The Next Chapters

by Registeredmember

A few days into their vacation in the Spirit World and Korra and Asami have already missed a fortnight in the material realm. Kuvira's trial isn't being run entirely by the book and something's definitely wrong with the passage of time in the Spirit World. Together with the rest of Team Avatar, the couple must face the challenges of the next chapters of their lives.

60. The Dawn

Wan tries to ignore the nagging guilty feeling in the back of his mind and the pit of his stomach to take in this moment of playing with his father. Ai refused the offer and took a seat on a large flat stone. She continues to hold Kimmi and has managed to rock her back to sleep, the last time he checked.

The sun is high in the sky and everything is just a little blown out. It feels not unlike the snippets of dreams Wan had about playing with his father. Tuktuk catches the ball and runs it toward the jutting large jutting rocks. He stops just short of them and waves to Wan. "Come look, there's water."

By the edge of the stones, there was a smattering of small pools amongst the moss. The water is bright blue, likely a reflection of the neon moss cradling them, and clear enough that they could see the bottoms. In the depths were coral arrangements and strange little fish swimming around.

The moss is squisher at the rims. As Wan steps closer to inspect he sinks a little and water pools by his feet. "They're like tide pools I saw on vacation at Ember Island," Wan says, dipping his hand in to test the water. It was chilly compared to the warm waters of Fire Nation beaches.

"We'll have to go together sometime, so you can show me." Tuktuk smiles and puts both hands into the water. He tries to catch a fish in his cupped hands.

On the other side of the field, Ai sits with her baby sister, occasionally scowling at the men watching her. She spies another person coming from the spooky red forest in the distance.

The messenger trots over. "We need a kid. Avatar wants proof."

They all look at Ai and Kimmi. "She's feisty, but take her. The boy needs to be kept distracted."

Ai clutches her sister tightly as she is surrounded.

"We're going to take you to see your mom. Give us your sister and we'll look after her while you're gone."

Ai shakes her head. "No."

One of the men crouches in front of her rock. "We'll take good care of her, we promise. Your brother is right over there."

"She comes too," Ai presses.

"I'll bring them both," the messenger groans. "One of you come with me."

The two men reach for Ai on her perch, but she's quick to hop off it herself. They stand on either side of her, not sure how to grasp her as she clutches the baby. They decide to nudge the back of her shoulders in the direction they want her to go.

Ai dares a look back to Wan. She can see two small figures running around in the distance of the field. She hopes her brother is happy.

---

As Nimol nears the Spirit Portal gate he spies a few people standing around it. A bit of relief washed over him, they had to leave their fellow members where they fell after the scuffle with the Avatar. This could mean no one was seriously hurt.

When he gets a little closer he stops, realizing the dark clothing wasn't the blacks of their Red Lotus garb, but the dark gray of Republic City Police officers. He drops down to his stomach. The five or so officers continue to pace around the glowing tower, his presence not yet noticed.

Nimol turns himself around on his belly and crawls away like a lizard until he can find the cover of trees to stand up. "I need to get back up."

---

Jinora, Zhou Rhen, and Lin watch the United Republic governing body quietly cast their votes. Some line up in a small queue by the ballot box, while a few others still sit and deliberate.

Zhu Li still sits by the podium, tallying everyone who has cast their vote. She looks up from her list. "Last call for the vote."

The stragglers rise from their chairs and shuffle over to slip their papers into the box.

Zhu Li waves over a woman, smaller and mousier than herself, and passes her the clipboard she was using. Together they collect the ballot box and begin to read aloud the votes. As Zhu Li calls out yes or no the small woman tallies each decision.

Zhou Rhen releases the tension he was holding with a few drums of his hands on his knees when they finish. Only a handful of no's. Their bid has gone through. He looks at Jinora and gives her a little smile. Jinora's face is stone. He decides against any platitudes. Any private wish Jinora had for an out was gone. They will proceed.

Zhu Li bangs the gavel at the podium a few swift times. "The yays have it. We execute Zaheer. Now we must determine the method of execution. This will be the first recorded one in The United Republic's history. There is no approved method in our governance. We as the governing body must decide how we wish to execute this criminal and others with the same sentence moving forward. I know this decision we just made was heavy, and the hour is late, but this is the job. I will allow a brief recess. Tea has been prepared for us and is available in the lobby. Then I expect you all back here and more awake.

---

Back in the depths of the mountain, Mako breathed a sigh of relief when Tenzin's eyes reopened from his nap. He did look a lot better and alert after a few winks.

"Did I miss anything?" Tenzin asks quietly.

Mako shakes his head. "I tickled Zaheer a little bit."

"Excuse me?"

Mako rubs the scar on his arm, still an old nervous habit he never quite shook. "I'm trying things out. It did get him to stir for a brief moment, but then he was able to block me out."

Tenzin pulls at his gray beard. "I can't blame you for thinking of creative workarounds."

"Yeah, just don't tell anyone I did that."

"Your secret is safe."

A blueish flash appears in the room, drawing the two men's attention to it. The other officers in Zaheer's cell stop their pacing too. It hovers in the air for a few moments and then Jinora's form takes shape in the glow.

"Jinora!" Tenzin calls out.

The young woman rushes to her father's side. She crouches down by his chair to be at her father's eye level. "A decision has been made."

Tenzin searches his daughter's face and knows the answer right away. "We go with the will of the representatives of the people."

Jinora gives a little nod. "I pushed for it. I could see no other way."

Tenzin bows his head and wonders what his father would have done. Aang likely would have tried to figure out a spiritual solution. Some way to bar his soul from the spirit world. If only there was time for creative solutions. He had to let it go. He left the decision to his daughter and the government.

Tenzin glances at Zaheer, resenting the moral quandary he put them all in. He must remember where the fault truly lies. "What happens next?"

"We're on a recess. When we get back we all have to agree on the method. This may take longer than the first vote. I think this is where it will get more messy for people. Especially the no votes."

"There were no's," her father says, more as a statement than a question.

Jinora nods.

That small bit of knowledge somehow gave the old man a little piece. Not all in this world are so eager to choose capital punishment.

Mako, who had been patiently waiting for the father-daughter moment to naturally wrap up, steps into their space. "Have you checked in with Korra?"

"Yes, is she in the Spirit World yet?" Tenzin adds.

"I'm not a hundred percent sure," Jinora dares a look at the meditating Zaheer. "He does have children. He knows we know."

Mako starts to pace. "Maybe I should go in there too. I should be with them."

"You're the Chief of Police now Mako, your leadership is needed here." Mako nearly double-takes at Tenzin's words. "I think when we divided the group, we did it as wisely as we could." Tenzin rises from his chair. His energy was back as much as he could hope for in an all-nighter. "This battle is in both the physical and Spiritual World. We need you to help fight with us in this world"

Mako ducks his gaze from Tenzin's intense one. "You're right."

---

While Korra waited for some of Zaheer's goons to bring her children, the old man rambled at her about how he spent his time since they last met. She wasn't sure if she should take satisfaction that she haunted his thoughts longer than he haunted hers. Once he helped her move past her mental blockings and fight Kuvira. Korra gave him little thought. Only on rare occasions was she triggered to remember the wounds he inflicted.

Honestly, Korra couldn't help but think it was a little sad that he never had moved on from trying to stop the Avatar cycle. It's not like he didn't give it a couple shots. The Avatar cycle was just far older and more enduring than this petulant man. Even if an enemy was too much for an Avatar, they never stopped the cycle. What made Zaheer think he was more powerful than a ten thousand-year institution?

As he spoke of his changing of time in the Spirit World, Korra will admit she was a little impressed. The question that had haunted her and Jinora was answered. They were right, the progression of time had been changed in the Spirit World. Korra could only hope she'd live to share this with her friend. Because even though she was confident Zaheer would not stop the Avatar cycle, she knew he was very capable of killing her. And did not doubt that ending her life would still be satisfying to him.

Korra was getting bored. If these were her final waking moments, she'd rather spend them going out fighting than listening to this old windbag for another moment. "You got my kids or is this a bluff?"

Zaheer scowls. He looks to his left and sees two of his men approaching with a smaller person in tow. "Here they are."

Korra's head snaps to follow his eyeline. She too spies a small form and recognizes it to be Ai. As they get closer, she sees her daughter is carrying Kimmi. Korra's heart sinks. She hadn't let herself fully believe Zaheer had their children. But of course, he did. All clues pointed to him. She takes a deep breath and puts on a brave face for her children.

"MUMMA!" Ai cries. She tries to rush to her mother, but two firm hands on her shoulders catch her. "Mumma, I'm sorry! I couldn't let Wan take Kimmi alone!"

"It's okay sweetheart. You did nothing wrong." Every cell in Korra's body is screaming to go to her daughters', but she knows that is not allowed. She is currently unrestrained and wants to keep it that way. "Is your brother okay?"

Ai furiously nods. "He's with some guy called Tuktuk that says he's our dad."

Korra shoots her eyes at Zaheer, gauging her answer. His face is stone. He's going to let her choose. She didn't want to cause any more distress to her daughter. "Good, I'm glad you're all safe."

Ai's lower lip quivers and pouts. "We're not safe Mumma. I know something awful is happening. Where's Mommy?"

"She's okay. Now go with these men back to your brother and I'll catch up. Me and Yorru just need to talk a little longer."

"Let us stay," Ai meekly whispers. "I'm afraid something bad will happen if I leave."

Korra's guts start to knot. Her heart somehow manages to rapidly beat as it crumbles into a million pieces. "Nothing bad is going to happen," she can barely croak out convincingly. "So please, go now."

"Your mother is right, no harm will come to you," Zaheer pipes in. "Go join your brother and father."

The Red Lotus at Ai and Kimmi's side corral them back out of Xai Bao's Grove. Ai cranes her neck to look back at her mother a few times as they leave. Korra keeps her face as brave as she can muster until her daughter is out of sight.

"So," Zaheer starts with an insulting level of casualty. "Shall we make our deal?"

---

Bolin wasn't sure how long they had been walking in the direction of the Fog of Lost Souls but didn't want to chance to get anywhere near it. Ikki and Asami had stayed quiet as they marched. Not that he had said anything either, but he was ready to stop playing along. They were far enough away from the pack of Red Lotus with Zaheer. The three of them were only slightly outnumbered. The only real obstacle was their hands were all bound behind their backs.

All Bolin would need is a little shive and he could get out of the ropes. He and Mako back in their youth learned from Shady Shin how to best hold a blade with your hands tied behind you. It bordered on magic trick, so of course his younger self was obsessed with perfecting it. Now was his time to shine, if only he had something sharp.

He glances down at the dark soil at his feet. An obvious solution right below him. But he doubts they wouldn't notice him summoning a nice shard of rock into his hands. Bolin grins wickedly to himself. 'But they won't notice if I bend just a few grains of dirt at a time.'

Bolin takes in a deep breath and focuses his connection with his element. It had been a long time since he bent anything so small. His first attempt was a chunk way too big. As he saw the piece lift off the ground he quickly had to let it go. He steps on the spot to ensure no one notices.

"You want small, baby," Bolin whispers to himself.

Ikki manages to hear his weird mutterings and glances his way.

Bolin awkwardly darts his eyes back and forth. He doesn't want to give anything away, in case the Red Lotus grunts are watching. "I got to pee. I'm trying to talk myself into ignoring it."

Ikki's eyes narrow. "My friend's got to pee!"

"You can all pee in the fog," One of the Red Lotus barks back.

The Airbender shrugs as if she's out of ideas and looks back to the path ahead.

Bolin lets the breath he's holding out and focuses back on his itty bitty bending. He thinks about small things. Grains of rice, red pepper flakes, and pieces of salt. Soon he feels bits of dirt and sand slip between his fingers and collect in his palm. Bolin does everything he can to not show the excitement on his face.

"You sure you know where we're going?" A Red Lotus member groans at Bolin's side. He's on the older side. Bald and no facial hair.

The one leading the charge was younger with a long crop of black hair, needly tied up in the back. He looks over his shoulder back at the man making the stink. "Of course I do."

The four other Red Lotus members' eyes drift to the scuffle starting. Bolin notices this shift in focus and picks up the speed on siphoning the dirt below. Once he feels there is enough in his hands he bends the grains together to make a nice little arrowhead. He then works his fingers to position the sharp edge at his ropes and begins sawing.

"I don't think you do. We should be there by now," the bald man continues to protest. "We're going to miss the big show if we don't hurry this up."

"I don't want to miss the Avatar cycle ending either," another Red Lotus goon chimes in.

The remaining three look at each other as they walk and nod. "Yeah, we don't either."

The leader with the long black hair stops in his tracks and turns around. "So what are you all saying? We ditch the mission and go back? We'll be guzzling poison right along with the Avatar if we do that!"

They all stop walking. Ikki and Asami manage to stand near each other while Bolin is stuck on the other side of the circle.

"Let's just kill them and go back," the bald man urges. "It makes no difference."

The long-haired man considers the proposition. "It is kind of the same thing I suppose."

Bolin feels the ropes give. With the circle formation, he's lucky no one is standing behind him. He carefully collects the ropes of his wrists and into his palms. He uncrosses his stacked hands. He then carefully drops the rope to the ground, letting out a fake cough to cover any sound it could make hitting the grass.

Bolin makes eye contact with the women across from him and tries to convey his intentions with his eyes. He gets two puzzled looks back, but it's enough for him. They are at least paying attention.

Bolin jump-drops into a squat and rapidly summons six pillars of rock from the ground, one in front of each of the Red Lotus goons. The stone uppercuts each one of them. They all double back and land on their backs, out cold.

He then rushes to Ikki and Asami and starts on their ropes. He frees Asami and then Ikki. The women take a few seconds to rub their wrists and then they all focus on the six unconscious men at their feet.

"We should tie them up, to be sure," Asami says as she picks up her rope. It's in two pieces now and they're both a little short. "We might have to get a little creative."

The three drag all the men together, arranging them in a small circle with their backs to each other. They strip them of their black shirts, link them by the sleeves, and then use it to tie around the men like you would a bundle of sticks.

"And just in case," Bolin mutters, summoning the earth around the men up to their necks.

"So, what do we do now?" Ikki asks.

They all ponder for a moment, Asami speaks first. "I think we should get the children. Eliminate any reason for Korra to not fight back."

Bolin nods a couple of times, thumbing his chin. "Yes. Once she knows they are safe, she'll mop the floor with the Red Lotus."

Ikki looks around. They are on a long expansive plain. Turned around by the scuffle, she can't recall the direction they were coming from. "How do we get back there?"

The question barely left her lips when Jinora's flying rodent spirit zips to Ikki's side. It trills and lands on her shoulder.

"Hey, I recognize that little guy!" Bolin points and shouts. "You took us deep into the woods once."

Asami steps closer to examine the critter perched on Ikki. "Yes, I remember that. There were those annoying mushrooms."

"You know my sister, Jinora?" Ikki asks, holding out her hand. The critter flits and traverses excitedly back and forth and then rests on her finger like a little bird. The little rodent spirit lets out a high squeak as it nods its head.

Asami addresses the spirit. "Can you help us find my children? They're the Avatar's too."

At the word Avatar, the spirit flaps its little wings and hovers in the air. It gives the three a little trumpeting of its snout and then takes off. They dash after the creature, heading towards some rocky formations in the distance.

---

Nimol had never been to where the spirit dwelled, but his Master Zaheer made sure all his elite students knew where to find it. The Tigerpillar was now considered a break-glass resource, for real emergencies only. Since Zaheer altered the speed of time, this spirit had become less predictable.

Nimol approaches a large cave. He was told coming from the direction of Xai Bao's Grove it would look like a huge grassy knoll jutting from an otherwise flat field. If you walked up the slope to the top, you'd be right on top of the entrance.

Nimol chooses to walk along the left side. Where rock juts from grass steadily inclines. Soon he couldn't see the other side because the rock structure was so tall. After what feels like a mile, he is at the entrance.

Nimol peers into the dark cave. He is about to bravely step in when his eyes adjust and he is face to face with the sleeping spirit. The Tigerpillar is nearly as wide as his cave and as long. Nimol can only assume the cave gradually declines into the earth as it goes back to accommodate this huge creature.

The Red Lotus member takes a few steps back and then centers himself in front of the Tigerpillar. He clears his throat and does his best to recall the speech Zaheer advised them to tell. "Oh great Tigerpillar spirit. Yorru summons you, he needs your aid. There are intruders in the Spirit World who mean to bring the land harm!"

Two large glowing yellow eyes slit open. They go from waxing to full moon. The spirit's black pupils find their way to the front of its eyeballs and lock onto Nimol. The man takes a few cautious steps back.

"Yorru summons me again?"

"Yes, we need your help with some humans who are here to steal from the Spirit World," Nimol enthusiastically urges. "They are gathered at the portal now, harvesting the beautiful pink flowers!"

The Tigerpillar's wide and flat nose flares and then a gust of air whooshes out into Nimol's face. He winces at its force.

"I am tired and slow," the Tigerpillar moans in his booming voice. "And you are not sincere." Two massive paws slip out from under the beast and touch down on the ground outside the cave. As the paw pads squash and stretch the claws at the tips poke out farther from their sheaths. This is repeated as his rows of legs stand him up.

"I am a friend of Yorru! My desire for the Spirit World to be cleansed of intrusive humans is sincere! He needs your help again, there are too many, and he can't stop them alone!"

"Yorru…" The Tigerpillar Spirit murmurs absently. "After he came around I became tired and slow and he stopped visiting me." The beast fully stands, all twelve sets of legs on the ground. He arches his back and closes his eyes in a very house-cat-like stretch. "Why are you here?"

"To seek your help, oh mighty spirit."

The Tigerpillar's eyes narrow and he lowers his head closer to Nimol. "Why are you in this world, human?"

"Me and Yorru and our brethren are here to protect it. Please help us."

"He lied." The creature's eyes widen, and its pupils bulge in opposite directions. "He promised to keep all humans out."

"No, no. Yorru didn't lie." Nimol holds out his hands. Taking a few more cautious steps away. "We protect the Spirit World, but we don't live here!"

"He was to act alone! His word!" The Tigerpillar's feet begin to propel him forward out of the cave. "You are no spirit. You are human in my world." A big pawl lifts and nudges Nimol. He barely uses any force and the man goes skidding across the grass on his back.

The Tigerpillar's eyes narrow and he crouches down like a house cat ready to pounce. "Human in the Spirit World!" He leaps and four claws and paws squish on top of Nimol. The Tigerpillar saunters away as if he stepped on a bug.

He sniffs the air to seek out the smell of Yorru and when he catches it, storms in the direction.

---

Bolin, Asami, and Ikki follow Jinora's rodent spirit along the plains. They were shocked at how far they actually had traveled. A murky red area was not too far ahead, likely Xai Bao's Grove, but they were turning towards some rocky formations.

In the distance, two men could be seen dragging something that was making a high squealing sound. The three duck behind a cluster of bushes to better observe. The little spirit keeps flying a few feet before it realizes they've stopped. It finds them in their hideout.

"Take me back you stupid dumb-dumbs!" Ai wails.

Kimmi is awake and also crying. Ai is too upset to try and calm her baby sister down anymore.

Asami pokes her head up over the shrubs and then quickly ducks back down. "That's the girls."

"It's just a couple of goons, we can take 'em," Bolin says, cracking his knuckles.

Ikki shoots up and prepares to sprint towards them. "I'll cause a distraction, separate them." As she runs she wishes she had her wingsuit on, but she hardly wore it these days off the island. Especially not for a babysitting gig.

They spot Ikki as she approaches. She stops and crouches into an airbending stance, the men let go of the girls. Ikki sees the opportunity to get Ai and Kimmi out of the fray and blows a mini tornado that scoops up the girls. Ikki carefully lifts them into the sky and navigates them away from the two men.

Bolin and Asami arrive at Ikki's side, to fight the two Red Lotus members. They each pick a partner and launch their attacks. Asami no longer has her glove, so she chooses the firebender. She feels comfortable ducking and dodging those types of attacks more.

Bolin passes rocks back and forth for a few with the earthbender Red Lotus member, and when he sees their fight isn't going anywhere melts the earth at the man's feet. Bolin does this only because he can see that Ai and Kimmi have been safely dropped off on a boulder several feet away from the fight.

Bolin's bubble of confidence loses a little air when he spies a few other Red Lotus members running towards them. They must have been the grunts the other two were bringing Ai and Kimmi to. "Girls, fall back!" he hollers.

Ikki and Asami obey. They soon are at Bolin's side and the other of the growing magma pit.

"More are coming." Bolin points to the charging figures. "Asami, you take the girls while they're still distracted and find Wan. Ikki and I can take them and catch up, right?"

Ikki nods.

The rodent spirit appears at their sides and looks between all of them. Ikki holds out her hand and the little critter perches for a moment. "Go with Asami, help her find Wan, and then come back for us." It chirps and then flits to Asami.

Bolin summons a slab of stone from the ground, then another and another stretching out towards a small cluster of trees Asami can shelter behind and then get to the girl's rock. Without needing instructions Asami bolts and the little rodent spirit flies after her.

Bolin lowers a few of the slabs covering him and Ikki so the Red Lotus don't bother following where the rocks lead. The grunts had all caught up with each other, totaling to seven. "Hey boys, what do you think of my lava pit?"

---

After the recess, the meeting hall of the capitol building did have a little more energy to it. Mostly it was the tense debate over the appropriate form of capital punishment. It was honestly making Jinora feel sick with her own decision to pursue it, but she just couldn't think of any other way to stop him in time. Zaheer had forced their hands and made it either him or Korra. When Jinora reminded herself that those are the stakes, it made things a little more bearable. At this point she just wanted them to choose to get it over with. She knew that was flawed, if they didn't do this right now, there were no second shots, and they were making a decision they all had to live with. She needed to feel like she participated to live with herself.

She looks up at Zhou Rhen, who's been very vocal in this portion of the debate. His main concern was that Zaheer was awake to face his punishment. He should not be allowed to have his spirit in the Spirit World, in the horrible off chance he could transition his soul to that world.

There was also the matter of ethics, could they execute a man without his awareness? Jinora was surprised a few representatives thought that was the humaner method, citing they would rather go out without knowing. Like falling asleep and not waking up.

An older man takes the podium. He is of clear United Earth States heritage, favoring green and gold on his wardrobe. It was composed of a nice three-piece suit and comically, slippers. "I have on good authority that Cabbage Corp may have another one of the lightning chairs they made for Kuvira. There was an original prototype made, and then the more polished looking device for the actual execution."

The room murmurs positively. Jinora assumes this because this would take some of the pressure off them. If this was a method good enough for the United Earth States, then why bother coming up with something new? The problem was that the method was untested and blown up in a crash that Jinora was so grateful to have happened.

"Can we get Cabbage Corp on the phone?" A representative calls out.

"Who's got Lau Gan-Lan the third number?"

Someone in the governing body did have a direct line to the current CEO of Cabbage Corp, which should have been no surprise to Jinora. Zhu Li left the room briefly to make the call.

"How are you holding up?" Zhou Rhen quietly asks. "I know this decision has been difficult for you."

"I'm envious of how easily it came to you."

Zhou Rhen bows his head slightly. His glasses slip a few centimeters from his face. "Please do not let this decision weigh too heavily on how you think of me moving forward."

"Of course not," Jinora hisses, and then immediately she regrets how harsh she sounds. "History may judge us one day, or even our people when news breaks of this decision, but I would never."

"You are handling this with grace and I know you will continue to do so. You are the leader of the Air Nation I know you would become."

Jinora shakes her head. "This was not how I envisioned my first hours in my new role playing out."

The hall doors open, a security guard steps in first, followed by Zhu Li, with another guard trailing behind her. She takes the podium and wraps the gavel a few times to get the room's attention again.

"Cabbage Corp still has the chair. They can deliver it to Zaheer's mountain prison as soon as possible. We just need to say the word." The President checks her wristwatch. "It's nearly five am, I vote, we vote. Show of hands?"

The room unanimously agrees and the voting begins. Once again they privately write their vote on a slip of paper. This time the method of execution is to be written.

Zhou Rhen stares at this torn slip of paper for a few moments, chewing on his pencil. He looks over and sees Jinora's is also still blank. "I'll choose whatever method you choose."

Jinora looks over at him. "You are allowed to choose whatever method you see fit, you don't have to yield to me."

"I pressured you into this, didn't I?" Zhou Rhen frets. He grabs his head and his pencil falls to the floor. Its crash feels all the louder because the room is so quiet.

Jinora grabs one of his hands and pulls it from his face so he can see her. "I looked at the situation from all angles and came to the same conclusion. You did not influence my decision."

Zhou Rhen nods a few times, trying to absorb her words. He reaches down and collects his pencil. He looks at Jinora, his face still full of distress.

"The thing is, I can't make a decision. So I don't know what to tell you. This feels more like the death sentence than the first vote."

"That's because it is," Zhou Rhen sighs. He holds out a hand to Jinora. She hesitates. "This is a hand of comfort from a friend."

Jinora gives him the smallest of smiles. "I'm glad I have a friend here with me through this."

Zhou Rhen smiles back. "Me too."

---

Ai holds Kimmi as tight as her little arms will let her as they lift the sky. She braces for a hard impact that doesn't come. Instead, they continue to hover and tumble around in the air. Ai spies Ikki several feet below her, arms stretched, commanding the wind around her. Ai cries her name, but it's lost in the wind.

Ai and her sister begin to drift away from the fight breaking out below. As they swirl away, Ai can see her mommy is down there too, fighting off her captors. Their trip lasts a few more minutes and then they are gently dropped onto a large flat boulder.

Ai patiently waits for the scuffle to end and is surprised when her mother is at her side. All she can do is let out a little squeak when Asami appears before her. They embrace with Kimmi in the middle. Asami scoops Kimmi into her lap holding her with one arm and wraps the other around Ai. Her whole body shakes as she kisses them both on the tops of their heads.

Asami wants to relish the moment, but she needs to take advantage of the opportunity her dear friends have given them. She scoots along the rock, guiding Ai to slide down the other side with her.

Asami takes Ai's smaller hand in her own and they run to a nearby cluster of trees. They wait a moment and then dash again to another cluster, putting as much distance between them and the fight as they can.

"Do you know where your brother is?" Asami asks, once she finally feels they are out of harm's way.

"I think so." Ai looks around for the rock formation they were originally brought to. She spies it in the distance and points. "Before they grabbed me to see Mumma, they brought us there."

Asami's heart skips a beat. "You saw your Mumma."

Ai nods. "She's with the guy that lied to Wan."

"How long ago was this?"

Ai scrunches her face as she thinks. "Twenty minutes maybe? I don't really know."

Asami reaches out and brushes her daughter's chestnut hair, so like Korra's. "That's okay. It was recent, that's all I need to know."

"Is she in trouble?" Ai whispers.

Asami musters a brave smile and shakes her head. She doesn't dare speak and let her voice betray her. She takes her daughter's hand again and they hurry towards the rocks.

---

The ride to Zaheer's prison was a quiet one in Lin's vehicle. The former police Chief drove, Jinora road shotgun, and Zho Rhen sat alone in the back. Trailing behind them was President Zhu Li's vehicle, a few of the other representatives chose to witness the execution and the Cabbage Corp truck carrying the lightning chair.

They had called ahead, so Tenzin was there to meet them at the entrance of the prison. Everyone followed him to Zaheer's large cell. The Cabbage Corp crew took to setting up the machine a little ways from the center of the room, a few feet away from the still meditating Zaheer.

Mako instructs his crew to check the rest of the building for chairs and assemble them in a few rows for the witnesses.

Zhu Li walks over to Zaheer's body and curiously inspects it. She waves a hand in front of his face a few times. She even dares to poke him in the arm with a pen. "So how do we wake him up?"

"We've tried a few nonviolent tactics while waiting for the decision to be made. Now that he's sentenced to death, are more drastic methods allowed?" Mako says, stepping to Zhu Li's side.

The President holds out her hand. "Let me formally congratulate you on your promotion, Chief."

Mako blushes and accepts her gesture. "Thank you, Madame President."

"Do what needs to be done to wake him up. The governing body feels it would be best if he was aware of his new sentence."

Mako nods and drops her hand. He moves closer to Zaheer, looking for some exposed skin. He settles for his left arm. Mako summons a little flame at his fingertip and holds it to Zaheer's skin. There is no movement from the man.

Mako pulls his hand back, keeping his flame lit. He then applies the small flame again to Zaheer's flesh. The spot begins to blacken slightly and he again retracts the fire.

"Stubborn bastard. Not unlike my husband." Zhu Li sighs. She looks at the singed skin and shakes her head. "Why don't we try cutting off his air supply instead? Something he can't ignore?"

---

Asami, Ai, and Kimmi cross the electric blue mossy field, aiming for two figures in the far distance. Asami's daughter had caught her up to speed that Wan was with a man named Tuktuk that was claiming to be their father, including Kimmi's. Asami assured her that Tuktuk was not the name of their biological father.

As they get closer, the Wan and Tuktuk take notice. Tuktuk lowers his hand holding the ball and offers his free one to Wan.

"Come close son."

Wan looks and sees his mother and sisters approaching. He forgets himself and runs towards them.

"Wan, wait!" Tuktuk shouts, but it falls on deaf ears.

Asami wraps her free arm around Wan and he crashes into her with a hug.

"Mom, I'm sorry for the trouble, but look." Wan pulls away slightly and points to Tuktuk. "It's our dad."

Asami adjusts Kimmi on her hip and crouches down to her son's level. "Wan, I know how much you want to meet the man who fathered you, but he is not the one."

"Don't listen to her son."

Asami waves Ai over. "Can you hold Kimmi for a moment please?" Ai accepts her sister and holds her close, keeping her distance from Tuktuk.

"Tuktuk, was it? Are you with the Red Lotus or did they pay you to play this role?"

"Asami, how could you say such rude things to the father of your children, right in front of them no less?"

Asami extends a hand towards her son. "Wan, I would not lie to you about this. If he was your biological father I would allow this meeting. Your mother and I will help make that happen for you once we all go home. I promise."

"Listen to Mommy!" Ai chirps from the sidelines. "These are bad guys!"

Wan backs away from Asami and Tuktuk. "Yorru wouldn't lie to me. He's the only person who's ever really honest with me!"

"Wan, what are you saying?"

"You said it wasn't possible to meet my dad and now you're promising to do it. Which is it?"

"It's very complicated Buddy, but we see now how important it is to you, so your mother and I are willing to try and make that possible. It's not just up to us, your father has to be willing to see you too."

"I'm right here Wan." Tuktuk pats his chest. "More than willing to see you and in the flesh. You don't have to wait around for another empty promise from your moms'."

Wan continues to walk away from the adults vying for him. He looks between his mother and possible father and his mind goes blank. He wants to think critically at this moment, but he can't process any of it. He squeezes his eyes shut.

Images flash in the darkness. Korra arriving at the hospital and running past him. "What a painful memory. You want to know who your father is. Let us help you find him," Yorru's voice whispers.

He sees his mothers standing by the docks, with himself as a baby strapped to Korra's chest. "I'm not worried, I'm just going to miss you. Little Wan here too." Korra bounces him for emphasis.

Asami gently touches Korra's cheek and then runs her hand over the baby's head. She moves in closer to press her face into his wisps of hair. "I'm going to miss you both so much too."

"They lie."

"Yeah, kinda makes me wonder. Wan, how'd you happen? Your moms' grow you in a lab or something?" A bunch of kids' voices break out into laughter.

"Does one pretend to be the man?" A young female voice asks, followed by more snarking and giggling. "I bet it's Avatar Korra, she's so big and manly!"

It becomes very bright, like high noon on a sunny day. On the top rectangular stone was the Sato family name in large characters. On the stone laid flat below it are Hiroshi and Yasuko's names with their year of birth, and date of death.

Asami takes Korra's hand and she addresses the stone. "Mom, and Dad, I wanted you two to be the first to know we're going to be having a baby. This is something we both really want, and are so excited it's happening."

"Your mothers don't care about you like they should. They only care about each other," Yorru's voice booms.

Wan's vision goes black and his eyes flash open. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" He cries, rushing to the rock formation. He's gone before Asami or Tuktuk can stop him from slipping between the narrow gaps of the massive stones. Wan runs, bobbing and weaving, following a small path to hopefully get him to the other side of the rocks and away from all the confusion.

Wan ducks into the small cave, no taller than Ai. He crawls in and then sits with his knees by his chin, letting his face fall into them. He then wraps his arms around his legs. As he is about to let out a long sob, a voice calls out to him.

"I found you again, my lost friend."

Wan looks up and sees the cave goes deeper than he thought, now that his eyes have adjusted to the dim lighting. Iroh enters his area from around a corner.

Iroh smiles warmly and joins Wan sitting on the mossy ground.

"You keep telling me I'm lost," Wan groans into his knees. "But I know where I am."

Iroh gives a knowing nod. "There are many ways to be lost. Your body knows where it is, but your heart has drifted off course. You feel this, don't you?"

Wan thinks about the tight squeezing he's been feeling in his chest for the past year. How sad Fenhua not talking to him anymore makes him feel. Leaving the school he used to enjoy until his peers turned on him. The growing distance he's felt between himself and his family. How Yorru became more and more the only person he could talk to. He didn't like his world getting smaller.

Light flashes, blinding Wan for a moment. He closes his eyes to shield them from the brightness. When he opens them he's looking down at a room that seems somewhat familiar to him. Like a room that could have been at his Atta's and Anaana's home.

Then he sees them, and his Mumma, Atta, Anaana, and Mommy in the bed.

Atta and Anaana take turns holding a small baby. They both fuss over the little bundle's thick head of hair. They then pass the baby to Asami and quietly leave the room with a little wave. Korra closes the door behind them and turns to Asami who was laying upright on the bed with Wan tucked in her arms.

"Come join me," Asami beccons.

Korra smiles as she creeps across the room and into the bed. She scoots her body until she's tucked in beside Asami. She rests her chin on Asami's shoulder and looks down at the dark tufts of Wan's small head.

"We did it," Asami whispers, admiring the baby.

"We did it? You did it!"

Asami turns to Korra. Their faces are inches apart. "Not without you."

"Agree to disagree," Korra says, leaning so their foreheads touch.

The bright glow flashes again and Wan is taken to a few days later.

Asami walks into the kitchen with Wan swaddled in the blue blanket with otter-penguin fur lining, a shower gift from Senna.

She finds Korra and Tonraq at the table with a Pai Sho board, Tonraq is trying to teach his daughter, but it is a slow process. Senna is at the counter flipping through a recipe book.

"Senna, I have to make a work call, can you watch him for a little bit?"

Senna looks up from the book and beames. "Of course."

The two women walk towards each other and transfer the swaddled baby.

"He just ate, so I'm sure he'll just sleep."

"We'll go into the sitting room. I believe a sun ray or two should still be pooling in there." Senna gives Wan a few repositioning bounces and shuffles into the other room. When Asami slips back into their bedroom for their stay.

Korra slaps down her game piece. "Have you noticed Asami keeps having Mom watch our baby? Do you think she thinks I'm incapable?"

Tonraq chuckles. "It's got nothing to do with you. Can't you see she's trying to score points with your mother?"

Korra cocks her head to the side. "Wha?"

"Asami has figured out the way to your mother's heart." Her father points to the room her mother just disappeared to. He then looks down at the game board to consider his next move.

Korra gets up from the table and tiptoes into the sitting room. It was a small room with a few plush chairs and a rocking chair in the corner. Senna is seated in the rocker with Wan. Rocking him back and forth ever so gently.

The bright afternoon sun pokes through the curtains casting a light that over-exposes the features on Senna's, smoothing out the lines of her face. In that moment she could have been the age she was when she had her own daughter. Korra feels like she's looking at her mother holding her.

Senna brings the small bundle close as she leans her head down to place a small kiss on Wan's little forehead. Senna feels eyes on her, but when she looks up she is alone.

A flash and the scene changes again. He is now looking at the Future Industries lobby.

"Ah! Is this the baby!" Kali squeals, jumping up from her desk. She shuffles towards Korra with outstretched arms. She excitedly pinches her fingers to her thumbs.

"Yup, my little buddy," Korra says proudly. Kail moves in close to look at the baby strapped to Korra's chest. Wan looks up at the new face with big curious eyes.

"Oh my goodness he has your eyes!"

Korra shakes her head. "Everyone keeps telling us that. He better start looking like Asami or it's going to give her a complex."

"Oh, he will. With babies, you got basically just the eyes, skin color, and hair to go off of."

Asami opens her office door and smiles.

Kali gives her a little wave. "Looks like your lunch has arrived Miss Sato."

Korra holds up the baby with her free hand. "Wan's lunch too."

"Korra!" Asami scolds.

"What? It's true. Baby's got to eat."

"He gets a bottle now during the day," Asami clarifies to Kali. "Hold my calls until these two troublemakers leave."

"Yes, Miss Sato."

The pair slip into Asami's office and close the door. They take seats in the lounge chairs in the corner, which Asami used for less formal meetings or when she was overworked and needed a nap. Asami adjusts her blouse to accommodate feeding Wan.

Korra leans back in her seat and lets out a contented sigh. "I could watch you feed our child forever."

"Pft, when I haven't even lost the baby weight."

"I'm serious." The Avatar perks up. She holds her hands up and frames her view of Asami with her fingers. "I wish I had an ounce of artistic skills because I want to capture this moment."

Asami chuckles and shakes her head. "You really don't…"

"You're not supposed to agree!"

"How's he been at the temple?" Asami asks, ignoring Korra's wounded expression.

"Great, from what I hear. I spend half of it trying to track down who on the island has stolen him. Ikki is a major culprit. So, I think it's safe to say we never have to worry about babysitters."

The room brightens and washes out. He hears the humming of a motor and then a screeching halt.

Korra jumps out of the car with a small burst of air. She can hear Mako and Bolin calling out to her but she doesn't have any more time to waste. She dashes down the halls, following the signs for the maternity wing. She could feel recognition washing over the faces of staff members as she weaved past them her presence always seemed to elicit some kind of response.

Korra felt the first wave of relief at the site of her mother, father, and son camped out in a sitting area. Tonraq saw her first and held up a hand. Senna, who was seated on the ground entertaining Wan turned her body to make eye contact.

"Is she? Are they?" Korra calls out as she gets closer.

"Yes, the doctor will-" Senna starts but Korra rushes past them.

Wan at the sight of his other mother drops the block from his hand and starts to toddle after Korra. Senna fumbles for a moment to get off the floor to stop the boy. Tonraq is able to hold out a large hand and catch him before he gets too far. He lifted Wan and brought him on his lap.

"Come sit with Atta," Tonraq says gently, bouncing the boy on his knee.

Wan squirms as Senna shuffles past them, trailing after Korra.

When Korra finds Asami's room she grasps each side of the doorway for support.

A nurse inside recognizes her and moves toward her. "The doctor must have gotten a hold of you. She's very weak, but she will pull through."

Korra rushes to Asami's bedside. She runs her hand across Asami's sweat-drenched brow. "And the baby?"

"Perfectly healthy. We have her right here in a bassinet."

Korra smiles. "Her…" she whispers as she turns to face the nurse. "Can I hold her?"

"Of course, she's right there by the bed."

Korra looks around and sees where the nurse is referring to. She took a few steps and peers down at the small child, swaddled up in a little pink blanket. Her face is scrunched up and wrinkled, in the way fresh babies usually are. A full head of dark brown hair stuck out in all directions from being wiped dry.

Korra reaches out and collects their new baby in her arms and takes a seat in the chair on the other side of Asami's hospital bed. With one arm she is able to keep the baby's body pressed against her chest, and with the other her free hand she grasps a portion of Asami's arm that is sticking out from her blanket. Once the contact was made Korra finally starts to feel her heartbeat steady.

Asami's eyes crept open for a moment. They search for a moment until they find Korra's. Korra could see the wheels turning in Asami's mind and then click as they locked eyes. Asami's lips quirk up in what Korra knew was a very weak smile before her eyes close.

Senna who had been watching from the doorway, felt a deep pang in her chest. Korra looks over to her, somehow feeling her presence.

"I shouldn't have gone to the United Earth States… It was too close to her time…" Korra sighs.

Senna steps into the room and toward the side of the bed, her daughter is seated. "It would have made no difference, you being gone didn't cause the complication. Fortunately, Kya was there and she knew just what to do."

"I just…"

"I know," Senna says, placing a hand around her daughter's shoulder. She bends down to look at the baby. Korra adjusts her so Senna could see better.

"She's beautiful. Why don't you let me hold her and you can go see your son? He missed you a lot."

"Oh geez, Buddy, I ran right by him." Korra offered up the baby and Senna gently took her into her arms. "Will you sit here with Asami, in case she wakes up?"

"Of course." Senna watches Korra leave and then turns her attention to the baby in her arms. She found her mind wandering back to the time when she discovered Asami's letters and the fear that stemmed from that night about her daughter's future and what it would and wouldn't entail. And now here she was at Asami's bedside holding their second child.

"I'm sorry, forever having doubts about you," Senna whispers to Asami. She adjusts the baby so she can touch her daughter-in-law. Again she felt a pang in her chest. She imagines her daughter in this vulnerable situation, with no parents to be at her bedside. Senna squeezes Asami's hand and vows to be as much a mother to her as her Korra.

Korra scampers into the waiting room where she sees Tenzin and family waiting in the corner, and her father and Wan near the door. She gives the Air Temple crew a little wave. Wan is resting his head on Tonraq's chest. Korra reaches out and brushes back Wan's hair. It immediately springs back to fall on his forehead. "I'm sorry Buddy, I didn't mean to not say hi to you."

Wan inspects her for a moment, feigning he is still upset.

"Can I get my hug?"

Wan cracks a smile and stretches out his arms. Korra scoops him up and holds him to her chest. "You wanna come with us?"

Tonraq gets up and follows his daughter over to the Air Temple crew.

"Thank you for taking care of Asami, Mako filled me in on the ride over here." She looks around. "I guess he's still trying to find parking. He barely stopped the vehicle before I ran out of it."

Pema puts her hand behind Ikki's back. This draws Korra's attention to the young woman, noticing she looks pretty distraught. "Asami gave us quite the scare, but Kya acted fast and it all turned out fine."

Kya smiles. "She's a fighter."

"I know," Korra sighs. She hoists Wan up, he had slipped a little as they talk. "I'm going to take them back to meet the baby, then we'll come back out."

"Take your time," Pema says warmly. She looks to her family. "I think now that the whole family is here we might just sneak back off the temple and come see them tomorrow. Asami's gonna need her rest."

Korra nods. "Thank you. I'll see you all tomorrow then."

Ikki jumps up from her seat. "Be sure to tell Asami..." She starts, but then fumbles. Her cheeks flush. "Send Asami our love, okay?"

"I will," Korra says, squeezing Ikki's shoulder with her free hand.

Korra and Tonraq watch the Air Temple crew leave the waiting room and give them a little wave goodbye.

"You want to meet your new baby sister?" Korra asked Wan as she carried him down the hall and into Asami's room.

Senna stands up and brings the baby to them. "Say hello."

Wan reluctantly pulls his head out from the crook of Korra's neck and looks down at the baby. He inspects her cautiously.

"Mummy?" Wan asks, pointing past the baby.

"She's sleeping, but you can say hi to your sister."

Wan shakes his head, sticks a couple of fingers in his mouth, and plops his head back on Korra's shoulder. Curling himself up as close to her as he could.

Senna chuckles. "It might take some time before he's interested. I think he's just so happy that you're home."

"I feel the same way," Korra pressed a kiss on the top of her son's head.

"He asked about you constantly."

Korra smiles. "He's my buddy."

"Is your daughter going to get stuck with a nickname too, or are you going to stick to the proper one?"

"Ma," Korra groans.

"Do you have a name picked for her?" Tonraq asks, sneaking the baby from his wife's arms. She reluctantly lets go.

"We do, Wan helped us decide, right Buddy." Korra bounces him a few times to get his attention. "What did we come up with?"

Wan peeks his head up, pulls his wet fingers from his mouth, and points to the new baby. "Hiro'oh'rai."

"Hiro or Ai," Korra explains. "You have a new baby sister so, just Ai."

Wan smiles and points again. "Ai."

The room brightens again, Wan knows now that he's leaving this memory. His heart tightens as he sees what he hopes is the true ending of that memory. He doesn't want to leave but his vision shifts and he is in his family home.

"Here comes, the beast!" Korra roars, sprinting into Ai's room, an old fur pelt draped over her shoulders and back.

Ai's room is full of stuffed animals, piled on the floor and bed. Wan and Ai squeal as they run through the plush chaos and duck behind Ai's bed.

Korra lurches around the room, making a loud snuffling sound. "I smell children!" She moves to a dome of critters in the corner and pokes a hand in rustling around looking for her kids.

Asami enters the room, switching on the light. "What's going on in here?"

Korra swirls around, holding her furry cape, and growls.

"Look out Mommy, it's the beast!" Wan points to Korra and cries.

"The bweast!" Ai repeats, flopping her chest on the bed and bouncing a few times.

Wan ducks under the bed and army crawls. Ai slips down from the top of her bed and follows behind him. They worm out from under it. Korra sees the kids move so she goes to the side of the bed they just occupied.

She makes more loud sniffing sounds. "Children were here! Where did they go?" She picks up and tosses a few plushies.

Wan takes one of Asami's hands. "C'mon Mommy, we made a monster trap in my room. We'll protect you!"

Ai grabs Asami's free hand with her two tiny ones. "Hurrwee! It's coming!"

Asami lets her children pull her out of Ai's room. She looks back at Korra and gives her wife a wink. Korra waves and waits a few moments before she leaves the room. Allowing the kids enough time to set up their 'monster trap.'

Asami looks around Wan's room and sees they had been quite busy setting up a pulley system for a blanket trap to fall from his ceiling. She wonders how her children managed to get something drilled into the ceiling, but she wasn't going to investigate that at the moment.

Wan scurries over to the rope and pulls it with him behind his bed. The blanket raises as he moves. "Quick!" He waves over his mother and sister.

Asami joins him behind the bed, but Ai cheekily goes to the door to see where Korra went. She's waiting to the side and jumps in front of Ai and roars. Her outstretched hands grab Ai's middle and furiously tickle.

"Help!" Ai cries between giggles.

"Lure it to the trap!" Wan calls back.

Korra releases Ai and the little girl scrambles to the center of Wan's room. There is a circle shaped carpet with rings in the middle, looking not unlike a bullseye.

"Come get me!" Ai taunts. Korra lumbers in after her and takes a big slow swing that allows Ai to get away in time. She joins Wan and Asami at the side of the bed.

Wan releases the rope and the blank falls on top of Korra's head. She swatts at the air snarls a few times and then dramatically flops onto the floor.

"We did it!" Wan cheers, running over to the blanket.

Ai is right at his heels. She jumps on the blanket. "We caught the bweast, Mommy!"

The Asami joins them and then reaches for the edge of the blanket. "Are you so sure it was a monster?" She flips off the fabric to reveal Korra, whose eyes are closed and her tongue sticking out in a cartoonish way. "Isn't that your Mumma?"

"Oh no!" Ai wails. "We caught Mumma by mistake!"

Wan knees down and puts his head on Korra's chest, to check her heartbeat. Korra waits a few moments and then lunges up and growls. She scoops up Wan into her arms. Ai giggles with delight and dog-piles onto them.

"Hurry Ai, she's changed back to the beast!" Wan squirms. "We need to activate the de-beasting device!"

"Too late!" Korra lifts Wan's shirt and blows a raspberry on his belly. Wan snickers and squirms.

"Hurry Ai, I've been bit! I only have a few seconds before I turn into a beast too."

Ai has given up on the game and now is just gleefully tickling whoever she can get her hands on in the pile. Wan turns to Asami. He desperately holds out his hand. "Mommy, it's up to you now!"

Asami drops to his side. "Where is the de-beasting device?"

Wan points to his dresser, there is the robot laser-gun toy he got for his birthday last year. "Turn it on to full power. She's got Ai too."

Asami retrieves the laser gun and fidgets with the nobs. "Okay, I think I'm ready."

Wan, Ai, and Korra look at Asami. She points the toy at them and pulls the trigger. The gun lights up and makes a little electric pew-pew. At the sound they all wiggle and convulse, pretending to be affected by its laser beam.

Wan checks his hands and the rest of his body. "I think it worked!"

"My family is back to normal!" Asami says gleefully, taking a seat down next to them on the floor.

"Aww, I wanted to be a family of bweasts," Ai whines. She lifts her hands like paws and snarls.

Korra gets up and brushes her pants off. "How about we make this family of beasts some lunch?"

"Can we have bweast stew?" Ai asks sweetly.

"You mean beef stew," Wan corrects.

Ai shakes her head. "No, I want to try bweast stew! A stew made of many bweasts!"

Asami chuckles, getting up too. "I'm sure we could see if we have any leftover beast in the fridge. But stew takes a while. How about beast sandwiches?"

"Yeah!" Ai shoots up and runs past all of them to go downstairs to the kitchen.

Wan remembers that Sunday. When he was younger and still liked playing pretend with his little sister. They spent the whole day together, going for a long walk through the park after lunch. A little bit of downtime reading while his mothers made dinner. Then they played board games until it was time for bed. He really loved his family that day. And there was no one around making him feel bad about it.

His bedroom goes dark and then lightens to a bright summer afternoon inside his mother's work garage. The door is up letting the warm breeze circulate the smell of grease and oil.

Wan and Asami are in their work clothes, which have lots of soot and stains. Their faces and arms are clean, but not for long. They stand next to an older, but sporty Satomobile. Asami found it at one of Future Industries warehouses earlier that year and together she and Wan had been fixing it up as a project.

"How do you feel about changing the oil on your own today?"

"Piece of cake!" Wan chirps.

"Excellent." Asami grins. "This basic but important repair is something every Sato should know. That's what my father would always say."

Asami takes a seat on the stool and gestures to Wan. "So, what do we do first?"

Wan walks over to the lift controls and pulls the lever. The vehicle slowly rises up. When it's a few inches taller than Wan, he stops it. He then goes to the tool wall, grabs a screwdriver, and steps under the Satomobile. One at a time the screws to the under panel come out, and when all are out he lowers the panel to the floor.

"And the screws?" Asami asks from the sidelines.

"Counted, and in my pocket," Wan quickly replies. He examines the newly exposed area of the vehicle and touches the oil drain plug. After confirming its whereabouts Wan goes and grabs the oil receptacle barrel and funnel. He lines up the barrel and then screws the funnel at the top of it, a few inches below the drain plug. The plug is removed and black oil quickly drains into the funnel. He steps back and watches.

Asami waits for Wan to ask for next steps, but he's already on it, looking for a new filter in the many cubbies of the garage. "Mommy, I don't see ones that will fit this model."

Asami joins her son and looks at the several boxes of filters crammed on the shelves. She pulls a few out to check the ones behind it. She selects one and hands it to Wan. "This should work."

Wan skeptically takes the box and removes the filter from its packaging. He rolls it around between his thumb and forefinger a few times. "I don't think so."

"It's a three-and-a-half centimeter filter."

Wan clicks his tongue. "That's just a little too small and means it won't filter effectively. It will gunk up the engine faster than an old filter." He puts the filter back in the package and hands it to his mother.

Asami grins. "That's exactly correct." She reaches into her apron pocket and pulls out a filter. "I saw we were out and picked it up this week, but I wanted to test you."

Wan squints like he's mad, but his smirk betrays him. He plucks the filter and goes back under the car. The oil has finished draining, so he removes the funnel to give him more workspace.

Asami collects the barrel and carries it out from under the Satomobile. Wan changes the filter and then rescuers the plug and then reattaches the cover panel. He lowers the vehicle back to the garage floor. Asami opens the driver's side door and reaches in to pull the tab that opens the hood. Wan opens it up and secures the heavy hood with the supports on either side. Asami watches as he selects and then pours the new oil into the Satomobile. He then pulls out the dipstick and Asami hands him a rag to clean it off with. Wan inserts it back into the tank and pulls it out again. Together they examine the end and see it's a nice dark orange, up to the full line.

"Perfection," Asami says, patting Wan on the back. "Maybe we'll get you a summer job at a body shop, what do you think?"

"Aren't I a little young to have a job?" Wan whines.

The memory starts to fade, but only to that night. His view goes from the garage and walks him into the family home and up the stairs. His view stops at his mothers' bedroom door, it's open just a slit. He can see the two women in the dimly lit room, getting ready for bed.

Korra is in her usual loose pajama pants and tank, seated on the bed with her back on the headboard. Asami is walking around the room, pinging between the closet and her vanity.

"You should have seen Wan today," Asami starts disappearing into the closet.

Korra chuckles, her wife often does this while talking, so she only gets half the story. This time Asami quickly reappears with a little shawl she'd sometimes wear in bed while she read.

"He's a natural. I tested him with the oil filters, to see if he'd try a shortcut, and he wouldn't. And told me exactly what would go wrong if he did. My father would do the same thing to me, but I remember falling for a trick or two."

Korra grins. "Doing a full oil change at seven, he's a Sato alright."

Asami stops her pacing. She looks down at the shawl in her hands, clenching it in her fingers. A few tears fall onto the silky fabric.

Korra notices right away and slips out of bed to her wife's side. "Hey."

"I'm okay," Asami whispers, her breath catching. "It's a good thing. Working with him in the garage makes me feel connected to my father." She chokes back a sob, but it spills out.

Korra rubs Asami's back and guides her to their bed. They sit down on Korra's side. "That's wonderful. I'm sure Hiroshi is smiling down at you two in those moments."

"I miss him so much. There are moments when I wish I had my mother here to help guide me as a mom, but I really didn't know her like I did my father. He would have been so good with the kids, I know you only knew him as that vengeful person, but-"

Korra puts a finger to Asami's lips. "You don't worry about me and that time. I didn't know your father. I wish I could have. But I believe he would have been a wonderful grandfather. I really do."

Asmai nods.

"Spoiled them rotten probably, even more than my parents," Korra adds. This gets a little chuckle out of her wife. Korra continues. "Hiroshi, you can't give a seven-year-old a Satomobile for his birthday."

"You mean another Satomobile," Asami adds, playing along.

Asami lowers herself down along the bed, resting her head on Korra's lap. Korra combs her fingers through her long black hair, knowing it's one of Asami's favorite ways to be soothed.

After a few moments of silence, Asami whispers. "I wish he knew you."

Korra holds in her remarks and continues to pet her wife.

"I felt that very strongly when I was working with him on the hummingbird suits. I didn't know if any of us were going to live through that day. On top of all the things I wanted to say to you, I desperately wanted my father to know me at that moment. My identity and how I felt about you were a big part of my life that I wished he could know. I wished I was brave enough to say something. And of course, you never believe someone is going to die. I knew all our deaths were possible that day, but…"

"I know," Korra says quietly."His sacrifice was the greatest act of love." Her stare goes long and unfocused.

A tear hits Asami on the cheek. She rolls to look up at Korra."Babe?"

Korra quickly wipes away the moisture on her cheeks. "Yeah, sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Korra lets out a strained and nervous laugh. "I don't know why I'm crying. I mean, I can take a couple of guesses, but I'm surprised it's hitting me like this."

Asami rights herself and sits beside her wife.

Korra takes Asami's hands in hers. "You and the kids mean the world to me. I don't know if I fully understood his sacrifice back then, but I understand it now."

"Your mothers love you, Wan," Iroh's voice whispers.

"I know they do!" Wan cries back. The image of his mothers drifts away like smoke. He is back in the darkness. He hears Yorru's voice in the distance. He walks towards it. The room gets slightly brighter and he can tell he's in some kind of cave.

"When I get out of here, none of you will survive!" It's his mother's voice, but she sounds younger. He steps around a corner and before him is a big cave opening. On one side is a familiar-looking bald and beardless man and some other men in robes. On the other is Korra, chained up high.

"You won't get out unless the Metal Clan has taught you a way to bend platinum," The bald man starts. Wan's head snaps, recognizing his voice as Yurro's. "Once we administer this poison, your body will naturally react, forcing you into the Avatar State in an effort to keep you alive. Sadly for you, you'll be entering it for the last time."

"No! The Avatar Cycle!" Korra cries.

"Yes. When we dispatch you in the Avatar State, the cycle will end. So we lucky few, this band of brothers and sisters in anarchy, are witnessing the beginning of an era of true freedom. Together, we will forge a world without kings and queens, without borders or nations, where Man's only allegiance is to himself and those he loves. We will return to the true balance of natural order. And though you will never again be reborn, your name will echo throughout history: Korra, the last Avatar."

Wan opens his eyes and is startled to find they are wet. He looks around for Iroh but he's gone, in his place his a rodent flapping its ears as fast as a hummingbird's.

He is startled to discover he can understand its squeaks and chirps. The little spirit explains Iroh had to leave because something urgent came up."

"My mother, right?"

The rodent nods.

"She's in danger."

---

Korra was hoping for some kind of indication that everyone was alright and or they had come up with some kind of master plan to take down Zaheer from the outside, so she could stop humoring these guys and start taking some action herself. Sadly, that hadn't happened yet. She was starting to sweat as the more creepy monk-ish shrouded goons from her first poisoning started showing up

"I think it's fitting, your time should end in the Spirit World," Zaheer says gleefully, looking around. "I wish I had the option to do this there the first time around."

"Where my spiritual energy is strongest?" Korra snorts dismissively. "You think this is a good idea?"

"What spiritual energy? You have no connection to this world. When was the last time to stepped in here that wasn't some little vacation? All that mushy crap you brought in here, nearly choked me-aaargh" Zaheer's spirit flickers, but remains. His face contorts in pain. He grabs his left arm reflectively, not that it would give him any real comfort. "Where is Nimol? He was supposed to find out what was going on with Fusei and my body!"

A Red Lotus member rushes to his side. "There has been no sign of him sir. And no one has meditated in any reports."

"Someone go find out what's going on at the prison, NOW!" Zaheer shouts to the men, not the ceremonial robes. He then locks his eyes on Korra and narrows them. "What are you doing out there?"

Korra shrugs. "Beats me. I ran straight here when I figured out you had my children. No one's meditated in and reported updates to me either."

Zaheer groans again, gritting his teeth. "I am not of an earthly body anymore. I feel no pain." His form dissipates fully but then returns in a flash. He scowls at Korra. "Shut it down now, or I'll end your children."

"I'm not in control of what is happening in the physical world. Besides our deal is I give myself up to you and you let my kids go."

Zaheer moves his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. He gasps and doubles over. His spiritual form wavers. Then he's gone.

Everyone, including Korra, let out a little gasp. The Red Lotus stare at the empty spot for a moment.

Something cool touches the back of Korra's arm, she glances behind and sees it's Jinora's spirit. "I don't have a lot of time. We're at the prison. We're trying to wake Zaheer up. We're going to execute. Not sure what happens after that. Police have secured the portal entrance."

"Can you check on Asami, Ikki, and Bolin? They're being led to the Fog of Lost Souls. My kids are with some imposter father."

"Okay, stay safe," Jinora whispers and then dissipates.

Korra looks back to the spot where Zaheer was and notices all eyes are on her. She defensively lowers into a fighting stance, unsure where things are going.

One of the shrouded figures steps forward and removes his hood. It's Mr. Devi, the herbalist from the Crystal Healing shop. "We carry on with or without Zaheer. Though our members pass on, the mission must continue. Today we usher in a new spiritual age!"

---

Jinora returns to her body for a moment to see what progress has been made on Zaheer. There is a small crowd around his body. She squeezes her way in and sees he is back in a meditative state.

"What happened when he came out of it?" She asks, tugging on Mako's sleeve.

"He gasped for air, but his eyes never opened." Mako turns to face Jinora. "Did you talk to Korra?"

"Yes, she's alone with the Red Lotus."

The firebender winces. "Where is everyone else?"

"Potentially on their way to the Fog of Lost Souls, but she didn't seem too worried. I'm going back now to track them down."

Mako nods. "I'm going to send more officers to the portal. Do you think you could help get them to Xai Bao's Grove?" He pulls out his radio and is ready to give the command.

"I have a spirit friend who could help, tell them to wait for a little flying shrew-looking creature."

"Okay," Mako blinks a few times. He pushes the call button and walks a few steps away to make his command.

Jinora closes her eyes and slips back into the Spirit World, a little ways from Xai Bao's grove. She seeks her sister's energy and can feel it popping off not too far from where she is. She rushes along the plain and sees a bluish field coming into view, with reddish rocky formations in the middle of it. It's not long before she sees familiar figures in the distance at the base of the stoney range.

Ikki spies her first and frantically begins to wave. "Jinora!" She embraces her sister's spirit, which feels a little weird, but she's just so happy to see her. "Have you made contact with Korra?"

"Yes, she's okay for the moment, but she needs backup as soon as possible."

Asami holds her chest and breathes a sigh of relief. She then brings Kimmi closer and rests her chin on her head.

Jinora notices the water tribe-looking man-gagged man encased in stone behind Asami, Bolin, Ikki, and Ai.

Bolin notices her eyes go to Tuktuk. He shoots a thumb back at the man. "That's the guy Zaheer has pretending to be the kid's dad."

At the mention of kinds, Jinora seeks out Kimmi and Ai, noticing Wan is missing. "Where's Wan?"

"He went into the caves, we're trying to give him a minute. We sent your little spirit friend in there to keep an eye on him. It confirmed he's in there."

As if hearing it being discussed, the little rodent zips out from between the rocks. It frantically chirps and chatters, getting into Jinora's face. She listens and understands its little pleas.

"Wan's left the caves. He's going to find Korra."

Asami runs over to the gap in the stones Wan originally squeezed through. "Wan!"

"We got to go back up Korra anyways," Bolin starts, looking at the two sisters. "We just have to try and grab him before he gets to Xai Bao's Grove."

Ikki shakes her head. "Ai and Kimmi can't go into this fight. Wan shouldn't either."

"The Republic City police have secured the portal entrance. Asami, let the spirit take you and the kids there and Bolin and Ikki can grab Wan and help Korra."

Asami scrunches her face. She looks down at her daughters. "I can't leave."

"We will take care of Korra and Wan." Bolin puts his arm around Asami's shoulder. "Her knowing you three are safe and out of harm's way will let her do the ass-kicking she needs to get out of this jam."

"Please Asami," Ikki urges.

Ai can see the distress on her mother's face. She goes and takes her free hand. "It's okay Mommy, I'll go with you."

"Alright," Asami yields, her voice shaking. "But you're making me leave without two pieces of my heart."

"We'll get them back, we promise," Ikki says, hugging Asami. Bolin moves to get one after her.

Jinora holds out her hand for her rodent spirit. "Take them to the new portal entrance and then I need you to take some of the men waiting there to Xai Bao's Grove. Can you do that one last favor for me?"

It nods. Jinora brings it closer and kisses the top of its head. "Thank you, I know you've worked very hard today."

The rodent takes off from her finger and circles Asami and the girls a few times before flying towards the portal. Asami takes Ai's hand and follows after.

Jinora turns her focus to Wan's energy. She closes her eyes to help her better lock onto it. She finds it, frantically moving towards Xai Bao's Grove. "I've got a lock, let's go."

---

Korra slowly backs away from the approaching Red Lotus goons, unsure if she's just going to crash into more of them. The attention on her is drawn away when Zaheer can be heard muttering and sputtering nearby. They all look around for him and eventually spot him sitting under his favorite tree in the grove.

"Are we ready to proceed Mr. Devi?" Zaheer asks, getting up from his seated position. He appears to have recovered from whatever was taking him out of the Spirit World, then suddenly stumbles. His incorporeal form flickers like a dying ember, but he persists in his walk toward the Avatar.

Devi holds up a vile of blueish-gray-looking liquid. He rotates around so all in attendance can see, ending with it stretched out right at Korra. "Moonseed. A rare flower that blooms only in the moonlight, for one night, once a year. In order to protect that special blossom the flower contains curare toxins."

"We've learned from past mistakes," Zaheer sneers. "A poison that can be bent in, can be bent out."

"Curare causes death by inducing asphyxia due to the rapid relaxation of the diaphragmatic muscle," Mr. Devi adds. He motions to two of the hooded men. "Chain her up."

The men move and go to a tree on either side of Korra, a few feet away. Chains were already fixed to the trunks. They drag two cuffs each over to Korra. They affix a platinum cuff around her ankles and wrist. There is a little slack so Korra can keep her arms naturally at her side.

"Wait," Korra cries, struggling against her chains. "I don't have proof you've released my children and everyone else."

Zaheer grins wickedly and ignores her. "Perfect bait for the Avatar State. You and the cycle will quietly go out gasping like a fish-" Zaheer doesn't get to finish his thought and is gone from Mr. Devi's side in a gasp of his own.

---

Tenzin refused to bend the air from Zaheer's body, so Zhu Li settled for having two officers block his airways. One holds his nose close while the other forcefully holds his hand over Zaheer's mouth. It worked a couple of times, getting the terrorist's body to flail and attempting to remove the obstructions. But every time they let up, his eyes remained forcefully closed.

For this current try, new officers take over the nose and mouth while two others hold his arms. They are instructed to not let up even when Zaheer's body fights back. A minute passes and Zaheer's body begins to react to the air deprivation. Chains clank as his arms strain against the men holding him back. His features contort, his head tries shaking back and forth, but they hold firm on his nose and mouth. Another minute of struggling passes and his eyes fly open.

The officers look to Zhu Li. "Hang tight, or he'll just go back in there." She holds up a sheet of paper to read from. "Zaheer of the Red Lotus, for continued actions of treason against the Avatar and The United Republic of Nations, we hereby sentence you to death. Your sentence will be carried out immediately."

Zaheer wrestles against the officers restraining him. His eyes are wide and wild.

"Uncover his mouth," Zhu Li commands. "Anything you wish to say, Zaheer?"

"Kill me and I will end the Avatar forever!"

Zhu Li shrugs. "Not sure how you'll do that when you're here."

Zaheer closes his eyes and takes in deep breath.

"Cover his mouth!" he can hear Zhu Li shout, but the prison quickly fades and he is back standing in front of the Avatar. "Call them off!"

"Who?"

"The president just told me I'm to be executed. Call them off or-"

"You'll kill me?" Korra scoffs. "Wasn't that the plan already?"

"Yorru!" A small voice angrily calls out from the distance.

Korra's heart drops, recognizing her son. "Wan, you run away as far as you can!"

Zaheer grins wickedly. "Wan, my boy. Come over here."

Wan charges into the clearing of the grove. "I know who you really are!" Before he can get too close to Zaheer he is scooped up by a couple of Red Lotus members. They hold him up by his arms. He angrily kicks his legs.

Jinora appears at Korra's side. "He knows."

"I know," Korra sighs, not needing to look to see it's her old friend at her side.

The two women look at Zaheer, his rage is visible.

"Call them off," Zaheer barks at them. He motions to Mr. Devi. "Prepare the syringe."

"I only have enough for one," Mr. Devi murmurs loud enough for Korra to hear.

"Then grief will put her in the Avatar State."

Mr. Devi holds the syringe to the vial and prepares to extract the liquid when he is startled by a short old man at his side.

"Moonseed extract, powerful stuff. We used that as a powerful anesthetic back in my day," Iroh says thoughtfully.

Jinora steps over the chains and behind Korra, obstructing their conversation from Zaheer's view. "If we kill him then his spirit should disappear then you can take down the rest of the Red Lotus. Bolin and Ikki are coming this way to help, they should be here any minute."

Zaheer notices Iroh. "It's you."

"My biggest fan." Iroh dips a little for a bow. "I've felt you searching for me, for quite some time."

"Oh how I have wanted to have a nice long conversation with you," Zaheer shakes his head. "Of course now is when you would finally reveal yourself to me."

"Duty calls," Iroh says, waving a hand toward Korra. "You are forever a member of the White Lotus. And it seems the same is unfortunately true of the Red Lotus."

"I'm not dead yet."

"Good." Iroh shuffles over to Korra and Jinora. He pretends to be inspecting them. His hands are behind his back and he makes a slow circle around them. As he passes Jinora he leans over. "Go, stop them now. If he passes with his spirit in this world, it will remain here."

Jinora steps forward. "Okay, we'll meet your demand. Let Wan go first."

Zaheer snaps his fingers and the goons lower him to the ground. He dashes towards Korra. "I'll be there in sixty seconds to confirm."

Jinora nods and her spirit fades. As she returns to the prison, all eyes are anxiously on her. "Stand down. Everyone backs away from his body now. He'll be present in seconds. He's got Wan and Korra."

The prison is full of squeaks and scuffles as they all step away from Zaheer's meditating body. Mako waves them to go farther back, out of his chains' reach, should he become rowdy when he returns.

The terrorists' eyes flash open. He checks his hands and then looks to his sides. He grins once he sees everyone on the other side of the room.

"You let Wan go!" Jinora commands. "I'm coming back to make sure you hold up your end of the bargain."

Zaheer wordlessly closes his eyes.

"Okay, this definitely demonstrates how problematic someone existing in two worlds can be," Zhu Li murmurs.

---

Korra anxiously keeps her eyes on Wan as she waits for Zaheer to return.

"Mumma, I'm so sorry," he whimpers. "I didn't know who he was until now! I saw a vision of him hurting you when you were younger. I didn't know!"

"Buddy, it's okay. It's all going to be okay."

Iroh puts a hand on Korra's forearm. "Your son's heart returned to you, no longer let this fear impact your battle ahead."

"I know. He called me Mumma."

Zaheer and Jinora return seconds apart and are physically quite close.

"Hold up your end of the deal, Zaheer," The Airbender commands, getting into his face.

Zaheer looks past her and gestures to the men holding Wan. "Release the boy."

Wan wriggles from their loosening grasp and runs over to Korra and Iroh.

"So, what are we going to do with the little man? You surely don't want him watching."

"You lied to me about so many things!" Wan bemoans, crossing his arms. "You didn't care about me, you just wanted another chance to end the Avatar cycle."

Zaheer approaches Wan. "I will not lie to you, I was using you. But my intentions to educate you were sincere." He reaches for the boy's shoulder but he turns his body away. "I see great potential in you Wan. Maybe one day you'll understand the gift I am about to give the world."

Zaheer clicks his tongue at being rebuffed and goes back to Mr. Devi's side. He points to Wan, Jinora, and Iroh. "Can we get the boy, the Yangcheng impersonator, and the old ghost out of here? Speaking of, you've been awfully quiet, old man. I hear you were one for words of wisdom in your day."

Iroh coyly smiles and strokes his beard. "I can see words are wasted on you. You are a lost cause. That is a true tragedy for a man like yourself."

"I think that description suits you more, a brilliant man who chose the wrong side of a division after the hundred-year war. We could have been Red Lotus brothers, had you been truly spiritual."

"Yet here I am," Iroh brags, holding his arms up and showing off the land.

"And Xai Bao is just the name of a wretched grove."

"How are you here?" Zaheer curiously steps closer.

Iroh's eyes narrow. "You're dying to know, aren't you?"

---

As Ikki and Bolin run towards Xai Bao's Grove, they notice their footsteps are either getting louder or something else is running too. Bolin glances behind them and sees a huge cloud of dust in the distance. "Uh, you see what I'm seeing?"

Ikki takes her turn looking back. "What the heck is that?"

The two stop to get a better look. Bolin shields the sun beating down on his eyes with his hands. Moving inside the haze is a long reddish-orange figure. "Crap, I think that's the Tigerpillar."

"That spirit that was keeping you guys out of the Spirit World all those years ago?" Ikki asks.

"Yeah," Bolin starts to back up. "And he is definitely coming our way. We gotta bolt!"

The pair start running again. The rumble of the spirit's many feet gets louder. It shakes the ground and their feet, causing them to wobble and stumble as they run.

Bolin takes a quick look back and the spirit has moved half the distance it was from them. At that rate, he'd be trampling them in minutes.

"There's a small group of trees up ahead. Maybe we can hide there?" Ikki calls out, angling her body in that direction.

"Let's try it," Bolin shouts back.

As they veer to the cluster of trees, the ground beneath them shakes harder. It feels near impossible to run with the earth rattling. Ikki gives herself little spurts of air to hop the rest of the way. Bolin tries summoning a ramp of rock, but it crumbles under the stress. He stumbles into the rubble.

The Tigerpillar is on them. Bolin shields his face with his hand as the beast charges past them. It doesn't even glance at them as it continues to storm towards Xai Bao's Grove.

Ikki blows the dust and debris away from her and Bolin. The Earthbender coughs and sputters a few times as he hoists himself out of the rubble.

"I guess he wasn't after us," Ikki sighs.

Bolin starts to run. "But what if he's after Korra, c'mon!"

---

Iroh guides Wan by the shoulders a little ways from Korra and the others. "We will not go far, but you must come with me for now."

Wan looks back to Korra and she gives him a reassuring nod. "But…"

"She is the Avatar, the strength and spirit that comes from being that will see her through this. We must get out of her way."

Korra turns to Jinora whose spirit remained at her side.

"I'm not leaving you to face this alone," Jinora assures her.

Iroh nearly convinces Wan to leave when the earth begins to shake.

There is a series of loud crashes and crunches. All look to the direction it's coming from. The Tigerpillar's monstrous form towers over the gnarled red tress of the grove. He walks through them as if stalking through tall grass. The trees topple over, snapping in half or tearing up from the roots.

"Is that a spirit?" Wan asks, tugging at Iroh's sleeve.

"Yes, a very angry one. We must stand back."

"What about my Mom? He could hurt her," Wan whines.

Iroh shakes his head and tugs Wan behind a tree. "He'll do no such thing to the Avatar."

"YORRU!" The beast rumbles. "You lied to me! You're not keeping humans out, there are more humans in the Spirit World than ever!"

The Red Lotus members scatter to the sides of the grove as the Tigerpillar slows his pace to stand in front of Zaheer.

"This is temporary my friend," the cult leader replies, with unflinching casualness. "We are just having a meeting on how to protect the Spirit World."

The Tigerpillar lowers his head and cocks to the side and spies Korra and her chains. "What are you doing to the Avatar?"

Zaheer glances back at Korra. "Avatar Korra is a traitor to the Spirit World. She does not value this world as we do. She never connects with the Spirits. Her only visits were vacations for her own pleasure."

Wan runs to his mother.

"Wan, stay back!" Korra pleads, but he remains at her side.

"He's trying to stop the Avatar cycle!" The boy calls out to the Tigerpillar.

Mr. Devi storms over to Wan and slaps the back of his hand across the boy's face, causing him to double over. "Don't speak about things you don't know about!"

The Tigerpillar's eyes narrow and his breathing becomes shallow. The gusts from the air spewing out his large nostrils blow like a harsh breeze.

Zaheer looks at the Red Lotus waiting at the edges. Those who are benders are poised to strike at his command. He eyes the spirit. His building rage is not unfamiliar, but it never felt so closely directed at himself. Zaheer gives them the slightest nod of approval.

The enormous feline kneads its many paws into the rusty dirt of the grove. Its claws arch out of their sheaths.

"Have I not helped you keep the Spirit World safe ever since Avatar Korra recklessly opened a portal right in the heart of a human metropolis? I directed you to the source of human interference!"

The Tigerpillar's eyes veer to the left, then right, spying the many men shrouded in black creeping towards him. He can see they mean to ambush him, so he strikes like a snake. His dozens of muscular legs propel him forward in perfect synchronicity. The massive mandible opens, lowers, and closes around Zaheer. The teeth restrain from piercing his form, applying enough pressure to hold him in place. The spirit raises his head to see where he wants to go and charges forward. His legs make an arch to avoid crushing Korra, Wan, and Jinora.

"Move you fools! We have to stop it!" Mr. Devi shouts to the stunned Red Lotus members, frozen in their places. None can believe what they just witnessed. Mr. Devi rushes to the group on the right and shoves them in the beast's direction. This wakes them out of their stupor and they begin the chase. Mr. Devi grabs a few of the cloaked members before they take off. "You stay. We carry out the mission."

Iroh appears at Jinora's side. "Leave now and take your body to the portal entrance!"

"Why?"

"Witness the severance. Ensure it happens!"

"I can't leave Korra," Jinora moans, glancing over to the woman she considered a second sister.

"I sense your two companions are near and I will remain too. Go now!" Iroh urges.

---

"Tenzin, can you meditate into the Spirit World too and see what is going on? Are we executing Zaheer or what?" Zhu Li asks impatiently.

"As Jinora said, we can't execute him while he's in the Spirit World or his spirit will remain there."

"So what do we do? He's back in a meditative state in a flash after he comes to." Zhu Li scampers over to the electric chair. Its construction is very crude, but she sees how it works. She feels herself getting in touch with an old part of herself. "I don't think the Cabbage Corp device will kill him instantly. I could try some tinkering for old times' sake, perhaps some modifications can be made."

"We have to be patient," Mako says, butting in. "Jinora is with Korra and we need to wait to see what they come up with."

Jinora's eyes open. She wakes to many eyes on her. It takes a minute for her to remember where she left off in the physical world.

"How do we proceed?" Zhu Li asks, breaking the brief silence.

"Mako, you need to drive me to the Spirit Portal. The rest of you hang tight and wait for our update."

Mako nods and pulls out his keys. He starts toward the cell's exit.

Jinora begins to move too, but Zhu Li catches her sleeve. "And Zaheer?"

"The matter might be getting dealt with as we speak."

---

Asami felt a great wave of relief when the Spirit Portal became visible in the distance. The neon spirals were always a source of comfort, now more than ever. The little rodent spirit turns around and confirms they are still behind it. Asami gives it a little wave and she slows her pace slightly to give Ai a reprieve. A sudden rumbling catches her attention. Asami looks back and sees a giant figure shrouded in a cloud of dust and debris. It's careening towards them.

Asami pulls Ai's arm and veers them to the left, narrowly escaping the spirit's charging storm cloud. The little spirit seeks shelter under her chin. She spies the many powerful legs and bright orange coloring. "The Tigerpillar…"

The beast pays them no mind and continues towards the Spirit Portal.

"Mommy, what was that?" Ai asks once the noise of its thunderous feet lessens.

"A Spirit," is all Asami can breathe. "C'mon, we're going to the same place."

---

When Jinora and Mako arrive at the portal entrance on the Republic City side, Mako is quick to call back his officers from inside. They all speak of some kind of giant figure charging towards them, surrounded by dust.

One of the officers pulls at Mako's sleeve. "I believe I also spied Mrs. Sato coming towards the portal, I believe a small child was with her." He points to his binoculars. "They weren't in the spirits' path, but they are heading this way as well. "

Mako puts a hand on the officer's shoulder and points to one other. "We're going to grab the Sato's." He leads the two men into the portal.

The bright colors and light blind them for a second and then their vision clears. The Tigerpillar is about two hundred yards away.

"Where's Asami?" Mako calls out.

The office points to their right, and they take off. As they run Mako motions for the binoculars. He glances forward and gets a visual of Asami, Kimmi, and Ai. They are unharmed. He then turns them onto the Tigerpillar as spies two feet frantically dangling between its massive jaws.

---

Jinora and the remaining Republic City Officers circle the portal, a few feet back from the entrance. It felt a little weird to her, holding her strong stance beside a group of officers, but these were weird times. The sun is halfway into the sky, she figures it must be around ten am. Rest was going to feel good, but she still had no idea when that would come.

A bellowing roar makes its way through the portal, startling everyone. The earth beneath their feet began to shake a little. Jinora steps forward as the officers scoot back. A massive paw slips into their world through the luminescent double helix like it was batting at a waterfall. The Tigerpillars' face then appears. His wild bulging eyes and forehead first. His features are all the more exaggerated as he tries to squeeze through.

"He can't fit!" Jinora cries out. "Help me!"

The officers continue to stagger back, unsure why anyone would want to help that crazed-looking spirit come through the portal.

Jinora glances back and waves them forward. "PLEASE!"

This gets them to rally behind her. They clamor to the portal and reach in, feeling for the edges of it, in the hopes they could pull it back like a curtain, but the portal didn't work that way.

"Witness the severance. Ensure it happens!" Iroh's voice echoes in Jinora's mind.

The Tigerpillar tries again feet and chin first. The Air Master spies Zaheer's legs kicking between the big white fangs.

"Grab the legs, pull him out!" She commands the officers. They reach for Zaheer but their hands slip through his form.

"A meditated spirit can't be touched by humans here," Jinora murmurs. She sits down and closes her eyes. Focusing all her energy on the Tigerpillar. It pays off and she meditates on to his head.

"Tigerpillar, can you not fit through?" She hollers into one of his massive ears.

"No!" he garbles, with his mouth full.

Jinora goes onto her belly and glances down at the cage of teeth. "Let me in your mouth and I can push Zaheer out." She positions herself right between the molars at the back of his jaw. He opens his mouth enough for her to slip inside.

Zaheer looks up and sees he's not alone in the beast's mouth. "YOU!"

Jinora can feel the Tigerpillar begin to press his face through the portal again. She and Zaheer are shaken around as the beast struggles. The big jaw opens and behind Zaheer, Jinora can see Republic City. She charges at Zaheer to deliver as strong a blow as her small body could muster, but now that he's no longer pinned by teeth, Zaheer grasps a fang for support.

Despite the size of the spirit, there still isn't much room inside his mouth. The two scuffle, like a cage match with teeth for bars. The Tigerpillar's tongue flops as they repeatedly step on it.

The Tigerpillar groans and roars as he fights his way through the portal and control of his mouth.

Jinora can't keep rolling around in the mouth, and she did not feel confident anymore that she could overpower the older man. His spirit was still quite strong. As she rolls over the tongue, evading Zaheer, she spies the spirit's uvula.

"I hope spirits vomit too," she grumbles to herself as she charges towards it. She punches the fleshy nub and then dives to on top of a back molar. She can feel the Tigerpillar's body react and wretch.

The Spirit opens its mouth wide in a horrible grin, its ears go flat and its eyes roll back in it's head. Jinora is quick to scramble out the side of the mouth and falls a few feet to the ground below.

The Tigerpillar's head scrunches back and in for a second and then it propels it through the portal with a wicked force and gagging sound.

Jinora quickly leaves the Spirit World and returns to her body in time to witness the horrible nauseous face of the Tigerpillar squeeze its way through the portal and projectile vomit Zaheer's spirit and the contents of its stomach.

There is a brief moment of awe on Zaheer's face, where he takes in Republic City for a brief moment. Jinora couldn't say off the top of her head how long it must have been since this man had seen a human landscape.

The joy lasts a second and then he screams as his body becomes nothing more than a wisp of smoke and then he is gone.

The Tigerpillar smacks his lips from the foul taste of vomit and retracts himself back into the portal. Jinora follows after him across the bridge of their worlds.

The crazed look in the Tigerpillar's eyes is all but gone. He hunches his body and then gives it a little shake. "Ensure the Avatar those others exit this world. Leave it in peace." The creature doesn't wait for her reply and moves his dozens of legs, turning his body around to return to his cave somewhere out in the expanse of the Spirit World.

Not long after he departs Mako, Asami, the girls, and the officers arrive at the portal. The police that were gathered outside of the portal start marching in. "Sir!" Many of them shout, turning to Mako for the next steps.

Mako looks to Jinora. "What happened?"

"I think Zaheer's spirit is gone," she answers a bit unsure.

"What does that mean?" Asami asks.

Jinora shakes her head. "I got to get to his body and find out."

Asami steps forward and passes Kimmi into her arms. "Take the girls, I'm going back to Korra and Wan." She turns to Mako. "Is there a vehicle I can steal?"

"Mine," Mako says, motioning to the portal. "Half of you pile in another police vehicle and come with us, the rest of you escort Jinora and the children to the prison."

"Yes, Chief!" They call out in unison.

---

As the Tigerpillar rushes overhead, a toe catches on chains on Korra's right side. It easily snaps them through them. The two ropes of metal links clank as they pile on the ground. Korra is quick to test her other bindings, but they hold firm.

Mr. Devi sees Korra has gained half her freedom and sicks his remaining goons on her. Korra is no longer worried about Zaheer, so she blows them back with a strong gust of air.

"I wouldn't do that," a male voice taunts.

Korra tracks it to Mr. Devi, with Wan grasped in one hand and a needle pointed at the boy's upper arm in the other.

"Stop!" Korra cries, pulling against her remaining chains. She isn't strong enough to break them in her current state, but she fears entering the other.

"You must choose, it's either you or him. You can't stop my hand, I just need to nudge forward and I plunge this into his arm."

Korra closes her eyes. She doesn't need to think. She knows her decision. She just needs Raava to know it too. Korra summons the timeless spirit. She had been keeping her at a distance to protect her from Zaheer.

"Korra," Raava whispers,

"If I start fading, you let me go, okay?" The Avatar whispers in her heart.

"If that is your wish."

"Try and love them in my next life too?

Korra's eyes open and focus hotly on Mr. Devi.

"Me."

Mr. Devi grins and looks past her. He nods to the goons holding Korra. She follows Mr. Devi's eyeline and sees one of the men holding another syringe of the blue liquid. Her eyes jerk back to Wan, the herbalist is moving to inject her son too.

Korra allows herself to merge with Raava. Tapping into the full strength of the Avatar state to move with the strength and precision she desperately needs right now. Korra feels the accident power rush through her veins. Her eyes glow bluer than the moonseed extract and she sees her movements in slow motion, but she knows she's acting faster than she could ever hope for out of the Avatar state.

Her free hand reaches for the syringe aimed at her neck and she conjures a wind so powerful it sends it flying into the sky they never see it return to the ground. Unarmed, the Red Lotus members start to back away from Korra, but she removes the ground beneath them. They fall in their pits, collapsing like straw dolls.

Korra tests the chains with a little pull, then with all her strength. The chains rip through the trees. Shards of bark and wood splitters rain down on the Red Lotus goons trapped in holes to her left. Finally free, she storms to Mr. Devi, who had stopped to stare at how quickly Korra took out his fellow members and readies his thumb on the syringe plunger. Korra grabs his shirt collar with a force that knocks the wind out of his pipes. He lets go of Wan and uses that now free hand to fight Korra's grip.

Mr. Devi remembers he's still got the syringe and with lightening the speed, he's jabbing it into Korra's arm. Wan sees this and pulls at Mr. Devi's sleeve, jerking his arm back. The needle remains stuck in Korra's shoulder but she pays it little mind.

She lifts the man over her head and then torches of fire shoot from the bottoms of Korra's feet, taking Mr. Devi into the sky. The force of her flying with her grip on his collar is enough to cause Mr. Devi to choke and use both hands to desperately scrape and claw at the hand on his neck. Once a good twenty feet in the air, Korra tosses Mr. Devi as far as she can and doesn't bother to look where he lands.

"Mom!" Wan cries out.

Korra seeks out her son and sees one of the Red Lotus members has earth bent out of his hole. She reduces her flames and lowers back to the ground. Once she touches down she moves to blast her son's attacker with a gust so quick and powerful he doesn't have a chance to pull up any rock walls as a barrier. He rolls like a tumbleweed through the grove and over the side of one of the river banks, into the murky waters with a splash.

"You're arm!" Wan gasps, pointing to the syringe sticking out of his mother. He takes a few steps back, a bit intimidated by her blank blue eyes.

Korra feels for it and then removes it. Throwing it to the ground with enough force to shatter it. Her eyes return to her normal blue and she can focus on her son. She drops to her knees and holds out her arms. Wan doesn't hesitate to collapse into them.

"Mumma," Wan sobs, his fatigue and sadness bubbling over. "I'm so sorry." When Korra doesn't reply he pulls back slightly and sees her eyes are closed and her breathing is shallow. "Help!" Wan cries out, but it's so quiet now in Xai Bao's Grove, that he can only hear his echo. Wan wriggles out of his mother's embrace and guides her body to lie down.

"Korra?" A familiar male voice calls out and then a female. "Wan!"

"Over here! Help!" Wan cries back.

From a murky crimson fog by the edge of the grove, emerges Bolin and Ikki. Wan waves at them frantically, and they spy him right away.

"She needs help!"

Bolin and Ikki are at Korra's side in the flash.

"What happened?" Bolin asks, looking his friend over. She appears to be physically unharmed.

"A poison," Iroh starts, appearing at their side.

The three jump, not expecting the old man to be there.

"You tell the doctors it's Curare, they will know what to do. She did not receive the full dose, but she must be seen as soon as possible."

Bolin moves to scoop up Korra's body. "I was really hoping to be done running today, but I can't let my good buddy down." He prepares to start running in the direction of the portal when he hears the sound of vehicles approaching.

"Uh, I see police driving over here," Ikki says, not believing her own words.

"Oh thank goodness, Mako!" Bolin cries out. He adjusts Korra so he can wave to the approaching Satomobiles.

"You best get back on those and get them out of here as soon as possible," Iroh says, as he watches the vehicles approach. "The Tigerpillar will not take kindly to machinery like that in the Spirit World."

"We're getting on and turning them right back around!" Ikki squeaks gleefully. She takes Wan's hand and starts running towards them. Bolin rushes after them with Korra.

---

Korra's eyes open to blank whiteness and she has no clue where she is. Perhaps it was the afterlife she hazily thought to herself. She figures that's not so bad. She saved her son and left the Avatar state. That means life will continue for all, accept her. She wishes she could have seen Asami and the girls one last time before she left.

Korra moves her head to the side and her wife's face is fuzzily before her. She smiles. "Oh, good, I get to see you one more time."

Asami reaches out her hand and caresses Korra's cheek. She sleepily leans into the touch. "What are you talking about?"

"I get to say goodbye," Korra sighs.

Asami chuckles and smiles warmly. "Babe, you're not going anywhere."

Korra feels her body a bit more and pulls herself up with her abdominals, painfully slow. Her eyes get a better focus and she sees she is in a hospital, with Asami at her bedside. "I didn't die?"

Asami shakes her head. "You gave us quite the scare though. Fortunately, Iroh told us the poison so the doctors were ready with the treatment before you even arrived."

Korra tests her arms, but they feel like dead weight. Her legs too. "Am I?"

"No," Asami quickly replies, knowing exactly what her wife was worried about. "Heavy anesthesia, you've been asleep for a couple of days. The rest of you will start waking up soon too. They assured me."

"The children?"

"All fine, they are in the visitor room with Ikki and Pema. I wanted to get you up to speed before you saw them. The doctors said you'd be pretty confused."

Korra groans. "I am. Well, not anymore. But I was asleep for days? I have so many questions about what happened."

Asami rubs her wife's arm in an attempt to soothe her. "I'll give you the short of it and then bring in the kids, okay?"

Korra nods.

"While we drove you out of the Spirit World and to the hospital, the Republic City police rounded up all the Red Lotus members. Bolin, Ikki, and I had to describe all the different places we left them. It took a couple of trips but we believe all are accounted for. The survivors are to stand trial, but there is concern they will continue to operate in the Spirit World. Chi Blocking is a possible solution that is being looked into."

"And Zaheer?"

Asami purses her lips. "That's kind of hazy, you'll have to ask Jinora for the details. The Tigerpillar apparently vomited his spirit into the physical world and it burned up. His body remains at the prison, his eyes closed like he's meditating, but they are saying no one is home. President Zhu Li is not sure how to proceed."

"It was his spirit that was the biggest threat," Korra sighs. "I'll let the government deal with that one."

"You'll likely be roped into it. But Jinora will be right there with you."

Korra groans and gives a little nod. "And you? Are you okay?"

Asami's eyes get watery. "That day was awful. But we got through it. And that is all that matters to me."

Korra wishes she could move her arms to comfort her wife, but they felt like heavy logs at her side. She settled for leaning her head closer. Asami smiles and brings her forehead to her wife's.

***A few weeks later***

Pema pressed everyone to come together for a Sunday dinner and wouldn't take no for an answer. A lot had happened the past couple weeks, bad and good and she felt it was time the group all got back together.

Once everyone was seated at the table, she rose for a toast. "Thank you all for coming to dinner. We all know the bad that has happened, but I want to celebrate the good. A cheers to Mako for his promotion. Then one to Lin for retiring. When do you leave?"

"Two days, now that all the Zaheer crap is sorted." Lin snorts and looks around the table. "If anyone is interested in some free furniture, come talk to me. I'm not taking much with me."

Pema raises her glass and then continues. "Then of course Jinora, congratulations on your new role as head of Air Nation. Don't worry, I will still be acting as 'Den Mother' until Jinora starts acting more like one herself. And my dear husband, I wish you a happy retirement. Now, I need you to try and actually relax."

Tenzin grumbles a little.

"And lastly my daughter Ikki and her co-star Lusa." Pema gestures her class toward Ikki and Lusa, who both pinken. "Whose big new mover has started filming this week!"

The room claps for all involved and digs into the meal. Side conversations start and soon you can't distinguish any of them in the din.

"Thank you for not making a fuss, Mom," Meelo says, patting Pema's hand on the table next to him.

"Whatever terms you need, we're just happy to have you join us for Sunday dinner," Pema beams.

"I promise, I'll try to make it a more regular thing when we're docked in the city."

Jinora smiles to herself as she watches her brother begin to chat more freely with his parents and Rohan. She truly hopes he keeps his word. She looks over to her sister and new girlfriend slash co-star and wonders how messy that is going to get for her. Jinora was also a little envious that despite going for messy relationships, they came easy to Ikki. But she planned to not dwell on things she wasn't, especially now that she had new information on the Spirit World changes and how Zaheer affected them.

She had research she needed to conduct, seminars she needed to update, and a nation to run. These things gave her purpose and pleasure, she knew that is where her focus needed to lie.

Asami of course sat next to her beloved friend Ikki to get acquainted with her new girlfriend. Lusa was very enthusiastic, reminding her a little bit of Ikki when she was younger.

"I have a lot of questions for Avatar Korra, but also I want to make this role my own. Does that make sense?" Lusa gushes, leaning on the table, making very intense eye contact with Asami. "Like I want to know everything about you and Avatar Korra's relationship, but also nothing."

"Don't worry," Ikki starts, putting a hand on Lusa's thigh. "I told her she cannot talk to Korra about this.

Lusa nods. "Yes, Avatar Korra's off limits."

"Thank you for that. I am happy to answer questions, within reason."

"Of course," the two younger girls reply in succession.

"Mom, I think I want to join the Pai Sho club at school," Wan chirps to Asami from across the table. "Rohan used to be in it and is going to be an assistant coach soon!"

Asami directs her attention to her son. "I don't see why not."

"I warn you," Rohan starts. "They are very committed. It would keep him after school."

"You keep your grades up and I have no problem."

Rohan and Wan grin at each other. "Amazing!"

Korra was mostly tuning out of a long rambling story of Bumi's that she, Mako, Opal, and Bolin were roped into when Jinora catches her eye. The younger woman motions her head away from the table. Korra quickly excuses herself and they dip out of the dining hall and into the courtyard.

"Thanks, I love Bumi, but sometimes," Korra sighs.

"Sometimes, has turned into every time these days." Jinora chuckles a little. "He's living in another era, back when he was on the high seas full time."

"Poor thing."

"Don't worry, he is well cared for here."

The two women make their way down to the beach, not needing to communicate that was where they were headed. The sea was a little rough that night, the water crashed on the beach and then raked its way through the rocks, creating a crackle and popping noise.

They stop a little ways up the shore, to avoid getting wet. They both look out into the dark water.

"I wanted to personally tell you, Zaheer passed," Jinora says quietly. "He hung on longer than any of us could have imagined."

Korra bows her head. "And we're sure he's… gone?"

"If I wasn't there to see it, I don't know if I would have believed it."

"So a meditated spirit cannot pass through a portal. I never really thought about what would happen if one did. But why would you if you meditated inside."

Jinora looks over to Korra. "Iroh called it severance. He knew that's what the Tigerpillar aimed to do."

"So the same would happen to Iroh if he walked through a portal?" Korra asks.

"I don't know, he doesn't have a body anymore, but his spirit may still dissipate outside of that world. I have so many new questions about the Spirit World after this and from what you told me that Zaheer did in there. I've only barely scratched the surface."

"But we were right, it had changed."

Jinora smiles. "Thanks for sticking with me on that for all these years."

"I can never thank you enough for all that you've done for me Jinora." Korra feels her words catching in her throat. "You've saved my life many times. And now you're all grown up and leading the Air Nation. I'm so proud of you."

Jinora rushes to Korra's arms. It had been a long time since they hugged, but at that moment they felt like teenagers again.

***Three months later***

"You ready Buddy? We're going to be late!"

Wan looks in the mirror one last time. He wanted to look nice, but not too formal, which he felt he achieved. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the Watertribe necklace he donned for Tuktuk.

He honestly hadn't thought much about the man who pretended to be his father. He did think of Yorru sometimes. There were things he missed about their relationship. Moments when Wan felt the man genuinely wanted to teach him about life and the Spirit World. He hadn't returned there since the incident. He knew Zaheer was gone, but he still half expected to find him waiting in Xai Bao's Grove if Wan ever did meditate back.

Wan sets those thoughts aside, today he was meeting his biological father. He didn't want any of his past experiences clouding this one.

"I'm ready!" He calls back.

The family takes the short drive to Avatar Korra Park to meet up with Kuak, the kid's biological father, and his wife. Asami was able to track down their donor fairly easily, the difficult part was convincing Kuak's newly pregnant wife, Uki. It took a bit of negotiating back and forth for a couple of weeks. Asami learned the wife was mostly concerned about their neighbors learning about the unconventional family arrangement, so she offered an all-expense paid trip to Republic City. That sealed the deal because Uki had all wanted to visit Republic City.

Asami drops Korra and the kids at the park with the picnic baskets, blankets, and bag of toys and goes to pick up Kuak and Uki from their hotel.

"I wanna sit by Mumma's statue!" Ai chirps gleefully, hoisting up the basket she was assigned to carry.

Korra lets out a sigh. She never got used to that giant monument to herself. "We're going to sit at the picnic tables by the pond. This is easier on Mumma's old bones."

"Mumma, you're not old!"

Korra smiles, happy her daughter doesn't think she's an old fart yet. She adjusts Kimmi to her left hip and picks up the blankets with her right. They are still about as much as she can comfortably hold on to with that arm after the incident. The injection side of her body was taking a little longer to recover, but nothing she didn't feel she could overcome.

Wan carries the remaining basket and bag of toys and the four make their way over to the picnic table area and start setting up for their guests. Asami picked out a smorgasbord of treats hoping some of the finger foods will be to their liking. She did go to a local watertribe grocery too for candied sea prunes, to have at least one sure thing.

The visit was a little awkward at first, but Korra and Asami thought ahead and that's why they brought games as an icebreaker. Now Korra, Wan, Ai, and Kuak were playing a team-based rice-filled bag toss game. Korra and Ai are on one team, and Wan and Kuak are on the other.

Asami stayed at the picnic table to hold Kimmi and keep Uki company. At some point Uki asked to hold Kimmi, for practice, she bashfully explained, and Asami happily passed her over.

"So, do you think this is something we could talk about doing again in the future?" Asami starts carefully. "After you have the baby and get settled?" She and Korra had discussed the possibility of asking for another visit if things went well today. Asami figured it would be best now to ask for that opportunity.

"We can talk again after the baby. I was honestly surprised he told me about you all. But Kauk said since getting sober he wanted to be honest with people. He didn't want me to marry him with any secrets." Uki sighs and bounces Kimmi a little. "Watertribe men can be like a frozen lake, you have no idea how thick the ice is. But not Kuak."

"What's a typical watertribe woman like?" Asami asks playfully.

Uki smiles knowingly. "Strong."

Asami seeks Korra out in the park, showing Ai how to aim better. She really couldn't think of a better word to describe her wife, inside and out.

The late morning turned to late afternoon and it was time to say goodbye. Kuak and Uki were going to spend another few days in the city but on their own. They didn't want a first visit to be too much, for any of them.

Kuak and Uki hailed a cab, leaving the Sato family to pack up their vehicle and go home. They got back just as the sun started to set. Wan and Ai scurried inside, each carrying an empty picnic basket. Asami pulls out the rest of their gear from the back seat while Korra fetches Kimmi from her car seat. They meet by the trunk.

"I think that went really well," Korra says, breaking the comfortable silence.

Asami smiles. "I think so too."

Korra brings her cheek to Kimmi's soft head. "It's kinda nice knowing a little bit more about him. I'm so glad he's doing well and going to have a family of his own."

"Uki seems like a very understanding woman. He's found a good partner."

Korra peeks up at her wife from Kimmi's tufts of hair. "But I have the best."

Asami saunters over to Korra and Kimmi. She wraps her arms around Korra's waist, pulling the three of them closer together. Korra takes her face off the baby's head and lifts it toward her wife's. Their lips softly press against each other, as they know they will thousands of times more, in this lifetime. They think about their love carrying over into the Avatar's next life as it has for every incarnation and through their children and the people they choose to love. On and on.

"Moms!" Ai calls out, interrupting the couple's private musings. "Enough kisses, it's time for dinner!"

Korra and Asami look up and see their daughter and son in the doorway, waiting for them to come inside. They both chuckle and move to their home. The door closes on a good day and they all hope for many more.

The end.

---

I started this story in 2015 and I never imagined I would be still be writing it nine years later. My new years resolution was to finish it. How the story ended, was the goal, many elements plotted out from the very beginning, but then stories have a way of getting longer. A little behind the scenes secret, one of my biggest musical inspirations while writing is The Secret of Nimh ost, especially for part 3.

Thank you TheToasterMarketingBoard for helping me edit it for many years and teaching me enough (plus grammarly) to help edit it. If you noticed a decline in quality, that's because they were so good, they made my story better. Thank you to all who have continued to read this over the years or just gotten started.

I am off to my own next chapter and I hope you are on your way to yours.

-Registeredmember