Chapter 3

"Reflections"

As much fun as they were having, it was time to go back. Gazing at the purple, pink and blue trees as they swayed in the breeze always did have a way of distracting her. Just laying here and looking at the array of shapes and sizes of the spirits flying around in the sky has a hypnotizing effect. No matter how many times she's been to the Spirit World, it never ceases to amaze her just how beautiful this world is. Compared to the material world, this was a paradise, free of human greed and destruction…and hopefully will remain that way.

"What are you thinking about? Hello…Korra! Korra! KORRA!" Asami questioned while trying to shake her friend out of a daze.

"WHAT! Why are you yelling at me? Korra sniped, not completely seeing what the problem was or what came over Asami.

"I have been trying to get your attention for the past ten minutes. Your mind seemed to have drifted off into another world, which I find amusing as we are in the other world." Asami snickered.

Looking at the worry and concern over her friend's face, she contemplated lying to her. She didn't know how much more Asami could take. This vacation was supposed to be a time for them to spend time together and bringing up Kuvira's upcoming trial and all the things that were awaiting them in Republic City was causing her to lose track of time. How could she tell her friend that she went to visit Kuvira after she was captured? Kuvira had been adamant about wanting to repair all the turmoil she caused the citizens of Republic City. How she had forgotten her initial intentions of stabilizing the Earth Kingdom and helping her people. She allowed herself to be consumed with power and greed which ultimately led her to fire on Bataar, the love of her life and his family.

"This is not a conversation I want to have with Asami right now, especially being it has been less than a week since Kurvira killed her father in the hummingbird suit." Korra pondered. "But lying to her will only make things worse. Asami knows me well enough to know when I am lying"

"Well?!" Asami inquired once again. "What were you thinking about that caused you to spaced out like that?"

"Umm, I was just thinking about all the stuff that awaits us in Republic City." Korra responded though the questioning look that she received told her that she knew that wasn't the whole story.

"Like?" Asami asked.

"Okay, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to freak out and not interrupt me until I finish." Korra insisted.

"Fine." Asami conceded.

"After Kuvira and I were blasted into the Spirit World, she confessed her reasons for doing what she did. She mentioned that she had been abandoned as a child and that vulnerability and sense of helplessness she felt then was what she was trying to protect her people from. She saw her people as an extension of herself that she had to protect." Korra began.

"She KILLED my father!" Asami spat.

"Just let me finish..." Korra continued. She could tell that Asami wanted to argue, but relented.

"After Varrick's wedding I went to see her at the prison hospital. And when I told her that she killed your father, she completely broke down. I really don't think that she meant for things to go as far as they did…and I am not excusing what she did, I am just saying that Kuvira is not the evil tyrant that people make her out to be. And with Kuvira's trial coming up in a couple months, I was thinking of using my influence to convince Reiko and the other world leaders to allow her to help repair the damage instead of keeping her locked up in a cell for the rest of her life. I mean if you take away the Republic City incident and usurping power by denouncing Prince Wu's reign at the coronation, you can't deny that what she did was nothing short of miraculous. Ba Sing Se is completely stabilized and has a flourishing economy because of her." Korra concluded.

Asami could feel her heart stop and she couldn't prevent the tears that streamed from her eyes. Struggling to control her breathing and keep her body from shaking, she looked at the person who was supposed to be her best friend. She didn't know her. "How could you even think of letting her walk free, let alone the fact that you went to see her after everything she's done? And I don't care how skilled she is…..SHE KILLED MY FATHER! Doesn't that mean anything to you?

"Ofcourse it does….Asami, I am not saying that I don't think she should pay for what she has done. I am merely saying that I think it would be more productive to use her skills instead of just letting them waste away when they can be put to use. When she is not helping, she can remain locked in her platinum cell. I know you don't want to admit it, but she could really make a difference. No disrespect to Lin and Suyin, but next to Toph, Kuvira is the best earth and metal bender I have ever seen. The power of her bending is unlike anything that I have witnessed." Korra pleaded.

"Why can't we just use Bataar?" Asami inquired. "I mean wouldn't it be more conducive to use someone who isn't such a risk to public safety""

"The genius master mind behind that huge mecatank? I don't think he is any better than she is. I am not justifying what they did, but Bataar was her second in command and to be honest, he didn't have all that extra baggage that Kuvira had. A traumatic childhood could affect a person more than you know." Korra reiterated. "I mean look at how much your father changed after you mother was killed by benders. It changed him forever and his need for revenge turned him into a terrorist. He even tried to kill you when he realized that you were never going to side with him. Even after everything he put you through, you were still able to forgive him in the end."

"Ofcourse, I forgave him…he was my father and you have no idea how much pain he and I went through after my mother was killed." Asami yelled.

"Look, I understand your anger, but Kuvira is no different than you father. The circumstances were different but both experienced traumatic events in their lives that led them to do what they did, both thinking that they were doing the right thing."

"That makes sense…. but it doesn't change the way I feel."

"Asami, I am not asking you to forgive her. All I am saying is that they are not very different. Your father changed and saw the error of his ways and even Lin was desperate enough to spring him from prison when we needed help. And Reiko pardoned Varrick for attempting to assassinate him at Kuvira's insistence and you don't get crazier than Varrick. If all those people were forgiven or pardoned, why should Kuvira be treated any differently?" Korra reasoned.

"I see your point." Asami admitted. "Fine, but I don't like it."

"I know and believe me, I will keep an eye on her." Korra promised.

"I will hold you to that. Now come on…. let's enjoy the rest of the day because we are supposed to go back to Republic City tomorrow. It went by so fast." Asami sighed.

"What you mean like this? Korra joked as she pushed Asami into the lake.

"AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh! KORRA! Just wait until I get my hands on you!"