Chapter XXX:

The ex-gladiator can feel the heat radiating off of Kuvira, despite being a good distance away from her. With a laugh, Kuvira tries to brush off the sun fire. Her outburst of emotion grows quiet as she realizes that the fire has not burned itself up. A nervous chuckle bubbles out of Kuvira's mouth, and she frantically tries to remove the flame, but to no avail. The sun fire has picked its target, and has engulfed the Empress. Over the next few moments, Kuvira grows more panicked. She cries out as the metal surrounding her starts to heat up, cooking her as if she were in an oven. Through the visor, Korra can see Kuvira's eyes grow fearful. She tries one last time to remove the flame off of her. As the times before, the flame does not budge, it simply grows in strength and brightness. At this point, Korra has to cover her eyes, because the sun flame has grown so bright that to look at it is like looking at the sun itself. The ex-gladiator, with her remaining strength, lowers the walls around Bataar II. The Emperor scrambles towards Korra and helps her up. He lifts her up, trying his best not to harm her further. The blood starts to seep from Korra's abdomen. She groans as her knees drag across the broken ground. Several pieces of stone cut up her legs, and though she cannot feel the majority of the wounds, she can feel her blood leaving her body. With a persistent tug, Bataar pulls her farther away from the flaming Empress.

Kuvira eyes the two that she was destined to kill; she knows what she must do, and with a resigned howl, she kneels to the ground. The metal surrounding her body first contracts inward, and then explodes outward. Hundreds of pieces of flaming metal fly across the throne room. A few of them scatter around Korra's legs. Another handful whiz by Bataar's head. He ducks his head just in time, the metal scrapes narrowly missing his head. A strange feeling hits Korra. She groans as she looks down. A few of the pieces of Kuvira's armor landed in her chest, deeply embedded. Lucky for her, they are so deep and so firmly inside of her, that the blood cannot leave her body. Internal bleeding is sure to come, but perhaps it would buy her enough time. Bataar's eyes widen as he pulls Korra farther and farther away from Kuvira. He knows that she has been hit, though she did not cry out. He knows that if if it had not been for Korra, her body as a shield of sorts, that he would have been hit, and perhaps dead. The training of the gladiator must still course through her veins.

Above on the ceiling, Asami looks down at the battle. Her sharp green eyes turn to Bolin and Opal. The trio give each other high fives. The pale woman allows herself a small smile of victory.

Kuvira kneels on the ground, gasping for air. Her skin, all of it, from her head to her toes, is a light pink. With a snarl, she stands, though she is unsteady. She looks to Korra and Bataar, and sees that they are still alive. She curses and swears at the sight. A low growl enters her throat. She raises her fists, and sends a wave of shrapnel towards Korra.

Before Bolin can send down stones of his own to intercept Kuvira's metal, the ex-gladiator takes a deep breath in. She closes her eyes, channeling her energy. When she opens her eyes, they do not have a pupil, an iris, or any distinction between the different parts of the eye. Her eyes are a pure blue color; the color of energy. Air swirls around the Avatar, and it stabilizes herself so she can stand. The incoming pieces of metal are knocked harmlessly aside, hitting the ground and not their targets. Kuvira sends more and more attacks to Korra, and in her Avatar state, cannot be stopped.

With a flick of her wrist, Korra sends a cyclone of air tumbling towards the Empress. It strikes her, just as the last of Korra's energy leaves her. Korra falls to the ground, face first, and groans. Bataar rushes to her, hunched over to protect her from any more attacks.

Asami's stomach drops. She looks to Bolin and nods. He looks hesitant.

"Send me down, now," The pale woman says with a growl, desperation tinting her tone. When Bolin waits again, she grows even more impatient. "Now! Bolin!"

"Alright," Bolin whispers, and he stomps on the roof, cutting out a rectangular piece of ceiling out of it. The piece of earth lowers to the ground with Asami on it. When it is a few feet from the ground, Asami jumps off, landing beside Kuvira.

A deep, deep, anger boils in Asami's stomach. This woman, this -thing- has done everything in her power to break Korra. The Empress looks up from the ground, and begins to laugh.

"They sent you down?" Kuvira snorts. "You, out of all people."

"Damn right they did," Asami responds.

The grin on Kuvira's face manages to become more wicked than it already is. "A foolish mistake."

And with that, she sends a shock wave through the ground. Asami jumps up, avoiding the cracks in the floor, and lands a few feet away from the fallen Empress. Said woman stands from the ground and sends another few rocks towards Asami. But she is drained, she is weak from being nearly burned alive. The pale woman channels her deep anger against this woman, and focuses it into a pinpoint of white-hot rage. She ducks and weaves through the oncoming stones, remembering how heart-broken Korra was when the now Empress left her without a single word.

She remembers how Kuvira is responsible for Korra almost burning alive. She remembers how hopeless the situation was. She remembers how she killed the Imperial family. She remembers. She remembers. The pain, the destruction, the chaos, this woman has caused.

She will never forget, not until the day she dies.

Asami screams out with rage, dodging the last of the rocks. Now face to face with the woman she loathes, she sends a right hook towards her. Kuvira side steps the punch, and retaliates with a blow of her own. The punch lands on Asami's cheek. She can feel her cheek bones compress from the sheer force of the blow. Asami stumbles back, and Kuvira sends a barrage of rocks towards her. Moving as if she is water, Asami weaves around Kuvira's stones and body. She quickly punches the Empress's back. Kuvira's arms go limp, and she screams out.

"No fucking way!" Kuvira screams.

Asami kicks the inside of Kuvira's knees, and she falls forward. With a snarl, she reaches towards Kuvira's hair and pulls it back. The Empress makes a guttural sound in her throat, which makes Asami pull even further. When Kuvira releases a scream, Asami grows satisfied and lets go of her hair. She turns Kuvira's limp body over. The pale woman relishes the fact that Kuvira had underestimated her greatly.

"Looks like you're human after all," Asami says. "I wasn't too sure, because of the way you are. Heartless, cold, calculating. But, just like the rest of us, you fall to some simple chi blocking. Must make you mad."

Kuvira spits on the ground in response. Asami stands from the ground and gives Kuvira a swift kick to the ribs. The force of the kick causes a splintering sound to fill the room and for Kuvira to cry out. The pale woman kneels on the ground and pushes Kuvira over so her back is on the ground and not her face. Kuvira's eyes are clouded in pain. She starts to cough, and she moans from the pain it causes her ribs.

"M-mercy," She sputters.

"Mercy?" Asami asks, voice raising. She can feel the fire burning in her heart. "Mercy?" She repeats. "You, a monster, wants mercy?"

A defeated look crosses Kuvira's face.

"Fuck that notion," Asami growls, and socks Kuvira right in the eye, returning the favor.

The Empress goes limp, falling unconscious. Asami shakes out her fist, which she is sure she broke. The pain comes in dull throbs into her hand. Her knuckles begin to swell almost right away. She swallows her pain, and looks over to Korra, who herself has fallen unconscious on the Emperor.

Bolin shouts up from the ceiling. "The Army has mobilized! Troops are coming to secure the palace."

He lowers himself and Opal from the top of the palace. With a few grunts, he clears the blocked entrance to the throne room. He steps over to Kuvira, disdain for his former boss clear on his face. His face contorts into a bitter expression. Opal stands next to Bolin, and weaves their fingers together. Bolin squeezes Opal's hand and gives her a kiss on the side of the head.

Asami kneels next to her fiance. She kisses Korra's forehead, who groans in response. The ex-gladiator opens a single eye. It takes a moment for her to recognize who is looking at her. When she does, both eyes fly open with pure happiness.

"Asami!" Korra cries out, trying to prop herself up on her elbows, yet failing. She falls back against the Emperor.

"Stop trying to move," Asami says gently. She leans down to kiss her forehead again. "You… Were amazing."

"Me?" Korra responds with a small cough. Her face twists into a grimace. "You're the one who took her down."

"I think the healers are coming," Asami says, surveying the throne room. Dead bodies are everywhere, both Kuvira's and Bataar's men and women litter the floor. Small sections of the sun fire still burn, but they are losing their strength, and their flame dies down. "How are you holding up?"

Korra smiles, but the gesture is tight. "I've been worse. This sure beats being burned alive. Or whipped, for that matter."

Asami looks up to Bataar, who is cradling the ex-gladiator. "Are you hurt, my lord?"

Bataar shakes his head no. "Thanks to Korra, I barely even have a scratch. She did her job, and even more. Without her, without you, I would be dead."

Korra looks up to Bataar. "Just doing my job, sir."

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Asami finishes wrapping a bandage around Korra's abdomen. She traces her fingers around Korra's abs. The ex-gladiator's breath becomes stuck in her throat, and she coughs. She leans back into Asami, who in turn wraps her arms around Korra. She rests her head on the ex-gladiator's shoulder.

"How are you feeling baby?" Asami asks.

Korra does not answer. She simply shrugs.

"You know," Asami murmurs. "we don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I do," Korra answers. "I feel like I am committed to doing so."

Asami sighs, "I know."

"It feels strange to have this all be over."

"It does," The pale woman agrees.

"I can't believe they're crucifying her," The ex-gladiator mutters.

Asami clicks her tongue and plants a kiss on the side of Korra's neck. "Would you have it any other way?"

"Yeah."

"What would you have done?" Asami asks.

The ex-gladiator detangles herself from her girlfriend. She turns around so she can look Asami dead in the eyes. "I would have killed her myself."

"Public execution?"

"Public execution," Korra repeats. "She deserves it, and nobody wants to watch a crucifixion. It just…"

"It doesn't send the right message," Asami finishes.

A small smile appears on Korra's face. "Yeah, exactly. If I were more cruel I would suggest burning her but...nobody, not even Kuvira deserves that."

A bitter taste fills Asami's mouth, and she grimaces. "I think she comes close."

The ex-gladiator chortles. "You still hate her, don't you?"

"And you don't?" The pale woman responds defensively.

Korra shakes her head. "No, I don't."

"But she…"

"Has done everything to deserve my hatred? Yes. I do not forgive her, but I cannot bring myself to hate her."

"Maybe it's because you didn't have to see you suffer the way you did," The pale woman mutters darkly.

"If she had done the same to you, trust me, I would be out there, strangling her with my bare hands. But, she, in her pride, fell. And I cannot help but pity her. I am not saying she deserves to live," The ex-gladiator responds.

"She's too dangerous to be kept alive. No prison could hold her."

"That is true," Korra responds, subconsciously tracing her fingers around her scars from the bear. Her first fight. And now, she will have new scars, from her last fight. The final fight.

The remainder of Kuvira's troops, once they found out she was dead, fled back to Egypt. What did they care, anyway? They had been paid beforehand to do a job, and that job no longer needed to be done. There was no need for them to stay and fight. They left almost peacefully. The people of Rome were in shock at Kuvira's betrayal. They called for her blood. Hopefully once her blood has been spilt, there shall be no need to spill more. I do not want my life to be on the line for the Imperial family, at least, for now. We need peace. We need, stability. Bataar II better provide that, otherwise Rome is in a heap of trouble. And this time, I won't be there to save it. I am a warrior, yes, but I do not want to fight any longer. I need a break. Something, anything. The North calls me, and my ancestors do too. I can feel it in my bones, my parents calling me. The chances of finding my parents are slim. But, I need to try at least. And then there's the wedding...Bolin and Opal want to be married the same day Asami and I are. But, I do not think I can handle a marriage right now...in front of everybody, Spirits no. I hope they can understand where I am coming from. I need some time, time they might not be willing to wait. Bataar said he wouldn't marry again. So it is up to Bolin and Opal to produce an heir for the throne...

A voice breaks Korra out of her inner monologue.

"Are you ready to go?" Asami asks.

After pulling a robe over her head, Korra nods. "Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."

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A hammer drives a wooden triangle with a metallic tip into Kuvira's palms. She cries out in pain. She has been stripped down to nothing but her undergarments. Her bruised ribs are plain to see. Her cuts were never treated; her wounds never healed. Minimal metal is used to avoid Kuvira escaping.

Another wooden triangle drives into the other palm. Again, the dishonored Empress cries out. The crowd gathered around is tense with anticipation. Finally, her feet are nailed to the cross. Kuvira groans, her head falling forward. Korra has to look away at the pained expression on Kuvira's face. Asami's hand tightens around Korra's, squeezing it as if it is a life line.

A few of the guards push the cross up into an upright position. They slide the cross into a hole that the bottom of the cross will fit into. The wooden post slides into the hole effortlessly. The soldiers make a few adjustments, ensuring the cross stays in place and does not move. Seeing that the cross has not fallen over, the two soldiers take a step back, pleased with their work. They look to each other and nod. The two soldiers, one woman, one man, reenter the fringes of the crowd. In hushed silence the crowd watches Kuvira. Her ribs are flared out, and she tries to take a deep breath in. The sound comes as a strangled gasp. Kuvira's head bows, and her black hair spills forward, hiding her face.

The crowd, only fifteen minutes in, begins to grow restless. This is not the exciting death they had expected. -They should not have expected that to begin with,- Korra thinks with a groan. Death by crucifixion takes hours, sometimes days. And, it is a slow, painful, excruciating death. Burning would be faster, but...Eesh. What were they thinking, that she would just die in a glorious explosion? Idiots.

Kuvira pulls herself up, allowing herself to breathe. She holds the position for a few moments. Blood trickles from the wound in her hands. The red substance drips from the tips of her toes. The ex-gladiator clenches her jaw, and looks away. Seeing Kuvira struggle like this...It is not an easy sight. Asami's hand gives a reassuring squeeze. Korra knows that her fiance has stopped watching, too. The sight of Kuvira up on the cross must remind her of Hiroshi. Korra's heart throbs, remembering how she was not there for Asami. She turns and buries her face into the side of Asami's neck, planting a gentle kiss there.

Kuvira lets herself drop from the cross, and she groans. She leans her head back, and shakes her head to remove the hair out of her face. She looks up to the blue sky and the sun. The beam of sun lands on her. The heat will give her an awful sunburn. She will soon be a reddened carcass. After struggling for air again, Kuvira pulls herself up by the mere strength of her shoulders. She holds the position, this time longer than the time before. She takes a deep breath in, and then lowers herself. Sweat begins to mix with the blood. The salty liquid beads at her forehead. The Empress blinks, and then shuts her eyes. Her throat bobs up and down.

Korra tugs on Asami's wrist. Asami's green eyes flick down to Korra's. "Can we go?" The ex-gladiator mouths.

The pale woman nods, agreeing to Korra's suggestion. She turns around and they weave through the gathered crowd, who, for the most part, has remained eerily silent. The ex-gladiator lifts her chin up at the Emperor, Bolin, and Opal, who are all watching with a grim expression on their faces. Bolin refuses to look at Kuvira's compromised position, instead his gaze is directed pointedly at the ground. Opal watches in contempt, happy to see the woman who killed her family dying in a slow and painful way. Bataar looks heart-broken, shattered to the core. He did what he had to do Korra thinks. It must be hard to send someone you love to a death like that. And to find out they killed your family? And wanted you dead too?I can't imagine how the poor man feels. It's likely he'll...he'll...never love again.

Korra looks over her shoulder to look at Kuvira one last time. The crucified woman seems to sense her old lover's gaze. Her old friend. Her once most trusted ally. Kuvira lifts her eyes to meet Korra's. They stare at each other for a moment, each studying the other. Tears start to fall from Kuvira's eyes, leaking like a broken ceiling. She mouths something to Korra, something she interprets as 'I am sorry'. The ex-gladiator gives a curt nod in response. Kuvira seems to relax at the realization. She leans her head back against the wooden beam of the cross, tears streaming down her face. The ex-gladiator looks away, unable to maintain the intense contact any longer.

Korra turns her back, vowing never to look at her again, and goes to catch up with Asami. The pale woman waits at the top of the small hill, where the crowd is thin. She had waited for her, and Korra knew she would. When Korra reaches the peak of the hill, if it could be even called a hill, she takes Asami's hill. They being to walk down the rise of the hill, hand in hand.

Then, a sound whips through the air. An arrow, coming from an unknown location, from an unknown instigator, flies past the crowd. Korra' and Asami's heads snap to follow where the arrow lands. The crowd gasps as the arrow pierces straight through Kuvira's heart. Kuvira does not make much of an noise, just a deep inhalation. The expression she wears shows gratitude. Although painful, this would be quicker than dying from asphyxiation. Two more arrows follow their leader. One follows the path the first one did, landing on Kuvira's chest, just a sliver away from where the original arrow hit. The other deviates from the course, and the arrow lands in the once great woman's neck.

No more arrows follow the three. Korra looks around, trying to figure out where the arrows came from. Asami places a hand on her tan shoulder.

"It's no matter who did it," Asami whispers. "She was spared from a grueling death, a mercy I would not have granted her. But, someone, maybe the Spirits, willed this to happen."

Korra blinks, reeling from the realization that Kuvira is dead, really, really dead. Her throat goes dry, and she squeezes her eyes shut. A few tears leak from her eye lids. "I guess you're right," she chokes out.

"Let's go home," Asami murmurs. "I need some time with the most brilliant person in the world."

The ex-gladiator's mood lifts, if only a little, at Asami's words. She smiles, though it is a small one. "Alright. I just need to be held."

"I can do that," Asami says, winding her and Korra's hands together. Pale skin meets tan skin, in a beautiful contrast.

"I want to sleep forever," Korra whispers.

The pale woman hums her agreement.

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Korra, with her possessions laid out on the bed, stares at the wall opposite to where she sleeps. Her eyebrows knit together, deep in thought. Memories of the past keep intruding on her mind, and she keeps pushing them out in response. Only the future remains, the past is to be left behind, dead, as it should be. She blinks out of her pause, and begins to organize the items on her bed. The money she packed first, and then containers for water, then some bread. The bread will surely grow stale, but it is meant as a token of survival, not a luxury of fresh food. She puts in the clothes next, her two cloaks, another pair of sandals, a few robes. She did not have the proper equipment for where she was travelling, so she would have to barter, trade, or buy those things on her own. Her feet, conditioned to the sunny hills of Rome, would not last a single day out in the North. The ex-gladiator twists the ring on her finger, reminding her of her fiance. Her heart fills with warmth at the thought.

She would be home any time now, and Korra will have to talk to her. With a sigh, Korra finishes packing her bag. She sits on the bed, waiting, and fumbles with the drawstrings of the bag. Her hands twists on the fringes of her pristine, white, robe. When she takes a breath in, her ribs, her body, no longer throbs with a dull ache. It had been some time since Kuvira's execution, and even longer from the battle. Korra's body, before this all had happened, was clean, free of pale scars. But now, when the ex-gladiator looks down at her body, it is riddled with scars, plagued by them. Each one serves as a memory of pain, a memory of personal growth, a kind of growth that knows no bounds. She could not see the ones on her back, thankfully, so she could not dwell on their appearance. Sometimes, she worried her scars would push Asami away. That they would be unappealing. The pale woman told her that the scars were the exact opposite to her, she found them intriguing, and she said that she loves tracing her fingers around the textured surface. Sometimes, when she was in the mood, she would whisper in Korra's ear that they were attractive, sexy, even.

Korra flushes at the memory and rubs at her bicep. Sometimes, the skin still felt tender, though the markings had healed some time ago. Korra closes her eyes, remembering Mako and Katara. Most days, thinking of them would make her said. But today, is not one of of those days. A warmth fills Korra to the very brim. She is ready to start something new, or at least, take a break from the old. She lets herself fall back on the bed, and she lands with a slight bounce. Her bare feet dangle over the bed. They soon come into contact with her trusted wolf. She wiggles her toes in the soft fur of Naga, who sneezes in response.

The front door to the house swings open. Finally, the duo felt comfortable entering and leaving the house through the front door. There is no longer a threat to their well-being, no one left who wishes to harm them. Korra waits for Asami to enter the bedroom.

When the pale woman walks through the doorway, she gasps. Her eyes fly open. "And where exactly do you think you're going?!"

"Asami list-"

"Are you leaving me?" She asks in a low voice, pain tinting her tone.

Korra stands from the bed abruptly, and in response, her braces shudder and she almost falls over. She steadies herself and then walks over to Asami, tears already springing to her eyes.

"No, no," Korra whispers. "I wanted to ask you something, actually."

A visible wave of relief hits Asami. "Oh Spirits, why didn't you tell me before? You shouldn't scare me like that," The pale woman laughs nervously.

The ex-gladiator chuckles. "I am sorry, I really am," She takes a deep breath in. "I actually have wanted to talk to you about this for a while."

"Yes?"

"I need to leave Rome for a bit. Go up North, reclaim my stolen heritage. I doubt I'll find my parents, but it would be amazing if I did. I can sometimes see them in my dreams, like memories that are buried deep into my mind," Korra explains. "I don't expect that you would come with me, if you didn't want to."

Asami grows silent for a moment. "What about our wedding?"

"We could have it up there, if you wished. I just, I just need out of here, you know?" Korra says, pushing back her mouse-brown hair.

"I do," Asami says quietly. "It has been a wild past two years, hasn't it?"

"Almost three," Korra murmurs.

Asami wraps her arms around Korra's waist. The ex-gladiator presses her nose into the crook of Asami's neck. "Will you come with me?" She murmurs against Asami's pale skin.

"Of course I will," Asami responds. "How long do you plan to stay gone?"

"I don't know," Korra admits.

"Will we come back?" The pale woman asks, not willing to give up her home permanently.

"Yes, in time. I just need a few months, maybe a year?" Korra responds with a question.

"That's fair," Asami answers. "Before we leave we should tell Opal and Bolin, they should not have to wait to be married."

"We can stay for their wedding, I am willing to do that, but not much longer," Korra says. "I am going to go stir crazy. I just need some fresh air."

The pale woman releases Korra from her embrace. She tucks a strand of brown hair behind the ex-gladiator's ear. "I understand," She repeats. "You don't have to keep explaining yourself. I am with you, all the way."

"I love you," Korra murmurs, planting a kiss on Asami's lips.

"Love you too," Asami responds against the push of Korra's lips.

The pair kiss, pushing and pulling, giving and receiving, for a long time. Korra pulls away, her lungs burning for air. She stands on her tiptoes, her braces creaking. The ex-gladiator kisses Asami's black brow.

"Let's go tell them, then."

END OF PART III

EL FIN

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A/N: Wowzer. I cannot believe I just finished this. This is my first real, novel-length story. I am happy to say that I am proud of it, and I hope you guys have enjoyed it as much as I have.

Thank you, to each and every one of you reviewers, you are all amazing, keep reviewing for me and other authors, it really makes our days! Every time I received a review, even when it was from a person who had reviewed my story already, I smiled. Three-hundred and twelve times I smiled. You guys make me happy. I would like to thank bean. troll for following my work since August 2014. And I would especially like to thank those who reviewed more than once on this story, seriously, you guys are awesome. May peace and good things fill your life, and may it be a fulfilling one.

According to the poll on my profile (those of you that have not voted, do so now if you care about what I write next!), the next thing I shall write is a Korrasami one shot. It's gonna be good. And then, for my next long story, I am moving to the Attack on Titan fandom, with some Yumikuri action. Expect a Bubbline one-shot between the two.

REJECTED PART III IDEAS: Alien invasion (THREE TIME IN A ROW, GUYS) , a Korrasami wedding, Korra running away, Asami turning into a woodland fairy, Naga being Batman, a heterosexual romance, Mako making a comeback, Opal getting preggers, and happy endings. Wait, that actually happened, never mind. Sorry c;

I unfortunately do not have a play list for this part, but it was heavily inspired by the song "Breath of Life" By Florence and the Machine.

I am still reeling from how much positive response I have received from this story. I am completely, and utterly grateful from the bottom of my heart.

As always, review, follow, favorite, share! And, if you think I am worthy, please add me to your favorite author's list. That way, more people can read my stories! Peace! ~Chemistry God