Author's Note: I struggled a bit writing this one, I wasn't sure what to put in it. But I'm a lot more confident about the next chapters so they'll probably be easier.

Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: The thing I like most about Canon Wu is the way in which he develops across the season into a halfway responsible person. He is shown in the comics dealing with how to be a better ruler than the Earth Queen.

Zigzagdoublezee: I know, I think it was a bit of a cop-out not to have her know. I think it was done because they wanted to give her a redemption arc in that comic, by taking out a remnant of her regime that was even more evil than she was.

SquidbaggerOfWoomyAndNgyesness: Kuvira swallow-dived straight off the deep end as soon as she had a sniff of power, so I might disagree.

As Always, Please Review!

Korra

The Airship hangars at Future Industries once again bustled with activity, as two of the huge aircraft were readied for launch. Mako was taking the Earth King and going west, to the Fire Nation, where he hoped to convince the Firelord to help defend the Republic. Korra, meanwhile, was going south on a similar mission.

Raiko had not even bothered to send a delegation north, viewing it as too much of a lost cause after the events of the Southern Water Tribe's War for Independence a few years earlier. So instead, all efforts were to be focussed on winning over the Fire Nation and the south. As long as the Fire Nation joined them, Raiko believed, that would be enough.

Korra stood next to Mako and Asami as they both watched workers fuelling the airships.

"I can't believe it," she said. "We're splitting up again."

"Not for long!" Asami replied optimistically. "Your missions aren't going to take ages, surely?"

"All we have to do is talk to them," Mako replied.

"How hard can that be?" Korra added.

"Don't tempt fate," Asami warned her jokingly. "Say that and you'll be there for months on end."

"It is my home," Korra pointed out. "Worse things could happen."

Asami nodded, suddenly quiet, as a box was lifted up into Mako's airship.

"Have you ever been to the Fire Nation before?" Korra asked. Mako shook his head.

"Are you looking forward to it?"

Mako shrugged.

"I suppose it'll be interesting to see it,"he said. "And it'll probably be better than Ba Sing Se."

He shuddered. "I don't like that place."

"I'm not so keen on it either," Korra replied.

"I like it!" A new voice entered the conversation as Wu sidled up to them. "It's home!"

"It's where you were kept prisoner by Kuvira," Mako reminded him.

"Perhaps," Wu waved that comment away. "But it's also where I met you!"

Asami and Korra exchanged a look. Asami raised one eyebrow at that comment. Did Wu just...?

Wu changed the subject.

"So what's the Fire Nation like?" He asked.

"Hot," Asami replied. She was the only one there who had actually been to the Fire Nation after all.

"I had better pack sunscreen then," Wu mused. "Mako! Write that down!"

"I don't have a pen," Mako pointed out.

Wu sighed. "Fine, I'll try to remember myself then."

"Also, we want the Fire Nation to like us. So remember protocol, be nice to them and for Spirit's Sake don't mention the Hundred Years' War."

Wu waved a hand.

"What do you take me for? I'm not going to roll in there and tell them that their ancestors were all war criminals when I need their help. And I was raised on protocol."

"That goes for you too Mako," Korra pointed at him.

He raised his hands. "I get it! I'll be nice to them."

"If Kuvira conquers us because you put your foot in it with the Fire Lord, I don't know what Raiko will do."

"I don't intend to find out," Mako reassured her.

"Anyway," Korra said slyly, realising she had a perfect opportunity to tease him. "Asami says you've got a crush there."

"Do-do I?"

The sudden look of panic on Mako's face made both women double over laughing.

"I mean, yes," Mako admitted, scowling. "Yes I do."

"Tell us everything!"

"There's not much to tell," Mako pointed out.

"Yet," Asami added.

"I talked to her, there was something there," Mako muttered. "That's all."

"So now you can talk to her again," Korra jabbed him in the ribs playfully. "It's not every day a Princess of the Fire Nation takes an interest in you!"

"But she'll probably stop if you mention the war," Asami told him.

"I'm not going to mention the war!" Mako cried, a little too loudly. "Besides, I mentioned it once already."

"You did?" Korra looked at him. "And she wasn't put off?"

"Hotaru is not so fragile that she's going to get offended by facts," Mako pointed out.

"Depends what the facts are."

"I said what I said," Mako doubled down. "I'm not going to mention the war but Fire Lord Zuko helped end it. I don't think it's the deal breaker you're acting like it is."

There was a sudden whining noise as the engines of the nearest airship began to fire up.

"Not long now," Asami told them. "Good luck on your travels! I wish I could come."

"What will you be doing?" Wu asked curiously.

Asami looked at him, apparently weighing up whether to tell him, and then shrugged.

"Same thing I've been doing before," she said. "Trying to get those torpedoes to work."

"The ones for your flying machines?"

"Yes," Asami nodded. "I'll keep trying to convince dad to help."

"I hope you can get through to him," Korra told her.

"I hope so too," Asami replied gloomily. Suddenly, she hugged Korra, who was startled for a second and then returned the hug hesitantly.

"Come back soon," she told her. "I-I mean we need you here."

Korra did not catch the slip, being too busy thinking about the hug. Over Asami's shoulder, she saw the airships beginning to rise the first few inches off the ground, still tethered down by ropes and gangways. They were going to take her home.

Suddenly, Korra wasn't so sure she wanted to go. She had a job to do, and she intended to do it. Her father would help her, the South would help her. And Naga would be there! But she wanted to stay here, or go wherever her friends were going.

Wherever Asami specifically was going. But Korra didn't have much time to dwell on that revelation before Asami had broken the hug, and given her one last pat on the shoulder. Then she moved past her, to say her farewells to Mako.

As if on autopilot, Korra approached the gangway to board the airship. She had a long journey ahead of her.