Book 5: Humanity

by Freedom0153

Korra wanted peace after defeating Kuvira. Then life happened. During her Spirit World vacation, an unlikely gift from an old friend caused a great rift between many spirits and humans. Even conflict with the Earth Empire wasn't over, Kuvira's surrender opening a vacuum. To restore balance, Korra needs any allies she can get, finding her growing love for Asami giving Korra peace.

43. Chapter 43: Living Waters

Chapter 43: Living Waters

"Hey, Stinky! Are you gonna let us do all the work, or are you done meditating yet? Angry Bird is getting harder and harder to hold back!"

Korra barely had time to think in horror about what had just happened inside Jinshu Kuangmai's inner world before hearing the familiar voice, yelling as she turned around, "I thought Long Yumao was weak! What's going on?!"

Seeing the serpentine spirit again and alarm coursing through her being, Korra knew she didn't have any time to gawk, much less any time for answers - not even where the aye-aye spirit had been all this time, or why he had knife-like pulsing blue claws he was splaying threateningly at Long Yumao, unable to reach the gargantuan floating spirit. Eyes glowing strongly, she created an elemental prison around Long Yumao, adding in a second, pulsing yellow stream of water as she said, "Let's see you break that. I can see from your wide eyes you don't like that second water circle." Laughing at Long Yumao's hissing response of, "Of course I hate it! Human love sickens me!" and snickering when a boomerang struck his deeply grooved beak, Korra finished by creating a larger prison as she said with a slight frown, "I guess that's something you share in common with Jinshu Kuangmai."

At mention of this name, Korra saw the outer prison distort, as though it were about to break. Korra found herself asking with horror, "What's going on here? I thought you hated Vaatu and Jinshu Kuangmai!" Long Yumao laughed, saying, "Yes, I do - though for very different reasons now. Why don't you take a look at the resident of that teapot I'd love to get my claws on, and see why." Ignoring this, Korra distorted the prison surrounding Long Yumao, wanting to get a better look, scoffing slightly at Long Yumao's boast. He didn't have claws!

Or so she thought. Movement catching her eye, she noticed a disturbing change. Projecting Raava out, she commanded Raava, "Raava -you try to figure out what happened while I look at… this." Long Yumao cackled, saying as he manipulated strong, predatory arms and fierce red claws she had never seen before, "This is a gift, from increased outrage among spirits, as well as my new changed alignment with Vaatu. He's dropped one of his idiosyncrasies, if you didn't notice, being the dullard you are. He's still a fool, like you - just in a different way now." Finally putting together what had happened, Korra recoiled slightly as Long Yumao confirmed it, gloating through a thickened beak she noticed with shock now had teeth, "Your little pointless banter with Jinshu Kuangmai cost you much more than your new allies cost me, Avatar. Bumju, the Painted Lady, Hei Bai, your ancient aye-aye friend and newer shark whale ally I won't even dignify with his name - not even Tui and La joining Raava's side in the Spirit Civil War outweigh Vaatu's 'little' change." With revulsion, he added, "Though I appreciate his willingness to place power and darkness before chaos, his new source for inspiration sickens me more than this love-infused water ring. I should have snapped Jinshu Kuangmai in half when I had the chance!"

Korra stared at Long Yumao's new form, finding herself regretting her interaction with Tonga Beifong now. As Long Yumao opened a deeply grooved beak open wide, she looked at the large, dagger-like conical red and purple teeth. After she had stared for a while, Long Yumao's image shifted, Korra temporarily seeing a flash of a strange ancient Earth predator instead. Large spines ran down the predator's back, thick hide connecting them into a sort of sail. Looking at Long Yumao once more, Korra cursed her stupidity aloud in English. Black hide with pulsating purple and red coloration covered Long Yumao's shorter spines much as the mystery predator's own back, except there were large jagged pulsating tips on the spines. Yellow and red tufts of feathers covered portions of the smaller sail. Hearing Long Yumao roar loudly, she took a second look at his head, noticing for the first time there were symmetrical red eye-shaped colorations on his beak, the unblinking eyes occupying spots on his beak that only reminded her even more of the Earth predator, one occupying the space where the other, less terrifying predator's nostrils had been. Long Yumao said with satisfaction, as he turned sideways, "Take a good look, pathetic weakling – I can see the shock and horror in your eyes." Korra found herself unable to look away, a sick feeling in her stomach as she looked at the sharply hooked upper beak, tracing red lines from the unnerving upper eye down to the grooves near red and purple teeth. A similar pattern pulsed on the lower beak, Korra temporarily seeing another ancient creature from Earth, a strange bipedal bird with a beak only slightly less terrifying than Long Yumao's. Having just seen feathers, she noticed that Long Yumao's feathers behind his newly massive jaw had been replaced by elongated scales, their diamond ends blood red and the bases void black. Finally speaking, Korra said lowly, "The… the featherscales… they look like sickening flower petals." Long Yumao didn't even dignify her fear with a response, merely flexing his upper body and spine as best he could. Following the spine, Korra recoiled in horror after finally noticing the blade-like tail at the end of Long Yumao's body, not liking how the sail pulsed in rhythm with Long Yumao's laughter, as he finally said, "Your fear pleases me more than anything I can gather from the Fog of Lost Souls. Human misery…"

Apparently, someone else had seen the images as well, Korra hearing a different "bird" curse. Wan Shi Tong flapped over next to Korra, saying once he had landed, "What are you doing, Korra? Quit looking at him like that! I didn't figure you for stupid, you know." Korra turned around, saying nervously, "Uhhh, whoops." Wan Shi Tong rolled his blue eyes at Korra, saying, "Yes. 'Whoops'. Now why don't you re-apply that prison, before he breaks out." Korra did so, making sure that Long Yumao was still visible. Wan Shi Tong said, leaning forward towards Long Yumao, "A… very corrupt Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. A little bit ofTitanis walleri, a different kind of 'terror bird,' as well. I never thought the paleontology portion of the Plane: Earth wing would be relevant. And certainly not like this…" Korra only managed a weak laugh when the aye-aye spirit said indignantly from behind her, "That's Aye-zul to you, Angry Bird!" finally laughing as Long Yumao shrieked, "Why you little insolent… Even the Avatar fears my new form! That's not your real name, and 'Angry Bird' is certainly not mine! What's wrong with you, discarding an ancient name like - ouch! Not my teeth! Enough with the boomerang already, you little piece of Water Tribe filth!"

Much to Long Yumao's chagrin, Korra actually doubled over in laughter as she heard Sokka say proudly, "With my warrior's instinct, I knew something was wrong despite being nowhere near Korra, so I asked Wan Shi Tong and your aye-aye friend to come. We were able to hold back Long Yumao for long enough for you to act." Korra snickered after Sokka blushed as Asami said, "That's some nice editing there, Sokka - I did most of the work! Long Yumao really hated Asami's Reach."

Fear brushed aside, Korra's head was infested with a million questions, all gnawing and biting her mind like an army of curious fireferrets. Starting with the simplest first, she asked, "Why am I just now seeing you, 'Aye-zul'? I would have thought you would be one of the first spirits to join Raava's side." Through narrow, yellow eyes, he stared at Korra as he played with his tooth necklace, now the same color as his claws, saying, "I'm not who you remember me as from Wan's life, Korra. The only human I care about is Wan - the only reason I came, you being his subsequent life." Korra shrugged, saying, "Okay. I still don't see why you aren't on Raava's side." Scowling, Aye-zul said, "Did you forget how I let myself get corrupted by Vaatu, killing those awful firebenders - willingly, I might add, in the end?" Korra frowned, saying, "Now that you mention it, I do. But your claws, your necklace - both blue. What changed your mind?" Korra didn't like how he said, in the same indignant tone he had used with Long Yumao earlier, "Who said I have fully? I'm not wearing Raava's full colors, and don't think I will be, unless Wan can convince me otherwise."

Looking around for Aang, Korra noticed with a laugh that Asami was hovering inside her suit near Long Yumao, taunting him with an outstretched betrothal necklace. Atokara was now blowing raspberries at Long Yumao, Hiroshi and Yasuko Sato laughing beside her. Finally seeing who she needed, Korra said to Aang, "I need you to come back in, so Wan can come out." Korra groaned quietly when he said, "No. You can project two of your past lives now at once, for whatever reason. I'll talk to Aye-zul with Wan - he doesn't strike me as the type who would appreciate being infobended." Korra laughed lightly, saying, "Sounds about right. Raava, want to show us exactly what happened?"

"N… not really."

Korra sighed in frustration as she approached Raava after "letting" Wan out, saying, "Come on - it can't be that bad, Raava!" Turning Raava around, Korra noticed the spirit had been crying, asking her, "What is it? I know Vaatu changed earlier - no more chaos, and I assume this has caused a lot of spirits to be upset, empowering Long Yumao. Or maybe they like that Vaatu and Long Yumao no longer disagree about order versus chaos." Korra added something she would rather not, saying, "It's likely Long Yumao's change is permanent, now that he's more closely aligned with Vaatu." Long Yumao's gloating laughter only confirmed her suspicion, Raava crying slightly. Cradling Raava's face gently, Korra said, "You need to snap out of your funk, Raava. I'd hate to see what the effects of the spirit of light and love being unhappy would be in the Spirit World…"

Looking only slightly less disturbed, Raava stuck a hand into the teapot around her neck, saying, "It can't be much worse than this. Only that short exposure to Jinshu Kuangmai did this, to Vaatu - I guess he can never leave the teapot now, Sudden Death or not. No pushing him back in my heart. We can't risk another transformation…" As Long Yumao cackled loudly in the background, Korra watched in shock as Raava pulled her hand out, demanding, "Where's Vaatu? Who's this little… boy?"

"It's me, idiot."

Korra stared, taking in the odd humanoid figure dangling by thick coiled black and red hair from Raava's hand, the red hair pulsing from time to time. Remembering what Unalaq had looked like when fused with Vaatu, she said, "Wait - you're Vaatu? Why don't you look like Unalaq did when he fused with you?" Vaatu laughed, red tattoos on his dark skin pulsing as he said, "Why don't you look like Raava? Same thing applies." Korra was about to ask him another question, but she stopped, hearing a loud exclamation of, "The Fire Nation did WHAT to the Air Nomads and dragons, Aang?" Korra didn't like the feral growl she heard as she rushed over, saying, "Wait - don't! It turned out fine in the end!" Raava joined her side, Vaatu saying, "Ah, yes… another spirit, even though I'm trapped in a little teapot." Raava cursed loudly in English, Vaatu gloating, "It's so good to have you back. There's a particular firebender that needs killing - Mako. I can't have him more thoroughly ruining Kuvira, with all that love nonsense."

Seeing Aye-zul's flashing yellow eyes and larger, shadowy form, Korra had the uneasy feeling he might just oblige, Wan crying slightly as her past life said, "Not again… please!" Korra didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified when Long Yumao said loudly, "Forget killing Mako. Join me, Ayazar, and we'll enslave all of humanity - put them in their rightful place. That fool, Vaatu - he actually likes some humans now. Thinks their hatred is a valid power source, no - an inspiration. Sickening. Something tells me you hate them all." At first, Ayazar seemed to agree, saying as his form replaced shadow with red lines and purple coloration, "I always did hate how selfish humans are. There's a reason I haven't been around, and Aang's story as the last airbender only makes me despise humanity more." Korra sighed, asking as she held a morose Wan, "But what about Wan?" Korra felt some relief at how the spirit was now conflicted between shadow, the red and purple markings that denoted loyalty to Long Yumao, and the much more soothing colors of Raava. Screaming loudly, he said, "GAH! Now I know what it must have felt like to be a human, partially transformed into myself! Torn! I can't decide!" Seeming as though he had made a decision of sorts, the shadow vanished, Korra hoping the blue half would win. Looking at his diametrically opposed hands in panic, he said with wide eyes, "Selflessness of Wan, or put humanity's barbarism in its place…"

Pointing the blue-clawed hand at Korra, he demanded, "Tell me - why should I become Aye-zul, instead of joining Long Yumao. Tell me, before my rage decides for me." Korra made to grab Raava's hand as she said, "Okay - I just need Raava for this," but stopped when Ayazar's blue half shrank slightly, red creeping as Long Yumao said, "Ayazar isn't interested in Raava." Ayazar nodded, saying as he splayed red claws, "You, the human, not the Avatar, Korra. YOU tell me why I shouldn't let this little sliver of blue vanish."

Korra smiled, saying, "Let me show you one of the starkest transformations I have ever seen - Kuvira." Drawing on her spirit, Korra placed her right hand over Ayazar's heart - the sole remaining blue patch of fur on his body. Letting information flow like the elemental symbol on her hand, Korra gave context to Kuvira's struggle, how she saw herself in the metalbender, and Kuvira's transformation. Apparently, Ayazar was a sharp spirit, saying as red lines slowly resumed a more balanced state, "This… information you gave me. It seems edited somehow. There's a human involved that you are hiding from me, Korra. A very evil human, I believe." Baring blue and red teeth, he said, "Show me everything that you know since Wan's time, and I will see what I think. Red, or blue. Spirits, or humans."

Not wanting to bely her nervousness, Korra imparted everything she knew with a stoic face, opening her eyes temporarily, shocked to see the symbol for Water on her right hand glowing white. Things and histories Korra had no recollection of flowed through her hand, smiling as she saw blue spreading across the strange spirit's body. Stepping back, he said, as blue faded from all but his claws and necklace, "Aye-zul it is then. If Wan Shi Tong sees something in humanity, I see no reason to turn on Wan." Smiling, as one of the white bands on his forearms turned blue, he added, "And no reason to turn on you, Korra. I saw your growth over the years. You deserve those tattoos." Korra laughed when Aang asked, "Hey, Raava, can I get them too? Please?"

Reminding everyone of his presence, Long Yumao roared loudly, saying after, "When I get out of here, I'll tattoo your bodies in slashes and scars - all of you!" Remembering there was something special about her seventh chakra, Korra turned around quickly, bending a seemingly endless amount of water from the pool, feeling a familiar sense of oneness as she did so, layered on top of a much more powerful sense of oneness with the universe. Speaking in English, Korra said loudly, "One world, one soul," feeling the power of creation course through her being.

What the… only I'm supposed to be able to feel this! What…

Korra laughed loudly as she heard a brief exchange in her head, her brain somehow translating the language she couldn't understand earlier. A gentle gender-neutral voice, one that she recognized, said, "You should be happy, not jealous," and a more familiar female one said curtly, "Oh, piss off! I've been trying to be human-y for less than a week - cut me some slack here!" Holding out the large body of water towards a straining Long Yumao, Korra said in the same tongue that her brain had just translated, "You are as an ant before the power I wield, Long Yumao. Love." Korra let loose a curse in what she though was English as Long Yumao broke his prison, the spirit saying, "For now. Once I get my claws on that little teapot, I'll be more than a contender, if Jinshu Kuangmai acts like the rotten brat he is," as he floated away, finishing by yelling, "Koh, you idiot - you can't fly!" Korra laughed as she heard a slithering groan and curse from below her out of the mist, the ground they had been on all this time apparently floating.

After she heard echoing sounds of clacking feet fade, she turned around, returning her daughter's and the Sato family's confused look. Korra said, sheathing herself in the wonderful water, "Why are you looking at me like I'm an alien, Asami?" Raava laughed in Korra's head, intoning, That water - you're not speaking in English or normal speech. You're speaking my language. Too consumed by unfiltered joy to really care, Korra said happily, "Something tells me this water would have a special effect on Asami's chakra gears." Korra heard Raava intone with a hint of annoyance, You may have unlocked your final chakra before the others, but I wouldn't suggest trying to force the others fully open. Much less try to solve Asami's problems for her!

Aang finally spoke, saying, "I have no clue how you are able to do any Avatar State bending with partially unlocked chakras. I remember Guru Pathik harping on me for not unlocking the final chakra, blocking my access to the Avatar State." Korra laughed, saying, "If you've unlocked the power of love or hate, you can skip around a bit," not sure where the words came from, nor why hatred was included as powerful. Before she felt the water and sense of oneness leave her, she heard a sad voice say, "So naïve, still, in some ways. Raava isn't the only one with lessons to learn." Somehow sensing her sadness, it added with a whisper as a tendril of water lingered on Korra's hand, "Though, I do have to say I loved your interaction with Tonga Beifong. It was worth it. Goodbye."

Korra sighed, saying out loud, "Don't go – I want to talk to you! You sound a lot more mature than Raava." After kicking a peeved Raava out and re-sheathing her arm completely in the water from the seventh pool, she laughed as she heard the same gentle voice say with a knowing tone, "Let's just say you aren't the one that would benefit the most from unlocking your chakras, Korra, and I don't mean Asami." After a pause, the voice added, "Every being has lessons they need to learn, Korra, though they do not always know what they are. Even Earth surprises me, to this day." As though this being could also read her mind, it said as though to a small child, "Remember – do not attempt to straddle two planes of existence. 'Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfac'- errr, just don't look too deep into the void or light, okay? Especially across planes." After laughing at the correction, especially since she knew the whole English phrase, Korra thought with disappointment, "But how can I talk to you? The more the merrier. I deal with all sorts of people in and out of my head just fine." Korra saw a vision of an indistinct being momentarily, apparently laughing even though it had no form. Shifting, it temporarily assumed her own form, naked as the day she was born. Pointing to "its" heart, it said, still in the same voice, "I am not the one you need to talk to. I am just a servant, of one universal constant – love. It is in you, Asami, Atokara, Raava – every being. I can tell you want to know about my foe, and that is information that you do not need to know. Now go, unlock your chakras, and see what happens. On your plane."

With that, the connection broke, Korra slightly baffled by a supreme being considering itself a servant. When she told everyone else about the interaction, wanting to see what Raava made of it, Uncle Iroh spoke first, saying, "I do not see why you are puzzled by this being's attitude, Korra – you are a servant of the world, as all the Avatars before you were, and still are. Maintaining balance is hard." Wan said, with wide eyes, "I… I had heard about this, but never first hand. I thought it was just a figure of speech." Raava stamped her foot, saying, "I never read it in the job description. At least not the one I was given…" Vaatu started to speak, but Korra interrupted him, saying to Raava, "Raava, you've already acted as a servant, for ten thousand years – helping the Avatar, serving as a power source and the glue that holds the four elements together for the Avatar." Calling over Atokara, Korra continued to a broadly smiling Raava, "You've taken a lot more active role in the world since Harmonic Convergence. Atokara wouldn't exist without your gift to humanity, and tuber-vines promise to revolutionize the world, once they are no longer needed for war." Vaatu spoke, his small red teeth visible as he said sheepishly, "I suppose my changed form also belies a willingness to serve, though in the name of darkness." Cursing, he added, "If it weren't for that accursed seal on that teapot, Jinshu Kuangmai would have all sorts of wonderful technologies now," Raava dangling him near his prison as she giggled.

Korra scoffed, saying, "Yeah, like what – weapons that would annihilate the very world you apparently want to control now through or with Jinshu Kuangmai, instead of destroy?" For once, Vaatu went back into the teapot of his own accord, saying, "Ugh – you're making me think! Stop that!" Once the laughter had died down, Korra hoped to whittle down her company, saying as she pointed at both her pools and Asami's gears, "I'm hoping for a more private affair with Asami, Atokara and Raava to go through our chakras, together." Uncle Iroh nodded, saying, "I would love to stay and offer advice, but if you wish, I will go." Looking at Uncle Iroh, Korra found herself unable to speak, feeling guilty. Sokka's loud protest of "WHAT?" on top of grumbling from Aye-zul made her reconsider, especially after Yasuko said, "I think there's a lot I will need to help my daughter with." Korra apologized to Asami's parents, saying, "I'm sorry – I hope I didn't offend you." Hiroshi smiled, saying, "None taken. It appears someone else took slight offense, though."

Turning around, she noticed Wan Shi Tong was in his larger form, saying once he got her attention in a normal size, "I want to witness this unusual chakra unlocking myself. It sounds to me like it is connected to the new airbending technique for flight." Korra sighed, saying with a guilty look, "Really, I just wanted to make this as fast as possible." Aang groaned slightly, saying, "Yeah, send away the one Avatar with recent experience on chakras – good idea." Korra sat down, putting her hand to her forehead as she said, "Okay, okay – no need to pile on." Aang laughed in a way that made Uncle Iroh laugh much as he had what seemed like an eternity ago, Aang saying, "I don't think you would have lasted a week in the Gaang with an attitude like that." Korra smiled lightly, saying, "You might just be right. Bolin doesn't have the same bite that Sokka did, Asami is a lot more… agreeable than Katara was in her youth, and Mako isn't nearly as moody as Toph."

Korra chuckled as Aang said, "I don't know whether to laugh, or defend Katara." After Korra made "that face" at Aang, he laughed, saying, "I do miss her, 'that face' and all." Korra was about to say something, but Raava said, "Love finds a way" as though it were automatic. Remembering the last times Korra had heard Raava say this, Korra turned to Raava, saying with more than a hint of annoyance, "You keep saying that, Raava. Care to explain?" Raava giggled, saying, "Nope!" as Korra pulled her hair in frustration. Remembering they had a task in front of them, Korra said, "Whatever. Raava, have any suggestions on how Asami and I can unlock our chakras together, in a more visible way?" Raava nodded, saying, "Asami, get out of your suit. Keep it around, in case Long Yumao wants to interrupt." Pointing at both Korra and Asami's "pools" once Asami was out, Raava closed her eyes, straining to move the pools of water and gears. Korra tried to assist, finding herself unable to earthbend. Wan chuckled, saying, "You might be amazing, Korra, but even you can't bend anything but water without Raava inside you."

Raava moved her hands in a blur, panting as she said, "There. Done. Turn around, Korra, and you'll see what your fears and other emotions will show on." Korra turned around, listening as Wan Shi Tong exclaimed, "Is that a… plasma screen television? You'd have me plucked if I gave someone the plans for that!" Raava laughed, saying, "Relax. Now, as far as I am concerned, you can grant access to the Plane: Earth wing at will, as long as you read the person or spirit's intentions personally, and make sure that they are escorted." Wan Shi Tong shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry – did you just say I can grant access to whoever I want?" Raava smiled, saying, "I figure if I ever want to grow, I'll have to be more willing to let loose control, and trust." Looking at Raava, Korra could have sworn she looked slightly different, but ignored the slight change, wanting a look at this "plasma screen television".

Characters appeared on the screen that said, "Welcome. Please take Asami's hand, Korra, and focus on your fears." As she positioned herself next to Asami, she noticed they were both still in swimming suits, saying before she took Asami's hand, "Maybe we should change?" Korra felt herself instantly swaddled in her normal clothes, smiling as she noticed that they were still… adjusted. Looking back at the screen, Korra heard a clear, teenage female voice say, "Asami, you don't need to close your eyes for this. The visions will be displayed on the screen that… Raava made." Korra smiled, wondering if that was what Raava would sound like when she got this mysterious "promotion."

As Korra looked at the screen, she was confused by the multitude of ghostly past foes she saw, smiling to see that Zaheer was included, a little label saying in English, "Not a scary man." Looking at Asami's side, Korra said, "Looks like I'm not the only one who's grown over the past five years," seeing how an unnamed firebender was labeled "Not a scary man" as well. Seeing a reflection of Asami turn her head towards Korra's section, Asami said, "Wow – I didn't expect to see Amon on your side." Korra smiled, saying as she remembered her interaction with Tonga Beifong, "I hope that I could have raised Noatak better than his monstrous father did. There was a bit of good in him after all – he did save his brother, Tarrlok, from Yakone, and he seemed genuine about wanting better treatment for nonbenders, even if he was a bender." Korra gave the screen a funny look as Noatak's image moved slightly, a single tear escaping a motionless eye.

The whole, larger image on the screen momentarily flashed red, the female voice from earlier saying with alarm, "Intrusion attempt detected. Remember, Korra, that this little television has my energy in it. Those aren't just images." Korra smiled, saying, "So that is your voice." A younger female voice laughed from behind her, Raava saying, "Will be, if everything turns out like I hope it will. The being you like so much 'spoiled' some events for me." Pretty sure who the intruder was, Korra said, "Let's move on, Asami – think of our current fears."

The old foes vanished, Korra surprised to see there was a large shared portion in the center. Long Yumao in his new form tossing a small teapot back and forth between powerful clawed hands, Jinshu Kuangmai formed from metal, and a corrupted, crying Atokara somehow choking the life from her parents occupied the center. Looking at her own side, Korra saw Asami's dark doppler, labeled "harpy", seeing after that Asami's side had Dark Korra, and nothing else. Gripping Asami's hand tightly, Korra said, "I want you to know that I'm here for you. If you ever want to talk or ... anything. I'll never let myself be corrupted." Asami sighed, saying, "And I promise, I will try my best to never explode on you, or Atokara, like that again. It wasn't right." The shriek of what Raava had labeled a harpy was music to her ears, Korra frowning slightly when she saw Dark Korra merely shift, saying in an ominous raspy voice, "You're not done with me yet, Korra. NEVER." Looking at where Harpy Asami had been, Korra laughed when she saw a small child cross its feathered arms in a huff and walk off-screen.

Asami joined her laughter, saying as Korra noticed the central image of Long Yumao expand to the right, into her own territory, " I hope Atokara is nothing like 'Harpy Asami.'" Korra noticed the corrupted Atokara's image pulse with red energy at the same time the real Atokara cried, "Mommy Asami, make it go away!" Atokara hugged Asami's legs, Korra noticing that the image of the corrupted Atokara stopped moving temporarily, eyes and hair braids temporarily changing color. Korra told Atokara gently, "Look, sweetie. Your love just changed the image on the television. Why don't you try interacting with it." Before Atokara could speak, Aang said from behind, "That might not be a good idea, Korra. There's a possibility that –Atokara! Why are you touching the screen?" Atokara had run up to the screen, saying as she placed a hand over her own snarling doppler's image, "I would never let myself be corrupted. I love momma Korra and mommy Asami too much." Korra felt some energy release as the corrupted Atokatra vanished, Jinshu Kuangmai now choking the image of herself and Asami. Korra did not feel a chill in herself as he said, "This… is a most interesting dream." Korra found herself smiling as she said, "I don't know how you are in control, but you're on my home turf now." Closing her eyes temporarily, Korra saw an image of the Fire Nation as Asami-particle ridden glass and the rest of the world enslaved. When she opened them, the image appeared on the screen, Jinshu Kuangmai forming a metal blade and slicing the Fire Nation as he said, "Forget glass – I want that bunch of savages that calls itself a nation beneath the sea! The 100 Year's War…"

As Korra heard Uncle Iroh say from behind, "The Fire Nation has changed, my sad, angry little child. I have had to help convince people to go to war, to stop this horrible vision from happening." Trying a different tact and remembering her suit's new, hopeful feature, Korra said, "Korra's Spirit – I need your help!" As the glove materialized on her hand, Asami laughed, saying, "That might get a little confusing after a while. Korra's Spirit – your spirit, or the suit?" As Korra successfully projected an image using the glove, she said, "Both. Take a good look at the fate of Zaofu, Jinshu Kuangmai."

The image from her palm expanded, apparently empowered by being in the Spirit World. Raava's Wrath gunships turned the fortifications of the city into craters, glass and melted steel, absorbing all the spirit weaponry turned on them effortlessly. Korra smiled when she heard Raava say loudly in English, "I'm the Juggernaut, b - " a wide eyed Jinshu Kuangmai understanding the English curse word somehow. Remembering that there were civilians in Zaofu, Korra added insult to injury by having the gunships pick up the innocents. The vision now showing Korra personally reclaiming Zaofu from the earth, Korra cursed in English herself as she saw that the city looked twisted. Jinshu Kuangmai laughed, asking loudly, "Like what I'm doing with the place?" Korra felt herself fill with anger, the image now showing a familiar large Meesile striking the central, corrupted angular lotus. All the horrible new domes engulfed by a large, blue and white ball of energy, Korra said strongly, "This thing you call Zaofu. It doesn't deserve the name. All it deserves is annihilation." Imaging Jinshu Kuangmai dead by her hand, his heart pierced by the twin blades of an Avatar's Bite with permission from Tonga, Korra finished, "I am done with your little game. Raava, kick him out."

Once Jinshu Kuangmai had been dragged off-screen by large white tendrils, cursing loudly as he left, the speakers on the television said, "I didn't expect you to condone the use of those horrible weapons, Korra." Korra was surprised when it was Aang who responded, saying, "I fail to see how that was a misuse of the spirit bomb equivalent of a fusion weapon, or an ICBM. All the civilians were gone, only lost souls who call themselves Earth Empire soldiers left. Conventional weapons would have made the soldiers suffer, a spirit bomb – death in an instant." Asami said, looking at the image of a bedraggled Korra and Asami, "If we hold back, more people than just Korra and I will die." Finding her projected hologram hijacked again, but this time by a more welcome presence, Korra saw a massive VarriMag gun with a huge shell appear, the shell having a blue and white yin and yang symbol. The weapon was carried by two specially modified Raava's Wrath's. After Korra wondered aloud what was wrong with an ICBM, Asami said, "This unnamed weapon - this is for much, much later. I imagine that an 'ICBM' could be shot down with spirit weaponry and advanced computers. A VarriMag projectile with a warhead would likely be too fast to shoot down" Korra laughed when she heard the speakers saw loudly, "Correct. Now let's get back to work – you can design weapons later."

Re-focusing, Korra looked at the screen again, putting her metal-clad right hand down. Korra was thankful that the Long Yumao didn't seem to be interactive, merely roaring over and over, periodically shaking his large sail. Korra noticed with a start that Raava's large form was draped over the sail, jagged spikes piercing her body. It was Asami who spoke first, saying as she held out her betrothal necklace, "Look, Long Yumao! Love cooties!" Korra laughed hysterically as Long Yumao responded in a panic, "I can 'kill' Raava, but not love! That which I wanted dead the most!" Korra stepped back, holding out her own betrothal necklace as a ward against a decidedly three-dimensional grasping arm, saying, "Get out of here, or I'll encase you in ice from my seventh chakra pool!" The arm now two-dimensional, Korra imaged herself chasing Long Yumao off the screen with her betrothal necklace in one hand and a heart-shaped ball of chakra water in the other. Atokara giggled when Long Yumao left the screen, saying with a more serious tone, "Momma Korra, do you think you could take some of that water with you?" Korra shook her head, saying, "No, I don't think so. It's not like it is physical. Plus, I've got all the love I need in my necklace."

The only thing left on the screen being Dark Korra, who was tapping her foot impatiently as she stared at the pool of blood around her feet, a spirit form Raava appeared on-screen, saying, "So that's what I need to do. After we're done, I'll need your necklaces, Korra and Asami." Having a vague idea what Raava wanted with their necklaces, Korra said, "Sure. Let's get this Dark Korra thing over with."

Korra heard a cracking sound behind her as raspy laughter intensified, hearing glass shatter as an alarmed female vice said, "Integrity of the television has been compromised. You'll need to face your final fear more directly, Korra." Turning around, Korra saw her bloody dripping dark self wielding red and black chains, dragging forward some familiar figures from the broken screen as she said, "I brought along some people who have something in common with you, Korra." Korra formed a ball of water, drawing it from the seventh chakra pool as she said, "If you're going to be more direct, then so will I." Dark Korra laughed, saying as her eyes glowed intensely, "You know what your ultimate fear is – bloodbending corrupting you and your soul." Korra noticed that Tarrlok and Noatak stayed still as Hama and Yakone stepped forward, Yakone saying with a snarling smile, "Looks like I might see two annoying Avatars dead at once. I never appreciated what you did with my bending, Aang. Such a waste of my talent."

Korra felt a surge of energy, Raava intoning, You're going to need me for this. Maybe. Korra said, pointing a glowing hand at Dark Korra, "Love is more powerful than hate. I don't know what you hoped to accomplish by bringing these allies along, two of which look reluctant." Dark Korra laughed gratingly, forming a ball of blood for emphasis, "You don't have to fall into darkness to be corrupted, Korra. You're going to need to watch your back, every day – I'll be waiting there for you, eternally." Taking a deep breath, Korra formed a large blade of ice on her right arm, using it like a two-handed sword. But Dark Korra wasn't her target.

The chains.

As the waterblade made contact, she saw the red and black links warp and twist, the metal somehow screeching as though it were Dark Korra. The chains on Tarrlok and Noatak broken, Korra noticed with disgust that Hama and Yakone were frowning. Hama said, as she cradled her chain with care, "I don't want you to try and 'free' me, Avatar. I still hate the Fire Nation, even if it means I'm stuck in the Fog of Lost Souls forever. You're a disgrace, allying yourself with such monsters. I was the last existing waterbender in the South Pole, for a time…" Korra was about to respond, but Aye-zul appeared in front of Hama in a flash, saying angrily, "If I can forgive what the Fire Nation did to the Air Nomads, I see no reason you should hold on to hatred." Hama laughed, saying as Aye-zul breathed heavily, "Hatred is all I have, and all I want." A now hulking Aye-zul slashed at Hama, saying after she disappeared, "Gah – the first human I want to kill, running like a coward!" He left Korra's sight, saying, "I want to DO something!" Korra laughed along with Asami when Atokara said, "Me too!"

Korra heard Dark Korra laugh, saying, "Ayazar sounds as headstrong as you were, Korra. If you had drank of Sharktar's water after incinerating Tarrlok…" Korra saw an image of herself at the age of 22, soaring on jets of red flame, noticing that her eyes were orange. As Dark Korra spoke in an unintelligible yet dreadful tongue, the image massacred Equalist forces without mercy, moving on to Equalist protesters with similar energy, and eventually innocents. In a normal tongue, Dark Korra boasted, "That is an alternate, but it can still happen. You can't get rid of me permanently." With a snarling smile, she added, "It wouldn't take much of a slipup either," as though she knew something Korra didn't. Remembering how Aang had avoided corruption, Korra wasn't worried – she felt completely confident she could handle whatever the world threw her way, no fear involved now. Knowing what this final fear must be about, Korra said strongly, "That is in the past – a different alternate entirely. I have found a way for bloodbending to be used to heal. Bloodbending won't corrupt me." Dark Korra shrieked, saying in a panic, "NO – they weren't supposed to hear that!" Yakone said, with disbelief in his voice, "WHAT? That's ridiculous!" Korra showed Yakone a small mark on her arm, saying, "That used to be a fairly large cut before I used bloodbending to heal it. Katara, Kya and my parents are probably using bloodbending healing to soothe my pain in the physical world right now as I get these tattoos for real, under a full moon."

With a sneer, Yakone said, "Using bloodbending to soothe pain – what a waste! It's meant to inflict damage, not heal it! To control! Manipulate!" Practically spitting, he said with rage, "Knowing my soft sons, they'd probably heal, like some kind of wussy woman!" He looked like he wanted to say something else, but his body jerked. Korra heard a young and old voice say at the same time, one female, one male, "Leave. Now. I never want to see you again." The young girl added, "I'm glad momma Korra and mommy Asami are my parents, mean man, and not you," and the older male said, sounding like he might cry, "My brother saved me from your insanity, Yakone. I won't call you father – you're worse than Ozai ever was." Dark Korra barked, "Ozai was the perfect father to Azula – how can you say that, Tarrlok?" Korra grinned widely as she saw Noatak spit on Dark Korra, her doppler shrieking loudly, "Agh! It burns! I thought you couldn't just break out of the Fog of Lost Souls like that!" Noatak laughed, saying, "That was my act of will, wretch. The only reason Tarrlok stayed all that time was to try and break me free." Dark Korra looked at Tarrlok in terror as he said, "It's true – you think I wouldn't try to repay my brother's kindness, saving me from my monstrous father all those years ago?" Korra wanted to say something, but saw Yakone practically fuming at the ears, looking back and forth between Noatak and Tarrlok with disbelief.

Growling deeply, Yakone said as he clenched a fist, "Fine with me, you pathetic excuses for sons. If I had a last name, I'd be ashamed to share it with either of you. From what I've heard about this Jinshu Kuangmai whenever Long Yumao comes by the Fog of Lost Souls to feed on suffering and gloat, I'd rather have him as a son than both of you. That metalbender appreciates what power is." Pointing at each dead son in turn, Yakone said, "Both of you – you're more than dead to me now. If I ever bump into Ozai in the Fog of Lost Souls, I'll try my best and see what he thinks of you two miserable failures. I'm sure he'd have a lot to say about both Zuko and Azula." With that, he vanished, leaving Dark Korra alone, her doppler sputtering, "I hate myself! Miserable failure! GAH!" Korra laughed hysterically as she appreciated the irony, projecting Raava out and giving her an odd request. Vaatu said, popping his small humanoid head out, "Yes, you are. You're more overconfident than smart. Bringing Noatak, also known as Amon – sure. Misguided madman. But Tarrlok? Are you retarded? Just a shady councilman, and he saved his brother to boot! Don't even remind me of how he blew himself and his brother up to put a stop to 'Amon' once and for all." Korra felt vaguely sad when she saw Dark Korra shrink in size after she sobbed, "I guess I am," extending the ice on her right arm towards Dark Korra. The four-year old Dark Korra shrieked, "Get away! I may be stupid, but I'm not a complete fool!" After Dark Korra vanished, Korra felt sadness overshadow the underlying feeling of pleasure and freedom she felt from having overcome her fears.

Remembering that she wasn't the only one with chakras to unlock, Korra asked, "Where's Asami's ultimate fear?" After Raava shut Vaatu back inside the teapot, Korra heard Raava strain, seeing an image of Atokara standing next to a casket on a fixed screen, Asami saying, "I… I never want Atokara to go through what I did, losing one of her parents. You, Korra." The image shifted to a happier one as Atokara said confidently, "Momma Korra would live on inside me if she died, mommy Asami, as well as in the next Avatar." Asami began crying as Hiroshi said from her side, "Your mother lives on inside you as well." After a hug with Asami, her parents, and Atokara, Yasuko said, "Just as darkness and hurt can never be truly eradicated, light and love never fade, unless you let them." Korra heard machinery humming, Asami saying, "No more fear… At last."

Hearing a male cough, Korra turned to see the bloodbending brothers holding hands, Noatak saying, "As much as I hate to leave before learning more about love first-hand - the love our father never gave us - my brother and I have a prison to waltz out of. And a new life to begin." Remembering who he had been, Noatak added, "His love helped me see that the problem with the world isn't bending – it's hatred. See you around. And thanks for the help, Atokara. I don't think Tarrlok would have been able to… bloodbend our father alone." As the brothers vanished, Korra turned to Atokara, asking, "What… what did you do?" Atokara smiled, saying, "I just let myself get caught up in the moment, not liking how Yakone dismissed bloodbending healing as ridiculous. Or how he basically said healing was woman's work. Thinking of what it must have been like to be raised by Yakone, I felt some surge of energy, and my hair felt funny. Next thing I knew, I was helping Tarrlok interrupt him, saying the same thing Tarrlok was." Remembering how Atokara had resisted Jinshu Kuangmai's blood-iron bending, Korra hugged Atokara as she said, "Hard to believe it, but I'm glad you can bloodbend, apparently whenever you want, given how Jinshu Kuangmai couldn't bloodbend you. I'm sure you'll help heal a lot of people." Korra smiled as Atokara added, "And fight. But nicely," seeing herself more and more in the four-year old.

Apparently, so did Raava, though in a different way. Raava came over, touching Atokara while saying, "What – how did she bloodbend? In the Spirit World? I thought only Korra could bend after meditating in, due to my increasing human-y nature." Atokara shrugged, saying, "After thinking about how much being Yakone's son must have sucked, I just did what I did." Raava seemed stumped. Asami said, pride in her voice, "Remember, Raava – my daughter has a lot of your energy inside her, and it sounds like she was consumed by empathy for Tarrlok and Noatak. It sounds like she can see things from other's perspective, even though she's 'four'." Atokara nodded, saying, "I felt funny, and not just in my hair. I had a feeling in my chest, something like what mommy Asami feels for momma Korra, but weaker. I also felt sad." Remembering what Tarrlok had said about staying in the Fog of Lost Souls to help rescue his older brother, Korra said, "I guess it was love that let Tarrlok bloodbend his father somehow as well."

Feeling a light poking on her back, Korra turned around, seeing Aang and Sokka standing side by side, Sokka idly examining his boomerang as Aang said, "I want to see more of this out-of-the-box chakra unlocking! Fighting, freeing Tarrlok and Am – I mean, Noatak. SO much more exciting than Guru Pathik and his onion-banana nonsense." Korra laughed as Sokka crossed his arms, saying, "It wasn't the only nonsense! 'Let go of Katara' – Korra and Asami have proven that was totally unnecessary!" Aang laughed, saying, "I remember you getting grossed out when Katara and I smooched." Sokka gave his boomerang a sheepish look as he said, "I may have thought you being into my sister was awkward at first, but I understood better when I finally approached Suki seriously." Sighing deeply, he said, "I wish we had been as prolific as you two were, Aang. No children…"

Raava ran over, hugging Sokka as she said, "I hope something like that never happens again, Sokka." Korra vaguely considered trying to infobend Raava, and pry this odd, heavily guarded secret about being childless as a result of biology from her mind, but held back when Raava laughed, saying, "You can't infobend me, Korra. You should feel lucky you managed to sneak a peek at Yasuko's current life." Korra crossed her arms, scowling at Raava as she said, "I want to break some rules. I'm sick and tired of all your limitations." Raava smiled broadly, saying, "There are some things that only I can know. If I told you what you should eat for breakfast, you wouldn't listen. In the same vein, if I told you exactly who Yasuko is now, it would ruin all sorts of surprises." Giving up the chase, Korra said, "Fine. Let's see what the Water chakra has in store for me and Asami." Laughing, she added, "I know one thing that won't be featured in either of ours," flashing an unlocked betrothal necklace at Asami.

Korra didn't like how Asami said, with a slight frown, "I… I don't know about that, Korra. Let's see." Korra took Asami's hand again, noticing her heartbeat was elevated, only slowing when they looked at the screen's images. Korra noticed with a smile that her side included a faded black-and-white ghost of herself holding an envelope, saying after she realized what the image meant, "I guess I no longer feel guilty about running away from the world. Seeing myself read that letter, then have it stripped away by Dark Korra… I know now that I needed to get lost, to find and heal myself fully." Korra saw a massive humanoid form next to her black-and white image, recognizing "UnaVaatu," saying, "I did my best to stop Unalaq at Harmonic Convergence, and that's all that you can really ask of anybody. I… actually feel glad that Jinora helped me now, without any sense of shame in an 11-year old helping save the world."

Korra turned around, looking at the third chakra pool, surprised to see the water flowing in a more steady stream. Wan Shi Tong inspected the pool, saying, "Remembering what I have read of Earth psychology, the idea that these chakras are individual and separate and should have no overlap is ludicrous." As Korra agreed with him, she noticed the sixth pool change slightly as well, saying, "I guess there's an illusion that Guru Pathik never talked to you about, Aang – separation of feelings. Guilt and shame are particularly closely linked. You feel shame for doing something, then you feel guilty for having done it." Korra heard Asami start to cry slightly, her world saying, "No… not yet. I want to finish looking at what I don't feel guilty about, before facing…"

Korra turned around, giving Asami a hug as she said, "I have the feeling this chakra will be hard for you, Asami, if you are hinting at what I think you are." Realizing that Asami would need as much help for her ultimate guilt as Korra did for her quelled ultimate fear of corruption, Korra told Raava, "Let's get my guilts over with, Raava. I have the feeling Asami's final guilt will be very difficult to overcome." Asami surprised Korra by saying, "You're right, just not in the way you might think. Let's see what a person as loving as you could possibly feel guilty about."

Korra turned around, seeing a sullen image of herself saying, "I… I'm not worthy of starting a Spirit Civil War over. Sometimes, I wish Raava had never given me her little gift – the cost… I don't want some selfish dream causing others suffering, or the end of the world." Korra was surprised by the screen's candor, saying with a sigh, "I guess I still have some serious self-esteem issues." Remembering that it had been Raava who gave the gift of Atokara, Korra said strongly, "I accept Raava's gift – Atokara – without a second thought. It was most definitely Raava's decision, and not mine." Hearing water flowing slightly faster and the giggling of her daughter, Korra added, "I am worthy of love, and a capable individual, deserving of both Atokara and Asami." After she had finished, she heard Aang exclaim, "The Sound chakra pool – the one about lies! It looks almost unclogged now!" Korra smiled, saying, "Skipping around sure makes this process more organic." Aang laughed, saying, "You can say that again. Unlocking the chakras with Guru Pathik's help was a lot more serious affair than this."

Seeing there was still one image in front of her, Korra scoffed, saying, "What's me failing to defend Zaofu doing here? That should be black and white – no longer an issue! If I had succeeded, Kuvira would be dead, Jinshu Kuangmai just taking her place." Wan Shi Tong innocently asked, "What about Baatar Jr.? Was he not second in command?" Korra laughed bitterly, saying, "Technically. I imagine Jinshu Kuangmai would have just killed him, taking over." As Wan Shi Tong said, "I guess I still have a lot to learn about humans," Korra saw what she somehow knew was her final guilt appear. Korra laughed, saying, "I hope your final guilt is as innocuous as mine, Asami – I never did give you a proper Spirit World Vacation." Asami hugged Korra in a way she knew meant that Asami was going to need a lot of support soon.

Seemingly starting again, Korra saw a black and white image of Asami betraying her father Hiroshi with her electroglove what seemed like an eternity ago. Asami saying nothing, Hiroshi said, "I hold no hard feelings about your 'betrayal' of me, Asami. If anything, I was the traitor, befouling the image of the company I built, and more importantly, siding with a man who I am sure my beloved wife, Yasuko, would have found vile." Korra heard Yasuko's voice agree from behind, Asami finally speaking, saying with relief, "I'm glad prison taught you something." Somehow sensing Raava was about to make an off-color English joke, Korra barked, "Don't. Not funny." Raava cursed, saying indignantly, "Now who's being all serious?" Korra sighed, then chuckled, saying, "You can tell all the dirty jokes you want. But later."

Korra protested slightly when Asami broke the hug, Asami saying, "I think I know the joke you had in mind, Raava. Let's continue." Korra looked back at the screen, seeing a black and white image of Asami breaking up with Mako, among many others. Walking in front of the screen, Asami said, "While focusing on the positive is all good, I'd prefer to skip this part in future. It tells us nothing we don't know already." Korra began to speak, but Atokara beat her to the punch, saying, "I wanna see it all! Maybe when you and momma Korra are being positive, the other chakras will become easier." Asami smiled, saying, "Okay, if you want to, sweetie." Re-joining Korra's side, Asami pointed at an image Korra was pleased to see in black and white, Asami saying, "I still feel bad about my earlier outburst, but remembering what Lin said about bottling up negative emotions inside, I don't want to wallow in guilt."

With this, a color image of a younger crying Asami appeared, Asami explaining, "Even if I love who I am, the past hurt and self-blame for being, well, who I am, still lingers." Korra said, slightly confused, "How? I thought we thoroughly dispelled any guilt earlier, with that." Korra found herself thankful that an image of Asami enjoying that did not appear on the screen as Asami said, "I guess you're right. But this isn't the worst of it." The young Asami now happy-looking, Asami continued, "This other thing… is a mix of guilt and shame. I'll want to see your 'shame' before dealing with this." Korra laughed when the screen said over many black and white images, "Error – shame not found." Korra said with a light sultry tone, "I've got nothing to be ashamed of. You remember how passionately I played with you earlier, and I have no real regrets about my own actions now. Even my inactions and 'failures' – if I had killed Kuvira at Zaofu, we'd have a hard time against Jinshu Kuangmai, and I doubt those soldiers would have just stood down."

Asami sighed deeply, saying, "I wish I could say the same," the screen now showing an adult Asami in full color, holding a picture of Korra. With a strained voice, the image said, "I… I want to do so much more, but… I'm too weak. Even though my father is in prison, he still has a grip over me." Crying, the morose Asami said, "Korra's gone now, but even before she left… Every time I thought I was close to finally asking her, some nagging thought entered my head. 'You can't hit on her – she needs your friendship, and nothing else! She's still recovering from being posioned – she might have a heart attack or fatal seizure if you ask her!' 'What about Future Industries?' 'What will people think?' 'What if she rejects me?' 'What if I really am unnatural?' 'What would my father think?'" Sitting down, the image said dejectedly, "I can't even be who I really am, the guilt I had been taught to associate with my desires feeding shame I feel every time I think of Korra longingly, then the shame and guilt I feel over not being who I am feeding… a never-ending cycle…" Korra began crying profusely when she saw Asami give a thousand-yard stare, the Asami in the image saying, "There… there is a way out," resting her gaze on an electroglove.

Turning to Asami, Korra said with concern, "You… you never seemed suicidal to me." Asami sighed, saying, "This is a representation of both reality and inner thoughts, in starkest terms. I never really considered suicide as an option, but the thoughts were there nonetheless, especially following your cutting of ties with the world. Only your response letter fully banished them." Korra smiled, saying, "Let's see what else you need to heal." Asami nodded, saying, "I think I'll need someone else's help for this."

Hiroshi ran over, tears in his eyes as he said, "Only daughter of mine, my most prized asset- if you had told me of these suicidal thoughts, I would have relented immediately. I would rather have been a penniless beggar on the street and with you, alive, than live alone, atop a mountain of gold, my only child and reminder of my deceased wife having killed herself." Asami finally broke into hysterical sobs, saying, "I… I was lying to Korra earlier. When I was young and stupid, having just been forced into the dating school, and obsessed with a girl who had actually made covert advances on me, I… I felt desperate, like my life was unfixable. I deliberately drank myself into a stupor, hoping that I would never wake up, drinking more when I did wake up." Hiroshi looked sad and furious at the same time, yelling, "THAT was what your biggest raid on my liquor cabinet was about, Asami?! Thank goodness I could afford such a good doctor, and waterbender assistant – I thought you were going to die. There was enough liquid in your stomach when I found you to finish the job, given what the waterbender and doctor said after the liquor was removed." Sighing deeply, he said, "I've changed my mind about how much punishment I deserve, in my new life. I want to atone…" Asami hugged her father tightly, saying, "More suffering fixes nothing. I forgive you." Hiroshi broke the hug, pointing a finger at Asami as he said, "I know that. The more important question, Asami, is if you forgive yourself. For your lies to yourself about your true nature, for feeling guilty for being who you are, and for… feeling shame." With a bitter sob, he added, "Feeling shame over love. Please, Asami, forgive yourself, for your past self-repression. For me, for Korra, for your mother. For Atokara."

"Yes… I forgive myself."

Korra heard a massive whirring of gears, turning to see that all seven gears were turning at a rapid pace, the final gear now a mix of white and blue metal, shredded oily rags scattered haphazardly. Korra was dumbstruck, even Raava speechless. Asami laughed freely, saying happily, "I guess everything is more connected than even Raava thought." Asami ran over to the gears, saying animatedly, "Accepting my grief and coping with it unlocked the Air gear fully. Getting rid of my fear let me see and value love more. In the process of being honest about my guilt and shame, I was honest about my biggest secret, obliterating the lies I told myself over the years about who and what I am in one sweeping strike." Smiling as she sat on the last gear like a merry-go-round, Asami said in a bubbly way that Korra hadn't heard in a very long time, "The last two gears were never locked before we started in the first place. My mind and soul bending experience with Korra in that little earth shack shattered any illusion of separation I had. I even felt at one with the universe for a short time!" Curious, Korra asked, "Did a gentle voice talk to you at all?" Asami said, getting off the rapidly rotating gear, "Ugh, I feel sort of sick. To answer, yes. It said something about 'Korra's something else. I half wonder if she was supposed to be assigned to my plane.'" Korra was surprised to not hear Raava curse, the spirit saying instead, "That's funny, though I don't know if it was supposed to be. 'He' can be weird like that." Laughing, Raava added, "In some ways, 'he' reminds me of Uncle Iroh." Korra saw Uncle Iroh blush, saying, "That's… that's awfully generous of you, Raava."

Asami hugged Korra deeply, saying, "Let's get your own chakras cleared." Raava said excitedly, "Yes! I can't wait…" Apparently, she had meant this literally, as Korra heard a female voice come from behind her, the television saying with authority, "Let's skip the positive part, like Asami suggested. If we had lingered over every black and white image earlier, Korra, we'd have been here all night. You've grown a lot." Korra turned around, seeing a color image of herself as a child, being taken away by the White Lotus from her parents for one of her first training sessions. Korra frowned slightly as she said, "If only you knew them taking you away for a short while was nothing compared to what was to come, you'd have cherished every moment…" Little Korra yelled, tears in her eyes, "Mommy! Daddy! I want to learn how to be the Avatar here, with you! I hate being away!" Korra found herself feeling a mix of righteous anger and sadness as one of the White Lotus goons said, "Your family will distract you from learning what you need to, Avatar Korra. And we have strict orders to ensure your safety." Seeing something she didn't remember, she admonished the guard once she was outside, far away from her house in the driving cold, in a male voice that wasn't her own, "I never worried about my safety, and the whole world was against me! I was twelve, going up against a juggernaut – Firelord Ozai and the Fire Nation, with a strict deadline!"

A more familiar man, the Grand Lotus, who Korra refused to call by his real name, laughed, saying, "There's no way a four-year old Avatar could channel a past life, bending three elements without instruction or not." She saw herself say, "Consider the orders abolished! All of them! This isn't right! Korra needs a normal childhood - her own culture's, not one like an Air Nomad and Water Tribe hybrid! I don't think I trust you, or even the White Lotus with her anymore - not after all your stubborn, literal-minded behavior! She's four years old, and even I had trouble being the Avatar at the age of twelve!" Korra watched in horror as the Grand Lotus whipped out a small syringe, saying with a small frown, "I don't care if she's four. Ensuring your next life's safety is our mission, Aang - one which you gave us, and one I take very seriously for personal reasons. What we are doing - it is right." Sighing, he continued, "You aren't thinking clearly, Aang – you're letting Korra's emotions get to you. Neither of you will remember a thing. I had hoped to never need to use this…. modified Spirit Oasis water like this. We have a job to do – protect the Avatar. No matter the cost."

Pushing aside some gnawing questions, Korra only felt her grief for lost childhood intensify as she saw a guard inject a mystery concoction of water and other, darker compounds forcefully, realizing with a start she recognized who it was – a woman she knew only by her nickname, Crasher, one of the few White Lotus guards she liked in her youth. She was crying bitterly. Once her younger self was knocked out, Crasher said, "I… I don't know what I just did, but I do know this – history won't look upon us kindly. I wouldn't treat my own son like this." Approaching the Grand Lotus, she demanded, "What would Uncle Iroh think of this? This isn't a quest for truth! This is the worst kind of lying!" Eyes flaring, the dour-looking man responded, "You know what happened, and why I take my job so seriously - don't you bring family into this! Silence! You're just a guard, and I'm the Grand Lotus! There are good reasons why we must protect Korra. For crying out loud, we're just taking her away for a training session - it's not as if we have any current reason to whisk her away! We haven't seen Red Lotus activity in years. If she were to die in the Avatar State, the Avatar would be dead. Forever. If you care for her so much, never mention this to her – she'd likely break down crying." Crasher frowned, saying, "Fine. But the truth will come out some day…"

As she tried to make sense of it all, Korra listened to Aang say with fury, "Why that little… Is he still alive, Korra? I want him to stand trial – he directly ignored an order from me, and wiped our memories somehow!" Korra shrugged, saying, "I don't know, Aang. I haven't interacted with the White Lotus for a long time. Especially not the Grand Lotus. He annoyed me to no end." Smiling, she said mockingly, "'Republic City is too dangerous, Avatar Korra! Neh neh neh! Just… be more spiritual! Even though I wiped your memory and never told you about it!'" Turning around, she said to Aang, no longer smiling, not even slightly, "You have access to the same alternates that Raava does. I remember a vision she showed me, very faintly, where the White Lotus didn't protect me at all, and Zaheer kidnapped me. Successfully." Hugging a crying Aang, she said, "Even before this revelation, I had partially gotten over my childhood, or lack of one, after Raava showed me this vision. Seeing that you tried your best to stop the White Lotus, even after death, just makes me feel even more whole." Korra was about to say something, but found her mind blank, as though someone or something had stolen her thoughts.

Thinking nothing of it, Korra heard the sound of rushing water as Aang said, "I… I know this alternate you speak of, Korra, even before Raava put it in that special box. I won't pursue this after all, or ask you to prosecute the Grand Lotus." Korra felt someone hug her, hearing Uncle Iroh's voice say, "We can try and reform the White Lotus, together, when things settle down. I doubt they would dare question am immortalized Grand Lotus such as myself, much less a Master Avatar." Korra chuckled, saying with a smile, "Thank you, but I'll just go by Avatar Korra Sato. I've had my taste of people parading their titles around – White Lotus Grand Master, Councilman, Chief of Police, President, Northern Water Tribe Chief, C.E.O. of Varrick Industries, Dark Avatar, Earth-Queen, the Great Uniter, Grand Dark Spirit wannabe…"

Korra tried to break the hug, but Uncle Iroh just hugged both her and Aang tighter, saying with a chuckle, "You didn't have to list everything, Korra – a single world would do just fine. Humility." Korra broke the hug gently, saying, "I guess you're right. Let's see what my ultimate grief is." Looking at the screen, she saw an image of an actual baby Atokara, tears coming to her eyes as she saw Atokara grow up in a normal fashion in a time-lapse, an ominous tick tock in the background. Korra sighed deeply when the real Atokara said, "Why am I making you sad, momma Korra?" After calling Atokara over, Korra explained, saying through a few tears, "I wanted to raise you normally, and spend as much time as I can with you, watching you grow and learn. The energy inside you from Raava means I will likely never have a normal child." Atokara shrugged, saying, "Okay. I still don't get it – I wanna be me, as soon as possible!" Korra smiled weakly, saying, "You really are a spitting image of me, Atokara." Atokara smiled, saying, "I'm Raava's gift, and you gotta deal with it! No babyhood and all!" Korra found herself laughing freely as the wind might have blown outside the Spirit World, the laughter only abating when Asami said seriously, "You're perfect just the way you are, Atokara." After Korra nodded in agreement, she felt a strong feeling of love in her heart as she said, "I accept things for the way they are, not the way they could have been."

Turning around, she saw Sokka poking the fifth pool with his boomerang, Sokka asking, "Why is this pool still blocked partially? What do you lie to yourself about, Korra?" Korra knew the answer, but did not respond, barking instead, "Hey! Quit that! Don't fall in the… water." As Sokka shook the water off, he said with a slight frown, "Oh. So that's what you lie to yourself about, still." Pointing at Wan and then Aang, he said, "I don't understand why you still see yourself as weak. You can do all sorts of crazy things, have mastered the four elements like no Avatar before you…" Korra sighed dejectedly, saying, "Let's save that one for last, Sokka. I've got other, less serious things to deal with." Sokka laughed, saying as a koala-sheep appeared at his side and ridiculous brown hair came into being on his face, "Sounds like you need some Sokka-ology." Raava laughed, saying, "I've got to see this," Aang groaning, "Ugh, Sokka – it didn't really work for me! Ouch – what's with the boomerang?" Sokka said, catching his boomerang, "Yes, it did – eventually! The delay was only because you were too stubborn to sleep, or listen!"

Korra walked between the two, saying, "We're all friends here. No need to fight." Sokka laughed, saying, "Not all fighting is bad. I guess since you didn't have a normal childhood, you never really learned what good-natured sarcasm or harassment was." Korra frowned slightly when Asami laughed, saying, "That explains a lot." Korra looked at Sokka, smiling slightly as she said, "Maybe I need to infobend more than just sword knowledge from you, Sokka." Sokka shook his head, saying, "You can't just infobend everything. If you took that kind of thing from me, you'd just start acting like me, instead of yourself." Korra laughed, saying, "Everyone already has to deal with Bolin, so I don't think we need another wisecracker." Sokka smiled, saying, "Nothing beats the original. Now let's get to Sokka-ology. Raava, can you make me a smaller version of one of those televisions?"

After Raava strained for a while, a small rectangular television appeared on the ground, Sokka picking it up as he said, "I wanted a television, not a… what is this thing, Wan Shi Tong?" Korra jumped slightly when she saw an image of Wan Shi Tong appear on the other kind of thingie, a small hole at the top letting out sound as Wan Shi Tong said, "This is a tablet. I'm not sure why Raava is just showing you these Earth things left and right." Korra laughed when Raava appeared, pushing Wan Shi Tong off as she said, "There's no way these two Earth technologies could be reproduced yet. I chose advanced versions of both televisions and tablets for a reason – if you tried to open the inside, even Kuvira couldn't make sense of the electronics. These will both remain here, for anyone else who wants to open their chakras."

Raava vanished, replaced by a color image of Korra that she laughed at heartily, a morose Korra saying, "Just because I can't prevent everything bad from happening or keep perfect balance means I'm weak." Sokka interacted with the image somehow, turning it to face a crowd of past Avatars as he said, "Korra, you've done a lot better job at maintaining balance than Roku or Kyoshi did." Korra smiled when she saw the two Avatars in question nod their heads, Roku saying, "I should have killed him," at the same time Kyoshi did, though they were both referring to different tyrants. As Korra said, "Nobody is perfect, and to think you have to be is a huge lie," she saw the image vanish, Sokka saying as he stroked his fake beard, "Good. Good. Now let's move on to what your final challenge will be."

Looking at the tablet again, Korra saw an image of herself appear, surrounded by the four elemental symbols, a depiction of lava, blue fire, bending metal, a single drop of blood and a ring of lightning forming an outer circle. Towards the center, she saw a circle formed from a freely floating smaller image of herself, the Ember Factory Island main complex, a ball of acid, Raava's human-y form, an outstretched palm and a depiction of Korra's spirit. The image in the center was blind to the talents and strengths that surrounded her, saying, "I'll never be strong enough!" Tapping the center image, Sokka said, "If you never acknowledge your strengths, and be happy with what you're capable of, Korra, you'll never know true peace. I didn't really feel good about who I was until I met and trained under Master Piandao, feeling inferior to the benders around me." Korra saw a tattooed hand other than her own push Sokka's hand aside, Aang saying as he pointed to Korra's many unique abilities, "If Katara could acidbend, the Drill outside Ba Sing Se would have been a joke. Even if she came up with the move your daughter did – the waterjet!" Resting his finger over the Ember Factory, he said, "Not to mention being able to make a whole factory, then your suits, drawing on your own spirit's energy for the suits." Korra said, without reservation, "I am pretty powerful," Sokka laughed, saying, "That's a big understatement. Come on – be honest."

Though she didn't like to brag – at least not now – Korra said, "I am one of the most powerful Avatars of all time, and happy with who I am." Korra gasped in an entirely different kind of pleasure, feeling what seemed like a final weight lifted off her soul, remembering that her two final chakras were more than just fine. Recalling Raava, she bent the two cleared chakra representations closer together as she said, "Watch out!" Apparently, Sokka had been a little slow, landing in the seventh chakra pool, sputtering, "Not again!" After climbing out, he kept a hand in the water, saying to an unseen being, "Is… is that you, Suki?" After an unknown response, Sokka started crying lightly, saying, "I'm out of here – I'm gonna see if I can cheat, and see Suki again!" Before he could vanish, Korra felt a surge of energy, Raava saying, "Wait! Korra moved those pools closer together for a reason. You might want to stick around."

Once everyone had gathered near the screen, except a "freed" Raava, Wan said, "This should be interesting. I wonder what Raava's true form will look like after… whatever it is happens." Raava put her hands on her hips, saying, "Maybe this is my true form now! You got a fetish for spirits or something?" Wan laughed, saying, "No," Korra realizing that Raava was waiting on her and Asami for their betrothal necklaces. Korra grabbed her jade betrothal necklace, saying, "Here, Raava – though I have no idea which necklace goes where." Asami held out her necklace, saying, "And I don't see any 'pool' to submerge a necklace in in my gears."

Raava held both necklaces in her right hand as she pressed a button on Asami's gear chakras, exposing a gently steaming pool of water in the center of each gear. Raava said, smiling broadly, "You and Asami aren't so different when you get down to the most basic level, Korra. Everyone has different versions of the same thing inside them." Crying a single tear, she said, "Well, not everyone - Tonga Beifong is but a small presence inside the monster that is Jinshu Kuangmai." Korra managed to choke out, "I don't know. I felt Jinshu Kuangmai's grief over seeing his soldiers die at the hands of an anonymous airbender, and it didn't feel like he was just sad because he lost so many 'pawns'." Raava gave Korra a funny look, saying, "I don't know if your naiveté is a strength or weakness, Korra." Looking down at the ground rather guiltily, Raava shocked Korra by saying, "I knew of that vision about you and Aang and the White Lotus you saw just now, and half expected you to yell at me, demanding why I never told you." Grinning nervously, Raava asked, "You're not mad at me, are you?" Korra shook her head, saying, "No. You must have kept it secret for a good reason." Raava nodded, saying, "Yes - I didn't think telling you or Aang would have been a good idea, seeing how the Grand Lotus reacted to Aang speaking from you. I don't think he would have believed his eyes if I popped out, admonishing him." With a weak smile, Raava said, "He probably would have injected himself with whatever that waterdrug was, thinking he had hallucinated. Even if he believed me, he likely wouldn't have listened anyways, especially seeing how you were kidnapped less than a year after that day by the Red Lotus." Korra heard Wan Shi Tong say, "I've looked at that Red Lotus Korra alternate, inside that little special box you made to hold it, Raava, and I think the Grand Lotus made the right choice, even if for the wrong reasons, and carried out his mission in a rather heartless way." Remembering the being of darkness' intrusions from Earth, and Uncle Iroh's offer to help revamp the White Lotus, Korra said, "We're going to need to re-make the White Lotus anyways, if a certain unwelcome guest is to be locked out properly." Ignoring Sokka and Uncle Iroh's blank stares, she made to finish, interrupted by Aye-zul, who said angrily, "Now there's a being I'd like to get my claws on…"

Korra sighed deeply, saying, "Did you forget what was most effective against him, Aye-zul? Or are you just itching for a fight?" Korra laughed when she heard the spirit say sheepishly, "Itching for a fight. Let's get this over with, so maybe I can go smack some Earth Empire goons or Dark Spirits around." Korra began laughing hysterically when Atokara admonished him, saying, "Being good isn't all about smacking goons and spirits around, you know. I know I wanna fight too, but something about thinking how Tarrlok and Noatak must have felt, growing up as Yakone's sons, makes me wanna heal too." Aye-zul groaned, saying, "Fine. Maybe I need to go talk to Hei Bai - I've heard all he wanted to do after conversion was go wreck Zaofu and Toph's wayward son, and given Jinshu Kuangmai was interrupting us earlier, I don't think he did." Making a mental note to take Jinora and Kai's experience that she knew nothing about from them in the morning, Korra said, "Why don't you lower the necklaces into the chakra pools, Raava." Raava giggled, saying, "I can't wait to feel what… uh, see what happens!" Raava ignored Wan's hysterical laughter, Wan saying, "I caught a glimpse of what will happen, and I know just what you can't wait to fee - hey, quit that, Korra! I want to see! Don't recall me!" Giving him a withering look, Korra said, "Then stop harassing Raava." With a slight grin, she added, "You don't want her getting the wrong idea, and thinking you're attracted to her, do you, Wan?" Wan surprised Korra by cursing loudly, blushing slightly as he said, "You… you have no idea what it's like to borderline despise every other human on the planet from your lifetime, Korra. At least Aang had human allies he liked, and one of them, enough to truly love, and marry…"

Looking to see Raava's reaction, Korra saw the spirit place her free hand on her forehead, saying, "I… I was drunk off my ass at the Avatar Party, Wan. I didn't mean any of that." Korra smiled silently, not needing to be able to sense Raava's spectral heart to tell she was lying. Aang said, looking back and forth between Wan and Raava, "I'm pretty sure anything between you would be breaking all sorts of rules, not to mention, from what I've heard, you don't have the proper equipment anyways, Raava." Raava picked up a small rock and threw it at Aang, saying angrily, "You doofus! Part of the whole reason I'm about to be promoted is that I realize love isn't about sex! I love Korra as well, and that doesn't mean I want to screw her! That's Asami's 'job'! Why don't you go peep on Katara, if that's how you think." Aang looked down at the ground, sullen as he said, "Sorry." Raava sighed deeply, saying, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some betrothal necklaces to 'wash'."

Korra watched as Raava held her own jade necklace over Asami's seventh gear and its steaming pool, Raava saying, "Who knows, Korra - you might be able to connect with the universe whenever you want when I'm done. Now, for the main event…"

With that, Raava lowered the twin necklaces into the water, Korra's pool glowing white and Asami's water boiling intensely, Raava somehow able to stand the pain. Through gritted teeth, she said, "It feels so bad, but so good… I guess this is what being separated from your lover must feel like. I feel no burning, only longing that hurts so much more, but also bittersweet at the same time…" With this, the gear's water stopped boiling, Raava exclaiming, "What's… what's happening? I thought I was supposed to GrOOOOWOWOWWWW! Ouch!" Raava said, rubbing her neck, "What was that? It felt like someone was burning through my chakras, if I had them, all at once!" Korra laughed, saying, "I guess that's why your 'co-worker' wanted me to unlock my chakras. Sounds like you got some help."

Raava looked uneasy, saying as she tossed the necklaces back to Asami and Korra, "Don't look! I have no idea if my clothes are going to bust or not!" Korra laughed, saying, "I doubt it." Korra watched in amazement as she was proven right, laughing when she finally processed what the ridiculous-looking pile of cloth and what appeared to be a single piece of body armor obscuring Raava was for - modesty. Korra heard Raava begin to laugh uncontrollably, saying with glee, "Wow - this… is amazing! I feel like I just drank from Sharktar's pool!" Korra barely contained her laughter as she heard a familiar raspy voice say from her seventh chakra pool, "Hope you don't mind me popping in, Raava. I've got some advice for Korra and Asami after this, and want to see what someone growing rapidly looks like. It's been so long, I've forgotten." Raava said, with an incongruously mature voice, "No problem."

Not complaining in the slightest, Raava gradually filled her new clothes and unique blue and white breastplate, holding up a hand into the air as she said, "Hey - where's my sword I designed? I want to look like Joan of Arc!" Ignoring the rest of Raava's changed form, Korra looked at the large two-handed sword that appeared in Raava's hand, Raava saying proudly, "Life's Gift. I like it." Raava stepped forward, wielding the sword expertly as she said, "Maybe I can be more than just elemental glue now. I've always wondered what it would be like, fighting someone other than Vaatu directly." Realizing that everyone was staring at the sword, Raava stopped moving it, saying, "Here - take a look."

Korra examined the sword, noticing that it looked strong and savage, yet still not barbaric. But just barely. Strange glowing blue letters adorned the blade's center, glowing more intensely as Raava read the text aloud, saying, "Life is to give, but also take away. Wield this sword with hesitation and uncertainty. Quiver, before you take life." Raava flipped the large blade over, reading the back, the white letters glowing as she did so, "Sometimes to create that which is new and right, you must destroy the old and corrupted. New seeds can grow in the ashes of the past." Smiling, Raava slammed the blade's edge into the ground, blue and white lines spreading from it as the sword pulsed. Finally getting a good look, Korra realized it looked nothing like she had ever seen, with Raava's spirit form forming a slightly three-dimensional base for the sword, a handle with leaves and flowers embossed in color jutting skywards. A small, three-dimensional blue and white yin and yang pulsed steadily at the end of the pommel. The sword had sharp, cutting edges that pulsed with blue and white energy, the metal looking as though it was quivering slightly. When Raava removed the sword from the ground, she smiled, saying, "I found it poetic to turn a symbol for evil from another plane into a symbol for love. To twist something associated with death, into something associated with life." Acting like she was testing something, Raava yelled, "LOVE GROWS!" as she pointed the sword at those in front of her, Korra feeling an immense peace within her, grinning involuntarily.

Raava smiled, saying, "Given everyone's smiling, the blade is working as intended. I like that line a lot more than 'FROSTMOURNE HUNGERS!' Ar- errr, he's sadder than Jinshu Kuangmai… or was, rather." Korra gave Raava a quizzical look, saying, "What's Frostmourne? And who could be worse than Jinshu Kuangmai?" Raava frowned deeply, saying, "Let's just say that there are planes more barbaric than Earth. More people than the creators of the Earth show on our own world Aang talked about can see across planes." Aang said, disbelief in his voice, "What, does every creation from Earth spring from another plane? I know that they love to cheat and steal, but surely they could make something original." Raava laughed, saying with a smile, "To use an English phrase, 'They did some good drugs.' Surely you remember their legion of psychoactive substances, Aang." Sokka chuckled nervously, saying, "Yeah… mind-bending." After Korra gave him a dirty look, asking, "Did you drink cactus juice more than once?" Sokka laughed, saying, "Let's just say I tried it with Suki once, and saw what I thought were crazy visions. Given how Suki saw the same thing, and how detailed they were, I guess they weren't." With a nervous look, Aang asked, "You… you didn't happen to 'see' the Trinity bomb test in the Si Wong Desert, did you? The mushroom cloud I made?" Sokka laughed, his ludicrous fake beard finally vanishing as he said, "No. I saw a giant, friendly mushroom."

Before Korra could wonder aloud, she heard Raava say, "No, no cactus juiced Avatar. I don't want you accidentally bumping into some random being of darkness on a vision of your own." Korra sighed, saying, "Fine. I just wanted to have some fun…" Sokka shook his head violently, saying, "Cactus juice isn't fun. The first time I drank it, it was innocuous enough, but the second time was torturous. I saw a bunch of strange men, and some women, with what I now know was Vaatu dancing around them, asking tauntingly, 'Does the little Water Tribe boy and his girlfriend want to see? See beyond? See the darkness inside?'" Shivering slightly, he finished, "That's when I saw Azula join the others, and swore to never drink cactus juice again." Korra heard deep laughter from Raava's direction, turning to see what was going on. Korra heard a muffled voice from the teapot say, "Cactus juice - it's the quenchiest!"

Korra watched as Raava smacked the teapot, saying, "Shaddup!" before sheathing her new sword. Korra finally got a good look at Raava's new form, and given how Raava was posing for everyone, she must have noticed Korra's stare. Korra began laughing deeply when she heard Wan say "Uhhhhh…" as she took in the changes. Raava now appeared to be in her mid to late teens, Raava suprising Korra by saying, "Technically, I'm '14' but the energy in both your necklaces made me look a lot older." Korra laughed, saying as she pointed at Raava's breastplate, "I can see. I like how your white and blue armor has your old form on it." Raava nodded, saying, "Thanks for calling it my old form. The human - no, female - form is a lot more interesting than being some stupid kite." Laughing, she added, "I wonder if Varrick is ever going to make that mover about 'The biggest, meanest, scariest kite that ever flew!' What's the look for, Korra?" Korra laughed, knowing Raava was just being polite by asking, Korra asking, "How did you find out about that? And what mover?" Raava smiled, saying, "Sword, armor, a bigger body and breasts aren't the only good things I got with this promotion. I have more connection with all life now - not just what you or I see." Korra nodded, saying, "I sort of wondered how you knew Kuvira, Tonga Beifong and - wait. That was before." Raava laughed, saying, "I guess it just got stronger, is all."

Wanting a better look at Raava's head, Korra ran up, inspecting as she smiled. Pointing to Raava's white wolf ponytails and multiple half white and half blue hair loopies, Korra said, "I guess you have similar tastes with your best gift - Atokara." Raava smiled warmly, saying, "She's the whole reason I'm no longer a dour white and blue kite, in more ways than the obvious." Raava tapped the light blue and white metal diamond that now covered part of her head, saying, "Oops - I forgot a piece. I don't want to wear a full helmet, so I figure this is the next best - what are you doing, Korra?" On some artistic impulse, Korra had somehow made the odd headpiece into something resembling the large metal necklace Su liked to wear, saying, "Making you look prettier." As Raava giggled as though she were still four, Korra added the finishing touches, a blue and white diamond now surrounded by platinum with the four elemental symbols embossed on each side of the larger center. Korra stepped back, starting to say something, but stopped, seeing Raava take off her creation and add a blue and white cap and dreadful looking deep blue spike to the top. Korra groaned slightly, asking, "What's with you and looking fierce?" Raava frowned slightly, saying, "You're right - that little extra simila- err, touch is a bit much." The impractical, evil looking spike vanished, replaced by a white extension on the helmet in the shape of the very tip of Raava's spirit form. After Raava added a smaller version of the symbol on Korra's right breast, Raava said, "Done. I could use a reminder that Vaatu is technically inside me as well." Korra snickered when she heard a muffled boy's voice say, "Hehe. Inside her." Korra smacked the teapot for Raava, saying, "You certainly act four, Vaatu. I hope you stay that way." Korra laughed when she heard the same muffled voice curse heartily in English, Vaatu finishing, "If I could talk to Jinshu Kuangmai, I wouldn't be four - I'd have my own ironic sword!"

Not sure what to make of Raava disgusted expression, Korra grabbed her hand, saying, "I think we're done here." Raava sighed dejectedly, saying, "I wanna try out my sword with someone!" Sokka volunteered, saying, "Oh, me! Me! And no cheating, Raava!" Raava's body shifted slightly, saying from inside a more complete, ornate suit of armor, "Okay!" Sokka groaned, saying, "No fair! You can't just add armor and claim artistic license!" Raava laughed deeply, saying, "What are you gonna do about it, huh? Come at me!"

As a laughing Raava and incensed Sokka sparred, Korra watched, surprised to see they were evenly matched, aside from body armor. Raava now resembled the strong woman warrior from Earth even more, dress and skin replaced by blue and white armor. Taking a closer look, Korra began crying slightly when she saw Raava's breastplate had the same symbol above her heart that Korra had over her own. Apparently, Korra's emotion distracted Raava, letting Sokka step away and get a shot with his boomerang in. Raava teetered, yelling, "Whoa!" before falling flat on her back. Everyone laughed as Sokka posed in triumph, eventually helping Raava back up. Raava pushed him over with the large, flat blue and white portion of her sword, saying, "Even! We can settle this some other time, Sokka - I think Korra's tattoo job is done now." Sokka groaned, protesting, "Awww, come on! That was a cheap shot!" Raava smiled, saying, "The sooner your sister goes to sleep, the sooner you can see Suki." Aang scratched his head, saying, "What does Katara going to sleep have to do with Suki?" Raava said, with a gleam in her eye, "Let's just say there's a reason Sharktar needs to give Korra and Asami advice. Everyone else, shoo - this is going to be a more private affair." Korra chuckled as she heard Aye-zul growl, "Time to go find some Dark Spirits to teach a lesson in power to!" warning him, "Be careful. Don't tangle with Long Yumao, and if he bothers you, ask Bumju, the Painted Lady, Wan Shi Tong and Hei Bai for help." Aye-zul laughed, saying, "Okay. I don't know what the Painted Lady is gonna do, aside from cheer-lead." Korra heard a light slap, a female voice saying, "Fighting Long Yumao takes all kinds - he hates me! Human spirit, aligned with Raava - the perfect deterrent."

Korra heard many "VSSSHT"s around her, looking to see that she was now alone with Asami, Raava and Sharktar. Asami said, clearly upset, "What did you do, Raava? I wanted to talk to my parents some more!" Raava smiled, saying, "I think you'll find what Sharktar has to say will help with that." Sharktar hissed slightly, saying, "What? I came here to warn them about making sure they don't get absorbed by fantasy by abusing this new 'shared inner space' dreaming." Raava laughed, saying, "Right. Given what Korra wanted to say about 'A different kind of playing' earlier, I imagine Korra and Asami will use it for what you need to caution against first. Inner space isn't good for just quelling dark halves, meeting your daughter, or doing the impossible with one another - you should also be able to visit your parents as well, Asami." Sharktar sighed, saying with irritation, "I know that. That's part of the warning too." Looking directly at Asami, he said seriously, "Now that you mention it, it's the biggest part as well. Talking to the dead has more potential for blurring fantasy and stark, cold reality than any outlandish kind of sex."

Asami glared at Sharktar with contempt, saying, "You have no idea what it's like to be human! I want to talk to my parents!" With a deep sigh, the irritable spirit said, baring sharp teeth, "Yes, I do, and I think you should let them do the contacting. Remember my pool's little side effect - forced maturation. I can remember a few exemplary cases of lovers using the pool, and growing into fine human beings." Through narrow eyes, he stared at Asami as he said, "One of the other transformations I clearly remember was that of a young man stricken by grief at the loss of his mother, hoping to jumpstart a family with his lover to dull his pain." Whipping out a small, odd control, Sharktar said, "Watch, and see why the living should focus on the living, and let the dead be."

Korra turned to see an image of a young man holding a young woman's hands near a nervous-looking Sharktar, who warned, "Young man, you need to get over your grief first, and fully replace it with love for your girlfriend." The image paused, Sharktar saying, "Huh, that's weird. It's in a lot more definition than I expected such an ancient memory to be." Korra noticed the tip of a blade poking up from behind the screen, what must have been Raava saying, "Life's Gift is good for more than fighting. I'm using it to amplify the memory." Sharktar laughed, saying, "Fine with me. I think I forgot my own name once…"

The image resumed movement, the young man saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You haven't told me anything my father hasn't already. How bad can the side effect be - I love my mother too." The Sharktar in the image sighed, saying, "As you wish, but only because your girlfriend wants to drink along with you. She'll go first, only drinking a - hey, stop! Damn - I'm going to have to turn the pool off! Everyone else, get away!" Korra heard some diffuse sounds of panic come from the speaker, the young man having bent a substantial amount of water into his mouth. He hadn't prepared properly, his clothes ripping and leaving him naked. Korra was confused, saying, "His body looks normal - what's the big deal? He's not corrupted like Atokara appeared." The Sharktar beside her and in the image sighed at the same time, the voice beside her saying, "Just watch how he acts afterwards. His grief and obsession with the loss of his mother manifested in a very odd, disturbing way."

Korra watched as the man looked outwards, screaming when she saw his eyes. There was no light in them, the pupils looking black and lifeless as tar, without the gleam pitch might have had. He shook, saying, "Mother? Is that you?" to the air, completely ignoring the cries of his girlfriend, who yelled, "Bato! I'm over here, the love of your life - your mother is dead!" Bato looked at his girlfriend in horror, saying, "No - she can't be dead! She's right there!" His dead eyes widened, as though he could hear a member of the departed speaking to him. He began to cry, saying, "No - you're not dead, mother! I… see you!" Bato didn't even react when another young man ran over to the girl, consoling her as she said, "I… I wanted to start a family, and now Bato's as good as gone." The Sharktar on the screen said mournfully, "I am sorry. There is no cure, and your boyfriend will live out his days neither among the living nor the dead. Torn between worlds."

The image vanished, Korra hearing Asami ask bitterly, "Does… does this mean I can never see my parents again? So I don't become like Bato - alive, but dead?" Korra turned around, seeing Sharktar shake his head, saying, "No. But do not go chasing them - they will appear when they are needed, and at no other time." As Korra thought of what to say, she felt an odd energy pulse when she finally said, "Asami, I understand your residual grief, and why you'd want to talk to your parents as much as possible. But I agree with Sharktar. You've got all the love you need, right here - me." The energy intensifying, Korra said strongly, "Allow the dead in spirit to bury or obsess over their own dead. The living need to busy themselves with the living, and leave the dead to their own devices." Korra hugged Asami as Asami sighed deeply, saying, "I guess you're right. Mako, Bolin, Kuvira - they all have lost parents as well, and I can't see any of them obsessing with death instead of life." Asami stepped back, pointing at Korra's chest as she asked, "Uh, Korra - have any idea what's up with your jade betrothal necklace?"

Korra removed the necklace, inspecting it with a critical eye, noticing that the clasp was open. Looking underneath the image of Asami, she saw the fading English text "Luke 9:60". Not having a clue who Luke was, nor why it did not simply say "10:00" Korra called Raava over, asking, "What's 'Luke 9:60'? And why are you looking at me like that?" Raava stepped closer, tentatively poking Korra with her sword as she said, "Did someone channel what you said about the living and dead, or did you come up with that on your own?" Korra smiled, saying, "That was my own creation. What does it have to do with Luke 9:60?" Raava smiled, saying, "Everything. I guess your necklaces did absorb some of the seventh chakra pool after all." Korra's eyes widened as she realized what this meant, clutching her necklace as she attempted to contact someone - or something. She began laughing hysterically as she heard a gentle voice in her head say, "I wondered when you'd notice that. Just consider the changed necklace a little perk - it should help you with other planes as well…" Korra momentarily saw a flash of another dead-eyed child, apparently wandering in an endless void.

Raava must have been privy to this vision as well, given how she said, "Ugh. I wonder what that monster wants…" Korra saw another flash of the child crying, speaking in a strange tongue through lips that looked dead somehow, gray hair laying on his forehead. Raava cursed, saying, "Sorry!" Thoroughly confused by the whole affair, Korra was glad to see the child smile slightly, pushing him from her mind as she said to Sharktar, "Okay. So you gave us the biggest piece of advice, for Asami. As usual." Asami laughed, saying, "I can't help it if Uncle Iroh and Sharktar both want to give me the most important advice." Korra heard Sharktar cough, the spirit saying calmly, "The other warning, about fantasy. Don't be afraid to go along with whatever fantasy your spirit chooses, but don't go looking for new ones outside your spirit's suggestions." As though recalling a particularly repulsive image, Sharktar said, "I wish I had never looked at the Encyclopedia of Rule 34, or the forbidden pages of the Book of DeviantArt." Korra heard Raava snicker, saying, "Though, given how those two guys on Earth made a television show about our plane, you might find some of the inappropriate images in those… books to be interesting, Korra and Asami." Sharktar blew some steam out of his blowhole, saying, "If you must look, let the library decide what is, and is not appropriate for you to see. I could use some 'brainbleach' as… readers of the books in that section say they need on Earth, after… accidentally reading the Encyclopedia of Rule 34."

Korra sighed, saying, "I can tell you're hiding something about these two books, and it sounds to me like they aren't actually books. You can't accidentally read a book, after all." Sharktar grinned nervously, saying before he vanished, "You'll learn of their true nature once technology here catches up, Korra. It shouldn't be long - you know what Kuvira is working on." Remembering how nice the water in the pool felt, Korra jumped in after imagining herself in a bikini, a similarly clothed Asami joining her after. She was too busy enjoying the feeling of oneness with Asami and the universe to complain when Raava joined them, still in her armor and using her sword as a headrest. As though receiving some instruction or advice, Raava said, "Before we go, let's talk about my new form - and weapon." Holding Life's Gift in the water, Korra noticed that the water now felt pleasingly cool to her, yet somehow felt hot to Asami, given how she said, "Ahhhh - I love hot tubs." Raava giggled, saying, "I didn't put this in here to make the water nicer. This sword is imbued with great power - power we may need to bring to bear on our foes." Korra gave Raava a skeptical look, saying, "How? I'm not projecting you out in the middle of a fight, or even someplace where there might be danger. I'd be defenseless, only being able to waterbend and acidbend."

Twirling the sword above her head, Raava said, "Even I don't know what I will need this for, but I know I will need it for something." Korra heard a young male voice say, "I've got an idea!" turning to see Aang in outsized clothes that looked like they belonged to Kyoshi. Shortly after, Kyoshi herself appeared, saying, "It has not escaped my attention that you let Raava directly control you, Korra. Aang once experienced something similar with myself, temporarily replaced when in my full garb, as you can see here." Remembering that incident, Korra laughed, asking, "Did they ever start cooking the dough for Avatar Day, Aang?" Aang frowned slightly, saying, "No," before continuing in a more serious tone, "We both thought you might be able to do something similar with Raava. You've already let her control you directly like a puppet, Korra, so it may not be a huge stretch."

Even in the wonderful pool of water, Korra felt a little uneasy with how enthusiastic Raava sounded as she said, "Sure! That will be the first thing we test once we get out of here. Maybe find a Dark Spirit to… test my blade on." Korra groaned, saying with exasperation, "What is with spirits and being impetuous?" Seeing the way Raava was staring at her breastplate, Korra added, "I agree to test this, but in an isolated location. You should also see if you can bend. But strictly business - no ogling yourself, Raava! You can do that on your own time." Raava stuck her tongue out, saying, "Fine, to testing this new idea in isolation. What I do is up to me, not you." Laughing, she added, "It's not like you can keep me from moving, like Aang or I might be able to." Korra sighed with fake exasperation, saying in her best imitation of Tenzin, "It's not appropriate for the spirit of light to cuss, much less wield a sword or stare at her breasts!" Even Kyoshi laughed heartily, saying after, "I'm starting to wonder why Raava didn't 'come out' earlier, so to speak."

Finally getting out of the water, Korra missing the cold as Raava left, Raava shook the water out her hair, saying "I don't know, to be honest." Looking rather sheepish, she added, "There was a part of me that was tempted to just become a non-entity, so to speak, after Harmonic Convergence, and for a while I did, not contacting Korra while she fought with the Red Lotus and chased airbenders." Looking like she might cry, she said, "It was only when I lost contact completely that I realized my mistake." Raava broke down, saying, "You weren't the only one doing soul-searching between the poisoning and full removal of the mercury, Korra. I never really grieved the apparent loss of connection with your past lives, but when you were poisoned… it brought everything to a head. I couldn't even talk to you anymore!" Smiling weakly, she said, "There was a lot more behind my decision to become human-y and give gifts to humans than what I've let on."

Given the way Raava was smiling, as though torn between hiding something and letting it go, Korra jumped back as she saw Raava's form grow slightly when she said, "Remember when I told you that you were connected to all the spiritual energy in the Spirit World, before you energybent that prison away?" Korra nodded, ignoring Aang's exclamation of, "ENERGYBENDING?", instead telling Raava, "Yes, I do. What does this have to do with your decision to become more human?" Raava smiled, saying, "I was technically telling the truth - but not all of it." Korra began to suspect what Raava might have lied about by omission, Raava saying, "I didn't know what to make of it at the time, so I simply blocked the interaction," Raava's words only confirming her suspicion. Seeing Raava still looked nervous, Korra said, "It's okay - I'm sure you made the right decision, blocking the cross-plane interaction I think you did. I'd have just thought I was still hallucinating. But when did it happen?" Sighing deeply, Raava said, pointing at Korra's jade necklace with the blade of Life's Gift, "I'm glad you're not offended. To answer your question. When you used your energy to dissipate the prison holding Jinora and the others, I noticed that the same being that sent you a message about John 9:60 tried to contact you to say… Let's see. 'You may not know who I am, but I am proud of your growth, Avatar Korra. I want you to know that the ultimate source of power you draw from is that of love, Raava only a growing servant of a universal constant.' I can tell those tears on your face are happy ones, Kor - Oh, pipe down, Aang - you can babble about energybending, and ask Korra why she didn't strip Zaheer of his airbending, later! Don't make Korra recall you!"

Giving Aang a slight glare, Korra said, seriously considering carrying out Raava's threat, "I thought Air Nomads were supposed to be polite," before looking at Raava, saying gently, "Given what he said, I think concern over how I would have reacted was a… secondary concern." Raava mumbled, "Yes… That was the first time in a long, long time anyone else had contacted me, and I didn't really like the insinuation that I was a servant, much less that I still needed to grow." Laughing, Raava said, "And just look at me now. I made a leap of faith, deciding to embrace humanity, first with Atokara and the tuber-vines, then with much more direct involvement." Hugging Asami, Korra said, "You're not the only one who made a leap of faith. Asami opened herself up to me in ways that I didn't even know she needed to less than a week ago." Remembering there were more people in the world beside Asami and herself, Korra added, "Kuvira as well. I'm glad I didn't kill her now, or take her bending away, as Aang might have - she's made massive progress, since her crisis of soul."

Stepping out of the pool, Korra used her native element to dry herself off, helping Asami when she joined her side. Feeling rather odd about the way Kyoshi was staring at the two bikini-clad women in front of her, Korra imagined herself in clothes again, laughing when Asami said, "Aw, man! I wasn't done looking yet!" Korra smiled, saying as she traced Asami's collarbone, "You'll get plenty of time to look later, when we have our first - no, second, with our little otter-penguin sledding trip earlier - shared inner space dream." Korra looked at Aang, smiling when he asked, "Next time, can I come too? Huh? Can I?" Korra was about to respond, but Raava said, "Aang, be patient. I won't say anything beyond that, for even I don't know exactly how the dreams will play out." Korra closed her eyes, trying to envision herself and Asami playing like children again, only seeing a howling gale instead. There appeared to be a tall male figure inside, cursing and shouting in a strange language, as though torn. Remembering her necklace's new property, she clutched it tightly, eyes still closed. The man's speech was no longer obscured, Korra hearing him howl, "Be gone, fiend! I… I have found a being of light! I have wandered the Void for far too long to give up now! You won't keep me from… her? Who's there? Wait… Jaina? Is it you?" Remembering what the gentle voice from Earth had said, Korra thought, "I am not who you seek, but you're getting close to someone else who can help you. Exactly who I am is not important. All that is important, is that you know what I serve - love." Korra heard a deeper, unfamiliar icy multivoice howl, "SILENCE, woman! And you - you insufferable pest! I thought I killed your pathetic, childish self long ago - with great satisfaction!" Forgetting herself, she said out loud, "Jinshu Kuangmai, piss off. I thought I sealed you out!"

Korra felt the tip of a somehow warm blade touch her back, Raava saying loudly, "Cut that connection. NOW. It appears someone wants to change, but isn't done winning their soul back yet." Before doing so, Korra thought, "Strangers - remember that no matter the plane, darkness always yields to purifying light." Korra heard the deeper voice cursing violently, finishing, "Whoever you are, woman, you are toying with powers beyond your imagining. I am contained, by another fool - for now. If I ever get free or corrupt my jailer, after I take over my own world fully, I'll make sure your plane, wherever it is, is one of the first I get enslaved mortals to make a portal to." Korra saw an image of a large, dark gate briefly before finally breaking the connection, telling Raava, "Someone just threatened to invade us!" Turning around, Korra faced Raava, who was wagging a finger as she said, "You should have broken the connection sooner. I thought I told you to not mess with that. Only one other plane at a time, and this non-Earth plane is very complicated and confusing."

More concerned about the threat, Korra asked hotly, "Does that being's threat not concern you?" Raava shrugged, saying nonchalantly, "They wouldn't be able to get here with their kind of portals - they'd have to create a genuine wormhole, without assistance from one of their many different counterparts of the four bending elements. Given how different their rules are to ours, it would be like Jinshu Kuangmai trying to invade Earth with spirit vine weaponry. The only 'spells' from their plane that would work are ones revolving around earth, water, fire or air." Not entirely satisfied, Korra said, "I'm sure they'll come up with something, someday. They must have conventional weapons too, and something tells me there's a lot of overlap with our bending. Can't we just seal them out, like that being from Earth?" Raava had a funny look on her face as she said, "I'm afraid not, but at least they are eons away from true technology, relying heavily on various forms of magic to make their own technologies work properly. Much as the military equipment you and others have designed rely heavily on tuber-vines or bending." Sighing deeply, Raava said, face sullen, "The conflicted individual you were interacting with is not on any plane right now in particular, wandering a shared Void. He is only harassed by the deeper voice because of… his own past life."

Korra was surprised when she heard Aang say, "If it sounds like Arthas wants help from this plane, I see no reason to keep speaking around his name." Aang pointed at Life's Gift, saying as Raava blushed, "Especially considering he wouldn't be snooping around here, if it weren't for your own little stunt with inverting Frostmourne. My best guess is he was drawn by the similarity in form of your sword to Frostmourne, and also the energy of Life's Gift as a potential source for help. You'd be extremely cruel to deny help to him. Korra doesn't know his full history, but we both do, Raava. The Lich King…" Walking over and rapping his fingers on Raava's armor, which was an imitation of something from Earth, Aang said, "Speaking of history - we need to focus on our own, and not somebody else's. You'd be wise to follow your own advice to Korra about planes, Raava. No more mimicry, definitely not of the plane Arthas is from. There are too many different powerful beings there. We're lucky that Earth's spirits are subtle, unlike Artha's plane." Smiling again, Aang said, "Which brings me to my next point, mainly curious, but also sort of baffled - why didn't you strip Zaheer's bending, Korra? You've shown you can energybend just fine, what with restoring bending to Amon's victims, holding off UnaVaatu with your spirit's energy, freeing my granddaughter from her spirit prison, not to mention all the stuff you've done lately. Infobending, the necklaces, synthesizing a factory, weapons for Bolin, Opal, Kai and my granddaughter, two mechasuits…"

Korra sighed, saying, "Until recently, I did not feel strong enough to try and challenge someone's spirit to strip their bending. I see no reason to strip Zaheer of his bending now, and given how Jinshu Kuangmai somehow managed to change Vaatu significantly, the best I can hope for is a stalemate." Recalling Raava, Korra said, tattoos and eyes now glowing, "Plus, I've got another way to block someone's bending, at no risk to my spirit - bloodbending." Aang recoiled slightly, saying as Kyoshi nodded with approval, "I know you can take someone's bending without resorting to that, Korra." Korra sighed, saying, "I see absolutely no reason to take unnecessary risks, Aang. Think - if you knew about Avatar State bloodbending, and knew of how you almost were corrupted ahead of time, would you still have used energybending on Ozai?" Aang looked conflicted, saying, "Back then, and still now, yes. Let's agree to disagree." Korra smiled, nodding as she said, "Good. In that case, I have someone I need to talk to."

Korra projected Raava out, thinking, "I need Noatak for a little bit. I don't want to leave anything to chance when trying to remove Jinshu Kuangmai's bending without energybending." Raava nodded, whistling and calling. Aang jumped slightly when Noatak said dryly, "Finally, something interesting. I don't know why I'm in some human spirit waiting room - I want to live again already!" Raava smiled, saying, "I have a particular life in mind for you. One you will share with your brother - though he won't call you that." Apparently, Noatak was smarter than Korra thought, immediately getting the reference as he said, "So, I guess I'm going to be a girl then?" Raava nodded, stopping dead when Noatak added, "Just please, something other than being a waterbender. No bloodbending, period..." Raava had a dour face as she said, "I cannot say one way or another." Raava spluttered when Noatak sighed, saying, "Hiroshi stopped by, talking about how he would need to learn from his past mistakes. If it is your wish that I learn directly about controlling power, I won't protest. I suppose I have a lot of lessons to learn about proper use of power, even if I did save my brother Tarrlok. Other than being a blood-iron bender, I see no other way to learn." Raava looked so mad, she appeared to be ready to slice someone in two, saying with flaring eyes, "I guess I need to have a bit more control over such interactions."

Raava appeared to age reversely slightly. Given how she was crying, it must have been deliberate, saying, "Great. Now I'm back to where I was earlier." Choosing her words delicately, Korra said, "Remember - free will is important. You can't control everyone, and everything." Raava looked hesitant at first, only crying and regaining her slightly more mature form when Noatak said gently, "Trying to control what people can, and cannot say, without good reason, is worse than any bloodbending I ever did in my life. Does trying to micromanage what Hiroshi says to me sound like something the spirit of light would do?" Raava shook her head, saying, "No. Thank you for your honesty." Remembering Raava's little hissy fit about Korra seeing a firebending bear associated with Asami's mother, Korra opened her mouth to ask a question, but Raava beat her to the punch, saying authoritatively, "No, I will not tell you who Yasuko is, in her current life. And before you ask, the gentle being you like so much is backing me up on this one, though for very different reasons." Korra laughed, pointing an accusing finger at Raava as she said, "Let me guess. You're concerned mainly with breaking some rule, and he wants whatever it is about Yasuko to remain a surprise." Korra laughed harder when she heard a click from her necklace, reading the solitary English word "Yes" below Asami's portrait. Clicking it shut, Korra turned to Noatak, saying, "Why don't you let me try and perform your bending-removal form on your head, Noatak. I don't trust blocking someone's bending using only chi blocking points."

Noatak laughed, his form shifting to an unwelcome sight, saying with mock seriousness, "I am not Noatak, I am Amon! Soon, you will have your bending stripped from you for good, Avatar Korra! Prepare to be Equalized!" Recalling a laughing Raava, Korra ignored Aang's protests, noticing that Noatak actually seemed to be trying his best. Besting him without any real difficulty, Korra put a glowing hand on his forehead, successfully blocking the chi in the crown of his head, immediately restoring it after, just in case chi blocking carried across lifetimes. Before she could remove her hand, she saw an image of an ominous looking camp, then a crying pregnant woman with blue eyes next to what must have been her morose husband, both being consoled in secret by a woman Earth Empire guard. After a quick "Thank you," to Noatak, Korra projected Raava out, saying in an authoritative tone, "I don't like how that camp looked." Korra was surprised by how Raava nodded, saying, "Neither do I. It appears Jinshu Kuangmai has outdone himself again. I hope he doesn't emulate Earth…" Raava walked over, putting the tip of Life's Gift over Noatak's heart, cursing loudly in English, saying, "Gaaah! Now, when I want to get a read, I can't! Damn stupid rules!" Korra tried unsuccessfully as well, unable to remember any landmarks, only managing to see the guard's face in more detail after repeating the maneuver on Noatak. Sighing deeply, she said, "At least it looks like what must be Tarrlok and Noatak's new mother and father have an ally." Raava smiled again, saying, "Yes, you're right. Even some of the guards in… Auschwitz were decent human beings, and something tells me this woman does more than give out the odd comforting."

After Korra heard Raava say the foreign word, seemingly eradicated memories resurfaced. Given how she could hear Asami, and even Noatak, crying, Raava must have spread the information around. Overwhelmed by sadness, Korra asked, "Why… why are the death factories relevant again, Raava?" Eyes widening, Korra added, "Please don't tell me you think…"

Looking straight at a distraught unmasked Noatak, Raava said, "I am afraid they have become relevant. I believe that Jinshu Kuangmai has begun finishing what Kuvira started - the purging of the Earth Empire of those deemed undesirable." As Korra felt more information flow into her being, she heard Asami begin to sob violently, Asami finally composing herself enough to speak. Korra turned to Asami, seeing fierce determination in her eyes as she said, "Something tells me Jinshu Kuangmai is going to emulate this 'Adolf Hitler' in a more personal way. 'Undesirables'…" Korra's eyes turned to thin, angry slits, realizing what Asami meant.

Not knowing how much time she had, Korra said, "Talking with everyone else about what happened in here can wait. Even testing the tattoos is unimportant. I have a guard to contact - we need to know exactly what Jinshu Kuangmai has planned. Right now." As a tear rolled down her face, she finished, "We can always use Jang Hui kelp tea if we need to act immediately. The camp didn't look like Auschwitz - at least not yet."

Recalling Raava, Korra told those around her, "Hopefully, this guard can meditate into the Spirit World. But just maybe…" On a whim, Korra used her necklace to focus on the guard's energy, pleading as she focused, "Please let this work…"

Your idea - it worked! Direct link established, Korra. Let us hope that this guard is who we hope she is. I'll do the talking.

She could hear Raava laughing inside her as Korra shook her head, thinking, "No. We'll work together."