Chapter Text

EXT. SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE CITY, DAY

The airship descends on a frigid port town surrounded by ice, strip mines, and oil wells. Varrick's ship is docked in the harbor, with machines and weapons unloaded before it. KORRA flies down from the sky on her glider staff to land among the people unloading war supplies.

KORRA

Tonraq! Show yourself!

TONRAQ enters from nearby.

TONRAQ

Korra, if we could talk in private-

KORRA

(with venom)

No, Dad . You lost that right. You betrayed me, you bombed Unalaq's ship, you abandoned mom.

TONRAQ

(grim laugh)

You're acting like I had a choice in that last one. Senna insisted on coming with the strike team, and she insisted on being the one to stay behind when things fell apart. If I had tried to save her she probably would have stabbed me.

KORRA

How could you do this? I've spent years trying to stop wars and now my family plots to start a new one under my nose.

TONRAQ

I'm sorry, but this is bigger than me, bigger than any of us. We had to take the chance. This is about the future of our people. This is about freedom.

KORRA

The freedom to make a lots of money off oil.

VARRICK

(offscreen)

Hey, don't knock "lots of money". You should try it sometime.

VARRICK and ZHULI enter. ZHULI is carrying the movie camera.

KORRA

Varrick. Trying your hand at being an illegal weapons dealer again?

VARRICK

It's not illegal if the South wins. Then I'm a patriot. Hey Zhuli, get the Avatar in the shot with all those war supplies.

KORRA

Do you just love being the villain of your own little story?

VARRICK

Hey, I'm not your villain. Who says there even is a villain? Why does there have to be a bad guy? This isn't some great struggle between good and evil, this is just a bunch of people who want different things and you're just one more person in the middle of it.

KORRA

I'm the Avatar.

VARRICK

So what? What is that and why does it give you the right to tell anyone what to do? You're no queen, no one elected you. You're just good at blowing things up. Now for me, that's a good enough reason, but if you are just a powerful bully, please have the decency to admit it.

TONRAQ

(to Varrick, angry)

Watch yourself.

VARRICK

(to Korra, with a grin)

You know, the way I see it, I might actually be the good guy here. The people here are unhappy with the North bossing them around. A revolution solves that. They get independence, I get around those pesky "protect-the-holy-land" regulations. After all, it's people like your dad who live here, it's their sacred land, they should be able to sell them to me if they want to. And here you are trying to stop all that freedom.

KORRA

(furious)

You twisted, scheming, little-

There is the distant sound of an explosion and a small plume of smoke up over the town roofs.

TONRAQ

Damn it, what now? Men! Form up with me!

TONRAQ exits.

VARRICK

(to Korra)

I think that's your cue, Avatar.

KORRA

I'm not going to be distracted. It would be just like you to try and lead me off with some ridiculous decoy explosion like that just to-

PANICKED MAN enters.

PANICKED MAN

Spirits are attacking the city outskirts!

KORRA glares at VARRICK who just grins back. Frustrated, KORRA exits, flying off on her glider staff. VARRICK's grin slips into an expression of terrified relief.

VARRICK

(relieved)

Whoo. You know, eventually one of these powerful women I keep antagonizing is going to kill me.

ZHULI

(warmly)

I believe I have first "dibs" on that, sir.

VARRICK

(grins)

Ha ha! Yeah, I bet you do. Right, spirit attack! Time to test out the real stuff. Zhuli! Prepare to do the thing!







EXT. SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE OUTSKIRTS

KORRA flies through the air on her glider staff towards an area of smashed buildings and clouds of snow powder. At first it just looks like water tribe people are randomly attacking the air with water bending. However, after a moment it becomes clear that there are strange shadows flitting around. Lesser spirits look different during the day.

KORRA drops into the fight, attacking the spirits at first, but then focusing on raising up protecting the other humans. Then a huge SPIRIT in the shape of a walrus rises up through the snowy ground. It is the one that attacked the oil field earlier.

KORRA raises her arms, sweeping up thin ribbons of water in the spirit purification technique. Shimmering energy begins to flow up the WALRUS SPIRIT's body.

KORRA

Be at peace.

The spirit's head snaps down to lock eyes with her.

WALRUS SPIRIT

(increasingly angry)

You dare say that to me?

The WALRUS SPIRIT breaks free of the purification technique as KORRA’s water strands start to waver. The WALRUS SPIRIT throws her back.

WALRUS SPIRIT

Peace? Your own mind is nothing but turmoil! I see them, you are wrapped in chains of your own making!

KORRA has a brief moment of panic as she suddenly trembles and gasps for breath. For a second she looks as she did when fighting Zaheer but then that moment is past and she centers herself. MAKO and BOLIN enter behind her and start to attack the spirits. BOLIN raises up an earth barrier.

BOLIN

Mako, suppressing fire for Korra then retreat back to cover!

MAKO

Got it!

MAKO runs towards KORRA, attacking with fire blasts. Nearby in the town, VARRICK and ZHULI hop down from a truck.

VARRICK

It's total carnage! A perfect testing environment for the new spirit tech!

ZHULI

Unless we die.

VARRICK

(nodding)

Unless we die!

The benders and the spirits continue to fight as VARRICK and ZHULI plug in cables from the truck bed into the metal fences nearby.

KORRA

Mako! Get back! This is my responsibility!

MAKO

Yeah, that's why I'm helping you!

The fight continues. However, the spirits have a new tactic. The smaller spirits are leaping inside the bodies of human fighters and briefly possessing them, though these possessed people cannot use bending to attack. KORRA finds herself unable to fight well as she fears harming innocents. Once, she briefly flashes the Avatar State light into her eyes but pulls back when a possessed person comes into her line of fire. Meanwhile, ZHULI gets on the control panel of their device as VARRICK puts on goggles.

VARRICK

All right! Do the thing!

The device on the truck bed glows and purple energy begins to crackle along the fence wires. The spirits nearby seem to be repelled, even getting expelled from human bodies they are possessing.

VARRICK

Ha ha! Amazing! Eat negative energy flow, spirit jerks!

KORRA

(screams in pain)

KORRA doubles over in pain even as her eyes blaze into light. Then the attacking spirits darken in color and grow more chaotic looking in appearance. They stop fearing the fence and begin to moveforward.

VARRICK

(panicked)

Ahh! Not amazing! They're eating negative energy flow! Zhuli, stop the thing!

ZHULI rushes to rip out the cables. The instant the crackling purple energy vanishes, KORRA recovers. Then she stands up straight and a swirling blast of wind erupts out from around her, slamming the humans back into nearby walls. Her eyes are blinding lights and arcane patterns glow on her torso.

WALRUS SPIRIT

(awed and afraid)

That power.

The smaller spirits try to run but huge eruptions of elemental power corral them back, heedless to the damage this power is doing to the town or the humans. People scream in pain but KORRA shows no reaction to this, only terrible anger at the spirits. The WALRUS SPIRIT roars as it charges forward to attack her but it is thrown back too, concentrating all the spirits together in one place. KORRA then silently begins the spirit purification technique, but on a larger scale than ever before.

WALRUS SPIRIT

(oscillating between pain and peace)

Argh! He pushes, you pull! Chaos and control. This cannot go on. The final battle between worlds approaches once more. This time, I am afraid one may not survive.

Inside the purification spiral, the spirits lighten in color and become more peaceful looking. Then the water spirals drop and the spirits dissolve entirely. KORRA is left standing alone on broken ground. BOLIN runs forward, cheering.

BOLIN

Nice one! Woah, for a moment there I thought we were in serious-

He breaks off as he sees KORRA is still in the full Avatar State, standing motionless with the patterns blazing on her torso, fury on her face. TONRAQ runs up from inside the town.

TONRAQ

Korra! did you-?

(pulled back)

Why's she like that? What's happening?

MAKO catches hold of his arm and pulls him back. TONRAQ looks back at KORRA in confusion and fear.







INT. BLACK VOID

KORRA stands in the void on a thin bridge that shines like an aurora. The sounds of the Southern Water Tribe are muted and fade away even as the aurora bridge slowly falls into the darkness beneath her feet. Mist gathers in the starry void and a new sound begins to rise, a faint feminine whispering. Then in front of KORRA the mist forms into the images of the past Avatars, one by one. Each time a past Avatar materializes the arcane pattern pulses on KORRA's torso for a brief moment. Each Avatar passes faster and faster until their forms are mostly just mist and the pattern on KORRA pulses brighter and brighter. Then she reaches the last one who is just barely recognizable as a human figure. Behind that is the arcane pattern glowing in the empty black.

RAAVA

(whisper)

My power is yours. For as long as you continue to fight.

Then that too fades into black







EXT. SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE, SOUTH OUTSKIRTS, DAY

KORRA opens her eyes and then blinks with confusion. She is not in the same place where she had been fighting, but rather another location outside the town. For a moment KORRA stares out into the icy wastes and she can hear a new whisper, this one masculine but indistinct. Then the sound winks out and she comes to herself fully. Her friends are gathered nearby, giving her a wide berth.

ASAMI

Korra?

KORRA

Yeah. Yeah, I'm here. What...what happened? Is everything... Wait. Where are we?

ASAMI

Just a little ways off outside the town. You were walking and you weren't responding. No one could get close. You just kept on heading due south.

KORRA

South?

ASAMI

Yeah. I'm guessing that has something to do with Uanalaq's sacred forest at the south pole?

KORRA

I heard a…

KORRA grabs her head, grimacing.

KORRA

Ugh, that machine Varrick hooked to the fence, damn that hurt. It was like...like it was canceling me out; my soul. I thought he wasn't supposed to have any more of that spirit tech stuff at all.

ASAMI

He's not. The Earth Kingdom/UR peace treaty understood that allowing someone like him to develop spirit energy technology was just asking for another disaster, so he was banned.

KORRA

(abstractly)

It doesn't matter if it's him. Him, or Kuvira, or anyone else, it's all the same. The spirit and material worlds are separate for a reason, separate and balanced. Anyone messing with that is just another thing gone wrong.

ASAMI

(smiling as she tries to change the conversation)

We should get back. I know this is your home town and it's lovely, but if I'm outside here much longer I'm going to freeze my fingers off.







INT. SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE BUILDING

ASAMI leaves KORRA in a room and moves toward the door.

ASAMI

(to Korra)

You going to be ok for a moment? I want to check on the boys and then see if I can figure out what that machine Varrick had was.

KORRA

Yeah. I'm fine. I just need to think. Sometimes I feel like there's no one I'm not fighting. Thank you for...thank you.

ASAMI almost says something, but then she reconsiders and just exits with a smile. Outside, her expression grows more worried. Then she sees VARRICK and ZHULI waiting around a corner.

VARRICK

Scary stuff with the Avatar today, eh Sato? Lot of people got hurt.

ASAMI

But the spirits were dealt with in the end, no thanks to you.

VARRICK

Spirits aren't exactly the scary thing I'm talking about.

ASAMI

(turns back with a glare)

I'd be careful if I were you. You are not in a position to be blaming others in the middle of this mess you created.

ZHULI

You give him too much credit. He didn't start any of this spirit crisis.

VARRICK

(smiles)

Couldn't have even if I tried. And I would try. But come on, I'm not even able to keep a civil war going against everything from Unalaq brought the north. At least not alone.

ASAMI

(expression darkens)

Again, careful.

VARRICK

Look, daddy-Avatar and his people have guts but even with that ship-full of Kuvira's old military gear I sold them they aren't going to last forever against what Unalaq can bring to bare. With his ships coming, the south's fighters are already running up to hide in the hills. But you know, if the south got support from the foremost industrial company in the United Republic then things might be a little more... equal.

ASAMI

You can't be serious. You actually expect Sato industries to back your rebels up?

VARRICK

Well, the Avatar certainly isn't backing them. Them of course being Korra's parents and her entire homeland.

ASAMI

You betrayed her first. That attack on Unalaq's ship-

ZHULI

-wasn't how we originally wanted things to go. Your compatriots' snooping forced the timetable.

VARRICK

Look, your girl Korra was my plan A. I wanted her to convince the north to let the south get armed up fairly, by me. Or you know, just take the right side, protecting the family and her homeland and those things. But we saw that Unalaq got her twisted around instead with this Avatar spirit business. So...the 'rents kind of initiated plan B. But plan B requires stuff, lots of stuff.

ASAMI

This insanity has already landed Korra's mother in chains. All Korra has been working for is peace and a resolution to this spirit crisis which is threatening the world. That spirit energy device you deployed, it hurt her. After everything you've already done how could you still keep making the same mistake again with another weapon you don't understand?

ZHULI

That's rich, coming from you, Sato.

ASAMI

Excuse me?

VARRICK

(cheerful)

Sorry for that, Zhuli's just allergic to hypocrisy. For me it's peanuts. Let's just say as the inventor of spirit energy technology I've been keeping tabs on my old projects. You know, for a random example, what happened to the important pieces of Kuvira's old spirit energy powered robot colossus.

ASAMI is suddenly worried and glances back the way she had come.

VARRICK

Hey, don't worry 'bout it. I wouldn't dream of ratting you out to your lady. Like you said, she's got enough on her mind right now. So you want this Water Tribe war to stay on pause while the Avatar sorts out the spirit world? Sure, but the way things are now that's not going to be possible unless a big new line of support comes the south's way. And it'd be kinda fitting, wouldn't it, you helping out your future... hmm, well I was going to say inlaws , but wouldn't be that in you gals' case...well, I don't know who would actually stop her if she tried but-

ZHULI

What Mister Varrick is trying to say is we all can have a role to play in preserving the balance, each according to our ability. So you have a choice, stand by on the sidelines, or actually help. To show who you support: the Avatar, or Korra.

Outside the window and unbeknownst to them, KORRA is standing on a ledge just out of sight, holding her glider staff. She had climbed out the window of her room and then frozen when she heard the conversation. KORRA hangs her head, then takes off on her glider.







EXT. SOUTHERN HARBOR

All four Northern Water Tribe battleships enter the harbor, huge ice walls rising up from the sea to block southern craft into their berths. Northern Soldiers march down from the lead ship onto the waterfront. Southern town residents retreat, fearful. UNALAQ descends behind the soldiers with ESKA behind him, to meet KORRA already standing on the shore. TENZIN and BUMI stand behind her.

UNALAQ

(bows)

Avatar. I thank you for protecting my people here in my absence.

KORRA

(stern)

My mother.

UNALAQ

(gestures at the ship behind him)

Safe aboard and well cared for, if unhappy. Still unapologetic, but I expected nothing but a strong will from the woman fate chose to birth the Avatar.

KORRA

(sags)

You were right. Things with the spirit world are much worse here than anywhere else. Spirits attacked the town in broad daylight.

UNALAQ

The South and the North are both centers of spiritual energy but when humanity refuses to humble itself to faith, they lose its protection and instead open themselves to danger.

KORRA

There was something else. I entered the Avatar state, and I..l heard a voice. Something from the past. I think we're running out of time to solve this. Unalaq, I know you want to resolve the rebellion, but if you can just put things off for a little bit until-

UNALAQ

Of course, the spiritual welfare of the world comes first. Everything else can wait.

ESKA

Everything? Um, father? That seems unwise. If the rebels are given more time to consolidate, we will be vulnerable to guerrilla warfare. Our numbers aren't overwhelming and they will mean nothing at all if we just sit here in port. It sounds like the Avatar's family ties are influencing her judgement.

KORRA

Hey, listen, I have-!

UNALAQ

Enough, Eska. Righting the spiritual balance must be the first step towards restoration of the proper order. I trust the Avatar to maintain neutrality.

(to Korra)

It is an unfortunate truth that the Avatar must remain both of the world and separate from it. Your duty means that you must free yourself of human attachment, even as that detachment is a hot blade against your heart. This is the pain of a true leader. Love, family, friendship, these are things people like us are allowed to bask in.

KORRA

(quietly)

Free of human attachment. As always, that's easier said than done.

UNALAQ

Yes, but no less necessary for it. Now we must get ready to travel to the south pole as quickly as possible, to be there before the New Years. The southern rebels are a problem that will be solved in its own time.

ESKA

Perfect. I will sit here with my hands tied while the rebels stab us in the back the second the Avatar leaves, just as they did in the Earth Kingdom.

TENZIN

Perhaps with the proper incentive, the southern leadership would be willing to accept a ceasefire. It is possible that releasing Senna, a non-bender but highly regarded member of the tribe, would send the right message.

ESKA

(bitter)

The Avatar's mother. And now the tricks come out. The Admiral's doing?

ESKA glares at BUMI.

BUMI

Hey, if this was one of my tricks you'd either be dead in a ditch or covered in feathers. How about you listen to the man who's done more negotiations than you've had breakfasts.

ESKA

Was that a threat?

BUMI

(grins)

Nah, I'm not the one here with an army. But I could always make it a threat.

TENZIN

(amused)

Trust me, he's quite good at those.

KORRA

(Avatar voice, to Tenzin and Bumi)

Enough! Both of you! Maintaining peace our charge and if you work against that then you are working against me. You two boys should know better.

TENZIN is shocked, but then he composes himself and bows.

TENZIN

Of course, Avatar Korra. As you wish.

The light fades from KORRA's eyes and she breaths out.

UNALAQ

If it will allow us to focus on the spirit world, then your mother will be released in exchange for an agreement with the rebels. But you and I must leave for the south pole at once. We have little time to spare.

TENZIN and BUMI begin to exit.

BUMI

(quietly, to Tenzin)

Is it just me, or did that scary voice sound like dad?

BUMI glances back at KORRA.

BUMI

The girl, all the power in the world at her hand. So why does she look like she's drowning?







INT. KORRA'S SOUTHERN ROOM, NIGHT

KORRA and ASAMI sit together on a couch next to a window, watching the night sky. ASAMI leans against KORRA.

ASAMI

Coming down here, I'd sort of hoped to see the Aurora. The northern lights only, you know, southern. But I guess the south doesn't have them?

KORRA

It used to. I can remember them now, only a few hundred years ago. The lights are caused by spirits dancing through the sky, high up where the world grows thin. It's the polar portals that draw them. They can feel its energy. And on a soft, quiet night you could hear them sing. I'd forgotten.

ASAMI

(laughs softly)

KORRA

(chuckling)

What? What?

ASAMI

It's just all so impossible. Everything. Who you are. That I'm the one you're with..

(chuckles sadly)

Oh, my father would have had a fit for so many reasons. Although, you being four times a bender would probably be worse than you being a woman.

KORRA

Asami, you know...You caught me by surprise. Before you, I... I mean, I always knew that girls were pretty, but I thought that was somehow...different from how I thought about guys.

ASAMI

I guess mine was a little easier to figure out by process of elimination. I think I've known since I was, hmm, seven? eight? I never saw what the big deal about boys was but I had such a crush on one of my governesses. Miss Yin. Of course, then I went to an all-girls school and that put a nail in it.

KORRA

Really? Never? I mean you were with Mako and-

ASAMI

(leans back)

Some it's easier not to fight everything. It was fun and nice, and normal. I love pro-bending. It's not like I'd had any real hope of something...more. And I did really love him, I mean I still do even if he makes that difficult sometimes.

KORRA

(laughs)

Yeah, that's Mako.

(tone changes)

How does this end? With us. Does it?

ASAMI

I don't know. It's a little scary.

KORRA

(smiles)

The world's literally coming apart at the seams. There are forces from across history and time threatening everything. But yeah, this scares me. I just don't know.

(looks down)

But let me guess. You have a plan for us, like the whole next thirty years or something all planned out?

ASAMI

(guilty looking)

No...

KORRA

(raises an eyebrow)

"No" you don't, or "no" you know better than to tell me?

ASAMI

(points out the window as an obvious distraction)

Hey, look at that...thing. How about that.

KORRA laughs. Then she grows serious again.

KORRA

Asami, I'm going to leave for the south pole tomorrow.

ASAMI

I know.

KORRA

I think you should leave too, back to Republic City.

ASAMI

What? No, Korra, I can stay. I'm not some helpless damsel you have to keep-

KORRA

Please. No matter what Unalaq says, I'm afraid all-out war is going to erupt the moment I leave this city. And then there's the angry spirits and...Varrick's ship is fueling up to head back to the continent. I don't want to imagine what he could get up to back home without anyone to watch him. I need someone there, someone whose decisions I trust completely.

ASAMI

(pauses)

Korra...I....

(changes tone)

Ok. But you're coming back as soon as you can.

KORRA

(kisses Asami's head)

Of course I am.

ASAMI

(almost mumbling)

I'll leave your airship. Heck, Varrick will probably let me book passage on his boat. The man is weirdly unprincipled even when it comes to his own self interest.

A quiet moment stretches out.

ASAMI

Korra. Please remember...

KORRA

What?

ASAMI

While you're gone, please remember who you are. You are so much more than the Avatar. So much more.

KORRA frown at this and does not reply. ASAMI just hugs tighter onto Korra's arm.







EXT. SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE, DAY

ASAMI, MAKO, and BOLIN stand in front of the gangplank to Varrik's ship. Out in the town, armed patrols of Northern soldiers are marching through the streets. Other Northern soldiers are assembling materials for an antarctic expedition. The locals do not look happy about any of this.

MAKO

This feels like a bad idea.

ASAMI

(sadly)

Korra can't concentrate if she's worried about us.

MAKO

And we can't help her if we're halfway across the world.

BOLIN

I mean, she's right, Varrick is going to try something sneaky as soon as he leaves. When does he not?

ASAMI

He needs another financier for his war. But that's business and that is somewhere I can fight him on equal terms; somewhere I can do my part.

MAKO glares out at the northern troops.

MAKO

I still don't trust Unalaq. No one can be a politician as long as him and completely ignore a rebellion like this, no matter how much faith he has. Korra shouldn't be alone with him. Either he or Eska are going to try and pull something.

ASAMI

He can help her fight the dark spirits, we can't. This is what Korra asked us to do.

MAKO

(comes to a decision)

Well, I'm going to ignore that.

BOLIN

What are you-?

MAKO

Bolin, go with Asami and watch her back. After all, she's the one who signs your paychecks. Back in Republic City I would be just another cop who has to play by the rules. Here, I'm a little more free to...improvise. I can team up with Tenzin and Bumi to help Korra.

ASAMI

Mako I...Ok. Be careful.

BOLIN hugs MAKO.

BOLIN

Korra's totally going to deck you when she finds out.

MAKO

Yeah. Ok, I should probably slip off now so it's not immediately obvious I'm not on the ship. Eska has been watching me like a hawk. We just need some sort of distraction or-

VARRICK

(off screen)

Bolin! Ha ha! There he is, my man! Zhuli, more flashbulbs, that's his good side. And get some more of the Northern troops looking all sinister. Ooh and smoke bombs for ambiance!

Puffs of smoke go off along the waterfront.

MAKO

That'll work.

MAKO stealthily exits.

KORRA approaches and ASAMI descends to meet her.

KORRA

Look, I'm sorry, but-

ASAMI reaches out to hold KORRA's hands.

ASAMI

It's ok. Just...be safe.

They stand on the dock together as the view zooms out.







EXT. SOUTHERN BOAT, DAY

ASAMI stands on the rear dock watching the Southern Water Tribe sink into the distance. She clenches her hand on the railing.

Fade out.