"Korra!"
Asami rushed forward and pulled the tan woman into her arms. Cradling her softly while gazing into the flickering light that had taken over both eyes.
"NO NO NO NO NO! Korra! Please no!"
Everyone around them looked like they too wanted to rush towards the fallen Avatar's side, but no one moved. Not Mako, not Bolin, not even Korra's father.
They all simply watched.
Praying that the tears falling from Asami's face didn't mean what they all assumed.
"Korra?! P-... please stay with me..."
The engineer began to beg for her love to stay with her. But the Avatar State light remained aglow as death began to creep up.
Slowly. Painfully. And yet efficiently.
"S-sa-ami..."
No words could get past the cotton like barrier that had dried Korra's throat raw.
But pale woman knew what she was trying to say.
Jinora ran towards Lin and Su, completely distressed and desperate looking.
"I saw the poison they were using! It looked like it was metallic can't you save her?!
Zaheer who was a few feet away began to laugh. At first quietly and then booming through out the entire canyon like a bombing fleet.
Not at all deterred by the rock formed barrier still encasing his entire body.
"It's pointless. The poison that was injected into her has done it's job! Even if you could expel it from her body, the damage to her heart is permanent! She'd still be dead within the hour."
Bolin had finally had enough of the rebellion leader's rant, and promptly punched his left temple in hard.
Watching with a sick feeling as Zaheer instantly became unconscious.
Everyone began to move in closer. Not being able to hear at all what Asami was whispering into the dying girl's ear.
All they did notice though was that whatever it was, it was making Korra smile. Even in her final minutes.
Su stepped forward with Lin and Opal first.
"Korra. You saved my daughter and the world...please rest easy."
Lin tried not to allow the bleary eyed girl to see her tears.
"You did good kid...you should be proud. And...I'm sorry I couldn't have done more."
Each bowed deeply before departing with wet marks staining their faces.
Tenzin moved next and bent before his oldest pupil.
"Avatar Korra...there is something to be said of legends. And for you that is no exception. I can never thank you for all that you have done for not only the Air Nation, but for my family as well...I could only wish you more condolences then...then just a final goodbye. May your spirit find peace."
A single tear of regret ran down the master's face.
And even in her suddenly paralyzed Avatar state, the tan woman was able to shed her own tear as well.
Jinora and the kids ran up along with their father and embraced the dying girl. No words were said, but the emotions could be felt from miles away.
The father eventually had to drag the sobbing kids away. For not even he could control his heartache any longer.
Mako and Bolin came up and looked down sadly at their dearest friend. The firebender was trying his hardest to stay strong, but the younger brother was having no trouble wailing his heart out.
"P-please don't go Korra...we just got you back..."
"Bo you know she would stay if she could...we have to be brave. One last time. We have to be strong."
The two brothers laid to embrace the glowing eyed teen.
"We'll always love you Korra...and thank you..."
The emotional scene was enough to distract everyone from the slight flash of blue that had broken across the white god like state clouding the Avatar's eyes.
But only for a millisecond.
Finally Tonraq rushed to pull his daughter into a gentle embrace. And for the first time since she had laid beside her, Asami allowed someone else to clasp onto her girlfriend's palm.
"Sweetie? I-it's me...it's dad. Please sweetheart...I need you. You're mother needs you...we all love you so much Korra...I can't let you go PLEASE!"
A sudden wave of uncut tears burst from the proud southerner's eyes, and the paralyzed girl even felt her old self react suddenly.
Filled to the brim with agonizing pain, both physically and emotionally.
While her father continued to weep, Korra could just barely feel Asami grab onto her other hand.
The older man smiled and nodded to the engineer. Thanking her silently, before standing so his daughter wouldn't see him lose himself.
Asami teared up significantly and left a gentle kiss on her girlfriend's forehead.
"Babe...I will never stop loving you...dead or alive I will always be yours. And I-I know this is scary...but I...I'll never let you go Korra. Never."
The engineer placed a final kiss down just to chastely brush against the tan woman's own lips.
And with a heavy sigh, Korra suddenly felt herself come out of the Avatar State.
All the blinding light left as cerulean irises once again came into view. But along with the revalation, Korra's body no longer was capable of fighting off the poison for much longer.
"S-ami-"
Everyone finally was able to see that the tan girl had exited the Avatar State, but before a word could be spoken the true life left Korra's eyes.
Her body became still and every heart in the area broke.
17 years later...
Throwing out a sharp combo move, fire and water simultaneous sizzled against one another before meeting their target.
Causing the flying practice disk to shatter completely midair.
"WOOHOO! Now that's how ya sharp shoot!"
Kicking up her foot to aim two steady bullet sized pebbles up next, the tall dark haired girl stilled in her practice when she noticed a figure standing at the end of her ring.
"Um? Hi?"
"Hello. You're Yukalin correct?"
Noding slowly, the Avatar in training lowered her stance and allowed the visitor to approach.
The white lotus wouldn't have let anyone into the compound they didn't trust...so she was probably safe right?
"My friends call me Yuka. Can I help you?"
This stranger was probably around her mother's age, but maybe younger. She had striking amber colored eyes and salt and pepper styled black to gray long hair flowing loosely around her shoulders.
She also happened to be wearing a fine looking maroon suit and black leather jacket. So maybe she was an investor here to talk about the Earth Kingdom Financial Aid plan?
The older woman came till about an arm's length away. Silently and a little creepily observing Yuka
"I'm just an old friend...though I doubt you'd remember me."
Something about her was so oddly familiar...and yet the young Avatar was positive that she had never seen this woman before.
"Sorry, I can't say that I recall ever meeting you."
"It's alright...I truthfully would have come to visit you sooner, but the white lotus ordered that I wasn't allowed to 'become a distraction' to the Avatar until she had mastered at least 3 elements..."
Nodding her head completely lost, Yuka cocked out one of her hips. Brushing a loose strand of black hair out of her face.
"So are you like a family friend?"
"Not so much as your family as I was to the previous Avatar's."
Suddenly snapping into attention like a child on christmas, the pale teen's eyes widened as she smiled brightly.
"No way! You knew Avatar Korra?!"
"I actually probably knew her better then she even knew herself. I loved her so much..."
"Oh! My apologies for not realizing it sooner! You must be Asami! My teachers told so much about you! Master Tenzin said you're the best nonbending fighter in the world!"
Smiling slightly, the aged woman gestured slightly for Yuka to follow her over towards a nearby bench.
But the teen couldn't control her excitement.
"This is so amazing! I've never met an actual member of Team Avatar from my past life! Spirits! Can you tell me anything about Korra that I should know? She is my hero!"
"Oh Yeah? She's mine too. And I'm sure a few stories wouldn't hurt. Perhaps after you master fire, I could have you train in some martial arts with me."
Yuka looked like the most excited young girl in the world.
"No...way!"
"Sure why not? The Avatar should have a wide range of skills. And besides Tenzin and Lin could probably use the company. Now have you ever heard the REAL story of Amon?"
It was while retelling her past adventures though, that Asami remembered why she had searched so hard for so long.
It was to see the same spark igniting hazel irises that use to ignite blue. It was to see the same hopefulness cloud over any doubt that the other's heart held.
It was the same feeling of adoration in her heart...that Asami found her home again...