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.

46. Chapter 46: Conscience

Chapter 46: Conscience

Kuvira did not know what to expect, falling asleep aboard the monstrous aircraft she had assisted Korra in creating. Looking around, she saw that Mako was sound asleep next to her, his brother by his side. Opal was the only one close who was still awake, Kuvira seeing that the airbender was giving her a skeptical look. With a long sigh, Kuvira said quietly, meeting Opal's gaze, "I know what you're probably thinking, Opal - 'One slip up, and I'll end you.' I know what I did to your family - to Zaofu. The monster I recruited - Toph's wayward son. How I started the abuse of spirit weaponry." Opal nodded, saying in the same quiet volume, "Close, but not quite. I was just wondering - have you had any… experiences, since the day after the battle? Ones that might be signs of trouble?"

Kuvira's pulse raced, knowing the answer to that question. One that she didn't like at all…

The answer was yes. One she had lied to Korra about earlier, unsure why Korra had not called her out on her small lie.

For a moment, she considered lying to Opal as well, both to keep her from worrying about something Opal couldn't control, and also to help keep up the façade - to herself. Hearing an inner voice say, "Darkness hates exposure to light. Tell her," Kuvira said, after a long pause, still quietly, "Yes, I have. They have only taken the form of dreams thus far, the dreams becoming more and more 'hellish', the closer I get to Mako, and the more I help…" Feeling bitter, Kuvira whispered, "I haven't had a truly good night's sleep since I changed, inside that wooden box. I just want this to be over…"

Seeing Opal's concerned look, Kuvira admitted lowly, "I should have told everyone about this earlier, but I didn't want to worry or distract anyone. There's a reason I've been hitting the Jang Hui kelp tea hard 'today', aside from the computer stuff - I want to avoid sleep..." Seeing an image she'd rather forget, of Korra crying in platinum chains displayed as a trophy, Kuvira continued, "The dream is always the same, in growing detail…" Remembering the outcome of the last dream, Kuvira choked up slightly, saying, "The last time, like every time, I was in Korra's shoes, facing off against my Colossus. Except Hiroshi never got through the armor…" Getting to the part that disturbed her the most, and an odd request for Opal, she said, breaking up intermittently, barely able to keep her voice down, "You can fill in the rest. But only partially. The dream continued last night, for the first time, past the fall of Republic City. As Korra, I was on the run, powerless to stop… myself? from continuing on past the goal of 're-unification' of the Earth Empire… The Northern Water Tribe was the first to fall, not even Tui and La combined with 'my' might able to stop an upgraded Colossus. Next was the failed defense of the Fire Nation, Firelord Izumi falling easily, cursing her decision to gut the military with her… dying breath. As Korra, I was yet again helpless to stop the Colossus at the South Pole, eventually bound in platinum chains and displayed in Ba Sing Se as a sick trophy, the world 'united' in what must have been less than four months. I can see the terror in your posture and sympathy in your eyes, Opal, but the worst is to come. I need you to do something." Opal nodded, crying slightly as she asked, "What is it?"

This the part that had truly unsettled her, Kuvira said, feeling shamed, "Though I feel clean in soul, sort of, when the dream was done, and over, waking up in a cold sweat… part of me liked what I had seen. Thoughts… Thinking I had slipped backwards, I tried meditating, only seeing an image of a tuber vine placing a white tendril over my heart, and a red and black tendril over my forehead." Opal interrupted, stopping Kuvira from making her request, saying with a hushed voice, "What we saw recently, about Korra five months ago or so… the envelope. It sounds to me like you have changed, but your mind is… stubborn. Just like Korra's was. And I think I know what you're going to ask - that if you ever slip backwards, you want me to kill you." Kuvira nodded grimly, saying very quietly, "Yes. And keep this to yourself, for now. To be honest… the only reason I confided in you was my conscience." Opal smiled warmly, saying a little too loudly for Kuvira's tastes, knowing there were others still up near the controls, "As long as you listen to that little voice - you, your better side, the one you want to be fully so badly - I really don't see what we have to worry about. I'd rather not kill my sister."

Kuvira sighed deeply, saying, "Thank you, I don't even feel worthy of you calling me that fully yet, but… You've never been through what I have, even if you have 'felt' it, thanks to infobending. I felt ready to break, in that crate… You've always been a good person, doing nothing to deserve the suffering you have felt, mainly at my hand." Wanting to close the conversation, Kuvira yawned, saying, "Sometimes, will alone is not enough. I would have likely taken years to get to where I am now, were it not for Raava's 'divine intervention'. No matter what happens, I want you to keep your willingness to take life - even if it is that of a traitor." Kuvira didn't like how Opal squirmed slightly, Kuvira saying flatly, "People will die tomorrow, Opal. And more will be injured. Make sure you do whatever it takes to not end up among the departed…" Seeing Opal still looked slightly torn, Kuvira added, with a very slight smile, "Pretend they're all me, pre-change, but worse. Because they are – aside from the conscripts, Jasmine's speech made sure of that. I know you would have stolen my breath after the fall of Zaofu, if you could have." Opal nodded, Kuvira confident she had taken the words to heart, glad to see her smiling slightly as she laid against Bolin.

Feeling some burden lifted off her soul, though the random thoughts still persisted, Kuvira lay back down at Mako's side, quietly wondering what Jinshu Kuangmai and his troops would think of the Raging Shark Whale and the five mechasuits as she drifted to sleep.

Kuvira found herself staring at a familiar white sphere with yin yang lines in pulsing blue. Out of panic, she ran up, putting her hand on the sphere, looking around to make sure she was alone.

As Kuvira waited, she found herself growing uncomfortable. Because of the absence of the normal dream, or any opponent at all - she didn't find this peace consoling at all. Impatiently tapping her foot on the floor, she heard a thought drift through her mind, what she saw shifting slightly when it was finished.

"There is still time… for true greatness."

Kuvira could see a massive humanoid-shaped mass appear in the darkness, and looking at her own hand, she saw her skin was much darker than normal. Saying "I don't want your kind of greatness!" loudly, she saw the female form move as though laughing, but she could hear no laughter.

All she heard was the sound of moving metal, smoother than anything her own Colossus had ever made.

Kuvira saw the form come into slightly better view as she felt an errant thought flit through her brain: "You aren't even Kuvira anymore! You dream of being Korra, fighting a hopeless battle against a superior foe. Your soul - I've seen airbenders with more steel in them! Like your… 'sister'. Pathetic. How you've fallen."

Kuvira winced slightly, hearing massive footsteps that brought this massive form into better view, feeling smaller somehow. Kuvira frowned deeply when she heard an audible voice for the first time - her own. Laughing, it said, "HAH! You're not even adult Korra anymore - you're a scared little child! Cower – it's the last thing you'll ever do!" Trying to peer into the cockpit, to see if the figure piloting it was metallic, she couldn't, crossing her now brown arms and saying, "Damn it!"

Somehow, this unseen pilot knew what she wanted to see, Kuvira not sure if she was glad to see it oblige, an unexpected part of the massive machine opening – a protrusion from the chest. Looking at whatever she could call this enemy, her brain, she saw spots of metal - but in all the wrong places. Around the neck, around the shoulders… down the back. The figure laughed as it turned around, saying as Kuvira took in her old personal armor with horror, "Your fear is feeding your soul's dark side - I hope you stay afraid, so it can help me make you forget everything. Like Korra's mind did. 'I' saw what Korra's brain did to her, under half a year ago, with aid, at the same time you did… I hope to do the same. Your darkness is weak, but the brain… all your old habits catch up to you, tonight! What I'll do?" Scowling, this representation of what years of evil actions had wrought on her mind continued, "MAKE you forget everything, all this garbage, you've had over the past week. Everything you're trying to foist on me - memories of being anything but an aspiring, no, successful conqueror." Spitting, knowing it was a purely symbolic act, Kuvira said, "That's what I think of you! I just wanted to unite the Earth Empire, misguidedly - not rule the world! Even that 'Uniter' title sickens me now!"

A flood of the thoughts that had plagued her brain after what Kuvira had thought the worst possible dream screamed through her head, seeing the blackness around her replaced by a bombed-out remnant of a city, near a shore. Seeing a familiar statue of one of the world's greatest ever Avatars lying in the water, beheaded, Kuvira felt her rage growing at the same rate her surroundings seemingly shrank.

Realizing what portion of the dream she was in now, Kuvira let the usual shift take place, noticing as she felt the shift occur that she now sported the Master Avatar Tattoos… that she had designed earlier, the remnants of the resistance against Kuvira having given her the markings, hoping for any power boost possible. Even if the Avatar lying in Republic City bay deserved them more than she did… Calling on all her fury, entering the Avatar State, Korra said, "Aang's statue… You're going to pay for that!" Blue fire erupted from her palms at the same time she began flying effortlessly, taunting, "You got an upgrade, and so did I, thanks to my love for Asami! That new model of Colossus won't save you!"

She was confused when she heard Kuvira say, crystal clear, "Repeating the other dreams… You'll NEVER beat me like that, fool! You're still blind, stuck! Hah – I won't even have to use its full capabilities – not like this!" Recognizing the repeating spirit weapons trained on her from earlier attempts to beat Kuvira in a one-on-one match in the ruins of Republic City, she weaved and dodged, attempting to melt the platinum armor in one place with super-heated flames, too concentrated to take in the new Colossus' form. Korra heard the barking of chain guns, managing to only sustain a minor injury to the arm, using Avatar State bloodbending to heal the wound. She screamed when she saw Kuvira's face appear on the wound, laughing as it said, "Even if I can't win, I'll just keep you here forever! I know you can't turn down a good fight! You've got too much pride!"

Growling, Korra said, "You want a fight? I'll give you a fight!" Trying a different tactic, she rapidly danced around the huge Colossus, too fast to track as she bathed the abomination in blue fire. Seeing one section looking weak, Korra superheated a ruined Satomobile to drive into the yellow and orange spot on the foot's armor, cheering when the armor was dented slightly. Wondering why Kuvira was letting her perform the same move over and over, Korra picking up different wrecked husks each time, to the point that there was a medium-sized hole partially covered by thick strands of strange red and black pulsing wire, Korra said, "It's time to attack! Come on - we've got an opening!" The Colossus beginning to flail and fire at her incoming allies, Korra stayed out, wanting to make sure everyone got in safely, only approaching when she saw Asami enter the horrible suit, looking determined to avenge her father's death - when he had failed to breach the first time.

That was when solid plate reformed somehow, the hole closed completely, everyone she loved trapped inside.

Korra heard an awful muffled hissing sound. Remembering the hissing sound from when the Fire Nation had fallen - that horrible gas - she began to cry profusely, saying, "It was a trick! No…" She heard a deep laughing emanate from the center of the Colossus' chest as a platform came out, Kuvira saying with a smile, "All your remaining allies - dead. That Kuviron gas gave them a horrific - what's this? Kuviracomputer, what do you mean there's one life sign remaining? Oh - it's just Asami. Stupid wretch can't even bend!"

Too stunned to move, too hurt to care about anything other than Asami, Korra hovered, finding herself unable to move when she wanted to, needed to, Kuvira holding a coughing Asami aloft with one hand, a small amount of blood on Asami's mouth and chin. Laughing, Kuvira said, "You should have taken the offer I gave to you and Varrick once Republic City fell, Asami. Now you can join him. Watch, helplessly, 'Korra'! See her DIE!" Korra could have sworn she heard a whispering voice say, "Just like Mako will, by your hand, when I'm in control again…"

Asami hit the foredeck of the Colossus' cockpit. Kuvira said, before plunging her blade into Asami's body, "I should have just killed Baatar Junior and made you my second in command to begin with, Jinshu Kuangmai! Thanks, for holding the 'Avatar' still for me."

Jinshu Kuangmai…

"This isn't real! Get yourself back together! Fight as yourself, Kuvira! It's the only way…"

Ignoring the odd voice, not recognizing it as Raava's and finding the implication insulting, Korra watched with horror as Asami met her end, the blood suspended mid-air. Managing enough strength to turn around, she saw that monster of a man cackling from inside a smaller mechasuit of his own, Jinshu Kuangmai saying after a hatch revealed his gleaming eyes and a sneer, "Before you die, Avatar Korra, I just want you to know who I really am. Though I detest my heritage, I imagine you will find my mother's identity quite shocking." Grinning broadly, feeling herself begin to fade, Jinshu Kuangmai said, "I am Toph's 'wayward' son. Kuvira got to kill Asami, so I guess you'll have to do. A pity there will be no one left to weep and wail over your death. Kuvira and I look forward to raising the next Avatar together – the first Eternal Earth Empire Avatar! The only kind of Avatar that will ever live to see its first birthday!"

As Korra felt her life force fade, she found she did not die, watching in horror as her hand shifted, tattoo vanishing… the skin the same color as Kuvira's.

A cacophony of thoughts making her head hurt, Kuvira expected the dream to end. To be released from agony. Korra had died, after all… But she felt nothing but her terror.

Kuvira could only manage heavy panicked breathing, hearing a female voice cackle, "A pity the real Jinshu Kuangmai can't see this, being too busy. If you don't break tonight, perhaps I'll have to see if I can invite him to the party, with that dark meditation of his. The next time you sleep…. If there is one." Looking upwards, Kuvira still saw the same strange Colossus she had earlier, studying its design in horror. The head appeared to be nothing other than a turret similar to the original, except instead of a cockpit, it held what she recognized as both full and reduced size Varrick guns and spirit repeaters and sensor arrays, the form more humanoid overall. At various key points on its body, it had many other turrets much like the one on the front of the Raging Shark Whale, apparently for close-in defense.

Wondering where the design had come from, she thought, still scared, starting to cry when she realized the answer - her subconscious must have been working on this horrible weapon without her consent somehow! Looking back at it, she knew this had to be right, given the thick wires "she" had seen as Korra earlier - spiritwire. Looking at the hands, she even saw protrusions from the knuckles, recognizing them as containing the recessed weapon mounts she had thought of earlier, though she noticed five-barreled Varrick guns as well. Not just spirit weapons…

Feeling at a low point, Kuvira listened as her "brain" said, "The Colossus. Yes, Kuvira, 'I' have been busy. You may crave one thing, but after three years of POWER, 'I' crave other things. You can't just not sleep, and with the new inner dream world - I might just be able to keep you locked up here forever! Raava herself cannot break in - and believe me, she's tried." Kuvira recoiled slightly when her tormentor hopped down, saying as she walked over slowly, "I am coming, little reject…" Kuvira winced as her doppler towered over her, eyes obscured by some unknown force, "Give up, little cast-away girl… the void is calling."

Her tormentor shifted slightly, Kuvira unable to spot the difference at first. Kuvira began screaming when she saw the eyes. The pitch-black, infinitely deep eyes. Listening to her mind doppler say, "I always get what I want. In the end…" Kuvira began to feel hopeless, some awful, unfamiliar energy tugging at her as her doppler changed into a horrifying greyscale, a void over where the heart should have been. Smiling, it continued, "The real Kuvira never got what she wanted - dominance, respect through fear, uniting the Earth Empire - but maybe I can change that… Wouldn't it be great, taking Kuvira's 'Remorse' and a corrupted Conscience to Jinshu Kuangmai, taking your rightful post back by force, then the world?"

Kuvira cringed, thinking. One word came to her mind, giving her strength as she repeated it: "Conscience… conscience… conscience!" Smiling slightly, Kuvira said, "I never got what I wanted. This is true. Instead, I got what I NEEDED. A reconnection with the adoptive family I hurt so badly. Real friends. Real allies - not just scared underlings. And most of all, love. The true love I never felt. Not even from my own parents. The love I failed to absorb properly from Mother Suyin. Not even that unbalanced relationship I had with Baatar Jr…" Looking at her assailant, Kuvira laughed, saying as she saw spreading shatter lines, "Forget fighting you as Korra - I'm gonna fight you as myself! I'm plenty strong! You're not all you're cracked up to be anyways - you look like a cheap vase someone's been trying to save from the garbage bin! Which is exactly what you are – broken, and unwanted!"

Now looking her tormentor in the eyes, no longer a scared little girl, Kuvira still recoiled slightly when her ashen image said, turning to flawless metal a moment before a hand cracked off, "FORGED IN HATRED! This is the last stand - I've got a Colossus that would bring the Avatar to her knees. Forget that – RAAVA! You haven't even seen the real thing yet. What do you have? Metal and some rocks? Come at me! You can't just kick me this time!"

Shrugging, Kuvira said, "Typical. You forget, if what I've heard is true, that this is a shared dream space. And I've got a hell of a lot more friends than you do. MAKO!" Kuvira glared intensely when her doppler laughed, saying, "Oh, yeah, like the fire did anything to the Colossus in the first place. Useless firebender boyfriend…"

"I may have been assigned to babysit Wu, but I am NOT useless! 'Useless' this!"

Kuvira barely dodged the blast of flame, though her doppler, fortunately, did not. Screaming, it said through a partially melted face, turning into an amorphous mass and streaming on the ground towards the Colossus' cockpit afterwards, "I'll get you too, little street rat! I'll see you inside! Come and fight me!" Seeing Mako run forward towards a partially opened foot, growling in rage as he unsheathed his dual dao swords, Kuvira said, "No, stop! It's a trap! This thing has some sort of horrible last line of defense - poison gas, if you get inside." Mako stopped dead in his tracks, demanding, "That's sick! Just where did this thing come from? And why am I here in the first place, instead of with Bolin, talking to my parents? I thought you already crushed her, your dark self – shattered her into a million metal pieces!"

Kuvira sighed deeply, not really feeling like explaining herself right now, saying, "I'll explain after we beat this thing. If… you don't happen to know how to make plasma, do you?" Mako shook his head, saying, "I've got nothing. Nobody can 'plasmabend', after all… what's that noise?"

Kuvira heard a deeply unnerving humming she had never heard before, realizing with a panic it vaguely resembled the noise that the original Colossus made while firing… but deeper. Raising her hands up and shifting her feet quickly, she bent herself and Mako to the side using a piece of metal on instinct. Kuvira took cover with Mako behind a ruined piece of heavy industrial dock equipment, two thick red spirit beams surrounded by thinner twin black helixes raking where they had been standing just a moment before. The shattered pavement and underlying rock actually boiling and molten at the edges of the deep cut, Kuvira knew this weapon was like nothing Baatar Jr. had ever designed. Hearing an unearthly chittering shortly after, Kuvira involuntarily bent an earth shelter around herself and Mako, saying, "This is why I don't have time to explain! Look at what happened to the pavement! See if you can get Bolin in here!" Hearing the distinctive humming again, Kuvira knew they needed to move. Kuvira said, continuing to speak after Mako honored her request, "Mako, pick me up, and jet us out of here! Now! She -it - whatever it is- was toying with me earlier, but it seems like it's on now! Your little fireblast really ticked her off! She wasn't even using the Colossus to its full potential!"

In Mako's arms in the air, Kuvira tried getting a better look at the Colossus than she had earlier, searching for a weak point. Telling Mako to touch down behind the massive metallic nightmare's back, she tried seeing what her subconscious had been up to. She didn't get as much of a chance as she would have liked, even the back having close-in defense weapons. Their tracking was impeccable, sporting both spirit repeaters and Varrick guns in different small ball fixtures. The only major things she was able to spot were two odd vertical boxes with what looked like massive spirit engines on the outer sides, as well as a massive broadsword stored in between the bigger boxes. Trying to get a better look at the sword, Kuvira asked Mako to stop jetting side to side momentarily, seeing the sword appeared to have rhombus condensers that stopped halfway down the blade. Ball-bound spirit repeaters chittering from the back of the odd boxes, Kuvira felt bursts of energy come uncomfortably close, hearing her doppler say over a loudspeaker, "That was just a sample – I can tell you're admiring 'your' handiwork! See what you could accomplish with me fully on your side, Kuvira? Just give in – you could conquer whole other planets with this weapon! Fill the hole you know exists in your heart!" Grumbling slightly, Mako said, Kuvira feeling that hole slightly as he spoke, "Don't – whatever that is can't give you happiness! What is with 'her'? I've never seen any weapon design like that! Come on - explain a little bit? Please? Don't tell me you're going nuts!"

Once Mako had landed behind what seemed to be sufficient cover, Kuvira explained quickly, "Remember what we saw about Asami's love envelope to Korra? How her brain revolted? This is basically that, for me, except with less Metallokuvira and more brain, given how it seems my brain has been busy designing… that, without my input. This place we're in, the fight - empowered to nightmare status by this new inner dream world crud. To be honest, I'm not sure what it's good for - I don't want to have to face this every night!" Mako looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped, saying, "Wait. Something doesn't feel right. I just heard some really loud roaring noise. Like someone launching a really big firework…We need to move, now!"

Opting to flee in a different direction, Kuvira struck her hand against the ground beneath them in a desperate flurry of strikes, hitting the ground intermittently with powerful kicks. Managing to get them both underground safely, she heard a muffled roar followed by a loud explosion, the hastily constructed space shaking violently. Kuvira felt as though she might shrink again, her resolve strengthening when Mako said, "If you have to face this every night, I'll be there for you every night." Kuvira blushed slightly when Mako finished, "But facing that thing, we'll need a lot of help. You tried getting Korra in here yet?" Kuvira sighed, saying, "No. Even Raava couldn't butt in to see what's happening. I may as well give it a shot…" Kuvira tried calling out Korra's name, getting nothing but a deep laugh from above, hearing her doppler say, "Korra, again. You're so thick headed…" Grasping for straws, Kuvira began yelling, "BOLIN! HEEELP!"

Immediately after, their underground shelter became much more crowded, Bolin whining, "Ouch! Watch the swords, Mako! What do you want? I was talkin' to my mom and dad just now! She wasn't happy when you left for whatever, Mako!" Mako patted his brother's back, saying, "This is a lot more important. I'm sure they'd understand. Something wrong's going on inside Kuvira, and we need to help her. And Korra can't help, for some reason. Not even Raava - Hey – straighten up! We need to help Kuvira, or she might go crazy." Kuvira grimly agreed with Mako's assessment as she expanded the shelter slightly, reinforcing it with earthen struts. Trying to think of what weapon could make a huge explosion and involved a roar, she muttered, "The huge tubes! My subconscious must have given that thing vertical Meesile launchers on its back! And the things on the sides – I think it must be able to fly somehow too!" Pressing her hand against the wall as Bolin talked to Mako, Kuvira felt something she hadn't before, listening to the earth. Seismic sense, of some sort. Grabbing Bolin's hand, she said, "Quick, before it goes away. Can you sense that thing, Bolin?" Bolin paused, nodding before breaking into a panic, "Yeah, I can and OH WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE. That thing is huge! But not as big as the original…"

Sensing the Colossus was now standing directly above them, Kuvira said, "Bolin, quick, try and sink the earth underneath its furthest leg - and do a better job than last time!" Kuvira didn't have time to respond to Bolin's grumbling, herself working on the earth beneath the closest leg. As she worked, something didn't feel right - why wasn't the Colossus trying to counter? Kuvira's eyes widened, remembering the large broadsword on the Colossus' back, realizing what her doppler intended to do – strike through the earth. Without explaining, she knocked Mako and Bolin into yet another hastily-created space nearby, hearing an unnerving humming grow louder as she did so, recognizing it from earlier. Crawling backwards, she was shocked to see an all-too familiar energy beam appear in front of her, barely able to see the broadsword's form behind the beam, the blade sheathed in plasma completely. Slamming her hand against the ground, she sensed that both Mako and Bolin were okay, though even Mako's heart was beating fast. Trying to think where the beams had come from, she realized the first twin beams must have come from the sword, remembering the rhombus condensers that ran halfway down the blade, apparently a spirit energy conduit.

Knowing they were doing just what the enemy wanted - being locked up in some nightmare - Kuvira tried calling out to Opal, figuring she would be very willing to help. After the sword moved, cracking and shattering crystallized earth as it moved, Opal appeared in front of Kuvira, looking rather confused, asking, "Where am I? And why does this place seem familiar somehow?" Sighing, Kuvira said, "What I wouldn't give for infobending," afterwards yelling loudly, "Okay - why don't we go to Future Industries Tower, or where it should be? There might be platinum there! We can hole up behind metal sheets, and I'll explain everything there."

Hearing Bolin agree loudly and Mako shortly thereafter, Kuvira turned to Opal, saying, "I don't have time to explain much of anything, but just know this is more than a sign of trouble. I have no idea what would happen if we lose, given you, Bolin and Mako are all in my 'world' right now…" Sounding determined, Opal said, "Then let's get out of here, and see if we can beat this thing. We beat your Colossus – I can't imagine this one is invincible." Bending their way back to the surface, Opal clearing the dust as Kuvira knocked away dry earth, Kuvira looked around, puzzled as to where the Colossus was. Looking up, she felt herself shrink slightly, hearing Opal say strongly, "Don't get scared – not now!" Kuvira looked up, wondering aloud, "Just what is powering that thing? It's awfully acrobatic, for being so large! Spirit engines on the feet, back – and maybe the hands too! Yes - look!" Kuvira found herself staring at the feet the most, an angular spirit engine on the sole of each. Looking up, Kuvira noticed with panic that the soles of the feet no longer showed spirit engines, the Colossus dropping rapidly. Not wanting to dawdle any longer, she took Opal's arm, saying, "See that tower husk over there? I hope you can carry me there!" Opal shook her head, saying, "I think I can carry Bolin, but you might be a bit too much! I can't fly like Korra or Jinora can yet…"

Hearing the roar of engines return, this time close enough to feel hot air coming from above, Kuvira said, "No time! Looks like she wants to roast us! Sadist - gah – if only I had something to equalize the playing field a little!" Hearing a female voice boom from above, "You'll never beat me – give up!" Kuvira tried in desperation, calling out as she felt the heat intensify, "MOTHER SUYIN!", "VARRICK!", "ZHU LI!" and "ASAMI!" Feeling herself shrink, noticing with distress that Opal looked younger as well, Kuvira said bitterly as the heat intensified, "The only really powerful thing I've got on my side is my conscience… Wait. CONSCIENCE!"

"Hello, Kuvira. I was wondering when you might request my assistance."

Looking up towards the source of the sound, Kuvira saw her comparatively smaller mechasuit waving its hand, Conscience saying, "For now, I am not sure where this enemy came from, or what it is, but I will help you fight it." Kuvira stood up tall, telling a scared-looking Opal, "I'll carry you to safety, and try to hold this thing off. Now let's go." Still a child, Opal said, "Okay, big sister!" Kuvira felt sick, saying, "Don't call me that! I don't deserve it… I might never deserve it." Opal cried, saying as she rubbed her eyes, "Don't say that! I – I'm glad Korra didn't kill you now! I grew up around you – you just… wanted to help people, like Korra, and like my mom did with you! You just really blew it! Big time!" Kuvira smiled slightly, saying, "Never thought I'd hear that…"

That wasn't the only thing Kuvira heard as she slipped into her mechasuit, picking up the toddler before her in strong metal arms, tussling Opal's black hair with a flesh-colored metal finger. Unable to make sense of what the words were being shouted above her, Kuvira said, "Conscience, translate that language, while I take Opal over to the old tower, before engaging." Kuvira felt chills down her spine when she heard the tuber-vine respond, "That's not any old language – it's the universal language of hate…" Kuvira felt better when the tuber vine continued, Kuvira guiding her flight carefully all the while, "Don't fret – it's just a string of curses and screams, mainly revolving around little Opal calling you 'big sister'... It appears its biggest weakness is not physical." Remembering the odd hybrid between brain and Metallokuvira's reaction to her little speech earlier, Kuvira touched down, telling a wide-eyed Opal, "I don't know how much of that, if any, you heard, but it sounds like this thing has no physical weakness – only emotional weakness." Opal nodded, saying in a much more mature voice, "I remember how often love has been the key to winning these kinds of things recently. But that thing is still huge. We'll need to get her out, before this will end for any time past just tonight."

Exiting the mechasuit, scanning quickly for Mako and spotting him, Kuvira said, "You need to see if you can get your weapon and airbender gloves, like Bolin and Mako have their weapons, and I have mine. I'm going to be busy trying to fight this monstrosity by myself, after I try and get some information. I'll need to do something I'm not particularly good at – meditating." Opal gave her a slightly skeptical look, saying, "Okay, if you think that will help…"

Sitting down in a lotus position, Kuvira took a deep breath, thinking over and over again, "I am the master of my mind… and you will obey." After the fifth repeat, she said out loud, "Now give me that thing's blueprints! NOW!" Opening her eyes, she saw her command had been obeyed, hearing a loud screeching in the distance. Hoping she had likely bought enough time for Opal, Mako and Bolin to study the plans, Kuvira said, motioning for Mako and Bolin to come over, "Opal, try doing the same thing for your guandao and airbender gloves. The meditating. Mako, Bolin – I helped design the original, and you guys were instrumental in its downfall. Find me a weak point – I'm going in blind for now!"

Mako gave her an odd look, asking, "Do you really think this is best? Going alone?" Regretting not pressuring Korra or Raava into making more mechasuits, Kuvira said, "I've got Kuvira's Remorse, and you guys have some body armor, and smaller special weapons. The only way in that thing is with technology. I'm sure you'll be safe – I imagine she's going to be focused on me, and me alone." Mako nodded, saying, "Okay – just be careful. These blueprints… six tuber-vine equivalents for power? Not to mention all those Meesiles in the back – eight by eight, four deep in one, plus four by four, two deep in the other… that's almost 300! If you had this a week ago, I'd probably be dead." Kuvira frowned, not liking the painful reminder of her past and her recent other nightmares, saying, "This ends now. Study it for any weakness you can spot. Don't forget the inner gas defenses!

Sliding into Kuvira's Remorse, she heard Conscience say, "Battle systems online. You will have to fight 'manually' at first, Kuvira, until I learn your fighting habits." Looking at her mechasuit's arms after sneaking out towards the waiting Colossus, noting with a bitter taste in her mouth that it appeared fully ready, Kuvira said, "Gah – needs more spirit weaponry, or Lipowder weapons! The cable, the metalbending strips – useless!" Kuvira actually laughed when Conscience said deadpan, "At least you have convenient plasma, and some spirit weapons. Korra just had those hummingbird suits and some plasma saws…" Kuvira stopped laughing immediately, remembering with remorse how she had been directly responsible for Hiroshi Sato's death. As though the tuber-vine could tell what she was thinking, Conscience said, "Channel your remorse. Aaaand you might want to move…"

Looking up, Kuvira saw the massive hybrid weapon pointed straight at her, beginning to hear a steady humming, seeing weapons on the hands holding the sword also moving. Not knowing the best way to go, Kuvira slammed her hand into the ground, successfully sensing her surroundings, not having time to hope she could do so outside this nightmare. Hearing the hum reach a high point, Kuvira jetted to the side at the last minute, heading for an interesting feature she had sensed around her – a massive beam of warped metal.

Landing near the steel beam, Kuvira tore half of it off, forming a long sharp javelin with half, and a protective shield with the other. Using her left hand to keep the shield up, Kuvira pressed against the ground, launching herself into the air as she tried to spot a good place to throw the spike. Seeing a particularly delicate looking sensor exposed from behind a metal sliding door on the roof of the Colossus, she changed direction, building momentum as she streaked downwards, having discarded the hole-ridden shield.

Grasping the javelin directly, she threw it downwards with all her might, pleased to see the metal point penetrate the exposed spot, sparks and smoke erupting from the impact point. Wondering why she had not met any resistance, Kuvira noticed with horror that the Colossus was heading towards the ruins of Future Industries Tower, holding out the long sword with a steady aim… as though about to fire.

Remembering that this Colossus had a different kind of weakness, Kuvira taunted loudly, "Is someone too 'chicken' to fight me? I'm up here, scumbag – are you scared of me now? Pick on someone your own 'size'!" As she thought her opponent might, the Colossus turned to face her, hearing a metallic voice screech, "I'll show you true fear! Behold – infinite energy! Power sources, direct all energy to the sword, and maintaining motion! Shut down the engines!" Kuvira saw the massive sword swing her way, knowing she had no desire to be caught by its sweep. Knowing she couldn't evade all by herself and that the Colossus was now practically immobile, Kuvira said, "Conscience, bring us up, while I try sniping off key parts of the Colossus!"

Feeling the suit begin to move without her input, Kuvira squinted, seeing an improved version of her scope on the original Colossus appear on the screen in front of her. Noticing a good target, Kuvira thrust her arms forward slightly as she honed in on a weak-looking joint in the Colossus' right shoulder, wondering what her brain had been thinking, putting a small ball of metal at such a critical point. To her shock, the metal absorbed the blast, seemingly drawing power from the breastbeam's strike. Thinking of Mako on a whim, she saw the beams change from a calm blue to an intense blue and white helix, seeing the beams penetrate the armor and strike…. what appeared to be a plant.

Though she had never seen a dark bromeliad before, Kuvira knew what she had just scorched, Conscience confirming it by saying, "Dark bromeliad power source number six compromised." Kuvira was surprised to hear Conscience continue, "Keep thinking of Mako - it empowers your weapons, apparently! Good, keep firing at it – look at it shift!"

As Kuvira kept her gaze focused on the targeted dark bromeliad and Conscience performed evasive maneuvers, she noticed the plant appearing to shift – just like she had heard tuber-vines could. Kuvira heard a loud metallic screech and watched in horror as the left hand reached over, carefully placing the mostly transformed spirit into its hand, beginning to fire an opened spirit engine. The tuber-vine persisted for a short time, eventually turned to ash by a large flare of red and black energy after Kuvira heard a loud "PFFFFT PFT! PFFFT!" Kuvira smiled slightly when Conscience translated, "I don't want to work for you anymore! I'm more than just a power source!" Knowing she had the enemy sweating, Kuvira repeated the same process on the right shoulder, with the same result, the tuber-vine saying something much more earthy before being incinerated.

Speaking loudly, Kuvira taunted, "Let's see you fly now!" Kuvira wished she had kept her mouth shut when she heard a metallic voice yell, "I don't have to fly to kill you! Eat this!" Kuvira saw the twin hatches on the top of the Meesile tubes open, watching as all the smaller Meesiles were fired off in a ripple, saying, "There's no way I can shoot down that many!" As they approached, she saw an alert pop up on her screen that said, "Earthen materials detected in incoming."

Knowing she could work with this, Kuvira extended her hands, her mechasuit's bending power increase letting her re-direct all sixty-four Meesiles in the first wave, trying to target the Colossus' legs when she could. Seeing holes in both calves, Kuvira swooped in, flaring her armblade's plasma sheath as she got closer, severing what looked to be vital cables. Directly sticking her armblade into what appeared to be a spiritwire and spirit vine hybrid, she saw the location of the remaining powersources appear on her screen. Noting that two were stuck in the "buttocks" of the Colossus, she carved them out while avoiding the close-in defenses' hail of fire. To her dismay, she received a less warm welcome from these potential tuber-vines, ending up having to dice the dark bromeliads up.

Kuvira didn't like how she seemed to enjoy this slicing slightly more than the last defiant calls of the other two "power sources"…

Kuvira felt chills run through her veins when she heard a metallic voice yell, "I guess we're not so different after all! KILLER! You killed Hiroshi Sato, monster!" Feeling angry, Kuvira flared her armblade's plasma, going around to the front of the mechasuit as she said, "ENOUGH! Being human is hard enough without all this endless garbage! You die, tonight!" Kuvira saw an opening to go straight for the cockpit, extruding her twin armblades and yelling, "You're CRIPPLED! Die, and go back to the void you came from! I want to be free!" Getting in close enough to strike, she saw plasma dance then plunge into metal, thinking how badly she wanted to break the rules, and truly kill this inner darkness, so she could just get on with her new life…

Kuvira heard an alarm blaring inside her mechasuit, a computerized voice saying, "Tuber-vine resisting corruption. User Kuvira resistance indeterminate." Looking back at her mechasuit's arm, she saw something that made her retract her arm, frantically trying to get something most disturbing off her blades, and failing.

Red and black lines, where the spiritwire should have been.

Kuvira cursed and screamed, howling, "WHY CAN'T I JUST KILL YOU?! Be rid of this forever? I don't want to be a burden!" Much to her horror, the lines began pulsing, mortified to hear deep, metallic sounding laughter from outside. Hearing an odd garbling, Kuvira heard Conscience say with a vaguely mournful voice, "I have blocked you from hearing what your doppler is saying right now. Kuvira, just because you have feelings does not make you bad – enjoying slicing the dark bromeliads slightly. Just like thoughts, you cannot control feelings. I know why you want to kill this thing – to avoid future struggle, and to avoid troubling others with asking for their help. Needing help, to fight this battle night after painful night, until you 'get it right'." Conscience continued, Kuvira feeling her body moving high up into the sky, noticing with relief that the swords looked normal again, "Asking others for help should not weigh heavily on your soul. In fact… I just found something Mako said to you, having accessed your earlier memories." As though replaying a recording, Kuvira heard Mako's voice say, in perfect clarity, "If you have to face this every night, I'll be there for you every night," Conscience saying after in her own distinct voice, "There is no shame in getting help, Kuvira. You are a proud woman. Be proud for what you do for others and in your abilities, and not on being foolishly independent. And on the other part… remember, you're partially fighting your own mind, not just 'Metallokuvira'. Look – even now, it's conspiring against you. You're fighting a battle on its turf, so to speak – you'll need something more than just fighting ability to see the real world again…"

Kuvira found herself forced to look at the Colossus, gasping when she saw all the damage she had caused had been reversed, arms materializing out of thin air after a slight shimmering, the arms and body moving as if Metallokuvira were having a laughing fit. The background garbling continuing, she heard Conscience lament, "It is the fate of all mortals to struggle with good versus evil until the day they die, Kuvira. You cannot simply kill your inner darkness, and be done with it. I think you might find this 'recording' of Korra's own struggles relevant… though probably not uplifting." Kuvira saw an image of Korra appear on-screen, somehow feeling Korra's anguish directly as the Avatar heard a gentle voice Kuvira swore she had heard before say, "I can see you chose to cherry-pick the words of one of Earth's great spiritual leaders, the one some incorrectly consider my one and only son. You are a soul of extremes, Korra, from what Raava tells me…" By this point, Kuvira knew what Conscience was showing her – the infobent-out struggle, Korra grappling with free will, and the decision to kill. Much to her horror, the vision deviated once it reached what must have been Earth's real "hell", Kuvira finding herself staring at the same void, seeing a simulation of sorts play out, a voice offering an obscured form, "Seeking to destroy your inner darkness? I can help in your quest for total purity… At a price." Kuvira felt a sickening pit in her stomach when she noticed she appeared as a scared, lonely child in the vision, the image of her asking, "What's the price? I- I'll pay… I don't want to bother anyone… I don't want to burden…" The image of Kuvira seized, the last thing she heard was cackling laughter… as the little girl grew, morphing into a metallic monster, seeing only a tiny sliver of human skin left on the face, under her distinctive mole.

Breathing heavily, Kuvira heard Conscience say, Kuvira smiling slightly at the quip after the fact, "A ridiculous vision, don't you agree? You wouldn't need truthsense to tell he was lying…" Remembering a particular firebender that Jinshu Kuangmai loved, Kuvira ventured, "That was pretty transparent. I bet he's called the Prince of Lies, or something. Like if Azula was turned into a 'god'…" Conscience actually managed a fairly human laugh, saying, "Maybe you need library access."

Kuvira glanced at the screen in front of her, puzzled as to why she could see no movement on any kind of sensor – Shidar or otherwise. Deciding that she needed to deal with her foe in a way Asami had dealt with her inner darkness, Kuvira smiled to see a massive energy surge below her, a computerized voice intoning, "Temporary incapacitation of target detected. Screening out screeching…"

At first, Kuvira made to "strike" by herself, but remembered she was not alone. Mako, Bolin and Opal had all come – to help her in her hour of need. Knowing her past behavior, and her pride, Kuvira knew she'd have to physically best the Colossus AGAIN somehow before she could even hope to approach her tormentor. Directing herself past the Colossus, a computerized voice said, "Incapacitation extended and intensified," Kuvira eventually landing near where her display said everyone else was. Exiting her suit, Mako gave her a confused look, Opal saying with a slight frown, "What are you doing? You stopped fighting, right when you had her beaten… She didn't even have any arms left! You could have just asked us to come help finish her off, you know!"

Again wishing for infobending, Kuvira explained the new plan from outside her mechasuit, finishing by saying, "We still need to beat this thing physically, though, like I almost did. She didn't just shrivel up earlier, when I defied her, or when Mako got her right in the face, or those 'power sources' defied her in death. She's still got the illusion of power, with that awful Colossus." Mako smiled knowingly, saying, "When I was on the beat, not once did a bad guy just throw his hands up in the air without a fight, unless he knew it was hopeless, metalbender cops on all sides. No escape. Even if all he had was a knife, he'd still keep fighting if he even thought he had a chance – you're right, Kuvira. To do any good, just like what happened to you a week ago in that wooden box, she's going to need to see her cause is hopeless. There's some kind of lesson in here – I just know it…" Mako rubbed his forehead, saying, "I think I know – I remember Korra talking about what Aang told her before all of Korra's bending was restored. 'When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change' – something like that. That was certainly your case, Kuvira. Maybe I shouldn't leave all the 'spiritual' stuff to Korra – it's more like 'life' stuff. There's a lot of overlap. It's a lot more relevant now, than it has been since Harmonic Convergence, and not just with actual spirits..." Mako nodded when Bolin said, "Pfft, forget that! Then, we just had to deal with one real 'Team Bad' – now we've got two! Spirit, and human! It's MORE relevant!" Kuvira's eyes widened when Opal said, "I… I'm glad you didn't just 'finish her.' It would have finished you – and maybe all of us. I hope the fighting, in the real world, tomorrow, doesn't make spirits mad. Long Yumao never specified it had to be Jinshu Kuangmai acting 'bad' for him to grow in strength…" Not wanting to consider the possibility of a humanitarian mission causing the Spirit Civil War to get serious, Kuvira said, "Mention it to Korra tomorrow. Tell her she needs to be careful, to not repeat my mistake, going for the heart without good intentions. We've got two problems to solve right now – how to get you all better protected and, uh… useful, and how to weaken the Colossus again…" Seeing Mako's irate expression, Kuvira grinned nervously much as Korra might have, pointing out, "I didn't single you out as the only 'useless' one, Mako – you all don't have mechasuits, after all!"

Mako smiled, saying with a slight smirk, "You're right. I bet you're glad you decided to take the gift now, aren't you?" Kuvira said sheepishly, "Yes… now let's do something! But what? Oh - show me what you found on those blueprints!" Kuvira sat down, Mako sitting next to her as he pointed at the blueprint on the floor, saying, "This thing has very few weaknesses. There's some weird half cable, half spirit vine things running through the Colossus' entire body, and given the note about 'reformation cables', they can't be a good thing. But I bet if they're cut, it will be crippled." Remembering how the metal had somehow transitioned from slag to solid plate while fighting Kuvira as Korra, Kuvira said, "I know what those do. I think I cut one earlier, using it against her when I pinpointed the other dark bromeliads. Any hole you make in the armor without cutting what must have been spiritwires, she can just re-seal the hole somehow. But that won't matter if we sever the spiritwires, I think." Pointing at another area, Mako said, "Okay – but not all good news. We can't just shut it down by taking out one powersource. We've got six to take out! Not to mention the gas defenses, and the huge arsenal! That thing has more firepower than the Raging Shark Whale… How are we going to down this thing?" Looking up, Kuvira saw Opal examining her gloves, lost in thought. Smiling, she said, "I think I have an idea. See all these openings – the engines, the larger spirit weapons? What if we shot explosive rounds into them?" Looking at the blueprints again, Kuvira felt hopeful, saying, "That might just work!"

Before she could even stand up, the blueprints shifted before her eyes, Kuvira cursing as she realized her brain was making improvements. Even the engines on the back now had sliding metal doors… Frustrated with what she perceived as a setback, Kuvira said, "So much for that idea. At least it can't fly all the time now…" Looking at the blueprints again, Kuvira noticed another change, this one rather absurd – a representation of Metallokuvira's head sticking out a shiny tongue, a text bubble reading, puzzlingly in English, "Can't beat me! Can't just kill me, and I'm not shattering like last time!" Trying a different kind of meditation she had only heard about, Kuvira tried opening her mind – or rather, her soul, given her mind's insolence – to any number of possibilities. After a short time, she saw an image of herself, Mako, Bolin and Opal holding hands in a circle, wondering why they all appeared as toddlers.

Taking Mako's hand, she finally explained to everyone everything that had been going on at night over the past days, as well as what she thought was going on, feeling it relevant to what had happened when she tried going for the mechasuit's heart in her rage. Smiling broadly, Mako said, "A week ago, I told another strong woman that I'd always have her back, no matter how crazy or bizarre things get. Seeing how Korra has grown since then, and hearing about your continued… issues, especially what just happened out there, I just want you to know, I'll do more than that for you. Don't obsess over trying to kill your inner darkness, out of remorse. Focus on the present, someone else – me. All of us." Kuvira tearing up slightly, Mako continued, "Earlier, you sensed I felt unimportant. I was actually talking to my parents about that before you called me here, and after telling them everything we'd done, my father, the last thing he heard was your detection of my lie, told me this: 'Son, given what Bolin told me about his boneheaded antics with Varrick as Nuktuk, and under Kuvira, trying to climb in rank, keeping blinders on, drifting away from Opal… you don't have to be important to be happy. Oftentimes, it's the most important people who are the unhappiest. Just look at your surviving family – poor, but happy. What the world thinks? It won't heal anything. Or fill any holes. Only what you think of yourself is of any use. How important you are to those around you. And based on what you've told me, you are very important to those around you, and more than that. Your work as a police officer, Team Avatar member, and more recently motivational speaker – you turned out great, son. As did Bolin.' I thought about this, and realized he was right. Maybe I can talk to Baat– quiet, Bolin! Quit whining about 'favoritism'. It was bad enough the first time. We don't have forever… That Colossus could come back online at any moment. I remember seeing it marching toward us earlier, sword extended with both hands…"

Clearing his throat, Mako said when Bolin stopped abruptly, looking earnest in a way that made Kuvira feel at peace, "Kuvira, I'll do more than just have your back. If need be, I'll carry you, literally and figuratively. Don't hide anything – please. That vision you described, that Conscience showed you... gech! It made me sick. You're only a burden if you think you are one, and act like it." Kuvira finally broke down when Mako said, a single now tear on his face, "I don't want you to leave me in spirit, but still be at my side physically. Insane or broken, much as you could have been. No matter how bad things get, I'll help make sure you stay the real Kuvira – the humane one, the new one. Even if we're repeating this dream long after the world is at peace." Kuvira simply hugged Mako, noticing after some time Opal was hugging Bolin in the same way. Hugging Mako tighter, Kuvira said, "If that's not love, then I don't know what is," giggling like a little girl when Mako said, "Whoa, whoa – I like you a lot, not love you 'Korra and Asami' level just yet! They had years of history!" Snickering, Kuvira said, "I can tell you're lying a little! Keep in mind – 'I always get what I want'. Especially if that what is really a hunk of who."

Kuvira found herself feeling small, but not caring, tugging on Mako's adult hand as she said, "Come on – sit with me!" Mako shrugged, saying, "What the hell. Let's try this. Maybe it will help. Bolin – be glad your girlfriend can't tell when you're lying." Kuvira playfully slapped Mako across his boyish face, saying, "Then maybe you shouldn't lie in the first place! You're the one who told me to be honest!" Kuvira began crying slightly when Mako said, looking deeply concerned, "I guess the only reason I lied… was because I know your history, and know there's still a chance I'll wake up tomorrow, and you'll be staring at a wall absently. Or, given what just happened out there, trying to kill me… I'm holding back, out of suspicion, but also because I don't want to have my heart broken." Sighing, he said, "It's going to be a long road. But the hardest part is over – that first step that you took in that wooden box." Kuvira crossed her arms, knowing he was right, relieved to hear what must have been Opal say, "You've got our mom too, Kuvira! AND your cool tuber-vine co-pilot, Conscience! And me! I don't see how you can fail!" Feeling confused, Kuvira laughed when Bolin shrugged, saying in a surprisingly squeaky voice, "I got nothin. What? Is it my voice? Why are you laughin?"

Continuing to laugh, making Bolin blush slightly, Kuvira took Mako's hand and then Opal's, asking, "Friends?" Seeing everyone else nodding, Kuvira tried to nod herself, but found her neck stuck, confused, and feeling afraid. She couldn't even talk…

"I finally pinpointed you wretches. I won't stop until you're all 'dead', trapped forever. Prepare for the void! Insanity… It comes! All of you – payback for crippling me, and turning two of my only 'friends' against me!"

Kuvira knew what the voice was, managing to grit her teeth as she thought, "I WANT TO LIVE!" Finding the lock on her body removed, she heard a metallic voice say that chilled her to the bone, "Time for a rematch, then. The first time… you just scratched the SURFACE! A pity you didn't corrupt yourself earlier…" Suddenly realizing that she was fully in control of her own actions in the real world, and not in this nightmare, Kuvira said strongly, "I don't just want to live – I WILL live! My BRAIN does not control me! I do!"

Energy she hadn't directly felt since her original breakthrough course through her, she felt herself growing taller, stronger. Looking around, she saw she saw now holding hands with an adult Mako and Opal, Bolin looking determined. What she saw that she didn't recognize were three tall figures shrouded in the ruins of Future Industries Tower that appeared familiar somehow standing behind all three, surprised to hear one speak in a flat tone, "Get inside me, Opal. We don't have much time. And no gawking!"

Obeying without thinking, Kuvira hopped into Kuvira's Remorse, saying over the comm system, "You guys figure out what 'your' mechasuits can do while I fight! And do it quickly – don't bother naming your co-pilot!" Kuvira smiled when she heard Conscience say, "Thank you for calling me co-pilot consistently. I appreciate the sentiment. 'Power source'. Beyond insulting. Now let's see what we can do." Maneuvering the suit backwards, Kuvira heard a familiar roar, saying, "Get out of here, now!" Seeing Mako wasn't moving fast enough, Kuvira knocked a hole in the ruins of Future Industries Tower, intending to intercept the Meesile.

Seeing her target, she saw there was more than just one Meesile, and larger ones than the swarm she had bent away earlier, hearing twin roars as the increasingly closing targets approached. Not knowing exactly what sort of Meesile they were, Kuvira took off, extending her twin armblades after a computerized voice said, "No earthen materials detected. Earthbending impossible deterrent,", flaring the plasma as the large red and black pure metal Meesiles drew closer. Focusing on the one that was closest, Kuvira sliced the warhead off the Meesile, noticing with panic that her more direct method had cost her precious time, one Meesile about to strike the ruin.

A large blast of air erupted from the building, a rock deforming around the Meesile to wreck the rear of the weapon. An unseen bender tossed it towards the direction it came using the choking rock. Kuvira heard a satisfying explosion… and a slight humming. Kuvira turned around, finding herself staring at the end of the broadsword through her mechasuit's display, noting that the condensers and added protective metal covering were not closed, apparently preparing to fire. Remembering an earlier plan, in a series of quick hand movements, Kuvira shot two waves of explosive grenades into each barrel from her suit's shoulders, ignoring the slowly building red and black energy within. Seeing explosions erupt and hearing an alarm wail that was not her own, Kuvira smiled, knowing she had just disabled one of her foes' main weapons. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Kuvira flew in closer, weaving and dodging preemptively with her co-pilot's help as she used the plasma swords to completely dismantle the massive broadsword energy weapon.

Apparently, Metallokuvira had been too shocked to react to her sword being dismantled, but was active again, Kuvira hearing the barking groan of the larger Varrick guns. At first, she was not concerned, knowing that the projectiles they were shooting couldn't penetrate her armor – they didn't even penetrate that steel shield properly, all the holes from spirit blasts! Hearing Conscience say as soon as the guns began groaning, "Get out of there! One of the tuber-vines you 'created' earlier told me she switched to depleted Korranium bullets!" Kuvira jetted away rapidly after the first command, watching in horror as she saw the pavement she had been standing on turned to a pulverized mess. Hearing the tracking of ball turrets, Kuvira flitted away, saying, "Still got the better of you, scumbag! Hah!"

Hearing Conscience yell, "Incoming, from behind! Go left, and long!" Kuvira obeyed, hearing a massive gust of wind, followed by many small explosions. Seeing how the mechasuit that followed was carrying a large guandao, she realized it must be Opal's mechasuit. Kuvira followed close behind, flaring her plasma weapons when she got close, firing a breastbeam shot at the Colossus' regenerated sensor suite. Opal's mechasuit landed near one of the Colossus' legs, Kuvira hearing Opal say over vaguely human screeching and cursing, "You sever the other knee, the right one – this blade's got plasma capability! I'm hitting something else – the cables!" Jetting to the right, Kuvira stuck her blades in next to one another, spreading her arms out as she made a lateral cut across the reinforced knees – the thinnest point of the legs. Hitting a large spiritwire, spirit vine and metal complex she recognized from earlier, Kuvira made sure to sever it completely, pleased to hear someone screech, "NO – the reformation wire!" Kuvira felt like laughing but was interrupted by a powerful blow from the crippled knee, hearing a reassuring "BONG!" after impact instead of what she had expected to hear – a crunch.

Disoriented by the kick, Kuvira felt the suit right itself and perform evasive maneuvers anyways, saying, "I'm glad you're a co-pilot, and not just a power source." After a slight sting on her neck, Kuvira said, "Ouch! What was that?" Kuvira laughed, beginning to feel empowered as Conscience said, "An 'amenity' Raava added – forced Jang Hui kelp tea dispension, in case of even slight pilot incapacitation. It is unknown what direct injection into the blood stream will do. There is also food and water aboard, though not in great quantity."

Feeling the rush, Kuvira moved closer to a wounded-looking Colossus, seeing that Bolin was using his lavabending - and now apparently plasma capable – sword to completely sever the knee Kuvira had attacked. Bolin filled the thigh with a stream of lava, laughing when she heard Bolin say, "Let's see you walk with NO leg and hot thigh, lady!" Looking at the left leg, she saw Opal had gone the more direct route, a large hole in the upper leg, cables dangling loosely. Knowing the Meesile launchers were likely still a threat, Kuvira went around back, cutting off every Varrick gun and spirit repeater she could see. Slicing into the Meesile containers, Kuvira wondered aloud, "This seems a lot easier than earlier – you're not cheating! What's the matter, somebody gum you up?" Kuvira laughed to hear a harsh yet childish metallic voice say, "SILENCE!" Taking a moment, Kuvira stared at the sliced cables and still-glowing metal, realizing they had managed to weaken Metallokuvira substantially somehow. Seeing a brief image of four toddlers holding hands, she knew what had damaged her enemy – friendship. Sighing bitterly, Kuvira said, "I only hope they're like that as adults, in the real world… Forget that. I only hope I'm like that."

Noticing that the Colossus was no longer moving, Kuvira sped around front, finally seeing Mako. Using two larger versions of his dual dao swords, the swords including the decoration that Kuvira loved, he was re-directing the power from the hole Opal had created in the leg into the ground, the sword's end sticking directly into the large cable- spirit vine hybrid. Kuvira smiled to see the energy entering his sword as red and black, leaving the other as blue and white. Getting closer to the cockpit, Kuvira said, "I've got friends. You don't. You treat your 'power sources' like garbage. And I know we weakened you now – as friends. Children. Just give up already." Hearing no response, Kuvira said over the comm, "Good job, everyone! Not just help me open this cockpit… gently. I remember what Asami did with her dark half – and I'd like to try the same with this thing. Something tells me it's the only way." Apparently, the pilot had been laying dormant, Kuvira hearing the creaking of metal as a "young" metallic voice said, "NEVER! I've still got arms and hands to fight with! And you didn't get rid of all the turrets! GYAAAAH!"

Hearing a familiar hum, Kuvira looked up, seeing the turret on top still functional – and targeting Mako somehow, despite the sensor array being in ruin. Jumping upwards, Kuvira used a weapon she thought increasingly practical, melting the barrels of the turret, smiling as she used the breastbeams she had once thought overkill. Looking down, she laughed, remembering how Mako had been exasperated when she was trying them out in the physical world, finding the new recessed ball turret setup she had designed particularly amusing up close. Moving on, she saw Bolin had disabled the left arm and was working on the right one, Opal currently bending air at a perforated gas reserve, dispersing the poison gas. Looking around again, Kuvira noticed they were no longer in the ruins of Republic City, instead sitting atop the ruined Colossus inside a familiar endless black expanse.

Knowing this must finally be the end of the road, Kuvira exited her mechasuit on top of the Colossus' cockpit, saying as she placed her hand over the outer door she had seen Metallokuvira exit before, "This is it. I'm out of your nightmare, having won as myself, with help. I refrained from 'killing' you – it would have been an illusion, and would likely have corrupted me, had I obsessed over trying to dispatch you 'for good.' You? You're all alone. Weak. I know I can never truly win, but I do know this – the spirit is the master, the brain a vessel and parchment for MY will." Kuvira grumbled when she heard a voice respond , sounding half defiant and half afraid, "I… I can still make it hard for you!"

Turning towards Mako, Kuvira said, "You give it a try. Cut this wretch out, then get out of that mechasuit. Just curious – what did you name your co-pilot?" The metal form resembling Mako shrugged, then the helmet opened up, Mako saying, "It was weird. Mine didn't have any sort of personality. My best guess it that's Raava's little touch – like how she wouldn't say who Asami's mother is now. Probably wants us to 'meet' our tuber-vines for real." Kuvira heard agreement from Opal and Bolin's mechasuits, Bolin saying, "I know what I'm naming mine, though – Nuktuk!" Kuvira laughed when Opal and Mako groaned deeply, Mako saying, "Please, for the love of everything good… no. Just no. That wasn't your finest hour, bro." Opal piled on, laughing as she said, "You better not do a Nuktuk impersonation the first time we have sex! I'd never let you live that down."

Finding herself laughing freely, Kuvira noticed the Colossus somehow seemed bigger, smiling broadly when she heard a light hiss and the sounds of hydraulics over the sounds of her laughter. Looking at who came out, Kuvira asked, smiling broadly, "I see you decided to come out. Want to come play with us?" The small figure nodded, seemingly at a loss for words, managing to struggle out, appearing as though it were resisting an external force, "Yes… I… promise to… play well with… others. Good luck… Kuvira." Taking the figure's hands, it vanished as Kuvira heard a loud groaning from beneath her, feeling a brief sense of complete peace. Making her way down the metal beneath her, she found it yielded to her touch, saying happily, "I did it! She came to me, and not the other way around! I don't think anybody else has done that!"

Hearing an odd screech, Kuvira looked up to the ruins of the Colossus, seeing a shining red and black crystal floating above where the cockpit had been. As soon as she looked at it, she saw it vibrate rapidly, hearing a disembodied voice say shrilly, "This isn't the end! You can tame your mind, your pile of mush – but you can't tame me!" Smirking, Kuvira said, "Why would I want to tame you when I can just ignore you? Meelo's got the right idea!" The crystal cracked, leaking a reddish metal "blood". A familiar, more friendly metallic figure walked over and up onto the metal heap, saying before flicking the crystal, "Go away! Leave Kuvira alone!" The crystal shattered when the flesh-colored metal finger made contact, Kuvira hearing a pitiful moan soon after.

Kuvira was disappointed at first to hear Conscience say, "I'm going to go now. Avatar Korra will require my attention shortly." Kuvira said, too late, "Just call her Korra!" the mechasuit and its co-pilot gone. Seeing that the remains of the Colossus were still there, Kuvira said, manipulating the metal, "Mako, cutie. Want something made from this?" Looking hesitant at first, Mako nodded, saying, "Yes" with a smile once Kuvira showed him what she had formed after much effort, having to imagine parts that she couldn't make.

A thin, flexible yet strong metallic scarf, red on one side, pure metal on the other, with heating coils and a little cutting from a specific tuber-vine as an internal power source - Conscience.

Handing it to him, he smiled, saying, "Thanks… cutie." Feeling an odd tug on her mind, Kuvira said, "Just a minute, Mako. Then we can go see Zaofu!" Kuvira felt horrible, awful, evil, and most of all ashamed when Opal cried, saying, "No thanks! I don't want to be reminded of what happened to my home! You ruined it, and that mean little monster you found finished the job, burying it and making everyone live in a cave like animals!" Kuvira joined Opal's sobs, crying out of the hurt Opal's words had caused and remorse over her actions, finally sniffing and then letting her arms lay limply at her sides as she moaned, "Now I feel even more horrible! It was my home too, until I ruined it, to make that awful weapon! I would have stopped him if I could! Don't think I don't feel bad about what I did! My mechasuit's named Kuvira's Remorse for a reason..." Opal stopped crying, saying as she gave Kuvira a big hug, "Sorry. I never thought of it that way. I guess I will never really know what it's like, to have been bad, trying to be good…" Smiling, her eyes glittering again, Opal said, "Oh, I know! Make me a new Zaofu! A new Zaofu for everyone! Please… sis? If you do, I'll really appreciate it!" Kuvira hugged Opal, feeling much better, saying as she ended up hugging the toddler in her arms, "That sounds like a great idea. New Zaofu… and I think I know who can live there. Why don't we tour the old Zaofu later? The intact one?" Opal nodded, saying, "Okay, big sister!" Still finding this awkward, Kuvira said, "I'm not your big sister." Putting Opal down and trying to think like a child, Kuvira looked Opal in the eyes without stooping as she said, "I'm just your adopted sister." Feeling the tugging get stronger, Kuvira said, "Gotta go for now!"

Running off, Kuvira smiled broadly when she heard a voice directly that she hadn't in what seemed like an eternity, Raava intoning, I'll let you and Opal propose New Zaofu when the evacuation is complete. I don't want you or Opal bringing up the possibility of our operation aggravating a stagnant war. I just told Opal as much. Not in Korra's current state...

I suppose I can cheat a little bit, and get your scarf made. When Mako wakes up, he'll have it on. You'll have to show me what Conscience has more directly later. We are having… issues ourselves.

Kuvira was completely shocked to hear Raava intone, hearing sadness in her voice, I have much left to learn. Korra can show you what I mean tomorrow. And, it appears, you have some things you can show me… Before returning to the group, Kuvira thought, "Everyone has something left to learn, Raava. Don't be sad. I've learned… that learning is fun!"

Closing her eyes briefly, Kuvira saw a small white-haired girl smiling, one tear dripping down her cheek. Kuvira nearly cried when she heard Raava intone, as the image made a hugging motion, Korra saw something in you that I did not. And she was right – I never expected that representation of the evil within to come out of its cockpit of itself, apparently drawn to your laughter. Perhaps Korra is right about Jinshu Kuangmai…

Not wanting to dwell on the battle tomorrow, Kuvira ran over to Mako, telling him "Forget Zaofu. Let's play! My head feels good now – we can do anything!" Seeing his skeptical look, Kuvira added, clarifying what she really wanted, "Play like kids, not adults! How could your brother and Opal join in otherwise? That'd be just wrong!" Mako smiled, saying before hugging her, "Good. Keep the fire steady and slow," Kuvira feeling a little bit of something she had only heard of before – oneness.

That little bit… she wanted to grow it, a lot! But how?

"Just be your new self. I believe there's someone who'd love to help you…"

As her conscience's increasingly strong voice faded, Kuvira looked around, starting to cry lightly when she saw where she was, looking at a very special person.

An intact Zaofu, looking at Mother Suyin, who looked extremely worried.

Realizing why her adoptive mother looked so worried, Kuvira broke the hug, yelling, "Mom, don't worry, it's okay! I won – again! And this time, I had some help, from my new friends!" Mother Suyin smiled warmly, looking like she might tear up as she asked, "Won what? All I know is I expected to see you when I fell asleep… but you weren't there." Beginning to cry lightly, she said, "And… neither was Baatar Jr. I never saw if he was okay, aside from that ambiguous vision Korra shared."

Kuvira began crying, not knowing herself, stopping when she heard an older voice she had last heard directly on… less than stellar terms say, "Oh, quit your crying, all of you. He's fine. Do you not remember him helping convince me to leave the Swamp?" Kuvira turned around, smiling broadly as she said, "Grandma Toph!" Toph frowned slightly, asking as Kuvira hugged her, trying to get Kuvira off, "The last I saw, you hadn't earned the right to call me that, much less hug me. Even Korra had to earn that right! I still think you give metalbenders a bad name – I don't buy this whole transformation, even if everyone else does. Even Lin, wherever she is. You did a lot more bad things than Zuko ever did, and he burned my feet!"

Feeling angry instead of hurt, Kuvira found herself rising upwards, eventually saying down to Grandma Toph, "Oh, like the son you abandoned is any better! No – he's worse, probably screwed up inside because of you, just like Aunt Lin said! And – "Kuvira was shocked to see Grandma Toph begin to shift slightly. Grandma Toph seemed as though she were receiving a lecture from someone, given how she continued changing long after Kuvira had stopped speaking. Eventually Grandma Toph looked much the same as she did in pictures of her when she was fighting alongside Aang, saying as she held up a small hand, "Stop! Some very irate plant thing just gave me a tongue lashing, apparently with Raava's help, given how I could 'see' everything so clearly." Grinning uneasily, Grandma Toph said, "I didn't buy that you have pulled a Zuko even after they showed me the first 'fight', remembering his double-cross in Ba Sing Se, but the second one… I just don't know what to make of it. Your strength of spirit… but also your mind being so resilient, and stubborn. Just like me, I guess. Regardless, now I'm just on the fence." Smiling slightly, she added, "Let's see if you can tip this old earthbender."

Kuvira nodded, starting to say something but was interrupted by Opal, Opal saying with a high-pitched voice, "Grandma Toph, I'll tell you what I told Kuvira earlier. Both of us will never know what it's like to have been bad, trying to be good. You need to be more understanding, even if you can't ever really know Kuvira's remorse…" Grandma Toph smiled slightly, saying after she shifted to her older but no less cranky form, "I guess you're right, Opal. Tell you what, kid – you can call me Grandma Toph if you prove you can kick as much butt as I did when I was your age, tomorrow. Sound like a deal?" Kuvira shook her head, saying as Opal ran off, "No. I'd rather help evacuate than fight – I don't want to kill anyone." Grandma Toph began laughing, saying, "Earthbenders don't kill! Or at least they aren't supposed to. Just knock the enemy down a peg or two, like I did to you when you were going to re-capture my family."

Feeling sick to her stomach, Kuvira said, "I guess you forget I was going to have my cannon zap Zhu Li, and haven't seen the new Earth Empire yet. Under Jinshu Kuangmai. Poison capsules to take in case of capture, taking a minor celebrity's family hostage to force him into work, some mystery project… not to mention the times Jinshu Kuangmai managed to personally get into people's inner world. Any fighting with them will involve death." Grandma Toph grumbled under her breath, saying, "I saw how good you were in that mechasuit. And, through the tree, I… I saw Jang dispatch Shiro's family directly by accident, earlier when the tree was constricting them. And he seemed to enjoy it…" Spitting on the ground, Grandma Toph said, "If that's the kind of person that rises through their ranks, then you're going to need to fight on the front, reservations or not. Make sure that any deaths are on their side, not ours."

Remembering that everyone except for six people didn't have very good protection, counting Meelo in his aircraft, Kuvira nodded, saying, "Okay, Toph. But the evacuation is the priority." Grandma Toph nodded, saying, "Good. Now why don't you see what my daughter Su has been talking about." Kuvira turned around, seeing Mother Suyin talking animatedly to a young Opal in the distance. Running over, she heard Mother Suyin say, " – shouldn't just stop at evacuating Omashu and the prison camp! I want to make a jailbreak at Zaofu itself – I'm sure people there are none too happy about living in a cave, like animals, like you said, Opal! They can live in this 'New Zaofu'!" Loving the idea, Kuvira smiled broadly, saying as she tugged on Mother Suyin's robes, "That sounds like a great idea! But we don't know where they are, exactly – and I don't think that little monster is going to let us just steal 'his' civilians!"

Mother Suyin looked down, saying, "I had forgotten how cute you were when I picked you up. You're even more adorable half that age. I seem to remember something about someone in Ba Sing Se knowing where the civilians are kept. But I suppose Korra can just infobend out their location if we capture an officer tomorrow." Kuvira nodded, saying, "Okay, mom!" Mother Suyin smiled, saying, "Just call me that, mom, instead of 'Mother Suyin.' It's sort of awkward, and it's not like your real parents cared about you anyways –you weren't impossible to handle, like Tonga."

Kuvira heard a surprised gasp next to her, hearing Opal ask, "Who are those people, Kuvira? Do you recognize them?" Kuvira turned around, feeling conflicted when she recognized who had butted in – two people she had seen earlier. Both very angry looking… Looking at her biological mother, Kuvira felt like crying when she was asked, "You hid a lot earlier, didn't you? You're still our daughter, even if we did have to abandon you. Your father and I decided to break our isolation inside the Si Wong Desert after we saw you with that firebender in that vision… asking about what happened to the daughter we couldn't support any longer, and had to abandon. And we… did not hear good things." Kuvira felt just like she had when Opal tore into her earlier all over again when her biological father said, acid in his voice, " 'The Great Uniter'. More like the 'Great Evil'. Remembering your headstrong nature even at the age of eight, I doubt you've changed. A façade." Kuvira feeling a sudden rush of unwelcome memories, she saw the anger in her father's eyes as he said, "If I had known what you would become…"

He never got the chance to finish, interrupted by a small blast of air, Opal screaming, "Leave my sister alone, you awful people! How can you say that – Grandma Toph didn't kill Tonga!" Kuvira heard an older voice shush Opal loudly, saying, "Opal, remember these people are still alive! Even if they do seem dead inside…" Kuvira winced when her biological father bent up a large earthen wave, saying as he fashioned its surface into many small, sharp cones, "You, Toph Beifong – you grew up rich, spoiled – you could possibly never understand what it's like, having to abandon your own daughter to survive! GRAAAH!"

Kuvira watched in horror as the wave of earth sped towards Grandma Toph, cheering when it stopped, Grandma Toph snickering, "Seriously? Even if I didn't have earthsense, I could have seen that coming. And I'm blind! Never announce an attack. Much less with that much blabbering. You remind me of Ozai, and his stupid dramatic speech. All I heard was 'WAAAAH I'm a terrible father'." The earthen wave still, Kuvira heard her real mother – not the one who abandoned her, and the father she remembered as abusive now – say, "You had your chance. A mother who would abandon her child to survive, and a father I'm glad didn't get to raise her… Kuvira is mine now. More than ever. Now, be gone! I want to play with my daughter." Kuvira was confused when they did not vanish, her father spitting, "Rich Beifong trash! Now come on, Kuvira, be a good girl, and come with us, so I can discipline you. Don't make me force you!"

Kuvira saw a shimmering behind her father, hearing a loud voice boom, "Do not make me force you to leave. We don't know what happens to a human soul that is gravely wounded in the inner dream world. And I don't want to find out…" Her father turned around as her biological mother stared at Kuvira's Remorse in horror, Kuvira feeling something snap when the woman said, "You're still up to your 'old' tricks, I guess – look at this thing! Yet another machine of war! One that looks almost exactly like you! You have nothing but steel in your soul – I'm glad I left you behind now!"

Standing up tall and erect, Kuvira ordered Conscience, "Judge them, and tell me what you find." Both her biological parents made a weak effort to resist, Grandma Toph encasing them both in earth, saying, "Kuvira, you can call me whatever you want. After seeing these two monsters, it's a wonder you didn't end up as depraved as… well, you know." Kuvira heard a loud, angry voice she barely recognized as Conscience's say, holding both metallic hands to the pair's chests, "Judgment complete. Your biological mother – lazy, weak-willed, faithless and hopeless. Gave up on you. Your biological father – abusive, hot-tempered, devoid of sympathy and empathy. Draining of all light to be with. I believe you are lucky, that they abandoned you. What do you want me to do with them?"

Not wanting to harm her parents, Kuvira said, "You seem to have a primitive form of infobending. Show them my life, with edits of course. And don't show them any technological ANYTHING. Edit the last dream sequence to oblivion. Make me fight a big cardboard box instead." Kuvira growled when her father said, "What, you afraid we'll be out for revenge after this? Ridiculous!"

Kuvira's eyes widened, able to feel his heartbeat. His rapid, erratic heartbeat.

Her eyes now angry slits, Kuvira said as she pointed at her "father", "You're lying! Why did you approve of me and Mako earlier?" Kuvira felt her blood boil when her biological mother said, "That was before we knew what you had been up to!" Kuvira felt cut to the core when her father said, frowning, "You don't deserve anyone!" Shaking off the insult, she said, "Conscience, show them nothing but the door." Conscience responded, very human-sounding anger in her voice, "They have seen too much, and Raava's been screaming at me to just… take them somewhere. Plus, I feel something, an 'emotion'… some desire to punish. Justice."

Kuvira shook her head, saying, "No – don't do it!" Running towards Conscience, she watched as the tuber-vine attempted to remove her parents from the earth cones they were trapped in, hearing a slight crack - but the cones were intact. Bending her parents out, she admonished Conscience, "What are you doing? Remember, you can be corrupted, just like Asami's 'co-pilots' were!" Kuvira recoiled, seeing the spiritwire on the blade of her mechasuit begin to flash red and black as she heard a distorted voice say, "Corruption? To toss these souls who Raava has judged unworthy away? Hah!"

Forcefully opening the mechasuit, Kuvira took control, saying as she re-imprisoned her still bellicose parents, "I don't want to do that. At least given them a chance." Thinking strongly, Kuvira attempted to tell Raava, "I want you to show both these two a heavily edited version of my life – the edits being to remove technology details, should my father really seek revenge."

Very well. I still do not understand mortals thinking they can judge worth better than I can, but then again, I may have tossed you into the Fog of Lost Souls after your initial escape attempt.

Feeling herself booted out of the mechasuit, Kuvira winced to hear her parent's screams, half wondering if she had made the wrong decision. She began smiling, seeing her mother shrink in size until the cone covered her entirely, hearing a young voice say, "I'm sorry! So, so sorry…" Kuvira looked to her father, horrified to see he was still full size, spitting out obscenities. Sighing, she said, "Let me guess – won't budge?" Only seeing an outsized nodding metal head as confirmation, Kuvira said, "See if you can find any other way. Let the universe take its course…"

Conscience withdrew the mechasuit's hands as Kuvira felt an odd sensation, as though someone had placed a sharp rock into her throat. Coughing and gagging, she stared at a familiar crystal hovering in front of her, hearing a hissing voice say, "I always hated your mother. Weak, and apparently, pliable. Your father…" The crystal grew in size, saying as a red and black chain appeared, sick hooks protruding along one side, "He wants nothing to do with her, or you. He'd rather begin again – so he might be more like the true you - me. He identified more with me than you. Even without seeing that wonderful, wonderful machine." With that, the chain whipped towards her father, her father smiling as the red and black chain wrapped around, not screaming when the hooks entered his flesh.

Beginning to cry, Kuvira made to interfere, saying, "What – NO! Don't!" Before she finished her movement, she stopped, saying, "Wait… your choice. It saddens me, but I'll respect it." Kuvira took no pleasure on the way her father's eyes widened in hatred, the last thing he ever said before vanishing along with the crystal and chain was, "I don't want you! I never did – an accident, a burden! I never admitted it openly, but I wanted CONTROL!"

Hearing a crying from within one of the cones, Kuvira peered in, seeing her biological mother a small, scared child. Bending away the cone, she stopped crying for long enough to say, "I don't deserve you. I'll start again – adopt a child of my own, and find someone with a heart. Some poor lonely kid…" With that, she vanished, Kuvira knowing that was likely the last she'd ever see her.

Remembering the whole reason they had come – to play and explore Zaofu, not be emotionally traumatized - Kuvira told Conscience she was no longer needed, smiling to hear, "No. I want to try this 'play' as well. Perhaps it will help me be more 'human-y', like Raava… And after everything tonight, I see you as more than just a 'co-pilot'. I feel… different. In a good way." Wishing that the rest of her family was there, she saw her true father, Baatar, appear, along with a surprised Aunt Lin, yawning Wing and Wei, bored-looking Huan and a slightly irate looking Kai. Kai was the first to speak, exclaiming, "Hey! What's the big idea? I want to go back to Jinora's family! Still can't believe what I've seen there so far…" Giving Kai a quizzical look, he laughed, saying, "I'll tell you tomorrow, and you can tell me whatever happened to you. Aang mentioned something about an inner nightmare world." Pausing for a moment, he added, shrugging, "Aang says I should call you big sister, for some reason to do with the nightmare. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Bye!"

With that, her youngest brother vanished, Wing and Wei giving her dirty looks, Kuvira feeling small all over again. Looking up, she said, "There's a lot you don't know about me – you haven't even seen the first struggle yet!" Giving her a withering glare, Wing said, "Still don't believe you've changed. All I've heard is that press conference." Turning his anger on his mother, Wing said, "So why were we not asked to come to Ember Island? You took HER, but not your own sons, and my father?" Her mom gave him a slight scowl, saying, "Just because you're family doesn't give you an automatic pass, you know – and someone had to stay behind in Republic City! Not like you've ever paid attention to truly international affairs much anyways. Kuvira, get your mechasuit and Conscience to bring everyone up to speed. Mom, see if you can find Mako and Bolin – your earthsense is a lot better than mine."

Kuvira nodded, telling Wing and Wei, seeing Huan experimenting with a rock, "Just promise me you won't go nuts like your big brother did when you see everything." Ignoring Wei's smirk, Kuvira called Conscience over, saying once she was inside the mechasuit, "Try and see if you can do this by yourself, with my help." Conscience whined, "But… I can't! I can barely strip your mind of information as is – real infobending is Raava and Avatar only!" Kuvira smiled slightly, saying as gently as she could, "We're in a dream world – the perfect testing ground. Anything is possible. Let's give it a try."

Pressing her own hand against the interior palm of Kuvira's Remorse, Kuvira noticed her hand felt covered by spiritwire, Conscience saying, "Hmmm. Looks like Raava added another feature - one that was blocked off until now, by your mind. Kuvira, do you feel comfortable being more directly linked to me?" Remembering what Conscience had said earlier, and what they had gone through earlier, Kuvira answered, "Of course. You… you're more than a co-pilot. I named you Conscience, after all!" Kuvira wasn't sure what to make of it when Conscience asked, "Are you sure? This may hurt." Her answer still the same, Kuvira let out a pained yelp when two thick wires pierced her underarms near where she knew her main chi lines to be. The pain immediately ceased, feeling directly connected to Conscience in a way she hadn't before. The small metal port of some sort form on her underarms reminded her of the original plan with Korra's mechasuit. The line between herself and Conscience blurring, she felt as though she were her mechasuit, and linked to something much larger and greater than herself. A small link to Raava, apparently through Conscience. Smiling broadly, she said, "This is great! Wait – this feeling… Is that… oneness?" She heard Conscience's voice say, "I have heard that humans form strong bonds with those they fight with. This new change should make forming and strengthening that bond easier. Not that it wasn't already fairly strong – I wouldn't have said anything about it unless it seemed right to me."

Feeling light, Kuvira placed her hand against the ground, feeling the ground as directly as if she had touched it with her own hand. Thinking of everything that had happened since her surrender in Republic City, she smiled broadly, seeing thin blue lines spreading from her hand. Able to feel Wing and Wei's reactions, she tried something Korra often did, thinking, "Opal can help you make sense of everything." She blushed when she heard Huan's voice say once she had finished everything up to the present, "Wow. All that struggle… mind if I use it in my artwork… sister?"

She never got the chance to respond, hearing an alarm blare, "Tuber-vine co-pilot overtaxed. Cease operation immediately!" Removing her hand from the pavement, somehow knowing Conscience would be fine for now, she saw Wing and Wei looking very guilty, Kuvira laughing when Wei said, "To be honest, I'd rather call you sister than Baatar Jr. my brother. I still can't believe he's so 'butthurt' over everything…" Not remembering trying to instill English, Kuvira asked, in the same language, "Can you understand what I'm saying, Wei?" Much to Kuvira's surprise, he nodded, saying, "I can't wait to kick Wing's 'ass' in power disc in New Zaofu!" Wondering when this transfer had taken place, she heard a weak voice she recognized say in her head, "Gave… them… English. Too… taxing."

Feeling concerned, Kuvira willed her direct connection to be severed, noticing once she was out of the mechasuit that she still had the strange metal ports on her underarms. Bending open the chest, she gingerly took Conscience out, looking over the tuber-vine as she said softly, "Don't push yourself too hard." Seeing that part of the tuber-vine looked ill, a single tear rolled down her cheek, watching as the tear hit the spot.

The tear was gradually absorbed, the spot looking more healthy than it had before, Kuvira smiling to hear Conscience say, moving a tendril to her face, "Thank you. I'll be a lot more… careful." After a slight pause, Kuvira heard Conscience make an odd request, saying, "Let's go do that port thing in the real world quickly. So nice…"

After she had finished explaining what had happened, Kuvira opened her eyes, feeling awake enough to do what she needed. Remembering that Varrick and Zhu Li were supposed to be testing their mechasuit and wondering how they would get their ports, along with Asami, being that none of them could bend, she was surprised to hear Raava intone, I was able to produce a very small quantity of metal directly imbued with my energy while adding chemical resistance to the suits. There should be no problem with this new feature. I am sorry you didn't get a chance to use it in your fight – your brain blocked it out.

Eagerly climbing into her mechasuit, Kuvira didn't even mind when the two cables penetrated her, laughing as she said, feeling the ports form, "How appropriate – the first thing to penetrate me metal, and not Mako." She blushed when Conscience admonished, in the voice of Mako, "Keep the fire steady and slow," continuing in her own voice, Conscience sounding embarrassed herself, "Though, if that kind of penetration feels as good as the oneness right now, I can see why you're impatient."

Still inside the mechasuit, Kuvira walked over to Zhu Li's Thing and Iron Varrick, seeing they were also near their owners. Kuvira felt rather foolish when she heard Mr. Tuber-Vine say, in his dry, almost butler-like voice, "Thank you for the attention, Kuvira, but Raava has already informed us to bring up the new ports – but only when we feel a strong enough bond with our co-pilots, or if the need is urgent. The only ones who don't know are Korra and Asami. They are… wrapping up 'activites'." Figuring what they would be busy doing, Kuvira walked away after bowing, exiting the mechasuit with some reluctance, feeling the bond severed. Laying down next to Mako again, she said, "Hope it's worth the wait," drifting back to sleep.

When she came to, she noticed two figures she had only seen briefly before talking to Mako and Bolin, Opal at Bolin's side. Running over, she shook what must have been Mako's father's hand, saying, "Hi – I'm Kuvira! And you are… San?" He nodded, saying, "Yes. Bolin was just telling me all about the battle you just fought, and I have to say – Mako certainly has good luck with women." Getting a look from what must have been his wife, San said, "Just as good of luck as I had, honey." The warm-looking woman introducing herself as Naoki, she asked, "Can I meet your parents, Kuvira? I've already met your adoptive ones, and they won't talk about it."

Deeply disappointed with the way things had worked out with her father, Kuvira said, "I'd rather not talk about it. Let's just say I'm glad they abandoned me now, seeing them as adults, as they truly are. Especially my father…" Naoki recoiled in horror, saying, "I thought I'd never hear someone say they were glad their parents left them! On second thought, if they're that horrible, I don't want to hear anything about it." Smiling, she said, "Mako told me about San's scarf, and the new one you want him to have." Looking as though someone else were talking to her, Naoki said, frowning, "One of Raava's spirit friends says we need to go. Something about 'past life dissonance'. I'm sure I'll see you soon." With a coy smile, she looked directly at Mako as she said, "Kuvira, I can't wait to see what your kids with Mako look like."

Vanishing after, the blush on Mako's cheek remained, Kuvira saying, "You heard the lady!" Rubbing his neck, Mako said, "Uh – we already know what one will look like. Remember the orphan you saw?" Remembering the orphan vividly, Kuvira said, "Yes." Looking at Mako, and remembering her biological mother's new quest, Kuvira had an idea – a way to say thank you to the one parent who ended up not deserving a "vacation" in the Fog of Lost Souls.

Looking at Mako, Kuvira said, seeing Grandma Toph tapping her foot, "If you, Grandma Toph and Bolin have been talking to your parents this entire time, I have something I need to show you two. Well, Grandma Toph saw the whole thing, but I'm guessing you didn't…" Looking slightly sick, Bolin asked, "Is this about why no one wanted to talk to my mom and dad about your parents?" Kuvira nodded, saying, "Yes. CONSCIENCE! I don't feel like talking about this. Just help me get it out…"

Letting herself be taken in by the mechasuit and enjoying the feeling of oneness she now noticed was different from the small one she felt with Mako, Kuvira placed her hand to the ground, doing her best to finish over the negative reactions from Mako and Bolin. Feeling drained, Kuvira exited the mechasuit, for once Mako was the one crying and Bolin looking steely. Bolin said, glancing at Toph, "I'm just glad abandonment worked out for you in the end, Kuvira, where it didn't with Tonga. Ouch! Toph – you know it's true!" The old earthbender grumbled, facing Bolin, "You don't know the whole story. None of you do – not even Korra. I won't go on and on – Korra can infobend it out after the evacuation." Bolin shook his head, saying, "I seem to remember Aang warning against too much infobending. And maybe if you talk, you'll feel better too…" For once, Toph just nodded, having no snappy comeback, eventually saying, "That sounds like a good idea. I imagine Lin would like hearing it directly from me in particular, given how concerned she is with family."

Mako finally spoke, saying, "So I guess you want Raava to help your biological mother find the orphan? Are you sure? I won't be ready to, you know… for a long time." Kuvira nodded, saying as Mako walked closer, "Yes, I'm sure. She seemed desperate, almost broken. And I still love both of them…" Sobbing slightly, Kuvira said, "Even if my father ended up being more like me than my mother."

I have contacted your birth mother and told her your wish, as well as the orphan's location. That's very big of you – you're nothing like your father now.

Kuvira didn't expect Mako's very personal hug and then grab, Mako saying over an "Eww!" from his brother and laughter from Grandma Toph, "In the end, he was nothing like the real you. You deserve something, after all this… Maybe we can heat things up a little." Laughing, he added, as Kuvira grabbed his rear, "My mom and dad wouldn't stop harping on Bolin to finally do something with Opal, and by the time we finished talking about what you went through… my dad said 'Don't be afraid to let life throw off your plans, son. I know I didn't plan on marrying your mother when I saw her…' And I know I didn't plan on alienating Korra. It just happened."

Earlier, Kuvira had wondered how to make the sense of oneness grow bigger, or build the sense of oneness. Like a house, a train track or a weapon. Now she realized there was no real way to grow or build it up on purpose – like life, it just… happened.

When you were being yourself with someone, being open, and caring for them, like Korra and Asami.