PS : I am sorry for such a long delay on writing this short end piece for the long story I wrote. I am so thankful to each and every one of you for being with me. So with this episode I will complete "Love burns brighter" as a whole... I could continue writing further because there are so many loose ends which could continue for a longer story. But it all depends on your comments whether I will continue further or not. Thank you so much and I hope you will like the ending. You may feel the ending is rather abrupt and rushed but that's how it's supposed to be...

As usual this may contain errors.

Thank you everybody...

A heavy rain of blood and water began to fall all over the republic city and it went on for days. The sky was permanently covered with a strange gloom and drizzling weather. Citizens of the republic city who were taking refuge in the shelter had slowly begun to return to their daily lives. Varrick & Zhu Li had released their captured footage and photographs to mass public through newspapers and other media. Finally it was clear that if it weren't for avatar Korra, there wouldn't be a republic city anymore. Soon after the republic city became aware with her actions with solid evidence it had begun to reach the other parts of the world. Finally the world had come to realize the importance of having the Avatar. She was the only person who could simply stand against the destruction of the celestial object.

She did what she is supposed to do. Since that fateful day no one had heard about Korra. Asami, Jinora and Zaheer left with the avatar and that was it.

Republic city authorities had launched a special team of scientists along with Varrick's supervision towards the impact zone for further investigation. No one knows what really crashed in to republic city waters that day. Korra tried to stop it and she failed... but she managed to stop its devastative power from reaching the city.

A week later...

Air Temple Island...

Morning

The heavy cold wind kept blowing across the air temple island. Even though it is morning, gloom makes it feels as if a cold late evening. Tenzin walked in to the front porch with a warm cup of tea held in his hands. He felt terribly lonely and bored to live in the house without his family. He looked up at the gloomy sky as it began to drizzle again. Suddenly he noticed Lin walking towards his residence. A faint smile was bought to his face by her presence. She walked up to the front porch and Tenzin starred at her in a strange manner. She had her hair tied back to a little pig tail and wore a black riding jacket over a dark brown sleeveless skinny and a pair of dark blue jeans.

"What...? You're freaking me out by doing that..." she said with a smiley face as she stepped on to the front porch.

"It is surprising to see you, not in the police uniform at this time of the day" said Tenzin with one of his brows raised in a peculiar way.

"I just thought of taking few days off... I guess it is time I let go off being a workaholic... I am getting too old for this..." said Lin as she approached him.

"I just can't believe it... is this really you who's talking...?" said Tenzin and smirked.

Lin took the cup of tea from Tenzin without his permission and sipped it.

"I thought you might need a helping hand with the cleaning... but I see that you have already got it covered, cleaning up the place by yourself..." said Lin while leaning against the railing with the cup of tea.

"Some of the air bender disciples had return back to the temple sooner than I thought... They helped to clean things up... but thank you for the thought Lin... I appreciate that..." said Tenzin coming over to her and resting his hands against the railing.

"Heard from Jinora yet...?" she asked briefly.

"That's what I was thinking about just before you came..." said Tenzin and sighed.

"Don't worry too much... she's with Asami..." said Lin wanting to comfort him.

"Yeah..., It's hard to imagine what we all have been through for the past few months... maybe years..." said Tenzin and looked at Lin.

"I know... I had the same feeling this morning... world despised the avatar and then came the end of the world with a celestial object, Avatar going on massacres to rescue red lotus leader, spirits turning in to monsters... There are just too many to mention" said Lin.

"How are things with the city going on...?" Tenzin asked.

"The shelter had completely evacuated and sealed off for future use. The strange weather seemed like never going to stop... People are slowly returning to their daily lives. But the biggest news of them all is "Korra". After Varrick released all his footage to the media, things have begun to heat up. If it weren't for her, we won't be standing right here right now and talking like this..." said Lin and sighed softly.

"There are too many riddles left... yet I am not in the mood to look for the answers. But however certain things are clear... whether she is good or evil, she's still the avatar and this world needs her to keep things in balance. I just hope that everything is alright with Korra... last time I saw her she was..." Tenzin paused and closed his eyes.

"... She was...?" Lin wanted him to continue.

"... She was dying" said Tenzin with great hesitation.

Suddenly Tenzin's attention attracted something high up in the gloomy sky. Lin followed him and saw a helicopter heading towards the air temple island.

Tenzin stepped down from the front porch and walked half way in to the middle of his garden and Lin followed him. The helicopter reached the air temple island and landed on Tenzin's garden. Tenzin and Lin quickly walked up to the helicopter as it cuts off the engines making things quiet again around the air temple island. Jinora and Asami got off from the helicopter.

A smile of relief bloomed in Tenzin's face as he saw his daughter coming up to him. She came up to Tenzin and hugged him without speaking a word. He hugged her back.

"It's good to see you Asami..." said Tenzin in a very patient tone.

Tenzin is a very patient man with many virtues but he couldn't help himself from asking question that was burning within him.

"How is Korra...?" Tenzin asked in an impatient tone.

Asami gave a painful smile and laid her hand on Tenzin's shoulder. Jinora's smile faded as she looked down.

"What happened to her...?" Lin asked patiently.

"We really don't know... I am sorry..." said Jinora in a very cold tone.

"But... but two of you went along with her..." said Tenzin.

"We flew over to Broosh with the helicopter and that's about far as we could go. Zaheer took her in his speedboat from there and he refused to take any of us with him. We stayed in Broosh for few days hoping that he would contact us and let us know how she is doing but he never did. Zaheer is a strange man, he only does what he wants and what he thinks is right..." said Asami in a frustrated tone.

"So you just let him take her and that's all...?" Lin asked in a sarcastic manner.

"What else can I do...? I can't argue with him or oppose him, if there is someone out there who could help her... that is him and him only..." said Asami and looked away with teary eyes.

"I was the one who stopped Asami from opposing Zaheer... deep within me I felt that he knew what he was doing..." said Jinora.

Tenzin rubbed his forehead with frustration.

"I need to be alone... would you mind if I stay in the air temple island for few days...?" Asami asked Tenzin.

"Yes of course Asami... you are more than welcome to stay here at air temple as long as you wish..." said Tenzin. She nods and walked towards the Tenzin's house.

"She had been through a lot... she needs to rest..." said Jinora after she walked away.

"I just don't get it... how come Zaheer has power to do the things he wants... who gave him the authority to act as Avatar's guardian...?" Tenzin said angrily.

"Dad...?" Said Jinora and Tenzin looked at her.

"Avatar herself had given him the authority for that... She trusts him more than any of us... the avatar you knew is no more..." said Jinora.

"Even though I don't like it... I still have to agree with what Jinora said... I am sorry Tenzin, You're not her mentor anymore..." said Lin.

"We have no control over anything now... that time has passed..." said Jinora in a hopeless tone.

Tenzin slowly looked back at his daughter... he felt that she has better understanding of the world than he is...

"Come... let's go inside..." said Tenzin in a caring tone and Jinora walked up to him...

On the following day after Asami and Jinora returned back to republic city; Tenzin decided to hold a public meeting at republic city central square along with President Riko and few other leaders from authorities to address the public. He wanted to let the public know the current situation. The central square was overflowing with republic city citizens, news reporters wanting to know the latest updates of the current situation. It was a great opportunity for each and everybody to listen to their leaders as they speak. Varrick had bought up all the images and videos he captured during the impact and put it on public display on a massive screen. Even though Tenzin, Riko and the rest of the authority manage to clarify many of the questions that had been asked by the public media they still couldn't answer one question.

"Where is the avatar...? Where is Korra...?"

Tenzin concluded the meeting after confirming that nobody knows what happened to her or her whereabouts. In the end everyone was left with a one burning question that they all wanted to be answered.

Two weeks goes by...

Black Island

Zaheer walked through the long hall way which leads to the ointment of rejuvenation bath in his usual black robe over baggy pants. He stood by the massive door which separates the hall way from the ointment bath. He rubbed his chin and looked up then took a deep breath looking down wanting to calm his mind.

"Master..." he heard the sincerely obedient tone of pam.

He quickly turns back to see what she has to say and then he saw her walking towards him with a black folded towel in her arms.

"I understand your frustration master... but you must have a proper meal today... you haven't had a proper meal in days..." she said by stopping in front of him.

"I cannot make up my mind to sit back and have a meal..." Zaheer replied.

"Do as you may see fit master... but she may not be happy if she finds you in an emaciated state when she wakes up..." said Pam.

"I shall have my dinner early in my quarters then..." said Zaheer.

"Very well..." said Pam.

"How is she doing...?" Zaheer asked.

"You need not worry too much master... she regained her consciousness just few minutes back. I was going to inform you after preparing her" said Pam and looked at the towel she was holding in her hands.

Zaheer is not a person who often smiles but an involuntary smile bloomed in his face with an expression of deep happiness.

"Oh..." said Zaheer as he realized he is standing on Pam's way without letting her pass.

Pam smiled with a sincere bow as Zaheer stepped aside letting her open the door.

"You may enter if you wish master..." said Pam.

"No... No... it's alright..." said Zaheer in a slight impatient tone. He knew which state she is in the ointment bath and wished not to intrude her privacy when she had to step out of it.

"Master... you may wait at the medical examination room... I will bring her there..." said Pam.

Zaheer nodded impatiently and walked away. Pam kept starring at the way he walked back through the hallway and she smiled in an amusing manner.

"I never had seen master in such impatient state... nor seen him being so attached to another before... it's amazing how he cares for the avatar girl..." Pam thought to herself.

Korra was in a very bad state when Zaheer bought her back to the black island weeks back. Pam had used all her skill and knowledge to see get her through it. The ointment of rejuvenation had saved her life by healing all injuries. It took her weeks to regain her consciousness.

Medical Examination Room

Zaheer kept on walking around impatiently in the examination room waiting for pam to bring Korra in. As few minutes go by, the sliding door slowly slides open and he saw Korra standing outside the door in her bare feet having a black soft towel wrapped around her. Her hair was damp and oily and the ointment was dripping all over herself. She was shivering while holding her hands together against her bosom. Pam encouraged her to walk in and she closed the sliding door behind. Zaheer walked up to her and smiled happily. She smiled back while shivering.

"Za... Za... Zaheer..." she muttered.

"Korra..." said Zaheer as he held her warmly from her shoulders.

She wanted to hug him as she felt immensely happy but she didn't want to let go of the towel she was wearing. So instead hugging him she walked closer to him while holding on to her towel and he held her in his arms. She laid her head against him and she cried while smiling; feeling happy to be alive.

"You did it... Korra" said Zaheer.

Pam watched them for a moment and she cleared her throat indicating that Korra needs to wipe clean properly. She was covered in thick oil.

Zaheer released her and happily smiled in to her eyes and she smiled back looking up at him.

"I am sorry Pam... you may continue..." said Zaheer letting her do the job.

"Miss... Please take a seat..." said Pam wanting her to sit on the treatment bed.

She handed over a small towel to Zaheer to wipe himself as he had oil on himself from Korra.

Korra walked over to the treatment bed and slowly sits on it. Pam began to wipe her clean with fresh towels. She started with her feet, hands, face, neck, shoulder and head. Zaheer understood that he needs to give her the privacy she needs, pam is cleaning her up.

"I will be at the study..." said Zaheer.

"Very well master... I will bring her there..." said Pam.

Zaheer left the examination room.

"I can't remember much..." said Korra.

"Master will tell you everything miss..." said Pam with a smiley face while cleaning her and paused. Korra looked at her in an amusing manner.

"You may stand now miss... let me take off the towel... the ointment needs to be wiped clean thoroughly..." said Pam.

Korra stood up in her feet and took off the black towel she was wearing.

Pam began to wipe her with warm steamy hand towels.

"How long have I been in the ointment...?" Korra asked curiously while watch her being wiped.

"Weeks..." said Pam as she cleaned her all the way down to feet again.

At the study room

Few minutes later...

Zaheer kept starring outside through the window at the setting sun. Korra stepped in to the study room slowly and he felt her presence so he turned towards the entrance. She was standing there wearing a black robe over cotton baggy pants and a white shirt. Her bob hair was pigtailed neatly.

She walked towards Zaheer slowly and hugged him and he hugs her back.

"I almost thought that you were gone..." said Zaheer in a softer tone.

"Thank you for not giving up on me..." whispered Korra while having her head against him.

"You have shown the world that you are still the Avatar..." said Zaheer.

Korra leaned back away from him and sniffed up her tears.

"Where is Asami...?" she asked Zaheer.

"She should be back in Republic City by now..." said Zaheer.

"Why... Why had she gone back...? Has she already lost hope on me?" Korra asked in a slightly frustrated tone.

"It was not her choice... She came along with Jinora after you have collapsed back in republic city. There was only bleak hope for your life yet she never gave up..." said Zaheer and Korra interrupted.

"Then why isn't she here...?" said Korra in an arrogant tone and pulls a chair from the study table.

"I left them at Broosh... you were severely injured and there was only one hope, that was the ointment of rejuvenation. I did what was best for her... I didn't want her to see you..." said Zaheer and Korra interrupted again.

"... Die..." she said softly.

"Yes..." Zaheer replied and looked away.

"How long it has been Zaheer...?" Korra asked.

"A little more than three weeks..." said Zaheer.

Zaheer looked back at the other way gazing outside the window again and there was silence between them for a moment.

"Zaheer...?" Korra broke the silence.

"Yes...!" he turned back at her.

"Everything is gone again... I can't do any bending nor summon avatar state anymore..." said Korra in a saddened tone.

"You may have lost your abilities due to the exposure and severe injuries. Having you as you are right now is a miracle which was possible by the ointment..." said Zaheer.

Korra sighed with a long exhale.

"Do not despair Korra...! According to my understanding you will regain them in time... you haven't lost it... it's just that you are too weak to evoke them... battling the celestial object had taken a great toll on you..." said Zaheer.

Korra kept gazing at one empty direction for a moment and sprung back to her voice.

"Zaheer...? Can you take me back to her...?" Korra asked.

He nodded at her sincerely.

Three days later...

Asami walked up to the front porch of the air temple island with a hot coffee held in her hands. Even though it was morning, everything seemed to be dim due to endless gloom that befell after the celestial object incident. Her mind is in turmoil flooding with thoughts of Korra. She leaned against the railing looking at outside and she saw a tall dark figure approaching the air temple. She slowly kept her cup of coffee on the small table and impatiently.

"Zaheer...!" she whispered quickly running down the front porch.

Jinora quickly walked outside still in her pajamas and saw this...

"Zaheer!" she said to herself.

Asami ran towards him and met him half way... she stopped right in front of him with eyes filled with tears.

"Zaheer...! Please don't..." she begged him thinking it's going to be a bad news.

Tenzin and Lin stepped on to the front porch after hearing all the commotion. They were halted by the sight of Zaheer.

He smiled at Asami and stepped away and she saw Korra standing behind him.

"KORRA!" said Asami involuntarily.

"ASAMI!" said Korra walking towards her with eyes filled in tears.

They hugged each other dearly and held on tightly with no words to express the feeling.

Tenzin smiled at the sight and looked at Lin...

"There are many things to be done ahead... but for now... this is what I wanted the most... just, Korra to return... alive!" said Tenzin.

Jinora looked at her father and smiled happily for his sincere words.

After a long hard struggle with life and death... they were together again. There are many questions that need answers and Korra has to find them along with Asami. But for the time being in their world... all the questions had been answered with a blink of an eye...

== The End ==