Note: Part one of awesomeness up! Masks and old friends! Can you contain the excitement? I couldn't. Anyway, some slight angst towards the end which I didn't really want. But I guess couldn't help myself. l'll try to get part 2 on here later today. Again, much love to all of you reviewers.

"Avatar Korra, please don't move. We're trying to put these into your hair," a servant said.

Korra sat in front of a vanity where the servants tried to prevent her from fidgeting too much while they loosely braided her hair and wove sea bell lilies and silver ribbon into the plait. She already struggled when they placed her into a light blue chiffon gown. She didn't quite imagine her nineteenth birthday being dedicated to being fussed about, but the tribal council insisted on the masquerade ball to celebrate Korra's birthday.

"Ahhh… Avatar Korra, you look very beautiful tonight. Perhaps you'll find a handsome prince at the ball," a servant said.

"It's a shame she has to cover up all her makeup with this mask though," another servant said.
"I think it's romantic. Can you imagine being swept away by mysterious man in a mask?"

Korra blushed as she imagined Noatak. She gave him a costume earlier that week for him to wear at the ball, but he told her before then that he probably wasn't welcomed at a ball that the tribal council was putting on. He probably was right which made Korra sadder at how Noatak wouldn't be there. Tonight would be impossible for her to just slip into the shadows and run to Noatak's apartment so she could spend the night in his arms and make love until the sun rose.

"Sit still Avatar Korra," a servant said.

The servant brought out the white mask overlain with silver lace and sea bell lilies to cover the top half of Korra's face. She placed the mask over Korra's face and tied the ribbon behind her hair. A different servant came back to muss with Korra's hair to let the ribbon blend with the braid she recently wove. Korra looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She put on the silver sandals put out for her and walked to the grand hall where the ball was held.

The grand hall, like the main room, had large waterfall walls and beautiful lights to create a warm feeling in the hall. Many people already arrived in their costumes and were drinking their sparkling plum wine from silver-tipped flutes. As Korra entered into the hall, everyone turned around to Korra and clapped. They started to sing one of the old birthday songs from the Northern Water Tribe. A small orchestra started to play, and a man in a cream-colored suit and crimson mask approached Korra. He bowed and extended a gloved hand to Korra.

"Korra, if I may have this dance," Iroh said.

Korra smiled and gave him her hand. Iroh pulled her to the center of the hall and placed hand on the small of her back. Korra took her hand and put it on Iroh's shoulder. Everyone else took dancing partners and joined the two on the floor.

"Happy birthday Korra. You look happier than you did when I saw you last," Iroh said.

"Oh… thank you. I would have sent you a wire, but I got busy," Korra said.

"Your uncle told me. By the way, you look wonderful in your costume tonight," Iroh said.

"You look good too… Though it doesn't seem like you made any effort on the costume tonight…" Korra said.

Iroh laughed as he spun Korra around.

"If you think that's bad, you should see my grandfather. He literally dug up an old Fire Nation helm and called it a day," Iroh said.

Korra glanced over Iroh's shoulder to see old man Zuko exactly as Iroh described him- wearing an old Fire Nation helm and vintage Fire Nation robes. He looked to be chatting up with the woman next to him. As Korra squinted, she made out the woman's face behind her blue mask made to look like an otter penguin. The longer she thought about it, the more Korra began to suspect that the woman Zuko was speaking with was Katara. They certainly chatted together like old friends.

"They've been like that all day," Iroh said.

"It's sweet," Korra said.

"That's a real friendship," Iroh said.

The song ended, and Iroh bowed to Korra. Before Korra had a chance to give Iroh her thanks, another man approached her. This man wore a mask in the shape of a raven's head and traditional Northern Water Tribe furs and robes. He made a slow and deep bow towards Korra and took her hand.

"My niece, the birthday girl, looks especially beautiful tonight," Unalaq said.

"Thank you uncle. I'll try not to step on your toes tonight," Korra said.

Unalaq laughed and lead Korra in the next dance. He was a superb dancer who knew how to lead and help his partner. Korra could easily follow his movements.

"Your parents could not make it. Something happened at the compound, and so they send their deepest regrets. But they wished you a happy birthday and have sent you a gift," Unalaq said.

"They could have hitched a ride with Katara," Korra said.

"Katara actually was in Republic City getting some other guests that are here tonight. I'm sure they're here waiting for their turn to dance with you," Unalaq said.

"Well, I hope it's soon because I'm not looking forward to dancing this whole night," Korra said.

"Don't worry, you are doing very well," Unalaq said.

"Uncle, can I tell you something?"

"Yes, of course."

"Thank you so much for letting me move here."

"You're welcome. I'm just glad that you are happy here."

Korra hugged Unalaq tightly. He patted her back and let her dance with the next man in line. Korra worried about whether or not Noatak even got the costume and invitation she sent him. As the evening wore on, she was convinced that he hadn't and would not be joining her this evening. So Korra just danced endlessly with most of the men in the hall. Some were bold and forward with their advances towards Korra. Others had more tact and weakly attempted to sweep Korra off her feet. None of these men captured her attention and looked at her as Korra, the woman. They seemed to only see Korra, the Avatar and prime marriage prize.

As Korra weaseled her way out of more dances, she walked to the table where a giant cake and a pyramid of wine flutes stood. Korra grabbed a flute and sipped the wine slowly. When she tried to get a piece of cake, a nearby woman hissed that eligible women do not indulge in such displays as she slapped Korra's hand. She wondered if the woman knew who she was.

"Don't worry. The cake isn't even that good," the person next to her said.

The guy that stood next to her inhaled the piece of cake he was eating, getting pieces of frosting and cake stuck on his face. He wiped the excess cake with his suit jacket's sleeve. Korra smiled. He seemed the same as the last time she saw him- oblivious. He wore a red fur mask that looked like a fire ferret and dressed in an emerald coat and tan slacks with painted grass blades.

"Bolin! Can't you be nicer to Korra?" a woman said.

"Huh? That's Korra?" Bolin said.

"Of course, it's Korra! Why else is there a line of guys waiting for her?" the other person said.

Mako and Asami approached Korra and Bolin. Asami wore a gold lamé gown with a black and silver mask in the shape of the moon. Mako dressed in a suit that had a silver jacket with black trim and black pants with silver trim and wore a mask that looked like the sun. Korra almost gagged on her champagne at the sight. She silently thanked the Spirits that she didn't send Noatak a matching costume. She knew that Noatak probably thought it was stupid, and looking at Mako and Asami, Korra agreed. Still, even thinking about Noatak, Korra felt a lump in her throat and her face start to flush.

"Hi Mako and Asami," Korra said.

"Happy birthday Korra," the two said.

"Thanks for coming out here. It's nice of you," Korra said.

"Your uncle asked Tenzin if he knew of any friends that would want to come. So we're glad that Tenzin remembered us," Asami said.

"Is Tenzin here?" Korra said.

"Nah. He's got council duties," Bolin said.

"That makes sense. Still, it's nice that you guys came," Korra said.

"So Korra, will you dance with me?" Bolin asked.

"Oh… sure."

Bolin grabbed Korra's hand and dragged her out into the dance floor. She saw Asami nuzzle Mako as they walked to the dance floor. Korra caught the glimmer of Asami's hand and let her heart sink. Something about the image made her sad. Maybe it was the fact that Mako cheated on her and was happy. Maybe it was the fact that Mako and Asami's relationship would have every single happy ending that Korra wouldn't have with Noatak. All of it made Korra sigh.

Bolin was still happy though. He talked to Korra endlessly about pro-bending and how well things were going in his life. He told her about Mako and Asami as well. Mako joined Lin Beifong's police force. Asami took over her father's business. They lived in a brand new villa on the bay and were only recently engaged. The ordeal was highly publicized and a big to-do. He said that some newspapers suspected that Asami was already pregnant. Korra was surprised at how much life had gone on without her. Somehow, everyone else seemed to do much more with his or her time than she had.

"And now I live in this penthouse thanks to Asami! It's awesome, and there's lot of space for Pabu to just run around!" Bolin said.

"Uhh… That sounds nice Bolin," Korra said.

"What about you?" Bolin asked.

"Hm… Nothing really," Korra said.

"You live here?"

"Yeah. I do."

"That's so cool. I bet it's great to have all of these servants. Asami and Mako have servants at their home, and it's just great."

"I guess so… Um. Bolin?"

"What?"

"You're stepping on my toes."

"Oh man! Sorry!"

"It's okay. I'm going to get some fresh air. So excuse me."
"Oh sure think Korra. Do you want me to go-"

Korra walked away from Bolin before she heard the rest of what he had to say. She made her way to a balcony and sat down on the railing. No one seemed to follow her, which made her all the more relieved. The night wasn't going to end sooner, and Korra tired.

"Korra?"

She turned her head around and saw Mako. He took his mask off and sat next to her looking towards the shrine where the Spirit Oasis was.

"It's cold out here," he said.

Mako made a flame in the palm of his hand and held it out to Korra. She looked away and waved a gust of wind to put the fire out.

"I don't need your help," Korra said.

"Korra… you don't have to be like this," Mako said.

"You don't either. Just leave me alone."

"You look really beautiful."

Mako reached out to Korra's arm and touched it. Korra brushed his hand off and moved further from Mako.

"Don't touch me. You don't deserve to touch me," Korra said.

"Korra, don't say that. It's been over a year. That's the past," Mako said.

"How can you even say that? Just because that sort of thing goes away for you doesn't mean it goes away for me," Korra said.

"I thought you put this away. I mean, you looked happier now that I have seen you since… since Amon took away your bending."

Korra got off the balcony and away from Mako. Despite being outside, things felt so uncomfortably close. Hearing Mako spit out those words made Korra's eyes well.

"I'm fine now. I have someone to thank for that," Korra said.

"Who?"

"No one you know. You wouldn't understand anyway. You never did."

"Don't say that."

"Then try to deny it."

"Look… how was I going to deal with that every day? I tried everything."

"That doesn't mean you could just break up with me the way you did."

"Well I can't just turn time and change things. If I could, a lot of things would have turned out differently."

Korra stood by a pillar and slumped against it. She wanted to be a bit more mature about the situation with Mako. Something about him being there in front of her made the best plans go to waste.

"I hear you're a police officer now," Korra said

"Yeah. It's okay. It's a job. What are you up to here?"

"Not much. Just... sorting things out."

"Asami and I are engaged."

"I saw. So is she really pregnant?"

"Did Bolin tell you that?"

Korra nodded. Mako got up and leaned on one of the columns. He sighed and flicked a flame from his fingers.

"Yeah. That's one of those things I would have changed. But I guess that's something I want right now too," Mako said.

"Is that why you're getting married?" Korra asked.

"Yeah. But I would have married her anyway. We were planning to. It's just happening sooner than I thought it would," Mako said.

"I bet."

"Look. I'm sorry that things went the way they did, and if you don't forgive me ever, that's fine."

"It's okay. I've been dealing with my own thing... The more I thought about how things happened, I realized we would have broken up anyways. Somehow, that was how it would always be."

"Well... Maybe someday we can be friends again."

"I don't know. Maybe."

"So this guy... Is he a good guy?"

"I think so. He understands me better than anyone I know."

"It's not Iroh. Is it?"

"Definitely not."

"Well... whoever it is, maybe I can meet him someday."

Korra shrugged and walked away.

Note: I don't actually hate Mako so sorry if it ever felt like that. I really wanted their conversation to have just a bit angst but more overly this feeling that these are two different people with lives that moved in different directions.