Chapter 49: Breaking

Jinora felt impatient, wondering what was taking Aang so long, and still a little furious, over Ikki's slight of Kai and her father's snub. Waiting on Aang's return, along with finding out whatever he wanted with Kai, Bumi, and of all people, Baatar Jr., she found solace in watching Meelo demonstrate the airbending tank's capabilities, avoiding Ikki as Pema and Tenzin talked to her about the new form of flying, given Kai was gone. Tiring of watching the tank display its airbending capabilities, she shouted, "Okay, Meelo, enough with the cyclones and air blasts! Let's see something that won't just tickle a tank." Jinora heard a smug voice say over a speaker, "Let's see if you think that after I show you this!"

Jinora watched incredulously as an Earth Empire tank appeared, looking much like the ones she had seen outside Zaofu, still having a hard time believing this other tank could harm it with just airbending. Her disbelief only increased when the enemy tank shifted, the turret now deformed into a slight dome shape and sporting what Jinora recognized as a larger, rifled version of the small-bore spirit cannons Shiro Shinobi had described. Wondering what was going on, Jinora heard a computerized voice say over the tank's loudspeaker, "User Alyssralove observed this tank model in the army outside Omashu. Direct experience by User Alyssralove and combat simulation by User Zhu Li indicates they are capable of fairly rapid fire, as well as sustained fire. User Meelo is advised to exercise caution." Finding this all the more justification to open up, Jinora yelled, "Just take it out, Meelo!" letting out a low growl when Meelo dismissed her.

Jinora was surprised to see the tank actually begin to move, albeit as though the person inside meant no harm. Not sure if it was a dream or "real", Jinora watched as the tank fired its main armament full blast, wondering why Meelo hadn't struck back yet, and why the beam wasn't some nasty, evil color. Once the odd blue beam with twin white helixes around it abated, a familiar form exited the tank, Bumju trilling happily, and fleeing the tank rapidly – as though something were about to happen. Hearing the same computerized voice say, "User Meelo is advised that energy store cannot be used to augment bending – only spirit weaponry," Jinora smiled to see a similar large blue beam attack the tank precisely, noticing that Meelo had left the crew compartment alone – only the sides, tracks and turret had been reduced to slag.

Ghostly figures that obviously represented the crew appearing, Jinora saw red dots appear on them, followed by small bolts of electricity. Seeing that Meelo was trying to demonstrate the tank's ability to be non-lethal, Jinora felt better about her brother piloting the Raging Shark Whale tomorrow. Jinora also felt more at ease with her decision to start an "Air Nation Self-Defense Force", one that her father sounded eager to make sure preserved life wherever possible. Jinora smiled to hear her youngest brother say, "People okay – zap like Asami glove! Good tank!" vaguely wondering if Korra could help with his language delay. Just a little infobending…

Remembering what Aang had said about infobending, Jinora decided to keep this to herself, instead saying, "Okay, re-form the tank, and let's see if you can do anything to it just using air – braggart!" Smiling to see the taunt had worked, Jinora watched, a sinking feeling in her stomach, knowing she would have to "eat crow" later. Using a feature that resembled her staff's V-shaped blade, except all along the tank's main gun barrel, Meelo somehow used the tank's main gun like a massive airbending staff, finally flipping the enemy tank onto its rear using help from the smaller hull-bound airbending turrets Bumi had shown off earlier and one final large blast of air that came from the barrel itself.

Sure enough, the first thing her brother said was taunting, Jinora saying, "Okay – but that still took a lot longer than just blasting it!" Some grumbling coming from the speakers, Jinora added, smiling, "Guess that means I'll be forced to help you design a standard-issue mechasuit. Something tells me you could flip a tank a lot quicker with one of those." Jinora heard a computerized voice say, "User Kuvira has already designed crude airbender mechasuit for User Opal. Mechasuit performed satisfactorily in inner nightmare, but enemy was incapacitated partially through unconventional means."

Growing bored of the tank, even if it did hover, and wanting to know more about what had happened in other people's dreams, Jinora wandered off with Rohan back to the main group, cursing slightly under her breath in English when she saw it appeared everyone else was waiting on her, Meelo and Rohan. Looking again at who was there, Jinora did a double-take, asking, "Korra? Asami? What are you doing here?" Pointing at a smiling Atokara, Asami said, "Even when I told her I was busy, she wouldn't stop bugging me about some airbending tank, and that she wanted us to play with her and Rohan, and listen to what happened with Tenzin and Pema… she is rather demanding." Jinora laughed when Atokara pulled some water from the air, soaking "mommy Asami", who promptly began chasing the little pest, saying, "I didn't quit riding a bottle-nosed dolphin for this! Stop that!" Korra just stood, laughing as she said, "Better get used to it, Asami. And you won't have firebending to dry yourself off when she does this for real…"

Jinora felt confused – she had heard of dolphin-tuna before, sure, even seen them outside Republic City on occasion, and eaten flying tuna, but had never heard of a "bottle-nosed dolphin". Trying to imagine it, she couldn't help but start laughing at the idea of a creature with a bottle for a nose. Sensing Korra might know what it was, Jinora approached, shooed away at the last minute by a serious-looking Aang who had taken Korra aside. Seeing no one else seemed to pay them any mind, Jinora snuck her way over, saying once she was close enough, "So, Aang – what's so secret? You can show me whole other planets being obliterated, but not whatever this is about?" At first, Aang looked furious, but after a nudge from Korra, his look softened, saying with a glimmer in his eye, "We think something wonderful is going to happen, and soon. But we don't know for sure, and don't want to get anyone's hopes up. Korra's especially adamant about keeping this hush-hush for now. If you have any suspicions, keep them to yourself, and if you really must know, take Korra aside – far aside, or even better, up – and ask her." Korra snickered, saying, "This seems like the appropriate time for infobending to me, doofus. And I imagine people might want to watch whatever happened to Tenzin, instead of just the words words words you love so much. Jinora, just promise me you won't tell anyone, and I'll show you what we think may happen. Silently."

Having a vague idea what might be going on, knowing two of the three people Aang had talked to were new benders, Jinora took her up on her offer eagerly, placing Korra's tan hand to her arrow. Immediately seeing an image of Varrick healing Zhu Li's right arm, Jinora heard Korra think, "Fire, Earth and Air are not the only elements people have 'bent' for the first time tonight – a little earlier in Asami's case." The image shifting to a very depressed-looking group, Jinora noticing her mother's sad face first, the next thought she heard from Korra was, "I want more confirmation that these dreams are not flukes before even bringing up the possibility to anyone – as you can see here, empty promises or hopes can be devastating. Just look at Asami's face." Doing so, Jinora could see this Asami looked utterly crushed – as though a promise that had been made to her by the Universe itself had been a lie.

After promising to not tell anyone, Jinora whispered into Korra's ear, "I just have one question – what's a bottle-nosed dolphin?" Korra shook her head, saying, "Really? That's your question? Fine. It's an intelligent animal from Earth that both Asami and I got to interact with – or rather, the soul of one who had been killed in a horrible way. I don't know how we did, either – but it was a lot of fun, and way better than the failed Spirit World vacation. There's no way anyone can break into our inner dream world. Now I'm dying to see why Tenzin can look at that airbending tank and not bat an eye, so let's go."

As they re-joined the group, Jinora noticed Baatar Jr. had stepped aside, practicing quite successfully on the new Earth Empire tank, actually deforming the metal with a final strike as he yelled, "WOW! This is great – all I had to do was be firm and unyielding, like Kuvira! I can't wait for the wedding now, that I'm over what she did. Again, thanks in large part to Ikki. I was bitter, closed-minded, but after suffering through my own crisis… I'm willing to let the past go." Baatar Jr. stopped smiling when he was met with nervous chuckling and agreement, looking distraught as he said, "Wait – no…. Please don't tell me I'll have to start all over again – not after going through that nightmare!" No one having the courage to answer, Baatar Jr. asked sullenly, "Is… is he – or she, I can see the look in your eyes, Asami – happy with Kuvira, and… Kuvira, with…? I guess… that's all that matters, in the end." Shaking his head, Baatar Jr. lightly cursed himself, shouting, "STUPID! So stupid! I could have at least listened!"

Again, no answer came, though Korra did get up and walk over towards Baatar Jr. slowly. Jinora knew that Mako was still rather reluctant, and Kuvira desperate, looking at things honestly. After saying something Jinora couldn't hear, Korra grabbed his hand, periodically reacting to the unseen. After saying, "I personally can't read people like Raava can, but from what I saw, you're fine - not to mention Raava already gave you some military secrets," Korra placed her tattooed hand on Baatar Jr.'s temple, watching Baatar Jr.'s expression shift with curiosity. After a time, Baatar Jr. was smiling, and Korra was the one looking conflicted, withdrawing her hand quickly as she said, "Ech - didn't see that on the first time. I'll show that… later, and you can go be with your family. I am glad you are okay with Mako and Kuvira, and I noticed how much attention you paid to Jasmine." Coughing, Korra added, "You're going to need luck there, even if I show her your struggle. She was never 'in it' fully to begin with," finishing in a low whisper that made Baatar Jr. look like he wanted to vanish forever, all Jinora could hear out of his mouth was, "Maybe I don't deserve anyone…" Korra turned around, leading Baatar Jr. back to the group as she said, "Oh, great – not that again, not deserving people. I've caught you up fully – well, at least what I know – and you saw that Jinshu Kuangmai, of all people, found 'someone'. Now quit moping!" After a pat on the back, Korra added before walking away again, "You wouldn't want the first time your mother sees you since your much more thorough change to be you all depressed, now, would you?"

After a loud "No ma'am!" Baatar Jr. laughed, saying, "Guess that's another habit I'll need to break. Kuvira was a little… kinky with me at times, even if we never did anything that would have made a Little Uniter." Jinora screwed up her face, saying, "Ew, gross!" finding a mix of military and anything related to attraction repulsive. Baatar Jr. smiled lightly as others laughed, sitting down next to Ikki, saying, "I know I already said this, but – thank you, Ikki. For everything. Especially not laughing."

Ikki looked ready to respond but was interrupted by a loud rumbling. Jinora saw a screen similar to the one on which Korra and Asami's woes had played out on rise from the marble, Korra smiling broadly at its side. Once it had completely risen, Korra said, "I hope you don't mind, Baatar Jr., but after this I'm showing what you went through on here. Calm down! People are going to see the fruits of your labors eventually, infobending or not." Sitting down in front of Baatar Jr. on the marble, Jinora had no clue why Korra smiled and said, "They will get their justice – I can't imagine Jinshu Kuangmai liking that program you're so mortified over having masterminded." Baatar Jr. let out an unstable laugh, saying with gusto that disturbed Jinora, "You're right. He always did loathe bandits. To see the looks on their faces, or their ironic end… but that's done." At first, Jinora felt disgusted, tempted to say something, but remembered her own reaction to something Korra had shown earlier, instead saying, "I don't have any idea what you're talking about, Baatar Jr., but something tells me they deserve whatever happens. Just like those horrible men I saw, when Korra shared her experience, on what to do with Zaheer."

Jinora heard a light cough, her mother saying, "Maybe… maybe what you'll see here will help you with Zaheer, Korra. How does this thing work exactly?" Jinora saw a console appear to the side, noticing it had two sets of hand prints – one larger, one smaller. Korra stood up, pointing at the console as she said, "Just put your hands there, Tenzin, Pema, and if it's anything like the Spirit Library console, we should be able to see everything you have easily."

Jinora watched her mother and father zip over to the console, Tenzin the first one to move his hand, Aang not protesting about infobending abuse. Watching the family interaction inside Korra's house unfold silently, Jinora watched closely, not only glad to see her father and the rest of his siblings and her grandparents work through major issues lovingly, but to see if she could gleam anything from it. Any gems, to help when she set about the arduous task, of trying to come up with new general guidelines for the Air Nation. She found one in an unlikely place, loving how Bumi put something so hard so succinctly: "In life, you screw up, even while trying to do good, forgive yourself you knucklehead!" Her father's part finished when the perspective shifted, showing her father looking up at her mother. Tenzin had apparently fused with his inner child somehow, her mother taking his place.

Watching how masterfully her mother had handled the situation and wishing it had continued past Tenzin's words of acceptance, Jinora realized she'd have lots of good help, trying to reform the Air Nation. Korra was the first to speak, Jinora listening in vague disbelief when she said, "Pema, that was… amazing! I know this sounds crazy, but… when I go to meet Zaheer, I want your help. Don't worry, Tenzin – I'll make sure no harm comes to your wife." Jinora felt just a little less nervous about the idea when Korra added, "Asami will be there along with me, and both our mechasuits, in case he tries to do anything funny to either of us, if it comes to going into the Spirit World. He acts like he's going to toss Pema into the Fog of Lost Souls for even a second, bam – our co-pilots end him, right then and there."

Korra got up, plainly intending to show Baatar Jr.'s story, but stopped cold, saying, "… or maybe not. Raava, get your butt out of that little vacation, and come here!" Two unexpected figures popped up in front of the giant screen, a soaked Wan protesting as he created a flame, apparently for warmth given how he was shivering slightly, "Aw, man! I was this close to a giant squid – what do you want, Korra?" Letting out an irritated sigh, Korra grabbed a sheepish-looking Raava, demanding, "RAAVA! Look at me. What do you mean, Kuvira's father's spirit is running around, hijacking equipment, even after 'death'? Don't you think you should have told me this before now?"

Raava shrugged, saying, "I don't know! All I know is he somehow managed to fill a void Kuvira left in a more… friendly dream Colossus, while training with Zhu Li and Varrick. She scared me half to death, showing up unannounced there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go back to what I was doing before you booted me out - or rather, in - here. Rude!"

A finally dry Wan turned around towards the screen, saying, "Raava, wait. Isn't there something we need to do?" After Wan touched the screen, a depiction of many notable new airbenders popped up, Jinora looking at Zaheer and scoffing at the absurdity of the thought that entered her mind: "Maybe he can help re-build and re-haul the Air Nation!" After a light tap on her shoulder, Jinora explained to her confused-looking mother what she had thought was ludicrous as Wan, Korra, Aang and Raava bickered in front of the screen. Pema merely raised an eyebrow, saying, "As much as I'd love it, it sounds ridiculous to me too, when I'm honest and realistic. Especially considering you want to make us more like the other nations."

Turning back to the screen, Jinora saw only Wan looking peeved, Raava saying, "Now that we've stopped squabbling, I want to try something with Korra - just on a hunch. Wan, quit skulking - I'm not going back there underwater with you until I'm sure the seal on Kuvira's father worked!" Jinora coughing lightly, asking, "Why does he need a seal?" Raava frowned, saying, "Long story short, someone decided he'd rather annoy people in their dreams than get re-incarnated right away. You can see all that later. We've got much bigger fish to fry right now."

All the Avatars stepping aside, Raava pointed at the screen full of new airbenders, saying, "Two of the individuals on here - Bumi and Kai - have told someone directly about strange dreams following Harmonic Convergence involving bending. From what I can gather from another dream world, Opal can remember strange dreams as well. Before I go any further, I need you to come back over here, Korra. And you know why…"

Jinora smiled slightly, thinking, "Hah - even someone who's been 'human-y' for less than a week is a better liar than Aang. He probably would have been half-way through saying why before stopping, from what I know."

Raava motioned for Korra to come closer, saying, "The lock was successful - let's see what happens now, after this," Korra nodding as she asked in a similar low voice, "What do you want me for again? Specifically, me - I had all four bending types when I defeated Unalaq!" Shrugging, Raava said, "Just a wild hope - baseless. You didn't happen to have any dreams after Harmonic Convergence that you thought odd, did you? Everything around there is sort of hazy for me, what with almost being defeated for ten thousand years and all."

Korra simply gave Raava a skeptical look, saying, "Guess you need some more human-y work - how am I supposed to remember a dream from over three years ago!" Korra grumbled when Raava pointed out Opal, Bumi and Kai had, Raava telling Korra, "Just… stay still for a minute."

Reaching up, Raava touched Korra's forehead in the center of the white inner diamond, trying something she hadn't since the days of Wan – directly interacting with the Avatar's human spirit. Raava laughed when she heard Korra mumble, "Just what do you think you're doing?" explaining through thought, "I'm trying to see if I can get your help – you were strong during Harmonic Convergence, while I was greatly weakened. Can't quite remember…" Finding nothing, Raava took her hand off, Korra smirking as she said, "Looks like I'm not the only one with memory 'problems'. I can't remember anything... Just what dream do you hope to find, anyways?"

Knowing she didn't want to risk anyone overhearing, Raava thought, "speaking" directly to Korra, "A dream – yours. One dealing with new airbenders, in a very concrete way. Now I'm going to try again, and this time, I want you to try and remember that two-week period – between Harmonic Convergence, and new airbenders popping up." Seeing Korra nod, Raava again touched her body, noticing something she hadn't before – slight unknown energy movement… Finding the same energy both within herself, and Korra!

Figuring who the culprit behind this energy was, her suspicion confirmed when she heard a low curse in a hateful universal tongue emanate from within herself, Raava pulled out Life's Gift. After re-assuring everyone who was watching, Raava explained through thought to Korra, "I'm going to try and remove some latent dark energy from you, and then see if you can remember any dreams. Looks like a certain ancient brat blocked something off earlier, or for all we know, just attempted to right now." Korra looking exasperated, though not with Raava, Raava used the tip of her sword to try and pinpoint the location of the dark energy, noticing it did seem fresh, and was in the area of the brain dealing with memory – the hippocampus. Not wanting to impart scientific knowledge, Raava thought deliberately, focusing all her effort on Korra, forgetting all about Kuvira's father, "Korra, try drawing on your spirit to clear your mind of any impurities you can find. The energy is partially blocking your memory – and maybe my energy can help refresh it, once the darkness has been illuminated."

Raava watched Korra take a deep breath, rubbing her eyes in disbelief after seeing what happened when Korra exhaled much as a combustionbender might have, saying, blissfully unaware that a ray had just come from her forehead, "That's odd – I feel better than I did before. Guess I cleared out more than just Vaatu's pathetic attempt to block us from seeing whatever he wants kept secret." Raava snickered when said spirit spoke from her chest, saying in a haughty tone, "Do whatever you want with that information – it won't help you in the least!" Raava expected Vaatu to shut his yap, but instead he continued, gloating, "That was just a distraction, really – one that worked!"

Raava had not a clue as to what Vaatu meant, dismissing the statement casually, "Sounds like idle taunting to me." Looking at everyone laughing around her, after a second glance at the screen, Raava observed that something was off – all the new airbenders' images were gathered in the four corners, even the image of Zaheer keeping its distance from the central portion.

As Raava realized what Vaatu's boast had meant, remembering her earlier slip in vigilance, she cursed at the same time thinking to Korra, explaining what – or rather, who – had likely managed to slip in, due to her mistake.

After an odd jolt, Raava found herself staring out and up at the interior of the transport aircraft Korra's body was in, it was all she could do to refrain from cursing Korra waking up, right now, of all times… Hearing Korra spit out, "That little blood-dripping brat, somehow waking me up like this!" Raava was glad she hadn't admonished Korra, wondering if Dark Korra had felt threatened by Korra's small purification earlier, and was acting out of desperation…

With Raava's help and a little cheating, Korra managed to go to sleep again within a few minutes, but given the scene Raava saw through Korra's eyes, they were already too late, unable to break into the screen turned prison.

Baatar Jr. watched in curiosity as Raava, Korra, Wan and Aang vanished from in front of the screen, wondering what they could possibly be doing, especially given what must have been Vaatu sounded rather pleased with himself. Turning to Ikki, he asked with a low sigh and slight irritation, "Tell me again why I came to your family's inner whatever instead of mine?" Ikki began to smile and looked like she wanted to say something, but her face quickly turned sour, pointing at the screen behind him as she asked, "Who's that, and what is he doing in there?" adding with panic, "He doesn't look like just an image to me!"

Baatar Jr. faced the screen, noticing with unease that all the images of new airbenders were shying away from a passingly familiar man in the center, even Zaheer's image looking at in disgust. Opal's image pointed at the man, knowing him somehow. Baatar Jr. had never seen him personally before in his life, but as a red and black chain with sick jagged hooks slowly joined this mystery man's side, one who was staring at Baatar Jr. in deep hatred, he could see this man clearly knew him.

The man's face twisting into an expression of pure hatred, he said, "When Raava's gone, that's when I'll have some fun. A tragedy, Korra waking up like that. Hah! This should be easy - I'll take the weakest first!" Baatar Jr. saw the chain begin to move, red pulsing in a way that reminded him all too much of his earlier ordeal and his foe. Ikki having been right that he wasn't just an image, the chain actually left the screen - headed for Pema.

Not knowing what else to do, he attempted to divert the chain to himself, saying, "Whoever you are, you can just leave!" The chain stopped, though not from his own efforts, making its way towards him rapidly as the man laughed, "You'll do just fine, non-bender egghead! And you're more closely related to my failure of a daughter anyways." Screaming loudly as the barbed hooks dug in, seemingly grasping his spirit, the last thing the man said was, "Baatar Jr., weakling former boyfriend - yes, you'll do nicely. No different from a woman, from what I saw. Mewling little…"

Baatar Jr. opened his eyes, finding himself staring up at the same strange man, saying, "Wait - you. I recognize you now. You must be Kuvira's father, aren't you?" The man nodded, saying, "Yes - and I'll also be your end. Kuvira will regret her mercy - and I might just get an adult body to wreak havoc with. A pity it can't bend… But I bet Jinshu Kuangmai would appreciate the technical help."

Baatar Jr. looked at this sad excuse for a man in disbelief, saying, "You don't really think you're going to kick me out of my own body, do you? I already 'fought' my dark half earlier - and it wasn't destroyed. You can't destroy someone's spirit, idiot!" Baatar Jr. felt the metal links around him tighten, Kuvira's father smirking as he said, "This is true - but you can break it." The pressure and tearing increasing further, Baatar Jr. felt like crying out but found he couldn't as the man gloated, "This is going to be easy!"

Trying the tactic he had resolved his own inner conflict with earlier, Baatar Jr. struggled to grasp a link, saying once he managed to grasp a free barb instead, ignoring the searing pain through his body, "I don't know who hurt you, or why you rejected your own daughter a second time, after she showed you great mercy, but I know someone who can help. Actually, two strong women - one the Avatar, and other the youngest granddaughter of her predecessor." The man laughed, saying, "I don't want help! Now shut up - you're ruining this for me, talking back! Why haven't I driven you nuts yet?"

Hearing an odd "THUNKUNK THUNK", Baatar Jr. turned to see Korra trying to break through what appeared to be a pane of glass, unable to make out what she was screaming. Remembering what Kuvira had gone through, others being locked out, Baatar Jr. felt a little queasy, realizing he was likely in a similar situation. Try as this moronic failure of a father might, he couldn't break Baatar Jr. Baatar Jr. found himself laughing, "I almost went insane, and someone so weak they thought they had to abandon their own daughter to survive thinks they can break me. How amusing… and pathetic."

Apparently, Kuvira's father really did have the legendary temper he had seen earlier, so incensed he retracted the chain without keeping the barbs in place. Seeing this rage as weakness, Baatar Jr. pointed this out to him as the pain faded, smirking as he finished, "Kuvira was right. It's a good thing you abandoned her – I thought being overshadowed by my father was bad. You're nothing but a big ball of rage!" Kuvira's father shifted slightly, appearing larger and slightly red and black as he howled, "This ends now! You're getting on my nerves, four-eyes!" Baatar Jr. saw slight cracks appear in the man's skin when he quipped, "You don't seem to have had any in the first place, given how quick to anger you are."

Kuvira's father grew in size again, but seeing the hatred in the man's eyes, Baatar Jr. found himself reminded of an unstable spirit vine reactor – hit or tormented in just the right way, and bam – explosion! Thinking of how much he wanted to see his family again, even including Kuvira in his thoughts as sister and not lover, Baatar Jr. managed to get a good sweeping kick in on the figure's shins. Even though Kuvira's father did not shatter as he hoped, Baatar Jr. heard the sounds of breaking and cracking glass all the same. Turning to the source of the sound, he saw a large white tendril come towards him - one that had once forced Kuvira's experiences onto him and his closed mind. Another entered into the strange space as he left, catching Kuvira's father before he could flee.

Glad to be outside wherever he had been, he looked at the howling man in pity, saying, "You're insane – you just don't know it." Baatar Jr. still felt a bit disturbed when he saw Raava tightening her grip on Kuvira's father, booming as her somehow re-assuring grip on himself loosened, "I've got a special fate in mind for you, scumbag. The Fog of Lost Souls is too good for you… and I don't want to take any chances." With that, both vanished, Baatar Jr. caught off-guard by the two simultaneous hugs he got. Seeing who was hugging him, he lowered his guard even further than he had inside that accursed wooden box, tearing up slightly when Korra admitted, "I saw what you went through, Baatar Jr. – and a lot of it was my fault, and your mother's. We got so caught up with Kuvira's transformation, and world events, we forgot that you… you were first. Helped us defeat Kuvira in the first place, after she used your love of her to try and kill me. Kill us both. Left you behind, like an animal. I would have said something earlier, but watching you in there, helpless to do anything… I'm sorry."

After Baatar Jr. broke the hug, Korra looked insulted, she began to smile as he explained, "I'm still hurt by everyone's irrational actions at some level, and I may never fully heal. Just like all the people I've hurt. But I'm ready to move forward – I was ready before you showed me anything, Korra, thanks to Ikki's help. I had wounds much older than the one Kuvira inflicted on me, using me as a target." Realizing he still sounded rather bitter, which he was, Baatar Jr. re-focused, trying to shift away from himself, "Ikki helped me see I didn't need anyone's approval to be happy, or to prove myself greater than my father. One-up him…" Looking at Ikki, who looked bashful, he continued anyways, "Ikki. She's had her own share of troubles, her older sister eclipsing her for most of her life, as she told me numerous times. On top of that, her little annoying brother turned weapons designer taken to a meeting of world leaders over her, left with an admittedly unpleasant task – helping me! If she hadn't been so persistent, so open, I would have gone crazy, my own mother... I was in a very bad place, inside that box… but it's getting through what happened made me stronger than any family talk with my parents and siblings ever could have." Realizing that no one else but Korra and Ikki knew of his earlier ordeal and that Raava was likely busy, he insisted, "I want to go see my family before anyone sees my story, besides Korra."

Looking around, Baatar Jr. suddenly couldn't find Korra, wanting to ask her to see what Raava had been doing, and if she would ever finish whatever happened before she left the first time. Though he had facilitated the abuse of spirit vine's power, he still didn't understand matters to deal with spirits themselves. Looking again, he noticed almost everyone looked very guilty, figuring it best to not contradict Tenzin when he said, "Forget the bending dreams – we want to hear how you not only won your personal struggle, but came out better for it," smiling slightly when Tenzin added, hearing Ikki squeal in delight, "Forget converting spirits, new airbending forms – helping people is what really matters, and it sounds like Ikki did a very good job there. I would have expected you to stay bitter for years, how everyone treated you, Baatar Jr.," laughing when Tenzin added as he raised an eyebrow, "Much less be comfortable with being called Junior."

Starting to get emotional again, Baatar Jr. said, "I just hope I can make amends for everything I've done, especially to my family," remembering how his darkest secret had affected a particular girl's family – and how she had a link to someone in front of him, from what Korra had shown him of recent events.

With her annoying yet potentially dangerous prisoner held tight, hoping Korra would not follow, Raava searched for a suitable location within the Spirit World. She wanted a safe place to perform this technique that mimicked a punishment that would normally happen automatically… for a crime Asami had once considered committing. Disturbed to find the only place not teeming with spirits fighting one another over her own actions, or Dark Spirits aligned with Long Yumao simply resting, apparently lying in wait until they could move into the physical world, Raava placed herself near the chakra pools Korra and Asami had created earlier.

Figuring in the sake of fairness she should give this wretch one last chance, Raava proclaimed, to the hissing human spirit in her grasp, "You do not deserve to even look on these pools, but I will give you one last chance for reformation, before final judgment is passed. I am going to submerge you in one of these special bodies of water, and see what your reaction is. Act with great care." Lowering the now humanoid form purple spirit into the water, Raava felt sadness permeate her being as Kuvira's father's spirit yelled slurs against Korra and Asami when he made contact with the water. A frothing rage beneath the water's surface, Raava wondered why she had bothered in the first place, holding him under longer just out of some desire she had not felt before: "spite".

This last chance at redemption having been a failure, Raava removed him from the water, hoping he had not corrupted the pool. Hearing him say, "That annoying water voice can go screw itself," Raava began the process with gusto, booming as tendrils shot into the figure's arms, legs, head and heart – if he had one: "He's one of the best there is! I am currently but a child before him, but no matter. You will soon know nothing. In your foolishness and hatred, you have done us all a great service – showing us that for some, death is not enough. I had no idea this new inner dream world could pose such… issues. I cannot ask Korra to stay asleep forever, letting me police this inner dream world, protecting people from reprobates such as yourself. The Fog of Lost Souls is not a permanent prison, as Jinora, Tenzin, Kya and Bumi can attest. I do not care to find out if souls can exit after conquering their fears, yet retain their evil nature. Until such time as a… Spirit World construction project is possible, I will deal with any particularly evil and bothersome pests such as yourself in this entirely different way. I've never done this before manually – this 'honor' is normally reserved for those who take their own life directly. And, in a way, you did take your own life – choosing to be re-born at darkness' side, rather than take my last offer of redemption. I will never understand why you did not learn from your own daughter's experiences, and go on living with your wife. Abandoned by you, just like Kuvira. To top it off, you foolishly attempted to steal someone else's life. Free will cannot be truly violated, and you chose your targets poorly – Pema and Baatar Jr. are not weak. Well, the last one isn't now." The man's spirit spoke with great effort, saying in a tone of voice Raava had once used with Wan while drunk, "I'd like to violate the first one in a diff – " Raava interrupting him by force, saying, "I don't know why Kuvira spared you in the first place, filthy beast!"

The man's spirit unable to move or speak, Raava began focusing all her energies into judging the man to initiate the process, saying as she moved on to attempt to bend his very energies, "You have been weighed, AGAIN, and found wanting of all redeeming values." Beginning the manipulation and shattering of the energies that kept the soul bound together, she met a surprising amount of resistance, eventually breaking through by yelling, "I've seen more goodness in Jinshu Kuangmai, and that's saying a lot! You never really loved your daughter, OR your wife!" The man's form still somewhat together, Raava made to finish after saying, "Now, unworthy, scatter to the winds, and return as grass, grubs, and worms. The soul, never to be re-united, until the lessons of life are learned, all over again." Before emitting the final scattering pulse of energy, she stopped, hearing a light crying from nearby. Holding together the human soul's energies taking as much energy as it had taken to break them apart, Raava struggled out, "What… do… you… want… crying… girl? Speak… quickly!"

"For you to stop, Raava!"

Remembering Kuvira's reluctance to have Conscience simply do away with her father, Raava allowed the man's soul to re-form, still grasping him tightly as her form twisted around, expecting to see a blubbering young Kuvira.

Seeing the crying figure, Raava felt horrified, booming with what she hoped Korra would sense was remorse, "Korra – I never wanted you to see this! I am sorry – I should have told you to not follow. What would you have me do with this man? Remember, those within the Fog of Lost Souls can always find their way back out, should they overcome their fears, among other things…" Looking up, Korra pointed at the purple "human" spirit in her grasp – if you could call Kuvira's father that – and said, "Just force him to reincarnate!" Letting out a sigh and speaking with a tone that Raava realized after the fact sounded exactly like the one she used with Wan when he broke her and Vaatu apart ten millennia ago, Raava said, "Remember, your love's father died very recently, yet Hiroshi has still interacted with Asami. There is nothing that makes me believe it won't work for bad people as well. Next suggestion…" Korra crossed her arms, Raava feeling like a bellicose idiot when Korra said, "Most likely, if Kuvira's father gets out of the Fog, that means he'll have changed! Just like 'Amon'! None of this… other thing. The breaking. I'd rather not ever see you do that again…" Korra covering her young face, Raava told her, "If he ever gets back out, unchanged, this shattering will be his fate. Am I clear?"

After Korra nodded, Raava turned her attention back to Kuvira's father, trying to see what his worst fears were, and amplify them with things he had not been allowed to see earlier. Seeing he had a massive fear of losing control, especially of others, his rage a way to ensure continuation of control, he was "allowed" to witness the full, true fight between Kuvira and her brain, saying once the vision had finished, "You think you are powerful and in control, but really, you have nothing. The man you thought 'weak' was able to shrug off your attack like it was nothing. No one, nothing, can maintain control forever over another. The spirit is indomitable. Control over another does not always end that well for the controller as it did with your 'reject' daughter and her mind…"

The last thing she imparted a vision of slaves enacting bloody vengeance on their former masters, Raava changed positions after warning Korra to stay put, tossing the man's screaming, pathetically pleading spirit into the Fog of Lost Souls. Spotting the reason she told Korra to stay, protected by the energy of the pools, Raava watched as Long Yumao's massive body raised from the fog, sounding pleased as he strummed his repulsive but admittedly impressive new claws together, "Ah, yes, another human soul, more human agony and suffering to feed off of. Delivered personally by the spirit traitor and human favoritist Raava, of all beings. I wouldn't have figured you hard enough to do what needed to be done – but don't think I didn't notice, choosing your little refuge over fighting." The colors on his hide beginning to pulse increasingly faster, Long Yumao gloated, "While I am fully capable of distinguishing humans fighting for the good of others – a most repulsive concept to myself, along with the rest of human love – from fighting for power, I am… 'afraid' most other spirits cannot make the distinction between the two. And some spirits did not take kindly to your earlier cowardice, hiding behind the repulsive influence of those pools. I anticipate further new converts tomorrow with glee… and knowing your soft, 'human-y' nature, there is no way you will stop the evacuation mission. Not when you have promised so much to so many, from what Koh can gather…"

Seeing the vile spirit sink back into the fog after sniffing the fog as though it were a misty delicacy, cackling, Raava found herself wishing she were by Korra's side, hating the confirmation of what Opal had feared – that their noble mission would not go unpunished…

Finding herself staring up at an adult Korra on Air Temple Island, Raava began weeping slightly, asking, "Why are we being punished, for trying to do good…?" Korra shook her head sadly, Raava watching as a concerned-looking Jinora came into view. Raava appreciating how gently Jinora spoke, the young airbender asked her, "What happened, that would make you so sad you're a little girl again? Wait – is it something to do with Kuvira's father?"

Raava nodded her head, saying, "Yes" as a tear streaked down her face. Sighing deeply, Raava decided to tell the truth about what she had wanted to do to Kuvira's father before Korra stopped her. Feeling better, Raava shifted into her larger human form and explained her "exchange" with Long Yumao, wondering just how many spirits her absence in the fight had cost. Apparently, she had said this last part out loud, looking away from Jinora as the young airbender tried to console her, eventually paying attention after a "love conk" from Jinora over the head with her staff. Surprised to not see Jinora smirking, Raava listened as she said, "What other spirits do isn't up to you anyways, and we both know Long Yumao is a filthy liar," smiling slightly when Jinora added, "Who knows – maybe your act of… relative mercy had just the opposite effect."

Pointing at Baatar Jr. and Ikki, both standing side by side, Jinora said, "And there's something you or Korra didn't hear earlier, while you were gone. Ikki and my dad talked Baatar Jr. into telling everyone what Ikki helped him accomplish inside his wooden box, before going back to this dream bending crud." Raava suppressed a snort when Jinora whispered to her, "Aang's 'penchant' for lying isn't hereditary," bursting into laughter when she heard the terrible liar in question grumble from somewhere she couldn't see.

Figuring they had all the time in the world, Raava agreed, saying, "Okay – let me just fix this screen, and we'll get started. Might want to get ready – I'm bringing everyone in here." Fixing the screen, not noticing some of her own energy nearby, Raava cursed when she heard a young voice say, "Mommy Asami, I saw a little plasma in there, like what's on your blades, but inside tiny containers!" Groaning, Raava said, "Whatever, Atokara – it's not like you stole a look at something more advanced, given how spirit glass works better than anything Earth has," giving her gift to Asami and Korra an icy stare when the little girl taunted, "So? Still gotcha!"

Turning around, Raava saw an unexpected image displayed – that of the super Kuviracomputer onboard the Raging Shark Whale's display. The news was not welcome. Looking at a spirit energy reading overlay on top of the geographical map that denoted where they were, Raava saw a large and powerful unknown spirit hiding beneath the sea. It lurked deep below them in one of the many caves lining one of their planet's deepest underwater gorges, situated inside Fire Nation Waters slightly west of Roku's old home. Relatively pleased with their progress over the past two and a half hours, given how heavily laden the Raging Shark Whale was, Raava turned her attention back to the lurking spirit. Trying futilely to discern its shape, an unknown force obscuring its form, Raava was too busy to notice that Korra had walked forward in a sort of trance. Korra's hand touched the spirit's crude representation silently. Seeing Korra seize up and able to sense her fear, Raava yanked Korra away from the screen, noticing dark energy inside Korra yet again.

The energy behaving in much the same way that the lingering mercury had, impervious to outside attempts to remove it due to what Raava could only sense was an old outstanding issue, Raava thought strongly, "Draw on your spirit to cleanse this malady from your mind, Korra – and maybe you can tell us what, or who, that spirit is deep below us." Still in a slight trance, Korra moved such that her head was pointing towards the sky. After a deep breath, Korra exhaled forcefully, an energy beam larger than the original one that had shocked Raava came from Korra's forehead.

Able to speak again, Korra explained without fear in her voice, "I think… whatever that beam is, it's just a manifestation of me clearing my mind – soul over brain, just like what Kuvira accomplished earlier. It didn't damage the hull of the plane in the physical world." Pausing, Raava sensed Korra wanted to try and replicate the feat, Korra failing to do so, but smiling nonetheless as she said, "It looks like I have to be in genuine need of cleansing for this to do anything – it's not a weapon, like combustionbending." Korra frowning slightly, she continued, "I only vaguely recognized the spirit, but even that was enough to give me that panic attack. Raava, pull us up, stay in a holding position, and fast. I've got a bad feeling, even if the spirit is deep below us..."

The dream world itself shimmering slightly with the exception of Baatar Jr. and Ikki, Raava waited on Korra to tell everyone else what Raava already knew. Seeing how Korra did not speak, Raava placed a hand on the screen, thinking, "Divert power from spirit weapons to scanner. Show best representation of spirit in question," asking after gasps had died down, "Korra, does this jog your memory better?" Korra nodded, saying, "Yes – I could only recognize the energy before… touching that spirit's representation somehow partially clouded my mind again. Just like it did, more strongly, when he dragged me under the waves years ago…" Korra walked up to the screen, pointing at the massive sea spirit that had nearly severed Raava's connection to the Avatar's human spirit forever, studying the image.

Looking at the image herself, Raava wondered how a random spirit could have been powerful enough to nearly sever her connection with Korra forever – even if the spirit did look rather capable. As Raava examined the image, now barely able to recall what it had once looked like, she noticed a disturbing change – it appeared to have matured somehow. The head now sported a powerful set of pincers below its maw, a mass of hooked tentacles at the pincer's base. The original tendrils were now thicker and covered in many plates that reminded her of those on Koh the Face-Stealer's carapace, the other new body armor more closely resembling that of a particularly nasty lobster crab, slight protrusions of unknown function erupting from the back. The armored appendages ended in unprotected tentacles with suckers and sickening barbs, tentacles ending in green-yellow spikes –the same color as the spirit's eyes. Knowing what this coloration meant, Raava groaned, "Great – another spirit on Vaatu's side." Fishing the spirit in question out of her breastplate, she threatened in a language that only they understood, "I'll show you all the Avatar's 'sex tapes' if you don't tell me what happened!" Though Vaatu squirmed in a way that pleased Raava, he could only answer, "How should I know, you sexual pervert? I've been stuffed in your breastplate all this time, and I can't talk to Jinshu Kuangmai or see out of here!"

Hearing raucous laughter from behind her, Raava realized Vaatu must have spoken in a language everyone could understand, snarling, "Why you little – given the way you're laughing, you must have done that intentionally!" Anticipating her question, Vaatu bragged, "I came up with that idea myself. If I had known how much fun tormenting humans as humans do would be, I would have changed a lot sooner! The look on your face… priceless. More amusing than any angry yell from an unanimated spirit form." Tired of being humiliated by a "four year old" spirit who obviously didn't have any answers, Raava stuffed him back in, acting out of spite for a second time as she pressed him too close for comfort to what lay underneath her breastplate.

Turning back to everyone before her, Raava said in as serious a voice as she could, "Now that we know he doesn't know anything, we can – no, Bumi, I'm not telling anyone what I said to him!" thinking internally, "Thank goodness Wan or Aang didn't hear – they would have understood…" Re-composing herself and giving the person who had asked such a rude question in the first place a glare, she continued, keeping her eyes on Bumi as she walked back and forth, "We don't know exactly what this spirit wants – but we do know it's water-bound, and cannot get at us up higher in the atmosphere. It appears content to stay in the deeps anyways, inside its cave – it may have not even surfaced since taking Korra underwater farther to the east in the Mo Ce Sea years ago." Stopping for a minute, she gave the computer a direct silent instruction, turning around and looked at the result of the more detailed scan of the spirit again.

Through the more powerful scan, she could see this spirit hadn't quite made up its mind yet, noticing with dismay that allegiance to her wasn't considered an option. Not a single bit of her own energy was within the spirit, the unnamed spirit leaning more towards Vaatu than Long Yumao – but not by much. Remembering this spirit had a history with Vaatu, Raava knew why – possibly out of some kind of loyalty. Ordering the craft to begin moving again, Raava watched with relief as the spirit stayed in the same spot.

Still not having answered all her questions, in particular how a seemingly minor spirit had corrupted the Avatar in the first place, much less how it appeared to be maturing and metamorphosing, Raava ordered the aircraft to reverse course, and hover closer to the ocean, hoping to get a better answer. Raava cursed when she heard a computerized voice say, "Supreme User Raava command overridden by spirit of High Clearance User Korra," turning around and yelling at Korra, "What's more important than finding out more about that spirit, huh?"

Keeping her cool and knowing Raava would likely be thanking her later, Korra told the incensed spirit, "While I want to know more about that spirit as much as you do, especially given I was the one dragged under by him, I think this is more important. And we already know it's capable, and apparently dormant. While you were finding out more about him, I tried to see if I could remember anything about being dragged under, but found something else instead." Placing her hand to the screen's console, she transferred the dream that Vaatu had tried and failed to bury earlier with a little desperate inside help from her dark half.

Looking back at Raava, Korra could still see her scowling, telling the spirit flatly, "Even after remembering the dream, I can't make sense of it. See if you recognize this being here on the screen." Korra stepped back, letting Raava get a better look at what Korra still had a hard time believing was a spirit, let alone ancient and powerful, like the dream had implied heavily. It just looked like a cloud of gas to her. Raava stared at the screen, saying after a time, "I… have not seen this spirit in a long time. Over ten thousand Harmonic Convergences have come and gone since I last saw this spirit – one as old as our universe, time itself as I know it, and an intrinsic part of what makes our plane, ours. What makes us special… Korra, we're going somewhere else. Now."

Before Korra could speak, she found herself inside a familiar massive mansion, staring Raava in the face, the spirit still seeming reluctant at best to continue speaking, even in her own "house". Seeing Raava did not look like she was going to continue without some prompting, Korra asked, "He – or she, or it – have anything to do with new airbenders? In the dream, I saw this spirit condense and course through the two opened Spirit Portals in the Spirit World multiple times, sometimes stopping to linger around the Tree of Time - almost as if it was pining for something long gone. Unfortunately, I can't remember when I had the dream, aside from after Harmonic Convergence…" Raava whipped around, eyes wide as she said, "Yes – she has everything to do with airbending itself. I won't go into details, but this spirit is the incarnation of Air itself – the whole reason air can be manipulated directly on our plane. Tell me – what else did you see in this dream?" Finally calculating how much time ten thousand Harmonic Convergences was, Korra shook her head, saying, "Not until you tell me more about this 100 million years or more of history you've hidden." Raava mulling over her response far too long for Korra's tastes, Korra added in a whisper, "If you want me to be of any help in determining why this spirit apparently has an interest in returning again, I need to know everything." Raava sighed, this last comment having won her over, saying, "Fine. Let me get a display up and running again."

Knowing this would likely be long and involved, Korra stood by the new screen and watched Raava place a single hand on the console, her voice coming through the speakers as the image of this Spirit of Air vanished, "After history's greatest cataclysmic event - the breaking of the barrier between the spirit and physical world by Vaatu during a Harmonic Convergence somewhere around 100 million years ago – the world was shrouded by darkness for ten thousand years, myself having lost. I cannot remember details of this event beyond generalities, nor can I remember further back. In total, a sixty-thousand year gap of muddied, and in some cases, non-existent memory. All I can remember is Vaatu breaking through the barrier and laying waste to the physical world with the assistance of like-minded spirits and Harmonic Convergence, after winning Harmonic Convergence within the Spirit World. All traces of the physical world's past were erased, besides life itself. It was all I could do, preventing life from becoming extinct entirely..."

Raava appeared to want to continue, but Korra interrupted, saying, "While it sounds depressing, I want to know a little more than that about what happened back then, if at all possible. Knowing Vaatu, he probably wasn't tight-lipped around Wan when fighting him – so let's see what Wan has to say. That time seems awfully specific… and vaguely familiar. Plus, it's sort of lonely in this big house, with just you." Wan appeared next to Raava, shrugging as he said, "If she can't remember, what help do you think I'll be?" Pointing at herself, Korra said, "I got to see your lifetime directly, shortly before Harmonic Convergence… and something about 100 million years rings a bell." Wan tugged on his beard, saying, "Hmm… I think I might just know what seems familiar. During the fight of my life, Vaatu taunted me, thinking as a human that I was weak. Let me see if I can remember his exact words…"

Tossing Raava a look, Korra laughed to see the malevolent spirit in question out above Raava's chest, spluttering, "I don't try and drag you to my house – this place is so… cheery! Yuck! Even I can't remember that crap, just like Raava – though I definitely remember you, Wan, and our fight! I originally wanted to just lock you and your following lives away forever, miserable, as revenge – but Unalaq went a bit further than that." Trying to goad more information from Vaatu while Wan mulled over something that occurred over ten thousand years ago, Korra walked over, smirking as she said up close and personal, "Vaatu, I know you must know more than that, if a lowly human knows just as much about the universe and other planes as you do," surprised to hear him respond, "I know more about other planes than I do about other planets on our own – ever since we got tied to this planet!"

Now it was Raava who was hostile to Korra, saying, "Ugh, great – more damn explaining to do, even if it is just to you, Korra! I'm glad we left - Tenzin's kids would never have let me hear the end of keeping this hidden history. Jinora's questions alone would have taken an eternity to answer. Get back in there, little brat, before you make my job even harder!" Before he was gone, Vaatu managed to spurt out, "It's been a billion years since I saw anywhere else!" Raava looked absolutely furious, saying, "I did NOT intend for a crash course history lesson tonight – you're only getting what is relevant to this possible bending pulse! I might even just erase the other irrelevant slipups!"

Having none of this memory wipe crap, Korra shook her head with her hands on her hips, saying, "NO. Out of courtesy, I won't ask any questions beyond Vaatu's comment about being tied to this planet somehow, and let everything else slide – for now." Given Raava's silent fuming, this was the question she wanted to answer the least, stamping her foot angrily in frustration as she mumbled, "No good little… he's more annoying while human-y than spirit-y! If that's even possible…" Taking a deep breath, Raava explained, "All I will tell you about that is once multicellular life appeared on this planet roughly a billion years ago, Vaatu tried everything in his power to destroy it, but I stopped him – at a price. In the past, the Avatar has been referred to as 'the spirit of our planet' – and they were only partly right. Both Vaatu and I are bound to this planet, unable to sense anything beyond this world on our own plane, even though we're technically supposed to be linked to everything else. So much for that part of the job…" Getting a sly grin, Raava mused, "Perhaps I could get some help around that limitation on what I can see… outside help. Just a moment."

Korra watched in curiosity as Raava closed her eyes, intermittently smiling and frowning, briefly breaking into tears. Stopping as suddenly as she had started, Raava said, "Be careful what you wish for. I'm just glad I don't remember anything nasty. Why the funny look, Korra?"

Figuring it wouldn't be a good idea to undo whatever memory wipe Raava had obviously asked for, Korra said, "Nothing. Let's see what Wan came up with." Once they were both near, Korra could see Wan had a mischievous look on his face, saying, "Bet that stupid kite will regret gloating during our fight after I tell you this, Korra, Raava – this sound familiar at all? 'I lived ten thousand lifetimes before the first of your kind crawled out of the mud. It was I who broke through the divide that separated the plane of Spirits from the material world.' That number is familiar – ten thousand 'lifetimes' times ten thousand years between Harmonic Convergences is 100 million years. And he mentioned humans first – not the breakthrough of the divide." Looking at Raava, he continued, "You said you had a sixty-thousand year memory gap and deterioration near where Vaatu broke through the barrier, not a ten-thousand one, or none at all. It sounds to me like you may have tied with Vaatu multiple times during Harmonic Convergence… while humans such as myself lived, likely only aware of your existence in a limited way. My best guess, no one glimpsed you directly except in rare cases. Just like on Earth's plane - spirit world and physical world, separate."

Raava let out a low groan, saying as she rubbed her forehead, "Something… let's not talk about this anymore. Even Vaatu's complaining about some kind of dull yet unbearable pain. So, back to what we can share. These Elemental Spirits are more than just the first true benders – they each represent specific concepts, and can bend or grant bending due to their nature, not the other way around. The very embodiment of important universal concepts – though I won't list them all here, just the most important. The Spirit of Air is the manifestation of freedom and respect of others' freedom, along with the Spirit of Fire, which is the manifestation of power and passion. The Spirit of Earth is the manifestation of substance and resilience, and the Spirit of Water is the manifestation of change and healing. All four crossed into the physical world temporarily for reasons I cannot remember, or even contemplate without feeling immense pain, following a barely remembered victory against Vaatu. The victory against Vaatu that forced me to restrain Vaatu manually forever, until Wan… lifted me of that burden 'recently'."

Raava laughing at the irony, Wan still looked conflicted, Wan finally saying, "I guess even horrible mistakes can work out. Keep going – for Korra's benefit." Raava nodded, continuing, "In secret, hidden from everyone but myself and Vaatu's sight, all four spirits bestowed the gift of bending onto the ancestors of what they thought the wisest of animals – airbison, dragons, and badgermoles being the most notable and still existent ones, the ancestors of some other minor living animals able to bend as well, such as the flying tuna you recently ate. As their last act before leaving, they bestowed the ability to grant bending to the wisest of all animals aside from enlightened humans, and the only other to stay much the same over time: the lion turtle. The lion turtles received minimal instruction on how to bestow bending, intended to help protect humans from spirits. All four worked together to bestow a few lion turtles with the gift of bestowing energybending, the sole living lion turtle their direct descendant. The lion-turtles were led to believe they had always possessed this ability. After finishing its work, the Spirit of Water chose to manifest more permanently in the physical realm, a good portion of the spirit crossing over from the Spirit World in an already existing form: Tui and La, tied to our planet's Moon and Ocean. I can see the surprise on your face, Korra – Tui and La existed before life itself did, though they only assumed the form of koi fish once the fish… uh, let's just say later." Giving Raava a knowing smile, Korra said, "Almost slipped up on something, didn't you?"

An image of the Spirit of Air coming into view, Raava continued after a small smile and dismissive wave, "From what I can gather, the Spirit of Air, just as in your dream, actually passed through the two open Spirit Portals multiple times – a direct consequence of your decision to leave them open. What I can't say for certain, though, is why. But I have a theory. The world was deeply out of balance with regard to bending, only five airbenders in existence until recently. But the Spirit of Air couldn't do anything. It was blocked from acting because the Spirit Portals were closed… until three years ago."

An image of the new Spirit Portal in Republic City appearing, Raava asked Korra directly, "Can you think of any reason these four Elemental Spirits would have to bestow bending on non-benders? Or why this particular portal might be important?" At first, the answer was not obvious, but as Korra racked her brain, she remembered a very vague prophecy Uncle Iroh had handed down… involving a "most important gas". Korra felt annoyed when Raava snickered, saying, "Not that kind of gas, Korra. One of his prophecies was a complete dud – the one about staying in the closet about your relationship with Asami. Try thinking about it from a different angle." Remembering the other part – on how the bending practices must endure and still be used, and benders remain equal to non-benders – Korra realized what had drawn the four Elemental Spirit's attention. What imbalance they had detected.

The use of spirit vine weaponry, and human technology creating a new Spirit Portal, with a little help from herself.

Remembering her own mechasuit and how much of its key parts were technology-driven, even if it did use a spirit power source for both brains and routine power, Korra felt the pit drop out of the bottom of her stomach, sobbing, "That day, benders without access to technology beginning to become irrelevant or relatively powerless… it's already here. And it may have been here for a while, and we just didn't know it. I think I know why those spirits might have an interest in returning – non-benders are already in possession of power greater than anything a bender can hope for. Maybe they think more benders will help re-balance the scales. I'm the Avatar, able to bend everything, and even I'm relying on technology now…"

Closing her eyes and seeing an unwelcome reminder of the weapon believed to be lurking outside Omashu, waiting for the right moment to eradicate the city's populace with a barrage of Asami particles, Korra began crying slightly. After an idle question passed through her mind, wondering if the spirits had accelerated or changed what they wanted to bestow upon humanity following the braintrust's own technological breakthroughs, Korra saw the image shimmer and vanish. As though the spirits themselves were answering "Yes", the image was replaced by waves of elite metalbenders mowed down like wheat before a scythe by a five-barreled Varrick gun firing from within the arm of a familiar form. Hearing the whooshing roar followed by a quick series of barely audible wet impacts drowned by a loud thrashing hum as the gun stopped firing, Korra felt sick. The sound was shortly followed by a large painted shell striking earth from the air at a slight angle, a huge white and blue fireball engulfing a buried city - what must have been Zaofu.

Korra realized they were just as much to "thank" for this new attention and imbalance as Jinshu Kuangmai or the Earth Empire were. And, that just like last time, the spirits would likely not show favoritism in who got what kind of bending – she remembered Zaheer's new gift all too well…

After being consoled by both Raava and Wan for what seemed like an eternity after she explained her sorrow, Raava said, "I am not sure of the new Spirit Portal's importance, besides the fact that it is apparently just as vital as the 100-million year old ones, given how Vaatu said we'd have to seal all THREE to lock him up properly in the tree of time again." At first, Korra didn't have any ideas either, listening intently as Wan suggested, "Maybe… Korra, this new portal was made by you, at great risk to yourself, protecting Kuvira. Even before Raava gave you and Asami Atokara, it was associated with a gift to humanity – the tuber-vines. And the Spirit of Air didn't 'complete' the job – new airbenders were only found in the Earth Kingdom. Maybe they need latent energy following a major spiritual event to give people bending – the first new airbenders, from Harmonic Convergence, and this new possible wave, from creation of this new Spirit Portal – one created by a human protecting someone the world thought deserving of death… risking the Avatar Spirit itself in the process."

Korra smiled slightly, saying, "It's beginning to make sense. We just entered another new spiritual age – one ultimately started, yet again, by me, saving Kuvira. One that's tied very strongly to this new portal, and how it was formed – risking my life, to please my conscience." After a nod from Raava, Raava said, "I'm going to take you somewhere in the Spirit World temporarily – this whole exchange has not taken any real-world time, being inside my home. But I need your help – I want to see just what this new portal is associated with, and is not associated with. And from what I saw in the Spirit World, the Tree of Time and the portals are the biggest area of contention." Korra felt hesitant, asking, "Why right now – can't this wait?"

Raava shook her head, saying, "No. For one, if you can touch the portal, you may be able to get confirmation for our theories from the spirits themselves, though I would be surprised if they answered. They secluded themselves after granting bending 100 million years ago… And, more importantly, I want to see exactly what is associated with this portal. Should the worst come to pass and the shield around its base in the physical world breaks, many Dark Spirits will pour forth directly into Republic City. The outcry over such an event would make people's whining about spirit vines seem like pleasantries in comparison – people would likely demand the portal be closed. But something tells me there would be severe consequences to closing this portal…"

With this last word, Korra found herself back on Air Temple Island, saying quickly, "Raava needs to check on something in the Spirit World with my help. I'll be right back," vanishing again before she got any response.

Finding herself at the foot of the Tree of Time, Korra looked up, awe-struck by the multitude of spirits fighting above her. Looking at one particular Dark Spirit, she watched as the whale-like spirit head-butted a vaguely familiar large blue and white humanoid frog spirit. Korra noticed with shock that the larger spirit had not a single red line on its body. As another much more familiar twin-headed frog spirit she had met in her own lifetime feebly tried to attack the whale spirit's shadowy arms, she rubbed her eyes, saying as she gawked at the enraged whale spirit, "Wait – that spirit doesn't look like he's following Long Yumao…"

Shhh! Don't say his name out loud in here – do you forget what happened when Jinora spoke to the Painted Lady? Just get us over to the new Spirit Portal, and fast!

Pinpointing the new Spirit Portal's location and focusing on it, Korra was confused to find herself closer to the Tree of Time itself than she had expected. The new portal lied closer to the Tree of Time than the older portals. Two green and yellow helixes jutted from the earth halfway between the blue Southern Spirit Portal and the massive, ancient tree itself. Knowing Raava was likely to start yammering if she didn't just hurry up and touch the portal, Korra placed her hand on the sphere at the portal's base, attempting to contact these four Elemental Spirits by thinking, "Ancient spirits, embodiments of bending itself – this is the Avatar, Avatar Korra, and Raava. We need an answer, to three simple questions – is there going to be another bending pulse, if so, why, and finally, would closing this Spirit Portal affect your ability to do anything?"

Korra's hand was repulsed off the sphere by an unseen force, at first feeling furious and hurt. Against her will, her body began moving, though given Raava's confused What the actual f-, she was not responsible and had as much of a clue as Korra did as to what was going on. Once her body stopped moving, Korra's head moved all of itself down to look at the ground surrounding the Spirit Portal, surprised to see words etched into the rock itself, answering her questions in the same order that they had been asked: "Yes. For the exact same reasons Raava and yourself hypothesized dealing with technology. Closing the portal would prevent us from helping balance be proactively maintained between benders and non-benders."

Okay, time to leave! We got our answers – forget the portal. We'll have to try again later. Incoming!

Initially, Korra was tempted to ignore Raava, keen to try and find out what closing the portal might do, but saw a flash of a familiar spirit - the one that had dragged her under water. Hearing Raava intone, Don't underestimate the enemy. I don't want to risk another severing of my connection with you, and Long Yumao is closing in, and far more powerful than that Dark Spirit, Korra found Raava had a good point, yelling before she left, "Sorry I can't help fight right now - stay strong! I just want you to know how much I appreciate your sacrifices and help, and you won't go unrewarded!"

The annoying Avatar now gone from the Spirit World, a multitude of Dark Spirits in front of Long Yumao that had been intent on her ruin met nothing but air, most colliding with one another in a pile of red pulsing anger and hatred. Long Yumao himself had stopped when the Avatar made her insipid promise of reward, cackling, "Who needs reward right now, beyond serving me - and one day, subjugating humans and both Raava and Vaatu?" A few unlucky Dark Spirits tumbled through the portal, Long Yumao not expecting them to come back - few who tried to touch the Avatar's accursed barrier lived to tell the tale. The rest of such hapless servants were scattered into many small pieces, not remembering anything but their allegiance to their master. Which was all that mattered, in the end - some even grew back to normal size, multiplying his power with each shattering.

After a time, spirits did return from what their comrades had assumed was a one-way trip - but they were not as they had been before. Clenching one hand so hard claws dug into his own flesh, Long Yumao howled, "How DARE you defy me, insolent insects!" Staring at the spirit that angered him the most, Long Yumao hissed, "Raava - I can barely fathom. You might get bending from her, if that Avatar wretch Korra trusts you enough. But Vaatu, and Jinshu Kuangmai? What could they possibly have to offer you?"

Long Yumao was utterly baffled when the hulking fish-like spirit laughed, replying confidently, "I decide go easy. You and other fools go hard. Very hard. Vaazula tell me positions open, and early comer have EQUAL rank to human, if not above. Merit base, not favorite! Jinshu already demote stupid man. 'Jang'." Bubbling in what resembled human laughter mixed with the dying gasps of a fish, the insolent spirit added, "You, Long Yumao - can't even give Koh one face! Maybe he turn on you soon!" Furious, Long Yumao swiped at the spirit, cackling to see the spirit's form deform and tear as his large claws made contact… cursing when it re-formed, yelling, "Look how fool treat other spirit that also hate Avatar Korra! Try and 'kill'! He not even RIGHTFUL Grand Dark Spirit! Young fool pretender! I older than him, for the hate of Raava!"

Seeing the Raava-aligned spirits laugh along with their foes, Long Yumao, for only a fleeting moment, regretted not taking a certain metalbender's offer to conquer the world together. Snapping out of such blasphemer's thoughts in pure fury as he formed a large energy blast within his beak, the blast hit nothing but the base of the Spirit Portal. The same fish-man spirit taunted him from somewhere nearby, too far to have jumped, " 'You not only one can teleport in here!' Long Yumao said himself, week ago! Hah hah - I make joke! Look forward, be more human-y!" Another shrill spirit added from above, one Long Yumao could not see, "What have you given me, any of us? Empty promises… Raava has given bending, and even now, a spirit aligned with Vaatu wields more influence over humans than you do, so-called Leader of Spirits. Where's the enslavement?"

Long Yumao was not often glad to hear his supposed ally Koh approach, hearing the clacking of many insectoid legs in the distance, a familiar voice saying, "Patience, my 'friends'. Patience. That wall will not hold forever - and when it breaks, I will have my faces. Oh so many faces…The great cities of the world we have access to by portal lie unguarded - ripe for the taking. So many faces… The Avatar is busy helping others, before those that fight for her within the Spirit World, offering only reassurances, moving the stars and earth to assist her own kind on very short notice. Hypocritical - and predictable. Putting humans before spirits, just as Raava has done. She neglects her Spirit Bridge duties - just as Avatar Kuruk did. I would love to enact the same punishment Avatar Kuruk suffered upon her… Asami. Such a pretty face."

Long Yumao had half a mind to crush Koh for being so self-centered, but for some reason, the spirit's presence had a purifying effect on almost all the spirit that had switched allegiance to Vaatu, though none of those aligned with Raava changed. Only the fish-man spirit and a few others remained who had once been loyal but now refused to wear Long Yumao's colors. Hopping off into the distance, the insolent oversized toddler-guppy said proudly before vanishing, "You be sorry later, for go back! You go back to Vaatu and his human - whether like it or not! Hah!"

Asking one of the former turncoat spirits what the fish-man meant, it appeared to shrug before lying near the Tree of Time, Long Yumao roaring, "Don't shrug at me. I demand an actual, acceptable answer. TELL ME, NOW!" The spirit was silent, Koh saying from nearby, "It appears to not know… a pity. No matter - what can an outnumbered human do to us? Us, and the human world, against him."

Always craving more power and knowing the tree of Time was connected to great cosmic energies, Long Yumao attempted to do something he had yet to do - interact with the Tree of Time itself. Before digging a single claw into its boughs, he cackled, "The Universe shall provide - whether it likes it, or not! That barrier will be dust!"

Hoping to connect with and harness great energies, Long Yumao found only an endlessly hungering void that tugged on his very being much as the Fog of Lost Souls would tug on a human wretch's mind, feeling this entity's unfathomable hatred. Lingering slightly too long out of curiosity, his arm immobilized, he retracted his claw after hearing an angry voice finish hissing directly into his skull as his arm writhed in fiery pain, "Do not linger - leave! I gave you what little you deserve from your actions thus far already - do not be greedy. You have to earn the right to tap into this universal energy without limit! Into me - one of the two ancient constants! Older than time itself - and you, younger than the mortals you despise so. Come back again later, when you are more than an insolent, entitled, pathetic and admittedly driven worm. I deal beyond small gifts only with the truly powerful."

Giving the Tree of Time a vacant stare, not about to try tapping into it again any time soon, Long Yumao wondered what the voice was - and if one of his spirit foes had ever connected to it, or even heard its speech.

Long Yumao idly examined his form, noticing something had changed - arms, longer with considerable reach, hands, larger and more powerful, sinews and muscles visible and moving. His black hide pulsed intermittently in purples and reds as he opened and closed newly dexterous hands. As Long Yumao slowly unclenched the much more tidy fist - claws no longer digging into flesh, one which still had respectable claws that now pulsed intermittently with a wave of dark, black-colored energy - Long Yumao began channeling his anger at the earlier snub by… whatever that voice was. His eyes widened, seeing a dark dancing orb of purple energy appear in the palm of his hand, much as a pathetic flame might for a firebending insect.

At first, he remained confused, eventually opening his terror-inspiring beak as he laughed, "It appears the Universe did provide after all. I look forward to taking more of what is mine for the taking - power. Even if I have to 'earn' it."

Out of the edges of his vision and newly heightened spiritual senses, Long Yumao noticed a small blue and white bean-shaped spirit hurriedly exit the Spirit World through the closest portal. Dismissing this as inconsequential, he decided to test out his new power on a hapless neutral dragonfly bunny spirit, watching it writhe and shift even as it tried to flee, a continuous blast of purple energy hitting it - from his hand. The spirit now his, its will easily broken by the new power, Long Yumao swore he heard a faint voice hiss with a hint of pleasure, "Perhaps you do have potential…"

Finding herself back at Air Temple Island, Korra projected Raava, Wan and Aang out, saying to those in front of her with a smile, "We've found the evidence we need, to feel comfortable making this announcement. We've even found out the why as well - you'll want to be sitting down for this, and not just because I'm infobending everything out."

After a slight pause, deciding what would and what would not be told, Korra settled on showing everything to do with the four Elemental Spirits and new benders, including the fact that they managed to get direct confirmation from the spirits themselves. Everything about humans possibly having a history before the breakdown of the barrier between Spirit world and the physical realm was obviously omitted, given how Raava said just thinking about it gave her a searing headache. Indirect confirmation of life on other planets was also kept secret, though Korra overrode Raava's wish to keep the tying of herself and Vaatu to the planet a secret.

Korra was surprised to hear Katara speak first, saying, "Forget the bending pulse - I just realized something. I had heard legends that the Avatar Spirit was the spirit of our planet, but nothing quite that… literal, and certainly not that Vaatu was just as tied to our world as Raava. Aang was talking to me earlier, before we made up for 22 years of lost time, and he mentioned something he learned about after death, that he never heard of in life. Apparently, he had to struggle even after I healed him physically from Azula's shot, and Avatar Yangchen mentioned - let me finish, Aang! Quit acting like a hopping llama! Your pants are not 'flameo, hotman'!" After a dejected sigh from Aang and laughter from Tenzin, Katara continued, "She told Aang directly that the Avatar Spirit's ultimate goal was to learn what it truly means to be human. And for every yin, there is a yang…"

Pausing for a few seconds, apparently to let what she had just said sink in, Katara looked directly at Raava with an expectant look, Korra knew full well what was in question.

Raava's increasingly human nature. Not only that - but that of Vaatu as well.

Pointing at herself, Katara said, "Being human isn't all being nice. Emotions are powerful things… I once almost killed a man, wanting revenge, the man who took my mother from me - only how pitiful he was stopping me, before I did something I'd regret for the rest of my life." Korra was baffled when Katara continued, "I just want you to promise us - all of us - if Korra ends up needing to take someone's life tomorrow, you both won't let yourselves get out of balance. The middle of a battle isn't the time to have a nervous breakdown…"

Korra expected herself to be the only one with any sort of reservations, but after a muffled voice laughed deeply, Korra looked at Raava - and saw she was crying. The laughter deepening as Raava steadily grew younger and younger, Vaatu's voice boomed proudly, "You're terrified, aren't you, Raava - the Avatar has not killed another human directly in over two centuries, and even Avatar Kyoshi's biggest kill brought her no pleasure. Chin the Fool fell to his own death, stubborn. Unalaq was fused to me - as much spirit as human. You are terrified. Terrified Korra will kill for truly the first tomorrow, and you might like it - just like I would. Perhaps, I can only hope beyond hope, the beginning of an endless hunger. I can feel the grip of terror upon you…"

Raava collapsed, moaning, "No wonder Kuvira just wanted to get it over with… kill her dark half." Vaatu's laughter became so loud the screen nearby shattered, everyone but Korra covering their ears and some whimpering as he howled, "HAH! You can't kill me! We are eternal! Human emotion… such powerful effects. Jinshu Kuangmai was right - toying directly with human emotions, with first-hand knowledge of them… Raava, at first I thought this change in you vile, but I haven't felt this good since Unalaq demolished you three years ago. What a marvelous weakening… look who's pulling puppet strings now!"

Remembering Vaatu had changed as well, Korra came up with a plan.

Trying something Raava would normally have had Korra's head for, she picked the morose spirit up, flipping her onto her back - attempting to reach in and remove Vaatu. The first attempt a failure and no one else having understood her intention, Korra took a deep breath, steeling her will as she tried again…

She could hardly believe her eyes. The spirit came out!

Keeping her composure, she looked at a slightly enlarged spirit form Vaatu directly as she said, "You've changed recently too, Vaatu. Until a certain metalbender you hoped could be your Dark Avatar gave you a tongue-lashing, all you cared about was chaos, darkness, destruction. Happy to see our planet a wasteland. This man, a kind of 'spirit' you once thought an insignificant insect changed your mind - convinced you that keeping life alive to cause it suffering is better than annihilation. Just as Raava has changed and learned over the ten thousand years of Avatar incarnations, a human has taught you, Vaatu - Jinshu Kuangmai. Unlike you, he has some light left within." Pressing closer, she asked the shifting spirit, noticing he looked smaller and more human-y as she spoke, "Aren't you terrified he'll fall in love with that spirit that calls herself Vaazula - terrified this might change him, as I hope, especially after she gets a heaping dose of Azula's sad, sad life? So he can see what hatred's true fruits are - what Azula's father and own actions did to her? You said you wanted him to be your Dark Avatar. Would you want his relationship with the spirit bearing your name to possibly soften you? Teach that even monsters can love?" Vaatu spluttered incoherently, "Blagh! Impossible! I would never adopt such views - the very antithesis to hatred! Put me down - or I'll try connecting with you! Dark Korra, do your job! Dark Avatar, now!"

Korra laughed hysterically, saying as she felt not a single stir within, "Look who's forgetting the rules now. It's not Harmonic Convergence, so you couldn't fuse with a roach even if you wanted to! Raava, Vaatu. Both of you, now more human - both 'cursed' with dealing with the lot of good humans, evil humans - neither really knowing for sure if they are slipping the other way. The only spirit I know who's strong who has no such uncertainty dogging him is Long Yumao. A spirit, I may add, that enjoys substantial support from other spirits, and covets your silly little title. He might just take it someday… He saw no need for Jinshu Kuangmai's help. But you did." Kneeling over, Korra placed Vaatu back on Raava's chest, which was heaving from the light spirit's deep laughter, the final thing Korra said to Vaatu was, speaking in condescending English, "The fear in your eyes… Look who's afraid now. Sleep tight, little devil."

With that, the spirit vanished, clearly displeased at having received the short end of the stick in the surreal exchange. Standing up, Korra heard raucous applause, noticing unexpected figures in the audience - some of her past lives! Korra beamed when she heard Kyoshi say strongly, "I would have been proud to call that my own, Korra. I used worse tact with the 46th Earth King when I … persuaded him to change things. You've come a long way, from just trying to physically browbeat people into submission much as I often did, to cowing the supreme spirit of darkness himself with mind games all of your own." Korra laughed nervously when Baatar Jr. waved a hand, saying from the back, "Korra practiced on me first!"

Yangchen and Kyoshi coming towards Raava and herself, Yangchen re-assured Raava, "Your past human lives - we'll be here for you, if you need help," adding with a slight smirk, "Though, try not to have a nervous breakdown during battle? It might… hamper Korra." Raava laughed, saying, "I accept what I have done - the highly unorthodox nature of trying to become more human-y directly. I have a lot more sympathy for people who have gone through traumatic internal experiences after that… There are some things you cannot understand without first-hand experience."

Giving Korra an unexpected hug, Raava sighed, "Thank you." Looking slightly more serious, Raava announced, "Now, back to business! Old Avatars, you can go do whatever now, unless you wish to stay - I am sure you had friends or family you were interacting with." Korra was rather puzzled when Kyoshi said something about a daughter named Koko, vanishing along with all other past lives except Aang and Wan. Looking at Wan, Korra asked, "Don't you have anyone you want to see?" frowning when he said, "No. Remember - there was a reason I never married, and my allies were… more cowed of me, the first Avatar, than genuine friends. So lonely…"

Korra made a point to grab Raava and shove her at Wan, thinking in partial English, "I can handle whatever happens – you need a break. Why don't you go have some fun fun, Raava - go all the way, if Wan WANts to." Raava giggled, Korra hearing her intoning, Good idea, bad pun. Still, I'll be available, if you need me… Blushing slightly as she and Wan vanished, Korra merely explained to everyone else, Aang snickering slightly with a knowing look in his eyes, "Raava has some unfinished business with Wan."

"Rrrruf! Arf arf… ARF!"

Korra groaned deeply, letting slip, "Interruptions - are they ever going to end?" Looking to the source of the barking, she saw a familiar small white dog - one that had light blue eyes and a collar on, a light blue and white yin yang medallion hanging from the strap. Recognizing this "dog" as a spirit in disguise, Korra bent over, saying before she touched the dog's forehead, "You can show me your other form, silly."

Her finger making contact with the white fur, Korra felt a reverse flow of information. At first, the news was welcome - her little small speech had some affect after all, the spirits that accidentally crossed through the portal choosing humans over Long Yumao. Even if some chose Jinshu Kuangmai over her and Raava… Curious as to what this shadowy fish-man spirit could be referring to, Korra removed her hand, asking the spirit, "Have any idea what he means about 'You go back to Vaatu and his human - whether like it or not'? The fish-man spirit?" The bean spirit shook its head, sounding sad as it said, "No, Avatar. Not even Long Yumao knows what he meant - all the spirits that reverted either didn't know in the first place, or… had the information stripped of them." Korra felt uneasy, shrinking backwards slightly when the spirit said, flying up with its two green and white leaves, "You need to see more, Avatar. I did not leave the Spirit World just to show you babbling fish-men and rebel spirits."

Not liking how the spirit left things unsaid, Korra replaced her hand to its forehead, seeing an image that disturbed her greatly. Long Yumao, digging into the Tree of Time with large red claws, apparently in great pain from a hostile force - but given how his arms were shifting, elongating as he writhed, this mystery force wasn't entirely against him and his cause. Korra felt chills run down her spine when she heard the Long Yumao in the vision say confidently, "It appears the Universe did provide after all. I look forward to taking more of what is mine for the taking - power. Even if I have to 'earn' it," shocked to have seen him energybending shortly before in a way she had never imagined possible – like a bender would control their element.

Quickly imparting the information to everyone else, Korra creating a possible future of her own by imagining Dark Spirits swarming over Republic City and the two Water Tribes, she thought, "While I know we haven't exactly gotten much sleep, it looks like we have some work to do, Raava and myself doing most of it. Republic City is unprotected right now, as are the Water Tribes - especially the South." Standing up and communicating normally, feeling slightly drained, Korra asked, "Baatar Jr., Ikki - about where were you and the other reinforcements when you both fell asleep?" Baatar Jr. still staring off into space, Korra guessing he was in shock at the prospect of becoming a bender, Ikki answered, "We 'left' Republic City multiple times, back and forth as people remembered they needed stuff, or more civilians volunteered, or modifying equipment while we had access to the good stuff inside the city. We only managed to get to some overgrown abandoned Fire Nation colony town by the time we both fell asleep, still inside the United Republic..."

Weighing over her options, Korra asked Baatar Jr. directly, "If we tried diverting the Earth Empire defectors to guard the Republic City Spirit Portal, do you think they'd go along with it? I can imagine the Equalists and everyone from Republic City would rather guard their home town against what I just showed you, should the barriers break." Baatar Jr. let out a long sigh, saying, "It took Ikki long enough to get everyone moving in one direction with one goal - helping evacuate civilians and providing combat support. And why are you assuming these barriers will break in the first place? You might be worried about nothing."

Korra was dismayed to see Aang was the only one who shared her reservations, everyone else sounding confident that the barriers would hold. Korra said, crossing her arms, "I still think we need to take precautions - 'never underestimate the enemy'. You saw Long Yumao manipulating pure energy like a bender would…"

Giving Aang one last look, Korra thought, "Try and distract them with talk of new benders, Aang - I have a President and Firelord to contact, as well as my cousins." Korra coughed, claiming, "I need to go think about this by myself for a while. Why don't you guys talk about something more positive while I'm gone - the new bending?" Seeing many nods, thankful no one in front of her could tell she was lying, Korra felt annoyed all the same when Atokara spoke up, saying as she tugged on Asami's hand, "I wanna come with you, momma Korra! Maybe I can help!"

Korra started to shake her head to say, "No," but stopped when she saw Asami come forward, smirking slightly as she said lowly once she was closer, "I don't need truthsense to see through that half-truth…" Seeing everyone else listening to Aang, Jinora's hand raised already, Korra took them both to their house, at first only admitting, "I want to see what the other world leaders think about this," then continuing after a icicle poke from Atokara, "I don't share everyone's confidence in these barriers, and before I ask Firelord Izumi to take ships through waters inhabited by a possibly hostile spirit to come and reinforce Republic City, I need to see what President Raiko thinks first. And alert my cousins, along with the people my parents left in charge of the Southern Water Tribe." Asami smiled slightly, saying, "Sounds like a good idea. I remember the last time we went around President Raiko, kidnapping Baatar Jr. and breaking the stand-down agreement with Kuvira - he was happy in the end. Things turned out fine there. But this seems different somehow – the totally unknown."

Now Korra was the one seeing someone else as naïve when Asami finished, "I still don't see how those barriers could break. Raava's energy, yours, all your past lives… why do you have reservations?" Not really knowing the answer herself, Korra insisted before turning to the combination lock, "I just have a bad feeling, and I don't know why. The closest I thing I can say that makes me uneasy is an English phrase: 'mission creep'. We start out, wanting to liberate the prison camp, then add Omashu to the mix, then the biggest addition - evacuating what may be uncooperative or terror-stricken civilians from Zaofu itself. How are spirits going to view this mission if it morphs into an all-out conflict without end in sight? Goodness forbid, what if the Great Banyan tree gets hurt again?" Remembering that the reinforcements had yet to reach Earth Empire territory, Korra realized mission creep was already happening - especially since territory between Omashu and Republic City along the best evacuation route was not actually controlled by the URN…

Pushing such thoughts from her mind by relaying them to both Asami and her daughter, Korra laughed lightly when Atokara said, "Well, those stupid spirits will just have to deal with it! It's about time we fought them anyways - Long Yumao's an awful lot of talk! Or, in his case, squawk!" Not noticing that the lock had been picked until just now, Korra pointed to it, Atokara casually explaining, "Oh, just some fun I had with the lock and an ice pick. Mommy Asami, you need a better lock!"

Asami oddly silent, Korra turned to her, seeing the reason why - Asami was busy staring at a blue flame in her hand, saying, "So beautiful…" Korra coughed, Asami looking up and apologizing, "Oh, sorry. What were you saying, Atokara, sweetie?" Atokara grumbled lowly, tugging on Korra's pants as she said, "Come on - don't you have something to do, momma Korra?"

All now inside the house, Korra could see Asami was still staring at a small blue flame in her palm, wondering what she was thinking about. Slipping a hand to hold Asami's, Korra was in disbelief to catch the tail end of a clearly much longer thought: " - be right. Even if the portals need to be closed, I am okay with it - even if I don't get bending before it is shut." Knowing how much Asami wanted to bend, Korra hugged her deeply, saying, "I… snuck a peak into what you were thinking. I just hope everyone else feels the same way - ready to give up a great gift, for the greater good."

With a weak smile, Asami pointed to Atokara, saying, "She's the only gift I need, aside from you. Now let's figure out how we're going to break this news to President Raiko… and the others."

What with the frenetic pace of world events lately, Raiko had not even had a chance to properly begin re-construction and expansion of Republic City - especially since one of his best architects and minds was busy designing weapons of war! Ones he had wanted designed in the first place… Dismissing thoughts of an alternate scenario - Kuvira's Colossus lying cut in two with a spirit weapon powered by the Avatar Spirit and Raava herself - Raiko thought, "As Tenzin might tell me - accept what is, and not what might have been."

Having been running on fumes for a long time and grown used to it, Raiko did not find an immediate need to catch up on sleep lost the night before - just like the other two people standing next to him. Giving the most unlikely of the two a sideways glance, Raiko said, "Sokka, you sure you can keep the Lieutenant under control? I found it rather… unnerving, that he had two airships of his own four years after Amon's defeat, a handful of mechatanks, and that solitary heavily armored 'truck'. I never saw that when they attacked Republic City…" Raiko grumbled under his breath when Sokka said nonchalantly, "Relax. From what I've heard, unless he was committed to helping us, he'd be trying to do something in Republic City, right now!"

Remembering who else was in the convoy, Raiko ignored the bafflingly immortalized human spirit and asked one he had much more respect for, "Iroh, do you believe these defectors from the Earth Empire can be trusted? We don't have Korra here, to do her… reading thing on them all, and I'm concerned about moles," adding, "I remember what your more infamous relation did at Ba Sing Se, and I'm hoping to avoid a repeat." Iroh turned to him, frowning as he asked in the early morning light filtering into the airship, "Which one? You would do well to remember both my niece and nephew betrayed me there." Iroh merely gestured to the Equalist war balloon in which the Lieutenant was sleeping inside, having been exhausted like almost everyone else in the frantic scramble starting in the dead of night. Iroh pointed out, making Raiko grumble and wish he had talked to Sokka instead, "Do not forget that the Lieutenant was also betrayed by someone he was close to - his leader, Amon," Iroh adding after a slight pause, chuckling, "Wouldn't it be funny - him?"

Completely baffled, Raiko asked Iroh what he meant, getting nothing but a slightly panicked reaction followed by an "innocent" whistling that Raiko knew meant Iroh was hiding something. Finding himself sighing just as deeply as Tenzin did, and very frequently, Raiko asked Sokka, knowing him to be looser-lipped, "Care to explain that, Sokka?" Sokka shook his head, saying, "Nnnnope!" in a way that made Raiko wish Ikki were still awake - make these two stop hiding whatever secret they had!

Looking out the window in the morning light, Raiko spotted an ancient ruin, asking Iroh, "That ruin. Did it not use to be an Earth Kingdom city? Pakku, was it?" Walking towards the window of the war balloon, Iroh said, "Yes, it was once a great center of commerce, destroyed by the Fire Nation for its strategic value. Its name was 'Taku' - 'Pakku' was a White Lotus waterbending Master. Did Katara ever tell you about her duel with him? He was quite impressed with her skills, considering she was 14, though he did best her in the end." Raiko shook his head, saying, "No," thinking, "I don't care about waterbending duels. Why didn't you tell me more about the city, pedantic old fart? Just like Tenzin…"

Pointing at the city, Raiko said, "While it looks completely ruined, there's nothing to say it couldn't become a center for trade again - one linked to the sea using spirit energy for a peaceful purpose. I have heard of Jinshu Kuangmai using spirit weapons for construction projects... I imagine you would like seeing Fire Nation trade ships in its inland docks just as much as Varrick would like using spirit weapons for peace." Raiko regarded Iroh with great skepticism when he said, "A good idea, and you might be happy to know Kuvira has already thought of something like it - a peace Colossus." Realizing both immortalized human spirits really did have a link to Raava, he yelled, "Raava, tell me what's going on - now!" Iroh and Sokka laughed as Raiko grumbled, Sokka performing an imitation of the old Raava, saying, "Request denied, President Raiko. And how dare you suggest using my energy for war!" Unable to resist, Raiko laughed when Sokka added with fake shock, "But wait - I already help Korra, and she fights in wars! I cannot possibly fathom this contradiction, or explain why the good guys shouldn't use spirit vines when they already have the freaking Avatar, the biggest, glowing-est spirit weapon there is!" Without missing a beat, Sokka continued, "Man - imagine it. One small spirit cannon, Appa's back, Aang touches the vine so it's got infinite juice. All we'd have needed - the Drill's bit turned to useless slag, the Day of Black Sun being a success, all those Fire Nation war balloons downed in one shot to their gas chamber…" Raiko chuckled lightly when Sokka added after a slightly hostile look from Iroh, "Yeah - wouldn't have killed anybody, and the war would have been over real quick! Totally why I was so enthused, Iroh. Definitely not just because spirit beams are awesome."

Turning to face Raiko, Sokka asked a question Raiko didn't have the answer to: "Speaking of which, when is anyone else but Korra and her friends getting any of that stuff? The changes Baatar Jr. helped make to our equipment seem… lacking." Coughing lightly, Raiko said, "The last I heard at the conference after the nonsense with the spy was done, any tuber-vine equipment would be a long time in coming. And while Baatar Jr. did talk about some kind of weird 'synthesis', he never said exactly what was synthesized, only speaking in generalities about four 'advanced' mechasuits that had been created, and some monstrous transport that had yet to be made. Though, given how nervous he sounded when I looked him in the eye and asked if there were more than just four mechasuits, he must have been hiding something. Care to fill me in better, Sokka?" Sokka's face turned beet red, cursing in a language that Raiko couldn't understand, finally saying, "Why… why don't you ask Korra yourself." Looking around and not spotting the Avatar anywhere, he heard Sokka add belatedly, "Oh, that's right! She needs you to go to sleep first."

Wondering if this was one of Sokka's infamous jokes, Raiko let out a loud frustrated groan, saying, "Uh, why? That sounds ridiculous! I can't just fall asleep on command, you know. It's almost seven in the morning anyways! I'm getting tired - of this. Since you can obviously communicate with her somehow, why don't you just tell me what she wants." Sokka shook his head, saying, "No - she wants to talk to you in some funky new place. Wish I could be 'asleep' right now - I never did get to see Suki…"

Bitterly remembering what he had in common with Sokka - problems having children - Raiko said, "Sokka, tell Iroh II to take over for me, and why don't you try 'sleeping' – I know how it feels, to not have any children. I'll go see what happens if I lie down next to Buttercup. She's not a night owl like I am… I hope she's finally asleep, and not lying there, worrying about how Republic City will fare with both me and her gone for who knows how long. At my insistence, she came along for security reasons… Nothing like a whole army for a bodyguard." Raiko laughed, saying, "If that mustache-twiddling genius weren't working for Korra and Asami Sato, and his help with Republic City's defense, I'd have half a mind to bring up charges against Varrick again. I still have the odd nightmare about the kidnapping…"

As he left the main control room, Raiko heard Iroh say, "Perhaps you should get some assistance from Korra - you sound like you still have old wounds." Turning around, Raiko asked honestly, "What kind of help, exactly?" feeling perplexed when Iroh answered, "Chakra clearing. Even if you aren't a bender, it is very helpful - perhaps you can ask Asami once you go to sleep." Feeling in over his head with spirit matters, just knowing Korra as the bridge between the two realms - that were increasingly linked - Raiko said "Sure," trying his best to keep the annoyance inaudible.

Given how Iroh sighed slightly, the irritation must have come through, Raiko apologizing, "Sorry, Iroh. I'm just mentally exhausted after all this," getting very curious when Iroh said, "After you are done talking to Korra, and bring your decision to everyone else, might I suggest a vacation for you and Buttercup?" Raiko smiled weakly when Iroh said with a final air, "You'll have to talk to Korra first to find out more."

After shuttering the blinds and retiring to his small quarters in his personal airship – a room that Baatar Jr. had insisted be reinforced with metal plating, for reasons Raiko would rather not think about - Raiko laid down next to Buttercup, noticing with a smile that she was fast asleep. Hearing her mumble "children", Raiko felt grief return to his heart, remembering all the quacks who had tried to help them have a family…

Grief turning to resignation, Raiko closed his eyes, thinking, "I guess I do have a child, of a sort - the United Republic of Nations…"

Opening his eyes, he saw a much younger Buttercup playing with some children that bore an uncanny resemblance to himself and his wife. Grief returned, this time turning to anger, feeling taunted instead of consoled by what he saw. Without warning, a small white-haired girl appeared, smiling as she said in a much older voice, "Quell your rage, Raiko. I do not taunt people with impossibilities. Love finds a way." Still feeling flustered, he responded, "How? I don't know which of us is the problem, or both, but we can't have kids!" Seeing the children vanish and Buttercup begin to cry bitterly and grow older, Raiko's stomach churned. What must have been Raava said, frowning slightly, "I will only say this: someday, I hope there will be more than one 'miracle child'. Now go talk to Korra, so that this day might be closer."

The small girl vanishing, Raiko found himself inside an unfamiliar house, looking at some unexpected figures sitting across from him at a massive Water Tribe wooden table. Wondering where in the South or North Pole one would get wood, Raiko asked two of the figures seated across from him who might know, "Chief Eska, Chief Desna - where does one get wood, in the South or North Pole? And where's your cousin, Avatar Korra?" Both surprised him by saying at the exact same time, "Just call us our names, please," Desna grumbling something about need to work on breaking bad habits as Eska said, "My cousin went to go get her parents, Tenzin and Jinora. Asami and her daughter are trying to get Wu," smiling as she added, "Forget a conference - this dream world will be great for communicating discreetly! Like a more secure Spirit World. Oh - anyone tell you about the Kuvarrinet yet?"

Raiko shook his head, saying, "No, I know nothing. Baatar Jr. was not exactly liberal with the information he gave me, especially about the 'four' mechasuits. He wouldn't even answer my question about who got them straightly, only naming Korra and Asami as having one. " Not liking the way Firelord Izumi, her aged father and what must have been the Firelord's reclusive daughter, Princess Ursa II, all avoided his gaze at the same time, Raiko grew suspicious. He actually let out an exasperated sigh when Eska tried to change the subject, saying as she tapped the table, "About the wood - Korra didn't notice at the time she got it, but this is actually one cross section from a fallen tree in the Spirit Forest in the South! It says so, underneath the table - though, I wonder if it really was from a fallen tree…" The question about wood having only been an idle comment in the first place, Raiko listened more closely when her brother continued, "Speaking of the Water Tribes - given the protection Yue and La provide the Northern Water Tribe, we are both prepared to send in many troops to Republic City to guard the earthen Spirit Portal barrier, though, for reasons Korra will tell you, not through the portal itself."

Feeling very confused, Raiko asked, "Aren't those barriers around the Spirit Portals supposed to be impregnable - one step below actually sealing the portals again, something I know Korra is vehemently against?" It was Zuko who spoke this time, saying, "Korra wouldn't have asked me to come here and leave my mother if she didn't think there was a threat," Raiko more curious about Zuko seeing his long-dead mother than anything else. Pointing out as much, Zuko smiled, saying, "Love never truly dies, and from what Korra and Asami showed me about this 'inner dream world', being able to see my mother is intentional. In my youth, I once had a shared dream with Aang before the fate of Yu Dao was settled –this is far superior. She was so glad to see me - and I was so glad to see her…" Getting a mischievous grin, Zuko added, "Let's see what you think of this," Raiko looking on, baffled as Zuko's body shifted.

Finding himself staring directly at a teenage Zuko, Raiko was speechless, Firelord Izumi saying, "I guess what Avatar Korra 'said' about Katara and Aang really was true. Dad, mind going back? I feel a little… uncomfortable," Princess Ursa II nodding silently in agreement. Zuko shook his head, saying, "Not before I try a few things," moving young hands in a familiar way. Raiko watched as Zuko successfully generated lightning, the stream hitting an empty chandelier fixing that still had some wire exposed. The lights blinked momentarily before shutting off completely, Raiko saying, "Oh, great, Zuko. Look what you did - can't you do that outside?"

Hearing a disembodied female voice laugh, the lights came back on, the familiar voice admonishing, "Zuko, do that on your own time. Raiko - calm down. You're going to need to stay collected - Asami and Atokara finally got Wu to stop his endless, and admittedly hilarious, cycle, and two other important guests are falling asleep right now… so the meeting is about to start. Just waiting on Korra. Hopefully none of your bodies decide to wake up…"

With that, two women Raiko did not recognize appeared in the room, noticing with a wince that one sported a scar on her face that looked fresh. Shortly after, a sour-looking Wu appeared in one of the wooden chairs around the massive table, wearing something rather unexpected - a traditional Earth King's cap. Taking it off, Wu spat at it, crumpling it up as he said, "I still won't be a King though! Earth King Kuei couldn't get it through his head I want to retire for real, even after I told him all about what his horrible daughter did as Earth Queen, and my decision!" Giving the cap a quick glance and noticing the metal square on its front appeared to have a small indent in it, Raiko asked Wu, "What happened, exactly?"

Aside from the two mystery women, Raiko was the only one in the room not staring at the cap like it was possessed by a Dark Spirit as Wu explained, "Whenever I fell asleep, even coming back when I got on board that massive transport and went to bed again, Earth King Kuei would appear, trying to foist that stupid thing on my head, not even stopping once I explained everything that's happened to the Earth Kingdom since his days. I thought he was supposed to be a wuss, like me, but I guess not. He was so persistent, saying things like, 'If the people want you, you have to!' or 'You can sing and help rule at the same time!' Finally, I just let him put it on my head and accepted the fact that, as unlikely as it is, I might just get elected, and I would need to serve. All with the help of these two kind - why are you looking at that cap like it's going to eat you, Asami? It's just some crumpled cloth!"

Raiko saw that Asami's jade green eyes were wide, stammering out, "Th… the metal. Wu, I want you to try something crazy - punch the metal square, pretending it's your great aunt." Wu did so with gusto, saying, "I think I know why I saw Earth King Kuei, and didn't see her - she's too busy being tormented by her fear of animals in the Fog of Lost Souls, most likely!" The metal square warped, Wu moved on to the cap's upper metal spire, the golden metal deforming into a lewd word's character, Wu yelling "This is from Bosco, you abominable bear-eater!" loud enough to make even Firelord Izumi recoil slightly.

Raiko snickered slightly to see the scarred woman begin to clap dryly, saying, "Brilliant, Wu. So you can metalbend in a dream. Big deal." Taking a second look, Raiko noticed that she was wearing something quite unexpected – an Earth Empire uniform, and given the metal bands on her shoulders and a breastplate he had never seen before, she must have been quite high-ranking. Finally putting the pieces together, Raiko said over another conversation, "A pleasure to meet you, Jasmine – and I assume your friend must be Yangchen, the Omashu rebels' airbending leader?" The scarred woman nodded, saying loudly, "Yes, I am Jasmine, and this is Yangchen," continuing, "I am still not certain why Aye-zul told me to go get some rest on such short notice, especially considering we might be under attack soon, so there must be some reason we're both here." Glad to see other people in the room who knew just as much as he did, Raiko said, "I am not entirely sure why I am here either – let's see if people can stop talking about this earthbending Wu nonsense long enough to get some answers."

Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, Raiko noticed a young girl he assumed had to be the Avatar's daughter, given her white hair braids and blend of other unique features. Politely saying, "Hello, Atokara," Raiko still wondered how she was in here, technically less than a week old. Raiko planned on asking for a lengthy infobending session from Korra when he got the chance. Atokara waved back, saying, "Hello, President Raiko," snapping after two unwelcome hands began playing with Atokara's unique hair, "Hey! I'm talking to someone - Eska, quit playing with my hair!" in a way that reminded Raiko of the best and worst of both Korra and Asami. Eska ignored the request, saying, "But it's so much like what I've heard Princess Yue's looked like!", Atokara crossing her arms and muttering something under her breath that Raiko couldn't understand.

Apparently, her mother could, Asami scolding Atokara as Eska looked deeply offended, "Hey – don't curse at momma Korra's cousin like that! So what if she wants to play with your hair? You know what she's been through lately – she's learning to be 'human-y' again!" Asami sighed deeply after Atokara gave another terse response Raiko couldn't understand, saying, "You're this close to having to go to your womb!" Raiko suppressed a snort to see Atokara straighten up immediately, shaking her head as she said, "No – I'll be good, I promise! Maybe I should go play with Rohan instead – I still don't like Eska playing with my hair."

After a cough, Eska stopped, apologizing, "My brother is right. If you do not wish for me to play with your hair, Atokara, daughter of cousin Avatar Korra, I will stop immediately." Eska removed her hands, saying as she placed a hand against her black bangs, "Let me try that again. Sorry I didn't listen to you, Atokara – even if you were very rude about it."

Rapping his fingers on the hardwood table, noticing it had seemingly endless number of rings, Raiko said, seeing Zuko firebending out of the corner of his eye, "Excuse me, but I don't think we're here to teach unborn children manners, try to bend blue fire while in a body that was last around the better part of a century ago, mess with people's hair, or babble about how Wu is going to become an earthbender soon just because he deformed some cap in a dream. It's getting light out for various people here - we've got a time limit. Not everyone is exhausted. Now let's get down to – "

Seeing a black mass coming at him, Raiko narrowly dodged said cap, asking a laughing Wu, "Just what was the meaning of that? And can we PLEASE get this meeting started already – this is ridiculous!" Hearing Wu say, "Not until I see what you're getting," Raiko rolled his eyes, saying as he slammed the table, "Enough! If we don't start within the next five minutes, I'm going somewhere else! And given the looks Jasmine and Yangchen are giving you, I'm not the only one! They have positions to defend"

Coughing loudly, Yangchen said, gleaming green eyes accentuating her anger, "Exactly. I did not go back to sleep while a madman is encamped outside my city and my newborn daughter hungry to exchange pleasantries and goof around! It's a wonder Jaina didn't cry when I stopped feeding her. There are people's lives at stake, and you can all do whatever you like when we're both gone." Once Yangchen finished, she sat back down, crossing her arms as Jasmine said hotly, "If this is how you normally operate, all of you, it's a miracle Kuvira didn't crush you." Raiko sighed, admitting, "Normally, it is part way between this, and what I'd imagine Kuvira ran her operation like – though not as close to streamlined as I would like. I guess that's the price of democracy."

Tapping his foot impatiently, wondering just where Korra, her parents, Jinora and Tenzin were, Raiko could hear people yawning. Desna giving Princess Ursa II a quick look, he said, smiling slightly at first, "If I knew my cousin was going to take this long, I would have started 'goofing around' myself. This is boring – and I hate boring. Boring's the whole reason I don't look and feel like a black icicle anymore." Remembering Eska and Desna's ordeal and transformation, Raiko said reluctantly, "Fine. Do whatever you like – just as long as it's not throwing things at me."

"We're here! I had some… technical difficulties with convincing some other people to come along. It's a good thing I made this house big – maybe it needs to be bigger…"

Relieved to hear Korra's voice, Raiko asked her, seeing her parents, Tenzin and Jinora close behind her, "Where are these troublemakers?" Korra gestured over her shoulder, saying, "You'll see in a minute," pausing for a moment before continuing, "Raava will be with us shortly. In the meantime – Wu, why are you waving that in my face?" Not wanting Korra to get distracted by Wu's antics, Raiko said tersely, "From what I hear, he thinks just because he deformed the metal on that, that he's going to become a bender," groaning when Korra took more interest in the cap than himself, only saying, "Wu's right" for what had to be the most infuriatingly short explanation he had ever heard from the Avatar.

Taking in a deep breath, Raiko tried counting to calm himself down. Still feeling angry, he was about to try again, but once he saw one of the "troublemakers" enter the room, all the frustration he had felt tonight reached a boiling point, yelling as he pointed, "What's the Lieutenant doing here? And… didn't I leave Iroh II in charge before going to sleep?" Seeing the last latecomers, Raiko added, "Baatar Jr., Ikki – I could have just talked to them! And the rest – what's going on here? What is this, a second conference?" Korra nodded, saying after a vaguely familiar teenager holding an intimidating-looking sword appeared next to her side, "Of a sorts. Raava, can you artificially make this room bigger, and - ? Thanks."

Seeing how the mystery teenager was moving a massive two-handed sword, it must have been Raava. Before he could ask anything, she said, "I will answer all your questions shortly, but first, I need to read someone." Sheathing the odd sword, Raava beckoned the Lieutenant over, saying, "This isn't what you think, mainly – and I will use your preferred name instead of your birth name, Lieutenant." Still looking suspicious, he stepped forward, Raava taking ahold of his gloved hand, saying shortly after, "Korra, come over here – I need your help."

After Korra and Raava made a short exchange in a language that Raiko was starting to be annoyed by, Korra asked the Lieutenant, "Do I have your permission to wipe your memory, in case you don't like a particular… bit of news?" Sighing, the Lieutenant asked, "I suppose so – I've already blown my cover, after years of hiding. But do I really have a choice? And why was Raava so… meticulous exactly?" Frowning slightly, Korra said, "I guess not – better to have warning, and a chance to get used to the idea, than have none at all…"

Rather than place her hand on a skeptical-looking Lieutenants' forehead, Korra apparently recalled Raava, given how her eyes began glowing before saying, "Everyone, off the chairs – I think I still need 'contact', even in here." Raiko noticed with a suppressed laugh that Korra's eyes weren't the only things glowing – two tattoos on her… "liberated" chest were glowing as well!

Getting a small dirty look from the Avatar, Raiko obliged, taking in the updates eagerly. The last thing he saw Long Yumao bending energy after some sort of sick gift from the Tree of Time, Raiko said, "Korra, are you sure we shouldn't just close the portals permanently? Lock them all up for eternity, and forget about this Spirit Civil War?" Giving him a nasty glare, Korra barked, "NO! The Spirit World isn't a prison for miscreants, and there are spirits fighting for us still in there! I want the spirits to be able to be a part of our world - even if some of them choose to be part of it in the same way Jinshu Kuangmai does! The only portal I would even vaguely consider closing is the Republic City Spirit Portal, given it's so close to millions of people, even if it would mean Asami and others never got bending. Asami's already said as much – 'Atokara is the only gift I need, aside from you,' and she wants bending quite badly. The other two Portals are farther away from any cities, and I really don't want to find out what closing any portal would do. I never did get a chance to 'read' the Republic City Spirit Portal properly…"

Moving on to another topic he was passionate about, Raiko asked, "I am glad to know you are willing to close that portal if necessary. However, there's something else I want to talk about. I know you showed me what Kuvira has gone through – but I also saw how tuber-vines are not as inert as we once thought. Even her own tuber-vine seemed to go bad for a spell, wanting to wreak vengeance on Kuvira's father. Can you assure me that Kuvira won't run away?" Before Korra could speak, Raava said, "I could 'cheat' and program a lockdown into her on-board personal Kuviracomputer, but there's no guarantees. It would also prevent her from exiting the mechasuit, period, unless Korra lets her out." After a slight pause, Raava said, "I can never see that working out properly – not to mention, Kuvira could just exit with Korra's help, and run away later. I know what she did to your city, President Raiko. I can see from your face you still have reservations – perhaps you should talk to her privately, while we deal with the logistics of Firelord Izumi and Eska and Desna getting to Republic City, and hash out technological exchange. They are all insistent on providing aid, and Asami is insistent on returning it as best she can with the braintrust's help."

Nodding to indicate he was as agreeable as he could be to these terms, Raiko found himself on a large expanse of marble, staring straight at Kuvira and her mechasuit – one he reminded himself was named "Kuvira's Remorse". Vaguely remembering that tuber-vines did not like to be addressed incorrectly, he said, "Conscience, I want you to promise me, no matter what happens, you won't let Kuvira run away." The mechasuit's large head nodding in a disconcerting way, Kuvira tapped her foot, saying once she had Raiko's attention, "I owe my sanity to Conscience, and I would rather die than displease her. If you have seen everything, you also saw how disgusted I was with myself – that my brain even had those thoughts, much less that fight. I have every reason in the world to not run away. I can see you're still suspicious – and, admittedly, for good reason. Old wounds do not just vanish overnight. Baatar Jr. can attest to that, as I am sure you know – from what I heard from him before you appeared out here, he almost went insane, Ikki tirelessly working to help rehabilitate him. As you saw, I tried to refuse this mechasuit, telling Korra I didn't deserve it yet, but she and Mako convinced me that if I'm going to help 'rehabilitate' the prison camp, Omashu and Zaofu tomorrow, I would need all the protection I can get. I am sure I will be just as big a target for Jinshu Kuangmai as Korra herself will." After studying him briefly, Kuvira added, "President Raiko, you might want to stay out of harm's way in that balloon Baatar Jr. had reinforced for you – you saw how useless even skilled benders like Mako, Opal and Bolin were against that nightmare Colossus without technology." Kuvira added with a nervous grin that made Raiko feel a little more at ease around Kuvira, the "Great Uniter" actually blushing slightly, "Or against my original Colossus, for that matter."

Raiko nodded, saying, "That is very true, and I'm glad to see you ill at ease, talking about your past crimes. I am not one for fighting myself anyways. Perhaps I can bring myself to truly forgive and forget what you did to my city someday – but I eagerly await to see more of this 'peace Colossus,' and how you use technology to fulfill your sentence. A sentence, it sounds to me, you see as an opportunity to do what you originally tried, and failed, to do – actually help your people. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to return to, so I can help mine." Expecting to be teleported again, but finding himself standing still, Raiko turned around after a polite bow from Kuvira, seeing a larger version of the Avatar's private residence. Mumbling under his breath, he asked, "What's that little twerp driving at?" surprised to hear a voice respond, "Raava won't teleport you until you see if you got bending! Try making some fire - it seems to suit you! That, or moving earth - you can be stubborn, from what I hear. The door's locked, so don't bother trying to walk in."

Turning to its source, Raiko found himself staring at the mechasuit. Shaking his head, he said with conviction, "I refuse. I don't want, or need bending. I imagine the Lieutenant and the other holdout Equalists feel much the same, and I'm surprised Zhu Li and Varrick didn't react more strongly to news of this new wave of benders – brought on by their inventions almost entirely." Seeing Kuvira give him a quizzical look, Raiko asked, "Wait – don't tell me I now know something you don't?" Kuvira nodded her head, insisting, "I haven't heard anything about a bending pulse – Baatar Jr. was too busy talking about his own transformative event to let me ask any questions about how he bent a cable."

Walking up to Kuvira's mechasuit, Raiko tapped on the stomach, saying, "Conscience, tell your 'human-y' master she's an immature, bumbling idiot, and to get everyone out here, on the same page! We're on a time limit here! This is ridiculous, and – " Raiko never got the chance to finish berating Raava, finding himself no longer alone with Kuvira. Before anyone got the chance to speak, both Pema and Raava looking a little under the weather, a loud flat voice said, "Additional Users brought in. User Pema inner dream world taxed to limit. Further users inside inner dream world will have unknown and likely negative effects."

Without bothering to speak, Raava shifted forms, booming "Korra, going to need a little help here!" a while before Raiko felt a wave of familiar information pass through his mind. What had changed coming first, Raiko approved of the plan that had been drafted – as she was able, Korra was to not only create spirit vine powered equipment for the other nations, but also try and figure out how the synthesis worked, and see if she could teach others to replicate it, working in teams of all four bender types. At first, Raiko felt annoyed to find out that Firelord Izumi would be the first to receive anything, synthesized spirit weaponry left on the home island of Avatar Roku, but dismissed his irritation, knowing simple geography made her the most sensible first recipient of anything. Represented by a first-day Earth Empire defector who Jasmine had vouched for who was currently overseeing the city, Minister Wong not available, Ba Sing Se had been ordered to not make any troop movements and make preparations for the first elections, to be held a week after the evacuation was completed so that as many people as possible would be represented.

Thinking the new information was done with, Raiko was surprised to find part of the "review" new – there was some sort of powerful spirit lurking within the Fire Nation's waters near the current physical location of Korra and her closer allies. One that Korra wanted to try and convert, and one Raava wanted to just kill outright, using some shattering technique Raiko remembered vaguely. Seeing its form and finding out that it was the spirit responsible for wiping Kortra's memory before Harmonic Convergence, as well as a little annoying ability of another spirit, Raiko thought, intending to interrupt, "If this 'Vaazula' spirit really can see anything a Vaatu-aligned Dark Spirit can, shouldn't you tread carefully? You don't want Jinshu Kuangmai stealing ideas, after all…"

At first, nothing happened. Thinking he had been ignored, Raiko let out a surprised yelp when he heard what must have been Raava intone, You make a good point, President Raiko. Allow us to finish, and by that time, Korra and I will have come to an… agreement on this spirit's fate. The flow of information eventually stopping, Raiko stood up slowly, laughing to see Meelo pounding against some kind of invisible plane, barely audible, "Let me in! What's the big idea, holding me out – I designed the plane most of us are on! Come on!" A short time later, Meelo crossed his arms, and given how he blew a long raspberry at Raava, she must have given him a response he didn't like.

As Meelo walked away, Raiko heard Raava boom, "The only matter of business we have not covered is the evacuation itself. Unless you are directly involved in the evacuation, technology, or the reinforcements, please leave now – I do not wish to find out what happens to the dreamer when a shared inner dream space is taxed to its limit, and especially not on Pema. And some of you would rather be awake anyways…" With that, many people vanished, though Raiko noticed that Desna and Princess Ursa II did not immediately go. Both blushed slightly when Raava said, "Very well – you two can stay, and not just because you'll be dealing with non-theoretical spirit energy equipment soon, Princess Ursa II." Raiko was the first human to speak, announcing, "I know no one has asked me about this yet, but I'm going with my gut on this – whether to send back the reinforcements. I will not support withdrawing the reinforcements back into Republic City. No offense, Lieutenant, but the Equalists would likely be… ineffective against spirits, and I can imagine the Earth Empire defectors want to bring the fight to Jinshu Kuangmai - not a foe they've barely heard about, and hopefully will never see. I will let the civilian volunteers decide if they want to return home, and the same for the United Republic military forces. Firelord Izumi and the twin Chiefs of the Northern Water Tribe are more than willing to preventatively reinforce Republic City, and I have great confidence that they will be able to hold off whatever comes out, should the worst come to pass. From what I saw, Jinshu Kuangmai is not to be underestimated either, and I don't want Korra and her allies to be alone, should this special project turn out to be a Colossus worse than the one I saw Kuvira fight. Or, this dreaded 'weaponization' of Korranium."

Frowning slightly, Raiko added, looking at Asami and Korra alternatively, "I saw the fate of 'Hiroshima' and 'Berlin' from this other Earth place, and I must admit, when I first saw the power unleashed, I was not nearly horrified enough. Some part of me wondered whether that technology would be worth pursuing, but as I saw more, horror was all I felt. Those weapons leave behind some kind of lingering death - one that knows no allegiance, one that could eradicate life as we know it." Seeing both looked disgusted, he finished, "I was initially hostile to Varrick and Asami for not pursuing spirit vine technology, and to Korra for not harvesting vines, but rest assured, Korranium weaponry is one technology I will outlaw immediately – even if we don't know how it works."

Receiving applause, Raiko was perplexed to hear Korra counter, "There is military use for one form of Korranium that I am okay with – the one that doesn't emit the death particles, what we called Asami particles. Maybe should change that name… In any case, we haven't produced anything with it yet, but the non-dangerous form is really hard – likely good for armor, or penetrating it. 'Depleted Korranium' – that was what the bullets that almost shredded Kuvira in her nightmare were made of." Raiko nodded, saying, "Thank you for the reminder. What with all these new technologies and discoveries, and apparently, bloodbending, the world's law-making bodies will be very busy, trying to keep up with what is created."

Dusting himself off lightly, Raiko finished, "Now I have a very difficult speech to give to Republic City, after I see who does and does not wish to return there. I will be leaving now – I am sure everything to do with Zaofu, Omashu, technology and the prison camp will be better handled by others."

Korra coughed, saying, "Very well, I won't stop you from leaving. Before you go, along with the Lieutenant and Buttercup, let me rehash, just so there is no misunderstanding: the civilians will be allowed to make their own decision, as will the URN military men and women, the Earth Empire defectors are staying, and given what the Lieutenant said to me earlier, he wishes to stay with the reinforcements as well – maybe even make random strikes to liberate nonbenders under Jinshu Kuangmai's thumb." The Lieutenant nodded, walking over to Korra quickly and whispering something in her ear that made her very angry. After taking a deep breath, Korra said, "No, I will not," continuing, "For everyone else: After this, we will revamp our equipment for what will likely be the last time before battle tomorrow, and take out that large, unknown Dark Spirit within Fire Nation waters just to be safe after blinding it. Princess Ursa II- there are five tuber-vines and the large tree on Ember Factory Island, as you know, and we will make and leave behind some spirit weaponry on Roku's old home island for you to pick up and bring to Republic City. Desna - the Northern Water Tribe reinforcements will need to get there quickly. For all I know, that barrier could shatter the minute I kill someone, or it could take days to crumble completely, if at all. One last thing for you, Raiko - the civilians of Republic City need to be drilled on how to combat the spirits, just like I did in the Fire Nation capital - in particular, showing no emotion around Koh, and drawing on human emotions and love when striking. They will also need to be our eyes and ears - no report of activity around the Spirit Portal is too small, from too unlikely a source, to dismiss."

Slapping her strangely marked forehead, Korra said, "I forgot about the South. Long Yumao may very well target it heavily should he get the chance, given it is my home. I can only think of one option - telling our spirit allies within the Spirit World to defend that portal at all costs. Raava, you may end up very busy, granting spirits bending…"

Raiko yawning, even though technically he was asleep, said, "Good. Now I'm exhausted, and - what do you want, Jinora?" Jinora said, idly twirling her staff, one which Raiko thought was more firebender or metalbender than airbender, "I'm no military expert, but from what I heard about the Great Divide during my youth, it seems the ideal location for an earthbending army to stage a defense against an invasion. Which, when we're honest, is basically what this is. An invasion. Given Jinshu Kuangmai managed to sneak a spy into that world leaders conference in the first place - even if the spy was terrible - I imagine he likely knows of the reinforcements by now." Raiko felt slightly disturbed when Jinora smiled slightly, adding, "Though, given how he saw the spy as disposable, that's likely just what you will face there - the disposable," wondering to himself, "That smile… Is this really who I want to work with, as a leader of the Air Nation?"

Seeing Tenzin agree, Raiko realized in a way, he had no choice, knowing his initial fascination with Korranium weaponry was worse than any smile. Looking directly at Raiko, Jinora said, "The disposable will likely not fight as hard, and will be easier to take out without loss of life," Raiko said out loud, "That's more my idea of a 'militaristic airbender.' Now, if you excuse me, I have a very carefully worded speech to make to Republic City, after I deal with the forces we have right now." Unsure how to wake himself up, Raiko delayed for long enough to see an unlikely figure approaching him – the Lieutenant. Still suspicious, Raiko was relieved to hear him simply say, "If you wish my assistance in your speech, I will help you, Raiko. Republic City is my home too," surprised to not hear any slurs against benders. Giving the Lieutenant a funny look, Raiko let the slip of respect for his position pass, not wanting to annoy his tenuous ally, saying, "Yes – I imagine you may have more pull than I do among non-benders," noticing the Lieutenant looked slightly uneasy. There was another reason Raiko didn't complain about the lack of use of his title, one Raiko downplayed… when the Lieutenant didn't call him President, he vaguely remembered a paraphrase from the huge volume of information he had received: "the truly advanced don't want to be called Master."

Waking up, Raiko could have sworn he heard a familiar voice say, Good men know their shortcomings, foibles and limits – and given your thoughts, I would say you are becoming one.

Eventually able to get the convoy to a halt, Raiko went through the motions, explaining over loudspeakers what could potentially happen to Republic City, daylight strengthening. Initially many people wanted to return home – given the Lieutenant's grumbling over the radio, a lot of Equalists felt the same way, suitability to fighting spirits or not. Over the radio, an URN military officer who identified himself as Hideki asked, Raiko impressed with the prescient nature of his question, "If humans behaving badly makes Long Yumao stronger, isn't the best thing we can do to help make sure Republic City stays safe is to continue on our humanitarian mission?" Raiko heard Baatar Jr. add sleepily, apparently woken by the noise, "We're already starting to get some refugee followers, if what this new defector here tells me about the others who came with him is true. We could end up helping a lot of people, pressing forward."

Raiko asked again who wanted to come, saying, "For all we know, our actions could help keep that barrier in place, where otherwise it might break, letting Dark Spirits pour into our beloved city. And I know no one here wants that. Firelord Izumi is likely on her way to Republic City right now, along with the Northern Water Tribe – the world has our backs. Jinshu Kuangmai enjoys more support as a whole than that oversized lizard does – some of that spirit's own have turned against him. I say Jinshu Kuangmai's the real threat. Let's do the most good possible, and help make sure the evacuation is a success!"

Hearing the cheering come in over the radio, Raiko felt better than if he had just been elected President for life. Hearing a loud whoop from behind him, he turned around, growling as he hugged Buttercup, "Hey, beautiful. I know something that would make me feel even better than that. I do still feel rather tired… Let's go see if we can figure out this new 'dream world' stuff," adding after a peck to her cheek, "Maybe see those kids again, even if we can't have them."

Buttercup smiling broadly, Raiko was so ready to go back to bed he almost missed a call over the radio: "President Raiko, sir! We are approaching the Great Divide, and a few of the earthbenders say they can sense more than a few platoons of troops there, up and down the canyon, including many mechasuits. President, sir - mechasuit visual contact confirmed. What should we do?"

Sighing deeply, Raiko said in English, "Just when I thought I'd get a chance to relax, this happens," surprised to hear Buttercup say in the same tongue, "Maybe they really will be walkovers, like Jinora hoped. Don't worry – I'm sure you'll think of something."

Jinora still bringing to mind books and not militarism, Raiko asked over the radio, "Do we have any guides on this area of the world? Terrain maps, bestiaries – anything!" After a short pause, a voice Raiko recognized as Ikki's said with audible exhaustion, "I know a thing or two about this place – my dad talked about it once in a while, telling me and my siblings how it was the site of the greatest lie ever told by my father."

"Got any food you don't want? Like, all of it?"

Raiko was baffled by the request, saying, "Ikki, are you suggesting we throw food at the enemy? Because I am pretty sure that's not going to work, and we won't have any left…" Raiko laughed lightly to hear a low growling over the radio, a knock on his airship's main door coming shortly after. Seeing it was Ikki, he let her in, saying, "This better be a good idea, Ikki – I want to go back to sleep just as much as you do. Probably less, given the rings under your eyes. What's your plan?"

After producing the map Ikki asked for and sending two lightly loaded defector Earth Empire airships to scout out troop positions, for some reason taking bags of food with them to drop overboard, Ikki sleepily drew a crude drawing on the map's corner. Never having seen this animal before, much less one… rendered so "expertly", finding himself wishing for Meelo instead, Raiko asked, "What is that thing, and how is it our ticket out of this mess?" Making a creeping motion with one hand as she pointed at the drawing with the other, Ikki said, "A canyon crawler! They were around in grandpa Aang's time, and if they smell food, they come running really fast! We can either use them to get to the other side of the canyon quickly like he did, or sic them on the Earth Empire soldiers by throwing food at them. They'll be too distracted fighting them off to do anything about us crossing!"

Raiko was about to say he liked the idea, but another radio call interrupted him – one from a defector's Earth Empire airship, broadcasting on multiple channels at once, given how the display lit up. The caller sounded disturbed, saying, "We threw one bag of food overboard near the inside of the canyon wall as you ordered, but nothing came for it. One of our sharpest eyes onboard the ship says he spotted people gathered around a dying fire through his spyglass further up the canyon, eating something disgusting, a few large insectoid bodies scattered around the flames."

Raiko was surprised to hear Ikki begin to cry, hearing an unfamiliar voice over the radio say, "Oh, those things. Kuvira considered them pests, but was too busy with other things to get rid of them. Jinshu Kuangmai just told us to eat them, refusing to provide us with rations besides 'bait', threatening to use us as bait if we didn't stop complaining. We've been down here for a week, told to prevent any intrusions, while given only mechasuits! And not that many… Everything went south after Kuvira fell… We don't even have long range radios! Was that food for us?"

Realizing these must be the "disposables" Jinora had guessed might be guarding the Great Divide, Raiko said, "Yes," shutting off the public feed and whispering to Ikki, "Do we have enough food to bribe them all?" Ikki smiled, saying, "No, but we can bribe them with freedom!" Figuring they could get food on the way to the northern Swamp anyways, Raiko opened the feed again, saying, "This is a straggler from Republic City – we barely managed to get these airships up and running again. Those were some of our supplies. I want you to – "

Interrupted mid-sentence, Raiko heard an angry voice yell over the radio, "What are you doing, fool! I'm the commanding officer here, and you're talking to that pompous idiot Raiko! Their 'President'! Can't you recognize his voice? And look in the distance - Republic City Police airships! Of all the dead-end assignments, I had to get this one! Jinshu Kuangmai could have at least given us one of his precious spirit cannons – you all are completely useless! Beyond useless – can't even recognize someone's voice, or look beyond the canyon rim! I guess I shouldn't have expected anything better from a conscripted peasant 'Private' like yourself. Now shut that off, or I'm breaking your bones like we broke those stupid bugs – I know they're tougher than you are! Can't even bend, half of you!"

Something in this mystery officer's voice told Raiko there wasn't much time – not even enough time to get to the camp on foot or by ground vehicle. Still crying, Ikki said before flying out the door, "I'm going to go get the other airbenders and the airbison, and see if we can stop this guy from killing anyone! Close in with the other air ships!" Wondering what he could do, Raiko remembered he still had a speech to make, and was no fighter – he was a speaker, politician - President. Taking the microphone, a stray thought passed through his mind: "What if those Elemental Spirits give me some kind of bending after all? Would it make me a better or worse President? Does anyone else have these reservations?"

Re-focusing his energies, Raiko focused on giving the best speech he could after having given the order to record it in its entirety for later. Realizing the full implications of this new massive bending pulse, he made a personal request of the acting no-longer retired Chief of Police in secret, making another secret request of the Grand Lotus afterwards. His thoughts began wandering seemingly aimlessly after he had done all he could, going over his orders once more, sitting next to Buttercup in solemn silence.

Temporary Chief Saikhan was to ensure all Triple Threat Triad and other criminals locked up had extra security - Zaheer had been given airbending by this Spirit of Air, and he didn't want a jailbreak on his hands, should the Elemental Spirit be able to restore bending to those stripped of it. The request for Grand Lotus Ataninnuaq was in a similar vein, except all Raiko told him was to be alert for Red Lotus activity, and route all White Lotus forces to bolster guarding of Zaheer immediately. Republic City was very weak right now, and he remembered something about a wise woman wondering just how that pure mercury got into the Avatar in the first place…

And how another man with just as much zeal as Zaheer had managed to change the very nature of the dark being who, with another member of the Red Lotus' help, had once threatened the world. More importantly to him, threatened Raiko's only child: Republic City.

Thinking back to other, much more recent dark days, and the woman who had forced him to surrender without a fight, and the soul-taxing struggles she had endured, striving to make amends, Raiko realized Kuvira did share traits in common with the Avatar. Especially the new Kuvira - one had had only briefly seen "directly".

Both wanted to help people - one just had not known how far she had strayed, and Kuvira probably had her abominable father to thank for that. Both she and the Avatar had even had less than ideal childhoods, Kuvira again coming out on bottom. Raiko had heard wise people say it was hard to overcome difficult formative years…

Raiko said to himself, "Perhaps the day I forget is closer than I thought…" Seeing Buttercup give him a quizzical look, Raiko apologized, "Sorry, honey - I was just lost in thought, and… I don't like secrets. I have two pieces of official business to get off my chest - and something far more personal. To deal with Kuvira…"

Buttercup giving him her full attention, Raiko began speaking, explaining - words flowing as water.

End Part 6