Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: I think the heroes making the situation worse shows that they aren't infallible and so makes for a better story.

Zigzagdoublezee: He is trouble. And I'd like to think Mako learned something from the disaster for everyone involved that was the series 1 love triangle.

As Always, Please Review!

Korra

Korra took a deep breath and disembarked from the airship. The chill winds of the South Pole hit her immediately, and only seconds behind was a Polar-Bear dog delirious with joy at seeing her again.

Korra laughed as Naga bowled her over, sat on her, and began frantically licking her face as if her life depended on it.

"I missed you too!" She told her happily, through all the slobber.

"Korra?" A voice came from somewhere above her. "Naga, back girl! Come back!"

a moment later, the pressure on her ceased as Naga took a couple of steps back and sat. She regarded Korra with a look of unbridled love on her face. Next to her stood her parents.

"Korra!" Her mother took the opportunity to sweep her into a hug. "Where have you been?"

"We've been so worried about you," Tonraq added, joining the group hug.

"I'm sorry," Korra told them tearfully.

"Don't ever do that again!" Senna suddenly pulled back to give her a hard look. Korra nodded, and her mother relaxed back into the hug.

"But we're just glad you're back. You'll have to tell us all about where you've been."

Korra almost cried with relief at the reunion, shut her eyes, and just took in the moment. She was home. Her family was here. Her polar-bear dog was here. Katara was here. Suddenly, Kuvira and all her schemes seemed very far away.

"How have you been?" She managed.

Her parents shifted in the hug to exchange looks, and then Senna spoke.

"We've been fine, better now you're here, but that's not important. What about you? We've been here living our lives, you've been out alone."

"I've been fine," Korra told them. They looked at her, worriedly.

"Are you sure?" Tonraq began. "Because-"

"It's fine, dad. I don't want to talk about it."

There was a long silence.

Finally, Tonraq spoke again.

"It's fine," he said. "Just know that we're here for you. You can tell us anything."

"I know," Korra said gratefully. "Maybe one day I'll be able to say. But I came here with a job to do."

"Ah, there it is. The Avatar is always on the move," a new voice said. Korra broke from the hug to find Katara stood a few metres away, observing them. She must have arrived while they were hugging.

"I'm afraid it's just the job," Korra told her apologetically.

"Oh, you don't have to tell me," Katara chuckled. "I was married to the Avatar for forty years, remember?"

She was not chuckling after Korra told her why she was there.

"It's happening again," she whispered. "War."

Her eyes misted up, and Korra guessed she was remembering the last time war had come to the four nations as they were at the time, remembering a childhood spent in fear of ash raining from the sky and teenage derring-do stopping that war alongside the Avatar and their friends. That was a long time ago now, but war casted a long shadow.

"The Southern Water Tribe signed a treaty-"

"The Water Tribe signed that treaty," Tonraq told her gently. "We were not independent from the North at the time."

"But still-"

"Korra, I'm going to have to be honest, you've got your work cut out," Katara told her. "My countrymen have little desire for a new war. The War for Independence was not that long ago."

"But the Republic-"

"They see the Republic as somewhere small," Tonraq said, "and somewhere very far away."

"But the Earth Republic will be very big and very close if we don't do something!" Korra pointed out.

"I believe you," Tonraq replied. "But others in the tribe are less convinced. They think Kuvira will not attack us if she is not given a reason to do it. On that, at least, they're probably right."

"But is that a risk you really want to take?" Korra asked.

"It is a risk they probably do want to take, yes."

"Right," Korra replied defiantly. "But I have to try."

"I'm sure you will," Tonraq told her, obvious pride in his voice. "You always were determined."

"So who do I have to convince?"

Tonraq sighed.

"For a matter as serious as a declaration of war, you will have to convince a gathering of the entire tribe, or at least as many who can reasonably come. If two-thirds of those in attendance vote in favour, then the South will stand behind you. Otherwise, it's neutrality."

"The entire tribe-" Korra was horrified.

"We have to do things by the book," Tonraq reminded her. "It's what separates us from Kuvira. And I'll definitely get accused of favouritism and probably deposed if I try to unilaterally support you without asking the people first."

Korra frowned. If she had to convince two thirds of the entire Southern Water Tribe that her cause was just, then she could do that, couldn't she? She was the Avatar. She had to try. The Avatar was a diplomat as well as a warrior.

"Would you like me to call a council?" Tonraq asked her.

She nodded.

"Yes please."

"Then you'll get to plead your case soon," Senna put her arms around her. "But in the meantime, you're home and I've missed my daughter."

"I've missed you too, mum," Korra went in for a hug, and felt Naga nuzzle her.

"Let's go home," she said.

"Yes, let's," Senna agreed. "And there's seal jerky with dumplings waiting for you there."

Korra felt her stomach rumble, and she nodded eagerly.

"And then you can tell us where you've been for the past few years."

Korra nodded, unsurprised by Senna's refusal to take no for an answer. She resolved she would tell them. Somehow.

Together, the four of them walked away from the airship through the gathering snow, as Naha frolicked in front of them. For the first time in a long time, Korra felt a certain contentedness. It didn't matter what Kuvira might be planning, for the Avatar was home.