A/N

Yes, the ghost updated. It's fair to say that I've been neglecting this story, even though all I ever want to do is get it's chapters out of the way and continue on with the series. Watching Book 4 has given me all sorts of ideas, and I suppose I should tell you guys now that I've decided on extending the series to 5 books to include the story after the timeskip. It's just too juicy to pass up.

And not only that, but I've got some stories in the works about Kuvira's schism with Suyin, and about Korra's six month journey after turning away from Republic City and casting her old past aside. Like I said, some really juicy stuff is coming.

Now, unlike other times, I'm not going to say that I'll be releasing soon. I will say that I will be working to release future chapters in a drastically shorter period, which is basically me saying that I am going to be releasing soon. Who knew.

So with that said, I hope you guys are still sticking around to leave some reviews. It's always nice to hear from you.

Have as much fun reading as I do writing these.

火

The Huǒyàn Glacier, Outskirts of the Northern Water Tribe Capitol.

Talisa walked through as the iron doors were pulled open, her long hair being snatched about by the harsh howling winds buffeting as the group hurried into a gargantuan hallway. She nodded her thanks at the two masked white lotus guards manning the doors.

Zuko frantically came through, his teeth chattering as he pulled his robes tighter. Behind him Desna and Eska walked in together, their steps in perfect sync, while Tonraq came in last, his face guarded.

Talisa loosed a sigh as she felt warmth again, turning to Zuko as a booming thud echoed in the building from the giant doors being closed against the deepening blizzard. "Are you alright, Lord Zuko?"

The clicking of Zuko's teeth interrupted his words. "I much prefer my home on Ember Island, my dear. There's hot springs. And sunny beaches. No snow in sight."

Behind them, Eska raised her eyebrow at Desna. "Explain."

"I have no explanation. Maybe he just forgot to send them. Postal delivery between the North Pole and the United Republic does take some time, especially with the dark spirits causing trouble on our shipping lanes."

"...I hope that is the case. When we get back I will be getting an answer from him."

Eska narrowed her eyes at knocking echoes coming from the sturdy iron walls and ceiling, and frowned at the wrought iron elevator that had just returned from the depths of the building. The doors slid open with a jarring clang.

"Why didn't father tell us we had a secret prison we could have been throwing people in?" she asked Zuko.

"I think that's a big reason there." Tonraq remarked as Talisa quietly chuckled.

Desna glanced to the side, looking around as they walked towards the elevator at the end, flanked by another pair of guards. "I'd like to put my tailor in here. He never gets my cuffs right." he raised his eyebrow as he looked down at his sleeve. "They're so ... crease-y."

Zuko sighed, wondering if he should sit the two of them down one day and teach them that kind of behavior was frowned upon for a ruler.

The elevator guards stiffened and snapped off salutes as they all filed into the waiting elevator box. Desna and Eska stood together at the back, while Talisa muttered something under her breath as she was sandwiched in the center by Tonraq and Zuko. They all glanced at her. "Sorry. This thing isn't really built for space, is it?"

The doors closed, and a lurch rolled through the elevator as the winches started spinning above, lowering them down the dark shaft.

"We built this place in secret with your father to hold a special prisoner. She's a powerful firebender named P'Li who can create explosions with her mind." Eska and Desna looked at each other as Zuko paused. He looked up. "Ironically, I hired a guy with a similar ability to kill the Avatar myself once..."

Tonraq raised a eyebrow and glanced at the old man.

Zuko shrugged as he turned to Tonraq. "Didn't work."

Talisa blinked twice, thinking of saying something before being stopped by the overwhelming silence hanging over the elevator.

Eska spoke up. "Don't feel bad. There have been times where I've felt like killing Korra too."

Desna nodded. "She can be a bit overwhelming at times."

They nodded their agreement to each other,

Tonraq frowned and shifted, almost knocking his shoulder into Zuko.

Eska stared at Talisa. "You are Tai's mother?"

Talisa nodded. "Yep."

"Bolin told me he keeps nearly getting himself killed."

"That's... comforting, Princess Eska."

The dour girl shrugged. "No, it isn't."

Talisa blinked twice before looking forwards through the grated iron door at the walls of the metal shift. "Yep... kinda agree." Her eyes ran to the side. "He probably gets that from his father. Not me." Her quiet words echoed in the elevator, getting a brief frown from Tonraq.

The twins didn't notice. Desna spoke up next. "And Lord Zuko... you are his great-grandfather?"

Zuko nodded. "I am."

Desna pursed his lips and grimaced. "Interesting. He doesn't act very royal."

"Maybe our cousin's demeanor has been rubbing off on him-"

Tonraq folded his arms. "Can we cut the chatter?"

"Sorry... iceberg chin."

"Talisa."

"Sorry."

The elevator shuddered to a stop at the bottom of the shaft, and the doors grinded open, revealing a vast cavern of ice.

Tonraq set his eyes forward as he led the way. "Let's just focus on keeping this woman prisoner."

They followed him out onto a frozen metal ledge carved out of the thick ice around them, slick with dampness under their feet. The group came to a stop as they were dwarfed before a massive gap running the length of the entire cavern, frigid clouds of air hanging frozen in the uncertain depths.

A iced over iron structure occupying the other side, built on a metal platform spanning between the glacial walls, above and below dark iron support girders bridged the gap, with many more scattered further into the dark heart of the glacier.

A pair of guards stood at attention on either side of the squat iron structure. A mechanical whine filled the frozen air as their platform slid forwards on hidden rails, extending across the gap and connecting them to the opposite platform.

Zuko's eyes narrowed as they stepped off the platform, the guards saluting the group once they came to a stop. "The intense cold prevents her from firebending. And her cell is buried at the bottom of this glacier."

Desna looked around and nodded. "There's certainly no way anyone's breaking out of here."

"That's what we thought about the other three prisons." Zuko replied.

Talisa and Tonraq both narrowed their eyes as a woman's voice came out from the cell, strong despite shivering breaths.

"There must be something exciting going on..." The woman drew a long shuddering breath, only her mouth visible through the circular door of the cell as a smile. "No one interesting has visited me for thirteen years. Especially you and the old man..."

Talisa frowned and glanced at Zuko. "Was she one of the people who tried to-

Tonraq cut her off. "She was." the father's features hardened as he glared through the bars at the haggard woman. "Don't get used to it."

Inside the cell, the woman loosed a pleasant sigh, coming out in a thick cloud of frigid air as a lecherous smile grew, her mind coming to a conclusion about their presence. "He's out, isn't he? Mmm, I'm feeling warmer already..."

Air Temple Island, Republic City.

"Okay! We've got breakfast served, everyone!" Pema grinned at everyone as she and Senna finished and took their seats at the table.

"I've never seen this much food! Thanks, Pema!"

Pema grinned at Kai as he whipped his bowl off the table, scooping its innards into his mouth with a ravenous speed. Next to him, Jinora raised a eyebrow and frowned at Kai.

On the other side, sandwhiched in between Kya and Bumi, Tai narrowed his eyes in curiosity, before they strayed to Korra. The frosty glare that responded made him look down at his food.

The boy sighed, nudging at one of Senna's steamed seaweed rolls, watching the little wisps of steam curl up from the spongy flesh. His attention shifted when he heard someone moving through the hallway outside the dining room.

He watched as Tenzin poked his head in, looking around. "Morning, everyone. I was wondering if-" He blinked twice when he spotted Korra. For a moment he had a stricken look on him before recomposing himself.

The conversation he heard on the pier the night before replayed through Tai's head as Tenzin cleared his throat.

"Korra? I'm surprised to see you up this early."

Korra didn't look up from her food. She gave a quick shrug. "When there's food, I'm up."

Tenzin stroked his beard and gave a wide grin, perplexing Korra, Before looking to Asami. "Good morning, Asami."

Asami nodded, sharing a quick glance with Korra. "Good morning... Tenzin."

Tenzin grinned, and continued to grin. And that grin froze on his features as Tenzin slid out of view, disappearing as quickly as he appeared.

"Spirits, Tenzin gets so weird some times." Kya said, her words mulched by the hunk of bread she chewed into.

"He never could keep a secret."

Kya raised a eyebrow at Bumi, while inbetween them Tai's thoughts went back to the White Lotus letter at the bottom of the stack in Tenzin's study.

Pema also raised a eyebrow. "Secret?"

Korra was about to shrug when she spotted Lin walking past after Tenzin, rubbing a palm down her face with a frustrated sigh before disappearing behind the wall, getting Kaze's attention from where he laid in the doorway with a prick of his ears. Korra raised a eyebrow before looking back to the table.

"Why is Kaze laying in front of the door, mom?" Meelo leaned forward, pointing over the table between Kya and Bumi at the yawning spirit wolf, who occupied the floor of the doorway with his entire body.

"Because he doesn't want Tai to escape and be a headache, Meelo."

"Pretty big one." Korra muttered.

Tai pursed his lips as his words withered under the disdain she threw his way, before looking back down and rolling her bread around. He gnashed his teeth before speaking up again. "So... I'm pretty sure Tenzin won't mind putting us through some sparring-"

"Nope. Training with Asami today." Korra stood up from the table and moving towards the edge of the room. She stepped over Kaze on her way out, while Asami slowly rose and glanced at everyone.

She rubbed her shoulder. "Guess I can't stay either." Asami frowned at Tai before leaving as well. Kaze got to his feet and followed them out with a bark.

Everybody watched them leave the table, and looked at Tai.

"If there was a couch nearby... you'd be sleeping on it." Bumi got up, coming around to pat Tai on the back as the boy hung his head. "I've been in your situation plenty of times!" He grinned and left him, whistling away on his way out into the hallway.

"What does that even mean?" Tai muttered, sinking down until his chin rested on the table and he covered his head.

Kya rolled her eyes. "Seriously? What did you think was going to happen?"

Tai's eyes flicked up and he frowned. "What?"

The older woman shook her head. "You turn up out of the blue after all these weeks and expect everything to be hunky-dory? Korra's been forced to do nothing but sit and wait for this big summit to happen, and the entire time she's been stuck on how you recklessly stayed at the Eastern Air Temple so we could get away from the Dai Li! How do you think that made her feel?"

Pema came by and folded her arms, looking down at him. "You need to talk to her sooner than later."

"Easier said than done." Tai muttered, tipping his head back down until his face smooshed against the table.

Lemurs chirped in the popa trees canopies overhead as Asami followed Korra up the path from the manor. "You're definitely chipper today."

Korra didn't reply as they crested the hill, the dirt path leading onto the topmost circle of stone steps that surrounded the sparring circle below. She gave a shrug as she led the way down. "Maybe next time you should tell me before making promises to a bunch of thugs that I'm going to be restoring their bending. I might be more chipper."

Asami stopped cold for a moment, watching Korra reach the bottom. She released a guilty sigh and continued after her. Korra stood on the darkened stones making up half of the Yin Yang symbol, pointing at the paler stones on the opposite side.

She got the hint and moved to the spot, a grimace on her at the fiery look on Korra.

Silence descended between the two of them for a moment, before Korra lunged forwards, closing the distance.

Asami leaned in and crossed her forearms, grunting as Korra's heel slammed down onto her wrists. She ignored the stinging welts as she uncurled her fingers and grabbed her ankle, pushing her off-balance.

Korra's eyes flew wide as she stumbled backwards, managing to right herself.

The girl grabbed the black strands hanging in front of her eyes and tuck them behind her hair as she shrugged her shoulders at Korra and smiled. "Have I already said sorry?"

In answer, Korra narrowed her eyes and held her fists up. "Whatever."

"That's why I agreed to this, Korra. Some sparring will clear our heads."

Asami beckoned with her outstretched palm and a smirk. Korra lunged, frustration fueling her sloppy right hook. Asami ducked under her blow, her hands shooting up and locking onto Korra's exposed elbow. Asami went down on one knee and pulled her forwards, sending her sprawling over her shoulder and onto the ground in a twisted heap.

Korra seethed and gritted her teeth as she laid there, cheek rubbing up against the stonework of the sparring circle. Her face darkened as she pushed off the bricks with a annoyed grunt. Asami's hand dropped down in front of her. After a few moments her features cleared.

"What the- I know you took lessons and all from a self-defense instructor, but it amazes me that you're this good!" Korra said, looking up at her.

Asami nodded, pulling Korra onto her feet with a big grin. "Don't be so surprised. She used to be a Kyoshi Warrior."

"Maybe one day we could take a trip there. I've always wanted to learn from them!"

Asami stroked her chin. "I'm sure Sensha could introduce us to them."

"Oh, right. I forgot. She trained with them didn't she?"

"Yep."

Korra breathed out, and began shifting on the balls of her feet, ready to go again. "You good to go?"

Asami grinned, holding up her hands. "I know you're really eager to continue sparring, but why don't we do something else? I've got a invitation from Raiko to come to his final rally today at the park. Mako and Bolin are coming too."

"No thanks. I gotta get ready if the Dai Li decide to show up. Or Telei. Or the Dark Spirits."

She walked past Asami back to the sparring circle, standing in the center and taking a deep breath while slowly moving her arms about, angry flames flickering around them.

"And I'm guessing this has something to do with a certain airbender?"

Korra's flames flared as she frowned. She kept her eyes forward, focusing on timing each blast of fire she sent roaring into the open air. Her foot shifted forwards and she dropped her hands to the ground, uplifting a cube of rock and punching it forwards with a push. The cracked cube spun rapidly during its passage, before it shattered on impact, and scattered itself over the steps.

She straightened, rolling her shoulders and giving Asami a guarded look over her shoulder.

"Look, I need to focus on keeping the edge, Asami. I can't waste time meeting with Raiko right now. Or with anyone else."

Asami folded her arms and sighed. "You know you need to talk to him sooner or later. You're just going to get madder the longer you wait."

Korra dropped her hands and shook her head. "Asami, I don't want to-"

Asami grabbed her hand. "Well at least come with us then? It might be good for you to get off the island and Raiko probably wants to see you there anyway. We could go get some malt shakes afterwards. It will give you some time to cool off and think about what to say. I'm honestly kind of worried about you."

Despite the plea in her eyes, Korra took her hand away and walked off towards the sparring circle. She looked down, focusing on her feet placement, shifting them around for a few moments before lifting her arms in preparation to continue her firebending.

"I say that I'm going to set a few things on fire now."

Asami sighed, putting a hand on her hip and scratching at her ear. She shrugged before walking past Korra as she began punching small bursts of flames into the air. "Well... let me know how that goes."

Korra didn't answer, focusing on controlling her flames.

Republic City Parklands.

"But political people are boring, Asami."

Bolin's whining continued, as it had for the past hour, to fall short of her ears as she kept her focus on the street, following the congested traffic on the lane until she found a break in it and swerved towards the footpath, near the edge of the park's treeline that finally bloomed with new life over their skeletal frames.

Asami loosed a heavy sigh and glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "I promised you malt shakes. You'll get them."

"...Okay." Behind the driver seat, Bolin had his eyes narrowed as he slowly retracted his feet, putting them back on the floor. He sighed and glanced down at the bulging inside of his shirt.

"Shoo!"

Asami and Bolin stepped out onto the footpath to see Mako a short distance away, sputtering and waving his hand at a wild swarm of warm lights hanging in the air around his head, giving off a low sonorous hum.

She raised her eyebrow. "Spirit-flies?"

"Yeah... they seem to be getting really active nowadays. And really annoying." Mako sighed and flipped his notebook shut, sliding into his pocket and looking at them.

Mako rubbed the back of his neck. "So... is Korra not coming?"

Asami gave a nod. "She's... training."

"Right. She's gonna be mad at us for a while, isn't she?"

"She has every right to be."

They made their way onto the edges of the park, with Mako leading them onto a narrow path taking a lazy meandering path through the grassy knolls and over little streams of water coming from the central lake.

Bolin trudged along behind them, although Mako soon slowed to walk alongside him.

Mako arched his eyebrow while giving Bolin a confused look. "So what's up with you and Eska? They've been here for weeks and you haven't gone to see her? You were going pretty crazy with those letters for the month."

Bolin rubbed a palm down his face with a grunt, silencing Mako. He put his hand down the front of his shirt, making Pabu worm around in surprise as he disturbed the fire ferret's resting place before pulling his hand back out with a rustling handful of envelopes.

Mako frowned as Bolin waved them in his face. "Are those the letters?"

"Yep. All of them, since we got back from the Fire Nation."

"And... you didn't... send them off or...?"

"Every one of them has been immediately sent back!" Bolin looked away with a pout, stuffing them back in his shirt. And it's not like I've been busy or anything. I've gone from being stuck in Asami's mansion, to being in a bar brawl and a meeting with the Triads since we got back here! And I tried to go see Eska this morning but I couldn't find her or Desna anywhere! I don't know what's going on!"

"Okay... okay..." Mako grimaced and rubbed his neck as Bolin dropped his hands with a sigh, his eyebrows furrowed.

The path rose underneath them before dropping down a slope, at the bottom of which was a park bench. Lin stood off to the side while Raiko and his wife chatted with Varrick. Zhu Li had her hands clasped with a bored look, whistling a small tune under her breath.

"Mr Raiko, I got your message."

Raiko got to his feet immediately, coming over with a wide grin. "Ms Sato! How wonderful to see you!" He extended his hand to Asami, giving a vigorous handshake before moving over to Mako and Bolin. "And you as well, officer Mako! Bolin!"

Mako glanced at Asami as she opened her mouth in a silent gasp and rubbed her wrist, before looking back to Raiko. He raised his eyebrow. "You... know me, sir?"

The non-bender wagged his finger. "Of course! Chief Beifong has been telling me about your incredible work as a beat cop. And of course I know you and your brother from your pro-bending days. The Fire Ferrets were my favorite team, and I always love to root for the underdog!"

Bolin folded his arms proudly. "Yep, we were pretty good. Remember the look on Tahno's face during the finals?"

Raiko's laughter echoed into the trees. "Of course I do! I was in the crowd for that one! Of course... Amon and his Equalist terrorists showed up."

Bolin and Mako's faces fell, while Asami turned around and grimaced. "Yeah... kind of a downer, wasn't it?"

Raiko looked over his shoulder at Asami. "I do apologize for my conduct, ms Sato."

"It's in the past."

Raiko gave a solemn nod. "And the past is past." He clasped his hands."Now, what is your answer?"

"I'll be happy to sponsor you."

Raiko inclined his head with a grateful smile. "I'm honored, ms Sato. With a company like yours standing behind my presidency, the city will become the better for it."

Lin, Zhu Li and Buttercup came over as Varrick slid to a halt in front of Raiko, jerking a thumb at his chest and hooking a arm over his neck.

"Don't forget my little donations, as well, soon-to-be Mr President!"

Raiko nodded and laughed, grinning as he clapped the businessman on the shoulder. "Of course not, Varrick!"

Buttercup frowned and glanced at her husband, than at Varrick. "Donations?"

"Just a few payments here and there to keep the campaign running smoothly, my dear!"

"Of course..."

Raiko breathed a satisfied sigh and looked at all of them. "In a few days, I will be speaking on the steps of City Hall to the people of Republic City about the success of this campaign. This is a win for them!"

"I just hope Mr Pok is willing to accept stepping down as 'administrator.'. I know he has his hands deep in the bending Triads."

"He's a Triad man through and through. I expect he'll try to slink away the first chance he gets." Lin remarked.

"I don't think you'll need to worry about them, Mr Raiko."

"Really? Why is that?"

"We..."

Mako stalled but Bolin quickly jumped in with a grin. "...Took care of it. They won't be a problem."

Raiko raised his eyebrow as he put on his bowler hat. "Hmm. Thank you for the assurances." Buttercup came over as he looked at all of them and grinned, bowing his head and tipping his hat. "Thank you all for your help. Give my regards to the Avatar when you see her."

Mako rubbed his chin as Bolin waved at Raiko and Buttercup. "It was nice to meet you! You're pretty cool for a political guy!"

Asami sighed.

Lin noticed the pensive look on Mako. "What is it?"

"Why can't we put out a warrant for Pok's arrest, chief?"

"I'd love to be the one to slap irons on him, but he hasn't actually done anything illegal, Mako. We need to wait and see."

"Hold up, hold up , hold up."

Lin raised her eyebrow as Bolin scratched his chin and squinted at her. "Yeah?"

He slowly extended his finger towards her face. "Isn't Saikhan still chief?"

The older woman batted his finger away and rolled her eyes. "I've been chief of police for a while now, kid. Saikhan retired after the Dai Li tried their little takeover stunt."

"This is what I get for being stuck in a mansion!" Bolin slumped forwards with a groan.

"Don't worry about it, bro." Mako patted him on the back while Asami and Lin smirked.

"Can we get those malt shakes now?"

"Malt shakes? Count me in!" Varrick dragged Zhu Li behind him as he caught up to the others.

She turned her back on the massive tree, standing on the edge of the dappled shade cast by its canopy and concentrating on the bulging ball of flame floating just above her big toe. Korra narrowed her eyes as she snapped her foot forward in a instant, the roar of her flames cutting over the murmur of waves crashing against the cliff's base far below.

Korra exhaled and stepped back, letting her foot fall back to the ground as the stream of fire she just launched devoured the air in its hunger, twisting around itself like a angry serpent.

She swept her arms out, stretching out the twisting mass into a thin ribbon of flame that grew to encircle the air around her head. Korra closed her eyes, finding her calm by holding onto the image of the thin flame in her head.

With a calm breath she kept her eyes shut and held onto that image. Seconds passed, until it wavered and began to sputter as footsteps sounded on the grass growing on the hill's side.

A annoyed grunt came out of her as she opened her eyes, letting the flame dissipate in a fading rush of embers. She directed a look over her shoulder at Tai, full of ice.

She ignored him as he walked across the edge of the hilltop towards a grey rock poking out of the grass. He sat himself on it, laying his sword across his lap and placing the box down next to him.

His eyes flicked up. "You're really quiet."

"I'm concentrating on my firebending."

His eyes moved back down to look at the silvery surface of the blade as he rubbed the cloth up and down it's length. "Neat."

Korra turned her shoulder on him and splayed out her hand, focusing on it until she felt the rush of warmth again. The flame flared back to life in her palm, keeping her attention centered as she took a slow deep breath and-

High and shrill scraping noises sliced through her focus, dashing it to pieces. Once again she glared over her shoulder at him.

"At least keep quiet if you're gonna stick around."

He looked back at her, dropping the whetstone on his lap.

Korra realised she was being baited, and quickly turned back to what she was doing. A third time she lit the flame in her palm, her eyes narrowed and shoulders tensed.

"I just want to-"

"I'm not talking to you."

Tai got to his feet, leaving his sword and cloth behind. Despite the brief look Korra threw at him, he approached anyway. "I know I screwed up, but-"

"I don't care anymore."

He raised his eyebrow at her terse words. "Seriously? You've been giving me the cold shoulder the entire time. I doubt you 'don't care anymore'."

With a frustrated grunt she closed her hand, snuffing the flame. "What do you want from me?"

He finally lost his patience. The boy threw out his hands in frustration. "I want you to shout at me! Do what you usually do! Don't just stay quiet!"

Korra couldn't wait to give a eager nod, laughing bitterly as she marched over. "Fine! You want me to shout at you? I can do that just fine!" A small part of her winced at how biting her words were, only to be drowned out by the seething frustation inside she could now let out in full.

She stabbed a finger into his chest, making him stumble back into the shade of the tree's canopy. "You told me to leave you and your mom behind!"

Tai shook his head and regained his footing. "Yeah, to stop you guys from getting captured!"

"I thought the Dai Li had taken you two!" Annoyed at how thick he was being yet again, Korra shot her hand forward, grabbing his collar and wrenching him towards her, leveling a frustrated stare into his narrowed eyes.

"You still think I'm stupid enough to let them get the drop on me?" Tai grabbed her hand, pulling it away and staring her down. "I can take care of myself! I don't need you to save me all the time!"

She loosed a grow and rushed forwards, pushing him up against the tree with her arm.

"Why are you always like this?!" She kept him pinned against the bark of the tree as she leaned in close, breathing heavily. She gritted her teeth and looked away as her thoughts took a sudden change direction.

The burning energy that drove her seconds before. That drove her to lash into him with all she had. It disappeared. A cold pit had appeared and swallowed it all. Just like that, her eyes lost their blaze. Shame filled her.

Her arm slackened and she stepped back, looking away.

Tai slowly straightened, watching as she hung her head and uncurled her fist, leaving it to hang limp at her side.

Her eyes searched the grass at her feet. "Since coming back to Republic City, I've been frustrated." At first her words were quiet, but gained volume. Her eyes flicked up briefly, and settled on him. "For the last few weeks I've done nothing but sit around, with no idea that you were okay. And... I've been trying to think of what I can even say to convince everyone to stop their fighting and help me stop what Telei is doing." Again, her eyes fell back down. "And then I find out that Asami, Mako and Bolin went out to meet you, that you've been fine all of this time?"

She left the question hanging before breathing a depressed sigh. "...And you told them not to tell me."

Tai kept silent, knowing that nothing he could say would do much good. His eyes slid down.

"Do you know how worried everyone was the entire time?" Korra whispered, a sharp edge to her words. "How could I not be angry?"

Her words went unanswered. She closed her eyes and rubbed her arm. "...I don't like leaving people behind. And I don't like being kept in the dark."

Korra moved away, keeping her back turned as she stopped on the top of the hill slope, staring down it at the path winding its path through the bamboo plantations back to the family manor. She sighed and slid to the ground, drawing her knees up to her chin.

"You're so frustrating." he heard her mutter.

Tai's eyes flicked to the side as he chewed his lip. He sat down next to her and clasped his hands. The wind picked up, rustling the grass as he watched her pick at the swaying blades with a complicated frown.

He hanged his head, a bleak thought crossing his mind that this time he may have gone too far. Again.

He barely caught the flash of a wicked smirk on Korra when her fist suddenly lashed out, catching on his shoulder. With a yelp he shrunk back, holding up his hands in defense.

"Hey, what was that for?!"

Her eyes twinkled as she started to laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

"Your face was priceless!"

He scowled and rubbed his shoulder. "Not funny."

Korra shrugged again. "I'm tired of getting worked up whenever you do something stupid. So, you know what? That's it." Korra swiped her hands. "Let's just move past this."

Tai let loose a huge sigh. "Gladly."

He looked at her as the two of them fell silent, getting a small smile. She glanced at him with a curious light.

"Did they really use you as bait for the Triple Threats?" Korra frowned when she saw Tai gulp and rub the back of his neck.

The boy's face paled. "Sometimes I forget Asami's dad was a evil genius." He rubbed his shoulder. "And... you should probably forgive them too. They only wanted to help you out."

Korra sighed. She dropped her gaze and picked at the toe of her boot for a few moments. Finally, she looked back up. "I'm doing a lot of forgiving today, aren't I?"

Tai shrugged.

Tonraq, Desna and Eska waited together in the midst of the frozen wastes, staring up at the dark grey skies as they waited for Zuko and his dragon to come into view, landing with a loud thud on the hard ice, the wingbeats throwing up massive clouds of snow in all directions. Talisa came down a few seconds later, landing without a whisper and folding her glider up.

Tonraq looked up at Zuko. "Did you see Zaheer?"

"The only thing I saw was a snowstorm headed our way." Zuko called down from his perch on Druk's head.

Talisa stopped in front of Tonraq and looked him in the eye. "It wasn't natural."

Tonraq gave Talisa a nod and looked past her shoulder over a series of low hills and boulders looming over the ice in the distance. His eyes narrowed at the sight of a large whirling mass of cold snow and ice moving towards them with speed. "That's him."

Zuko slid down Druk's side, patting his companions leg before urging him to take to the skies. Druk roared his answer and flapped his wings, rushing back up while Zuko joined the others as they advanced towards the rapidly approaching nimbus.

The deep howls of the rushing winds made them tense up, preparing themselves for what was coming.

To their surprise a gargantuan shadow appeared within the swirling depths, breaking out into the clear air in spectacular fashion and revealing itself as a heavy-duty snowplough. The blocky vehicle's engine rumbled as it's tracks struck the ice, sticking down as it rushed forwards, with Gazan visible behind the frosted windows and Zaheer lying flat on the roof, his eyes focused.

He sprang off the roof and into the cold air, followed by Ming Hua. They both landed at a run in front of the snowplough, sprinting across the snow with single-minded purpose.

Tonraq rushed forwards, leading their charge with a growl. "I put you away once, Zaheer! I'll put you away again!"

As if in answer, Zaheer simply narrowed his eyes.

Tonraq raised his arm overhead, launching a thick stream of water, ice fragments floating within its mass as it shot towards Zaheer. At the same time, Desna and Eska split off, running as one towards Ming Hua, while Zuko rushed towards the snowplough and Gazan.

Talisa joined him against Zaheer, circling around to get behind him. The non-bender slid on his knees underneath the projectile, flipping up into the air as Tonraq raised a ice wall to trap his feet, sending it curving forwards and only just missing Ming Hua in the process. Zaheer landed in front of him, ducking once more as Tonraq swept his hand upwards, launching a shard of ice that rocketed into the sky instead, missing by inches.

Zaheer landed again but Tonraq had already readied a water stream, sending it surging at him with ferocious speed. The non-bender bent backwards to avoid it, noticing Talisa rushing at him with her staff extended, the metal tips showing.

He narrowed his eyes as she launched a wave of air over the ground at his feet, and twisted over it at the last moment so that it instead tripped up Tonraq. Talisa swore and launched another blast of wind, snapping her staff up as Zaheer lunged through the air, rolling underneath her blast and wrenching her staff downward, finishing by driving his knee into her stomach, downing her as well.

Tonraq's vision swayed as he lifted his head, gasping for breath before lunging at Zaheer.

A short distance away Desna and Eska formed ice shards and launched them in unison, acting together to throw a barrage of ice blocks and needles at Ming Hua. The criminal twisted and swerved around them with unnatural speed, absorbing the closest ones into her water arms. She did not slow.

Desna and Eska swiped their hands as one, working together with determined expressions as rumbles sounded from beneath the snow. Jagged ridges and walls of ice jerked upwards, growing and growing until they formed a massive field of spikes and sheer walls between them and the deadly waterbender.

Ming Hua sprang upwards, latching onto the nearest spike and propelling herself through the spiky maze with her water arms, spinning and twisting to avoid them. She reached the other side, launching into the clear air above Desna and Eska. She twisted to avoid the spike threw at her and landed behind them.

A pillar of ice shot upwards underneath her feet to propel upwards as she swept her water arms at the twins, their water falling out of their control. Ming Hua smirked as she flash froze the pools, instantly encasing them in blocks of ice.

Her momentum carried her upwards as she spun water around herself so fast that it completely enveloped her, forming a thick cylinder with a sharp tip at the bottom and her at the top. She rode the spike down through the icy air towards the snow, easily piercing through it.

Up above, a hooded figure floated in the dark skies, watching as Ming Hua delved through the ice.

P'Li's eyes flicked up at the orange flashs of flames that reflected on the icy walls of the glacial crevice, coupled with the echoed yells of her White Lotus guards.

The cold continued to freeze her meager breaths even as the screams ceased.

A thick morass of ice crawled up the cold iron bars, enveloping them whole in front of her eyes. The entire iron gate was soon swallowed into the mass. The ice melted as suddenly as it grew, buckling and rending the brittle metal inside of it. With a yawning squeal its hinges gave, the entire door slammed onto the floor with a dull thud.

P'Li looked up in shock as a shadow fell over the icy floor of her cell.

Ming-Hua walked into view, stepping over the fallen door and looking down at her friend. "Let's get you out of here."

P'Li didn't move as her friend raised her water arms, shooting thin tendrils that speared through the chains linking the collar to her forehead clamp. The massive woman rose to her feet, blinking slowly as she discarded the iron plate, revealing a eye tattoo, surrounded by orange lines.

Warmth came back to her as she followed Ming Hua out of her former prison, watching as she formed thick ice hooks at the ends of her arms and looked up at the sheer glacial walls leading back to the surface high above.

P'Li bent down, wrapping her arms around Ming Hua's stomach and clinging to her back as the small woman darted upwards and sinked the hooks deep into the glacial ice with surprising strength. Ming Hua frowned in exertion as she began the climb back up, plunging her ice hooks in and out.

"We could have just taken the elevator." P'Li said, getting a quick smirk from Ming Hua as she continued to scale the wall.

"Show off."

Ming Hua managed to shrug as she pulled back her arm, melting the ice hook back down into a water arm as a hole in the glacier's surface became visible overhead. Her arm surged towards it, stretching out of the hole and gripping the side. Ming Hua took a deep breath as she reeled them up and out of the dark depths of the glacier and onto the snow.

They got to their feet, and P'Li heard that familiar roar as a great crimson dragon flew out of the thick clouds to face the two of them.

It opened it's maw, bellowing a great stream of flames that lit up the gloomy frozen surroundings in its passage. The flames rushed at them with a roar and a hiss, but P'Li only had a smile in response. The firelight made her eyes gleam as it surrounded them, rushing and gushing but failing to engulf them as she held out her arms to control it. It was warm.

"I've waited thirteen years to feel this warm!"

She lowered her arms and the flames faded into the cold air, staring up at the dragon as it roared a challenge, preparing to dive at them once more. She focused, taking a deep breath and centering herself on her third eye.

At the greatest moment of pressure she released the energy, focused through her tattoo.

Her steam projectile blasted through the air with such force that multiple sharp booms echoed out for miles. It shot forwards, crossing the distance between them and the great beast in a instant and struck it in the chest. The dragon squealed in pain, its wingbeats faltering as it twisted its body and flew away to get some distance from her combustion bending.

Zuko ducked and twisted around the rapid spinning rocks being thrown at him, his eyes firm as he swiped his hand and threw a precise wave of fire at the side of the snowplough.

Gazan leaped down from its roof, holding out his hands and levitating one of the boulders lying on the back. He slammed it down in front of him to block the second rush of flames, a smirk growing as the old man began to slow.

The earthbender made a chopping movement, separating the rock into chunks and whipping them through the air.

Zuko avoided the first, dodged the second, only to be caught unawares by the third skidding along the ice, tripping him up and throwing him backwards on his back. Zuko gasped as he slid backwards through the snow, his vision swimming.

Behind him Zaheer continued to dance backwards, avoiding Tonraq's heavy ice bricks with ease, watching Talisa rush to Zuko's side in the corner of his eye. His sight strayed as he spotted a tall familiar figure standing in the snow behind Tonraq with Ming Hua.

He stopped and stood still in front of Tonraq as the waterbender looked over his shoulder as P'Li launched a combustion blast directly at him. He grew a ice wall to block it, but the explosion ripped through it and sent him flying with a roar. He landed heavily on his side, completely out.

Zuko struggled to rise, being helped up by Talisa as he heard the snowplough's engine cut through the air. The two of them watched helplessly as the heavy vehicle sped away into the stormy wastes, leaving quickly.

Gazan checked in the rearview mirror for any signs of pursuit, and was particularly paranoid of the great ugly brute of a dragon showing up. But there was nothing but snow and wind behind them.

Next to him, P'Li sat on Zaheer's lap, grinning with the first warmth she felt in years. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Zaheer looked into her eyes, filled with devotion. "I never doubted."

The two of them leaned in, kissing each other with a old newfound vigor.

Gazan glanced at them with a awkward frown. "Really? Right now?"

"Don't be so stiff, Gazan." Ming Hua raised her arm over his seat's headrest and slapped him in the back of the head.

Gazan grunted, shooting her a look and rubbed his head. He looked forwards as the road continued through the middle of a icy canyon rising around them. A hooded figure stood in the middle of the road, forcing him to step on the brakes in a hurry.

The snow-truck came to a grinding halt on the frozen road.

P'Li narrowed her eyes and looked out through the frosted windows. She shifted off of Zaheer's lap, a dark scowl appearing as she opened the door and stepped out of the snow plough, eyes beginning to blaze.

Zaheer came out of the truck and grabbed her hand. "P'Li!"

She only stopped when he continued to tug on her hand, looming over him with a glare. She pointed at Telei.

"He's the reason we were all thrown in these prisons to rot!"

"Calm yourself, P'Li." Telei's words were deep and clear despite the howling winds.

"Why shouldn't I blow you up into tiny little pieces this second?!"

Telei shrugged. "Because I have a task for you. It is vital to the Red Lotus."

P'Li was about to give her answer when Zaheer grabbed her arm. "He is the grandmaster, P'Li. Listen to him. He did not mean to abandon us to the White Lotus."

Despite herself, the tall woman gave in to Zaheer's voice. She narrowed her eyes. "Fine. For your sake."

"I need you to travel to the he Boiling Rock."

P'Li didn't answer, keeping silent as she continued to level a glare at Telei.

Gazan and Ming Hua joined them. The earthbender folded his arms. "I've always wanted to hit that place. Count me in."

"Actually I have a task for you both. In Republic City."

Gazan gave Ming Hua a look and rolled his eyes, making her raise a eyebrow in amusement. "Oh, that town of dreams. What's the gig?"

"Observation. Our plan to free this world depends on that meeting. Zaheer and I will travel to the South Pole in the meantime."

Zaheer saw a brief smile on Gazan as he rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles.

"When do we start?"

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