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.

48. Chapter 48: Inner Reunions

Chapter 48: Inner Reunions

Zhu Li watched Korra and Asami finally amble off towards Naga, afterwards admiring the ring Varrick had given to her on their wedding day. Hearing a trilling behind her, she turned around, frowning slightly when she realized she hadn't put Bumi and Meelo to bed yet. Not able to understand Bumju's speech, she pointed to him, then to Bumi and then to where the rest of the Tenzin family was, finally pointing to Meelo and herself. Seeming to understand, Bumju grew in size, picking up a snoozing Bumi. Picking up Meelo felt a lot more natural than watching the big rabbit spirit carry Bumi - Zhu Li still having a hard time getting her head around spirits being more than pretty things to look at, and moral support. Alyssralove particularly struck her – dual bending?

Pushing thoughts of spirits from her mind, Zhu Li refocused. Seeing Meelo peacefully sleep near Tenzin, Zhu Li couldn't help but wonder if Varrick had gotten her pregnant yet, wanting a child of her own. Noticing Katara was nearby and knowing her reputation as a good healer and child finder, Zhu Li was tempted to wake her up, but decided not to, seeing Katara had a warm smile on her weathered face. Sighing, Zhu Li said, "I hope I grow that old with Varrick," turning away and walking towards the stockpile of readily accessible sedative, wanting to see what this "inner dream world" she had heard mentioned in passing before was.

Taking out a teacup and pouring out enough sedative to put her to sleep, even while on Jang Hui kelp tea, Zhu Li frowned slightly, knowing she wouldn't be able to do the Thing with Varrick on this massive transport. Especially since he had already fallen asleep…

Making sure to not spill the "tea", Zhu Li smiled, saying, "Maybe we can do the Thing asleep," remembering the use Korra had in mind for this "inner dream world". She made her way over to Varrick, asleep in the arms of her mechasuit, finding she liked the changes now. At first, she had resisted making it look more feminine, but as she looked at it, part of her wished Korra or Raava had given it some flesh tones, having seen Korra's very accurate mechasuit on the way over. Shrugging, she said, "I'm just not that kind of girl," settling in next to a snoozing Varrick.

As she carefully sipped the sedative, glad it tasted the same as earlier even without proper storage, she heard Varrick mumble, "Mrs. Beaks…" Remembering that the inner dream world let you interact with the dead, Zhu Li smiled, knowing she might finally get to hear the rest of that story Varrick didn't finish. Starting to feel the effects of the sedative, the last thing she did was place the empty teacup on the ground and kick it away gently, falling on top of Varrick half-awake. Zhu Li realized she had overdone the dose, given that she couldn't move her body even when she tried. Slowly, she managed to mumble out before sleep took her, "Needs… more… refining."

Zhu Li found herself in a frigid environment, shivering as she said, "I could use a coat!" To her surprise, a high-quality one materialized around her whole body, noticing it was exactly the same as the ones Varrick used to make, Varrick Global Industries logo and all. Much warmer, she looked around, seeing a young boy playing with what appeared to be an ostrich-horse in the distance on a small farm, watching him make a snowman without ever touching it for the ostrich-horse to charge through. Unable to spot Varrick, she walked over, asking the oddly familiar looking boy, "Hello. Have you seen my husband Varrick around? And why are you smiling like that?"

Grinning widely, the boy said, "You're looking at him! Zhu Li, this is Mrs. Beaks. I haven't seen her in years! Want to play with me?" Zhu Li adjusted her glasses, saying, "You sure sound like Varrick, but Varrick's no bender." The boy laughed, saying with a conspiratory look in his eye that made Zhu Li realize it really was Varrick, "I've heard head voices tell me rumors that Asami can bend when she's dreaming now. Blue fire, nonetheless. And I haven't heard from head voices in a long time, so it must be true!" Zhu Li still couldn't believe Varrick, giving him a skeptical look. Laughing like the child he was, Varrick moved his hands around awkwardly, finally forming a slushy snowball, asking with a smirk as it levitated above his hand, "Now do you believe me?"

Zhu Li nodded, saying evenly, "I never figured you one to wish for bending." Varrick nodded, saying, "Me neither, and I never figured Asami one to pine for bending. I figure one it's just what we're in right now – a dream." Zhu Li nodded, saying as she pointed to Mrs. Beaks, who was looking lonely, "You never finished your story about Mrs. Beaks, on top of Future Industries Tower. Want to finish it?"

Zhu Li felt smaller somehow when Varrick frowned, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he said reluctantly, "Not really, unless you feel like watching me tearbending." Zhu Li shook her head, saying, "Tell me – I want to know!" Still feeling odd, Zhu Li looked around, noticing everything seemed bigger. Varrick tapped her shoulder, saying, "Hey – over here!" Looking at him, Zhu Li noticed she was no longer looking down. Trying to feel her chest, she noticed even through the heavy coat she no longer had breasts, laughing as she realized what had happened, falling over when Varrick said, "Wondered how long it would take you to notice!"

A mischievous look on his face, Varrick stood over her, saying, "This is too good a shot to pass up." Seeing he looked ready to finally pelt her with the snowball he had been holding, Zhu Li swung her arms up in front of her face, saying, "Forget it!"

At first, Zhu Li was baffled, only seeing earth instead of Varrick. Repeating the same movement, she saw the earth above her shift slightly, hardly able to believe her eyes. Mimicking a move she had seen Bolin use, she punched at the earth, reminding herself of her own persistent and tough nature, thinking, "Rock's got nothing on me!"

The earth gave way easily, Zhu Li's heart dropping when she heard a loud, "OUCH! My head!" Clearing away the rest of the earth, Zhu Li saw Varrick rubbing his forehead, saying, "I – I'm so sorry, honey! How can I make it up to you?" Finding Varrick was looking at Mrs. Beaks now, he said, "Why don't we just go for a nice ride on Mrs. Beaks, instead of accidentally beating each other up. I'll direct her, and you listen to her story." Zhu Li nodded, saying, "Okay!"

Varrick smiled, saying, "I haven't been this young in years. Maybe we need to take a look at Sharktar's water – see if we can reverse its effects." Zhu Li heard a disembodied gravelly voice that she had only heard indirectly before say, "You shall do no such thing, Varrick. Tell me – how does one go from vehemently being against spirit weaponry, to wanting to see if you can pervert my pool's waters?" Varrick blushed, sputtering, "B-b-but Mr. Tuber-Vine practically offered himself to me! Insisted I use him! You want me to just turn that down?" Zhu Li laughed internally when she heard what must have been Sharktar dryly respond, "I never said that was bad – immortality is. Now I have some other humans to go 'advise', so behave yourselves, and don't plot to mess with things you shouldn't."

By this time, Mrs. Beaks was begging for attention, squawking as she nuzzled a flustered-looking Varrick. Making to twiddle a non-existent mustache, he said, "It was just an idea, Sharktar. Sheesh. You're so… grumpy!" As Sharktar's disembodied voice hissed, "Would you just shut up already? Be more like Zhu Li – quiet!" Zhu Li tried getting up on Mrs. Beaks' back, stomping her feet in frustration when she couldn't reach. Getting an idea, she tried mimicking an earthbending form that made a raised platform under the user, smiling broadly when it worked. Seeing Varrick couldn't quite manage to bend himself up, she stomped her feet, successfully making steps for Varrick to use. Staring at the steps, he said, "Wow. You're a natural. Me? I can't even make a snowball right. Whatever – it's not like we'll ever get this anyways. Just a dream. Up I go!"

As Zhu Li sat behind Varrick on Mrs. Beaks' backs, she had her doubts it was just a dream, remembering there was a time when people thought the only airbenders that would ever exist would be direct descendants of Aang. Telling Varrick as much, he said while adjusting the reins, "Talk to Korra about it. And Kai and Opal, seeing how they were new airbenders. This could be something, it could be nothing." Laughing, he added, "We don't need stupid bending – not with these mechasuits! I bet yours could beat Kuvira's Colossus one on one!" Zhu Li blushed, saying, "Thank you. It was Raava and Korra who did all the hard work." Varrick scoffed, saying, "Without the idea, there'd be nothing. And considering how tight Raava is with stuff we don't know about, generally, that's saying something. Like the thing we're flying in – it sounds like Korra had to 'steal' the wing sweep design."

Coughing, he said, "Enough about tech – let's talk ostrich-horse! Or Mrs. Beaks, more like." Mrs. Beaks stopped walking momentarily, Zhu Li hearing a little emotion in Varrick's voice as he said, "When I lived on the farm, before the circus people took me, I had Mrs. Beaks. I treated her like I treated you, for a long time – a beast of burden. But she loved me right back." Varrick was interrupted by Mrs. Beaks squawking, making low contented noises as she craned her neck backwards and nuzzled Varrick gently with her yellow beak… a beak with an indent and some small cracks in it, Zhu Li noticed.

Varrick continued, cracking up slightly, "One day, I was working with her, and I got a little farther from the farm than I should have after, taking her to check out what I thought was a tame camel yak, figuring my parents would appreciate a free camel yak. But it wasn't tame… by the time I saw it strutting around, flaring its nostrils near some other camel yaks, it had spotted me and Mrs. Beaks." Pausing, apparently to collect himself, Varrick continued, "When what was definitely a he charged at me, Mrs. Beaks bucked me off, trying to kick and peck the bull as I lay beside her, helpless. He got some good blows in on her, but she hurt him bad enough to make him back off. She got that hoof mark and the little cracks on her beak from that." Varrick sighed deeply, turning around as he said, Mrs. Beaks still trying to nuzzle him, "After that day, she wasn't the same. At first, she seemed fine, though she did have a limp… but she started eating less and less. Whenever I tried to touch her beak, she recoiled, squawking loudly. Before the circus people came, she got so bad she couldn't eat by herself anymore. The last thing I did on that farm was make a machine to grind or slice up food for her."

Before he could start crying, Zhu Li said, "That's just awful! But don't be just sad – Mrs. Beaks defended you with her life, even if you had treated her poorly before that. And I just want you to know, I'd gladly do the same for you." Varrick nodded, saying as Mrs. Beaks looked at him, "You… you too, honey. Let's go do something, just the two of us." Zhu Li shook her head, saying, "No – let's ride around for a while. I like Mrs. Beaks. And she seems to really like you." Mrs. Beaks nuzzled Varrick again, Varrick running his hands through her black feathers, saying, "Sorry I didn't treat you right until the end, girl."

Eventually, Mrs. Beaks did get tired, apparently partially lame even in death. After Varrick said a tearful goodbye, Zhu Li cried a little as well, saying, "Let's… let's try a little sparring match. At the very least, you can see how to fight an earthbender. I'll try my best to act like an Earth Empire soldier." Zhu Li frowned slightly when Varrick said, "I can see you being good at that – you did betray me, after all," unable to tell if he was giving her a hard time or not. Winking, Varrick said, "Just messing with you – I know you went in as a mole, like Jasmine did from the start, apparently. I never saw her – wonder what she's like in person. Man, what I'd give, to be able to LIE like that!" Seeing the slight glare she was giving him, Varrick said after whistling innocently, "Not that I'd ever lie to you. Now let's see what we can do."

Walking around, Zhu Li noticed their surroundings had shifted, finding themselves in the middle of what looked like a re-built Republic City. Varrick tugged on her, seeing he now had a mustache as he said, "Let's see what Zhao's restaurant looks like!" Zhu Li took a second look around, seeing many of the buildings appeared as big obscured black masses. Pointing to one, Zhu Li said, "Probably not going to happen. I seem to remember Raava hiding something about the future from Korra. Speaking of which… why don't we practice in Avatar Korra Park? It looks refurbished." Varrick nodded, saying, "Seeing how you're no longer a kid, maybe we can do some THING else there after we're done." Feeling her chest again, Zhu Li was happy to find that was the case.

Once they were in the park, they both got distracted by the trees, Zhu Li giving Varrick a dirty look when he tried to draw water from some of the flowers. He shrugged, saying, "What? Imagine – taking water from flowers and getting the scent too – easy perfume! We'd still sell it at a high price, of course." Zhu Li liked the idea, saying, "I could even try and isolate whatever makes it smell good. All this talk of Korranium, Tophinum, chemicals, what I did to the Jang Hui kelp tea with 'saltpeter' and electricity… I think there are more than just the four 'elements'." Zhu Li continued, seeing Varrick's slightly confused look, "A lot of technology needs specific metals to work, in certain amounts in certain configurations. Almost like proper bending forms – you can't just jumble a bunch of copper and radio pieces together and expect to get a working radio. And as you know, you can't just wave your hands around wildly and make a perfect snowball. What if the Jang Hui kelp tea active ingredient's the same way – has a certain arrangement, of things we can't see, and doesn't work' properly if it's changed? Just like you can't see the chi benders use to manipulate matter?"

His eyes lighting up, Varrick said, "Remember when Korra was whining about Korranium being bad? She talked about little… 'Asami particles', we ended up calling them. Something about being able to tell as the particles were emitted, the metal shrank a tiny amount, only Korra able to tell using glowy power." Grabbing her by the shoulders, Varrick said, "Zhu Li, we've got to look into this! I've got to know – and you look like you want to know too." Zhu Li nodded, saying, "Yes. Perhaps with all the new technology, the Avatar interviews, and some good business moves, we can re-build your company to where it was before we got locked up. Varrick Global Industries." Varrick pulled on his hair, saying, "Great idea, but what to re-name it? If you're going to be an equal partner, in more ways than one, we need a new name!"

Zhu Li shook her head, saying, "I don't know. Let's see if I can give you a good workout. Hey! Not that kind of workout. Leave the Things alone… for now." Varrick smiled, saying, "Okay, hit me with whatever you can! I'll just… improvise."

Stepping back, Zhu Li tried out multiple forms, finally settling on a simple one – make Varrick dodge a rock. Pretending she was Varrick before his change of heart, she struck her hand against the ground, thinking, "Rock, do the Thing!" Zhu Li blushed when she saw the chunk take the order literally, forming a small sculpture of a winking Varrick in a speedo. Varrick laughed, beginning to laugh even harder when Zhu Li told him what she had thought while trying to earthbend. Sighing, he said, "Who are we kidding – we should really be training in our mechasuits. I just want to try a little more first – I can't get it right!"

Varrick tried and failed to move water in any sort of controlled manner, finally yelling, "Stupid stuff won't obey me! I can't even make a snowball now." After a slight pause, Varrick smiled, twiddling his mustache most people just found ridiculous as he said, "Wait a minute. Just like you, I can't order water around and expect good results– it needs to flow! Hmmm. Just like a business deal, or a well-crafted plot." Zhu Li laughed when Varrick talked to a water globule he formed in front of his face when he talked to it, saying, "Let's make a deal. I listen to you, and you listen to me. Got it?" Varrick frowned when it did not respond, saying, "I wish I had some waterbending scrolls, or pro-bending match footage! My parents never bothered showing me theirs, not being a bender, and I just watched pro-bending without paying real attention."

Zhu Li jumped slightly when she heard a rustling of paper, followed by a voice she recognized from earlier say, "Request accepted, Varrick. And do try to not rip them – they are very old. You might find the pro-bending 'forms' to be too advanced, as they apparently require a finer control over water that lets you ignore more time-tested techniques." After a pause, Zhu Li heard Wan Shi Tong's voice say with embarrassment, "I really should have paid more attention to humans before this. Goodbye."

Zhu Li watched Varrick struggle for a while, walking over to see what he was trying to do. Seeing the form he was trying to pull off, Zhu Li tapped his shoulder, saying, "Maybe you should start with the 'water whip', and leave that octopus for later." Varrick nodded, looking down at the ground as he said, "I guess you're right. I just remember you accidentally making a sculpture, and I feel embarrassed. To be honest, I feel a little nervous, you watching. Why don't you go find something else to practice on?"

Zhu Li frowned, saying, "Okay, I just don't want to be away from you," thinking of one form of earthbending it took years to master except in rare cases – metalbending. Walking over to a ragged-looking Satomobile on the nearest street, seeing as it wasn't the only one along the block that wasn't obscured, Zhu Li tried tapping the metal to see if you really could sense the earth within.

After what must have been at least two dozen "taps", sensing almost nothing, ending up full-fist slams towards the end, Zhu Li found her hands hurt badly, the metal not having given at all. Feeling frustrated in a way she hadn't since Varrick's ineptitude inside his mechasuit botched their escape attempt, she tried attacking the rear-view mirror's thick attachment point. Figuring it was the likeliest point to give way, Zhu Li growled angrily as she imagined punching the man who had threatened to crush Varrick's head – Baatar Jr.

A different kind of pain coursed through her, only able to see multiple shallow gashes errant pieces of glass had caused on her right arm, yelling a few times, "Varrick, help! I cut my arm – bad!" Remembering her ability to wish things into existence, she tried calling a medical kit to her side, dismayed to see nothing appeared. Trying again, she saw a single English word appear on the pavement: "Wait."

Gritting her teeth and trying to keep the shallow gashes closed, she did exactly that, relieved to hear Varrick's voice say, "I'm here! What's the matter – oh for the love of money! Did you try punching glass, or something?" Seeing a glob of water appear over her arm, she was surprised to see it start to glow as she heard a soothing sound, an oscillating wave of light traveling back and forth across its surface as she felt the pain dull and eventually cease. The water retreating, Zhu Li could see no trace of the gash, or feel any reminder of her failed metalbending attempts in her right hand.

Hearing Varrick, or rather, not hearing Varrick, Zhu Li looked to him, saying, "Thank you. Why aren't you saying anything?" Varrick managed to get out "The Satomobile…" as he pointed in disbelief at the vehicle Zhu Li had failed to make any progress on. Zhu Li turned around, doing a double-take when she saw the rear-view mirror was completely broken, lying on the ground… attached to a significant chunk of metal that had an imprint in it that neatly matched her own fist. Right where she had punched. Remembering Varrick's own feat, she turned back around, saying, "Forget that. There were a lot of cuts. How did you heal them so well?" Varrick looked around, smiling slightly as he said, "I just thought of the pain I would feel, if I never got to do the Thing with you again, if you bled out, forgetting this is a dream. How'd you do… that?"

Zhu Li wasn't sure herself at first, remembering how little earth she had been able to sense inside the metal, even towards the end. Seeing a flash of Baatar Jr. holding Varrick aloft, holding his fragile head in powerful metal fingers, Zhu Li said, "Before I punched the last time, I pretended I was punching Baatar Jr. in the face." Varrick nodded slightly, saying, "I'd like to do that myself, even if he did spill the beans on the Colossus' power source. He just looks so… punchable! Now why don't you try again, and I'll go change into more suitable clothing. You know, a dress, bra and panties." Zhu Li rolled her eyes, saying, "Look, I know you probably think healing is for women, but if you've got something, use it, even if it is just in a dream world."

Zhu Li did a double-take when she heard a familiar voice intone, Perhaps it is not just a dream… and seeing Varrick's reaction, he must have as well. As if trying to prove something, Varrick moved his arms around, Zhu Li initially not seeing anything. Hearing an odd sound, she turned to its source, seeing a patch of dead-looking grass. Looking up slightly, Zhu Li watched as a globule of water shifted and began to freeze, laughing when she noticed it was a representation of herself, albeit a cruder one than the one she accidentally made of Varrick. Trying her hand at clothing it in metal, she found her attempts were just as crude. Shrugging, she said, "Looks like both our earlier huge successes will take a lot of learning to reproduce," Varrick nodding, finally saying, "Huh. A head voice wants something with me… and he sound suspiciously familiar. Wait… Mr. Tuber-Vine?"

Zhu Li saw two metallic forms appear behind Varrick, one significantly taller than the other. What she recognized as Mr. Tuber-Vine's flat voice said, "Hello, Master Varrick. Master Avatar Korra, through Kuvira's tuber-vine Conscience, has requested – why are you frowning?" Walking over, Varrick said, "Don't call me that. 'Master'. And definitely do not call Korra 'Master Avatar' again – she'd likely only get embarrassed. I'm surprised she didn't say anything earlier. And mind changing that butler voice, and attitude? It makes me feel… awkward." Responding in the same dry voice, Mr. Tuber-Vine said, "I cannot change who I am, but I will refrain from excessive title usage, if you wish, Varrick. And I believe Zhu Li likes my demeanor just fine. I remember her desire to give me orders." Smiling slightly, Zhu Li saw her mechasuit giving her an odd "look". Zhu Li ran over, hearing a familiar, friendlier voice say, "Hello, Zhu Li. Korra says you guys need to practice using us more – specifically ammunition management." Her mechasuit turned around, seeing a reinforced drum with a symbol for Fire on its back that Zhu Li hadn't noticed before, hearing Mrs. Tuber-Vine explain, "Raava just recently modified our housings to protect you against some really nasty weapons, something else I won't mention for now, and saw fit to also add this to Zhu Li's Thing's weaponry – a flamethrower, with more fuel than the original mechasuits Kuvira used, and Jinshu Kuangmai still uses. It's on the mechasuit's right arm – she figured you'd need a close-in weapon on that arm as well."

Liking the prospect of mastering something she knew she could use, Zhu Li said, "That sounds great, all of it. Let's start! Nobody has ever used Meesile weaponry or Lipowder weapons before." Zhu Li was surprised to hear Mr. Tuber-Vine say dryly, "Technically, if what Conscience told us is true, Kuvira had to face them long before we even arrived inside some sort of internal struggle with her brain. I can see the concern on your face – do not worry, she won. With assistance…" Looking at his mechasuit with an exasperated expression, Varrick demanded, "More explanation than that, come on!" With what sounded like a sigh, Mr. Tuber-Vine said, "Very well. But only the part that won't distract you, and is passingly relevant to myself. Kuvira ended up needing the assistance of her boyfriend, his brother, and his girlfriend, all eventually inside mechasuits such as my housing. Obviously, the synthesis or construction of their physical versions will have to wait. I can see you want to see them, but it will have to wait. They were rather basic anyways. Now let us test these existing mechasuits."

Zhu Li nodded, saying, "Enough talking – I want to hear that Varrick gun fire myself!" Climbing inside her monstrous mechasuit, Zhu Li felt tiny, much as she had inside her mechasuit earlier. Her arms weren't even long enough to reach the suit's elbows! Still able to control it, much as she had earlier, Zhu Li waited until she heard Varrick stop exclaiming over the radio, not sure if she felt glad or as if she had been partially replaced when Varrick said, "Thanks for the foot cleaning, Mr. Tuber-Vine – maybe you'll need to do it for real after this!" Zhu Li remembered that feature on the blueprints, but didn't think Raava would have actually included it.

Zhu Li felt a bit creeped out when she heard her own tuber-vine say, as though it could read her mind, "That's not the only amenity Raava put in these suits. Food, water, and a little bit of directly-injected Jang Hui kelp tea… as well as something a little dirtier." All Zhu Li could think of was what Korra innocently called a thingie, she said, "I've got Varrick for that!" Zhu Li relaxed a little when Mrs. Tuber-Vine responded, "What? No! Let's just say you won't have to get out of the suit to do your business, and leave it at that. Are we going to train now, or what?" Zhu Li nodded her head, plenty of space inside the cavernous mechasuit for her to move her head around, and see the large display in front of her.

Looking at the familiar display, she saw eight larger Meesiles in the upper left corner, half with a white yin yang symbol on their warhead. Looking below and seeing two circular unguided Meesile pods head-on and what appeared to be many grenades, she realized what she was looking at, not having realized it was an ammunition display until just now. As she expected, she saw a representation of the newer five-barreled Varrick gun's ammunition on the upper right corner, though this did not show individual bullets, instead a percentage, one she noticed was in Arabic numerals. Looking below, she saw a drum with a similar label, realizing it must be for the flamethrower.

Wanting to see if the flamethrower really had more endurance than existing ones on the mechasuit she had helped Varrick design for Kuvira, she pointed the right arm skyward, feeling satisfaction as she watched the flames billow from her mechasuit's right arm. Zhu Li heard Mrs. Tuber Vine say, sounding vaguely proud, "You could do that for hours and not run out of fuel. The old mechasuits? Not so much." Zhu Li smiled, liking how her tuber-vine thought as it said, "Now let's test something you haven't seen or used before? But on what?"

Thinking for a short while after asking Varrick what a good practice might be, he finally suggested, "What if we try disabling a railway gun, like the one you worked on? We know Jinshu Kuangmai's done something new with a similar weapon. Remember how he claimed he could vaporize the prison camp?" Zhu Li nodded, saying, "Good idea. Mrs. Tuber-Vine, see if you can get Raava to help make it as accurate as possible."

After a slight pause, she heard her tuber-vine respond, "Raava says she's just sent Alyssralove on a reconnaissance mission. Don't worry – she's quite fast, with her firebending." Zhu Li felt bad for Mrs. Tuber-Vine when she protested, "Wish I could earthbend – I can't, not even in this dream! It would make reloading the Varrick gun a lot easier tomorrow," Zhu Li re-assuring her "Maybe Raava can fix that." Zhu Li frowned slightly when she heard Mrs. Tuber-Vine respond, "That's a negative – we're not like the spirits that have been given bending so far. We're physical first and foremost, just like you and Varrick. Together with Korra, Raava can only strip physical being's bending, not give them bending." Zhu Li chuckled lightly when Mrs. Tuber-Vine finished after a short pause, "That would have made making new airbenders a little too easy. Enough talk – Alyssralove managed to see what we'll be up against tomorrow. At least, everything outside Zaofu – she turned away from the hidden city, Raava not liking what she saw even from a distance."

Before Zhu Li could ask what disturbed Raava, she found herself standing next to Varrick's mechasuit at what appeared to be high noon, looking out at a familiar facility – where Kuvira had tested her spirit cannon for the first time – almost on her. Shaking off the bad memory, Zhu Li said, "The past is done," seeing a substantial number of regular mechasuits of all colors begin to materialize, along with some tanks that had a rather alarming modification to their sloped, dome-shaped turrets.

Medium- sized cannons with rifling, and given the energy reading she could see, they were powered by spirit vines. Transformed spirit vines.

Hearing a loud voice say, "User Varrick and User Zhu Li combat simulation initialized fully in twenty seconds. Users advised this is a simulation. Bending deliberately not simulated," Zhu Li saw the mechasuits and soldiers begin to move closer to the large cannon, noticing the barrel looked… off somehow. Wanting to see what the cannon was and how it worked, she heard Mrs. Tuber-Vine say with obvious disappointment, "Alyssralove could not figure out how it worked, being too heavily guarded. All she could discern is what you see here; the elongated circular protrusions along its length and the rectangle beneath the barrel are unfortunately of unknown function. 'Luckily', she was futilely fired upon by some of the tanks guarding it - see how they work for yourself. Let's just give this a try." Zhu Li saw a red zero pop up on her screen off-center, asking, "What's that?" as she aimed the Varrick gun at a group of the mystery tanks.

"That's a kill counter – one I know you want to keep low."

After Mrs. Tuber-Vine said that, Zhu Li realized with a pit in her stomach for the first time she might actually kill people tomorrow, all her weapons aside from the enhanced directed lightning decidedly lethal. At first, she didn't move, but quickly began evasive maneuvers when a couple tanks opened fire on her with distinctive red and black beams. Trying to find Varrick, she saw he was still as inept in a mechasuit in combat as he had been before, though at least he moved with something approaching an acceptable level of skill. Watching one red and black spirit energy blast connect with his bumbling mechasuit, Zhu Li didn't care about the kill counter anymore, finally opening fire with her main weapon, depleting the first drum's ammunition on the tanks firing at Varrick, hearing a disquietingly empty "SSHHHWOOMMM" replace the strange whooshing roar punctuated by the sound of a ripping sheet the newer, smaller Varrick gun produced while firing.

Seeing everything but Varrick's mechasuit stop moving, she heard Mrs. Tuber-Vine admonish, "You can't use ammunition that wildly tomorrow, Zhu Li. As you can see on your screen, you only have five total drums – one on your arm, two in the chest, and two in the midsection. At that maximum rate of fire – 2,000 rounds per minute, 1,500 rounds per drum, you would exhaust your ammunition supply in… under five minutes, including manual re-loading time. While the Raging Shark Whale does have ammunition stores for all weapons, Meelo will likely be busy providing support for the main mission: the evacuation. You won't be able to rely on him for more ammunition necessarily, especially since currently no other Varrick guns use the bullets yours does. Korra won't be able to just synthesize more on the spot - she'll be too busy fighting herself. The continuous fire would also generate massive amounts of heat, ruining the weapon and probably heating your right hand to the point of agony. And if you hadn't made that inspired last-minute change to the Lipowder formulation using spirit vine cuttings treated with the acid you convinced Raava to make following the first … test you helped him conduct after Raava made the first batch, it would have been even worse. You would have gummed up your weapon with soot, and created an immense amount of smoke."

Remembering old grudges that far predated the first test, smoke visible even in the moonlight, the slow-burning nature of the first iteration of Lipowder and the soot left behind, Zhu Li said, "Thank you - the funny thing is, I got inspiration for the process from the film I helped Varrick make for movers. As I reminded Raava over and over, the acid creation process was old, predated movers, and all mine - Varrick insisted it be called VarriAcid at the time, of course… He even took credit for the process I came up with to make what was needed to make the most essential part for 'VarriAcid' in the first place - the gas! So glad he's different now. Anyways - there was an … explosive incident once while perfecting the film, an unfortunate mixing up between two chemicals. Varrick took a while to grow his mustache back - or for that matter, his eyebrows." Mrs. Tuber-vine laughing lightly, saying, "Sounds like someone's still a little bitter - maybe you should ask for him to give you what's yours," Zhu Li said, "Maybe some other time. And there's something else that is distinctly Varrick's I'd rather have than re-named products… Let me try again - see if I can do a better job." Seeing the first drum re-fill, Zhu Li tried again, the simulation now reset, finding she could both be more effective and humane with controlled short bursts, managing to fend off Varrick's attackers with a much lower kill count and higher ammunition reserve than before.

Hearing Varrick say, "Now it's my turn!" Zhu Li saw the simulation reset again, finding herself under heavy fire this time, eventually no longer able to evade fire. Landing, she tried a more direct approach, using the suit's bulk and boosters to crash into tanks and mechasuits, feeling powerful, yelling, "Zhu Li smash!" as another mechasuit fell to pieces after a direct punch, zapping the surprised soldier when he tried to get up from where he had landed.

Before anything else could happen, everything seemed to freeze, hearing Varrick curse over the comm as a computerized voice said loudly, "User Varrick was advised to not discharge flawed folding VarriMag gun design, and did not heed warning. The pain you feel now is minor compared to what would have happened outside of simulation - the magnetically propelled projectile carrier between rails has sufficient speed to rip your arm off if caught on the gap between the flawed discontinuous rail design." Zhu Li thought the voice was finished, but she smiled and snickered slightly when it added with a hint of annoyance, "User Varrick is advised to get busy with personal VarriMag gun re-design, and heed further warnings."

Seeing if she could help, Zhu Li boosted over, exiting her mechasuit as she said, "Need help with that?" Varrick exiting his mechasuit shortly after, he nodded, saying, "I'm damn glad I didn't test this thing out in the real world! I should have caught that - stupid!" Varrick stood quietly for a while, finally asking, "Mr. Tuber-Vine, please bring the mechasuit over here. I need a better look." Mr. Tuber-Vine did so, slightly irritating Varrick with his subservient manner. Zhu Li wasn't sure if she felt bad for Mr. Tuber-Vine or glad Varrick did not relish in treating anyone like a servant anymore - probably both.

Finally taking a look at Iron Varrick with its arm fully extended, Zhu Li noticed there were not one, but two metal fixings holding projectiles present on what she had assumed were individual VarriMag guns. Pointing to one, she asked, "You… did you put two on each arm? Two, for every four metal rods, on every single VarriMag gun?" Varrick threw his hands in the air, initially saying, "Well of course I did, Zhu - " stopping dead when he finally noticed her scowl. Initially, she felt like yelling at him, but relented when he put his hand to his forehead, saying, "Stupid, again! Sorry, honey. I just didn't like being sassed by… whatever that voice is." Zhu Li smirked when the unseen presence said flatly, "I heard that", wondering if whatever consciousness behind it was growing more human-y.

Idle wondering doing nothing to fix Varrick's problem, Zhu Li suggested, "Why don't you try just one projectile from each arm? Two seems like overkill. Here - Mrs. Tuber-Vine, come show the mechasuit's right arm to Varrick, so he can see what I'm going to say." Ignoring Varrick's mumble of "tree trunk arm", Zhu Li put her hand on her Thing's right arm as she explained, "Maybe it's just time to forget the idea of two VarriMag guns, honey - my suit would be even more ridiculous with two 'tree trunk arms'. There's nothing preventing you from holding your weapons like some of the benders do - Mako, Bolin, Opal, Jinora and Kai…"

Zhu Li felt a bit frustrated when Varrick shook his head, saying, "I've already got good close-in weapons!" Seeing if she could imagine something into existence now, Zhu Li tried calling up what she had in mind, smiling when she saw it appear near a startled Varrick's feet. Picking up the weapon, she handed it to Varrick, running her finger along its long barrel as she explained, "Remember how the Colossus held its weapon? I figured, why not go a step further, and make the weapon held directly in your mechasuit's hands, linked to Mr. Tuber-Vine for power through your gloves?" As Varrick nodded, Zhu Li admitted, "Though, reloading one round at a time with metal hands would be a pain - not to mention if you misplaced it, or lost it! Maybe this way to hold something would be a good idea for any army weapon for non-benders. But where does that leave you?" Varrick shrugged, saying, "I don't know - you were the one who brought this up in the first place, and I don't like the way Kuvira had her weapon set up, needing both hands to stabilize and fire one weapon. Then, that's not really different from holding the weapon, aside from losing it, is it?"

Looking at Iron Varrick, Zhu Li asked, "Is that mechasuit's form final to you? Kuvira changed hers once already." After he shook his head, Varrick said, "Just a minute - let me see if I can think of something." After a while, Iron Varrick's form shifted, Zhu Li seeing not one but two weapon mounts resembling the ones Kuvira had used on the Colossus on its upper arms, except sleeker and more compact. One held a rifled spirit weapon whose barrel couldn't have been bigger around than Zhu Li's wedding ring, and the other was a slightly modified VarriMag gun, appearing to have a removable ammunition store on its side. Before hopping in, Varrick explained, "I figure one physical weapon and one spirit energy weapon is best - Meelo has the right idea, complimenting the two with one another. Can only fire one at a time, though - the whole idea is to hit from far away, and accurately! Now let's see if I can actually use these things well!"

After numerous tests, the answer was just barely "No," Zhu Li finally saying as Varrick missed a distant target by a hair, "Why don't you do target practice by yourself, and I can continue training in my own 'simulation'." Varrick too distracted to respond, Zhu Li rolled her eyes, saying, "Come on, Mrs. Tuber-Vine, and let Varrick catch up on his own." As the tuber-vine laughed from nearby, Zhu Li found herself smiling, just as if she were listening to Asami laugh, or any other person.

After she was inside her Thing, Zhu Li heard the same computerized voice say, "Advanced private simulation initiated for User Zhu Li. Increased difficulty level by factor of three." Zhu Li idly wondered how long she would get to prepare before anything happened.

Given the horde of objects that appeared on her sensors, the answer was "None." Seeing an alert pop up in the center of her screen that said, "Spirit weapon beam impact imminent," she saw another bar pop up on her display. It began filling as she heard the distinctive "BWOONG!" of a spirit weapon repeat many times from multiple sources, noticing that they appeared to be firing in bursts. Remembering what had happened to the spirit vines, Zhu Li turned around towards the closest tanks, hearing Mrs. Tuber-Vine say with a hint of desperation, "I can't handle much more dark energy! Quick, fire your spirit weaponry, and discharge the stored energy!" Realizing her own biggest weapon would not need to pause, Zhu Li activated the largest spirit weapon on her mechasuit, raking the tanks with a thick light blue beam with two odd light blue and white helixes around it, noticing no mechasuits standing.

Wondering where the challenge was, Zhu Li saw an alert appear on her screen that she didn't expect: "Metal projectiles incoming." Confused, Zhu Li raised her arms inside the mechasuit as hard as she could, noticing that the earth still did not move. Relieved to hear a series of harmless metallic pinging noises, Zhu Li found herself glad to have armored the suit so much in her design. Wondering just where the apparent Lipowder weaponry had come from, Zhu Li yelled, "Computer, care to tell me where this Lipowder weaponry is coming from?" Zhu Li felt a chill when the response was a cold, "Condensed report from Omashu, User Alyssralove: An Earth Empire military commander named Chin has also figured out how to weaponize firework powder, and calls it 'fire-earth'. The projectiles that were just shot at you were of smaller caliber. These weapons were found on Earth Empire war balloons sent to Omashu for retrofitting - and after the rebellion, they stayed there." A relieved breath escaped her lungs when it finished, "The practical fire-earth weaponry found on these ships is not of sufficient quality to penetrate even non-mechasuit plate armor," feeling panic return in greater force when the voice added, "From notes found with the weaponry, these were intended as demonstration models only, and even then were constrained by a severe lack of resources. Heavy references to unknown terminologies if at all, and blueprints found on ship were scarce, and derivative."

Zhu Li sighed, saying, "Great. There goes one advantage - the one thing named after me! Figures…" Tapping her finger impatiently against the inside of her mechasuit's upper arm, Zhu Li realized there was one weapons system she had yet to test - the Lipowder launched grenades. Hoping the result would be better than Varrick's test of his folding VarriMag guns, she turned towards in immobile tank, hearing a sliding of metal. Clenching her fist, grenades successfully hit the target tank. Hearing a loud crack not followed by a re-assuring ping, Zhu Li watched in horror as an explosion erupted from her mechasuit's upper right arm, feeling the pain acutely in her own when the metal bent backward onto her skin.

Grumbling, Zhu Li beat the computerized voice to the punch, saying, "That's another weapon system to re-design. Don't want someone exploding everything in there when I'm in here!" Seeing the screen in front of her no longer indicate grievous damage to the suit, she heard Mrs. Tuber-Vine say, apparently trying to re-assure her, "It's fine - that was a really lucky shot, and a moving target is a lot harder to hit. Why don't we try again - and practice with the Meesiles too. The unguided ones may prove especially troublesome."

Trying to get her mind off the possibility of getting shot at with advanced "fire-earth" weapons tomorrow, Zhu Li dug into her training with gusto, finding the new control scheme far superior to anything she had ever used the more she got acquainted with it. As though her co-pilot could read her mind, Mrs. Tuber-Vine said, "Oh, it gets better. Raava added a way for us to directly link to each other." At first, Zhu Li felt weird, saying, "B-b-but only Varrick does that! And all too infrequently, given we're newlyweds!" After her co-pilot said, "Bet you the only way Varrick can be any good is to link - I know how terrible he is with these mechasuits," Zhu Li snickered, thinking, "Maybe that wouldn't be so weird after all… she does seem awfully human, for a plant." Zhu Li felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment when Mrs. Tuber-Vine said hotly, "I heard that - I am not a plant! That's hurtful."

After apologizing, Zhu Li wondered how Varrick was doing with Mr. Tuber-Vine. The simulation shifted around her, laughing along with Mrs. Tuber-Vine to hear the computerized voice say, "Difficulty level lowered by factor of four," Varrick apparently needing a curve of some sort. Looking at the wreckage around her and wondering what Varrick had been doing, she turned towards the direction her display showed Varrick at. She saw him idly standing at the front of the railcar, whistling as if he didn't have a care in the world, holding a metal rod in one hand with a coil of cable around it. Feeling vaguely annoyed, Zhu Li asked over the com, "What are you doing? You seem awfully confident, for needing a curve!" The blue mechasuit shrugged, hearing Varrick retort, "What curve? The voice told me everything was supposed to be stationary! I don't know what you were doing, but I eventually disabled the cannon with a couple shots! That's the whole point of this, right?"

Zhu Li boosted up, finding herself wishing she could move faster yet retain her armor. Looking at the railcar, she could see small but lengthy chunks taken out of the metal of the carriage, a cluster of holes letting her see into what must have been the power source for the weapon – it was in the exact same spot it had been on the original! Looking around more, Zhu Li spotted tanks with similar holes, the crews lying dazed in small piles outside. Seeing mechasuits keeled over all around, Zhu Li realized what the metal rod and cables were for, saying exasperatedly before landing near Varrick, "Varrick, really - did you make and set off an EMP device? If you had done that for real, our computers might have fried! Not to mention your signature weapon - it's powered by magnets, AND outside the suit!" Iron Varrick shrugged again as she heard Varrick say, "Don't blame me – it was Mr. Tuber-Vine's idea! Said something about thickened Tophinum shielding as part of 'NBC' protection, whatever that is, and I figured as long as it's outside the mechasuit, it would be fine. And it was! I think. Let me test the re-modeled VarriMag gun out again."

Zhu Li burst into laughter when the weapon didn't fire, opening her suit's visor so she could see Varrick's reaction more directly. Taking a second look at the weapon, she shook her head side-to side, asking sheepishly, "S-sorry for laughing. What did you do to the VarriMag gun?" Varrick crossed his mechasuit's arms, saying, "I won't say exactly what until you tell me more about your own little equipment failure. Apparently, your tuber-vine doesn't think you're really sorry!" Forgetting she was still in her mechasuit, Zhu Li tried to cover her face, the hatch in the mechasuit's upper chest closing at the last minute before giant metal hands hit her head. Realizing Mrs. Tuber-Vine must have done this to protect her, she said, "Sorry. To both of you. Had I known plant was a slur, I wouldn't have said it." Zhu Li heard a relieved sigh that sounded very human, followed by a voice she was growing more and more comfortable with saying, "At least 'plant' acknowledges we're alive. Really want to piss me off? Call me a 'power source'."

Glad she hadn't, Zhu Li finally asked Varrick, "What did you do to your VarriMag gun?" Seeing the background shift and noticing Varrick was no longer holding the EMP device, Varrick demonstrated, turning to the side. As he aimed at a distant point much as the Colossus had targeted its weapon, back facing her, Zhu Li noticed four canisters on the mechasuit's back, snickering when she saw two had "Puncharound" and two had "Boomaround" inscribed on them in English. Given the loud explosion that followed a distinctive crack, Varrick must have used a Boomaround on his target. Turning to look, Zhu Li was surprised to see the target had been destroyed, saying, "Good job, and nice design! Show me the 'Puncharound' - let's see if you can hit the center!" The target re-appeared, Varrick managing to hit an inner ring, yelling proudly, "YES! My best so far." Zhu Li suppressed a snort when he added, "Quit bugging me about that, Mr. Tuber-Vine! I am not in mortal danger, and I don't want to be penetrated - even if it would make me a better shot!" After a slight pause, Varrick said with something vaguely resembling resignation, "Fine. If I'm really in danger, we'll link, or if I show I can't fly and fight at the same time."

Zhu Li sighed, asking as she wondered what Varrick had been doing, "You mean in all that time, you never tried firing while flying yourself? Any weapon - not even the chest one? Varrick, maybe you need to link to Mr. Tuber-Vine for real, outside of this dream simulation… thing. Apparently, the Earth Empire is working on Lipowder weapons, or as they call them 'fire-earth', and I don't think it will be very long until everything in Jinshu Kuangmai's armory is spirit vine powered. Remember how Bumju saw tons of transformed spirit vines on the surface of Zaofu?" Zhu Li heard Varrick make a rather girlish-sounding "Gyeeh!" before saying, with slightly more dignity, "I don't like the sound of that. Man – I never should have worked on that spirit vine project in the first place! Period! Stupid friggin' Kuvira…"

Zhu Li was about to agree, still having some lingering reservations about Kuvira herself, but was interrupted by an odd noise from within her suit. Trying to get Mrs. Tuber-Vine's attention and failing, she saw Varrick moving his suit in an erratic manner, asking, "Varrick, is Mr. Tuber-Vine talking to you?" The mechasuit's head shook side to side, Zhu Li recoiling slightly out of surprise when she heard Mrs. Tuber-Vine finally speak, saying, "We're going to show you a very good reason to trust Kuvira, and after, you can get to fight what she defeated. It will be good practice… and instill a little more sympathy in you, hopefully."

Zhu Li felt confused, feeling an information flow start immediately, wondering how Kuvira talking to Opal had anything to do with, well, anything. By the time the flow stopped, Zhu Li was feeling almost as guilty as Kuvira did when Opal berated her about Zaofu. She noticed the mechasuit was somehow even roomier, finding herself staring at the two ammunition drums in the belly as she said, "I don't wanna fight that thing! Varrick, do you?" All she could hear was the sound of her own breathing, after yelling "Lemme out, Miss! Now!" she found the mechasuit opened. Staring at a familiar tower, Zhu Li felt safer to be back in Republic City.

Hearing Varrick tearbending nearby, she ran over, saying as she wiped the tears from her own face, "I guess we will never really know what it's like, to have been that bad, trying to be good." Zhu Li felt a stabbing emotional pain as Varrick shook his head, saying with shame, "Yeah, right. We've been plenty bad ourselves, remember. Trying to profit off a war, stealing Asami's stuff, the kidnap attempt on President Raiko, helping Kuvira in the first place?" Zhu Li covered her face in shame as she remembered how… convincing she had been in pledging her loyalty to Kuvira over Varrick, and Varrick's pleading, idly wondering if she too had some dark half she'd need to fight someday.

No, Zhu Li, you do not, and neither does Varrick. You obviously still have bad inside you, just like everyone else, but as long as you stay on the right path, you shouldn't have any trouble.

Zhu Li shook her head, saying, "But what about what we just saw, Raava? You don't sound so confident… I don't want my brain doing that! Can't we just make sure?"

Oh, great. I hope you're happy. Sorry – that was a little too harsh. Just check on Varrick, and I'll leave you alone. No Colossus practice tonight.

Looking up from the ground, Zhu Li saw Varrick looked distressed… and he was sweating. Running over, she grabbed his face, kissing him on the lips, saying, "Whatever it is, just ignore it, sweetie. Like Meelo did." Zhu Li was relieved to see the sweating stop, Varrick chuckling for a short time before looking slightly more serious as he said, "Heh – my doppler was small. Sort of like Kai's, except mine was made out of paper money. Enough yuans to buy the world, it looked like!" Laughing again, Varrick said, "He suddenly caught fire, running around like a madman. You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?" Zhu Li giggled, saying, "Yeah, I did. Do you not remember the kiss?" Varrick shook his head, saying, "No. Why don't you refresh my memory, after we get more practice in. I don't want to bumble around like an idiot." Looking ashamed, he admitted to Zhu Li, "Mr. Tuber-Vine was doing the driving earlier in my one live fire, moving target simulation, just like a butler. I need to learn how to drive that thing! It took me a long time to learn how to aim well enough to even hit a stationary target in the right spot!"

Zhu Li heard a loud crashing sound, feeling a metal finger tap on her shoulder as a stern voice said, "Zhu Li, get inside me, now. Raava hadn't planned on this. At all."

Obeying dutifully, Zhu Li hopped in through the top after climbing up, feeling safe and secure inside her Thing. Glad to see Iron Varrick operational again, she boosted her way up… trying to get close enough to whatever the energy sensor said was brimming with unidentifiable energy.

Finally seeing the Colossus, Zhu Li attempted to initiate radio contact, saying, "This is my dream world – who do you think you are, butting in on me and Varrick?" Zhu Li heard a familiar voice respond, hardly able to believe it really was her and not a dream trick, "Just your former boss, stopping by for a little fun. Raava told me you both needed some practice earlier, and Conscience keyed me in on what just happened with a little… inside help. I'll go easy on you. I'd rather be playing with Mako right now, but believe me, I know what can almost happen in the inner dream world, and I don't want Varrick learning to drive against a real hostile foe. Like the new weapon setup by the way, Varrick." Zhu Li laughed when the Colossus stomped its feet angrily like a massive metal brat, stopping her she heard Kuvira yell, "What do you MEAN I'll be practicing as well, Raava? Like hell I'm ever piloting this thing outside a simple training dream!"

Looking at the Colossus, one of Zhu Li's sensors detected a large energy surge – but from a tuber-vine. A while passed, Zhu Li finally hearing Kuvira say, sounding like she was a child, "No, I don't want to, even if they do make that boom or death energy weapon! All that stuff you showed me was horrible! I'm dismantling my toy and going home to my mom!"

After that, Zhu Li saw the Colossus sag temporarily and begin to shimmer slightly, but recoiled when she saw it stand upright again, seeing the energy sensors indicate the target was slowly turning truly hostile, now whole.

Zhu Li felt chills run down her spine, hearing a male voice say with malice, "If you won't, weak daughter, I will 'train' them - for their last time. Prepare to join Hiroshi, geeky non-bender scum!"

Jetting behind a skyscraper and making sure she could still read the Colossus, Zhu Li was relieved to hear Kuvira's voice say loudly, "Get out of here, you scumbag! OUT! FOREVER! I should have listened to Conscience – tossed you in the Fog of Lost Souls, where you belong! I never want to see you again!" At first, Zhu Li felt totally lost, glad to see the energy sensors indicate all power sources were fully tuber-vines again, and only one human presence inside the Colossus. After a light sobbing came through the radio, she heard Kuvira say, "Looks like we're stuck here, training. All of us. Not with my biological father's spirit still floating around, apparently able to possess untended dream equipment. Gah! Why didn't I listen to Conscience and Raava…"

Remembering from the vision that Conscience had wanted to throw both Kuvira's parents away like rotting food, Zhu Li said, "She wanted to throw your mom in there too, remember," hearing Kuvira respond, "Yeah – but that was before the little 'update' I gave her." Zhu Li felt like a fool, simply saying, "Well, if we're 'stuck' here, may as well make the best of it. Unless…"

Remembering the seal placed on Korra and Asami, Zhu Li suggested doing the same to Kuvira and everyone remotely linked to her. At first, it had seemed like a good idea, but found herself agreeing with Varrick when he said, "Can't just seal everybody against everything. For one, it'd take forever, and for two, if Kuvira had been sealed up, she would have never gotten to make 'amends' with her initially hostile biological mother. All I know is, Korra better toss Zaheer in that prison if she needs to – imagine him, hopping here and there! He'd be more dangerous dead than alive!" She heard Kuvira grumble over the radio, saying, "Probably should just keep him chained up, and not even touch him. Let him rot, for what he did. Both to the Earth Kingdom, and most of all, to Korra."

Hearing a cough, Zhu Li noticed the Colossus moving, barely avoiding slicing a building as it unsheathed its ridiculous sword from the back as she heard Kuvira say, "Now come on – we've all got training to do! I hate the idea of piloting this thing more than anyone, but after seeing what Raava showed me that sparked her decision to ask me in the first place… I don't want to talk about it. Just practice it away. Weaponization…"

For some reason, Zhu Li had no desire to know more, merely starting her attack on a rather reluctant-looking Colossus, making sure she could see Varrick. After the initial feeling of awkwardness wore off, fighting her former boss in a Colossus Kuvira's mind had designed without her input, Zhu Li started enjoying herself. Varrick still flew like a drunken airbison, unable to fire either main weapon unless still and a sitting turtleduck. Varrick eventually stopped for a few seconds while not trying feebly to fire, taking multiple larger Varrick gun rounds to the chest before Kuvira could adjust to his halt. Zhu Li heard a loud scream over the radio from Varrick, her heart sinking.

Thinking he had been wounded, Zhu Li jetted over, noticing another much more feminine figure racing towards him as well. The helmet opening once they were on the ground, Varrick said, "I'm fine, I'm fine. Relax. Mr. Tuber-Vine finally talked me into letting me put some weird ports on my underarms, reminding me that he was the first tuber-vine we found, period. And rightfully telling me that I am a horrible driver! But hey - enough with the old. Guess what?" Having no idea what to say, Zhu Li heard Kuvira venture, "You felt a feeling of oneness, more like a comrade than a lover? And like you are your suit?" Varrick played with his mustache, saying, "Yes, that is all true, but even better – he's not so serious anymore! Say hello!"

Zhu Li chuckled when she heard a lively male voice say, "Some of Varrick's wackiness rubbed off on me, and I don't sound or feel like I'm just here to serve drinks and food anymore," hoping that not too much wacky had rubbed off – one Varrick was enough for her. Taking a look at Kuvira, Zhu Li asked, "Why were you still in Kuvira's Remorse? How's that thing fit in the Colossus?" Kuvira scratched her head, saying, "I'm not sure. Why don't you come and look, then we can see if Varrick can actually fight now."

Once they were at the Colossus, Kuvira jetted closer, exclaiming, "Look – the cockpit has a hole for the smaller mechasuit. Kuvira's Remorse is like a life raft now! That's ingenious – an inner mechasuit for a getaway, or to continue fighting if the bigger one is taken out! But when…? Hmmm. I was trying to think earlier, when I was describing it to my mom and my incredulous aunt, what would I do if some fool asked me to make this thing and pilot it. I still wanted to be attached to Conscience. Guess this was my brain's answer." Looking at the Colossus's weaponry up close, Zhu Li quipped, "I'm glad your brain is answering now, and not just for your sake. For everybody's! That thing it designed is nasty!"

Seeing Kuvira laugh in the chest-centered cockpit next to her mechasuit, Conscience also laughing in a surprisingly "human-y" way, Zhu Li felt more at ease around her former boss than she ever had – not even a bit of fear. Zhu Li let her guard down further when Varrick admitted much the same thing, shaking Kuvira's hand, smiling as he said, "I'm glad you listened to the good head voices, Kuvira." Kuvira nodded, seemingly not paying full attention, finally saying, "It wasn't easy. Why don't we 'finish' training, then have a little brainstorm – I'd like to see if I can make a Colossus have any sort of redeeming value beyond war."

Zhu Li heard a distant electronic voice say, "Temporary Plane:Earth wing permission granted to User Kuvira. Unauthorized human spirit successfully locked from this dream world by Supreme User Raava." At first, Zhu Li felt vaguely jealous, letting slip, "WHAT? I'd love to see the chemistry stuff! What did she do to get let in?" Zhu Li covered her face to hide her small blush as she heard the same voice say, "Access granted to spiritual texts only, due to relevant Earth concept – technology is now on tighter lockdown, following unauthorized breach by High Level Clearance User Korra. User Zhu Li not allowed anywhere near chemistry section – Curator Wan Shi Tong wants user to discover things herself." Seeing Kuvira's excited look, Zhu Li said, "Why don't you just go see whatever you need to in there, and we'll wait on testing Varrick again." Before vanishing, Kuvira suggested, "Why don't you fight each other – it will probably be a lot more useful than practicing against a Colossus, especially if what Conscience told me about you bending in here is true." Before Zhu Li could react, Kuvira was gone, Zhu Li deciding to relent and see what earthbending was like in a mechasuit.

In her first round facing Varrick, he defeated her quite readily, taunting as Zhu Li frowned to see what the VarriMag gun had done to her earthen shield AND suit, "That all you got? This link to Mr. Tuber-Vine is great!" Not trusting this link thing just yet, Zhu Li tried a different tactic, imagining herself performing actions flawlessly during the second round with her eyes closed. Opening her eyes, she recoiled slightly, seeing that she had given something a serious beating, but it wasn't Varrick – everything hit the building behind where Varrick had been. Remembering that she would be fighting beside two people linked to their co-pilot tomorrow and not against them, Zhu Li said, "I think you're good now, Varrick, and so am I. We aren't going to be facing anything remotely like our mechasuits tomorrow – even those tanks didn't offer a real threat."

Zhu Li saw Varrick put a metal hand on one blue hip, saying as the mechasuit's head shook back and forth, "Don't get cocky, honey. Remember what Korra said about not underestimating the enemy – or what my assumptions cost Mrs. Beaks? And, you said something about 'fire-earth'…?" After Varrick said, "Worst-case scenario – they come up with tanks like the ones we haven't even built yet, and fit them with fire-earth weapons as well," Zhu Li saw a couple of the two types of ground vehicles they had designed appear – though with Earth Empire markings.

The two closest anti-aircraft vehicles beginning to track her and not Varrick, she asked, "What did you do, and why?" She felt indignant when Varrick said, "Just making the training better! Let's see how you do against pilots linked to their co-pilots…"

After numerous attempts, Zhu Li found the answer was "Not very good," still finding the whole exercise ridiculous, Varrick not taking very many hits at all. After the last time, she admitted, "Fine. Maybe I need to do the link thing – who knows what we're going to see tomorrow. Maybe it'll feel good too…" Apparently, Mrs. Tuber-Vine could still sense her apprehension, suggesting, "Zhu Li, I have an idea, if you're not comfortable with me just yet. You've felt a feeling of oneness with Varrick before – how would you like to feel a little bit of that any time you're in your mechasuit?" The answer an obvious "YES!" Zhu Li saw Varrick approaching, an odd white and blue tipped cable extending from his armor.

Figuring what this might be for, Zhu Li let her co-pilot create the ports the tuber-vine wanted to begrudgingly at first, apologizing, "Sorry that I was apprehensive – this feels good all in of itself. Makes me feel like I can fight better than a bender now…" Feeling the direct connection partially severed and hearing a panel open on her suit, Zhu Li took a sharp breath when what must have been Varrick's cable connected, managing to say in a wavering voice, "It… almost feels as good as doing the Thing! Hah – I know two people who'll be doing this a lot – Korra and Asami!" Disappointed to no longer feel the muted oneness when Varrick's cable withdrew, she heard Mrs. Tuber-Vine say, "Now let's see if this worked…"

Feeling pressure against both underarm ports once again, Zhu Li felt as though she were her mechasuit, as well as a different kind of love – one that a loyal, steadfast servant might feel for their master and friend. Remembering her devotion to Varrick as just that – a servant – over the years, Zhu Li said earnestly, "Sorry – if I had known you wanted to help me this badly, like I did Varrick before it turned into something more, I wouldn't have hesitated at all. I promise I won't treat you like he treated me. I'm just going to call you 'Miss'. Now let's see what we've got!"

What they had ended up being quite a lot, Zhu Li and Varrick eventually able to defend the Colossus against multiple waves of the more advanced tanks and anti-aircraft vehicles. Remembering one type of vehicle they hadn't touched yet – humming-bird suits - Zhu Li said, "Give us some hummingbird suits – let's see if we can hit a fast-moving target!"

The smaller targets proved much more difficult to hit, finally managing to down one by luck, an unguided rocket hitting one square in the chest. Trying out something she hadn't thought to use as a weapon by itself until just now, Zhu Li focused on one particular suit, using power diverted from the spirit weapons to form a strong Liser beam. Almost instantly, the empowered Liser broke through the metal, Zhu Li wincing when she saw the suit fall, the upper portion cut in half and the building behind sporting a hole.

Hearing a dry computerized voice announce, "High Level Clearance User Kuvira has returned," Zhu Li immediately asked, "Wha – when'd you get that?" Seeing an image of a leather-bound book appear on her screen, she heard Kuvira's voice say, with a little shock, "I'm just as surprised as you are. When I read something in an Earth book about 'turning swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks', I felt inspired. After I read more, I decided I wanted to try the same thing – try making a Colossus for peaceful purposes, like farming or construction. After that, Wan Shi Tong decided me worthy of higher clearance." The image of the book replaced by that of a vaguely displeased-looking Kuvira, Kuvira finished, "The first thing I did was go to the chemistry wing, trying to see if I could sneak a peek at what Raava had hinted at about chemicals and agriculture, but no such luck. All I got was a reminder about Korra's little stunt with the wings and piloting controls of the Raging Shark Whale after being denied access."

Curious to see what Kuvira had in mind, Zhu Li still finding the idea of a peace Colossus ridiculous, Zhu Li landed on the ground, missing the link to her co-pilot once the cables detached. Soon joined by Varrick and Kuvira, listening as Kuvira explained her ideas, Zhu Li found herself genuinely glad to be working with Kuvira. Looking back and forth between the war and peace Colossi, Zhu Li said, "I never thought I'd say this – but I feel honored to work with you. And I'm not lying either, like the first time." After a light hug, Kuvira said, "Thank you. Now let's look at the Construction Colossus again – if I'm going to help make my sister Opal this New Zaofu, we're going to need all the help we can get to complete it quickly."

Feeling an odd shift, Zhu Li found herself in what seemed to be the old Zaofu, though they were still looking at the same blueprints, and no Colossus was nearby. Standing up to look around, she could see Su and the rest of her family running over, doing a double-take when she spotted Toph was still around. As the "newcomers" looked at the blueprints, Toph not bothering for obvious reasons, she could hear Su say with pride in her voice as her sister gave Kuvira a light hug, "Now that's a Colossus. It almost looks… caring, somehow." Su sounded like she was going to continue, but stopped when Bolin exclaimed, "Now this is an inner circle! Actually helping people, no prison or re-education camps, using and not abusing spirit energy…" Zhu Li chuckled when she saw Opal tussle Bolin's hair, admitting with a smile, "I guess in the end you really were trying to help people, Bolin. A shame it took Kuvira three years to come back to the same point where she tried to start, but better late than never."

Zhu Li could see Kuvira crying lightly, but given how the former "Great Uniter" was smiling, these must have been tears of happiness – not regret or remorse. Kuvira's expression changed slightly, asking with concern, "Speaking of inner circle… Whatever happened to Baatar Jr.? Has he shown up here yet? Aunt Lin, know anything?" Kuvira's face softened when what must have been Conscience said, "He's fine – he fell asleep a while ago, badgered by Ikki into a different dream, for now."

Kuvira's expression soured again when Conscience added, "Though, he may need some help like you did eventually. There were things he did behind your back, inspired by some of the things you said and did, as well as his own ideas, that I won't spoil the moment by telling you now." Kuvira smiled slightly when Conscience finished, "Now why don't you put that design away, and actually get some rest and relaxation. Don't worry about your father's spirit coming around. After a little… incident, Raava solved the issue. Don't look so forlorn, Kuvira - let's just say he did his best to earn her ire for now. We have no idea what doing 'work' here, in a dream, does exactly… but Raava feels close."

Kuvira nodded, saying grimly, "I think I know what Raava did, and why. Just tell me, please – who did he harass?" The mechasuit that housed her slumping, Conscience admitted, "Raava herself didn't tell me, knowing I would likely tell. I just know no harm came to his target." Kuvira yawned, saying, "I'll find out tomorrow, I guess. I feel tired somehow, drained, but not physically. Let's just be, or play." Zhu Li heard a familiar loud squawk, giggling as she felt feathers against the side of her face, letting out a contented sigh when Varrick asked, "Want to go for another ride, Zhu Li?" Zhu Li nodded, hearing surprised gasps when she made a little earthen stair to let her climb up on Mrs. Beak's back, explaining to a skeptical looking Su, Lin and Toph what had happened earlier, noticing Opal had a pensive look on her face. Almost as if she were trying to remember something, years ago…

Okay – something is going on here. This bending is popping up too frequently to be a fluke. But what? I'll try and figure it out, as well as why Kuvira feels "tired" – you need to just relax.

Still rather creeped out by Raava's little intrusions, Zhu Li let herself get lost as she and Varrick raced around Zaofu on the friendly ostrich-horse. They eventually stopped when they came to Mako, Bolin, Opal, Kuvira, Wing and Wei playing in one of the rivers that ran through Zaofu. An older Huan attempted to capture the moment in stone and metal as Toph, Su, Lin and Baatar watched, all smiles - though Toph was obviously not watching with her eyes.

Joining in the play, Zhu Li felt better and better, bending some silt over top of Varrick's head after he got a good hit in with a water whip. After making the earth around Varrick's head more solid, Zhu Li laughed when Kuvira punched the solid, shattering the earth. Given how energetic Kuvira was, she must have not felt tired anymore.

Hmmm… it appears work or conflict in this dream world taxes the soul, and both childlike and adult play recharge it, along with other positive things. And when you wake up, Korra has something to show you – something that will… bend your mind. Heh.

Zhu Li noticed Raava hadn't said anything useful about the other question – the dreams of bending, the lame pun the only hint. Getting tired of the spiritual stuff, she took Varrick aside, quietly asking him a one word question: "Thing?" After he nodded his head with a slight grin on his face, she noticed they were no longer clothed children, and certainly not outside in Zaofu.

Smiling slightly, Zhu Li said as her eyes wandered, "It seems your systems are operational. I'd like to perform a test, however - a very thorough test," giggling when Varrick said, "Ohh, I love it when you talk techy with me," anticipation building when he continued with a smile and raised brows, "Test beginning in…"

---

Not having taken any Jang Hui kelp tea – not after hearing what his brother Bumi had said it did to his oldest son, Meelo – sleep took Tenzin rapidly, wondering what ancient history of the Air Nomads he might get to see, or who he could talk to. Remembering one Air Nomad Avatar that might help him come to terms with his oldest daughter Jinora's desire to have a standing military, of all things, he found himself hoping to see Avatar Yangchen when he came to, in this new place he remembered Korra mention in passing as a "shared inner dream world." Or maybe not - all this use of infobending was blurring the lines between unspoken and spoken communication…

Looking around when he finally began to dream, finding he could control his actions, he recognized his surroundings immediately – Air Temple Island. At first, he found himself alone, hearing a female voice he didn't recognize say after some time from behind him, "Hello, Tenzin, son of Avatar Aang." Turning towards its source, he felt elated, asking, "Avatar Yangchen? Is that really you?" The woman nodded, saying, "Yes, I am. I know you desire to talk to me directly about the new Air Nation, and especially your daughter's ideas, and other matters of business, but that is not what I am going to speak of." Smiling slightly, she continued, "I never said I did not desire to help you with your quandary. I believe there is one key, to both increasing your own happiness, and making you a better world leader and husband, father."

Staring Tenzin straight on in a slightly unnerving way, Avatar Yangchen stated in a warm voice, "Do not be afraid of change, Tenzin - accept what is happening, embrace change as a chance to better the world, so that you can shape the course of events better than if you remained stubborn. From what Raava has told me, you are doing fine, advising your oldest daughter well on matters of life and death. Relationships are two ways - do not be afraid to let her influence you. That is all." After a slight pause, Avatar Yangchen added, "If you end up not feeling comfortable with her ideas in the end, rest assured, she will not be alone. Just as your father, I am always here for advice - and not just for Avatar Korra."

After Yangchen vanished, Tenzin wasn't sure what was less appealing - accepting the idea of an Air Nation military himself, or one of the most bellicose Air Nomad Avatars he had ever heard of giving Jinora advice instead. Mulling it over, wishing there were a third option that didn't involve airbenders in uniform, Tenzin said, "Maybe I should ask my dad about this…"

Hearing a sudden rush of noise, Tenzin felt as if someone had lifted a curtain from around him. Taking a second look, he found himself in the middle of a family gathering – his family. Ignoring what he presumed was Jinora flying around freely, he made his way towards his father, noticing both his father and his mother looked as young as they had when he was Rohan's age. Approaching his father, Tenzin asked, "Did you hear what Avatar Yangchen talked to me about just now?" His father grinned, saying, "Yes, I did. Why don't you relax, see if that helps you unwind? Get some space to think? You've been running on fumes since well before I was freed." Tenzin nodded, admitting, "Even in here, I do feel rather tired. Have any suggestions?" Putting a tattooed hand to his forehead, Tenzin's father said after a poke from his better half, "Yes, and no. While Raava and the other Avatars have yet to figure out exactly how this new inner space works, Raava does remember Korra feeling rejuvenated after her more… innocent play with Asami, riding otter-penguins their shared dream world."

With a rather final air, he admitted, "That's all I have for right now, I'm afraid." Turning to his mother, Tenzin saw she looked annoyed with both husband and son, asking, "Not all of us have mystical links, honey - mind telling me what my son wouldn't?" Tenzin held up a hand, saying with a smile, "I'll explain. Basically, I was late, talking to Avatar Yangchen about change, after she refused to answer my… misgivings about an Air Nation military directly." Katara gave Tenzin a slightly disapproving look that made his face tic slightly, saying with a slightly forced smile, "You never were one for change," Tenzin's face flushing when his mother continued, much to his father's amusement, "I still remember how confused you were by puberty. I can see from your face I don't need to go into details." Pushing down his memory of his first inadvertent brush with masculinity and the embarrassment he had felt in front of his parents then, asking them what was wrong with his pants and getting laughs before guilty consolement, Tenzin sighed deeply enough that a wind buffeted his laughing mother's face. Seeing how his father had joined her, Tenzin said in a moment of candor, "Maybe Kya and Bumi are right about you two! You know how mortified I was when… that happened, and here you are laughing like it's a big joke!"

Both his parents looking ashen in a way Tenzin only had seen them when Bumi told his father he belonged to the "I disappoint dad" club, Tenzin suppressed a smirk to see them both shrink down to the age they had been acting. Looking especially guilty, his father said, "Sorry. I remember my own first… inadvertent expression, and it wasn't a laughing matter, how I felt after the rush faded. Especially since I was still a monk at the time. Katara, have anything to say?" His mother tugged absently at a hair loopy as she said, "I'm sorry, Tenzin. I didn't laugh at Kya when she came running to mommy about the weird bleeding, so… I want to say sorry, for my laughing just now, and how I reacted then." Tenzin frowned slightly when she added, pointing at his chest, "It was sort of funny though, my serious son, all terrified about feeling good. Not to mention, 'new waterbending form'..." Shaking his head, Tenzin couldn't help but wonder how Bumi and Kya felt growing up, saying as he gave his nervously grinning mother an intense glare, "I thought your brother was supposed to be the one to keep talking when he should just shut up instead!"

Looking back and forth, finally noticing her husband's glare, his mother said, "I think we need a family meeting later. Why don't you go talk to your own wife about change instead - she can't even bend outside here, and she's flying around, just like Jinora and Kai! Pema was talking to me about her idea for helping you learn to fly briefly before she flew off herself, high as a kite, in both senses of the phrase. I can see that look - no cactus juice involved. Hmmm… No, maybe some other night. Don't want to spook the grandchildren. " Rubbing his forehead, Tenzin asked calmly, not having caught the bit about cactus juice, "Care... care to run that by me again, mother? Pema… flying?" Young face beaming, his mother said, pointing up, "Yes, flying."

Tenzin sat down on the ground, cupping his face as he said, "This better not be another one of your practical jokes you or dad pulled on me when you were younger, mother. I never understood, the Universe seeing fit to let a lowlife like Zaheer get airbending, but not someone as pure and sweet as my dear Pema…"

Feeling a sudden blast of air, Tenzin sighed, saying as he looked at his father, "Not funny, dad. Uh, dad? Hello?" His father was too busy laughing to respond, Tenzin heard a familiar voice say from behind, "Turn around, honey. Maybe we can work on your block in here – it seems like a good place to me! And why are both your parents kids?" Tenzin stood up, seeing that Pema was indeed floating, grinning like a little child, saying, "Even if I can only do this in here, it's enough for me! Wheee - it's a wonder airbenders ever get anything done!" Figuring a re-telling of what had just happened would dampen Pema's spirits, Tenzin pushed aside the idea of a family meeting - for now. As Tenzin tried to grab Pema's hand, she got a mischievous glimmer in her eye, rapidly shifting from side to side, avoiding his hand as she giggled, "Can't catch me!" Sighing lightly, Tenzin said, "I can see Ikki's not here, but you're doing a fine job filling in, Pema," the sigh turning into a groan when he heard his dad say from behind, "Ikki's busy helping Baatar Jr. get things ready for tomorrow, after having helped him through his own troubles." Putting one hand to his forehead, Tenzin asked no one in particular, "Isn't two enough?" Pema cocked her head, asking, "Two what?" as she finally landed, snorting slightly when Tenzin said, "Militaristic airbender children."

Groaning slightly, his father said, "Don't 'worry' - she's no Meelo or Jinora. From what Raava is telling me, she's just tagging along, hoping to see you all tomorrow, though she is trying to act as a mediator of sorts. She's got her work cut out for her - thank goodness she doesn't know Kuvira got a mechasuit. Forget what we were talking about before Pema got here - That would be very… awkward, explaining to President Raiko. From handcuffs to war machine!" Tenzin hoped President Raiko never saw Kuvira with her personal-made mechasuit, mumbling, "Maybe we should have thought that one through a little more… but Kuvira herself tried to refuse the mechasuit, Korra and Mako overriding her for Kuvira's own safety." Tenzin gave his father a funny look after an abrupt change in topic, his father saying, "What I didn't say is Ikki has been trying, and so far just barely not failing, to keep relations between everyone somewhat civil. Uncle Iroh insists on overriding President Raiko's wishes that he command, supported by Sokka, and – hey, honey, I'm talking here! Just wait a second. Okay, keep it simple, since Katara seems to want to go somewhere. Okay, okay, sorry – the first thing that came to mind was, well, you know, you and me, as adults, and not you wanting to see your brother again!" Tenzin could see his father had completely lost his train of thought, reminding him, "President Raiko and Sokka both want Uncle Iroh to lead. Anything else?"

Ignoring Katara's infuriated look, his father said, "Basically, Iroh II, Sokka and President Raiko want Uncle Iroh to command, Baatar Jr. thinks an immortalized human spirit commanding a battle would be bad for the Spirit Civil War and wants to 'redeem' himself by leading, and the man we know only as the Lieutenant – yeah, I know, that Lieutenant, the one who tried to abduct your family and failed miserably – insists he's the best man for the job, a neutral third party, when he's not slurring benders and making Sokka mad by doing so. So far, all Ikki's managed to do is keep them somewhat calm, Raava being taxed to her limit by other… issues right now." His father caved when Tenzin stared at him for a while, admitting, "Korra and Asami are dealing with some cross-plane stuff that was, and will remain, censored for almost everyone, while Raava's now trying to break into someone's inner dream world." His father looked nervous, insisting, "You don't need to know Ku, err, who, son," then slapped his hand over his mouth, Tenzin hearing a muffled English curse.

Only knowing one person whose name started with "Ku," Tenzin sighed, asking, "What's going on in her head, that not even Raava can get in?" Tenzin's heart dropped when his father said, with evident distress, "Not even Raava knows, at this point. It could be anything. Whatever happens, it's up to Kuvira – nobody else."

Wanting to distract himself from the possibility of waking up and finding Kuvira either insane or psychotic like Azula, Tenzin said, "Shouldn't have talked business at all. I haven't even seen who all is here yet!" His father nodded, saying, "While you wander around, I might pay Katara a little more personal visit. Love's a good distractor, after all." With that, he vanished, followed by Tenzin's mother, who was blushing slightly with a wistful look in her eyes.

"Kuvira's in trouble? Can I help? I bet nothing could beat the Raging Shark Whale!"

Tenzin turned around, seeing Meelo looking up at him, who was joined by Jinora, a confused looking Rohan and Kai as Tenzin said, "I'm afraid not, Meelo. Even Raava can't get in. Why don't we just have some fun?" Rohan nodded eagerly, saying, "Daddy, have fun! Fly! Like mommy!" Tenzin didn't feel like explaining how the new flight worked to a three-year old, simply saying, "Daddy's flyer is broken, Rohan. Why don't we see if we can go find Oogi and Pepper? I can't see them right now, but if we look real hard, we should be able to find them!"

Liking how Rohan nodded eagerly, Tenzin took his youngest son around Air Temple Island on foot, taking his sweet time, somehow able to feel the place's spiritual energy even in this dream, forgetting all about his earlier frustration with his mother and father. Feeling an odd spike as he went around the rear of the island, Rohan in tow, he looked to the sea, noticing that the addition Korra had made was present as well. Curiosity getting the better of him and knowing he couldn't possibly be interrupting anything, he tried the front door, telling Rohan to try practicing his airbending, knowing full well it was fine - it was Rohan's language that needed work. Thinking to himself idly, "If anything, he's a little too good at airbending," jiggling the lock, he could hear water splashing, suddenly realizing that Korra had never shared the details about their house, or what they did in it. Going around the side, he tried many combinations on the lock, practically jumping out of his skin when he heard a strong young female voice say, "Hey, stop that! You'll never get in like this!"

Turning around to see who'd caught him red-handed, he covered his eyes, saying, "Gah! Put some iceclothes on at least, Atokara – and how'd you get in here?" Tenzin was reminded a lot of a young Korra mixed with something he couldn't quite put his fingers on as Atokara whipped around gracefully, glad to see she was now covered in highly opaque iceclothes. Tenzin laughed when she said, "I know you airbenders are sort of prudes, so I made the clothes less see-through than normal. Now get out of my way, so I can open that door for you and go back to playing with grandma and grandpa, and Naga!" Wondering how Korra was doing, Tenzin asked, "How's momma Korra doing?" Tenzin didn't know what to make of Atokara's sad face, baffled when she said, "Raava was being mean to momma Korra a while back after we finished helping Arthas, so my grandparents and I left for a different dream world. It seemed too 'happy' to be anyone but Naga's." Tenzin had no idea who this "Arthas" was, and just ignored it, venturing, "Know anything about what's wrong with Kuvira?"

Tenzin saw Atokara's face light up, glad to hear her say, "Raava says she's fine now, and Raava made up with Korra." Atokara pointed at the combination lock, idly tugging on a white braid as she said, "I'm getting more than a little impatient. C'mon, move it, so I can go in, make sure there's nothing you shouldn't see, and go back to playing with grandma and grandpa!" Stepping aside, Tenzin watched as the young girl deftly opened the lock with a waterbending pick. Tenzin finally placed who else she reminded him of as Atokara smiled much as Asami might have, clearly proud of her apparent knack for mechanical devices. Seeing his look, she smiled with lips Tenzin just now noticed really did have "mommy Asami's" lipstick on them, giggling mischievously before saying, "I knew the combination, but that was more fun! I'll have to tell mommy Asami she needs a better lock." Running off, Tenzin found himself wondering what life would have been like had Raava given gifts earlier. Himself and his siblings infused with Raava's energy…

A short while later, Atokara came out, chirping, "Everything's fine. Bye!" Hearing a familiar babble behind him, Tenzin turned around, seeing his youngest son being nuzzled by two vaguely familiar-looking airbison calves. Before he could react, Atokara re-appeared, saying as she approached Rohan, "Well hi, Rohan! My name's Atokara. I'm Korra and Asami's daughter. Want to play?" Completely confused as to how Atokara could have possibly sensed something in this dream world not once, but twice, Tenzin began to say something, but stopped, finally recognizing the distinctive dotted pattern on one of the airbison's noses. Smiling, he told them both, "Why don't you two ride on Oogi and Pepper while I see what Korra's house looks like." Rohan nodded, saying, "Play with funny girl in ice! A-Atokara! Fun!"

As Tenzin turned around, going inside with curiosity, it finally struck him: why Korra had felt so much grief over lost time with Atokara, trying to deal with her remaining internal problems – apparently to help Raava more than anything else. The precociousness, high intelligence and emotional advancement for a "four-year old", a natural link to Raava that was only rivaled by "momma Korra's", what seemed like the ability to absorb knowledge not only from Asami's experiences, but a little from Raava herself… Korra would never have a normal family.

Thinking about his own childhood as he sat in what must have been someone's valued antique chair at a distinctly Water Tribe inscribed table, it dawned on Tenzin he had never thought about what it was like, to be the Avatar – and a PARENT! Thinking about his own parenting skills, Tenzin shook his head, saying, "Nobody's perfect…" Realizing with a sinking feeling in his heart that he hadn't seen two family members, or even thought of them yet, he felt terrible, crying lightly as he said, "Bumi and Kya… right all along. AND my dad. Nobody was wrong… we were just doing the best we could." Smiling slightly, he admitted, "I guess now that I look back on it, it was kind of funny. No wonder she laughed - me, asking if I was part waterbender, and what the new 'form' I discovered was…"

A short time later, he saw a strange slow shimmering in the other chairs at the table, seeing the room apparently grow in size slightly. Looking at his hands, he briefly panicked, asking, "Where are my arrows?!" Hearing his own voice, and remembering Korra's own experiences in the Spirit World and those of his parents earlier, Tenzin stood up and walked quickly to a bedroom mirror. A very young reflection stared back. Walking back out, he looked at the bed, knowing where it came from. For some reason, he didn't feel pride, or righteous in the least – he felt vaguely ashamed, having basically stolen from that "greedy" Air Acolyte…

"BUMJU! What are you doing here? Go on now – you've got a job to do, soldier! Pilot that big thing! What do you mean, Jinorahead and Patientstem learned how to fly the plane from you? Hogmonkeywash!"

Walking back out into the main room, Tenzin saw his brother and sister, both roughly the age they were when he was eight and the apple of his father's eye, Bumi arguing with a trilling Bumju, asking, "Why didn't you tell me tuber-vines learn from their pilots? Then I would've pitched a fit to get my tank!" His father sighed, saying, "Bumi, I didn't stop… talking with your mother just to have an argument about who did, and did not, receive equipment, and the details about tuber-vines." Smiling slightly, he looked at Tenzin, saying, "I 'heard' what you were thinking about, son. Atokara, which led to your childhood, which led to… this." Still feeling confused as to what "this" was, Tenzin sat down, finding out when his mother said, "Before we started talking, Aang mentioned. Oh shoot. Whatever, you're all adults, you know full well what we were doing. Don't give me that disgusted look – it actually ties in."

His father looking like he was trying to spit up mercury, he admitted, "When I tried replicating your daughter and her boyfriend's feat, with 'assistance'… it didn't work. Now I know this is awkward – Kya, get back here!" Tenzin saw his sister look at her father with disgust, asking over her shoulder, "What, you still haven't changed? The only reason we came in was for us! My brothers and myself - I don't care if you can fly in a dream! Not to mention you're DEAD!"

It wasn't often that Tenzin saw his mother angry, but she looked livid, saying, "Sit back down! I won't embarrass Tenzin by telling exactly why he said 'Maybe Kya and Bumi are right about you two!' earlier, when you were off wherever! You were always like this – I think you all have hurt left inside, and if you help Aang get over his, maybe it will help! Here, let me quote you something Korra told Raava during a heated argument of their own. Aang told me, barely able to speak he felt so bad, feeling such a failure: 'I have a better relationship with my unborn daughter than Aang had with two of his own living children'. If you'd stop being hostile and nursing old grudges, old regrets, bad habits, you'd be better off – all of you! Well, aside from Bumju – he's fine as is." Bumju trilled, taking his place at Bumi's side, Bumi saying, "Bumju says if we don't stop yelling, he's going to leave."

Once the tension in the air died down, his father said, "I believe there is a reason – a very big reason – that I wasn't the first to discover this new airbending form. It's just like Korra said – I don't have a very good relationship with either of you, Bumi and Kya. Before you were born, Kya, I wasn't even wholly comfortable with what I was doing, old Air Nomad habits dying hard. Never mind knowing what to do as a father… By the time you came around, Tenzin, I wanted to do my best as a father, to all of you - but came up short. And it wasn't just being the Avatar's fault, all the time it took – I should have brought everyone on those vacations, like Katara wanted. By the time I was willing to listen to her parenting advice and put aside the old ways, seeing how the exclusion and bumbling affected you, Bumi and Kya… it was too late, both of you rightfully not wanting much to do with me." After Bumi and Kya nodded solemnly, his father continued, "There's all kinds of love, and if one is off by enough, I guess you can't 'embrace your tether' properly." Seemingly at a loss for words, Tenzin filled the silence his father left, saying, "Bumi, Kya, I can see you still look suspicious. Probably asking 'Why am I still here?' or 'Why should I care if my dead dad can do this new flying in a dream?' It's not about the flying – it's about what's underneath."

Explaining how he had felt, walking by the bed he for all intents and purposes stole from the Air Acolyte, Tenzin finished, "Based on your expression, I can see that's not what you had in mind for the leader of the Air Nation, dad. I told you this, because I want to stress, we all do the best we can, limited given what we know and don't know. And we can't control emotional responses perfectly - I'm not bitter about you know what anymore." Pointing at his father, who nodded slightly after mention of "you know what", Tenzin continued, "I don't want you carrying regrets and remorse beyond the grave. The world's entering a new age – the line between the physical realm and spirit realm is blurring more every day." Remembering the sound advice his father had given Meelo, Tenzin pointed out, "You've already been there for Meelo, and before that, Jinora. Now, with… this, you can be there for all of us."

At first, his father was puzzlingly silent, finally saying, "Raava says that since Korra is the Avatar, and that everyone else in this room interacts with her and by proxy, me, on a regular basis, two things called 'past life dissonance' and 'death attachment' don't apply. Unlike other people who are dead and gone, I can be there, if need be. Uh, vacant stares, yawning Kya - let me explain. 'Past life dissonance' is when someone like Asami's dead parents, Hiroshi or Yasuko, interact with loved ones from past lives too often, causing the current life to begin to lose its sense of self and identity. Korra obviously knows who I am, and interacts with me regularly now. A welcome change…. But anyways. 'Death attachment' is when someone who is living, like Grand Lotus Atin… the Grand Lotus interacts too often with his dead wife and son, and begins to lose touch with the living. As an Avatar Spirit, I never truly 'die' – well, except that one time I was encased in this EVIL man's ice tomb, about to die, and Korra - ! Sorry. Got carried away there for a minute. Anyways – as long as the Avatar Spirit is alive, and not entombed, the Avatars never truly lose touch with the world, some able to connect to things beyond our own world, just like Raava. Meaning contacting one is not going to derail you – more likely put you back on track."

Grinning nervously, he said, "I know that was a lot of 'spiritual mumbo jumbo', as Toph calls it, but basically it boils down to this – I can be there, and fix my mistakes after death! Why are you shaking your head, son?" Tenzin laughed as Bumi crossed his arms, saying, "It's not about fixing mistakes – it's about getting over them! What, did you gum up your chakra whatevers again, or not listen to Tenzin, for like the only time ever? I know you 'got over' a lot of things when you were young, but it sure doesn't sound like they stayed 'over it'. And my brother basically said, 'In life, you screw up, even while trying to do good, forgive yourself you knucklehead!'"

Tenzin had expected something to happen, but he certainly didn't expect his father to shift, looking about as old as Atokara as he said, Tenzin seeing his father as he never had before in multiple senses of the phrase, "I… I haven't really even gotten over the mistakes that didn't have to do with you guys! There's a reason I pushed that… horrible vision on Jinora. I didn't want what almost happened to happen again…. except much more permanently." Tenzin's mother looked completely confused, saying, "What do you mean? And toughen up – maybe Toph was right about how to teach you! Wuss."

Relieved to see his father in a more familiar form – that of a twelve-year old, who he knew was wise beyond his appearance – Tenzin listened as his father said, "Sorry you had to see that. Guru Pathik talked about illusions… and in a way, I think the chakra pools, the chakras themselves, are a little like that – but only in the way that the idea of ever clearing them forever is an illusion. Every storm in your life will leave debris, clogging the water's flow, needing to be cleared…" After a slight pause, Tenzin was surprised to see an image appear in the middle of the table, a voice he recognized as Raava's saying, "Korra found out the exact same thing a while ago. I am… ashamed to admit, that I was the cause of this problem in the first place, basically berating Korra for being what Aang was, and is – human. I don't like doing this now, but I'm going to force you to watch this. I can sense one of these lies, even after death, makes its home in your heart, Aang…"

The image swelled, Tenzin watching as Korra dealt with another kind of doppler he hadn't seen before. Even knowing it was just an image, he recoiled in horror all the same, seeing the ashen Korra's deep, endless eyes, the void-palm hands, wondering if one could lose their sanity or soul to such a thing. The image paused, Raava saying from nowhere, "I suppose that one is relevant as well." The image shifted, expanding to the point it actually touched Tenzin's arrowless hand.

Feeling an odd tug on his mind, it felt as though he were directly in Kuvira's shoes as she faced a similar apparition, Tenzin wishing he could scream when he felt the tug. As though he was about to enter the void, against his will… It felt vaguely familiar, but worse than anything he had endured in the Fog of Lost Souls, and its temporary dominion over his mind. Tenzin also felt Kuvira's exhilaration at the specter's shattering, vaguely disappointed to hear Raava intone, You can see everything tomorrow. You have your own issues to deal with first. She won, obviously. Let's just say I'm very glad Korra saved Kuvira a week ago…

Looking up, Tenzin saw the original scene with Korra start over, the words, "If only you worked harder…" and "As the Avatar, responsibility for the world's problems is yours. You have no time for life," stressed especially hard. Feeling all kinds of sympathy for both Korra and his father, Tenzin himself identifying with the struggle against this lie as the leader of the Air Nation, Tenzin leapt up, hugging his father as he choked through tears, "I love you, dad. I've had the same lie, whispered, over and over, and… you remember the Fog of Lost Souls. I bought it. For a long time…"

Feeling a lot of bumping, Tenzin checked to see just who else was trying to hug his father, smiling to see both his siblings hugging tightly, Kya saying strongly, "I'm so sorry, for the resentment, Tenzin, and for the attitude, dad. You didn't ask to be the Avatar… and the world never cared if you had a family. Demanding your time, when you obviously wanted to be a better father…" Tenzin heard his mother cry slightly after Kya said, "Part of the reason I never married, was because I thought family sucked…" Kya let out an audible shiver, as though she had just realized something disturbing. She said nothing, Bumi finally saying something: "Dad, I just want to retract all those cutting 'witty' comments about my membership in the 'I disappoint dad club' with my sister. Brother, you too… well, the other comments mainly. You know what I mean."

Tenzin groaned slightly when Bumi added, crossing his arms, "But I still want my tank, even if I feel a lot better!" Genuinely curious about this tank, Tenzin took him aside, noticing they were both older once again as he asked, "What tank?" Bumi grinned widely, saying, "Heck, we're in a dream world, after all – why don't I just show you! Meelo helped a little with it, but this thing's mine."

Before they could finish leaving, Tenzin heard a loud yell of "GET BACK HERE, and help me with your sister! I swear – men!" Turning around, Tenzin saw Kya was an adult as well, and not seized and sweating like someone in a bad vision might have been. She seemed troubled all the same, Tenzin's heart sinking when Kya said, "I know somebody else who thinks family sucks, and he's the whole reason there's still an Earth Empire!" Tenzin was baffled, unable to understand the leap in logic, saying, "That's ridiculous! You're a great aunt, Kya – where did you get that?" Kya shook her head, saying, "I… I don't know. And I don't really want to."

Remembering the reason for this whole family meeting, Tenzin asked, "Do you feel any better, dad?" His dad merely grinned, saying in his young voice, "Watch this!" With that, he hit the ceiling, Tenzin laughing along with everyone else when his goofball father first acted like he was walking on the ceiling, then imitated a spider, Tenzin puzzled as to why he couldn't understand what his father was saying. Given his expression, he wasn't pleased either, yelling as he shook his fist, "RAAVA, you humorless…! Come on – can't I sing that theme song? Seriously!"

The answer a resounding "NO" that actually hurt Tenzin's ears, his father returned to the floor, announcing, "Raava still isn't human-y enough for my tastes. Guess she needs more 'Wan on Wan' time. Heh… Come on – let's go. See what the others are doing."

Tenzin followed as best he could, ignoring the terrible pun and Bumi's protests of, "Tank! Tank! Tank! Come on – we might need it tomorrow!" Unable to keep up with the free-floating goofball who had once been the Avatar and would forever be his childish self, Tenzin stopped, saying, "Bumi, show… the tank. Then… I take a … rest. Man, he can really move! I wish I could do that…" Tenzin groaned when Bumi responded, raising an eyebrow, "Maybe if you weren't stick-in-the-mud you could! You should listen to Pema – she's got it, and she can't even bend in the real world! I won't think of the tank until you say… 'I'm a master stuckbender!' Stuck stuck stuck!"

Tenzin shook his head, saying, no longer totally out of breath, "You were the one who wanted to show it to me in the first place." Knowing someone who would likely love to see the tank, Tenzin suggested, "Bet you if you show Atokara the tank, she'll bug Asami in to making it. If I'm wrong, I'll say I'm a stuckbender as many times as you like." Bumi threw up his hand, laughing as he said, "That's not much of a bet, from what I know of Atokara – you're stuck, and risk-averse! It's a wonder all your kids aren't as boring as Jinora was." Getting a sudden unwelcome mental image of Ikki discovering how to fly, Tenzin found himself wondering where she was, and how well she was acting as mediator to the squabbles.

Hearing an odd rush of wind in the distance, Tenzin looked at what he assumed would be Oogi and Pepper at full size carrying Rohan and Atokara around, but saw only a large cyclone. Giving Bumi a glance, Tenzin saw him with his eyes closed, saying "Tank! Tank!" enthusiastically.

Apparently, his father had brought the party to Korra's little addition, smiling to see how happy Rohan looked riding on a baby Oogi. Vaguely remembering the Avatar's daughter's penchant for cursing, Tenzin asked Rohan, "Did Atokara teach you any funny words?" Tenzin was relieved to see Rohan shake his head, saying, "No, no funny word. We just flew on airbison! She left." Tenzin felt a pit in his stomach when Rohan asked, green eyes gleaming adorably, "Why? Does Atokara know funny word? Dad, you look like you know funny word – tell? Please?"

Thinking on his feet, Tenzin simply said a nonsense stream of English words, frowning what he thought imperceptibly when Rohan said, "Those not funny – those weird words! I want you to tell me a funny word, please! No frown!" Remembering how hard Pema had been working on his language and how glib Atokara was, Tenzin said, "One funny word, but only because you spoke in a complete sentence. The word is 'butt'." Glad to see Rohan giggle, clearly satisfied given how he kept repeating the word over and over, Tenzin tried pushing a little, saying in partial English, "Dad knows the weird language, and – Hey! Pay attention, please!"

Seeing Rohan start to cry, Tenzin realized he had something else he needed to work on – teaching. Comforting Rohan and apologizing for the yell, he remembered how Korra had blamed him for not learning airbending faster. Wondering how Rohan's airbending was going, not having seen him for what seemed like much longer than a week, Tenzin asked, "Rohan, did Ikki show you any new airbending moves, like she was supposed to? Any good ones?" Rohan nodded, saying with a glimmer in his green eyes, "Yes, I did a hard one! But won't show until another funny word!" Involuntarily supplying an English one over his distaste for Rohan's attempt at manipulation, Tenzin felt the color drain from his face, it being everything he could to refrain from saying it again out of frustration over his own slip.

"Honey – what are you doing? I'm trying hard enough to get him to learn one language – at least not many people will know what it means!"

Tenzin turned around, seeing a remarkably affable looking Pema, for her three-year old son having just learned an English curse word – one he was repeating much more often and enthusiastically than "butt". Pema began clapping, saying, "Look – an air scooter! Good job, sweetie! I didn't think he'd get that one for a good while. Maybe we should reward him like that more often." Tenzin reluctantly nodded his head, saying in English, "No curse words, though. And see if you can get him to stop saying that, once we're back in Republic City. Or, at night, I guess. Speaking of Republic City – have you seen Ikki yet? I don't even know what time it is out there, it's so late." Pema shrugged, saying, "No, I haven't seen her yet. Kai randomly vanished and re-appeared – something about Kuvira calling him to a different dream… Your father told him to call Kuvira 'big sister' right before he vanished, for some reason to do with an 'inner nightmare'. Can you please tell me what's going on?"

Not really knowing much himself, aside from the snippet he had seen, Tenzin just started with when he bumped into Atokara, even explaining why his parents had been children earlier, Pema smiling as tears streamed down her cheeks by the time he was finished. Tenzin listened intently as Pema said, "Honey, that's great! Maybe we should try seeing if you can fly now, and if you can't, let's see what we can do to 'fix' it." Looking around, seemingly checking to make sure nobody was around, she added in English, "Once you're flying, maybe we can try something interesting, in a more… private dream. It's been a while…"

Not able to pin a date on when he'd last done anything with Pema aside from the odd grab, Tenzin nodded, saying in English, "That sounds great. Before that, I want to see what this tank my brother came up with is." Pema nodded, Tenzin surprised to hear a young male voice say "Tank!" in perfect English with greater enthusiasm than he had said the… other English word Tenzin had inadvertently "taught" him.

Turning around, seeing Rohan run off towards a distant figure much longer than Zhu Li's mechasuit was high and about as tall, for a brief moment, Tenzin saw nothing wrong with what he saw, saying, "Let them be who they are… change cannot be stopped."

Feeling his heart begin to beat rapidly and beads of sweat form on his forehead, Tenzin managed to get out, "Pema! Honey – help!" before blacking out, hoping, "praying" that whatever he saw on the other side, it wasn't anything like the ashen doppler Korra and Kuvira had both seen…

Opening his eyes once again, he found himself in a setting he had never thought he would be – endless black, interrupted only by a sphere. Remembering the sphere's importance, Tenzin rushed over to it, noticing that it was almost pure white, except for a slight oily sheen over one half, the sheen thickening in one spot. Taking a second look, he laughed, asking, "Seriously? A stick, stuck in the… whatever that is? Oil? Tar? Hmmm… just yank this out, while accepting, no, embracing change, like what Avatar Yangchen said, and be done with it."

"No! It's my stick! I don't want it to move – it'll ruin the world!"

Looking at what others had called a "doppler" or "dark half", all Tenzin could see a scared-looking child, recognizing who it was from old family photos – himself. Dismissing a thought of, "Bumi will never let you live this down!" with a laugh, accepting it as true, Tenzin attempted to pry the stick loose before his childish self got closer. Just as he almost got it loose, he saw a greyscale vision of the Northern Air Temple rebuilt: armory, what looked like a military drill square, spirit weaponry fortifications protecting the whole Temple… and matching mechasuits?

Tenzin found the image disquieting, finding a loud jagged laugh even more disturbing as he removed his hand from the stick out of disgust over what he had seen. Looking at the doppler again, Tenzin shook his head, realizing just because the doppler looked cute didn't make it not dangerous. The eyes once again normal-looking, it said, "MY STICK! Don't touch the stick! Change bad!"

Wondering where Pema was, Tenzin gently told the childish self, "Change can be bad – but it can also be good. I certainly liked the change from Lin Beifong to Pema, given what Lin did to Air Temple Island after…" Tenzin smiled to see the childish self smile slightly, admitting, "Yes, that was a good change…" frowning when it continued, "But your daughter's change is bad! Very bad… not peaceful!"

About to try pulling on the stick again, Tenzin heard a warm voice say, "I'm here, honey… wherever this is." Glad to have Pema's help, he explained what had happened, Pema looking behind him as she said gently, "I don't think trying to force this is the right answer. Why don't you try talking to 'him'? Meelo wasn't happy when you took his drawings away forcefully when he was younger, after all." Agreeing, Tenzin told Pema, "You're right. When I grabbed the stick, trying to force it out… I told you what I saw, and my reaction to the idea of an Air Nation Army becoming more than an idea. Change is hard enough to deal with, without someone trying to force it on you."

Pema walked over to the stubborn child doppler, vaguely looking like she wanted to talk to Tenzin instead for a moment as she passed by. Speaking warmly, she asked the sad-looking little boy, "Why do you think change is bad?" Though the boy's mouth did not move, an answer came all the same: "Because it's confusing, hard - I can't do anything about it! To stop the bad change! Or even make sense of any change fully…" At first not detecting anything amiss about the answer, Tenzin listened as Pema asked, actually putting her hand on the doppler's chin, feeling more emotional as she spoke, "Why do you feel the need to do anything about any change? The world's troubles aren't your responsibility… Even the Avatar needs help, as you've told her many, many times."

With these last words, Tenzin realized he could feel a hand on his chin, realized his mouth had been moving all along, that he was now looking directly up at Pema's eyes, no one standing behind her…

---

The little boy in front of her beginning to cry worse than Rohan ever had, Pema felt she needed a little help from Tenzin, remembering Aang talking about some family meeting, while Atokara had played with her youngest. Turning, she asked, "Tenzin, honey, do you think you could – "

The adult Tenzin wasn't there.

Rubbing her forehead lightly, Pema wondered what had happened. Looking back at the bawling inner child, she remembered something Aang had mentioned – how all three of his children had been young, during their heart-felt talk. Looking back, she saw the young Tenzin huddled up, asking, "Tenzin?"

The child nodded, Pema able to tell she wasn't talking to an adult in a child's body, or even a child who knew what was going on when he said, "Yes, I'm Tenzin, only airbending son of Avatar Aang. Who are you, and where's my mom and dad? I feel bad, scared, and I don't know why…" Treading with extreme caution, Pema asked, "Your mom and dad aren't here right now. Maybe I can help – I am an Air Acolyte. What's the problem?"

Pema saw the white yin yang sphere begin to shift, eventually splitting and darkening, both halves twisting into two familiar forms, the young Tenzin pointing at the representation of Zaheer as he said, "I saw that bad man use airbending to take someone's life. How could one of my brothers do that?" Just how out of touch the inner child was with the world hit Pema like a mischievous airbending child's best attempt to knock her off balance, feeling slightly dazed.

Choosing her order and words very carefully, Pema said, "I have seen visions of this man, and that of the life of the Avatar after your father. After a climactic battle between good and evil revolving around spirits, she decided to change the world by keeping two portals opened that had not been opened in ten thousand years. Shortly after these portals were kept opened following a celestial event, about two weeks – "

Waaaait a minute. Sorry. Pema, after this, I have a very important question for you to ask Kai, and Bumi. Good job so far. I'll… adjust that slightly, so he perceives no disconnect.

Not skipping a beat, knowing her husband's sanity likely depended on her, Pema continued, " – after this event, new airbenders began popping up, and this man was one of them. Although he had studied Air Nomad culture even more than I have, he did not have the heart or soul of an airbender. No one could prevent him from taking the life of the Earth Queen, throwing the Earth Kingdom into chaos, and anarchy – just as he had desired." Pausing for a short time to see if Tenzin had a question, Pema listened as he asked, "Why didn't the Avatar do anything to stop him?"

Looking at the next figure- that of an amoral Kuvira - Pema said, "This man, Zaheer, attempted to end the Avatar's life and the Avatar Spirit forever by poisoning her with mercury. Through great suffering over three years, the next Avatar eventually overcame the lingering poison, having been saved by a daughter of Toph Beifong, unable to stop the woman you see before you – Kuvira." Now it was Pema's turn to ask a question, wondering internally as Tenzin appeared lost in thought, "Just how did that nasty stuff get into Korra in the first place? It was pure mercury – pure metal, but I still heard it was bent in, and out…"

Not sure what to expect, never having talked to Raava before now, Pema was surprised to hear a familiar voice intone, I… do not know, nor how Su or Korra removed the metal either. The rest of the Red Lotus evaded capture, so there's only one way we can find out. Zaheer will part with the information… one way or another.

Not liking the idea of violating someone's mind by force, even if it had saved the life of Shiro Shinobi, Pema was relieved to hear Tenzin ask, "Why did this Kuvira need to be stopped? What did she do wrong?" Seeing this as another good place to mention change, Pema said gently, "In her quest to restore order and stability to the Earth Kingdom, she changed it into an Earth Empire and made war against Republic City, both of our homes. Not only that, in an act that changed this vision of the future forever, she began harnessing the power of the spirits themselves – that of 'spirit vines', such as cuttings she took from the Great Banyan tree – to construct a weapon the like of which had never been seen before. The Colossus, and its destructive spirit weapon. I am afraid the vision ended after its defeat." Seeing Tenzin nod, saying, "Sounds like an awful lot changed from now, in this vision you saw, and there was nothing even the Avatar could do about it," Pema pushed the envelope, asking, "Can you see anything past where the vision I described stopped? I am no airbender, but you are. Tenzin, son of Avatar Aang – see what you can see, beyond what I did."

As Tenzin sat, breathing in and out, he began to sweat slightly, saying in a voice that Pema realized sounded an awful lot like Rohan's, "I see life rising from the ashes, a new love blooming… a great spirit changing her very nature following a great rift… A former criminal and tyrant, desperate to change her ways… I see… what must be my future daughter flying?" Seeing the young Tenzin smile and cry lightly, Pema asked, "Do you see how change can be good now?" After a long pause, Tenzin continued, "I see two great evils threatening the world, and I see people changing their outlook on the world, all they can do to survive… is to change, not knowing where exactly they are, or where they go. But still, pressing on, learning from… the changes themselves."

Standing up, the young Tenzin smiled, saying, "Yes, beautiful – I accept change as part of life. Not just inevitable – welcome. I don't want to hold a stick in place, when I can hold you. Now let's go see if I've changed as much as I hope I have!"

With that, Pema found herself holding an adult Tenzin's hand, levitating slightly, hoping he could follow, seeing no one around her as she lifted alongside her husband, about to congratulate Tenzin on his achievement, but stopped. Pema let out a surprised gasp, blushing as she said, "Now that's my kind of change! I hope you grab my breast more often, and maybe I'll grab –"

"Eww, mom! If you're going to be dirty with dad, can you do it in this 'English' Meelo and Jinora keep talking about me in? My little brother and Baatar Jr. are the only ones who can't understand them, and nobody else will talk to me! I know I wanted quiet after dealing with all those people, but…"

Pema laughed, saying, "Well, hello to you too, Ikki. I was just talking your father out of being such a stick in the mud." At first, seeing Ikki pout and not respond, Pema was tempted to tell Tenzin in English, "If she's going to be like this, let's go celebrate, with a different kind of stick," feeling a rush tempt her, but stopped, looking in the distance. All thoughts of sex exited her mind, watching her youngest son playing with someone very special, as the young girl's grandparents watched intently near a familiar white beast, and a much larger form she had never seen "in the flesh" before.

Wondering what Ikki had been up to, aside from teaching her little brother and helping Baatar Jr., Pema asked as they slowly walked over, Ikki no longer frustrated, "How have you been, Ikki? Do anything interesting lately?" Ikki nodded, saying with what sounded like slight resignation, "Just trying to keep people from fighting." Smiling slightly, Ikki continued, Pema feeling so touched she teared up slightly, "After all that mediating, I just wanted to tell you, mom, how much I appreciate your hard work, trying to keep our family together while my dad's busy," hugging Ikki after she said, Ikki a little teary herself, "Being away from my little brother and big sister for so long… it's been hard, even if they do annoy me. Not to mention you, mom and dad. I want a big family hug!"

Feeling many arms around her and Ikki, Pema began crying harder – but these were happy tears. Even though she wasn't thinking about sex at all, she felt lighter and lighter to the point where she could barely feel the ground, realizing there were likely many ways to "embrace your earthly tether" properly…

After what seemed like an eternity, Pema felt her feet touch the earth again firmly. Ikki no longer looking tired at all, Pema listened as she launched into a description of her efforts to keep the uneasy alliance between United Republic military forces, the Equalist holdouts led by a man who had once tried to kidnap her family, and the Earth Empire defectors the uneasy allies had picked up along the way as they left Republic City for the northern Swamp. Just listening was exhausting, and not for the usual reason – trying to act as mediator between people who until recently would have had nothing to do with one another sounded draining. Tenzin looked proud as well, whispering to Pema at one point, "I didn't totally believe her story about befriending those Earth Empire soldiers until now – she's got a talent, it looks like."

As Ikki finished, describing the final arrangement Raava herself had trouble coming to – Iroh and Sokka as advisors, and everyone else leading their own – Pema saw someone had joined them. With a weary look on his face, Baatar Jr. said, yawning towards the end, "Dealing with the Lieutenant, myself, not to mention a President, and helping me overcome my … sanity troubles, all in the same hectic night? Forget a new airbending form… If that's not tattoo-worthy, then I don't know what is…" before sitting down on white marble. Pema groaned internally, thinking, "Oh, great – here we go again…" To her surprise and relief, Ikki shook her head, saying, "Thanks for the compliment, Baatar Jr., but I haven't done anything worthy of that yet." Pema let out an actual groan when Ikki said, pointing at Kai's forehead, "Or maybe not, given someone thought Kai deserved tattoos, for whatever reason. Kai, mind explaining the tattoos? I… didn't exactly pay attention to my sister. Not after she and Meelo harassed me with 'English'. And what about your head? You look funny – like a toasted grandpa Aang!"

Looking very offended, Jinora told Ikki, "Like you said, I tried to tell you, but you were too busy sulking, whining about not knowing English. He merely helped convert not one, but two spirits, and helped perfect a revolutionary new airbending form. By himself, he converted a spirit who has hated humans for many Avatar lifespans, the one that helped Unalaq KIDNAP me - Wan Shi Tong!" Sighing deeply, Kai pushed Jinora aside, saying over top of a grumbling Jinora, "Sorry about that. Jinora's… changed since you last saw her, as you can see. And so have I. To be honest, I'm still not sure why Tenzin thought I have earned the honor, but I did technically help your sister figure out a new airbending form. The one that lets you fly, without entering the void." Ikki's eyes widened, saying, "Wow! That's a lot, Kai – don't be so hard on yourself! I saw my mom and dad doing it, but don't know how the flying works. Can you explain it?"

Giving Tenzin a quick look, Pema could tell he was not behind Ikki learning much about this "earthy" airbending technique, so she told him quietly in English, "Your father was about her age when he fell in love with your mother, and I imagine she's going to find out one way or another." Pema laughed when he told Ikki, "Very well. I would rather Kai explain it than anyone else – yes, that includes you, Jinora, so you can quit your skulking now. I remember you were obsessed about grabbing Kai's… stick. And given how you're blushing, you do too." Ikki recoiled slightly, saying with disgust, "Wait. Jinora tried to do WHAT? Kai, you said she's changed, but I'd have to see that to believe it!" Crossing her arms and sticking out her tongue, Ikki told Jinora, "Not that I'd want to see that. It was bad enough, hearing and seeing my mom and dad – "

Coughing, Pema interrupted, saying, "Ikki, I just remembered I need to talk to Kai and Bumi really quick. Why don't we go over to see what your uncle made up close, then I'll talk to him?" Overriding Jinora, Meelo said enthusiastically, "YEAH! Let's go – I want to see the new stuff in action!" Baatar Jr. stood up slowly, saying, "Yes - I'd love to see what an airbender does with spirit power more directly." Getting a dirty look from Jinora, who was holding out her staff, Pema snickered when Baatar Jr. gave Jinora's staff a skeptical look, saying curtly, "Seems more blade than staff to me, Jinora. And there's no spirit vine in it." Jinora growling lowly, Pema found herself wondering what her daughter would do tomorrow. Apparently, her husband had similar concerns, saying much to Jinora's consternation, "Jinora - I'd prefer it if you helped evacuate the city tomorrow," Pema not knowing to say when Jinora retorted hotly, "I want to fight! You okay with change, or not, dad?"

Once they had all arrived at the tank, Kai having talked Jinora out of her anger on the way over and Tenzin silent in a way Pema knew meant he was lost in thought, Pema noticed a very unlikely figure looking at it, the little girl ignoring Naga's whining and nosing. Bumi's eyes were sparkling as he saw everyone approaching, saying, "You won't believe all the cool stuff Atokara helped me add! I guess she really does see and hear everything her 'mommy Asami' does. Thanks to her help, this thing is about as non-lethal as it is lethal now." Frowning slightly, Bumi looked at his brother as he said, "I know this military stuff isn't your cup of tea, brother, but maybe you'll change your mind about Jinora's military idea after seeing what Meelo and I did with Atokara's help before we had the two party crashers arrive."

"Don't worry about it, Bumi. I've come to terms with what my daughter wants, and realize the world has changed. She can do whatever she wants tomorrow. I look forward to making sure every kind of airbender gets what they need – more traditional pacifist, or not."

Feeling a little faint herself, not having realized just how much her husband really had embraced change until just now, Pema managed to stay upright, though not everyone did. Bumi hit his head on the tank's hull when he fell over with a dull "KONG!", Meelo passed out onto an ecstatic-looking Jinora's feet, and even Atokara looked a little phased, eventually asking, "Pema, you sure that's Tenzin beside you? He hasn't even seen the changes yet…" Pema laughed, saying, "Yes, this is Tenzin, all right. I did a lot more than just hold his hand earlier, while he was passed out."

Before Pema began explaining, she noticed that both of Tenzin's parents were now present as well, Aang smiling as he said, "Let's do this the old fashioned way – talking. I already know what happened, so I'll take the 'job' Raava gave you earlier, Pema. Don't worry about it. Just give me a second with Bumi and Kai first. Tenzin can start when we're done – just sit, and listen. He can explain what happened in that house better than I can, and what happened in his little vision."

As Aang took both Bumi and Kai aside, for some reason taking Baatar Jr. with him as well, Pema idly looked at Rohan and Atokara playing under Senna and Tonraq's watchful gaze, feeling hope for the future well up inside her, thinking, "I wish Korra and Asami were here to see this…"

---

After he had taken his other son aside, along with a confused-looking Baatar Jr. and Kai – who really did look like a younger, toasted version of himself, without any hair – Aang addressed Baatar Jr. first, saying, "You probably wonder why I drug you over here, with two new airbenders." Baatar Jr. nodded, saying, "Yeah, I do. I'd rather be with my family right now, especially after everything I went through. I'm sure my mother is worried sick, and feeling very guilty." Holding up a hand, Aang said, "Don't worry about it – she's been preoccupied with something else. And I've already seen what you went through, and there was a particular detail Raava finds very relevant now…"

After a flick of the wrist, an image of the internal struggle that Baatar Jr. had persevered in earlier with a lot of encouragement from Aang's youngest granddaughter, Ikki, appeared. At Aang's behest, the image jumped to the section Raava found the most relevant, Aang saying as he pointed to metal cables, "Watch again, and see if you can figure out why I brought you over here." After giving him a skeptical look, Baatar Jr. watched as the cables bent and deformed when they grappled Baatar Jr.'s doppler's basic mechasuit, Aang waiting to see if the bright young man could figure out the significance. After a pause, Baatar Jr. asked, "Those cables… they were being bent by someone, weren't they? When it happened, I just chalked it up to spirit shenanigans, but if Raava's taking a special interest in this… maybe not."

Nodding, Aang said, "As people have fallen asleep, dreaming, there have been odd things happening. Your apparent metalbending during your fight with your dark half was the only one thus far to occur outside of a dream. Multiple times, Asami Sato has dreamed she could bend fire. Not just any fire – blue fire. Others have dreamed of being able to bend elements – Zhu Li, earth, Varrick, water, and as you have seen directly, Pema, air." Turning to his goofball son and Kai, Aang said, "This is very important, and may be hard. I need you to try and remember, back to right after Harmonic Convergence. Did you ever have any sort of consistent dreams at all of flying? Of being an airbender?"

By now, Kai's eyes were wide, Bumi grumbling, "Well, no more than usual! You should know the answer to that, dad. I dreamed of it since I was a little kid!" Sighing deeply, still feeling raw from earlier, Aang admonished, "Now's not the time for attitude. And I already tried to make amends. This is important. Son, did the dreams seem any more vivid than normal?" Bumi lost in thought, Kai finally spoke, looking embarrassed, "Yeah, I had plenty of vivid flying dreams during that time, when I had never really had them before. They usually involved using airbending to steal stuff. Which is exactly what I ended up doing…" Aang felt horrified when Kai asked, "There any way to get rid of tattoos? I still don't feel like I deserve them." Shaking his head and speaking frankly, Aang told him, "Then that's the best way to know you do deserve them. Humility is one of the greatest hallmarks of a Master Airbender, or Master anything." Figuring it might make Kai feel better, Aang told him about Korra's remarks on not wanting to be called a "Master Avatar" and stressed his own embarrassment at having Korra point out the obvious – that a truly advanced person wouldn't want to be called Master very much, if at all.

Liking the way Kai was smiling, Aang turned to Bumi, asking, "Got anything yet, you loveable goofball?" Bumi nodded, saying, "I think so – about a week after Korra finally kicked Unalaq's butt, I had a wonderful, detailed dream… being born an airbender, and growing up much like Tenzin did. The dream repeated, getting more and more 'alive' somehow, except the last one and its details were a lot closer to reality. Bumju's sweater and all…" Able to see there might be something else, Aang coughed, realizing how much he had been a terrible father when Bumi continued reluctantly, "At the time, I found the first, inaccurate dream's end just as exciting as being able to bend – Tenzin born the only non-bender, treated just like I was. Don't cry, dad – it wasn't all your fault, that our childhood wasn't ideal. Being the Avatar sounds like a sort of raw deal. Just ask Korra! Anyways… even Baatar Jr. got a better childhood than we did – he was in his dad's shadow, but his dad was there casting it on him consistently in the first place. I've realized being the Avatar isn't all it's cracked up to be, and maybe there's a reason traditionally Avatars didn't have families. As far as I know, Roku, yourself and Korra are sort of anomalies." Laughing, Bumi finished, "Yeah, Korra's definitely an anomaly. Her daughter might end up more balanced than any of us, your kids!"

Tearing up slightly, Aang gave Bumi a hug, saying, "Forget balance, or being normal – you're just fine the way you are." Breaking the hug and assuming his favorite age – twelve - Aang laughed, saying as he performed the marble trick many found annoying, "When your brother and sister are that serious, someone has to carry on the legacy of family goofball and free spirit!" Watching the marble spin round and round, Aang idly realized the airbending projectiles weren't really anything new - it had taken a new view of things to come up with the idea. One from a new airbender - Opal, made reality by Asami and a former war criminal…

After Bumi and Kai had finished laughing, Aang checked to see how Baatar Jr. was doing, noticing he was crying slightly but smiling, saying once Aang had his attention, "After we're done here, I need to go see my family myself. And Tenzin and Pema are waiting… What is it you want me to do, exactly?" Realizing he couldn't bend anything except Air himself, being the past Avatar, Aang demonstrated some basic earthbending forms' movements, saying, "That," when he was done.

Looking at Baatar Jr. again, Aang watched as Baatar Jr. mimicked his movements, groaning when he saw they produced nothing other than some pebbles moving, though Baatar Jr. looked happy. Remembering his own difficulty with earthbending, Aang suggested after a quick re-telling of his own bitter work, "Why don't we go listen to Pema and Tenzin, then see if we can find you an appropriate opponent? In that vision, your sanity was clearly on the line, so it might need to be a little more dangerous than a rolling rock." Baatar Jr. nodded, saying, "That sounds like a good idea, and I might even have an idea for one. Before I went to sleep, someone came forward with disturbing information. One of the last defectors to join the convoy, a fairly high-ranking officer who had just been talked into leaving by his family, described a retrofitting program to gain our trust." Looking uneasy, Baatar Jr. continued, "They are hoping to make a complete transition to spirit vine energy, even eliminating the metalbending driven magnetic power sources and batteries from the regular mechasuits' backs. He couldn't manage to nab anything but the mechasuit schematic without arousing suspicion. Now let's go listen to something uplifting."

Remembering how his youngest son could now fly, Aang grinned widely, saying, "Literally," savoring the groans he got from Kai and Bumi… and the fact that no one had apparently put the pieces of the puzzle together just yet. But he had. Just like Raava wanted…

I don't know, now that we're surer of what is going to happen. This doesn't feel right! I'm keeping an open mind on telling - just like Yangchen told Tenzin to. Maybe we can find confirmation of some sort, somewhere… And don't forget - you're a terrible liar, Aang!

It was all Aang could do to suppress a snort, thinking "Got me."