From a safe distance, Alara had watched her girlfriend wage battle with her most hated aunt. Powerless to intervene she cringed, fearing for Kay's life.
The conflict had been brief but intense: despite her worries, Alara had marvelled at the speed of their blades, their movements so fast she could barely follow the action. She had witnessed the awesome power of the Force unleashed through bursts of lightning and the sinister tendrils that crawled up from the ground. But after bearing witness to Kay wielding such tremendous power, she also shivered with a feeling of nervous trepidation that her girlfriend may have gone too far down the dark side path, and had ultimately reached a point of no return.
She had seen Valeska knock her girlfriend to the ground and slap her weapon away, only to have her arm hewn off by the touch of one of the black tentacles. And then there had been a flash so bright she had been forced to close her eyes and look away.
When she looked back Valeska was gone, her body reduced to a pile of ash. To her relief, her girlfriend still lay on the ground, dazed but alive. The deadly tendrils were nowhere to be seen.
Cautiously she approached the scene. Valeska's severed arm lay on the ground, but the rest of her body had been consumed by the crimson flare. Alara's ability to sense the Force was extremely limited, yet in the instant before she had looked away, she had still been able to feel something.
Even from a distance, she had sensed an incredible burst of power from Valeska. She didn't know how it was possible, but it almost seemed as if the Sith's life energy had burst free of her physical form in one glorious instant, releasing itself upon the material world. Valeska's etheric being then ripped into Kay's physical body and had tried to destroy it, presumably in the same way she had destroyed her own body. And then, as suddenly as she had sensed Valeska's etheric presence, it was gone, vanishing like an animal gone to ground.
The woman on the ground shifted, her eyes fluttering open as she rose slowly to her feet. She moved awkwardly and couldn't seem to stand up straight, as if she was unfamiliar with how her own limbs and muscles worked. She shook her head from side to side, and the motion seemed to restore some sense of her equilibrium. Standing straight and tall, she turned and fixed Alara with a cold stare.
Alara just stared at her for several seconds. Then, finally, she said, "Is it over, Kay?"
"My father has been avenged so yes it's over," Kay replied, her voice confident and strong. "Therefore my journey back to the light side begins now. You my sweet Alara, will guide me back on that path."
Kay and Alara looked down at their feet. There were cracks everywhere, the ground had become uneven from the battle.
They looked up at each other again. "Raven has long left the system. Korra went with her."
"That traitor!" Suddenly Kay became agitated, that agitation turning into outright anger. "And you didn't kill her?"
"I tried. She got away."
They stood in companionable silence for some time, then Kay felt Alara tense up.
"I'm sorry Alara. I wasn't angry at you," she gasped after her heart and lungs had calmed down a bit. She closed her eyes. "It doesn't matter. My work is done here. Valeska is dead and I'm done with seeking retribution on others." Opening her eyes, Kay placed her left forearm beneath her head as she once again stared at Alara.
Alara nestled up to her. "Well my sweet love, where to from here?"
"A Rebellion is rising. An Alliance to Restore the Republic," Kay replied somewhat gruffly. "We shall seek them out and join their cause." She held her gaze a moment before continuing. "Since we share a common interest with their cause."
"Oh come on, Kay. You killed Valeska and avenged your father's death." She smiled seductively at her. "And now it's only us here— you with the girl of your dreams."
Alara was teasing Kay, but her familiar words chilled her. "I had a terrible thought," Kay said jokingly. "When Valeska died, what if I really died too?"
"Then kiss me quick," Alara said seriously. "Before you awaken in the afterlife without me."
Kay cast the spectre away. She took Alara in her arms and kissed her robustly, letting herself forget about everything as she surrendered to her passion. Alara owned her heart, and it was immensely comforting for Kay to know that she would always stand by her side.