Chapter Text
Third POV
Korra launches herself forward with a blast of air.
Before Unalaq can react—
THUD!
Her fist lands square on his face, sending him tumbling across the ground. He rolls several times before digging his feet into the earth.
Growling, Unalaq sweeps both arms outward.
A massive ring of water rises around him before crashing toward Korra.
She stomps the ground.
The earth beneath her glows.
A river of lava erupts forward.
Water meets molten rock.
The battlefield disappears inside an explosion of steam.
Bolin: "YOU SAW THAT!? Korra just lavabent! That's so AWESOME!"
Kya: "Since when can she do that?"
Tenzin: "She can’t. The past Avatars are lending her their experience."
The steam clears.
Korra bursts through it on an air spout.
She drives both feet into Unalaq's chest again.
He flies like a rag doll and desperately keeps himself from spinning by grabbing the ground with the ice hooks on his arms.
He focuses on nearby water around him.
Water begins to rise—
Too late.
Korra stretches her arms and twists the air around his hands.
His arms bend in an unnatural way, sending the sound of cracking bones.
Unalaq: "AAAGH!"
His joints bent painfully out of position.
Unalaq: "YOU ARE NOTHING! A RELIC OF THE PAST! I WILL LEAD THIS WORLD INTO A NEW ERA AND I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY SOME LITTLE GIR—"
CRACK.
Silence.
Every man present froze.
Every.
Single.
One.
Then every man in Korra's group instinctively grabbed himself protectively.
Mako winces.
Mako: "...Ouch."
Bolin: "I felt that."
Desna: "...I felt that."
Hasook: “KORRA, THERE ARE THINGS YOU SHOULDNT DO EVEN TO YOUR WORST ENEMY!”
Unalaq makes a sound no language has ever translated.
His knees buckle.
Korra catches his head with one hand.
Her other palm presses against the imprint of Vaatu on his chest.
Golden light erupts between them.
Korra: "IT'S OVER."
Brilliant light erupted between them.
Darkness began tearing free from Unalaq's body.
Like a parasite being ripped from flesh.
The light became blinding.
Nobody noticed four tiny fragments of darkness streak away.
Three shot toward Mako, Jinora, and Eska.
The fourth vanished through the northern portal.
Mako: "Brrr."
He rubs his arms.
Mako: "That felt... weird. Like something slimy just crawled through me."
Vaatu: (Get used to it. We won.)
Jinora: "Since we're not rampaging through the Spirit World, I guess you kept your promise."
Vaatu: (Congratulations, you are a third group that was able to fuse with me without repeating history with every step.)
She quietly flexed her fingers.
Everything felt normal.
Unalaq collapses face-first.
Above everyone, Vaatu's enormous form twists violently.
His voice and form breaks apart.
Vaatu: "WhAt... iS... hApPeNiNg..."
For a brief second his gaze locked onto the three reincarnators.
Then onto the strange energy flowing through them.
Everything clicked.
The truth.
Vaatu: "YOU... YOU ARE—"
He never finishes.
Korra launches herself upward.
Great rings of spirit water surround Vaatu from every direction.
Golden light floods his body.
Korra: "Begone."
She closes her fist.
Korra: "You lost."
Vaatu: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
His scream echoes throughout the Spirit World.
Then...
Silence.
His darkness dissolves into countless golden particles drifting across the sky.
Korra lowers her head respectfully.
Korra: "Go in peace."
She reaches towards the portal.
Golden lightning dances between the two Spirit Portals.
As Harmonic Convergence ends, the energy slowly fades.
The portals separate once more.
The lights across the Spirit World settle.
Tenzin: "It's over..."
Bumi: flops onto the ground "I am never moving again."
Korra descends gently to the ground.
The glow in her eyes fades.
She smiles.
Korra: "It's over."
Before anyone else could react—
Mako rushed over, pulled her into a hug, and spun her around a few times.
Mako: "You were amazing!"
Korra laughs.
Bolin: "Amazing!? That was unbelievable! The lavabending, all those crazy moves..." He grinned. "I just wish Varrick had stayed to film it! It would've been the greatest mover ever!"
He folded his arms proudly.
Bolin: "...After the Nuktuk Chronicles, obviously."
Korra walks toward the twins.
Unalaq lies unconscious nearby. Foam leaves his mouth.
Korra: "Your father no longer has his power."
Hasook: "Or balls."
She hits Hasook in annoyance.
Korra: "But he still has to answer for everything he's done."
She looks down at him.
Desna: "Trust us, cousin."
His expression hardens.
Desna: "After everything he put us through... I'll gladly make sure he never see the light again."
Eska: "Agreed."
A tiny smile appears.
Eska: "I must admit..."
She looks down at Unalaq's unconscious body.
Eska: "...seeing him this pathetic, warms my heart."
Bolin awkwardly scratches the back of his head.
Bolin: "So... I was thinking."
Eska raises an eyebrow.
Bolin: "I'm not really a fan of long-distance relationships."
He smiles nervously.
Bolin: "How about you move to Republic City with me?"
Desna answers before Eska can.
Desna: "I don't think that's possible."
He sighs.
Desna: "Eska and I have to return home."
Eska gently pats his head.
Eska: "No."
She smiles softly.
Eska: "You have to return home.I won't chain you to me for another lifetime."
Desna lowers his eyes.
Desna: "But...What happened to us starting over?"
Eska hugs him tight.
Eska: "We are."
She smiles.
Eska: "I'll write every week. I'll visit every month. But I have my own path now."
She steps back.
She slips her fingers between Bolin's.
Eska: "Besides..."
She glances sideways at him.
Eska: "...my dear boy won't survive northern winters."
Bolin: "Heh..."
He laughs sheepishly.
Bolin: "Yeah... I prefer warmer places."
Desna slowly turns toward him.
Desna: "If you ever make my sister cry...I will force water through every hole in your body until you explode."
Bolin visibly pales.
Then smiles anyway.
He wraps an arm around Eska.
Bolin: "Don't worry, brother-in-law. I'll make her happy."
Desna blinks.
Desna: "...Who are you calling brother-in-law?"
Hasook: "Hahaha! That's such a cliché!"
Eska's eyes suddenly sparkle.
She grabs Bolin.
Eska: "Dear..."
Before he can react—
She crushes him against her chest.
Eska: "Did you just propose to me?"
Bolin's face disappeared into her bossom.
Bolin: "Mmph! Mmfff!"
Desna watched him desperately struggle for air.
A slow grin spreads across his face seeing his “brother-in-law” suffering.
Korra POV
As I walk toward the Northern Portal, I see Bumi sprint toward Bum-Ju.
Bumi: "Bum-Ju! You're okay!"
He drops to his knees and hugs the little spirit.
Bumi: "I missed you, little buddy."
Bum-Ju happily snuggles against him.
Tenzin walks over to me.
Tenzin: "That was an amazing display of Avatar power. You've fully mastered the Avatar State."
I shake my head and glance at my hands.
Korra: "No. All I did was let the past Avatars guide my body. They showed me just how much I still have to learn."
Tenzin smiles proudly.
Tenzin: "I see."
He looks toward the portals.
Tenzin: "Then why don't you close portals... and we'll finally go home?"
I smile.
Korra: "I won't."
He blinks.
Tenzin: "...What do you mean?"
I look at the two open portals.
Korra: "In a way... Unalaq was right."
He looks confused.
Korra: "The Avatar shouldn't be just a bridge between the two worlds."
I clench my fist.
Korra: "Avatar Wan made a mistake when he closed the portals."
I look around us.
Spirits circle peacefully around all of us.
Bum-Ju happily chases the stick Bumi throws.
Then my eyes drift toward my friends.
Mako is anxiously turning in circles, checking every inch of himself to make sure nothing strange happened after fusing with Vaatu.
Jinora and Hasook are laughing so hard they can barely stand.
Eska has Bolin still trapped in crushing hug while Desna watches the strange display with open curiosity.
I can't help smiling.
Korra: "Humans and spirits can coexist."
"It won't be easy..."
"...but someone very knowledgeable convinced me it's possible."
Tenzin places a hand on my shoulder.
Tenzin: "Then trust your instincts. There is nothing more I can teach you."
"You are the Avatar."
"Whatever your decision is..."
"...I'll support it."
I smile back before looking at everyone gathered around me.
My allies.
My friends.
My family.
The people who saved the world with me.
Korra: "Let's go home."
Asami POV
Inside the palace
Inhale.
Exhale.
Come on, Asami. You can do this.
I walk toward Korra and Mako.
Our shark-browed time traveler is still spinning in circles, checking every part of his body as if new eye or tail might suddenly appear.
Honestly, watching him spin around like a panicked otter-penguin is adorable.
Korra laughs.
Korra: "Come on, Mako. You won't grow a tail the moment you stop checking."
Mako points at himself.
Mako: "How can you be so sure?!"
I smile.
He really is cute when he panics.
Asami: "Korra's right. Nothing happened. Most people didn't even notice when the three of you united with Vaatu . I'm sure you're fine."
Mako sighs dramatically.
Mako: "Fine...I'll stop."
Korra grins.
Korra: "Shame. I was waiting until you started stripping 'just to make sure.'"
Mako rolls his eyes.
Mako: "Ha. Ha. Very funny."
Asami: "Oh, it is."
I take a breath.
"Anyway..."
Korra..."
"Since Mako's here..."
"...there's something I've been trying to tell you."
She turns toward me.
Korra: "Of course."
I swallow.
Asami: "While you were gone..."
"...Mako and I kissed."
"...More than once."
"And..."
"I was the one who started it a few times."
I brace myself.
Korra gasps dramatically.
Korra: "Whaaaaat?!"
"Really?"
"Asami!"
"How could you go behind your girlfriend's back like that?"
"Bad girl."
...
Wait A SECOND!
Asami: "Hold on!"
I slowly turn toward Mako.
He's suddenly very interested in one particular palace column.
Asami: "You knew?! And you didn't say anything?!"
Mako raises both hands.
Mako: "Don't look at me. She tricked me into admitting it."
Korra bursts into laughter before wrapping me in a hug.
Korra: "I needed to punish you for 'cheating'. And teasing you while you panicked...was incredibly satisfying."
Oh...
You little—
Asami: "That's it. I quit. Both of you are banned from my mansion."
Korra gasps theatrically.
Korra: "Oh no... Whatever shall we do?”
She looks at Mako and smiles mischeviously
"I mean I have an idea...but I want him to say it. We can't make every decision for you, mister."
Mako takes a deep breath.
He looks at both of us.
Then speaks.
Mako: "I'm... really bad at things like this."
"So I'm only saying it once."
"You two are the most amazing women I've ever known. I love both of you with all my heart. If you both have me...I'd like to be with you girls, not just as your friend anymore."
My eyes immediately fill with tears.
Korra grins before pulling him into a hug.
Korra: "I'd love that. But you made one mistake."
She pokes his chest.
Korra: "You're not attaching yourself to our relationship."
"If you're with us, you're our equal. And if you forget that, I will squeeze you until it gets through that thick skull."
I laugh through my tears and join the hug.
Asami: "She's right, mister."
"If you think of yourself as some kind of accessory..."
"...you're going to make both of us very angry."
Mako laughs.
Mako: "All right. I promise I'll be incredibly cheeky with both of you."
"And remember...You asked for it."
Before either of us can react—
Asami & Korra: "Eeep!"
That jerk just squeezed my butt!
Korra bursts into laughter.
Korra: "You'll pay for that later."
She kisses him on the cheek before stepping away.
Korra: "But first..."
"I have one more thing to do."
She walks off.
Mako and I watch her leave.
Without thinking, I intertwine my fingers with his.
He smiles and gently squeezes my hand.
Bolin suddenly slides between us.
Bolin: "With this, Team Avatar is basically one big family."
He points behind himself.
Bolin: "Only Hasook is sticking out as irrelevant."
His boot connects with Bolin's shin.
Hasook: "You wanna go, you overgrown baby!?"
Eska instantly steps in.
Eska: "Hey. Nobody hits my man."
She promptly punches Hasook in the face.
A second later all three of them are tangled together on the floor.
I'm... honestly not sure when Mako and I got dragged into it too.
But I'm fairly certain Eska was the one who pulled my hair.
She'd better prepare for a heel to the face.
Korra POV
Okay Korra, the war is over. Time to make a speech and explain how the world is going to change.
No pressure.
My parents and Tenzin's family stand behind me as I step forward.
Korra: "The war of the Water Tribes is over. Unalaq has been defeated, and the Northern fleet is returning home."
The crowd erupts into cheers.
Korra: "The Water Tribes will always be allies, but the Southern Tribe is now independent."
Even louder cheers.
Korra: "And the Southern Council of Elders has appointed my father, Tonraq, to be your new Chief!"
Dad walks forward and is greeted with thunderous applause.
I wait for it to settle.
Korra: "I've realized that even though we should learn from those who came before us, we must also forge our own path. That's why I've decided to keep the spirit portals open."
The cheering dies almost instantly.
Uh oh.
Korra: "Humans can now physically enter the Spirit World, and spirits will be free to roam ours. I will no longer be the bridge. Humans and spirits must learn to live together."
Silence.
Korra: "My mission will always be to use Raava's light to guide the world toward peace and balance. Harmonic Convergence has changed the world's energy. Things will never be the same again."
A few scattered claps.
A lot of worried faces.
Yeah... I was expecting that.
Citizen #1: "Does that mean you left open portals that allow monsters to possess us whenever they want?!"
Korra: "I know there are stories like that, but usually—"
Citizen #2: "Isn't the Spirit World basically the afterlife? Does that mean Ozai can come back?!"
Korra: "No! No, that's not how it—"
Citizen #3: "I don't want to live in a world where Koh the Face Stealer can knock on my porch!"
Citizen #4: "We're all doomed!"
Crowd: "BOOOO!"
Something inside me snaps.
I hit the podium stand with my fist.
Korra: "OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?!"
The entire crowd goes silent.
Korra: "I've been through a literal nightmare for months! I got kidnapped, nearly died, fought my uncle, fought the spirit of darkness, got blasted through a giant tree, and SAVED THE WORLD!"
Nobody says a word.
Korra: "And after all that, the first thing you do is complain?!"
Dad slowly covers his face.
Korra: "Forget it! I'm going to spend time with my friends, relax, and make out with my HOT girlfriend and my HANDSOME boyfriend! [Tonraq nearly chokes.] "
The crowd collectively freezes.
Korra: "That's right! This Avatar has two hands and I'm planning to use BOTH OF THEM!"
Dead silence.
Korra: "Goodbye!"
I stomp off the stage.
I need a lot more than just hugs right now.
Jinora POV
Well.
That went completely differently than I expected.
Somehow it was also much more satisfying.
Unfortunately, the crowd immediately starts shouting over each other, Korra and the rest of us.
I see Tonraq on his knees pale like ghost, foaming from his mouth while his wife is shaking him worried.
I guess learning you daughter is in poly relationship can destroy someone's mind.
Well that's not my problem.
I have bigger thing to fix.
Jinora: "Excuse me."
Nobody listens.
Jinora: "Excuse me!"
Still nothing.
I take a deep breath.
Jinora: "SHUUUUUUT UUUUUUUP!"
The entire plaza goes silent.
Good.
Jinora: "Thank you."
I clear my throat.
Jinora: "As I was saying, only a handful of humans end up in the Spirit World after death, usually under very specific circumstances. So no, Ozai is not going to show up and start conquering things."
The crowd relaxes slightly.
Jinora: "Most spirits also don't attack people for no reason. The same way most animals don't attack you unless threatened."
Jinora: "And Koh the Face Stealer is an extreme example. He's not the norm."
Jinora: "The Spirit World is not filled with Kohs any more than the human world is filled with serial killers."
A few people nod.
Jinora: "So while there will be challenges, we'll help keep everyone safe."
Hands immediately shoot into the air.
I narrow my eyes.
Jinora: "Any questions that are NOT about who I am to tell you what to do?"
Half of the hands go down.
Jinora: "And if any of you start insulting people, I will take my staff and shove it so far up your backside it comes out of your mouth."
Every remaining hand drops.
Immediately.
Two elders whisper to each other.
Elder #1: "Should we say something?"
Elder #2: "Absolutely not. She reminds me way too much of Katara."
I slowly look toward them.
Jinora: "I can hear you, you know."
The two elders instantly begin clapping.
Elder #1: "Wonderful speech."
Elder #2: "Very informative."
Jinora: "That's what I thought."
Mako POV
Korra’s house
Korra: "One."
Asami: "Two."
Hasook: "Three."
Team Avatar: "Cheers!"
Everyone drinks. Jinora sticks to juice.
Bolin leans back with a grin.
Bolin: "To saving the world again!"
Hasook: "To surviving one more catastrophe!”
I take a sip.
Mako: "Yeah, weak stuff. I won’t get drunk like this. "
I pause.
Mako: "Not that I can anyway. Stupid lighting bending side effects."
Jinora tilts her cup.
Jinora: "At least yours has alcohol. Mine is just juice. Stupid child body"
Eska glances at her.
Eska: "Fitting for someone your size, shorty."
She leans slightly closer.
Eska: "We could get you a bigger cup if you want."
Jinora narrows her eyes.
Jinora: "Don’t start."
I sigh.
Eska just loves making fun of her.
Well, it's not like I am not a fan of it too.
Jinora looks at me.
Jinora: "Hey… how is your eye now?"
I touch the eyepatch.
Mako: "Oh this? Vaatu said part of my soul got cracked. It won’t heal."
Mako: "But on the bright side, while I’m still blind… it looks normal. So the eyepatch is optional now."
Jinora studies me.
Jinora: "You should keep it. It gives you a rough edge."
I smirk slightly.
Mako: "Maybe I will."
Korra leans forward.
Korra: "How did your soul even get damaged?"
I stiffen.
Asami follows.
Asami: "Yeah. Jinora and Eska are fine."
Jinora nods.
Jinora: "I’m curious too. That is way too unusual."
Silence falls.
Even the celebration outside feels distant now.
I set the cup down.
I promised to stop hiding things.
I guess it's time for confession.
Mako: "It’s a long story."
Mako: After everything… I crawled back to Vaatu. And told him to send their souls somewhere else. To place when they were dead for a minute or two. Before anything happened."
I swallowed.
Mako: To let them think it was nothing more than a horrible nightmare."
Silence.
It’s heavy enough that I almost want to take it back or just to hide my head in the sand.
I wait for anger. For disgust. For anything.
Bolin stands up and walks out without a word.
Jinora: "I need some air."
She leaves just like him.
The door shuts.
I stare at the floor.
Mako: "…I deserve whatever you’re going to sa-"
Before I can finish—
Korra hugs me.
Asami follows immediately after.
Korra: (muffled)"You didn’t have to carry that alone."
Asami: "What is it with you and thinking you have to die inside for everyone else?"
My throat tightens.
I don’t answer right away.
Mako: "I was scared… of what you’d think."
Hasook scratches the back of his head.
Hasook: "Dude… you’re my best friend. I don’t understand half the spiritual stuff you or Jinora do—but you could’ve leaned on us."
Eska stands.
Eska: "We’ve all made sacrifices. Some uglier than others. You don’t need to be bloody martyr. Let us carry some of the guilt too. We are in this together after all."
She looks toward the door.
Eska: "I’ll find Bolin."
Hasook follows.
Hasook: "I’ll chase Jinora."
I start to stand.
Mako: "I should—"
Hasook: "Oh no, you don’t. Sit. Let us handle it."
He points at Korra and Asami.
Hasook: "You stay here and let these two hammer it into your head that you’re allowed to lean on us and not only the other way."
They leave.
The room gets quieter.
Korra looks at me.
Korra: "How do you feel?"
I exhale slowly.
Mako: "Exhausted."
Pause.
Mako: "But… relieved you know. I... was scared that immediately after the happiest moments of my life I ruined it again."
Asami tightens her hug.
Asami: "Good. Because you’re not doing that alone again. If you want to do something dangerous, you need to inform us first."
A small smile slips out of me.
Mako: "Good luck stopping me. I’m more stubborn than Korra when I want to be."
Beat
Mako: "…Can I just lie down for a bit?"
Korra nods.
Korra: "Yeah, We all need rest sooner or later. It was looong fight."
Asami doesn’t let go.
Asami: "How many times did we end up leaning on you, anyway?"
I didn’t answer.
My eyes close on their own.
Vaatu: (You should know, I wont accept any failures)
Mako: (Good, because I refuse to fail either them on this world)
And for the first time in a long time…I allow myself to drift off.
Korra POV
Mako was out within minutes.
Guess telling us really did lift that weight off his shoulders.
…Still.
I’ve got one more thing to do.
I gently shift Mako’s head onto Asami’s lap.
Korra: "Keep him like that. There’s someone I need to talk to."
Asami: "Okay. I will."
Asami: "But you better come back soon, or he’s going to wake up sad he didn’t get to see your pretty face. Just like me~"
I snort.
I really want to just sit here and kiss her.
But this can’t wait.
Korra: "Suuure, babe. I will."
I stepped out of the tent, sending my girlfriend last wink.
Outside, everyone is celebrating. Laughing. Talking. Relief everywhere.
Our allies. Our friends. Our chaos.
I walk past it all.
My eyes drift upward.
The sky feels… different now.
I can't describe it any other way than its just...right
Korra: "Well then… time for us to talk, other me."