The sensation of being healed brought Asami around. Though once she opened her eyes, she wished she hadn't. A woman in Northern Water Tribe armor was bent over her, running glowing water over Asami's left arm and forehead.
"Don't move," the woman snapped, her blue eyes hardening.
"What happened?" Asami croaked.
She tried to recall how she got here. She was in a plane. No, flying a plane. And then fire. Smoke. Falling. Her brain sluggishly churned out memories. The skin over her left eyebrow felt strange, prickly. The water was less soothing than the time Korra healed her shoulder after the spirit attack.
Korra. Where was Korra? A firm hand pushed her back to the ground before she even realized she was rising. "I said don't move. I'm trying to fix the crack in your wrist and your split head."
Asami reached up suddenly to feel the spot on her head despite the woman's growl. Her head throbbed at the slightest touch and she winced. She examined her gloved fingers. Flakes of dried blood fluttered from her fingertips. How hard had she hit her head? And she felt so…out of it? That wasn't the word.
"I told you to restrain her. The Avatar will only grow more agitated if she feels her soulmate in pain." The voice was familiar, high, feminine, and colder than the southern climate.
The soldier's scowl disappeared and Asami swore she saw terror flit through the woman's eyes. "Yes, Princess Eska. My apologies."
Asami's stomach flipped and for a second she thought she was going to be sick. Eska. She'd been captured. Had Bolin and Mako...? They got out of the plane. Were they here, too? Without moving too much, Asami carefully tilted her head to look around the room. Or rather tent. Only Eska and the soldier were with her, but there was a silhouette just outside the tent flap. Asami bet it was Desna.
What a mess this was. She was. I was so focused on getting to Korra that I took my eyes off the enemy, Asami thought.
Another horrifying thought crept into her mind. What if Korra was captured, too? Oogi was falling, last Asami could recall. Though she was more alert now, she still felt a little foggy. But if Eska didn't want to agitate Korra, then maybe—
Wait. Asami mashed her eyes shut as the realization dawned. They knew. She had her suspicions from the beginning but now it was clear Unalaq and his children knew she and Korra were soulmates. Which meant they were going to use her to get Korra to do whatever they wanted. And if Korra refused, well, they wouldn't even have to lay a hand on the Avatar. Not when they had Asami in their clutches.
She had to think of a way out. She would not be used as a weapon against Korra.
Rings of ice clasped around her forearms and waist, forced her closer to the ground. Not that she'd try to run. Her body was too heavy with cold and exhaustion. Besides, Eska would have her in a block of ice the moment she sprang up. No, she needed a more logical plan.
So Asami lay still, allowing the soldier to heal her. Gradually, the fogginess in her head started to fade, as she was able to think faster. So she wracked her brains, trying to think of a way out. Then, she felt it. Three fast, hard throbs in her fingers. Are you okay?
Asami did her best not to react outwardly even though her insides flushed with relief. Even her heart raced just knowing it was from Korra. How should Asami answer? While she was technically alive and getting better with every passing second, she was being held captive by people who wouldn't hesitate to torture her if necessary.
If I answer no, will she go into a panic? And would that upset the spirits? The last things she or any of her friends needed right now were rampaging spirits or an uncontrollable Avatar. What if Korra slipped into the Avatar state like Aang and couldn't get out? Or maybe that was too presumptuous. It wasn't like Korra was in love with Asami. Yet.
All of this would be easier if they'd come up with a more complex messaging system. Asami suggested more than once they try to adapt the codes used to relay messages between airships, boats, and stations on land, but that required constantly hurting yourself, which both she and Korra quickly discovered was more unpleasant than useful, especially with longer messages.
Another three pulses in her fingers. Korra had to be worried sick. She probably saw the plane go down. She definitely felt it. So Asami dug her thumb into the heel of her hand. Despite the thick glove, she was still able to press hard enough, once, twice, three times. Better to see if Korra was okay first before answering.
The answer was immediate. One, Two. Like a heartbeat. Yes.
Asami couldn't hold back the sigh or the smile. She's okay. Good.
Korra asked again, but Asami's hand locked up as it was swiftly encased in ice. A shadow fell across her face. Asami glanced up and saw Eska, blank faced, staring down at her. "No secret messages." As the girl looked away, Asami thought she saw worry crease Eska's brow, but it must have been a trick of the torchlight.
Still, if Eska was even a tiny bit worried, maybe Asami could work with that. "Do you know what your father is planning to do? He's—"
"I look forward to the next ten thousand years of darkness," Eska droned. "You will not sway me from my father's path so save your puny words." Although her tone was convincing, Asami thought Eska's lower lip might have wavered.
Just then, a hand parted the tent opening and Desna's head poked in. He looked ill, his face greenish even in the flickering light, and there was a definite slump in his posture. He nodded once at his sister and suddenly Asami was being pushed to stand by the slab of ice beneath her. It was eerie, like floating up until her boots tilted down to touch the ground, though she preferred this a thousand times over to being bloodbent.
Eska grabbed her by the arm and Asami was relieved when no pain came from the firm touch. "If you try to escape, I'll put an icicle in the Avatar's heart."
Asami held her chin high and smiled humorlessly. "You can try." Unless Korra was incredibly distracted, Eska wouldn't be able to beat her in a fight. Asami was confident of that.
Instead of replying, Eska shoved Asami out of the tent and into the brisk night. Ahead, Unalaq stood with his back to her, his hands folded behind him. His face was gaunter than she remembered. Maybe working with the ultimate spirit of darkness did that to a man. Asami was marched to stand on his left. Mako and Bolin, bound back to back but awake and seemingly unscathed, occupied the space to Unalaq's right, to her relief.
A gasp ripped through the air and that's when Asami realized she'd just been led into a standoff, for several yards away, Tenzin, Kya, Tonraq, a handful of soldiers, and Korra stood, battered but brawl-ready. Anger fled from Korra's face as she locked eyes with Asami.
Korra's hair was loose, tangled, wild. Two scratches ran under her right eye though Asami hadn't felt her earn them. Her blue eyes were hard like ice and her lips parted, fierce, like she was mid-snarl. If that look were directed at her instead of Unalaq, Asami would've been terrified. "Let. Her. Go." Korra seethed.
However, Unalaq was unperturbed, smiling even. "You're not in a position to be giving orders, Avatar." He pulled water from the ground, froze it into a sharp point, and made it hover dangerously close to Asami's neck. She was sure if she swallowed wrong, it would scratch her skin. "Order a full retreat and sit back as Harmonic Convergence comes to pass and your soulmate will live."
Tonraq's eyes found Asami's, understanding and something else bubbling to the surface of his eyes, so much like Korra's. Instead of making any orders, though, Tonraq sheathed the knife on his hand and stepped forward. He held his hands up as if in surrender.
"You don't know what you're doing, Unalaq. Freeing Vaatu won't make you powerful. And what makes you think he won't turn on you the moment he's free?" He beseeched his brother.
That was a good question. Korra told her Vaatu tricked Wan into freedom once before; Unalaq would be no different and the world would bear the consequences if they couldn't stop him.
"I can control him," Unalaq said confidently. Was he losing his mind?
Korra scoffed. "Only Raava and the first Avatar have ever been able to subdue Vaatu. Though you're spiritually connected, you're just a water bender, you're just a human being." Unalaq bristled. "You don't stand a chance of controlling Vaatu," Korra finished
Unalaq's confident smirk soured. Did he really think he could control a being of pure darkness and chaos with his spirit-transforming water bending technique? But then Unalaq resumed his assuredness and Asami's uneasiness skyrocketed as his deep laugh echoed across the smoking battlefield. "I will once I fuse with him during Harmonic Convergence."
Asami sucked in a sharp breath. Even Desna and Eska exchanged genuine looks of surprise and…concern? Did they not know this part of their father's plan?
"You're crazy!" Tonraq shouted and Asami was inclined to agree. "Brother, listen to yourself!"
Unalaq continued on as if there was no outburst. "I will become the new Avatar. A dark Avatar." His dark, lifeless eyes focused on Korra. "And your era of chaos and unbalance will be over."
Korra's fists balled. "We aren't in chaos! The four nations are living together in harmony! You're the one creating chaos by inciting wars and seeking eternal darkness."
Wrath swept across Unalaq's face. "You are the Avatar, alleged bringer of balance, yet you keep our world and the spirit world separate when humans and spirits once lived together peacefully. For too long, you and your past lives have created a rift, upsetting the natural order of the planet. I only seek to restore things to the way they once were."
"Vaatu will destroy everything!" Asami snapped but said no more as the jagged ice drifted closer to her neck. Mako and Bolin struggled to help her but the ropes around them were too tight.
"If that is the price of balance, then so be it!" Unalaq snarled, glaring at them all in turn, but Asami got the feeling he wasn't really seeing any of them. "Now back down or I'll open Miss Sato's throat—"
An explosion a few yards behind them made Unalaq and the twins turn. The weapon twitched far enough away for Asami to breathe again. Instead of looking along with them, she was drawn to Korra's face. Korra was mouthing something but they were too far apart for Asami to discern what. Then Korra pointed to the ground. Get down?
Another explosion rocked the encampment, followed closely by spirit wailing and a jovial laugh that could only belong to Bumi. Asami thought she might've heard flute music, too.
She dropped to the ground and not three seconds later, a thumping came across the ground, followed shortly by a roar that rumbled through Asami's chest. Snow swirled around her, blinding her, but she was aware of a sudden radiating heat and heavy pants. Another deafening roar sounded around her, followed by yelps from Desna and Eska.
Asami wiped the snow out of her eyes just in time to see the twins get knocked aside like toys by Naga's giant paws. Said paws hit the ground a second later, and Asami realized Naga was completely shielding her, Mako, and Bolin. Unalaq could barely be made out between the polarbeardog's front legs and he looked furious his leverage was stolen from him.
He raised a hand, like he might actually try to take Naga on, when a block of ice sailed straight into his chest. "Let's end this, brother," Tonraq shouted, just out of view.
Unalaq's gaze darted back to Asami once more, then to his twins. "Get her back or stop them at all costs. We're running out of time." He turned and bolted for the portal. His figure disappeared into the blazing blue beam mere yards away.
Korra tried to pursue him but the moment she got close enough, the dark spirits circling it dive-bombed her. Asami winced as Korra got nailed in the side by a spirit that almost looked like a dragonfly bunny except terrifying. Above her, Naga whined and pawed the ground.
There was no way around the spirits and there were too many for Korra to transform in what little time they had left. A squadron of Northern soldiers shortly engaged Tonraq's men, further angering the spirits, making them more vicious. Korra spent more time dodging and defending than attacking the creatures.
Naga howled and charged at Desna and Eska, who seemed to be fighting with less polish than before. They weren't nearly as eager to edge around the beast to get to Asami, but maybe that had more to do with Naga's giant bared fangs than anything else.
Asami scrambled to her feet and helped the brothers awkwardly rise. They thanked her as she tried to rip apart their bindings but her hands were too numb and the knots too tight. She couldn't free her friends, she didn't have her glove, so she couldn't join in the fight, and she couldn't distract the spirits to get Korra into the spirit world. Asami scanned the battle raging on around her, her heart sinking, uselessness seeping into every inch of her body
And then she saw the line of abandoned mecha tanks across from her.
Inspiration struck Asami like a shock from her glove. The spirits reacted strangely to electricity, she recalled. The one she shocked a few weeks ago seemed powered by it for an instant. Maybe, if the spirits sensed enough electricity, they would be drawn to it like tigermoths to a flame. She hoped.
The mecha tanks had shock capabilities in the claws. What if she could get it to course all over the suit? The plan was half formed and it relied on more hope than thoroughly tested theories, but she had to try something.
Bumi trotted up to Mako and Bolin and sliced through their bonds with ease. The two boys ran off towards Korra while Bumi regrouped with his siblings. The only person closest to her that could provide her enough protection while she worked was Tonraq, who was ordering spare troops into a possible attack formation around the portal. Asami approached and hesitantly touched his elbow. He seemed pleased by her presence. "I have an idea. Can you cover me?"
Tonraq blinked down at her for a moment, looked towards the portal, (probably at Korra, Asami thought) then nodded solemnly. "Only if you promise to get to safety afterwards." Whether he said it out of concern for her or for his daughter, she couldn't tell.
Asami glanced around at the battlefield. It was mostly benders against benders. And while she could easily pilot one of the many empty mecha tanks, she wasn't sure how long she could fare against Desna and Eska, two highly skilled waterbending prodigies. This wasn't her fight, she knew that. And if she got out of the way, then she couldn't be used to hurt Korra. "I promise," she said. "Let's go."
Out of the corner of her eye, Korra spotted Asami climbing onto an empty mecha tank while her father provided cover. Part of her wished Asami would sit out for a while—the recoil from Asami's hit to the head left Korra dizzy and she'd curled up in Oogi's saddle, clutching her arms to her chest long after she saw the flaming ball that was Varrick's plane got swallowed up by the dark of night.
Then again, Asami seemed okay now (thank the spirits!). Korra couldn't feel any pain and the cut on her soulmate's head at least looked mostly healed (though after she kicked Unalaq's ass, she was going to heal it properly).
The all too familiar sound of crackling electricity reached Korra's ears. In a panic, she searched for the source and saw Asami ripping wires out of the back panel on the mech. Sparks flew and the metal suit lurched forward stiffly, almost bucking Asami. Then, Asami jumped down. A second later, currents of electricity crawled over the steel body and it lurched forward again, the treads straining against the slick terrain.
"What are you doing?" She asked, though Asami was too far away to hear. Korra's question was answered as three spirits swooped away from the portal and descended on the machine, darting in and out of it, making it short circuit. More spirits drifted towards the malfunctioning mech, like they were drawn to it, giving Korra and the others an opening.
"Tenzin, Bumi, Kya!" But they were one step ahead of her, sprinting ahead already. She hoped they could slip through easily and find Jinora before it was too late.
Mako and Bolin jogged up beside her. Bolin mock saluted her. "Bolin reporting in to help stop ten thousand years of darkness! Because that sounds, really, really bad!"
Mako groaned but he didn't chastise his brother. Instead, he looked to Korra. She paused. This was it. She could feel how close they were to Harmonic Convergence. "We're going into the portal. I'll need you two to hold off Unalaq while I try to shut the portal from the inside."
Mako's eyebrows rose. "Will we get stuck in the spirit world?"
Korra didn't want to lie to him. "If everything goes right, no." Look for the light, look for the light.
"That's…encouraging." Mako sighed but straightened and shifted so he faced the portal. "Let's go, little bro." They took off running and Korra was glad to see they didn't waver in stride. She was worried they'd be as banged up as Asami was, but the boys outwardly appeared fine.
Asami. Korra whipped around in time to catch her soulmate settling into Oogi's saddle. Naga, along with four rebels clustered behind her. As if she felt Korra's eyes on her, Asami matched her gaze. "I'm flying the injured out of here," she shouted as Tonraq engaged the twins. Asami's eyes flashed to Korra's cousins. Her green eyes were hard, her jaw clenched.
Korra nodded mutely, understanding. Asami didn't want to be used again and, if Korra were honest, it was a relief knowing that if everything went wrong here, at least Asami would be far enough away, would be safe. Korra wanted to tell Asami so many things—words of comfort and courage spun endlessly in her head—but she was wasting time. Harmonic Convergence was almost here. She could feel it ring in her bones, dance across her skin, set every hair on the back of her neck on end. She would see Asami soon but for now, she had to concentrate.
All the spirits were buzzing around the haywire mech so Korra ran head first into the portal without trouble, the spiritual energy flooding her as much as the light flooded her eyes. It was almost warm. Her body tingled as she left the material world behind. Already the scarred, rocky earth was materializing underfoot. The sounds of bending filtered in around her. Rocks smashing, fire roaring. Korra tensed as the air coiled around her, ready to be bent and unleashed on Unalaq the moment she stepped out of the portal. As soon as the light faded, she hit the ground running and slipped into the Avatar state.