The sky was grey and so bright with trapped light it hurt to look up, the sea was as clear and as smooth as glass and you could see for miles. There were no sounds to hear on the bending-powered catamaran. Aside from Asami squeaking every time the boat tipped one way or the other.

"Are you sure you want to be here?" Korra asked. As they neared the Wedge.

"Absolutely. Where you go I go." Asami said, pulling closer to her again. For warmth she said, even though a Sato industries cold-suit could keep her perfectly clement in a blizzard, much less an arctic summer.

"I still think Su should be here." Lin said, leaning heavily against the railing of the traditional water tribe skiff. She looked different out of all those layers of metal. She kept her arms close to her body and her stance steady. She was guarded, as if compensating for her perceived vulnerability. Yet at the same time she seemed more relaxed than usual though that was a low standard to meet. "I know Kuvira hurt her, but…. I don't know, all those years I spent angry at her, I don't want her to make the same mistake I did."

"Wow chief, that was really insightful of you." Korra commented from her and Asami's impromptu loveseat, a bench at the front of the central hull.

"If a word of that leaves this boat I'll arrest all of you." She snapped quickly, perhaps a tad affronted.

"That's more like it." Asami teased. Then clutched Korra as the boat shifted. Korra just laughed.

"We're almost there." Tonraq said from his place at the top and rear of the skiff, moving it through the windless seas with his waterbending. Just at the edge of the horizon they could see it. A massive pillar of ice jutted out of the polar sea. It was an iceberg so large and so stationary that it was charted on Tonraq's maps, in cartographical terms it was a single white speck someone might try to flick off as snow, yet stood before its colossal majesty now it seemed too permanent a fixture for that, as if it was always there and would always be there. As they grew closer to it they could see a simple wooden dock affixed to the base of the iceberg and a series of walkways up to the top made out of carved ice and wood.

They pulled up to the docks in time. A pair of White Lotus Sentries were waiting for them in the alcove of their quarters, carved into the ice just behind the docks. They dressed thicker robes than usual and fir lined capes as well as scarves and gloves. Korra could feel Asami's hands grip tightly against the sleeves of her parka as they bumped against the docks, yet as they disembarked she maintained a perfectly elegant composure as she deftly climbed onto the docks.

"It is an honour to have you here, Chief Tonraq of the Southern Water Tribe, Chief Beifong of the Republic City Police, and of course Avatar Korra." The taller and thinner of the two sentries said, he bowed at every announcement. His voice was high and educated with the slightly more pinched accent of a Northern Water tribe citizen.

"And Asami Sato of Future Industries." Korra interjected. She notably did not bow back.

"And Asami Sato of Future Industries." The shorter, sturdier sentry said. "Do excuse us, Sentry Mirak and I are local folk, the social elite of Republic City aren't so easy to recognise." She said in what seemed to be a genuine apology. Korra smiled a bit and then bowed.

"Now then Avatar, not all of us can warm ourselves with our breath, let us get to the compound." Mirak explained as he picked up a traditional lantern of sealskin and bone with a wick of twine and whale fat that left a sweet, greasy smelling odour behind him that reminded Korra of home. It also reminded Asami of burning tires after a particularly exciting experiment with Varick.

They climbed up the steps briskly until they were at the top of the iceberg. A gradual depression gave way to medium sized cabin below the line of the surrounding ice to keep it out of the wind. It was perfectly traditional in nearly every aspect, made up of bone and wood with packed snow piled against every side but the door to keep in heat. However Asami recognised the high sheen of the metal fittings and nails on it as being platinum and the panels of the transparent dome on the top of the hut had the slightly blurry quality of high durability plastic. This was definitely the right place.

"I take it you'll want to speak to her in private, we'll go back to our quarters." Mirak said as he and his assosciate broke pace with Korra's group and stepped back small distance they turned and headed back down the steps.

"If I had to guess, that isn't the White Lotus' best and brightest." Asami commented as they knocked on the door.

"I should hope not." Lin grumbled. She clutched her fur lined coat closer to her body and her cheeks were wind pinched and bright red.

"Thank you for coming." Bataar Junior said hesitantly. He had switched back to the angular green robes of a Zaofu native, though the ornamental metal armour was replaced with leather or bone and the cloth was much thicker with a tighter weave and more layers. He himself had gained weight in confinement and grown out his hair. Heavy platinum spectacles with thick lenses of high clarity plastic sat on his face. Lin thought he looked more like his father than when this all began "I know this was an unusual request."

Tarloq barged in first. "I don't know why we didn't do this sooner." He declared with a slight sneer as he pushed aside the sealskin tarp in front of the door and surveyed the hut. The cooking area was currently holding some sort of stew that filled the home with a savoury meaty smell that he hated to admit seemed quite appetising. He could tell this was the home of outsiders. An excessive amount of furs on the wall and floor yet with none of the decorations of the water tribe like scrimshaw statues or woven tapestries. Instead photographs and paintings of Earth Kingdom landscapes sat in rosewood frames until they formed almost a mosaic of portraiture. Incense sent by an old loyalist from Omashu filled the air and a number of lanterns on the shelves gave it a warm, weak light aside from warmth of a fire place to the back of the living room. "You ask me this little love nest is already too lenient."

"Because after the Equalists it was declared illegal to remove someone's bending." Lin explained. "Reiko had to do some cajoling with the council to accept it on a voluntary basis."

"Welcome." A familiar voice said. As she stepped out of the adjacent room. Korra could tell by the beauty spot just under her right eye that it was definitely Kuvira but aside from that she was a completely different woman. Like Lin she had been without her metal armour though unlike Lin she did not draw in on herself to overcompensate and instead walked lightly and precisely, as if walking a tightrope. Like Bataar she had fattened up, though much more so until she looked like some small child's s favourite aunt who snuck them treats when no one was looking. Her hair was long and thick and unbound, hanging over her back and down her front, it was well groomed and glossy. Her clothes were loose and heavy with traditional kamik boots she had paid one of the sentries to buy for her.

She approached Korra briskly. After Korra had gotten over the shock of the former Empress' appearance she reacted on instinct and drew on her breathing as if preparing to release a blast of air, or fire. She bowed deeply until she was almost waist height and stayed like that until the count of three before slowly looking up to the avatar. "I would like to formally apologise for everything I put you through." Kuvira said softly, extending a hand, still in her favourite gloves.

Korra hesitated for a moment. Kuvira's face dropped to a slight pout, she was hurt but not surprised and insisted on holding her hand out until the Avatar would take it. After an incredibly long twenty seconds Korra did indeed shake it. Kuvira's grip was gentle, but not limp allowing the Avatar to dominate.

"Please, join us." Bataar said, as he gestured to the large rosewood table behind a curtained archway. A platinum candelabra had already been lit and the wax had started to run onto the matching plate beneath it. "It'll be nice to have someone else sample our cooking besides Mirak and Nona." He said cheerily.

"How do we know it isn't poison?" Tonraq asked as he sidled up to the much smaller academic. Bataar gulped and looked as if he feared for his life.

"Because we'll be eating it as well." Kuvira interjected as she walked over to the kitchen. "One of you can help me serve it up, if it'll make you feel better." She said, crouching gracefully to retrieve a set of bowls made from halved nautilus shells.

"I suppose I could do that." Asami volunteered as she joined the corpulent conqueror by the cooking pit. Kuvira put the bowls down and stiffened up for a moment, she could feel Asami looming over her. When Kuvira rotated to face her Asami was scowling and she wasn't crying but only by a thin margin. "Let's get this clear, Kuvira, I don't care how sorry you are and I don't want to talk to you, I'm just here to make sure you don't hurt Korra as well." Asami seethed.

Kuvira looked down, ashamed. "At the trial they told me your father was in one of the Hummingbird mechs. I-"

"Don't you dare try to apologise." Asami commanded.

"I wasn't going to." Kuvira said emptily as she ladled out one bowl of soup. It was spiced prawn with a bit of imported chicken-pork stewed in with wantons and noodles. And a total lack of poisons. "I know what I did was wrong and I can never repair the damage I've done or repay it. When this is over I don't expect to be forgiven. I just want people to know I regret" She explained. She could barely meet Asami's glare. Her hateful gaze softened but it was still there. She stepped back and gave Kuvira room to work.

Bataar had taken his preferred seat, it was high backed with a platinum frame and green cloth, almost like home. It was to the farthest wall so he could see the whole house he built. Most of his view was consumed by Tonraq who was still staring daggers at him. Korra seemed indifferent. His aunt almost seemed as if she were just studying him, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong.

"So….you and Asami?" Bataar said uneasily.

"What of it?" Tonraq interceded. He lowered his posture as if ready to pounce across the table.

"You both look so much happier. I know having Kuvira with me is the only thing that's kept me stable this last year."

"I-"Korra reared up a tad defensively. "We are happier….thanks….I guess"

"Bataar, your mother won't say it but she misses you." Lin explained from her seat, just to the left of him.

"I know, aunty, but" Bataar's voice dropped to a little whisper as he leaned across the table. "Kuvira's trying really hard to put on a brave show for you. Some days she doesn't get out of bed, some nights she can't go to sleep, either she goes days without eating or she gorges herself." He gulped. "Some nights when she thinks I'm asleep I can see her walking along the edge of the ice….if I wasn't here I think she would have gone off already."

Korra's face softened a moment, she recognised the feeling.

"You really do care for her don't you?" Lin asked, perplexed. Bataar just nodded.

"She shot you with the biggest cannon in human history!?" Korra exclaimed.

"But I always do the washing up." She called from the kitchen. A moment later she came out carrying three bowls on a wooden platter, Asami carried three more by her side. Asami passed the bowls out to Lin, Korra and Tonraq. She took one bowl for herself from Kuvira's tray. She just about trusted Kuvira with her life at least, just not her lover's. "And I do the cooking four days out of seven." She said, kissing Bataar on the side of the head.

"I'd call that an extra punishment, to be honest." Bataar chuckled. The rest of the dinner party tried not to gawk at last year's most feared and powerful couple as they teased each other over soup.

Kuvira settled into her meal quickly with a pair of rosewood chopsticks. Korra picked at hers and Asami attempted to keep an eye on the couple whilst she slowly took in a meal that was slightly too spicy for her liking. The only sounds in the hut was the wind rattling over them and the sound of the fire crackling in the background.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lin said, breaching the awkward silence. "Having your bending taken away, you never stop feeling like there's a piece missing." She declared recounting her experience of Amon's technique.

"I get along just fine without any bending." Asami observed, smirking to Korra.

"I know right, they're always looking after us, as if we're helpless kids or something."

"Oh you should have seen Korra in the spirit world, any time a spirit bigger than my arm came by she'd stand guard." Asami responded with a slightly fond chuckle. Korra just blushed and clasped her hand.

"I can top that." Bataar proclaimed happily. "Kuvira tried to assign me a fifty man guard back when we were….trying to conquer….." The momentary good humour had been extinguished. He cleared his throat awkwardly and silence resumed.

"To answer your question chief Beifong I'm sure. I can't earthbend now, at least after the process is completed I can go back to Zaofu." Kuvira said sombrely. "If Su will have me."

"She might not." Korra warned.

"Perhaps, but….it seems as if it might help to show everyone that I'm committed to peace."

"I suppose the sooner we do this, the sooner we can get it over with." Korra said quietly. She put her chopsticks straight up in her bowl

Kuvira stood up as well, slower, there was still a hint of regret in his voice. "Okay." She said in a long deep sigh. She walked ponderously into the living room and kneeled with her back to everyone. "Can we do it here?" She said, her voice was slightly quaky and she looked up at the dome above and the bright grey sky.

Korra stepped up and followed after her, little more keen to carry out the procedure. She turned to face Kuvira, standing over her. "You know I never tried this without my past lives guiding me."

Kuira exhaled through her teeth and rolled her shoulders a bit. "Please Avatar, I can only be brave for so long." She said, perhaps a bit frightened. The others turned to watch the two of them.

"Okay." Korra said uncertainly. "Here goes." She placed a hand on the light chakra, the forehead, and the air chakra over the heart. Korra's eyes and mouth lit up for a moment with a cold, white light. The entire room hummed and the air felt electric. Kuvira gasped, she could feel something wrong and cold and painful. It was deep down in the marrow of her bones, in the grit of her teeth, in the deepest part of her skull buried in the folds of her brain. Something we being bent, twisted and stretched until it snapped. She sighed and then flopped over backwards. Her eyes were open, glassy and unfocussed. Her breathing was shallow but it was there.

Bataar cleared the length of the room faster than any of them had expected he might and lifted Kuvira up into his arms. She was as limp as an octopus washed up in the tide. She could feel the furs on the floor of their home and the little damp specks of melted frost flecked onto it. She felt arm over her back and shoulders holding her up on a narrow lap. As her vision readjusted she saw Bataar's face, and then the look of worry on it. Her skin had gone clammy and cold. She managed to mutter something and then slipped into unconsciousness.