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Korra's POV

As soon as Amon left, I started working on the chains that held my wrists above me. I tried using my strength to tear the chain but they were thick and I soon realized that the only thing I was accomplishing was scrapping my wrists. I gave a frustrated huff at this before looking up, trying to find another way to free myself. I had to. Thousands of lives were depending on me. As I looked up I noticed that the chains were wrapped around a single pipe.

When I was in prison, Howl Sr. used to tie me upside down and ask me to free myself. The first couple of times I had failed miserably, him having to do it and beating me before teaching a way to get rid of the ropes. I grabbed onto the chains and lifted myself up before turning in midair so that I was upside down and wrapping my legs around the chain. Once I was in position I started to pull on them with all my strength.

I don't know how long I pulled on the chains, using my weight to pull on the pipe, trying to break it. After a moment I felt the pipe move and I let out a grunt as I pulled on it even more before it finally snapped and allowing me to fall on the ground. Hard. I landed on my back first, my head connecting with the concrete and knocking me out.

But instead of being met with usual darkness, I found myself in a forest, voices whispering to me. I stepped forward and the forest opened, leading me, tugging me forward. As I followed the voices got clearer and I could finally make out what they were saying.

"Do whatever it takes to protect the world."

"You must actively shape your own destiny and the destiny of the world."

"Only justice will bring peace."

"Had I been more decisive and acted sooner, I could have stopped the war before it started."

Suddenly everything disappeared, the voices as well, and I readied myself, going into my stance, expecting to be attacked. I looked around, trying to figure out where the attack was going to come from but once I made a complete circle, I was faced with a strange yet familiar woman. There was a blue arrow going down her forehead, an odd haircut showing it and she was wearing monk clothes…

"Avatar Yangchen," I said, dropping my arms to my sides.

She smiled and nodded. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Avatar Korra." I lowered my gaze at this. I was unworthy of the title I had been born with. "I sense a great turmoil in you," the Airbender noted. "While you were with Asa, you successfully unlocked six of the seven chakras, yet you still seem to feel that you are not the Avatar."

"I'm not," I said. "I've made so many mistakes; done things that I could have been avoided…I've screwed up so badly."

The monk stared at me for a long time before speaking once again. "Tell me Korra, why do you think the Avatar isn't perfect and is allowed to make mistakes?"

I looked at her for a long time before shaking my head. "I don't know," I replied.

"The Avatar must be compassionate towards all living things, and the only way to do this is to live with them, and be them," Yangchen began. "The Avatar must experience sadness, anger, joy and happiness. But also make mistakes and learn from them just like the people you protect. By doing this, you understand human life and realize how precious it is, even with its imperfections."

I furrowed my brow thoughtfully as I recalled the voices I had heard before. They were those of my past lives, their advice to Aang when he was going to battle Ozai and I realized that they had all made mistakes. Kuruk had been neglectful of his Avatar duties, Kyoshi created the Dai Li which later became corrupted, and caused chaos in the Earth Kingdom, Roku had not taken action when it was needed and Aang had run away, leaving the world alone for a hundred years.

"All the Avatars made mistakes," I said absently. I felt the realization dawn on me so suddenly.

Yangchen nodded. "That's why we are reborn in different nations and within different cultures," she said. "Because with each cycle, we learn what it means to be human. But unfortunately there is a part of us that is a Spirit, and that part demands that we do things that we might not want to, like letting go of our earthly attachments."

"A part of us that makes us human," I replied.

"Yes," the Airbender agreed. "But this helps us balance ourselves and bring peace to the world. If you want to save the city, you must let go of those you love most, a sacrifice that makes you a fully realized Avatar."

My hands clenched into fists at the mere thought of letting go of the people I loved, the people I cared about the most. As much as I wanted to be a fully realized Avatar, I didn't want to let go of the little humanity I still had left.

"Selfless duty calls you to sacrifice your own needs and do whatever it takes to protect the world," Yangchen said before fading away.

I grabbed my head and fell to my knees. I didn't want to let go…I didn't want to give them up…but if I didn't I couldn't protect them, and I needed to. It wasnt about what I wanted. It was about what was best.

I took a deep breath before sitting down, legs crossed and connecting my fists together. All my past lives had made mistakes…and I had too. But one mistake I wouldn't make was to fail to do what it took to keep them safe.

As I started to think about the people I loved the most, I felt a pain in my chest as I let them go. Jason and Mako's face came last, and I could feel my chest tightened. They knew I loved them…and so did I. I loved them enough to let them go.

I let out a groan as I started to come to, letting out a hiss when I moved. Somehow I managed to stand up and stumbled toward the exit, leaning against the wall as I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to get the pain in my back to leave. When I opened them, I realized I wasn't alone.

"You're finally connected to your Spiritual self," a too familiar Airbender said with a smile.

"Aang," I breathed. "How?"

"When we hit our lowest points, we are open to the greatest change," he replied pressing a thumb on my forehead and over my heart.

And for the first time ever...I felt at peace.