[AN] One of the biggest self-imposed rules I've had for this story has been to write it as free form as possible and try not to over-think it or over-edit. That has never been so hard to enforce as this chapter, and I'm not sure I really did justice to what I was trying to describe.
That said, hope you all enjoy it...
The glare of spotlights and warm glow of Asami's light sticks cast beautiful patterns over the crowd milling in the amphitheater. Nearly everyone currently at the Playa was now there, waiting for the official kickoff party to start. Out in the desert, partially finished art pieces were faintly visible in the dim light of the early evening. On the opposite side of the newly erected tent city, the sparks of welding equipment at Cog Camp showed at least some of the artists had elected to finish up a particular project before joining the party. Halfway between the city and the amphitheater, the huge shroud covering Asami's secret project stood waiting for the big reveal. Asami had been tight lipped about her project with everyone except Zhu Li and her construction crew. Not even Korra had been able to wheedle anything out of her, and the threat of no sex had ensured the Avatar's strict compliance with the order to stay away.
Bolin and Opal walked hand in hand along the top of the stone bleachers, raised from the desert bedrock by teams of earth benders under the direction of Future Industries engineers who then ran electrical and sound systems over everything. Bolin was dressed in formal green and brown of the Earth Nation, and Opal had donned her Air Nomad robes. Their choice of dress was both in honor of the kickoff party and also for the more practical reasons that the welts and hickeys from their hurried sojourn in the shipping container needed more time to fade. The bleachers looked out over a huge expanse of flat space with a raised platform at the far end. As Bolin peered towards the platform he saw one of the sound crew waving frantically.
"Oh crap," muttered Bolin. "I think it's time to start. Come on!"
They hurried down the nearest stair case and pushed their way through the crowd. A voice came rumbling out of the speakers asking people to please take their seats, and the center area gradually emptied. As they mounted the platform they saw Asami give Korra a rather heated kiss, then climb down the other side and head off for parts unknown.
"Korra!" called Bolin cheerfully. She turned and joined them near the control board for the amphitheater's sound system. "Are you ready to kick things off?"
Korra nodded, looking a little nervous. "Hope they like what I do."
Opal rolled her eyes. "I don't think there's much doubt of that."
The sound engineer came up to them, bowing politely. "Avatar Korra, we're ready whenever you are."
Korra gave Bolin and Opal a tight grin, then nodded. "Let's do this!" They grinned back and hurried to their seats while Korra made her way to the podium at the front of the platform. She heard the rumble of the crowd as they recognized the Avatar and she felt a flutter of nervousness that she fought to ignore. Before her, hundreds of people sat waiting expectantly, and it was time for her to get them inspired. Thankfully she wasn't going to have to say too much — Varrick was a natural showman and had proposed a lead-in idea that Bolin and Opal had loved, and it also apparently was going to mesh nicely with whatever Asami had in the works. Korra had just shrugged agreeably, happy to let somebody else figure out most of the details and keep her actual speaking requirements to a minimum.
She thought of what she was about to do and started to smile, then took a deep breath and raised her blue clad arms.
"Welcome to the Playa, people of all nations!" she suddenly shouted, her voice blasting out of the speakers and echoing off the huge stone pillars rising from behind the bleachers. "We welcome you here so that we all may, for even a short time, work together to build a paradise based on creativity and joy and forgiveness. For too long has war defined the relationships between our nations. For too long have distrust and greed sowed the seeds of violence and death. Here in this place we will put an end to fear and hatred, make new friends, and form new bonds of community, because in the end we are all one people and only together may we finally create balance for this world!"
As she yelled the final words she slammed her hand down on the control switch next to the podium, and with a flash the spotlights went dark, and a moment later the bleacher towers exploded into bursts of light, sparks flashing as the four elemental symbols and Asami's new cog design lit up on each bleacher, casting multi-colored blazes of light across the amphitheater.
The crowd roared.
Korra waited tensely as Varrick had instructed, then leapt from the stage as a single spotlight flickered back on, focused on the very center of the open space. She landed on one knee in that circle of light, one fist pressed against the dirt, one arm still high in the air. She closed her eyes and she felt the throb of strange spirit energy pulsing underneath her, ready for her to set it free. With a wild laugh she willed the extra energy into her then flowed into her first form, once again pulling huge pillars up from the earth, followed by geysers of subterranean water which she started flowing over the towers. She whirled, shooting water, flames and air wildly around her, recreating the hollow earthen drums, the fire and water carving intricate designs into the columns and the air gusts starting up a pulsing rhythm similar to the one Bolin, Opal, and Asami had heard from the airship. Now that rhythm was faster, more primal, demanding the crowd rise up, hands clapping and feet stomping, voices raised in pure excitement.
With a final scream Korra bent a tower of air, raising herself high into the air, the beat of the earth drums never ceasing, and now flashes of fire and water leapt from one pillar to the next. Her forms never ceased, new, smaller pillars erupting on either side of the platform, then past it, through the amphitheater's entrance, and away towards where Asami waited with her crew. The pillars created an avenue straight to her still hidden project, the fire and water following and cutting swirls into each tower, getting closer and closer to the shroud. At last the avenue was complete, and Korra raised herself even higher before she flashed blindingly into the Avatar state.
The crowd was in a screaming frenzy, pouring from the bleachers to run after her as she soared above them, down the avenue, before finally coming to rest on top of the last pillar. Behind her spirits had emerged, all also frolicking on the tower tops to the delight of the crowd. Korra gasped for breath, her eyes returning to cerulean blue as they searched for a familiar, beloved shape. Her part was now done.
Asami Sato emerged from behind the shroud. Korra saw her wave her hand, and in the distance her crews pulled frantically to release and recover the shroud, slowing revealing human shapes, details still hidden in the darkness. There was a brief pause, then a dozen carefully placed spotlights flared into life, revealing what turned to be a masterpiece; five huge figures—four figures arranged in a tight group holding up a fifth reaching to the sky. With another flash of sparks, the five symbols emerged, one per figure, and the crowd noise exploded as recognition hit. There was Toph, wearing the earth symbol. Katara was wearing water, and Zuko, fire. Sokka stood holding his boomerang in one hand and the art bender cog resting in the other. Rising above them was Aang, the air symbol on his chest, the other symbols flicking along his arms.
Tears poured down Korra's cheeks as she looked upon the original Team Avatar, the ones who ended the Hundred Year's war, herself and her best friends in her past life. She knew immediately that this was Asami's gift to her, not just something for the festival, and was overwhelmed with emotion.
Below her, she saw the engineer walk towards her, her green eyes filled with such love that Korra's breath caught. She slid down the pillar and pulled Asami into a crushing embrace.
"I love you, pretty girl," Asami whispered against Korra's hair. Korra only nodded, unable to speak.
And finally, because once Varrick got going with an idea it was hard to stop him, the night sky lit up with hundreds of fireworks, sparkling merrily over the Playa and lighting up the hundreds of upturned faces, every one of them now desperate to make the Avatar's vision come true.