Responses to Reviews:
RonaldM40196867: Amon had a point about how non-benders were mistreated, but his solution, taking everyone's bending away entirely, was stupid and hilariously overbearing. By what right did he think he could strip away fundamental parts of people's identity? Even if he was a fraud, many of the grievances of his followers were legitimate so there should have been equalist holdouts going into the next series.
I'm not even sure what Unalaq's ideology was, he became pure evil for the sake of it by the end. If they were going to have him become Dark Avatar, just say that order and chaos are two sides of the same coin and Vaatu is in his way no worse than Raava (and don't call it the Dark Avatar, call it the Chaos Avatar or something.) Or just have Unalaq realize he can't compete with Korra on his own and make a deal with the devil to achieve his other ambitions.
I've seen a lot of criticism about Zaheer being a poor depiction of anarchism; but I'm not an anarchist and know little about it so I'll refrain from comment.
Kuvira seems a fairly run-of-the-mill authoritarian, bent on restoring lands of the Earth Kingdom she deems lost and willing to do ever more evil things to achieve it. I think it sufficient to say Authoritarianism is Bad and move on.
Also, I don't consider myself a follower of any of the real world ideologies whose fictional equivalents are espoused by Korra's antagonists.
Zigzagdoublezee: I can't really picture Old Suki, but I thought there was an opportunity to connect her defeat in Appa's Lost Days, subsequent escape, and friendship with Ty Lee to Korra's situation with reZaheer (without the friendship, obviously.)
As Always, Please Review!
Asami
The first Asami Sato knew of the return of the Avatar to Republic City was a dot which appeared in the sky, before growing larger and larger and finally turning into a sleek red airship, which began to descend towards the city.
Now she stood with Mako, the Fire Royals, and Raiko, her hair billowing in the blast of air generated by the airship's mighty propellers as it descended towards them. The noise was nearly deafening.
Asami felt excitement surging through her; part of it adrenaline from being so close to such a huge, noisy aircraft but most of it because she was about to see Korra again. She had missed the Avatar enormously since she had been away in the south.
Metalbenders sent cables which latched on to the vessel and stabilised it, bringing it safely down into the landing pad. A moment later, the pilot switched the engine off, and there was a sudden moment of silence.
Then a ramp lowered from the airship, and the hatch opened. Asami waited nervously.
And then the Avatar emerged. Korra immediately zeroed in on Asami and waved to her happily. Asami waved back, and then began moving towards her. Behind Korra, more figures were emerging from the airship, but Asami had rather lost interest in any of that as she crashed into Korra at the bottom of the ramp and swept her up into a crushing hug.
"It's good to have you back," she said breathlessly.
"It's good to be back," Korra replied happily. "I brought some friends."
Asami let the hug linger for a moment, and then broke it.
"Success?" She asked.
But Korra shook her head. "They haven't forgiven the Republic for doing nothing against Unalaq," she explained.
"Oh," Asami shrugged. "Fortunately I've also got friends."
She gestured to the Fire Royals behind her. Korra looked at them.
"Is that Mako's girlfriend?" she asked.
"I'm not sure that's the most important thing about her, but yes," Asami nodded. "He had a very successful trip, by the sounds of it."
Korra smiled and moved past her towards the group. Asami turned to follow.
"Ah, Avatar!" Raiko called. "Just in time. Is the South sending a fleet?"
Again, Korra shook her head.
"They voted against intervention, I'm afraid," she explained.
Raiko huffed.
"They had a treaty," he declared.
"They didn't want to die for a nation who didn't help them," Korra countered.
Raiko looked like he was about to get angry at that, but then he stopped.
"You know what, I suppose that's fair," he said. "And we don't need them anyway."
Korra blinked. "You don't?"
"It would be nice," Raiko conceded, "but we already have the support of the Fire Nation. They are going to be the ones to make a difference."
"What about the North?" Mako asked, entering the conversation.
"The North won't help us," Raiko waved a hand. "They are ruled by the children of a man who turned into a giant spirit and rampaged through the city. I don't see why they would help."
"Hi Korra," Mako turned to her. "Have a nice homecoming?"
"Yeah," Korra replied. "It was... nice. To see it again."
She smirked. "Asami says your visit was more successful."
"Yes it was," Mako replied, meeting her gaze. But before Korra could say anything else, there was a shout from beside them, and Zuko was rushing forward. A moment later, he had engulfed two old women who had followed Korra out from the airship in a hug. One of them, Asami recognised as Katara, but she did not know the other.
"It's so good to see you again," he was saying. "It's been years and years! Why didn't you send a message?"
"That would defeat the point of being a recluse," the other woman pointed out. "I'm pleased to see you too, your majesty, but I didn't think you would be here?"
"Oh please," Zuko waved a hand. "You haven't had to call me that for sixty years. Why start now?"
"Force of habit, I suppose," the woman shrugged.
Zuko stopped, and then his expression grew serious.
"If you were intending on secluding yourself away- on Kyoshi Island, was it?- Why are you here?"
Immediately, the mood nosedived. Asami recognised the sudden tension radiating off the woman.
"Kuvira," was all she said.
"Oh Agni," Zuko shook his head. "She hasn't."
"She has," the woman growled. "We barely escaped on one of Sokka's submarines."
"Asami," Korra whispered to her as this was going on. "That's one of Aang's companions. Suki, her name was. Those are her daughters. Kuvira attacked them."
"That's her?" Asami whispered back. She had heard that name, but Suki had abruptly left Republic City years ago and hadn't been heard from since.
"What's this?" Raiko strode over. "What's Kuvira done this time?"
"Are you the President?" Suki looked Raiko up and down, taking in the formal dress.
"At your service," Raiko bowed. "You must be Suki? Now, tell me what happened."
And so Suki did. Raiko's eyebrows raised higher and higher as he heard the story. Hotaru and Iroh exchanged worried glances.
"Why would Kuvira do this?" Hotaru exploded after she had finished. "Attack her own people?"
"I don't know," Suki shrugged. "All I know is you are going to fight her. So I came to beg for my people. Come and help us."
Raiko paused.
"I'll do what I can," he said eventually. "But I cannot promise anything. Kuvira is headed here next. All of our military force is needed here to defend ourselves. If we win, when we win, then we can think about beginning to liberate territory within the Earth Empire. Until then, the best way we can help you is by helping ourselves."
Suki nodded, clearly understanding the rationale behind this.
"Fine," she said. "So how can we help?"