I resheethed the sword and looked into the box again, noticing a piece of paper contained inside.

Setting the sword down, I picked up the paper, unfolded it and began to read. It didn't take long for me to recognize the hand writing, which caused the ghost of a smile to grace my lips.

'My old friend,

'I'm sure that you're wondering how I even managed to guess where you would be. Let me just say that news travels quickly these days. And frankly, you are predictable. I've had a feeling deep down in my bones that you would have a need for the sword soon. I'm sure you recognize it. You did help forge it, after all.

As for the stone, I'm sure you recognize what it is as well. The Masters feel that it's time, and I have to agree with them. Times are changing, and not necessary for the better. I have a feeling that you'll have a use for it as well.

Until we see each other again,

Zuko'.

I smirked at the sight of the signature and the official seal at the bottom of the paper. Should have guessed it would have been him. He was getting too perceptive in his old age. Picking up the sword again, I realized that he was right, I did recognize it. It was a gift I had given to Suki on her wedding day. It was forged from Sozinite, making it not only incredibly strong but also immune to metalbending.

Setting the blade down, I turned my attention to the stone. It was oval shaped and a deep midnight black, almost purple in color. Picking it up, I ran my hand over it's smooth surface. It felt warm and pulsed under my touch, causing yet another smile to form on my face. Zuko was right, I did know what this stone was. It may have been a couple hundred years since I had last seen one, but it was the same as I remembered.

"What did you get?" Pema asked curiously. I returned both the sword and stone to the crate before closing it again.

"Gifts from an old friend," I answered before picking the crate up and taking it back to my room. The stone was large enough that I needed a messenger bag to carry it around. I wasn't about to leave it laying around, not with everything that was going on. A knock came at the door as I was looking the sword over again.

"Hey, Tenzin is heading to City Hall. He thinks Amon is entering his endgame and he's going to organize a defense of the city," Korra said as she opened the door. She had changed into her day clothes, and was wearing her winter parka.

"I take it you told them what happened," I said.

"Yeah. I told them everything, even the part about Tarrlok being Yakone's son. Which how did you know that, by the way?" she asked.

"How did you figure it out?"

"Aang showed me some visions about Yakone's trial...oh," she said. I cocked my eyebrow at her.

"Oh?"

"I just realized, I saw you in those visions. You saw everything I saw," she said. I couldn't help but smirk at that.

"It's different from a few pictures, isn't it?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's a little weird," she agreed. With that, I raised the sword and offered it to her. She took it and looked it over.

"Where did you get this?"

"Came in the mail. A certain former Fire Lord seems to think I'll get some use out of it," I said.

"Are you going to use it?" she asked.

"No. I've already got one," I said, patting my sword hilt, "but you seem to be lacking in that department." She looked up at me with shock in her eyes.

"Really?"

"You've mastered the basics. You're ready for the next part of your training. You've more then earned the right to carry this weapon," I said. Korra looked from me to the sword in her hands with a sense of awe and reverence. She raised it to eye level and unsheathed it. The morning light caught the blade, making it shine like a pillar of ice.

Korra twisted it one way, and then another. Gone were the clumsy movements of a girl whom had never held a blade before, replaced by those of an experienced master.

"It's beautiful," she noted.

"Forged from Sozinite. It's one of the strongest blades in existence, and it's impervious to metalbending," I said with pride. She sliced, hacked, and even reversed her grip a time or two in order to get the full balance of the weapon. After a few minutes of testing, she sheathed the blade before turning and bowing to me.

"Thank you, Master Ryou," she said. I was surprised to say the least. This was the first time she had ever called me Master. I smiled and returned the bow.

The sound of distant thunder reached our ears. I straightened myself out and listened intently. It was winter, thunderstorms never occurred this time of year. Another clap, and I realized that it wasn't thunder, but an explosion. I threw open the window, and was greeted with the sight of the city skyline.

Black trails of smoke were drifting upwards, and you could easily see the explosions of bombs going off in several different places. Tenzin had been right. Amon was going into his final phase. A final, all out assault on the city in an effort to overthrow the current establishment. I knew a situation when I saw one. From now on, there would be no holding back on any side.

"We have to do something," Korra said as she stuck the sword through her belt.

"Get the others and meet out in the courtyard," I instructed. She hurried off to do as I asked while I took a final look around my room. I had a feeling I wouldn't be seeing it again for a long time. Making sure that I had what few things I couldn't live without with me, I headed out to the courtyard. Lin, several Acolytes, and a few White Lotus members were standing around, watching the attack unfold.

"Why is it whenever you show up, things happen?" Lin asked as I stood next to her and folded my arms.

"Your mother asked me that question a lot when we first got this place up and running," I said.

"And what did you tell her?"

"Shit happens, I guess," I answered with a shrug. Whatever retort she was going to come up with was interrupted by Korra and the others coming outside.

"We're going into the city to find Tenzin," she said.

"Alright. Ryou and I will stay here and guard the Island," Lin answered.

"How will he do that? Isn't he, ya know, blind?" Bolin asked. I glared at the earthbender before raising my hand.

"How many fingers am I holding up, blockhead?" I asked, holding aloft a lone middle finger.

"I'll explain later on that, we need to go, now," Korra said, ignoring me. With that, Korra and her friends made their way toward the ferry to the mainland, leaving Lin and myself behind as the sole guardians of the Island. Well, the White Lotus were here, but they didn't count.

For a while, we stood and watched as the attack on the city unfolded. After a few hours, it was becoming clear that the Equalists were winning. The police airships that were usually hovering over the skyline were being taken out, replaced by their red Equalist counterparts. Pema, the airbending kids, and several Acolytes had come outside and were watching the chaos unfold.

As we watched, a pair of airships broke off from the main cluster and began to come straight toward us. I knew it was only a matter of time before it happened. Air Temple Island was the last bastion of airbenders on the planet. That made it one of Amon's top targets, and a spot that I was willing to defend to the last.

"Everyone, hide inside and remain calm," Lin ordered. As if on cue, Pema let out a scream of pain, bending over and cluching her stomach.

"Pull it together, Pema! Didn't I just say remain calm?"

"The baby's coming!" the pregnant woman screeched.

"Not now, baby!" Meelo yelled. Two midwifes came forward and rushed the family inside, leaving just Lin and myself to face the oncoming threat alone.

"Are you ready for this?" Lin asked as the first airship came to a halt and fired a cable into the hillside, securing itself in place. I drew my sword handle and extended the blade.

"I abandoned the airbenders once before, there's no way I'm going to do that again," I answered as a group of Equalists began to zipline down the cable, landing on the Island. The group came charging up the stairs, being led by Amon's Lieutenant.

I charged forward before sliding on my knees, avoiding the wide arc of his electrified sticks as he swung with the intention of clothes lining me. We came up, locking my sword and his sticks together so that we were face to face. Electricity crackled along the length of the blade, and the leather wrap that was around the hilt began to heat up beneath my hand.

"Nice mustache," I grunted before headbutting him, breaking the lock. He fell back and shook his head in an effort to clear it. Around us, Lin was using her earthbending to fend off his comrades, leaving us to have our duel uninterrupted. The Lieutenant twirled his sticks before taking a ready stance.

"I'm going to enjoy this," he said with a grin before charging forward. With that, we entered into this weird deadly dance. He swung and swiped his sticks at me, trying to land a hit. I was using my blade to deflect any hits I wouldn't be able to dodge. Having seen how much power those things contained, I was absolutely not going to let one of them touch me.

He swung at my legs and I jumped, cleared the swipe before countering, bringing my sword down toward his head like a wood chopper splitting a log. The Lieutenant brought his sticks up, crossing them over his head and catching my blade. He kicked me in the knee cap, breaking our second deadlock and forcing me to retreat.

The Lieutenant pressed his attack, delivering powerful blows as he tried to break through my defense. Despite being forced onto the back foot, I held off his attacks. It wasn't that hard, actually. All I had to do was hold out while he tired himself out. Sure enough, his breathing began to become more ragged, and I saw my opening.

He over extended himself, trying to jab one of his staffs into my chest. I sidestepped before driving my elbow into his face, sending him reeling backwards. Just as I brought my sword up, intending to drive it through his heart, a blast of air impacted us both, sending us sprawling. What the...where the hell did THAT come from?

"Stay away from my dad's ex girlfriend's grandfather!" Jinora yelled as she came swooping past on a glider. The girl landed and sent a blast of air out with her folded up glider, sending the Lieutenant flying over a building. I was on my feet in an instant, holding my sword at the ready to face any new threat. At that moment, Ikki came zooming by on an air scooter.

"Get off our Island!" With that, she plowed through a group of Equalists like a bowling ball through the pins.

"Girls, you shouldn't be out here!" Lin yelled as she launched an Equalist into the air with her earthbending.

"TASTE MY FURY!" Meelo shouted as he jumped from the roof, landing his rear on an Equalist's face and unleashing a blast of air. I watched, dumbstruck, as this bald, snot nosed five year old took down a group of foot soldiers with his farts. It's official, now I've seen everything. His grandfather would have been proud.

With that, we rounded up the Equalists and tied them all together with rope. At least something had gone right on this gray shitty day. I had to admit, I was impressed with what the airbending kids had pulled off. They were well trained, on their way to becoming masters in their own rights. The future of the Air Nomads was in good hands.

The grumble of a sky bison caught my attention. Oogi touched down in the courtyard, carrying Tenzin and the entirety of the Team. Korra came up to me right away, a look of worry on her face. I gave her a smile of reassurance.

"We're alright," I said. She looked out over the city skyline, watching as another pair of airships began to cross the bay.

"But for how long?" she asked. I didn't answer, but rather turned and headed inside. We found Tenzin and his family sitting in a side bedroom, all of them looking down at the little bundle cradled in the airbending master's arms. It was a beautiful moment in an otherwise bleak situation.

"I'm so sorry to interupt, but more airships are coming," Korra said, stepping forward.

"Everything's not going to be fine, is it daddy," Ikki said, looking up at her father. Tenzin didn't answer, but rather handed his newborn son back to his wife before ordering the Air Acolytes to start the evacuation. We all went back outside and watched as the airships approached.

"I need to protect my family and get them as far away this conflict as possible. If Amon got his hands on them...I hate to even think about it," Tenzin said.

"If you're leaving, I'm coming with you," Lin said.

"But..."

"No buts!" I interrupted, "you are the last airbenders. And Lin is the best protection you're going to get. She goes with you, end of discussion."

"I...thank you. Both of you. Korra, I want you to leave this island and hide for the time being," Tenzin said, turning his attention to the Avatar.

"I'm not giving up!" she said, her hand falling to her new sword.

"I'm not asking you to. I got word out to the United Forces, once my family is safe I'll return, and with the reinforcements we can take back the city." Korra looked between her airbending master and the city.

"We be patient, wait for the right time to strike," she said, focusing her attention on me. Tenzin nodded and smiled.

"You're learning well." As the Acolytes finished loading up the sky bison, I took my chance to approach Tenzin. He was overseeing the loading of Pema onto Oogi.

"You know that sky bison can't outrun airships," I said. It wasn't a question, but a cold hard fact. The airbending master sighed and looked down without turning to face me.

"I know. But it's the only chance we got," he said.

"I'll cause a distraction, give you enough time to get away."

"Ryou, I can't ask you to do that. You need to protect Korra."

"Korra can handle herself, I would have never given her that sword if I felt she couldn't."

"We already have Lin watching over us. You shouldn't sacrifice yourself so easily," Tenzin argued. I looked down at my boots and let out a short sigh.

"Tenzin I didn't stop Sozin when I had the chance, and the airbenders were nearly wiped out because of that. Afterward, I swore an oath to ensure that airbending would not go extinct. Lin exists because I tried to keep that oath. And today, I'm still keeping that oath," I said. Tenzin looked resigned as he finally turned to face me. He knew he wouldn't be able to convince me otherwise.

"Good luck, old friend," he said, giving me a pat on the shoulder before he climbed onto the sky bison. I turned and found myself face to face with Korra. She looked uneasy, for which I couldn't blame her. She'd just heard her boyfriend basicly declare that he was going to make a last stand in order to ensure everyone got away.

"So what's your plan?" she asked. I shrugged.

"Cause chaos, get everyone's eye on me while everyone important slips away."

"That's not a very smart plan," she said. I gave her a smile.

"Never said it was. Oh, by the way, I need you to hang on to this for me," I said as I unslung the messenger bag from around my neck and handed it to her. Curiosity got the better of her and she peaked inside before looking up at me with a skeptical look.

"A rock?"

"An egg," I corrected.

"Containing what?"

"You'll see soon enough, it's due to hatch any time now. I want you to take it and head to the tunnels beneath the city. Hide there, and I'll come to you," I instructed. Korra slung the bag around her before looking down at her boots again. She clearly didn't want to leave me behind. But, regardless of what she wanted, we were out of time as the lead airship fired a cable, securing it to the island.

"Let's go, people!" Bolin yelled as the sky bison took off and began to fly in different directions. Korra reached up and grabbed my head before pulling me into a kiss. This may have been the last time she saw me, so it was clear that she didn't care who saw anymore.

"I love you," she whispered before turning and running with the others. I watched her go before turning my attention to the oncoming foot soldiers. There were no kids watching, no young girlfriend to shelter, no one left but me. Now I could go all out if I wanted. It hadn't been since the war that I had an opportunity like this, to fully test my skills in combat. I waited as the foot soldiers surrounded me.

"You're surrounded, surrender quietly!" a ranking officer yelled. I looked around, unable to see any of their faces do the gas masks they were wearing. They must have been stunned, because I actually smiled before looking toward the one that spoke with a wolfish grin. The poor bastards had me surrounded.

"The only thing I'm surrounded by is dead men," I answered. With that, I extended the blade on my sword before raising it in a salute, holding it straight up and down before my face, before lowering it off to the side. The Equalists descended upon me like a horde, and I started swinging. Blood sprayed, men screamed, and I jumped headfirst into the fray, holding nothing back.

Korra stood at the entrance to the drainage tunnel, looking toward Air Temple Island. The sky was gray, making it impossible to tell what time it was by the sun. She couldn't believe how fast it had come crashing down. Just that morning, everything had been fine. And now, the Equalists controlled the city, her boyfriend was missing in action, and she was in hiding.

Thunder rumbled through the sky as a storm threatened to break loose. It matched her mood perfectly. She wanted to go back, to find Ryou. But the airships were still hovering over the Island. The Equalists had secured it for themselves, and he was no where to be found. It was one against several, and as fantastic as Ryou may have been with a blade, even he had his limits.

"Korra, we should get moving," Mako said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. She readjusted the strap on the bag before she nodded numbly. With that, they all turned and began to walk into the tunnel. Asami fell in step next to her.

"He'll be alright Korra. If what you said about him is true, he's bound to have faced way worse then this," the heiress said. The Avatar gave her a thankful smile.

"Thanks, Asami," she said. As she walked, Korra noticed the messenger bag shift and sway. It wasn't from the motion of her walking, it was because of the stone inside shifting about. Curious, she reached down and opened the flap on the bag. However instead of a black stone, she was greeted with a pair of large golden eyes.

She tried to yelp in surprise, but all that came out of her throat was a strangled peep. It was small, well smallish anyway, taking up the length of her hand and about half of her forearm. The large golden eyes regarded her with curiosity, while it's whiskers probed the bag around it, getting a feel for it.

"Hey Korra what's...what is that?!" Bolin yelped in surprise when he noticed the hatchling poking it's head out of the bag. The others looked at it with just as much curiosity as it looked at them with.

"But...they're suppose to be extinct," Asami said.

"Apparently not," Mako noted.

"But what IS it?" Bolin asked. Korra held out her finger cautiously, allowing it to sniff her but all to ready to pull away should it try to bite. It smelled her before rubbing it's head up against her affectionately.

"A dragon, Bolin. It's a dragon hatchling," she answered as she scratched under it's chin.

And that's a wrap for this chapter. Don't you just love cliffhangers? Anyway, I have some things I'd like to discuss with you guys.

The first thing on my list is the future of this story. Now I intend to cover all the way through Book Four without actually starting any new stories, keeping it all under a single title. But I can't say the original frame of events in the series will survive, because frankly there are some parts I'd just rather avoid all together.

Also, I'm considering a prequel of Ageless, set during events of ATLA. You guys let me know if you want to see this come about or not, and I'll let you know what the result was along with any other updates regarding it next chapter.

But you all know this song and dance by now. Read, review, or drop a PM, and I'll see you all next time.