"Korra! What happened!?"

"W-We got separated," she stammered out. "When I found her again, Unalaq had her. He'd said he'd only release her if I opened the portal, but then when I did a dark spirit took her away!"

"Where?"

"I don't know!", she cried. "Tenzin, I'm so sorry!"

"No...no, this can't be happening. I never should have let her go."

"What do we do?" Bolin was just thinking aloud, but it spurned Tenzin into action.

"We need to get her back to the temple," he told them as he picked up Jinora and ran with her over to Oogi. "We need to put her in water so we can keep her body stable. Kya, can you-"

His sister needed no further instruction. She pulled the water from her pouch and surrounded Jinora's head with it, while Bumi took the reins and flew them back on Oogi, and Tenzin stayed right by his daughter's side. All Bolin could think to do was drape his arm around Korra, who he hoped wasn't blaming herself.

Pema was distraught when they came back and explained what happened, but she kept her composure for the sake of her other children. Next they took Jinora into the bathroom where Kya could heal her in the tub, Tenzin next to her, with Korra and Bolin sitting nearby.

"So what's the new plan?," Bumi asked, his normal silliness absent from his voice.

"We need to get back into the Spirit World and find Jinora as soon as possible. If we can't save her in time...she won't be able to come back to her body. And if she can't, her spirit will..." Tenzin put his palm over his eyes, unable to finish his sentence.

"But how are we going to get in?", Bolin asked. "Only Korra and Jinora have been able to enter the Spirit World."

"We can all do it if we use one of the portals," Korra told him. "Unalaq said that's how he did it."

"You believe him?," Bumi asked.

"Yes. He was able to waterbend in there. With that and the dark spirits...it wasn't a fair fight."

"That means we'll need to go to the South Pole though... he'll be ready for us."

"It doesn't matter!", Tenzin snapped. "Whatever it takes to save Jinora."

"We all want to help her, baby brother. But it's gonna take more than the five of us and your bison if we're going up against an army."

"...Then what do you suggest?"

"We go back to Republic City. Get President Raiko to deploy the United Forces."

"Back to square one," Korra grumbled.

"But the situation has changed," Tenzin reminded her, starting to come around to Bumi's idea. "Before it was only the civil war, but Vaatu's release would wreak havoc across all the nations. He'll have to act!"

"Biggest navy in the world," Bumi told them. "Should be enough to get us through that pesky southern blockade."

"Should we try attacking in the North to enter the portal there?," Bolin suggested. "Catch them off guard?"

"If that's the only other way into the Spirit World we have, he'll reinforce defenses there too. Wouldn't do any good. Besides, if we go South, we'll be able to get help from the locals."

"And I promised my Dad I'd bring him help," Korra added.

"So it's settled then?", Kya asked everyone.

"Yes," Tenzin announced. "We'll go to Republic City and get the support of the United Forces, and then head to the Southern Portal to get into the spirit world.

While the two siblings talked about how to get Jinora ready to travel, Bolin remembered that going back to Republic City would mean facing Mako again. All this time, and he still hadn't figured out what to say to him; Korra showing up and trying to stop the end of the world had put a hitch in those thoughts. He'd have to figure it out on the ride back on Oogi. Hopefully Mako was willing to hear him out.

(-)

Mako had finally gotten comfortable, which was hard to do on a prison bed, and was seconds away from falling asleep until someone banged on his cell door.

"You gotta visitor."

He didn't recognize who the voice belonged to, and his door opened to reveal his guest.

"Chief Beifong?"

His boss could often be hard to read, with her resting facial expressions usually expressing...displeasure. But there was no misinterpreting her current mood.

"Hold still, idiot."

"W-"

Lin moved faster than Mako would even get a word out, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other placed not-gently on his rebroken nose.

*Crack*

"Agh!" Mako fell back, almost following his first instinct to clutch his "fixed" nose, but he stopped when he remembered the pain that would cause, instead deciding to wipe away the blood that was trickling out his nostrils. "What kind of warning was that?"

"Be glad I bothered with one at all, since you don't seem inclined to listen to them."

He'd earned that. "Chief, I'm sorry."

"What for? Sorry for lying to my face about taking time off to look for your brother? Or sorry about bringing known criminals into an investigation you were specifically told to stay away from?"

"B-both," he stammered. "I...did you tell Bolin? Is he coming?"

Lin sighed and shook her head. "You didn't look for him at all, did you?"

Mako didn't answer. He wasn't going to lie and dig this hole further.

"You'd know he wouldn't be here if you had. He left with Tenzin and his family a few hours after your little dust up with each other. It took one call to find that out."

"I know how this looks bad, but you gotta believe me, I-"

"I don't know why I should trust a single word that comes out of your mouth."

"I get it, and I get why you signed that warrant, but-"

Lin's brow furrowed. "What warrant?"

"The one Lu and Gang showed me when they searched my apartment," he explained, slightly confused.

"I never signed a warrant for that."

"...Then it must've been forged." Mako put it together as he got to his feet. "You see? I've been set up! We gotta-"

"Sit. Down." He followed Lin's demand. "I will look into this. You've already done more than enough. Save the conspiracy theories for your guest."

Lin wasn't his visitor? But then who was..."Tahno? What are you doing here? And what's with the fancy duds?"

The waterbender took the opportunity to flex in his light blue suit while he explained. "They're for the premier of the big finale for 'Nuktuk: Hero of the South.' Everyone's gonna be there except for, you know, you... because you're in jail and stuff."

"Thanks for the reminder."

Unbothered by Mako's annoyance, Tahno continued. "Anyway, I heard about your little predicament, and I thought I'd drop by and give you a little housewarming gift, help brighten up the room.

Mako took the poster, and read the autograph: "Dear Mako, Nuktuk says keep smiling!" He looked up, and that smug smile on his face matched the one on the poster, which he rolled up and placed next to him.

"Careful with that, it's a collectors item," Tahno warned.

"Did you seriously come by just to give me a poster?"

"No. You know, I had some time to think after you visited my apartment, and burned most of my body. I realized something: This is a good chance for us to become friends. So I'm going to show up here as often as I can. Even though I'm a member of high society now and you're a criminal."

So, he was here to rub it in then. "I am not a criminal!"

"He said, in his jail cell. In a prison. Where criminals are."

"I was set up!", Mako replied. "Varrick knew I had figured out he was behind the Cultural Center bombing, and he was hiring gangsters to pose as Northern soldiers to get Republic City to join the war. That's why he had me arrested!"

Tahno paused for a moment, and then the grin came back. "I see what you're doing. You're going for the insanity defense. Smart."

"No! I'm trying to warn you that Varrick isn't what he seems. Where's Asami? I need to talk to her, explain all this."

The waterbender stopped his mocking to be serious for a moment. "I asked her if she wanted to come, but she said it was too hard for her. That it reminds her of her dad."

Mako had stood up to argue, but the news of his girlfriend (if he was lucky) made him slump down on his bed. He'd been prepared for anger or distrust from Asami, but not this. After her dad had been arrested, she'd confided to him about what had happened. Her own father, the only family she'd had left, tried to kill her. And he'd brought her back to that moment.

"Yyyyep."

"Shut up." Mako wasn't in the mood. At all.

"Okay then. I will just leave you with that information while I head off to my big mover premier."

"Hang on." Tahno stopped his jaunt and turned around. If my theory about Varrick is right, something might go down tonight at your premiere. Just try and keep your eyes peeled, okay?"

"Uhhhh, sure thing. Then he walked out, not even bothering to wait until he was out of earshot before uttering "Yeah, that insanity defense is definitely gonna work."

(-)

Not a single person on Oogi's back got a lick of rest on the long ride back from the Eastern Air Temple to Republic City. Once they arrived on Air Temple Island, they left Kya to continue tending to Jinora with Pema and the rest of the children, while everyone else went to look for Raiko.

They'd heard from one of the guards that Tahno's mover series was having its grand finale tonight, so that was the first place they looked. The rebuilt arena lit up the sky as expected, but what caught their eye was the massive police presence as they got closer.

Asami was the first to notice them when they landed, and ran over with Tahno to greet her friend. "Korra! Where have you been?"

"Long story, I'll tell you later. What happened here?"

"Varrick tried to kidnap the president."

"Who tried to kidnap the huh?"

"Varrick had some whole schemed cooked up," Tahno explained to Bolin. "He was gonna kidnap Raiko and blame it on the North so that United Forces would intervene in the war on behalf of the South."

"Is he okay?"

"Probably not, since he just got arrested."

"I meant is Raiko okay, not Varrick?," Korra clarified."

"Oh. Yeah, he's over there."

When the President noticed them the man extended his greetings to Tenzin and Bumi, but he was noticeably less enthusiastic to see Korra. She didn't acknowledge it though, and continued forward. "Sir, I know I've asked for your help before, but things have changed. Unalaq doesn't just wanna take over the South anymore. He's going to destroy the whole world."

"Wait, he really does have a doomsday device?," Tahno panicked.

"Unalaq allied himself with a dark spirit called Vaatu to release it during Harmonic Convergence, and that's only a few days away", Korra explained. "We need the United Forces' help if we're going to stop it."

"And what proof do you have that Unalaq has joined forces with this Vaatu?"

"Excuse me?"

Tenzin stepped in to defuse the situation. "Mister President, I believe Korra. Whatever personal issues you have with her, I'll remind you that she is the Avatar, and you should respect that enough not to call her integrity into question like that."

"I would say that respect goes both ways, and that integrity tends to get questioned when a certain Avatar tried to undermine my authority and recruit my city's military behind my back."

Tenzin gave Korra a sideways glance, not knowing her past transgression, but he maintained his support. "Raiko, my daughter is trapped in the spirit world thanks to Unalaq, and her life along with the fate of the world is on the line right now."

"...You have my sympathies, Tenzin, but my answer for support must remain the same."

"What?!"

"Are you kidding?!"

"I'm completely aware of the seriousness of this situation, Avatar Korra, and that's why my troops are remaining here. If the world is going to be thrown into chaos as you claim, I need to protect my citizens."

"Sir, the United Forces are to help get through the Southern Blockade, not for Vaatu," Bumi explained. "We can't get past it without your help, and no army in the world is going to be able to stop the dark spirits."

The president still didn't seem convinced, but then Tahno stepped forward. "Sir, Nuktuk needs your help. I know you love helping people."

"Son, I appreciate you saving my life and I'm a big fan of your work, but my decision is final."

"Never should've saved that guy," Tahno muttered as the man walked off.

"Now what?"

"Good question," Asami told Bolin, folding her arms and glaring at him.

"Oh, hey Asami! It's...good to see you?"

"You sure about that?", she asked, arching her brow.

"Did I miss something here?", Korra wondered.

"Ask him."

"IIIIIIII might've had a fight with Mako when I found out he told Raiko about the whole secret deal we had with Iroh."

"That's one way of putting it."

"Hang on a second," Bolin told her as he looked around. "Where is Mako?"

Asami and Tahno exchanged nervous glances before answering. "He's...in jail."

(-)

Mako's first full day in jail was...a very stressful one. He followed his instincts and kept his head down and mouth shut, but it only felt like a matter of time until things went wrong in here.

He knew full well that cops tended to fare poorly in jail, but on top of that he had the Triads to worry about after what happened with Ping and Shin, along with the possibility of Varrick taking more extreme measures in terms of keeping him from sniffing around his company.

When they were all sent back to their cells after a fight broke out in the cafeteria, it was a weight off his shoulders not to be looking over them constantly, but it was offset by the feeling of "dinner" sitting in his stomach like a brick. He'd eaten worse, but still.

"You got another visitor."

At this hour? Wasn't it about to be lights out? And who was coming to visit? Had Tahno come back to twist the knife already? Were they sent to make sure he kept quiet for good? Or had his public defender finally shown up?

"Hey, Mako."

"Bolin?"

He was somewhat untensed seeing his brother, but it wasn't a happy reunion either. "So, how was your big family vacation?"

"You...know about that?"

"Yeah. Well?"

"Wasn't much fun, honestly," Bolin lamented, leaning against the tiny sink Mako had in his cell. "A lot of stuff happened."

"Can't be worse than what happened to me."

"Wanna bet?"

"I'm in jail right now!"

"Jinora's trapped in the Spirit World and Korra's Uncle is trying to release an ancient dark spirit that's gonna destroy the world in a few days if we can't stop him."

Mako had to admit that was worse than his situation, but Bolin didn't press it any further. "I'm sorry, though. You know, for..." Bolin gestured at his face, which was still a little bruised, and Mako knew what he meant.

"This wasn't you...or not entirely. Anyway, I'm sorry too."

"You had orders," Bolin dismissed.

"Still, I promised you I wouldn't say anything," Mako reminded him. "That should've come first, before everything else. I was worried you'd get in trouble, and-"

"You were just looking out for me?" There was definitely some annoyance in voice, but he had a small smile on his face this time. "It's okay, I get it. I mean, it's gotta be hard to stop after you've been doing it for ten years straight, right?"

"Bo, listen I-"

"I mean, let's be honest, if I hadn't had you looking out for me...I never would've survived on my own. And it's not like you really needed my help out there."

"What are you talking about? There was no way I could've done all those food scams we did by myself."

"Like it couldn't have been that hard to get some other kid to do it?"

"I wouldn't have been able to trust them like I can trust you. Besides, you were the one that got us off the streets. You got us the money to set us up in that apartment. You convinced Toza to help teach us probending. We'd still be out on the streets if you hadn't done that."

After a brief silence, Mako spoke again. "Bolin, I didn't try to protect you so much because I thought you needed it."

He'd stopped leaning on the sink and was now sitting on the floor, up against the wall. "Yeah? Then why did you?"

"...I promised Mom and Dad I would."

The skepticism vanished from Bolin's face. "W-when?"

"We were about seven and five, I think? They'd taken us to see this play about Avatar Aang, 'The Boy in the Iceberg'. The whole thing was terrible, but you were obsessed with it. You kept running around everywhere with your arms out like you were on a glider. Eventually you got the idea to make one yourself out of a couple brooms and some curtains, I think? Anyway, we went up to the roof of our apartment building. I didn't think it would work but I wanted to see what would happen, and you were all ready to jump when Mom and Dad came up and yanked you down off the ledge."

Mako could tell by Bolin's face that he was trying to think back on it, but ultimately couldn't remember. "Then what happened?"

"They were furious with me. That I was just gonna stand there and watch while you could've broken your neck. They told me I was your older brother, so it was my job to look out for you. Then...Dad told me that you and I were family. And family is supposed to look out for each other. Family is supposed to protect each other and keep each other safe, and help and support each other even when they're mad. They wanted to make sure I knew that...in case someday they weren't around."

Bolin wiped his eyes and Mako could feel himself holding back tears. "Why didn't you ever tell me about that?"

"It's...hard to talk about them."

"I miss them too, Mako."

"I know that, Bo, but I just-"

"But I don't remember them that well, okay? I didn't get that much time with them, not that you did, I...just don't want it to end up being me trying to remember them and..."

"And what?"

"...Only be able to picture you. I don't want to forget them." Mako let what Bolin told him sink in as his little brother buried his face in his bent knees.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?", Bolin asked, looking up in disbelief. "It's not your fault."

"It's not yours either", Mako sighed. "We should've talked about this a long time ago. We're not little kids anymore."

"We had bigger things to worry about," Bolin said, getting up and sitting next to Mako on the bed. "Besides, were we ever little kids? I mean, really?"

He had a point. All the things they'd gone through that night in that alley and afterwards in the streets, even what they were dealing with now, no "normal" kids would ever be able to understand. A good day for them would be having fun at school and spending time hanging out with friends. A good day for him and Bolin would be having something edible to eat or being able to sleep that wasn't cold or wet.

"I don't know, Bolin. But we got through it, together. And we'll get through whatever comes next. Together." After all, they were brothers.