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LEIs POV

I woke up with a start and sat up immediately. I looked around my surroundings and found myself in a small pool of river water. Next to me was Korra, Mako, and Bolin, who also woke up. I looked behind me and saw Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi. Kya must have healed us using the spirit water, because I suddenly felt all my energy back.

"Thank goodness, you're all okay," Tenzin breathed, as we got up.

"Did you find Jinora?" Korra asked, as I stepped out of the pool of water.

"I was able to rescue her soul but she wasn't ready to return to her body yet. She sensed the world was in grave danger," Tenzin explained.

"She was right," Korra said softly, I looked at her.

"Were you able to stop Unalaq and Vaatu?" Tenzin asked, as Korra sat on a rock.

"No, they fused then Vaatu ripped Raava right out of me and destroyed her. Vaatu won," Korra said weakly, I sighed.

"No, I'm too young to live through ten thousand years of darkness. Korra, can't you talk to one of your past lives or something?" Bolin pleaded.

"When Vaatu destroyed Raava, he destroyed my connection to my other past lives too," Korra said.

"If that's true, then---," Tenzin got cut off.

"The cycle is over, I'm the last Avatar. I'm so sorry, Tenzin," Korra cried, as she started tearing up.

"The other Avatars may not be able to help you anymore, but perhaps I can," Tenzin said, as he approached Korra's side.

"No one can help me now," Korra said softly.

"I know I haven't been the best mentor to you, but I realized that it was because I had a lot of spiritual growth to do myself. There may still be a way for you to stop Vaatu," Tenzin said.

"How?" Korra asked curiously.

"Let go of your attachment to who you think you are and connect with your inner spirit," Tenzin replied.

"Didn't you here anything I said? Raava is gone. I'm not connected to a spirit anymore," Korra said.

"I'm not talking about Raava. Raava is not who you are. Come with me, I need to show you something," Tenzin said, before walking away.

Korra and the rest of the group followed slowly behind Tenzin, as he grew closer to the tree in the center. Korra walked ahead of us and stood right next to Tenzin.

"Why are you showing me Vaatu's prison?" Korra asked curiously.

"Because this tree had a history, long before it held Vaatu. This is the tree of time. The legend says that its roots binds the spirit and physical worlds together," Tenzin explained.

"And you think this tree can help me somehow?" Korra asked.

"Yes, I have read that long ago that the ancients would meditate beneath this tree and connect with great cosmic energy of the universe," Tenzin explained, as he led Korra to the bark of the tree.

After a few moments, Tenzin came towards the group by himself, leaving Korra inside the tree.

"How is she?" I asked, Tenzin smiled.

"She'll be fine but she needs to time to meditate," Tenzin replied, I nodded as I glanced at the tree.

I sat down on a nearby rock, resting all my bones and muscles after the events that have happened so far. Mako sat next to me, breathing heavily.

"Do you think Korra can do this?" Mako asked, he looked at me.

"I believe in Korra, she has so much potential in her that she doesn't know of," I said softly, as I looked at Mako.

Suddenly, a huge blue spirit-like figure of Korra emerged from the bark of the tree, causing Mako and I to stand up from where we sat. It was as tall as the man-like version of Vaatu. It walked over too the portal in the South, and just like Vaatu, vanished with a single touch. We all exchanged glances at each other.

"What exactly did you say to her?" Bumi questioned.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom somewhere far ahead of us. There was something heading straight for us. I squinted my eyes to get a clearer look at what was coming. I widened my eyes when I realized what it was.

"They're dark spirits!" I shouted.

"They're coming for Korra," Mako shouted, before sending lightning their way.

I sent a huge fire lash at the dark spirits. Tenzin blew a huge gust of wind in their direction. Kya threw streams of water using the water source she used to heal us. Bolin continously earth blocked the dark spirits. There were too much spirits, that we had to step back a few times until we were stepping on the roots of the tree. Each of tried our best to defend the tree. With each spirit that came at me, I threw fire punches and comets, and a few lightning zaps. Bolin was suddenly dragged by a spirit, and I was about to help him when Eska and Desna fended them off.

"Leave my Bolin alone!" Eska shouted.

"I am so done with spirits," Desna commented.

"Eska! I love you!" Bolin exclaimed, before kissing Eska's cheek.

I rolled my eyes and continued fending off the dark spirits. I saw one crawling up the wall behind me from the corner of eye, so I sent fire lash at the spirit causing it to fled. The dark spirits' numbers grew bigger and bigger. We couldn't hold them off for long. We were surrounded on all sides, and we were all rounded up until we were inside the bark of the tree. I was still sending fire punches at some spirits until I was knocked inside the tree. The dark spirits started covering the only entrance and exit inside the tree. We thought it was over until a bright light was casted upon all the dark spirits, making them disappear. We all stepped out to see the giant sized spirit of Korra standing right in front of us holding something in her hands. She let it go which revealed Jinora and the light spirit slowly approaching us. Jinora looked at us before disappearing from the Spirit World. The light spirit made its way to Korra, lifting her up into the air, before fusing with her once again. Once they were fused, Korra slowly descended right in front of us.

"Her Avatar spirit has returned," Tenzin said.

"It's over," Korra said, I smiled widely.

We all ran to her but Mako ran ahead and hugged Korra first. I approached Korra and smiled at her before giving her a tight embrace.

"I don't know even know what to say," Mako said.

"You were amazing," Tenzin commented.

"And the way you turned all gigantic like that?! Just Wow! I just wish Varrick had been here to film it, it would've been the greatest mover ever!" Bolin exclaimed.

I couldn't help but notice Korra wasn't that happy at all. I was about to ask her what was wrong until she approached Eska and Desna.

"I'm sorry about your father but he was already fused with Vaatu, I couldn't save him," Korra said.

"It seems cousin Korra is under the impression that we are saddened by our father's demise," Eska said.

"But I will not miss him at all. In the end, he became a horrible man," Desna said.

"Agreed, but how will we explain this to mother?" Eska asked her brother, before Bolin came up to them.

"So, I was thinking, I'm not really a fan of a long distance relationship thing. So, how about you move to Republic City with me?" Bolin asked.

"I do not think that will be possible," Eska replied.

"Okay, Desna can come too," Bolin sighed.

"I will not be joining you, Bolin. Desna and I must return home," Eska said, Bolin frowned.

"But you said..." Bolin trailed off, I didn't know whether to cringe or feel sad right now.

"Eternal darkness was upon us, and I became caught up on the moment," Eska said.

"Yeah, I guess I did too," Bolin sighed sadly.

"You will always play special place in the organ that pumps my blood," Eska said, as went closer to Bolin, I tried to hold back laughter in my system.

"I will remember you fondly, my turtle duck," Eska added, as she placed her hand on her heart.

I smiled at the weird couple in front of me. I looked at Mako, and noticed he was looking at me. I gave him a strange look and turned away quickly. Once, all things were wrapped up in the Spirit World, the group and I made our way back to the Southern Water Tribe palace. Once I entered the gates of the palace, I spotted a familiar yellow-orange fur who was running straight towards me. Kaya greeted me with a thousand licks or kisses before I got into the palace. Once I got inside, I checked on Jinora and she looked all better. I smiled and walked around. I was about to turn the corner when I heard a pair of familiar voices talking. I quickly hid behind a pillar to make sure they didn't see me, but when I hid felt someone next to me. I was about to kick the person until I noticed it was Bolin.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

'"Listening to the thing that's about to happen, shh," Bolin whispered back.

"There's something I've been wanting to tell you about that fight we had. I know I said that it wasn't bad but that's not exactly true," Mako said softly.

"I--I broke up with you," Mako added.

"I remember," Korra said, Bolin gasped and I shushed him.

"But I thought you said you lost part of your memory?" Mako questioned.

"I did, but being inside the tree of time brought it back. I'm sorry for blowing up at you, spirits, I should also apologize to Lei," Korra said, I sighed.

"I think we both said some things that we regret," Mako said.

"Why didn't you just tell me the truth in the first place?" Korra questioned.

"I know I should have but I didn't wanna hurt you all over again. I guess a part of me wanted to forget about the break up too," Mako said.

"I think we both know that this, us, doesn't work," Korra said softly.

"You're right," Mako said.

"It's over, for real this time," Korra said, Mako nodded. I peeked at the side of the pillar and saw them kissing.

"I'll always love you, Korra," Mako said softly.

"And I'll always love you," Korra said, before walking away.

Bolin and I exchanged looks and made our way to either side of Mako. Bolin and I looked at Mako, who seemed to have an awkward posture.

"You want a hug?" Bolin asked softly.

"He may not look like it but he wants it," I chuckled, before Bolin wrapped his arms around Mako in a tight embrace.

After the small drama in the court room, everyone from the Southern Water tribe gathered in front of the palace for Korra's announcement. Team Avatar stood right next to her, along with Katara and her family, as we gazed down upon the people of the Southern Water Tribe.

"The war of the water tribes is over, Unalaq has been defeated and the Northern fleet is returning home. The water tribes will always be allies but the Souther tribe is now independent. And the Southern Tribe council of elders has appointed my father, Tonraq, to be your new chief," Korra announced, as the crowds roared for Tonraq.

"I realized that even though we should learn from those who came before us, we must also forge our own path. So, that is why I have decided to keep the portals opened. Humans can now physically enter the spirit world and spirits will be free to roam our world. I will no longer be the bridge. Humans and spirits must learn to live together. My mission will always be to use Raava's light spirit to guide the world towards peace and balance. Harmonic convergence has caused a shift on the planet's energy, I can feel it. Thing won't be the same again, we are entering a new age," Korra said.

The crowd continued clapping and cheering for Korra as we entered the palace. The doors closed so the sound diminished. I approached Korra and tapped her shoulder, so she would look at me.

"I'm proud of you, you've come a long way from that spoiled brat I taught a year ago," I laughed, Korra laughed as well.

"Lei, I'm really sorry about all the things I said when I fought with you and Mako. I didn't mean any of it," Korra said, I smiled lightly.

"I know, I'm sorry for the things I said too," I said, before embracing her in a tight hug.

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MAKOs POV

There was a banquet in the dinner hall, that everyone attended, including Katara and the council of elders, and the other council members, to celebrate the victory of Korra and the newly elected chief of the Southern Water tribe. I looked at Korra who was talking with her father, and I was glad we settled all the problems between us. I was standing next to the food table with Bolin, who was munching down a large piece of chicken.

"This chicken is so good, Bro, you gotta try it," Bolin said, while spitting food out of his mouth, I jumped back in disgust.

"Maybe later, Bro," I said softly.

Bolin frowned and put his arm around me. He noticed I was looking at Korra, and shook his head slowly.

"Its okay, Mako. Both of us will find love someday, and hopefully next time it will stick, you know?" Bolin said, before going back to the food.

I thought about what Bolin had said and I looked around the room. My eyes somehow landed on a certain girl who has having the time of her life, laughing at a joke Bumi had made. She had the prettiest blue eyes and was one of the greatest person I had ever met. It was Lei. I smiled lightly at the sight of her, and something inside me fluttered.

"Yeah, someday,"

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AUTHORs NOTE:
This chapter was edited but nothing from the storyline has been changed.

PUBLISHED: September 3, 2019