Published September 23, 2012

Chapter One
"Endings and Beginnings"

"This is Shiro Shinobi, with the News In Brief. Benders and non-benders alike lined the docks to witness the return of Avatar Korra, accompanied by former Chief of Police Lin Beifong as well as Councilman Tenzin's family of airbenders. In a brief press conference, the Avatar confirmed that she is here to stay, and that in addition to regaining her own bending, she has discovered how to restore the bending of those who lost it to Amon. The reinstated police force will be working to arrange a protocol so that everyone who lost their bending will get it back.

"Also among the homecomers was Asami Sato, daughter and legal heir of Equalist entrepreneur Hiroshi Sato, and ironically a friend and ally of the Avatar. Miss Sato has pledged to work with the police and use her own family's wealth to cover damages that the Equalists caused to Republic City.

"When asked about her friendships and relationships, Avatar Korra admitted that she's found love at last, in her Pro-Bending teammate Mako. The firebender was seen helping Avatar Korra fight Amon before exposing him as a waterbender. The couple declined from further comment, but Mako's brother, Pro-Bending earthbender Bolin, admitted that he suspected for a long time that they would end up together."

Asami lowered the newspaper. "So, what's the controversy?"

Korra tried to explain. It was easier after having discussed it so much with Tenzin and the rest of the Council. "I have the power to take away or restore a person's bending. So the question is, how do I use that power? Do I decide who's worthy of being a bender? Or should the Council tell me how to use it? Should everyone that Amon touched have their bending restored, or should we exclude criminals?"

"I think Tenzin's solution is best," Mako said. "Everyone who comes will be registered at City Hall. Anyone who wants their bending back can get it; criminals just have to surrender to the police. They still get a fair trial. If they don't want to risk it, they're stuck without their bending. Either way, it's their choice."

Asami laid the paper on the table and turned the page. She blinked, and then spoke emotionlessly. "You're in the tabloids, too."

"Really? Let me see." Bolin took the newspaper from her and studied the page. Then he drew his face away, his eyes wide, his lips pulled back in a slight cringe.

"What is it?" Mako demanded.

Korra snatched the paper away and held it out at arm's length. "No way!" Korra's eyes boggled at the headline. "'The Avatar's Love Life'?" Mako and Bolin immediately leaned in to read over her shoulder. There was a photograph of the four friends, standing together with their arms over each other's shoulders, the day they came home from the North Pole.

It is known that Mako accompanied and assisted the Avatar in rescuing the airbenders and revealing Amon's true identity as a waterbender. But was it just their synergy as fighters prompted this teamwork? Or did they have another reason for wanting to embark on such a dangerous mission together?

Korra's tan cheeks turned a shade of pink. She glanced at Mako, but he just shrugged as he looked over the column. "It's all speculation."

"It was, until you told the world you're officially a couple," Bolin said offhandedly.

Korra scowled slightly. She'd only agreed to have that press conference so that the people would know what was going on, and be assured that their reinstated leaders were still doing everything they could to help in the aftermath of the war. But after she left the podium, some reporters had followed, shouting out more personal questions, including some about her friends and teammates. What was I supposed to do? Lie, when Mako was right there? She wasn't embarrassed or ashamed about having a relationship with Mako. It was just something that should be private.

Mako stirred his food around his bowl with his chopsticks. "I've been thinking, I want to get back my job at the power plant."

Korra looked sideways at him. "You know you guys are welcome at the Air Temple, for as long as you need."

"I know, and we appreciate that. But on the other hand, if we stay too long, everyone might expect us to become Air Acolytes."

This produced a small laugh from his girlfriend. "Good point."

Bolin swallowed a mouthful of food and then held up a finger. "Asami, when you plan that budget for the council, make sure there's funding for rebuilding the Arena."

"Of course I will. But we'd have to get Butakha involved, since he owns the place …"

Tenzin came up to the teenagers' table. "Are you ready?" he asked, looking at the girls.

Korra and Asami stood up together. "So, we'll see you guys at the end of the day," Asami said to the brothers.

Bolin waved. "Have a good day at work!" he said cheerfully.

Korra rolled her eyes. "I'll try," she said dutifully. Then she leaned over and gave Mako a swift kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

Mako smiled, watching the girls leave with Tenzin. Bolin picked up the newspaper that Asami had left behind. "I'm going to add this to our scrapbook," he decided. That was where he kept those few sports articles written about the Fire Ferrets.

Tenzin, Korra, and Asami all flew on Oogi to the mainland. All three of them had work to do at City Hall. Tenzin had his usual job as a councilman; Asami was going to work out a budget with Saikhan and the Council; and Korra had to restore people's bending.

She had already healed Saikhan, the metalbenders, and the White Lotus members—the people who were needed to keep order in the city—but there were many others that Amon had touched.

Still, she was surprised by the amount of people. From Oogi's saddle, she could see that the line spilled out of City Hall and into the street.

They could see her, too, as the bison came into their line of sight. "The Avatar!"

"It's her!"

"Avatar Korra!" They started to cheer for her. Korra tried not to act embarrassed; she forced a smile and raised a hand in greeting.

"Don't worry," Tenzin reassured her. "We won't be going in that way."

He steered Oogi to the roof of the building, which was still partly under construction as a result of Korra and Tarrlok's duel a month before. Saikhan was waiting for them there.

"I'm glad you're here," he said as the trio dismounted.

Tenzin bowed politely. "Good morning, Saikhan."

"Chief," Korra greeted.

"Avatar," Saikhan responded shortly. "Miss Sato. We're ready for you." The other three followed him inside and down the stairs to the atrium.

A gaggle of reporters was waiting near the entrance, next to the tables where people were registering and showing proof of identification. Lin Beifong and a few metalbenders were overseeing the procedure. Someone had had the smart idea to provide a small tub of water and a few blocks of hard-packed earth.

The photographers and journalists rushed to get good pictures of the group as they entered the atrium.

"Chief! Have there been any Equalist attempts to stop this bending restoration process?"

"Avatar Korra! Do you approve of the Council's efforts to maintain peace in the city?"

Someone shouted out Asami's name; they were firing questions at her, as well. "Miss Sato! What is the first thing you're going to do, to help the city?"

Asami glanced uncertainly at Korra, Saikhan, and Tenzin. Then she looked back and said carefully, "I don't know yet; that's what I'm going to discuss …" She was cut off by another question.

"How do you feel about your father's Equalist affiliation?"

Korra glanced at her friend, wondering how she would react to such a question. But Asami set her jaw. "I'm done being upset. It's over now."

"Do you feel any anger towards your father?"

"No. Excuse me, I have a meeting." Asami pushed through the string of reporters, with a confident, commanding gait that Korra envied at that moment. Korra, Saikhan and Tenzin followed her through the atrium.

"Are you okay?" Korra asked.

"I'm fine," Asami said shortly, glaring at the wall. Korra was reminded of how Mako had responded when she asked if he and Asami were all right.

In truth, Korra had sometimes wondered the same thing as the reporters. Asami had been through so much since the Equalist uprising began. But most of the time Asami was levelheaded and even upbeat.

Lin Beifong approached the group. "Welcome back," she said, looking at Tenzin and the girls.

"It's good to be back," Korra said. And, for the most part, it was true.

"I'll see you at dinner," Asami said over her shoulder, before following Tenzin and Saikhan into a conference room.

"Now that you're here, we can start letting people in." Lin signaled to a metalbender at the entrance, who let the first person come through. Lin tossed her head toward him. "He's been here since before dawn."

The young man raised his head quickly, pushing his bangs aside to look at her. "Korra." He looked as though he almost couldn't believe she was here.

Korra recognized him at once. "Tahno." He was slightly surprised by the way her face lit up when she saw him. "Hey. I wondered if I'd see you here."

Tahno smiled, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jacket. "You did it. You got him for me."

Korra smiled back, but there was some sadness in hers. "Not exactly," she admitted. "Amon got away." It still bothered her that Amon had escaped in the end; but he hadn't been seen since, and the police suspected he might even be dead.

"Still, you stopped him … before he took on the rest of the world. And now—you're fixing everything he ruined."

"So, are you ready?"

"Do you even have to ask?" He'd been waiting for this—he didn't know how long. Since he lost his bending? There had been a while when he tried to accept that what Amon had done to him was permanent. But when Korra returned—it sounded too good to be true.

"Okay. Kneel."

Tahno blinked at her. "Sorry?"

"Never mind, I guess you don't have to. Just stay still."

Korra did the same thing Aang had done to her: placed one hand on Tahno's shoulder and another on his forehead. She had to brush aside the overgrown bangs on the right side of his face. It was the first time they'd touched.

He felt something … maybe his chi moving through his body. He looked up at Korra; her expression was serious, concentrating, almost determined. He'd seen her wear a similar look while Pro-Bending, only now she was calm, and not at all hostile. Her eyes, though closed, glowed with a pale blue light.

It was the first time that Tahno truly appreciated that she was the Avatar.

The glowing stopped, and Tahno felt that unnamable connection fade away. And yet, he didn't feel empty, the way he had when Amon took his bending; he just felt … normal.

He looked uncertainly at Korra. She smiled gently at him. Go on, she seemed to be saying. Try it.

Tahno looked at the tub and poised his hand in the air, trying to feel the water before commanding it. Then he raised his hand, and the water rose with it, following him where he guided it.

His smile was open-mouthed, almost a smirk when he spoke. "I can't believe it."

"How do you feel?" Korra asked curiously.

Tahno smiled again. "Exhilarated." Really, the best word to describe it was, Whole.

Reluctantly Tahno returned the water to the bucket. He could find water to bend somewhere else—he knew what he'd be doing for the rest of the day.

"I never thought I'd say this," Tahno said grudgingly. "But … thank you—Avatar Korra."

"You're welcome." Korra bowed. Tahno blinked, then bowed back to her in respect.

That was the feeling he had for her, now. Respect. He supposed that included a certain degree of liking.

"I owe you a favor," he said, before walking away. Korra's eyes lingered on him, until she turned to the next person in line.

She knew she had a long day ahead of her; but it seemed to be off to a good start.

Author's Note: This is my first time writing a multi-chapter fanfic about a series that is not complete. I started writing this a while before the San Diego Comic Con took place, and I haven't read any of the news about what's coming up in The Legend of Korra. I prefer not to learn too much about what's coming in the show, because I want to be surprised when I actually watch it. (I don't mind waiting for the new season, because it gives me a chance to do longer fan fiction stories like this.) So, pardon me if what I write contradicts something revealed by the creators.

I started writing this because I was thinking about Tahno and the "Tahnorra" ship, but it ended up having more, stronger, "Makorra". (I guess that shows which ship I ultimately like better.) It's also a bit of a character study for Asami. I will say this now, Tahno is a tricky character to write, for two reasons. One is that we only saw him in three episodes, so we don't know him very well. Another is that his personality was bound to change after he lost his bending. So I'm sorry if he seems out of character to you; this is my interpretation of what he would be like after the series finale.

You can see a collage I made as a sort of cover art for this story on my DeviantArt page, under the category "Avatar collages."