Chapter 41: Ember Synthesis

Once Korra got dressed again, she was about to open the earth "tent", but stopped, idly relishing the fresh memory of her newfound self-love and deepened relationship with Asami. Closing her eyes while breathing much as she might have while meditating, she felt a very strong tug on her being. It wasn't Asami or Raava. Figuring she might be a while, Korra said out loud calmly, "Someone wants me for something important, and I'm not sure who just yet, Asami. Hopefully, it won't take long." Feeling the tug again, she sighed, just projecting Aang out, saying, "What do you want? It needs to be something that doesn't take real time. I don't know how much longer the others will be up." Aang said sheepishly, "You should probably go see what people are doing before we… do this. I won't say what it is, but you will need Asami." Feeling yet another tug, Korra rolled her eyes, saying, "What do you want from me? First Aang, now you, Raava!"

Just go see what everyone else is doing, and let's hope they aren't sleepy.

Sighing deeply, Korra focused on Tenzin's energy, noticing he was sitting with Pema, staring at a full moon. Korra could hear emotion in his voice as he said, "It's not about being able to fly, Pema. It's about making my relationship with you stronger. I should have taken after my father more. I don't know why I embraced so much of the serious stuff from the Air Nomads." Korra listened silently as Pema said, "I've given birth to four children, honey. We aren't exactly chaste. It's not like we're your traditional Air Nomad family, you know. Our eldest daughter eats meat, and our eldest son has designed weapons for war. I think it might be time you started embracing the change in the world more fully, like Jinora has." After Tenzin sighed, she added, "Without reservations or guilt. As much as it pains me to say it, the Air Nomads are dead. Only the Air Nation lives on." Tenzin still looked lost in thought, saying, "I… I guess you're right. All the new airbenders are just too… earthy!" Pema groaned loudly, saying, "Not this again, especially considering Jinora is decidedly one of them now, even though she's your daughter." Laughing, she added, "If we hadn't been earthy together, she wouldn't exist! You've changed your mind about taking life, even advising your daughter to not be squeamish about it. Maybe she needs to have a talk with you about properly nurturing your earthly tether."

Tenzin stood up, stamping his foot in frustration as he said, "I am not going to yell dirty words like they're some kind of password to a secret club! This is ridiculous!" Pema turned around, Korra feeling annoyed she had been seen. Pema stood up, and walked towards Korra's projection, saying, "There is one other person who has flown, other than Kai and Jinora. Maybe Korra can help you, honey, if she wants to." Tenzin turned around, looking slightly mortified as he asked, "How long have you been there, Korra? I don't want people eavesdropping on how I can't get it up!" Remembering an English phrase, Korra began laughing nervously, saying, "Uh… I could have gone without imagining that." Seeing Pema's puzzled look, Korra wanted to explain what the phrase meant and why she didn't like the image it produced, but stopped when she saw Tenzin's dejected look. Korra beckoned them over, saying, "Originally, I only came here to ask what people are doing right now. Asami and I were exhausted, only now getting up from our… nap." Pema said gently, "I think every adult knows what you two were doing in there, Korra. As well as my oldest daughter and her boyfriend, Kai. If you won't own up to having sex, maybe you can't help Tenzin after all." Korra sighed, looking down at the ground as she said, "It… it just feels weird to talk to Tenzin about such things. I still see him as a secondary father figure, given how I never got to see my own father as much as I would have liked." Tenzin nodded his head, saying with emotion, "I feel honored you feel this way about me, Korra. I'll have to talk to someone else about this. It's too bad the only other airbenders who have flown in this way are my daughter and her boyfriend…"

Korra was about to say something, but a very relevant question occurred to her. Trying to replicate Aang's unauthorized appearance at the first meeting with her cousins, she said loudly, "AANG, get out here please! Your other thing can wait – I want to ask you something!" Korra turned to the left and right, laughing to see that Aang had elected to appear as his adult self. For once, she was the one grinning widely and Aang the one sighing in frustration. Intensely curious, she asked him, "Aang, care to explain why you never flew? From what I saw, you certainly didn't have any passion issues with Katara." As Pema laughed lightly, Tenzin piled on, asking, "Yeah – I never heard you talk about flying without effort, dad. What was your block?" Aang groaned, saying as he yanked on his ghostly beard with both hands, "I don't even know if I had a block. For all I know, this could be something totally new, a side effect of Raava's increasing human-y-ness."

A familiar small form joined Korra's other side, a blue Raava saying, "No, it's not. You just never said the magic, dirty words, Aang, much less with the proper enthusiasm. I hope that answers your question, Tenzin." With a wink, Raava added, "There's a little earth shack you can use to… practice, I might add." Korra half felt like strangling Raava, saying, "What? That's just not right, Raava! Bad spirit! Bad!" Aang had a similar reaction, saying, "You still have a lot to learn about human love and sex, Raava, particularly manners. There are certain things you just don't say, do, or offer. And I didn't exactly have a deep sexual education myself, aside from my love for and with Katara." Tenzin just gave Raava a weird look, saying, "I'd rather 'practice', as you so crudely put it, in my own home, or at least on a serviceable bed. I appreciate the offer nonetheless. Sort of." Pema laughed, saying, "I'm good for whatever makes you happy, Tenzin. You're the one with the 'problem'. One, I may add, I fail to see – I'm perfectly happy with our marriage." Tenzin sighed contentedly, saying, "I guess you're right, Pema. I just wanted to inject some more fire into our lives – we haven't been together much lately, with the frenetic pace of the world." Ignoring Pema's hug, Tenzin continued, "Going back to why Korra originally came here, everyone is still up, so you better hurry if you want help with your surgery. It's almost 10:00 PM, and I don't want your healers being hopped up on Jang Hui kelp tea."

Remembering how crazed the various braintrust members had been earlier, Korra said, "Sounds like I need to get busy. I'm leaving now." Korra was about to break the connection, but Tenzin held up a hand, saying, "Let me give something a shot." Korra shook her head, barely able to believe what she heard Tenzin say, finding Pema's giggle closely resembled Asami's had she said the same word. Tenzin looked at his feet, and said it again, finishing, "I guess I'll need to practice. I can't say it right. That last time, it was just angry." Korra broke after she heard a laughing Pema say, "Maybe I can help you later, back on Ember Island."

When she came to, she saw Asami drawing on a piece of blueprint in the moonlight, Korra recognizing part of it immediately. Creating a blue flame to see better by, Korra looked at Asami's drawing, saying, "Nice work, Asami. Now we just need to go to the mineral vein with a bunch of spiritwire, and we can make all three things in one go." Asami looked up, innocently asking, "What's the third thing, Korra? All I knew of was your suit and your armblades." Korra smiled, saying, "I figured I should make you a more practical betrothal gift, seeing how you just designed my powerful-looking mechasuit." Asami's eyes widened as she said, "You're going to make Asami's Reach? Are you sure you can do all three?" Korra nodded, laughing as she said, "I'll just think of you while making them all for strength. Just pack your stuff up, and we'll go."

Korra ended up talking about what she had discussed with Pema and Tenzin instead as she examined the blueprints for her unnamed suit, making minor changes as she saw fit. As she puzzled over the hands and how they fit together with her armblades, Asami finally spoke, saying, "I don't see what's wrong with this little earth tent being a private retreat for anyone who needs it. I imagine it would make a good meditation room as well." Korra laughed, saying, "I guess you're right – it sounds like Pema and Tenzin haven't gotten to play much themselves lately." Standing up, Korra pointed at her mechasuit's hands, saying, "I want to do something special with my hands. They're where I infobend out of, where most of my bending comes through… have any ideas?"

Korra closed her eyes, trying to think of something she could do with the gloves. She saw an image of twin blue metallic gloves with large amounts of spiritwire on them, envisioning a link to her chi line spiritwire where an airbending master's arrow might be, complete with a metal port. Realizing that this port would get in the way of sex and life in general, Korra envisioned an under-the-skin extension of the spiritwire in the shape of airbender tattoos. Realizing this would need to be tested, Korra opened her eyes and said, "I have an idea for the gloves, but it needs to be tested first. I don't know who to test it on, though."

After Asami asked her about her idea, Korra explained it, saying, "I'm just a little afraid to have spiritwire put into my hands, and I don't even know if the power would transfer through the skin properly." Picking up her goggles from her pack, Asami suggested, "Why don't we test the concept using your eyes? You can make some spiritwire goggles and enter the Avatar State and try to project an image, if you want what I think you do." Korra shook her head, saying, "No, I don't. What do you have in mind?"

A hologram!

After Raava's little outburst, Korra felt a flow of information, saying out loud, "What's all this, Raava? I didn't think Earth was that advanced." After her eyes glowed briefly, Korra saw Raava appear, who said, "It's from their science fiction, but it should work here. Theirs aren't portable yet. Let's go fashion you some goggles, and see if they work. If they do, I don't think we should implant spiritwire in your hands, or draw airbending master tattoos on your arms. I've got something a little more unique in mind." As Raava returned to Korra, she saw an image, saying, "That looks perfect!" loudly, loving the idea of the "Master Avatar" tattoos Raava had shown her.

Taking a blueprint from a confused Asami, she drew herself naked in side views, tracing the body's chi lines before adding the appropriate drawings. The lines mimicked the form of an airbender's, but thinner. Each limb had a different elemental symbol instead of an arrow, the arrow on the head replaced by a blue and white diamond that occupied the same position a combustionbender's tattoo might have. Remembering the importance of human love, where Raava resided and figuring Asami might like it, Korra added a blue and jade tattoo of yin and yang above her heart, saying, "Done!"

Realizing that this might just eradicate the need for spiritwire altogether, Korra said, "Looks like I'm going to need Tenzin's help for this, or someone who knows how to do tattoo work." Projecting Aang out, Korra asked him, "What do you think, Aang?" Before he could respond, Asami said, "Whatever he thinks, I love it, especially the chest tattoo. Maybe you should add another one. Your suit has two breastbeams, just like mine." Korra laughed, saying, "I don't want too many tattoos, or I won't look like me in the bedroom anymore." Asami laughed, saying, "I find the prospect of your breasts glowing more than slightly intriguing." Aang said with a snicker, "I never thought of the chi line tattoos being slightly sexual in nature. We both know that my arrows did NOT lead to Lil' Aang, after all." Korra groaned, never having heard this nickname for… "her" penis before, remembering that Aang wasn't just a friend, but also her own past life.

Korra re-drew her chest, moving the tattoo of blue and jade slightly, positioning a tattoo of a yin and yang formed from Raava and Vaatu on the other side, remembering her dual nature and every other human's. Asami pointed at the new tattoo, saying, "Care to explain that? I'd rather not look at Vaatu while making love to you. You know, him being evil incarnate and all." Korra frowned slightly, saying, "Dark Korra is a part of me, whether we like it or not. I hope everyone who's been 'crushing' their dark selves don't become complacent. You can't extinguish light or eradicate darkness, you know, and any 'Master Avatar' needs to understand they are not immune." Korra turned to a wide-eyed Aang, who said, "It seems like you've thought of everything, Korra. Though, given what you've said, you might want to make what I assume represents your love for Asami similarly complex." Korra let Asami re-draw the yin and yang symbol, smiling to see how Asami made a larger version of the symbol with their hands instead. Looking at the new symbol, Korra said, "That looks great! Any 'Master Avatar' should also probably have a love interest of some sort. I find myself relying on my love for you more and more, Asami. Uncle Iroh was right – it's a huge pillar in my life now."

Knowing they no longer needed as much spiritwire, Korra said, "Now we just need to find some dyes to do the tattoos." Aang laughed, saying, "It hurt really bad when I got mine, so don't expect this to be easy, Korra. I meditated to ignore the pain while they were being done, but it still hurt after." Korra smiled, saying, "It can't be that bad. Plus, I can use Avatar State healing on myself." Asami giggled, saying, "I want to see that, Korra. You might just get to try them out afterwards…"

Despite having just finished what must have been at least two hours of adult play, Korra said eagerly, "Sounds good to me. Let me see where I can get some dyes." Remembering this was a huge change of plans, Korra opened the earth tent door, saying as she walked out, "We're going to need a whole different set of people to help us with this. You can watch if you want, Aang." Korra felt a surge of energy beside her, turning to see a beaming Raava say, "I wanna watch too! I'll have to come up with some strict criteria for who can be considered a 'Master Avatar'. The only one who I can think of off the top of my head that fit the bill are Wan, Roku, Aang and yourself. Oh, and Garkan, though he never had a very rough time." Korra heard a deep, "Ahem," followed by "It's not my fault that Avatar Akane did such a good job, Raava." Korra was surprised that Garkan had hopped out, saying with slight annoyance, "Don't re-create the Avatar Party on me here, please. I'll talk to you later, Garkan – your presence would likely cause a lot of confusion." He laughed deeply, saying, "Sure thing. I wouldn't want you peeking at my tattoo ceremony, after all, even if we're both… non-heterosexual." Korra smiled, saying, "Thanks for remembering I'm technically bi. See you later."

As Korra walked towards the lit-up factory, she stamped her foot once, trying to sense who was there and who was not. Korra cursed, sensing something very wrong with how her Korranium ball had been handled, running frantically towards the factory as she yelled, "Seal the ball back up! What are you doing, Varrick? Are you nuts?" When she got inside, she noticed that there were indeed two smaller balls now, one of them sealed, and the other open, Varrick poking the metal ore inside with a strange detector. Varrick threw up his hands, yelling, "Finally!" only narrowly avoiding breaking his little device. Zhu Li was scribbling on a large piece of paper with "Effects of Tuber-Vines on Korranium" at the top.

Wanting to know what had happened, Korra ran over and began to read, forgetting all about her tattoos, armblade and suit. Korra gasped as she looked down the list, saying, "What did Mr. Tuber-Vine do to the Korranium sample? And what's this about 'depleted Korranium'?" It was at this point that Varrick ran over, saying, "There are two types of Korranium, as we already know: heavy, and light. The light version emits enough Asami particles to almost break my meter here, while the heavy version has little to no activity." Pointing at a special shell, Varrick said, "The heavy version is so dense and, well, heavy, that I think it would make a perfect material for an anti-material shell." Picking up a piece of what Korra recognized as Tophinum, Varrick said, "This stuff's great too. It's so malleable! It would be perfect for pipes."

For some reason, Korra's eyes widened in horror, saying as information explained her terror, "That's not a good idea, Varrick. Raava says the 'Romans' on Earth used that same metal, what they called lead and what I named Tophinum, for pipes. It poisons the mind just like mercury, and can kill you." Varrick dropped the Tophinum and threw his hands in the air, saying, "Why is everything interesting and new you find dangerous, Korra? Sheesh!" Information still flowing, Korra said, "It will make for a good shielding material, though. Given how we can avoid using platinum in weapons with the blood gems and spiritwire, it would be a good idea to replace the platinum in the suits with Tophinum, in case Jinshu Kuangmai makes an Asami particle beam." Korra shivered at the image of what Raava labeled as "Asami particle burns," telling Varrick what she saw.

Varrick was getting impatient, asking as he pointed at Aang, "What's Aang doing here, and why haven't you made your armblades yet? We need to do the surgery before your parents, Katara and Kya go to bed!" Korra explained her alternate idea to Varrick, saying finally, "It's a lot less invasive. I'll need Lin, Su, and Kuvira to control the metal tattoo needles involved, and Katara, Kya and my mother Senna to control the dye. I can't assist, as I will be meditating to dull the pain." Varrick sighed, saying, "JUST when I think technology might make me useful… I'll just go back to experimenting with Korranium then, with a Tophinum shield. It sounds like if I'm not careful, I might not be able to have kids with Zhu Li." Zhu Li turned around, smiling as she said, "Maybe we should go do the Thing somewhere. The Zhu Li sounds good to me." Varrick chuckled, saying, "Maybe later. I've been tinkering with light Korranium, Tophinum, some electrical equipment and some photoplates. I might just be able to do something special." Looking around, Varrick said, "Where's Mr. Tuber-Vine? I need him for this!"

As Korra heard a loud "HMM HMM?", she placed her hand to the floor, trying to pinpoint everyone she'd need for the tattoos. Grabbing Asami's arm, she said, "Come on! They're in the dining hall, and I could use something to eat!"

A short time later, she entered the hall, which she noticed had been spruced up with engravings and marble covering. As she and Asami ate, Korra explained her idea once she had asked all the men to leave, completely forgetting about infobending in her excitement. When she was done, Katara said, "Sure, I'll help, even if I think your tattoos are lacking in Water Tribe heritage." Korra flipped the paper over, realizing that there wasn't any way to tell she was a Master Water Tribe Avatar on the image. Pursing her lips, she took out a pencil, adding the symbol for Water in the center of her chest, realizing it might make a good port if the tattoos ended up being decorative only. Turning the diagram back around and explaining what the symbol could be converted to, she smiled as everybody clapped, her mother saying, "I like it! I'm proud of you, Korra."

After Asami had stopped clapping, she tugged on Korra, saying, "We still don't have the dyes, and we're missing the twin tuber-vines we'll need for my suit. Why don't you go to Republic City and get what we need while the metalbender women prepare the needed tools. I can help with that while you're off." Korra gave Asami a quick peck on the check, saying, "See you later then, Assami," loving the way Asami laughed. As she heard Aang laughing, Korra realized he'd need him, saying, "You need to come along too. Get back in here! Please." Aang sighed, saying, "But I wanna look at Katara!" Katara laughed, saying, "I had a nickname for Aang too, though you probably don't want to hear it. It wasn't Twinkletoes, I'll tell you that." Korra recalled Aang before he could say whatever his mouth was open for, listening to Katara's fading laughter with a smile.

Korra lifted off into the air, getting her bearings as she made for Republic City. Remembering she could levitate without effort, she pointed all her limbs in one direction, propelling herself with massive blue jets of flame. Korra reached the outskirts of Republic City rapidly, touching down in a slightly seedier side of town, noting that there was still widespread damage. Looking around, she saw a shop that professed to sell high-quality dyes and body paints: "Dai Chang's Inkshop." Korra opened the door, smiling to see the electricity was on. A heavyset man with a big beard and tacky shirt spun around, saying, "Welcome to Dai Cha – holy crap, it's the Avatar! What can I do ya for? I know ya wouldn't visit this sectiona town for nothing, Avatar Korra." Korra smiled, saying, "I need a lot of ink." As she rattled off all the colors she'd need, including extra for Asami's Reach and her unnamed suit's paintjob, his eyes widened slowly, saying once she was finished, "That's gonna be a lotta yuans, Avatar. I don't care if ya saved Republic City from Kuvira – business is business. Is business." Korra smiled, saying, "How would you like an addition to your shop instead? If you let me go grab the raw materials, I should be able to fabricate a whole new section for you." Rubbing his head, Dai Chang said, "I'll hafta see it to believe it, Avatar. I'll go gather that inks for ya, but you ain't getting nothin' till I see this."

Realizing that she could kill two birds with one stone, Korra placed her hand to the floor, trying to find the nearest tuber-vines she could. She sensed two different ones, one inside a large deposit of crystals in a strange cave of water, the other just lying near a large vein of minerals and metals under the ground near the shop. Korra stood up, saying, "I'll be right back," chuckling to hear Dai Chang say, "Okay, crazy lady. I still don't see how ya gonna make me a whole new anything, much less a whole room."

Korra went for the tuber-vine in the strange crystalline cave first, heading towards the mountain it was located it, using a blue flame for light. Once she was inside, she let her eyes begin to glow, striking her foot against the ground. Korra shook her head, saying, "I can't believe it – this whole mountain range is filled with all sorts of valuable stuff." Copper, Tophinum, platinum, Korranium deposits, iron… she had even sensed some metal ores that gave off odd energy, but weren't Korranium. Making a mental note, she began punching her way to the crystal cavern, yelling in pain when superheated air came rushing out. Feeling herself enter the Avatar State, Korra tried to cool the cavern down, but felt like she was fighting nature itself. Korra quickly manipulated the tuber-vine into the inside of a ball of superheated crystal, pulling it out as her body sweated profusely. At first, Korra wanted to seal this bizarre cavern off, but then she remembered her little trick with the geysers earlier today, instead weathering the heat for long enough to slam her palm to the floor, earthsensing a massive pool of magma heating the cavern's seemingly endless watery subterranean expanse.

Unable to stand the heat anymore, Korra left with her crystal-bound tuber-vine in tow, sealing the strange volcanic feature. She bent a warning into the rock, calling it "Korra's Cavern," snickering as she remembered another English turn of phrase, deciding to leave it anyways. As Korra siphoned the heat off from the crystal-encased tuber-vine, she noticed that not only did the tuber-vine not appear to be harmed, the crystal was pulsing white and blue. The crystal continued to do so even after she removed the now-squirming tuber-vine from its prison, saying, "I bet Dai Chang would like that crystal for a new sign for his shop. That would be a real attention-getter." Korra laughed as she heard the tuber-vine intone, "UHHH HUHHH," realizing with a start that each must have an individual personality, given it didn't act like Mr. Tuber-Vine. It almost seemed nervous, tossing a small rock idly back and forth with its four tendrils. Feeling silly, Korra picked it up and said, "I'm gonna call you Nervous Leaf. Come on, let's go – you're going to have a very special job to do."

Korra's eyes widened in shock as she heard a slightly peeved voice intone in her head, "I'm not nervous, thank you very much. Just impatient. Now just get me out of here already! That cave was way too hot." Korra laughed, saying, "Okay, Impatient Leaf. You're going to help power Asami's mechasuit, Asami's Reach." Korra heard the same voice intone with slight irritation, "Tell me something I don't know. I have a link to Raava, just like you do," smiling broadly as she said, "I never thought a plant would sass me."

Korra laughed as she exited the cave with a substantial load of earth, remembering the tuber-vine's hilarious English outburst of, "I'm not a plant, I'm a tuber-vine, b – ", having cut him off by re-sealing him inside the crystal. Thinking of Impatient Leaf with her eyes closed, Korra saw a strange image of a young man in a cap she had never seen before holding up a piece of blue crystal.

Ahahaha! That's hilarious. Apparently, there's more crosstalk than I thought there was in the universe. What isn't real on Earth, is here, sort of. Maybe I'll show you that… piece of art some time, Korra.

Puzzled as to what Raava found so funny, Korra found some metal ore, creating a crude cart to haul her load with. Looking at Impatient Leaf, Korra laughed to see an English insult spelled out on his prison's crystal side. Korra said loudly, "Kuvira isn't going to put up with that kind of sass, so if you have any other rude neighbors, I'd suggest you all tone down the attitude! You're supposed to be Raava's gift to humanity, not foul-tempered three-year olds!" Korra wasn't sure what the two symbols on the crystal meant, but was glad to see the words, "Sorry. Lost my cool," appear on the crystal.

Moving the heavy load forward slightly, Korra struck her hand into the ground, sensing the best way to get the other tuber-vine without damaging Dai Chang's shop. Eyes flashing brightly enough to illuminate the ground, Korra created a large ball of metal ore around the other tuber-vine. When she tried to pull the ball out of the ground, she found odd resistance to her efforts, stopping. Striking her hand against the ground again, she realized she was struggling against a water body. Given how the ball of metal ore was hot, once she had bent it up out of the earth after parting the water around it, the water body must have touched the same pool of magma the crystal cavern did. Making another mental note, Korra said, "This side of town is going to get real developed, real fast. It's a treasure trove of minerals and hidden geothermal power." After idly wondering where all this had come from with her eyes closed, she saw Wan Shi Tong appear, holding a book open for Korra to look at as he said, "This area of the world is near the volcanic activity of the Fire Nation. The magma chambers from an old caldera's remnants are still active, a super volcano explosion having created the lands of the city and mountains around it many, many, many thousands of Harmonic Convergences ago." Korra thought, "Thank you, Wan Shi Tong. I'll have to see what else the mountains around Republic City hide, aside from Zaheer."

Wan Shi Tong surprised Korra by saying, "I have studied this Zaheer and his actions, and I think he would be interested to know what the United Earth Republic will be like. After his help, I think you owe him an explanation." With a wink, he added, "And you can rub your new flying in his face, if you want to do so. I have read of something people from Earth call 'schadenfreude' and thought it appropriate." Korra opened her eyes, vaguely looking forward to meeting Zaheer again, not considering gloating in the least. Remembering that she had a tuber-vine to wrestle loose from the ore ball, she began working her way towards its center, sorting the different components as she did so, surprised at how many metal bars she formed. When she grabbed the tuber-vine in the middle, she noticed it didn't move, asking it, "Are you alive, or dead? Hello?"

Korra laughed when she heard voice say in her head, "I'm alive, just really bored. I've been stuck down there for almost six days. Now hurry up, and put me in Asami's suit!" Korra smiled, saying as she put the tuber-vine on the cart, "I have to make it first, Impetuous Vine. Just wait here while I give Dai Chang a gift." Korra laughed at how Impetuous Vine intoned "VRMMM VRMMM" as he tried to rock the cart into motion using his tendrils.

Korra ran back to Dai Chang's shop, asking him when his back was turned to her, "Where do you want the expansion? I can't do it in a certain direction – to the back!" Dai Chang groaned, saying, "But that's where I wanted it! I don't got an elevator, and if ya couldn't tell, I'm not exactly light on my feet." Korra smiled, saying, "How about up? I should be able to make an elevator for you. Here, watch."

Pulling on her spirit, Korra manipulated a now-empty corner of the store into an elevator terminal, carefully bending in copper and other useful metals to make the electricity and motors work properly, using an information stream from Raava to assist in the job. Korra felt like she hadn't done anything at all, thinking, "Why is creating this elevator so easy, Raava?"

You're creating for peaceful purposes. This taxes your soul MUCH less than making weapons or a factory designed for war.

Remembering she had a job to finish, Korra stepped outside, temporarily ignoring Dai Chang's earthy exclamations of wonder as she added a second and third story to his shop, the last touch being the new glowing crystal sign. Noticing that there were still plenty of valuable materials left over, Korra created three simple but large containers, placing the leftovers inside two of them. Knowing she couldn't possibly haul the tuber-vines, dye and ore in one go, she pumped Raava's energy into the two container's sides, adding a sign that said in two languages, "Property of Avatar Korra. Don't touch."

Korra turned around after she felt a strong hand tap her shoulder, Dai Chang saying strongly, "While I appreciate your help, Avatar Korra, I'm pretty sure half of that came from my land. I ain't blind – I can see that huge hole in the ground over there. Re-label one of them, or no dyes. Got it?" Korra smacked herself in the middle of the forehead, saying, "I'm sorry about that, Dai Chang. I forgot about property rights for a second, I was so excited about my finds." As Korra explained what little portion of the surrounding wealth Dai Chang's shop sat on, his eyes widened, saying, "WOW! Sounds like I'm going ta be rich soon, if the URN military boys want my resources. Good – I can use tha money to fill up with more dyes! Something tells me that I'm gonna be doing a lotta business with you and tha military soon, dyes and otherwise." Korra smiled, saying, "You got that right. Let's shake on it."

Korra had only been partially telling the truth, wanting to get a read on Dai Chang before she really trusted him, knowing she could just wipe his mind if he was a scumbag. As she heard Raava intone, Read complete. He was once involved with the Triple Threat Triads, but the death of one of his close working partners made him turn away from a life of crime, Dai Chang gave Korra a funny look, saying, "You infobending me or something? I feel like some little girl is judging my worth." Korra grinned nervously, saying, "Just wanted to make sure you're trustworthy. I'm glad you dropped out of the Triple Threat Triads." Dai Chang frowned deeply, saying, "I don't wanna hear their damn name! The way they iced my partner cause he was getting too powerful… I ain't never going crooked again. Now let's get you yer dyes, after ya re-label that bin of ore." Korra turned around, re-shuffling the contents of the containers, putting Dai Chang's property where it belonged. His container was now significantly fuller than Korra's, prompting him to say, "Dang! All that, from my property? If any of the Tenzin kids or new airbenders need ink for their tattoos, it's on me!"

Smiling, Korra said, "Thanks. Now I just need to load up my stuff in that third container and head on out of here." Given the way Dai Chang was able to help move the dyes without trouble, he must have been a waterbender. When Korra looked at his eyes closer, she saw they were blue, saying, "I guess you're a waterbender then, huh, Dai Chang." He laughed deeply saying as he idly fussed with his tacky shirt, "Yup. I think that's everything. Good luck, Avatar Korra."

Korra bowed, surprised to see he bowed back, turning to her container before she got involved in conversation again. Looking at her load, she realized that there was no way she could get back by 11:00 PM or so without making some major modifications. Remembering the body shape of Raava's Wrath, she carefully manipulated the metal container into a more streamlined shape, making sure to not hurt Impetuous Vine or Impatient Leaf. Realizing her load was still too heavy and un-aerodynamic, Korra re-formed the bottom of the container as she used the Avatar State to hold it over the waters of Republic City Bay. Korra had created a novel boat form that Raava had fed her fully after Korra thought of the basic concept. Looking at the strange thing Raava had called a "catamaran", Korra smiled, thinking, "Thanks for the help." Korra laughed at Raava's response of, It's in Wan Shi Tong's library, so I don't see anything wrong with a little… help now and then. There's still stuff I won't share, though!

Korra climbed onto the back of the catamaran after making sure Impetuous Vine and Impatient Leaf were secure, climbing into the special chair at the back. Using the metalbending assisted steering wheel, Korra pointed the ship towards Ember Factory Island, unleashing powerful blue jets of flame. Korra felt like a little girl playing with a wonderful toy, the time passing rapidly as she took her cargo back to the large island. Korra felt herself stop bending automatically, Raava intoning, Don't crash the boat! We're here.

When Korra walked back to the dining hall, she noticed that Asami was studying a very personal blueprint along with Katara, able to see they had made some modifications to her tattoo design. Katara said, pointing to the head, "I figured you wouldn't want to cut your hair, Korra, so we replaced the tattoo on your scalp with spiritwire. It should still work, but Asami says we should fray the ends of the spiritwire to make sure." Korra noticed everyone in the hall looked awfully chipper, asking nervously, "You didn't drink Jang Hui kelp tea, did you?" Katara laughed, saying, "Just a tiny little bit. Meelo volunteered as a test subject, stopping drinking once he said he felt awake and energetic but not crazy. Why don't you go with Asami and make the equipment you need while everyone else prepares for the dual tattooing."

Korra cocked her head to the side slightly, saying, "What do you mean, dual tattooing? I don't remember any other tattoos..." Korra heard a voice from the back of the room say happily, "Tenzin decided while you were gone that mastering a new form of flight, Kai's personal transformation and especially converting Wan Shi Tong all on his own had earned Kai his Master Airbender tattoos." Korra smiled, saying, "I'm sure Kai must be ecstatic." Jinora smiled nervously as she walked into view, saying under electric light, "Kai's happy, but more confused than anything." With a genuine smile, Jinora added, "It took some convincing to get him to shave his head. He looks like a brown Aang now, just without the arrows."

Remembering that she would be naked for the tattooing, Korra said, "You aren't going to do me and Kai in the same room, right? That would be sort of creepy." Asami held up two skimpy swimsuits, saying, "You're going to be wearing this, Korra, and Kai will be wearing something similar." Korra laughed when Asami added, "Wu donated Kai's swimsuit, Tenzin and Katara making sure to give it a vigorous wash after. As you can see, it leaves about as much to the imagination as your swimsuit." Grabbing her two-piece swimsuit, Korra said, "You slip into something more comfortable and come to the mineral and metal vein with me, Asami. We've got some weapons to make." Grabbing Asami's hand, she headed to the earth tent from earlier.

Apparently, someone had "spruced up" the earth tent Korra and Asami had had the time of their lives in earlier, earthen floors replaced by white marble tile and electric lights installed. There was even a bed now, though not much else. Given how one of the tiles had a heart with a picture of Bolin and Opal inside, she was pretty sure who had made the changes, idly wondering if they had used the bed for anything. Korra smiled slightly when she saw how the bed's covers were slightly ruffled, saying, "Looks like Bolin and Opal did something else besides kiss." Asami laughed, saying, "The bed's not nearly messy enough for anything past what I saw them doing yesterday in a secluded spot. No, Atokara, you can't just ask people what kind of sex they had or didn't have! Stop listening to Raava so much!" Korra laughed, saying, "Atokara might be more trouble than we thought. You might need to send her to her womb if she's going to be like that. I don't want her too obsessed with sex, even if she is precocious." Asami laughed, saying, "She says she's sorry, and just wanted to know if they had felt oneness with each other strongly yet." Korra smiled, saying, "That sounds much better." As Korra took off her clothes, she got an interesting idea, telling Asami, "Why don't you use some of your eyeliner to carefully draw the tattoo lines on my body while I'm naked, and I can inspect how they will look in a mirror." Asami bobbed her head eagerly, saying, "Sure!"

Korra did her best to not laugh, move, or focus on the feelings of pleasure she felt as Asami drew on her body, finally failing when Asami was putting the finishing touches on Korra's forehead. Asami grumbled, saying, "Now it's all smudged, lovergirl. Why don't you take a look in an ice mirror while I finish fixing your head up."

Korra looked at herself, liking what she saw. The main lines were not thick enough to be distracting, but they still conveyed a sense of maturity and power. Looking at the hand that was holding up the ice mirror, Korra said, "Think you could add three smaller elemental symbols to each of my hands and feet?" Asami said, apparently with the eyeliner pencil in her mouth, "Shuure," continuing normally as she drew the symbols, "I can't get your head to look right. Part of your hair is in the way of the Raava diamond." Korra smiled, saying, "Let me try my hand at 'hairbending', and see if I can fix that." Abusing the Avatar State in a way she was sure would have earned her a lecture a few years ago, Korra made a heated metal comb and used the energy boost to force her hair to part in the middle of her scalp, making her hair obey her will and exposing much more of her forehead while still maintaining the overall style. Given the information flow on hair styling she felt while preening, Raava must have approved of Korra's decidedly petty use of the Avatar State, Korra laughing when she heard Raava intone, It's not totally petty - you want people to see your tattoos, after all, and - nevermind, you're not going to try that. Korra was pretty sure what Raava didn't want her to try - combustionbending. Asami dropped what she was doing, drawing in four thicker embellished lines leading to a central Raava diamond, Korra liking how each line had small elemental symbols in the center. Korra asked Asami to hold the ice mirror so she could get a better look at her back, remembering Asami had lingered there for an awfully long time.

When Korra saw the drawing on her back, she smiled broadly with a tear in her eye, saying, "That's beautiful, Asami? Did Atokara suggest it?" Asami giggled, saying, "Yeah. I made the image of Raava's spirit form in a style that I hope resembles Water Tribe art." Korra loved how the four elemental lines weaved in and out of Raava's form, saying as she made to hug Asami, "I love it!" Asami held out a hand, saying, "Not right now – you might smudge all my hard work. The sooner we go to that island, the sooner you can not have to worry about losing my work." Korra formed a new ice mirror from the melting shards of the old one, saying as she looked in the mirror, "Raava, store this new design, in full color. I'll infobend it out to everyone who's going to help me."

While I do love your new ideas, Korra, don't you think we should test them first? We should test the tattoo over your left breast first, I think. Something tells me you'd want it even if it were just for decoration.

After telling Asami what Raava had said, Asami smiled, saying, "Maybe you'll have to give me one of my own, Korra, but later. Just infobend the design in full color out of my head and get into that swimsuit." Korra took the design from Asami, laughing when Asami playfully grabbed Korra's breast. Korra laughed so hard she was sure she had smudged Asami's work as Asami said in sing-songy English, "Korra the tattooed lady, She has glowing eyes that I adore so, And a chocolate torso that I love even more so." Asami finally finishing by saying, "I got a little help with that. I never figured Wan Shi Tong to be one for humor, much less romance. It's a good thing I gave you the design – your 'paintjob' is a mess!" Korra laughed, saying, "Let me wash it off, then we can – " Korra stopped short as Asami picked up a towel, saying sultrily, "Why don't you get this towel all wet for me, and I'll wash you off." Korra nodded, saying, "Make sure you do it playfully, but quickly."

Korra ended up helping Asami substantially, with her sweaty excitement providing more water. Korra shuddered as Asami wiped something other than sweat, saying, "I never thought I could make you cry in happiness with a towel." Korra laughed as she pointed at her other brain, saying, "You missed some happiness!" loving the way Asami stared as she said, "Oh. I guess I did. No that though! Not right now." Now fully dry, Korra said, "Hand me that bikini. I'll carry you over to the vein." Asami put a delicate hand to her chin, saying, "No. We should take your boat. Hopefully it's unloaded by now, and we can haul a generator and electric lights from the factory over so we can work under stronger light." Korra gave Asami a kiss square on the mouth, pressing against her partially exposed chest as she said after, "I love how smart you are. Let's go, as much as my body wants to stay." Smiling, Asami said, "Why don't I wear my swimsuit, so your body doesn't get bored."

After Korra got dressed, she looked at Asami changing into her bikini longingly. Korra was only brought back to the present by a light bonk, realizing she must have involuntarily levitated. Asami laughed, saying, "Maybe Tenzin can fly after all, if just looking at me naked can send your head up to kiss the ceiling. Now come on, and let's go grab some equipment." The time went by in a blur, Varrick having luckily brought both a generator and large battery aboard the Zhu Li, parting with a mover spotlight with some protest. Kuvira gave Asami an electric tattoo needle for Asami to make the first test tattoo with, every dye that wasn't needed offloaded from the ship. Impetuous Vine and Impatient Leaf joined Mr. Tuber-Vine inside the factory, loud calls of "HMMMMM HMMMMM", "UHHH HUHHH" and "VRMMM VRMMM" emanating from the building. Remembering her earlier near crash, Korra opted to take the catamaran over to the mineral vein slowly, using waterbending to make the short trip, being careful to not let the large ball of spiritwire tip into the sea.

After the generator and battery had been set up, Korra entered the Avatar State and began generating lightning, hoping she wouldn't overdo it and make the battery explode with direct current. Korra stopped channeling the lightning once she heard a familiar alarm blare. Smiling, Korra said in the bright light of the mover spotlight, "Okay, Asami. I'm ready for the test tattoo. Just do the outline at first, though – we still have a time limit."

At first, the needle hurt badly, Korra feeling like someone was embroidering her like a piece of fleshy cloth. Remembering what Aang had said about meditating, Korra meditated, focusing on the crashing of waves near her. This dulled the pain to a more tolerable level. When Asami said, "I'm done with the outline," Korra began meditating on that with Asami instead, laughing as she did so. Asami let out a surprised yelp, saying, "I – I think this is going to work, Korra! The lines are glowing a bright white! Almost as bright as that mover spotlight, I might add. Just what are you thinking of, to dull the pain?" Korra opened her eyes, laughing as she pointed at Asami's pleasingly small lower bikini piece. Asami's cheeks flushed, saying, "Oh, that." Smiling, Asami said, "When you're making the two suits and armblades, why don't you try thinking of me? It might make the process easier." As Korra explained how she was able to make Dang Chang's elevator and two new stories with ease, Asami said, "That's really interesting. If you think about your love for me, the suits and weapons should hopefully be as easy as making Dai Chang's shop bigger, given everything can double for protection." Sighing light, Asami added, "I don't think we should rely on that ability to rebuild all of Republic City, though – you're even more unique than you were a week ago, after all that has happened. We don't want to rely on this new ability as a crutch, after all – I remember Aang's warning about infobending very clearly."

Korra sighed, nodding in agreement as she said, "I guess you're right. People can't rely on me too much. I will say this, though – if Jinshu Kuangmai ever devastates Republic City, or a Korranium weapon is used on a city, I will use this new ability to repair the damage."

Korra felt an energy surge beside her, turning to see a frowning Raava say, "There's already been one 'city' devastated, Korra – the Northern Air Temple. By Ghazan. Something tells me that Jinora is going to lead the Air Nation to be a more traditional entity, with a new capital and all." With a toothy grin, Raava added, "Plus, imagine the look on Zaheer's face when you show him photos of a new Air Nation capital as you fly around his holding cell." Korra groaned, saying, "No, I don't want to take pleasure in the suffering of others! He helped me when he didn't have to, you dolt!" Korra added meekly, "Though I do want to see his face just for curiosity's sake. Now get back in here, please."

After a laughing Raava had vanished, Asami said, "Wow, you've certainly changed. I just hope Atokara is more like the new you, and less like the… uh, less advanced Korra I met four years ago." Korra laughed, saying, "You can be honest with me, Asami. I know I wasn't exactly a good Avatar when I first came to Republic City. I could fight just fine, but I had more than a few emotional and spiritual issues." Standing up, Korra hugged Asami, saying, "I'll have to thank you later, if you know what I mean." Asami laughed, saying, "Let's see what you can do, Korra."

Korra moved a dark-skinned hand, entering into the Avatar State as she formed an ice mirror. She gave Asami's wonderful glowing work a good look, loving how the lines that formed the outer edge of the tattoo above her heart glowed brightly. Remembering the whole reason Asami had done this part first, Korra bent over a piece of spiritwire, carefully laying it over her heart. Korra's eyes widened as the spiritwire piece began to glow a bright blue and white, the colors shifting back and forth along its length. Korra heard Asami say loudly, "YES! It works! Now let's revamp your armblade and mechasuit design with this in mind."

After about 15 minutes of work, they had settled on new designs for both. The armblade's spiritwire no longer directly contacted Korra's chi lines, instead just touching where her tattooed skin was. After some experimenting with bundles of spiritwire, Korra managed to project an image out the end, adding spiritwires in a spiral on the surface of the suit's hands. Realizing that she would probably want to keep the suit's gloves on even when not inside the metal shell, she re-designed the suit's interaction with the gloves. Where there had been nothing on her underarms, there was now a metal bar that snapped into to the metallic glove like a lock, the gloves able to stay with the suit or detach along with her armblades. The gloves drew power from the tattoo on her fist directly.

Realizing that neither the armblades nor the suit had a name, Korra labeled the blades as "Avatar's Bite" and the suit as "Korra's Spirit," liking the pat Asami gave her on the bare skin of her back. Korra laughed as she heard Raava intone, About time you named something ferocious. Don't forget your old, fiery self!

In line with Raava's advice, Korra added twin repeater spirit cannons to each shoulder. Smiling in a way she hadn't in a long time, Korra added two detachable metal blades with one large blood gem on one side, the blades stored in her thighs with the blood gem down. Remembering that some spirits could now bleed, Korra thought, "I want to put a pix on my blood, Asami's and your own blood inside those two blood gems, Raava. I want to be able to control them precisely at long distances."

Ooookay… I don't know if that will work, and if I do bleed, it probably won't be very much.

Taking a deep breath and bringing the schematic for the Avatar's Bites to her mind, Korra carefully put her jade betrothal necklace in her mouth partially, giggling mutely as she felt like she were doing that to Asami right now. Savoring this feeling, Korra let her spirit come through, effortlessly making both Avatar's Bites at once. Korra grunted at Asami, not wanting to take the pendant out of her mouth, "I'm gahna need ya blood, bootyful," feeling the locket pop open inside her mouth as Asami laughed. Korra started gagging slightly, removing the jade pendant reluctantly. Korra slipped one of the Avatar's Bites on, using the one of the twin blades to carefully make an incision in her own arm and Asami's, using a different blade each time. Eyes glowing, Korra infused the eight gems on the Avatar's Bites with the blood, noticing the spiritwire glowing white and blue as she did so. After healing her own wound and Asami's cut, Korra picked them up on a whim, seeing if they would work without spiritwires or tattoo.

Korra smiled broadly, saying, "Look, I can bend from the blades!" as she created flaming sheaths on all four longblades, the blue fire mesmerizing her. Korra looked to see if the spiritwire was glowing white and blue as it had before, and she frowned, saying, "I guess I'll need the tattoos after all," when she saw it wasn't glowing. Wanting to get used to the strange weapons, Korra thought of her feeling of love for Asami and how they had been as one earlier, feeling her limbs move of their own as her body was gradually covered in metal. When the final piece was laid, her breast plate and its twin breastbeams, Korra noticed through her new visor that the spiritwire lines on her unpainted, metallic suit were glowing a faint blue and white, almost invisible.

Turning to Asami, she said, "It works! How do you like yours?" surprised to hear Asami's tinny response. Asami said, over what must have been the radio communications system, "I love it! I can't move, though, so you need to bring me those two tuber-vines you found." Korra sighed lowly, saying with a happier voice, "Okay!" not really wanting to leave her mechasuit, now that she was in it.

When she stepped out, she kept the Avatar's Bites on, retracting the blades so she wouldn't hurt Impatient Leaf and Impetuous Vine. While she was in transit with the tuber-vines, she heard Raava intone, Instead of blood, why don't we try tears instead. I can think of a bunch of depressing stuff from Earth, and bawl my eyes out. Korra chuckled slightly, saying, "Make sure to not tell me what you're thinking about, Raava." Korra groaned when she heard a familiar voice groan, "If I'm gonna help your love interest fight, Korra, I want to see!" Korra grumbled, "That's your business, Impetuous Vine, not mine. I hope you two don't drive Asami crazy." Korra laughed as she heard Raava intone, You better not, or I'll wipe your personalities. Got it? and synchronous calls of "VRMMMM VRMMMM" and "UHH HUHH" afterwards, noticing the tuber-vines sounded concerned.

Once both tuber-vines were in their forever home, Asami said loudly, "I already have my hands full with Atokara, so you two better be quiet!" Korra laughed as a helmetless Asami smirked, saying, "They know who the boss is. I want to test out my breastbeams really quick before we put our blood into the gems on your other twin blades." Korra projected Raava out after bending her suit and the twin thighblades closer, explaining what Raava wanted to do instead. Asami opened the metal of her closest arm, saying as the metal retracted enough to show her white skin, "I still want my blood and yours inside the gems, Korra. It should help against Dark Spirits." Asami smiled, adding, "Atokara says she wants Raava's help to put her love for us into the gems we have already." Korra smiled as she opened a void in both of her thighblades's blood gems, saying, "That's awfully sweet. Time to cry, Raava."

Korra was glad that Raava spoke aloud in a tongue that her brain could not translate fully, but somehow she still got the gist of what Raava was making herself cry about. After Raava had finished, the recess in both gems a third full, Korra said, "I don't know what you were speaking in, Raava, but some of the imagery rubbed off on me. Mind removing it? Especially that… factory." Raava's eyes widened, saying, "Okay. I'm sorry – I didn't mean to disturb you." As Raava placed a hand on Korra's forehead, she felt the information vanish as Raava intoned That was a universal language of love. I think I'll need to do the same memory wipe with Asami. Given how Asami was crying slightly, Raava had been right. Korra smiled weakly as she watched Raava climb up Asami's Reach, placing a small hand on Asami's forehead. Raava laughed when she was done, saying, "Luckily, Atokara didn't get any of that. Now let's see what happens when you mix my tears with your blood."

Once Korra had taken blood from herself and Asami, she infused it into the gems, gasping as she saw the spiritwire on the blade's surface begin to glow blue and white steadily, gradually dimming to a constant slow pulsing. Raava said loudly, "Okay, now for Atokara's contribution. You don't have to take the suit off, Asami – I need to have direct contact anyways." As Raava held her hand inside Asami's stomach, Korra let Raava touch the blood gems one by one as Asami smiled broadly. Given how Raava stopped after Korra was done with her equipment, Atokara must have somehow transferred her love for "mommy Asami" more directly.

After a curious Raava tried and failed to make herself bleed using one of the Avatar's Bite blades, Korra recalled her, saying, "I'm getting a little hungry, and since I won't need sake to dull the pain from surgery, I could go for some Jang Hui kelp tea later. I think I can handle the pain of spiritwire implanted under my scalp if I meditate. Let's go."

As Korra approached the Ember Factory Island using flight instead of her suit, she felt a familiar tug on her mind. Once she landed, Korra projected Aang out, asking after lowering her visor, "What do you want? Is it about whatever you needed earlier?" Aang grinned, saying, "Yes. Remember, you'll need Asami for this as well. We can meet in the Spirit World while you get your tattoos done." Korra said, giving Aang a skeptical look, "What about Koh, and Long Yumao?" Aang laughed, saying, "From what I have 'heard', Koh is refusing to help Long Yumao until his upstart ally gets more powerful again. Let's just say Hei Bai's conversion had a nice side effect."

Korra laughed, saying, "Now there's someone I wouldn't mind gloating to. I can't wait to see him." Korra said with a smile, "I'm still looking forward to my tattoos more, though." Aang said with a gleam in his eye, "You're not the only one who has earned the title of Master, though I doubt either one of you will actually use it." Korra chuckled, saying, "A 'Master Avatar' wouldn't be a 'Master Avatar' if they gloated about their achievement or advancement, now, would they?"

Korra was confused by how Aang said with trepidation, "Uhhhh… I guess you're right."