Here it is, the last chapter of easily the longest fic I've ever written. It's been quite the experience. I certainly didn't expect to write this much when I started, but once the story grew, all I could do was try and keep up to give the best story I could. Thank you very much to everyone who has, is, and will eventually read this. Thank you to those who have given feedback along the way. Feedback is what keeps these stories going, after all, and just because I'm done doesn't mean I don't wish to hear from those who might read it later.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

"So this guy turns to the other one and frowns like this." Bolin replicated the look, swaying sloppily beside his chair. Why he had decided to stand during his story, no one was sure. "Then he says, 'Do you want to be the one to explain a scene like that to the Avatar?' This poor guy was as pale a ghost. He ran to the director and begged him to forget it, to never mention the idea again."

Korra exhaled a thankful sigh. Judging by the look on Asami's face, she shared the Avatar's relief. Not that either woman had an aversion to sex scenes, but she wasn't exactly interested in seeing any interpretations of her sex life with her girlfriend.

Bolin giggled drunkenly. His brother and wife each put a hand on an arm to keep him steady. "Why did you drink so much already?" Mako asked. "Don't you want to remember watching your movie for the first time?"

The earthbender collapsed into his seat. "Not really. If it's terrible, I don't want to remember anything."

Jinora laughed and sipped at her cup. Even at her age, her father glared at every sip of the wine. "If it's terrible, Varrick better have a well-hidden bunker to hide from Korra."

"Hey!" the Avatar said. She shrugged within the clinging confines of her dress.

"It will be fine, sweetie," Opal told her husband, rubbing a soft hand over the worked, calloused back of his. "You're an annoying drunk, so no more until the movie is over."

Bolin pouted, but pushed his glass away. He sat still while his wife straightened out his vest and suit coat.

They were all dressed in their best, some more comfortably than others. Opal had straightened out Bolin's suit multiple times now, and had to pull at the straps of her deep green dress a couple times. Mako and Korra both shifted and shrugged constantly. Asami, of course, wore her complicated satin red dress as easily as she would a pair of pajamas, and navigated atop her heels like they were no different than boots. Tenzin and his sons were dressed in stately airbending robes of red, orange, and yellow, while Pema and the girls wore strapless dresses with red wraps leaving only their right shoulders exposed, the satin shimmering like the sun. Pema especially seemed giddy. Thinking back, Korra could not remember seeing her garbed so beautifully. Golden earrings glittered at her ears, and yellow garnets glimmered around her neck. Neither was as brilliant as her smile.

Korra herself only owned one dress, Water Republic with a fur trim at the waist and fell past her ankles, and it was driving her crazy as ever. She would bear it, though. Compared to everything else she had been through, dressing up to go see a movie a friend had made was an easy sacrifice.

"Did Zaheer have anything new to say?" Tenzin asked. Tonight was the first time she had seen him without a bandage over the freshly acquired wound above his ear. An angry pink line dotted by scabs still disfigured the skin, and stubble a razor could not reach grew around it. The sight made Korra reflexively reach for her own recent disfigurement.

"Tenzin," Pema chided. "Not tonight."

"It's okay," Korra said. Asami grasped her hand as she talked to Jinora. "There isn't much to tell."

Armed guards in United Forces uniforms had lined the walls like suits of armor in castles when Korra arrived, their rifles drawn and their bodies unmoving. Overkill, but it was no surprise. The Avatar had expected nothing less. She only hoped such numbers were only for her benefit, and did not reflect the manpower regularly assigned to the incarcerated Red Lotus terrorist.

Zaheer sat on the ground, the chains securing him in place pooled around his legs. "Every time you come, I expect to hear P'Li has been captured." He looked up, and his eyes fought back unshed tears. "Is this the day?"

"I told you," Korra said, sitting cross-legged opposite the man. "She's gone, and we are not actively hunting her. There's an alert out in case she makes does anything stupid, but that is it. As for me personally, I have no intention of looking unless she gives me reason, and I don't believe she will."

The room was small, the walls designed to press in on whoever was detained within until it squeezed secrets from them. Mere minutes had already taken their toll on Korra. Sweat began to trickle at her hairline. Her hands twitched. Her eyes wandered restlessly in search of escape routes. It was enough to break anyone.

Two months had not yet worked on Zaheer, and to judge by his calm demeanor and relaxed tone, another half a year may not be enough. To her eye, he looked no more distressed than the day the Chief Beifong had chained him up.

"She's always followed our ideals of gratitude and a feeling of indebtedness,' the prisoner said. "I've never questioned P'Li's loyalty, but I knew it was never to the Red Lotus. It was to me. I truly hope she can find a life of her own."

"And you surrendered to give her that chance."

Zaheer nodded. "I love her. Better I spend my life here if it means her happiness elsewhere. I saved her from a life of enslavement. I would never put my own chains on her."

Korra hoped it was so. P'Li had disappeared, and the Red Lotus as well, but the Avatar still dreaded the day when the towering combustor may try to free Zaheer. Time only made the fear grow. Every day alone was potentially another day where P'Li was left alone and lost, clinging only to a memory of a life of death and destruction that had been the happiest of her life.

"Besides, our goal is complete. The White Lotus is crippled, and their power wanes by the hour. Those who are left hide like rabbits in their holes, scared to poke their heads out in case a blade lops it off. They've lost the Avatar, and the power the Avatar granted them. The fight is done."

"I'm still alive." Korra peeked anxiously over her shoulder.

The prisoner smiled. "And I am trusting that you will not fall again. I am trusting that you will be there to dissuade the White Lotus's eventual attempts to regain their power. And if you betray that trust, I know others will rise to take my place."

"Why do you trust me?"

"Because I have opposed three Avatars. I have personally battled two. I've seen you all struggle to retain your humanity against the Avatar spirit." Zaheer's grey eyes shone like silver in the sparse light. "You are the first that I believe will win that struggle."

Korra stood, her limbs heavy and pulling her towards the door, as if they were metal and there was a magnet in the door. "I will. And it has nothing to do with living up to your ideal of what the Avatar should be. I will win because I want to."

Zaheer nodded. "Good luck, Korra."

She reached for the door, and stopped. "If I do find P'Li, I will try my best to help her. I promise."

"We've found no hints as to her whereabouts, though we have arrested many other Red Lotus members," Tenzin said. The wind whipped at his sleeves, gusting strong on the balcony. Pema had been quick to ban her husband from the room when he began talking business. "I do worry about both Lotuses. Perhaps you should interrogate Zaheer yourself to discover his former hideouts."

"That wouldn't work," Korra said. "He's too strong."

"Perhaps."

"Come on, you two," Pema said. "Time to go."

Tenzin nodded and headed back into the mansion, stopping to kiss his wife on the cheek along the way.

The smiling acolyte smiled even brighter as Korra sheepishly approached. Again, she was struck by just how beautiful and happy Pema was. "What?" she asked when older woman stared.

"I'm just remembering the girl I used to know," Pema said.

Korra grimaced. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because I always knew you were more, and it's so wonderful to see you not only realize it, but strive to be more."

The Avatar's blush started in her cheeks, and heated her entire body when Pema hugged her. No matter what she had done, Pema had never been anything but kindhearted and understanding, quick to offer an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on. She was the closest thing Korra had to a mother in the absence of her own.

A row of limousines waited outside Asami's mansion, and Tonraq had already claimed one, with Senna at his side. Korra rushed to join them. Her father, of course, still refused to heed his doctor's warnings and winced when he pulled Korra hard to his side. The bandages which had wrapped his torso were gone, but they were still tender.

"Do you listen to a word anyone tells you?" Senna asked, a thin smile betraying her stern demeanor.

"Hey, if a little pain is the price to pay to hug my daughter, then I'll gladly pay it." To prove his point, Tonraq hugged Korra harder.

They piled into the limousines, and Korra was glad to see Jinora beside her and Asami. "How's your new best friend?" the Avatar asked.

The young airbending master rolled her eyes. "Believe me, she's far from my best friend. Especially after what she said about you."

Things between Korra and Princess Kazu had been tense, despite the Fire Lord's assurances that her nation held no grudge against the Avatar, and would stand behind her. Many Fire Nation soldiers had died in the battle in the Si Wong Desert, their bones buried beneath the ever shifting sands that had buried thousands of years of history among its dunes. Good soldiers who would never be allowed home for proper burials. The Fire Lord had accepted her losses. Her daughter had opposed the attack, and after her mother's injuries grew bitter.

Korra did not know the details, but apparently Jinora and Kazu had fallen out. "She'll get over it," the Avatar said. "She's angry about her mother. You two should sit down and talk." I'm not worth the heirs of two powerful nations growing to despise each other.

"I don't want to talk about it," Jinora smiled warmly. Bolin's drunken, happy roar from the lead limo blasted through the layers of metal and glass encasing them. "Tonight's a happy night."

It was a happy night, the atmosphere as intoxicating as the alcohol flowing into their cups and glasses. Even the Beifongs had put aside the recovery efforts in Zaofu for a night to join the celebration. Suyin's military had been gutted as well in the battle in the desert, already weak from defending their city weeks earlier, and faith in her people had been shaken. Her every day and night since had been spent calming the dangers inside her city while fending off the vultures outside, eager to pick clean what flesh still clung to the metal city's bones. Pale eyes and pale skin gave her the look of one worked to the brink. Joy and lots of wine had returned color to her spirit.

To hear the others talk, Opal had been the only thing keeping her mother afloat. She had assumed every role she could to help her city, and spent much of the past two months traveling the Earth Kingdom to acquire aide and allies. Like Jinora and Kazu, she would soon assume leadership of her people, and likely before either. Bolin had spent the long morning hours before she arrived pacing the halls of the mansion nervously. Between her duties and his publicity tour, they had not seen each other in a month.

A second, feminine shout, just as drunk and happy, joined Bolin's. Korra couldn't help but grin.

"It's so great to have you all here," she said. "I'm still not sure how I ended up with so many people on my side, but I couldn't be happier to have this night with you all. Things have been tough lately. We really need this."

"We sure do!" her dad bellowed, and an agreeable cheer swelled within the limo.

"I love you all, and I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to pay you back for your help." She raised her hand to halt any objections. "Don't give me any crap about not owing you. I do. So just shut up and cheer again."

They did as told, and Korra was happy to join them.

Laughter erupted on the other side of the doors, and Korra wondered what they were laughing at. Hopefully it was something that was supposed to be funny. The night was warm, but whether that was due to the weather, the wine, or a combination of both, she didn't know. She didn't care. A car crept down the street, the street shining slickly beneath its tires, and the driver slowed down to wave at her. She smiled and waved back.

It was still strange to think that within the theater, they were showing a movie about her. It was even stranger to think that people had eagerly lined up to see it. Varrick had booked a theater seating hundreds, one typically used to show plays, and every seat had been filled. Korra had stood outside and greeted them as they arrived. Her hand still tingled from shaking theirs.

She'd snuck outside a few minutes into it. Not that she thought it was going to be bad, or even particularly cared, but she had never been a movie watcher and it was…strange. Maybe other people could watch someone play themselves on screen, but Korra couldn't stop shifting in her seat and glancing away. Eventually she gave up and slipped away.

A pair of arms encircled her waist, and the smell of a familiar perfume washed over her. Asami's dress was smooth as bare skin against her shoulders. "You lasted longer than I expected," she said. "I wasn't sure you would even make it to your seat. Everything okay?"

Korra leaned back into her lover's embrace. "Yeah. Everything's okay." She craned her neck to kiss Asami's jaw. "How is it?"

"Good. I think they did a good job."

"So that laugh I just heard was a good thing?'

Asami smiled. "Yes."

Another car passed by, and again its driver slowed down to wave at Korra. "That's the third one now," she said. "I think they're all coming by hoping to sneak in and changing their minds when they see me."

On cue, a fourth car came towards the theater. A family was within, and the kids in the backseat, two boys appearing to be no older than six or seven, shouted and pointed with big smiles on their faces. Korra waved and then jogged out to the road. It came to a stop, the children's parents smiling nervously.

"Hi," she said, shaking the mother's hand in the passenger seat. She turned and grinned at the kids. They squealed happily when she flexed an arm. "Do you want to get inside and watch the movie?"

The father began to blubber incoherently until his wife gripped his hand. "We weren't trying to sneak in," she said. "We were just hoping to maybe see someone famous."

"I get that."

"Lift the car!" one of the boys shouted.

"Fly!" the other said.

"Boys, quiet," their father said.

"Still," Korra continued. "Would you want to see it?"

"We're not watching," Asami joined in. "Our seats are empty, and I'm sure we could get a couple friends to give up their seats, too."

"That's not necessary, Avatar," the mother said. "Really, I wouldn't want to cause any trouble…"

"Please, you can call me Korra, and it's no trouble at all. It's a movie about me. I better have a say over who can and cannot watch it."

Ten minutes later, the two boys were hopping up and down excitedly, pulling their parents by the arms into the movie theater. "So you've never watched any of your movies all the way through?" Korra asked Bolin.

The earthbender shook his head, leaning heavily on the shoulders of his wife and brother. "It's too weird. I always try to sneak out, and if I can't I find ways to distract myself."

"That was nice of you," Opal said. Her voice slurred slightly as well. "You're such a sweetie." Bolin planted a sloppy kiss on her temple, and she giggled.

"I'm a little too messed up to properly enjoy it, anyway," Mako said.

Shu rolled her eyes. "Lightweight."

Korra closed an eye when Asami's lips pressed too close. "Looks like you made a few new fans," the dark-haired beauty said.

"Yeah. It's was really nice to see the kids. It's kind of weird to think there are a bunch of kids their age that don't know about my past and can grow up knowing the Avatar as a good person. It's kind of intimidating, but I'm excited."

"You've earned it," Asami said. "You worked hard to become a better person."

Bolin staggered down the street, one muscled arm crushing Opal to his side. Mako and Shu followed them, still bickering back and forth. Korra smiled at them. "I never would have without all of you, though."

"That's not true," Asami argued.

"Yes it is. Come on, Sami. You've been here every step."

"I don't like you putting yourself down that way."

"I'm not." Korra shrugged. "It's the truth. It's okay. Everyone needs help. I'm no different. What matters now is that I don't revert. And I won't, because I have you, and Mako, and Bolin, and Tenzin. I have my parents. I have a lot of help to inspire the good in me, and I never had that help before."

"We'll always be here." Asami hugged her. "I'll always be here. I promise."

Korra closed her eyes and rested her head on Asami's soft, bare shoulder. "I love you, Sami."

"I love you, too."

The skies swirled above, a melody of bright colors singing as they wrapped around each other. Swarms of glowing spirits buzzed above flowering trees. A round, dark fruit hung ripe from a branch. Korra plucked it, peeled the skin, and bit into it. Sweet juice ran down her chin as she savored the taste.

The skies began to glow as well, brighter and brighter until she had to shield her eyes. When she was able to look again, the brightness remained, towering tall above her. Beautiful patterns in deep blue were drawn across the surface. Korra felt the breath steal from her lungs.

"It is good to see you, Korra."

"You, too," the Avatar said. "Wow. I've never seen you so large."

Power and order radiated from the spirit like the sun on a warm spring day, invigorating and beautiful. Raava stood tall, strong, confident. Its voice was everywhere, and yet focused only on the woman it had chosen as its host.

"You have done so well, Korra," the spirit said. "I had begun to doubt whether balance and peace could ever be returned to the world. I feared my power forever corrupted. The world owes you a great debt, and so do I."

Korra smiled nervously and rubbed the back of her neck. "I was just doing my best."

"And your best has saved us all. Even now I can feel Vaatu's influence fade from myself and the spirits. Surely you have noticed as well."

Weeks had passed since Korra last heard the whispers. The spirit world grew calmer with every passing day. Even spots long volatile seemed brightened, as if a cleansing breeze had washed away a foul air. The nightmares which once plagued her rarely ever visited.

"It will be many centuries before Vaatu returns. We will have to work together to curb his influence. For the first time since the days of Roku and Aang, I am optimistic."

"The White Lotus told me that you were to blame for what happened to the Avatar," Korra said. "They told me that we all fight against your influence, and that we will all succumb eventually. Is that Vaatu as well?"

"It is," the light spirit said. "Though his latest defeat keeps his physical form imprisoned within the Tree of Time, his influence grows within me as always. As the centuries pass and Harmonic Convergence draws closer, withstanding that influence will become more and more difficult. We will need to match his effort in order to hold strong against him. You will play a key role, Korra. Your actions have struck a blow, and we will need to do everything we can to be sure your descendants hold true against Vaatu's corruption."

The wind swirled around them, carrying a hundred beautiful smells. "And that's why I have those I care about."

"Yes."

"We won't let you down, Raava. I promise."

The spirit seemed to smile. "I know. I have faith in you."

The world grew bright, and again Korra covered her eyes. When the glow vanished, Raava's warmth still remained, pulsing alongside the beat of Korra's heart. A spirit fluttered towards her, and then another. She wished to stay, but she had likely spent too much time in the Spirit World already. Asami would be waiting for her near the docks, ready to head over to Air Temple Island.