One day, I'll be early instead of late. One day.

I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me
I've got you under my skin

I'd tried so not to give in
I said to myself this affair never will go so well
But why should I try to resist when baby I know so well
I've got you under my skin

I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of having you near
In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear
Don't you know little fool
You never can win
Use your mentality, wake up to reality
But each time I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Because I've got you under my skin

-Frank Sinatra

Korra looked around as she gained her bearings. The whistle of the wind rustled her hair, the dust on the bland stone of the temple blowing in the breeze. The clouds shimmered and moved high above, a stark backdrop to the smiling airbender standing in front of her.

He couldn't be real. These things didn't happen. She'd felt him leave all those years ago. Felt all of them vanish like breath on a mirror, there for a fleeting second in her life then gone forever. She hadn't been whole since then. She still wasn't. And she never would be.

Even if the evidence to the contrary stood right in front of her.

Was she dreaming?

She touched the back of her head, felt a small bump in her skull that she'd picked up in a training accident years ago. Real. She moved her hands over skin and blinked a few times, trying to wake herself up, forcefully if necessary. All the while staring wordlessly at the man in front of her.

It all felt so real.

"You can pinch yourself as well if you want," Aang said helpfully. "I won't laugh, I promise."

She did. And he broke his promise.

"You said you wouldn't laugh," she replied, rubbing the now sore spot on her arm as the warm sound of his laughter echoed in the buildings around them. Her wariness had given way to curiosity, along with a little wonder.

"I tried," he shrugged helplessly, even as he chuckled. "Really, I did."

"Uh huh," she said. Instead of looking around with bewilderment she started to study their surroundings. Tall buildings the wrong way round encircled them. Fountains long drained and homes left abandoned were everywhere. "Where are we?"

"The Western Air Temple," he answered, looking around himself as he spoke. "What I envision it to be anyway. Maybe people have moved back in since my nation was brought back from the brink of extinction. I never got to thank you for that."

"You don't need to," she replied, immediately brushing off any gratitude he may have offered. Any praise he would have offered would have felt undeserved. She hadn't any idea what she was doing keeping the portals open. The return of the air nomads were a happy result, but not one she had seen coming.

"How did you bring me here?" she asked, wanting to get onto a different topic. Something about this still felt ethereal, like any moment she'd blink to find herself back at the hospital, waking up from a lingering dream. "And how are you even here to talk to me? You're... dead."

If her deceased declaration bothered him he didn't let it show. "Not dead," he disagreed. "Lost."

"What do you mean?"

Aang hummed in contemplation. "When Raava was destroyed, you believed that I too had been annihilated. Yet you found Raava once more. You found the peace in chaos," he smiled again, and Korra couldn't help the rush of reassurance that bloomed in her chest as he spoke. "It just took you a little longer to find me."

The puzzled look on her face didn't surprise Aang. "Are you saying I brought myself here?" she said.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," he nodded. "I have been trying to contact you, trying to appear in all manner of your subconscious. I sense that you need me. I sense that I need you too."

Korra cut to the chase immediately. Finally, answers. "Shin La," she said grimly. "He's already done far too much. I can't allow him to go any further."

"Indeed," Aang replied solemnly. "Even as displaced as I am from the world, I can feel his influence. Ironic, I think."

"What do you mean?"

"When he attempted to merge with you, he sought to destroy you from the inside. Use your body like a tool of mass destruction. Instead, he ended up restoring me."

Korra narrowed her eyes. There was no way Shin La would ever do that of his own volition. "You've got to be kidding me," she said in disbelief.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" he shook his head. "Instead of shattering your soul like he intended, he restored part of it. There is a trade off, however."

"The mark of Shin La," she realised, looking down at her palm. The small black patch had followed her here, wherever here was.

"Indeed," he nodded solemnly. "I trust that my grand-daughter has already told you of its effects. You are bound to him, you're fates tied together. Even if one of you wanted to walk away, you can't. It can only end with one looking over the other's dead body."

"Great," Korra sighed. "All the more important that I talk to you then. What can you tell me about Shin La?"

For the first time, Aang avoided eye contact. "I'm afraid there's not much I can tell you," he replied, rubbing his head sheepishly. "He appears to be a centuries old spirit, obsessed with revenge on you in particular. Have you ever heard of Avatar Noah?"

Korra shook her head. "Shin La keeps mentioning him," she responded. "I have dreams. Sometimes the sky blackens and destroys everything in its wake. Sometimes every patch of grass on the ground dies and the earth swallows me whole. But no matter what the condition, he is always there, in some capacity."

Aang nodded. "Hmm. Pretty funny, considering that according to Avatar record, he never existed. Yet Shin La clearly blames him for a wrongdoing on his behalf. Whatever it was, it is something even the past Avatars have wanted to forget."

Korra scrunched her eyebrows in concern. "What do you mean?" she asked, her mind started to fray with nerves, while an unsettling feeling began to take form in her gut. "He never existed?"

Aang looked troubled. "Before my passing, I studied all the statues of the past Avatars. Thought I should know all that came before me, so I could be everything that the next Avatar, you, needed. But what I found, or didn't find in my case, started to worry me."

The unsettling feeling had definitely intensified. "What happened to Noah?"

"According to history, Noah died as an infant. The childbirth was a violent one. And ultimately, he didn't make it."

"But?" Korra gestured.

"But when I checked the records, there was a definitive gap between Avatars. Of at least twenty six years. Now, either the Avatar at the time was announced unusually late or-"

"Or Noah had survived," she realised. "For twenty six years, at least."

"Yes," Aang said, clicking his fingers as he grew ever more agitated. "So, at the end of my tether and my life, I asked the past Avatars for clarity. But even they could not provide it. Not one of them, stretching back in time to the Avatars before and after Noah. It was like he never existed."

"But we know better," Korra conjectured. "I've seen him in my dreams. He looks young, dressed in earth kingdom garb. And he's linked to Shin La somehow."

"Indeed," Aang hung his head. "I'm sorry, Korra. I must partly take the blame here. I died before I could unearth more. If I had I would be of more use to you."

Korra shook her head. Martyr complexes. She supposed she suffered from them at times. Always willing to take the blame, to absolve others of guilt, even if it meant the scorn of the people they were sworn to protect. "None of us could have possibly seen him coming. We've managed so far. We'll find a way. We always do, right?"

The conversation seemed final. Already, pinpricks of reality were biting at the edge of her nerves. A tugging sensation began to develop in her stomach, like she was being harassed to leave. Whatever dream she'd fallen into, it seemed that she would wake up properly from it this time.

"Wait," Aang caught her arm. Already he was starting to fade into obscurity. She could feel him going. Whether he was leaving her or she was leaving him she couldn't tell. "I may not be able to tell you what you need to know, but I can point you in the right direction. Shin La is incredibly powerful, yet a simple spirit of fear and pestilence could not have amassed such power in this short a time span, no matter how ancient he is. You need answers. And I know something capable of providing them."

Korra gestured for him to continue, already hearing people call her name in the real world. "Don't you mean someone?" she asked.

"No," he shook his head gravely. "I would never normally recommend such a visit, yet desperate times such as these call for such measures. Find him in the Spirit World, but be prepared. Do not leave for him without consulting Katara or Tenzin. And please, tell them I love them."

"I will." Her voice was becoming foggy now, as she began to wake.

"You must promise me," he said urgently, even as his grip started to disintegrate. "Promise!"

"I promise!" she said quickly, her eyes about to open. "Now who is it? Who do I have to see?!"

She could only make out one word as reality finally broke through, and her audience with the past was over. One word floating around her skull, pressing against the confines of her mind, swirling amidst her thoughts. And when she focused on it, it was impossible to think about anything else.

"Koh."

"Mako."

The word cut through the floating images in his head. He'd never been one for vivid dreams. Usualy he just languished in this realm of grey before reality took hold once more.

"Mako."

That name. His name. So strange. He wondered why his mother had chosen that for him. Or maybe his father had. Was there a reason?

"Mako," Bolin said, more firmly this time. The man in question opened his eyes.

Everything came back to him in waves, groggy vision colouring his eyes before he could adjust. Mako blinked, once, twice, three times before he came into focus. Bolin was above him, the earthbender grinning down at him.

Wait, not grinning. Smirking. Like he was trying not to laugh and failing. The young firebender made to get up.

"Woah there," his brother stopped him, pushing him back down, chuckling away as he did so. "Wouldn't want to wake sleeping beauty there would you?"

Mako narrowed his eyes, before turning his head to the weight on his shoulder. He nearly did a double take. Then he looked again. And then Bolin had to stop him from getting up again.

Korra's head lay strewn across his shoulder, sleeping soundly. She looked older, more like a woman than a girl, and her hair was cut, but the image was nearly exactly like their snooze on that tree in the park so long ago. The memory came back with flooding transparency. A few years ago, she was the one waking up and scrambling away in embarrassment. How times change.

"Cute," Bolin cut in, clearly enjoying the scene. "Maybe I should leave you two alone. Or perhaps that's the last thing I should do. There are kids around here, you know. Wouldn't trust either of you."

Mako sat flustered, opening his mouth to respond with a witty comeback. Eventually he settled for "shut up."

Bolin continued to laugh, before sitting down on the seat adjacent to them. "What are you doing here?" Mako asked, annoyed by his brother's teasing.

Immediately Bolin's expression grew sombre. "I'm here with Opal," he replied pointedly. "She's in visiting Lin now."

Mako's shoulders slumped. "Any change while I was out?" he asked hopefully.

"Nope. Still comatose."

"Great," Mako sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. "Just great."

"Hmm," Bolin hummed in agreement. There was silence for a few moments, before Bolin chose to speak once more. "How long do you think this will be?"

Mako leaned forward, not fully understanding the question. "What do you mean?"

"How much longer will Shin La keep this up?" he said, clasping his hands together in worry. He looked like he needed answers, any at all, if only alleviate his worries. His body language grew agitated as he waited for a response.

"Until we stop him," Mako responded resolutely.

"Or he kills us," Bolin muttered. "Or maybe if we..." he trailed off, and for a second Mako thought he saw a flash of guilt wash over his face.

"Maybe if we what?"

"Maybe if we don't stick to Korra like glue," he finished, the words barely escaping his mouth. He sounded reluctant to say it. Mako squinted at him.

"You're going to have to elaborate on that," the firebender said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone. "Because I don't know what you mean by that."

Bolin sighed, avoiding his brother's gaze for a second, instead lingering on the wall, where Opal was still tearfully visiting her aunt no doubt. "I mean..." Bolin paused, before he straightened up and started again. "What I mean is that... how much more are we expected to give?" he asked, splaying his arms wide. "We've followed Korra into hell and back. When is it too much?"

Mako stared at him for a second like he possessed two heads. "Is this too much?" he said finally, after a lengthy silence. "What are you saying?"

"Look, hear me out. I'd never abandon you. And you'd never abandon Korra, so I'm in on this. But the thing is... Asami will not leave Korra's side because she loves her. You will not leave for the same reason. But me? I've got Opal now. And I don't want to lose her! The same way I don't want to lose you! Is it fair that every time she faces peril, all of our loved ones face it too? Before, the threats were world destroying. But this time? No, Shin La is going to come after us, just because of our involvement with the Avatar!"

Bolin's raised voice had clearly affected the person sleeping on Mako's shoulder. Korra winced in her sleep, like she was unconsciously aware of the argument about to take place.

"And what, staying away from her will fix that?" Mako asked incredulously. "You know better. He's already attacked us once, already gleaned enough satisfaction from one torture. He won't stop just because you decide to make a break for it." As he spoke his eyes narrowed, his mind starting to zero in something. "Where is this coming from?"

Bolin stood, crossing his arms as he looked at the wall. "I told you, it's because we're in danger the closer we are to her."

"No, that's not it," Mako dismissed immediately. "I know you, Bo. And I know when something's bothering you. This runs deeper than unseated concern. You're angry."

Bolin was about to make a stinging rebuttal, before he paused and sighed. "That obvious?" he asked, quieter now. Mako nodded.

"You going to tell me why?"

"It's simple. She almost had you killed."

"What?" Mako spluttered in surprise. "Where'd you get that from?"

"You heard it and I heard it Mako. She had to choose and she... she didn't choose you."

"How can you blame her for that? I don't. You've got no reason for this."

"I have every reason!" Bolin burst out, frustration and sorrow etched into his features. "You know what it's like to have Shin La whispering into your ear, controlling everything you do while you can only watch. He had you on your knees, like an animal about to be slaughtered. And he had me, knife at the ready, holding my brother's life in hands that wouldn't obey me. And then I heard Korra start to whisper a name... It might not be her fault. But she would have had me kill my own brother to save her own. How can that not bother you?"

Mako looked at him with hard, remorseful eyes. "It does bother me," he finally ground out. "Of course it does. It eats me up inside and it furthers the idea that I've lost her to Asami. But here's the important thing; I don't care. As long as she's safe, it doesn't matter what I feel."

"But it should Mako," Bolin argued. He knew there was no swaying him, and that was admirable, in a way, Bolin thought. But that didn't make it fair. "It should."

"Maybe," his brother conceded. "But it's my choice. And we both know that I'll follow her no matter what."

"And I'll follow you," Bolin conceded. "But... we can't always be there Mako. One day there will be a time when she needs help... and we won't be there to provide it."

Mako nodded, though Bolin suspected that the importance of his words hadn't really sunk in. He hoped that they never would.

Bolin was about to open his mouth to speak again, before he heard footsteps behind him. "Opal?" he asked. They didn't sound like her though. He couldn't remember the last time the airbender wore a heel.

"She's still inside," Asami said, walking up to the brothers. She arched an eyebrow at the sleeping avatar nestled onto Mako's shoulder. "And she's out, I see. Made herself comfortable."

Asami was smiling, but Mako could sense some uneasiness. He didn't know whether to smile back or turn and wake the avatar up. "Hey Asami," he settled on eventually.

An awkward silence ensued, with Mako and Asami avoiding eye contact while Bolin started to grin at their embarrassment. He decided to have some fun. "Hey Mako, is she-"

Whatever he was about to say died in his throat as Korra suddenly lurched forward, slamming her crown into Mako's shoulder, jolting her awake. She looked about frantically, overwhelmed and unaware of her surroundings. Finally her gaze settled on a familiar face. "Asami," she said, a smile lighting up her features. "Mako, Bolin," she noticed. She got straight to business. "I'm glad you're all here. We have to call a meeting."

The trio looked at each other before turning back to her. "Sure, but where?" Asami asked.

"Tenzin's home on the island," Korra said immediately. "And invite everybody that has helped me over the past four years. They all need to hear this."

The assorted crowd listened attentively. Nearly everyone was there. Tenzin and his family flanked her on the right, the airbender being gracious enough to allow the meeting to take place in his home. Her own family sat on the left, with her friends occupying the centre. Katara, who was due to return to the South Pole, had elected to stay in lieu of leaving. Even Varrick and Zhu Li had turned up. She guessed that Shin La had really startled them. Right, she thought. Time to get started.

"Thank you for coming," Korra addressed the crowd. "I think we all know what we're here to talk about, so I'll just cut to the chase."

"Shin La is a terror," she said simply, knowing no one could argue the fact. "He's a menace, he's a demon and he's a killer. And he's come gunning for me and by extension, you."

Several nods and murmured agreements littered the audience present. Asami smiled at her, telling she was doing a good job. Korra took a breath and continued.

"Lately, Shin La has hurt a lot of people. He's killed a lot of people. And every time one of us encounters him, we're left scrambling. We don't know to fight him, we don't know his weaknesses, we basically know nothing about him. Every time he appears, someone nearly or does die. That's why I've called you all here today. There's something I have to tell you."

"The night Shin La attacked us, he attempted to possess me, like he has all the others. And the result of that was this," she said, brandishing her hand out to the crowd, showing them the black spot now embedded in her palm. "Right now, if he wished, Shin La could reach out and find me. Until this ends he always will. But that wasn't the only thing he did."

"You see, I've been having dreams. A lot of them , mostly nightmares. Shin La is messing with my head, trying to make me as unhinged as he is. But instead of destroying something within me, he unwittingly restored it." She took a breath, before revealing her secret. "Because last night, I dreamt of Avatar Aang."

Immediately the air in the room seemed to thicken with interest. Tenzin leaned forward in astonishment and... hope? Katara, who was sitting in the background of the room, smiled. The rest of the audience just listened in anticipation.

"Tenzin, Katara," she announced, allowing a smile to grace her cheeks. "He's still alive, in here," she said, patting her chest. "And he told me all he could. He didn't know much, but he knew enough. I need you to look through the Avatar records, find out everything you can about Avatar Noah. Him and Shin La are linked somehow. Oh, and also... He told me to tell you that he loves you," she smiled at Aang's family. "All of you."

Tenzin's face swelled with happiness as Katara smiled from the message of a love gone by. If only they'd react like that to the next piece of news she had to offer.

"But that's not the only thing," Korra continued. "He gave me a direction to go in. Somewhere that I can get answers. Someone in the Spirit World called Koh."

Needless to say, they didn't react as well to that piece of news.

Tenzin in particular looked concerned. "Koh?" he repeated the name with trepidation, like he was afraid the spirit would manifest itself in front of him if he continued to say it. "The Face Stealer? You want to visit him?"

"I wouldn't have said it otherwise," Korra nodded.

"Um, okay," Bolin interjected, putting his hand up like he was in a lesson. "Maybe I missed that street orphan class, but who is Koh? Apart from the fact that he apparently has a weird hobby."

"He is a malevolent entity that dwells within the Spirit World," Tenzin answered, his expression gone from happy to grave in an instant. "A collector of faces. Any emotion you give, any expression you make, he deems a weakness. And as his title suggests, he will steal your face, leaving you in a permanent state between life and death."

The room seemed to recoil at the description as the light behind the windows seemed to darken. "Pretty weird hobby," Bolin said lamely.

"Yes," Tenzin conceded. "A decision not to be taken lightly. We must discuss this-"

"I'm afraid that's not why I called you here," Korra interrupted, wincing when she realised how it must sound. "It's not a choice we can talk about. The decision is already made."

At this everyone in the room seemed to hone in on every word. "What do you mean?" Mako asked.

"What I mean is that I've already made my choice. I've already decided to go because the longer we wait, the more danger we're in. I didn't call you here to debate it, I thought you deserved to know."

The reality of the situation seemed to set in as the group realised what her words meant. "Korra," Tonraq ground out, his voice tight. "If what Tenzin says is true, then it might be good to reconsider."

"Reconsider? Why would I-"

"He could kill you! Or worse."

"And so can Shin La!" Korra shouted, tired of everyone looking at her like she was doomed to failure. "You don't seem to realise how big of a threat he is. Everyone here who has crossed him, in this very room, have nearly died. Asami, Mako, Bolin, Opal, Varrick, Zhu Li, you, Mom, even my unborn sister, could have perished," she said, mindful of Bolin muttering something under his breath before Mako elbowed him. "The only reason that you, Dad, are alive is because of Katara. The only reason I'm still here is because of Lin. And we've all seen the result of that."

"And that's not even mentioning the nameless nobodies on the street that he keeps using to gain even more power. While he guns for us, Republic City gets caught in the crossfire. Maybe there is another way. Maybe if we scroll through the million forgotten texts over the years we'll find a snippet of information that can take him down. But while we do that, everyone in this city will suffer. Especially everyone here. This is the way we have to do it. Why would Aang tell me of Koh if he didn't wish for me to use him?"

Tonraq had to concede that she had a point. But it didn't mean he had to like it. Again, he wondered why his daughter had to be the Avatar, and why she always had to put herself in danger. Even if it was one of her finest qualities.

"There is a precedent," Tenzin said begrudgingly. "My father sought guidance from Koh once before. And Avatar Kuruk nearly killed the Face Stealer. If you physically enter the Spirit World, there is a chance you may be able to defeat him if you cannot keep an emotionless facade. But you must prepare for this. It would be foolish otherwise."

"I agree," Korra nodded. "And thank you. All of you have followed me this far. I can't let Shin La punish you for that."

"I'm going with you," Asami stood. "You'll need help."

"Are you sure?" Korra asked. "We might not come back."

Asami smiled. "Always."

She looked back at the crowd. The mood seemed to be caught between hopeful and tense. The younger people less jaded and fearful than the elders. "I can help too," Mako said. "Before Lin's... Before that, she made me head of a task force. Specifically designed to help you stop Shin La. Anything you need, I'm there."

"Thank you," she replied earnestly, before turning to the crowd again. "Remember, any one of us could be next on his radar. He doesn't discriminate. If he thinks it will hurt me, he will you hunt you down to the edge of the world. He-" she paused, seeing something out of the corner of her eye.

That's all it was. A slight on her vision. A tiny black spot. But she found herself inexplicably drawn to it, even though it filled her with dread. She stepped into the crowd. "He could be anywhere..."

The black spot grew, rolling in smoky waves. It was only a shadow in the room, peeking out from the light shining through the windows. But unmistakeably it started to take shape, started to take a figure of its own. A person veiled in black leaning against the wall.

Korra stared at it in horror, the feeling of fear manifesting into the form before. "Get behind me," she said urgently, pulling Tenzin's family beyond her outstretched arms. "Get behind me!"

"Why?" Senna asked. "I don't understand."

"I want you to get behind me," she said quickly, as finally the face before matched the one that haunted her dreams. "Because Shin La is here... he's standing right there."

The whole room stood up in unison, looking back with apprehension. At first, they saw nothing. And then the darkness in the room, the uneasy feeling that would never quite leave humanity, settled into their hearts. And finally they saw the leering face staring back at them.

"I'm sorry," Shin La said, examining his hands with interest. "Was I interrupting something?"

The expressions on the faces of the group before him were varied. There were the fearful glances, such as the Avatar's mother, unconsciously clutching her belly, or the face of the inventor. Then there were the glares filled with hatred. If looks could kill he would be dead ten times over. Mako's amber stare burned into him, Opal's eyes darkening as they settled on him. But most interesting of all was the totally calm expression of the Avatar.

You could hear a pin drop. The whole room seemed to want to charge him, but were unsure of the consequences. So they settled for murderous gazes, clenched teeth and closed fists. It only made his smirk grow wider.

"Why so serious?" he asked, nonchalantly pushing himself off of the wall with his shoulders. "I was under the impression everyone was invited." He spread his hands out wide. "And you do garner quite a following, Avatar. Although I see a key member missing. What happened to Lin?"

He saw Mako's palms spark briefly, before controlled himself and quietened his fury down. "Oh, I do apologise," Shin La said, putting his hand on his chest in a sarcastic manner. "I heard she took a fall. How is she? I must visit her sometime. After all, no one stopped me the first time."

Bolin had been expecting Mako to make a break for him, but he was surprised when Opal surged forward. He barely restrained her in time. "Shut up!" she snarled, though there was an undeniable quaver in her voice. "Don't say another word!"

"Perhaps it is a bit too soon," he chuckled. "I'm sure you'll be fine, my dear. After you have had the appropriate time to mourn."

"What do you want?" Korra said, before Opal could respond. "Why are you here?"

The phantom seemed to consider the question, like he didn't know the answer. His smug exterior turned thoughtful and the malice left his eyes. "You know, I was almost asking myself the same thing," he said, his hand rubbing his jaw in contemplation. "But then the reason can be found in the palm of your hand."

"What do you mean?" Korra gritted her teeth. Funny, could she smell smoke?

"Korra," Jinora nudged her, gesturing to her hand. "Look."

She did as she was asked and nearly recoiled in horror. Shadow was coiling off the black spot in her hand, like smoke being spewed from the recesses of a volcano. If she looked for too long it stung her eyes. "What is this?" she said, demanding to know.

"A souvenir," Shin La replied. "A reminder of the power you possess. Or more accurately an appetizer. A gateway drug for addiction. You see, you repelled my possession but you couldn't quite let me go. You let me in, Korra. And once you let the darkness inside, it never comes out."

"My dreams," she said, her eyes narrowed in anticipation of his next move. "You're not just tracking me. You're in my head."

"Exactly," he smiled, though with less cruelty and more thought. "And when I could sense all your comrades well, I couldn't resist." He paced the room back and forth, steadily drawing closer. "When this is all over, I'd like to do this again. Gather round all the indoctrinated followers and see how many are left standing."

"That is enough," Tenzin cut through, speaking before Korra could respond. "When this is over, you are right. We will all meet here again. And we will discuss how your name will fade forgotten into the pages of history, just another legend to glorify the Avatar."

Shin La looked at him amusedly. "You presume me to be like all the others before me?"

"I know it."

"Strange," the demon replied. "Lin said the same thing." He crossed his arms. "Maybe for your insolence I'll cut the head off of your trophy wife and nail it above the fire," he laughed, as Pema rushed to cover Meelo and Ikki's ears. "That should serve as a more permanent reminder not to insult me."

Jinora gasped as Tenzin clenched his fists. The airbender had an awful lot of patience. The very fact that his beard seemed to bristle with anger spoke volumes. But Shin La didn't linger on the family. He had others to taunt.

"How uncouth of you airbenders," Shin La tutted. "When I was at the Pole I was greeted with much more respect. Speaking of, Tonraq, how's the wife and kids?"

"Fine," Tonraq growled out, determined not to sink to the spirit's level. As much as he wanted to rip him apart, he couldn't. He'd only play right into the demon's hand.

"Ah good," he clapped his hands in response. "It was nothing personal. It still isn't. That won't stop me from killing you all, but I'd like to keep the air clean. And then of course we have the inventors and the fatal foursome. The Team Avatar, as you call it. Look at you. Look at you all," he said, walking forward, daring the crowd to back away as he thrust his arms out wide. "The finest of the age, standing right before me. The most brilliant of minds and skill in the entire world. And not one of you can touch me."

When he got no response other than unbridled glares of hatred and disgust, he grinned. "It must hurt, just a little bit. To know that there is nothing any of you can do to stop me. All you can do is hide behind your own personal saviour. I wonder how long it will take before you deliver her to me in chains, begging for a reprieve."

"That will never happen," Asami strode forward, looking the phantom dead in his cold spectral eyes. "Never."

He stared back at her. "We'll see," he chuckled. "We'll see," he repeated, as he turned away from them almost as if to leave. "Unfortunately not all of you will. Now, you must excuse me. I've got one comatose police chief and about five or six civilians to kill before sundown."

That did it. Bolin found himself propelled to the floor and everyone around Opal got swept aside as the young woman charged in a tornado of hurt and anger. If anyone was looking intensely at her face they would have seen the small tear that fell into the whirling hurricane she threw at the demon.

The furniture behind the phantom crumbled with the force of such a blast as Shin La found himself pinned to the wall. But instead of looking concerned, he started to laugh, the insane maniacal laugh that extended his fangs and revealed glimpses of his true self.

Opal didn't settle with the wave of wind. Propelling herself forward, she landed expertly in front of him before kicking him in the face.

The execution was perfect. And had he not become intangible, she would have connected with enough force to break his nose and shatter his jaw. The wall cracked with the power of her attack. But still, even in his spectral form, the hysterical laughter pierced the ears of everyone inside the room.

The wind had created a dust cloud from the crack of the wall. It swirled around the room, gritting in people's eyes as they sought for cover. And out of it, with her hair whipping round in excitement, stepped Opal.

"Opal!" Bolin yelled, running over to her. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," she said, smiling as she whispered something into his ear. Bolin recoiled in confusion when she spoke. "I've never felt better."

Bolin's expression quickly turned from relief to horror as the airbender's normal green eyes morphed to black and the gentle smile he loved turned cruel. With cackling laughter, she leapt out of the window and launched herself into the air, heading for Republic City.

He could only watch as Korra propelled herself into the air to follow her.

I promise the next chapter won't have a cliffhanger. And will be quicker. That being said, reviews (of any kind) do make me type quicker :) As always, thank you all for the support.