Chapter Text

EXT. MOUNTAIN VALLEY

Back at their staging area the survivors of the attack force regroup, carried by the Avatar airship they stole back from Zaheer. They are joined by TENZIN and his rescuers on Tenzin's flying bison. As the animal lands ASAMI and the brothers almost collapse sliding down off its back. TENZIN is in even worse shape, hobbled by his injuries.

MAKO

The temple was a trap. None of the other air-benders were there.

(to LIN, worried)

Where's Korra?

SUYIN

(defeated sounding)

Zaheer took her.

LIN

Apparently he can fly now.

ASAMI

What?

LIN

Yeah. He just floated off into the sky faster than an airship. No glider staff, no wind, nothing. Not much we could do to track that.

ASAMI

How's that possible?

TENZIN

(whispers)

Laghima?

(answers questioning looks)

There were legends of one air-bender, a great guru, who achieved a level of enlightenment that from that day forth he never touched the ground until he departed this world.

SUYIN

(unimpressed)

Great, so he's enlightened. How do we find them? Now that they have Korra, who knows what the Red Lotus might do to our people!

Tenzin's bison lets out a groaning roar, which is echoed from across the valley. Jinora's Flying Bison comes soaring in, landing at a trot and approaching the group. It grunts and snorts as it walks up, bumping its nose up against ASAMI'S back. She does not appreciate this well meaning gesture that almost knocks her over. BOLIN steps forward to hug the massive shaggy head.

BOLIN

(to Bison)

Don't worry, we'll get Jinora back. And Opal too. All of them.

TENZIN

(to himself)

Let go your earthly tether...

(to others)

There are other air nomad sites in these mountains. Places from before the age of the temples and our unified culture, when the only air-benders who ever stayed in one place were the gurus who dispensed their knowledge from places of spiritual power. I remember reading...seeing one set of ruins marked on an old map that none of the other documents had. I think the site dated to the same era as Laghima. If Zaheer is a student of his teachings, then it's possible he has returned to the hermitage of his master.

SUYIN and LIN

(simultaneous)

Great. Let's go.

They move towards the airship.

MAKO

(points to airship)

Hold on, they'll see us coming in that. If Zaheer controls the skies we need to be careful. But we do have two flying bison.

ASAMI and BOLIN do not look excited about the prospect of riding these creatures.

LIN

(nods in consideration)

We won't be able to carry everyone but we'll be faster and able to fly lower. Right, Tenzin, see if you can sketch us a map. You can follow behind in the airship with the rest of Suyin's men.

She walks over to Tenzin's bison and starts to try and climb up on its back. The bison turns its head to look at her sharply before shaking her off.

TENZIN

(weak chuckle)

That's not going to work. The bison are bound to the air nation by the passage of ages; our fates our tied. No, I'm coming with you. My family's there, and I'm going to protect them; every one of them.

SUYIN

I understand. Then come on people! We're leaving now!

INT. CAVE HERMITAGE

The room is a bare chamber of moderate size, hand-carved out of solid rock. Light enters through a few single small slit ports high above, leaving shafts of illumination to make dust motes dance in the still air. In the middle of room ZAHEER sits levitating in empty space, his legs folded in silent meditation. He hangs there in impossible opposition to gravity.

GAHZAN and MING HUA enter.

MING HUA

Where's P'Li?

ZAHEER

(eyes closed)

P'Li is gone. Her life was lost in pursuit of our better world.

GAHZAN

(shocked disbelief)

No.

MING HUA

(furious)

What?! And you just sit here playing with your new power? I thought you cared about her!

ZAHEER

(opens his eyes)

I do, more than anything in this world. But we fight for something more valuable more than our own desire, or even our own existence, and that is our strength. We are free. P'Li lived by that freedom; her own choice, freely made.

(unfolds his legs to descend and touch the ground)

Now it is time to begin our greatest work.

ZAHEER walks out of the chamber and MING HUA and GAHZAN have no choice but to follow.

EXT. CAVE HERMITAGE

They exit outside, walking along a narrow ancient path carved along the side of a stone cliff. Other low openings indicate other chambers dug out of rock. Below them are weathered carvings of giant seated figures, weathered beyond recognition by the massage of time. They descend and enter through a larger archway in the rock at ground level. More robed figures meet them and bow to ZAHEER as the party passes. These other Red Lotus members include AIWEI of Zaofu, the MINISTER of Ba Sing Se, and the UNITED REPUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE of Republic City. Together they enter the dark tunnel into the mountain.

INT. CHAMBER OF THE RED LOTUS

ZAHEER and the Red Lotus emerge into a huge natural cavern that has been modified and expanded by generations of human hands. The far end of the cavern falls away below leaving a wide gap between the main floor and the flat vertical wall painted with a huge stylized Lotus pattern. KORRA hangs in the middle of that space, suspended by an long X of chains that pull at each wrist and ankle. She struggles against the chains to no avail.

ZAHEER

Welcome, Korra. I am sorry that it had to come to this.

KORRA

(sarcastic)

Yeah, I'm sure you are.

ZAHEER

You are a good woman at heart. You care about the world and it's people, and try to make things right. Unfortunately, you can not see that your very presence is ruinous.

(turns slightly to lecture)

The Avatar is a perversion to the natural order. One individual given phenomenal power from birth, and deluged with the memories of all their past lives, ensuring that they are always a force for preserving what was. Dividing the globe into four nations, keeping humans and spirits separated, waging war against every revolution to trap the world in static slavery. Balance is a terrible deception.

KORRA

So, what? You're going to kill me? Convince me to stop helping people? Good luck. I'll always be here to stop you, in this life or the next.

ZAHEER

(with genuine admiration)

Yes, I believe you would.

(voice darkens)

But your education is not yet complete. There is a secret of the Avatar that you do nor yet know, one that the White Lotus held from you. Against Amon, in Ba Sing Se, whenever your life is in danger you have fought back with an incredible surge of power. You have come to rely on that strength. The Avatar State.

KORRA looks down in confusion.

ZAHEER

(steps closer to the edge)

It is a last ditch survival mechanism but one with a fatal flaw. There is a reason your predecessor Aang ceased to use it. For if the Avatar were ever to die in that state the cycle would be broken and your power would never again be reborn. The Avatar will cease to exist, forever.

KORRA's eyes go wide with fear. She strains agains the chins and breathes out a huge jet of fire that just falls short of ZAHEER as he jerks back slightly.

KORRA

(furious and afraid)

Well, then you missed your chance! Now that I know, there's no way in hell I'll give you that opportunity!

ZAHEER

You will not have a choice.

(gestures to Aiwei who advances carrying a large bowl of shimmering mercury)

This metallic toxin will force you to the edge of death, triggering the Avatar State's involuntary attempt to keep you alive.

AIWEI sets the bowel of liquid metal down and moves his hands in the techniques of bending power before lowering one hand and touching a single finger tip to the surface. He stands up and the liquid mercury rises into the air. He extends his arm and the mercury snakes out towards KORRA. KORRA breaths out fire again, but AIWEI's power holds the metal in place against the push of the flames, even as it splits into separate streams, each aiming for another patch of exposed skin.

ZAHEER

(watching this process)

If our plan to take you a child had succeeded, you would have received your full instruction and come to understand the necessity of our plan. You would have become a force for good, tearing down the corrupt order of governments and nations at our side, before finally, after a long life, you would have been allowed to choose the time of your own passing. A peaceful end to lifetimes of war. I am sorry that I failed you, Korra the last Avatar.

The liquid metal coats KORRA's skin and then begins to be forced to be absorbed. She screams out in terrible pain.

EXT. CAVE HERMITAGE

BOLIN, MAKO, ASAMI, TENZIN, LIN, and SUYIN sneak across the rocky landscape of canyons, ridges, and natural pillars of rock. In the distance behind them, the resting bison fall our of view as the rescue party comes into sight of the front of the ancient caves. They see two dark robed figures walking across the front, away from the main cave to a smaller aperture.

MAKO

There.

LIN

More Red Lotus collaborators.

INT. PRISONERS CELL

UNITED REPUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE and another Red Lotus agent walk through the doorway to a cavern which has been converted in a cell, housing the air-benders behind thick metal bars. A third Red Lotus Jailor, SANG the White Lotus Guard from the captured airship, is sitting in a corner keeping watch. He rises as he sees his relief enter.

SANG

Has it happened yet? Did I miss it?

UNITED REPUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE

(shakes his head)

No, but soon. They just applied the toxin to the her. She'll fall into the Avatar State quickly enough.

(looks away with a frown)

Nasty business, but necessary.

SANG

(starts to exit)

Well, I'm going to part of the greatest historic-

Just as he steps through the doorway he is cut off by a muffled thud. The other two Red Lotus turn around in surprise as SANG comes flying back in. MAKO and BOLIN jump in, shooting out fire and rocks before SUYIN sweeps forward and launches the other jailor into the wall will a slab of floor. UNITED REPUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE moves to fight but then he sees LIN running forward.

UNITED REPUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE

(sudden panic)

Ah! Beifong!

Even without her bending, LIN starts to fight him hand to hand. She kicks him back where he stumbles into ASAMI's outstretched electric gauntlet.

SUYIN bends back the bars of the cell with one motion, before entering the cell. She spots Opal.

SUYIN

Opal!

OPAL

Mom!

SUYIN rushes forward to embrace OPAL. After a moment, SUYIN leans back a bit only for BOLIN to suddenly insert himself in front of her, almost pushing her over in his oblivious enthusiasm to hug OPAL.

BOLIN

(hugging)

Opal!

TENZIN

(enters cell and spots his family)

Thank everything you're all right!

TENZIN advances to where BUMI is sitting against the back wall, his arms bound with bloodstained bandages.

BUMI

(to Tenzin with a smile and a wince)

Wow, you look terrible.

INT. CHAMBER OF THE RED LOTUS

KORRA hangs from her chains, her muscles straining as she twists and turns in pain, fighting the effects of the toxin. She is drenched in sweat and her eyes briefly flicker with blue-white light but she wrenches away from it.

ZAHEER

(growing irritation)

Give in Korra. It is only a matter of time. Let your last moments be ones of peace and acceptance.

KORRA

(laughs through gritted teeth)

Forget it. I'm going to die right here, as just me, and that means you lose. I'm-

(she arches her back in another spasm of pain)

MING HUA

(to Gahzan)

How long can she actually hold out for? Can she really stop from going into the state?

ZAHEER

(snaps)

No. The mercury weakens both her body and mind. She will not be able to resist. When the moment comes, be ready to attack

GAHZAN shrugs and falls into his earth-bending stance as he begins to melt the stone floor below where KORRA is hanging. Orange light and rippling heat begin to warp KORRA's perspective as her vision blurs. Sounds begin to be muffled to her, shifting in and out of clarity. Points of blue-white light begin to form in her eyes again but she twists and strains to dispel it, even as she gasps in pain.

KORRA

(grunting, to herself)

I can't...hold...this...

AVATAR AANG

(standing in air in front of her)

But you must.

KORRA looks up to see more past avatars coming into view, standing around her as apparitions. Her past lives fill the cavern, becoming more indistinct as they get further away and longer ago.

AVATAR ROKU

The pain is great, but for the sake of the world you must remain in control.

AVATAR KYOSHI

You are not the first Avatar to suffer. But our strength is yours.

AVATAR KORUK

We are with you, always.

KORRA strains as she fights through another spasm. The watching Red Lotus narrow their eyes as they watch KORRA turn to look at things no one else can see. For a moment KORRA sags in her chains again but when she looks up at the past Avatars again her vision seems even more distorted. The shapes of the past lives seem to bulge and melt at the edges, growing darker as KORRA's breathing accelerates.

AVATAR AANG

(looks at KORRA with sympathy and moves closer to her side)

Korra, you need to always remember...

He leans past her shoulder to whisper in her ear.

AVATAR AANG

(deeper, distorted voice)

...That you failed.

KORRA jerks back and twists to see that AANG's face is now twisted and monstrous. As she pants and panics, the other past lives are now mostly dark shadows with burning eyes.

ZAHEER

(shifting voice)

He's right, you know. After all, you failed to stop me.

ZAHEER reaches behind his back to pull an Amon mask from nowhere. He places it on his face and it begins to meld with his skin, turning it from a mask to an organic face that opens with a mouth full of fangs. Beside him, MING HUA turns to look behind her, and then keeps turning her head all the way around as her skin begins to crack and fall off to reveal TARLOKINA.

TARLOKINA

Everyone you love, you abandoned. Everything that's happened is your fault, Korra.

AMON

Korra.

ASAMI

(disembodied voice)

Korra.

MAKO

(disembodied voice)

Korra.

TENZIN

(disembodied voice)

Korra.

KORRA

(loud disembodied voice)

Korra!

KORRA screams.

EXT. CAVE HERMITAGE

The freed air-benders and the rescue party return to the front of the Red Lotus hideout.

ASAMI

(Into radio)

We've got the hostages. Bring the airship now!

(to others)

We need to find Korra. Where is she?

JINORA

Back there they said poison. They're trying to force her into the Avatar state?

BOLIN

(taken aback)

What? Why? Why'd they want to make her that strong?

MAKO

(grasping the mor immediate importance)

Poison, Bolin! We need to go now!

Both brothers run off with ASAMI following behind.

BUMI

(worried, to Tenzin)

The Avatar state. I've got a bad feeling. No one's seen the full powered thing in almost forty years.

TENZIN

(half to self)

Not just the brushes Korra's known before. The union of all the skills of every past Avatar, power drawn from the border between our world and the spirit world. All their rage, all their might. Yes, I'm afraid too.

PEMMA

You're afraid the state will fail? That Korra will have to face whatever's coming without that power?

TENZIN

No, I fear that she will have it all. But she's not ready to control it.

INT. CHAMBER OF THE RED LOTUS

KORRA's eyes flicker with blue-white light as she shudders in her chains over the pool of created lava. ZAHEER watches intensely. His hands clench into fists at his sides.

ASTRAL VOID

In a starry void KORRA floats alone, half bent into a fetal position. Shreds of an aurora drift and fade behind her while in front of her is the motionless form of a shadowy giant with her face. The astral giant's eyes and mouth blaze with white light, and the same light shines out from an arcane pattern across her torso. The giant holds a massive orb of pure energy between her hands.

KORRA twists and sobs, hanging in the void as tendrils of living mercury crawl over her skin, pulling and tugging at her, a manifestation of the toxin in her veins. She gasps in pain again as she slowly drifts towards the astral giant and the gift she holds in her hands. Tendrils of mercury stretch out to touch the astral giant, causing its outline to waver and bubble with darkness. KORRA pulls back from the offered power but then the living mercury bites into her skin again and she relents, reaching out her hand to touch the sphere of energy.

INT. CHAMBER OF THE RED LOTUS

KORRA's eyes snap open, blazing with light. A rush of wind pushes through the cavern as the mountain shudders. She no longer shows any sign of pain. For a moment ZAHEER pauses in sheer awe. Then he comes to his senses.

ZAHEER

(yells)

There! Strike now!

MING HUA attacks with huge tendrils of water drawn from cauldrons, that together form into an ice-bladed drill. KORRA opens her mouth in a roar, breathing out a jet of fire bigger than anything ever seen before. The tip of the water attack vaporizes and MING HUA is forced to draw back part that remains to shield herself.

ZAHEER

Gahzan!

GAHZAN reaches down to sent up a fountain of lava at KORRA. In the instant it's power is building, KORRA strains against the chains, her muscles bulging. Then she jerks her right arm and the thick chains snap. She thrusts her hand down and sends out a hurricane force air blast at the lava attack. The pillar of lava splatters out like it got hit by an asteroid.

ZAHEER involuntarily steps back, his eyes wide with sudden fear as he thinks he may have underestimated the Avatar. The secondary Red Lotus members flee back into the tunnels. KORRA unleashes another rush of power, snapping her other chains before blasting free to land down on the stone platform with the Red Lotus. Her attackers are thrown back as the rock splits and ripples out in a destructive wave. KORRA stands up straight and spinning rings of air, fire, water and rock begin to circle around her.

KORRA

(echoing Avatar voice of a hundred speakers in unison)

You think you have discovered the way to end me! Thousands have tried before! You will fail like all the rest!

The Red Lotus tries to attack back but KORRA fights with force far greater than any of theirs.

MAKO, BOLIN, and ASAMI enter, back behind the main scene of battle.

ZAHEER sees that their fight against the Avatar is not working, but he knows the toxin is still in KORRA's veins so he just needs to buy time. He lifts off into the air, hovering above the elemental carnage. KORRA looks up and meets his eyes. ZAHEER turns and flies out through the light portal high above.

KORRA

(Avatar voice)

Zaheer!

KORRA pursues.

MING HUA, and GAHZAN are left behind, panting from their exertion. Then they blink as they notice MAKO and BOLIN standing in the entrance.

BOLIN

(waves)

Uh, hey?

The Red Lotus attack.

EXT. CAVE HERMITAGE

The mountain shudders as the clouds above begin to swirl over the peak. JINORA gasps, looking at a blank patch of hillside. Others turn to look and even as they do sprits begin to fade into sight as misty shapes. Some are like shadows of trees, some are mystical beasts, and some looks almost like people. All the spirits turn to look at the upper mountainside.

EXT. MOUNTAINS

ZAHEER zips through the steadily narrowing upper cavern until he flies out the small portal punched in the rock and emerges into the open air at high speed. Then the mountainside explodes behind him and KORRA comes soaring out. ZAHEER flees, swooping through the air, and the empowered KORRA pursues. One after another KORRA unleashes massive, complex and ornate attacks with air, earth, fire, and water. Her power shreds the landscape and it is all ZAHEER can to to just stay ahead of her as they soar and plummet through the sky and canyons.

Then, as KORRA lands briefly to prepare her next attack, she shudders, bending over from pain at her core. ZAHEER comes closer to press the advantage but then KORRA's eyes briefly pulse even brighter as even a faint outline of the astral patterns appears across her torso for a moment. She drives ZAHEER back then she once more leaps forward into the fight.

INT. CHAMBER OF THE RED LOTUS

MAKO punches out fire at MING HUA and GAHZAN as the fight is joined.

GAHZAN

(genuinely curious)

Huh, I thought you were dead.

BOLIN

(shrugs)

Yeah, we sort of did too for a bit.

The flow of battle separates them off into pairs, MAKO against MING HUA, BOLIN against GAHZAN. Back in the entrance to the cavern AIWEI slowly creeps back after having fled when the Avatar broke free. Now he looks at MAKO and BOLIN and sees better odds. He raises and flexes his arms, causing the cloth wrapped bundle he wears on his back to explode into unfolding jointed metal. In a brief instant his is now wearing a vicious suit of metal armor as he sinks into an expert fighting posse.

AIWEI

(cocky)

Brother Gahzan! Together we will-!

ASAMI steps out of her hiding place and touches her gauntlet to his metal covered back. There is a crack of electricity and AIWEI falls down to the ground. BOLIN and GAHZAN look back at each other and resume their fight. ASAMI yelps as a stray rock comes flying her way to smash into the wall behind her. She ducks back into hiding.

MAKO is running across the cavern, getting further away from BOLIN as he tries to stay out of range from MING HUA's maelstrom of ice-blade tentacle attacks. MAKO finally manages to land a good hit on MING HUA and her water arms are temporarily disrupted, causing her to slide down a stone slope into an opening to a lower cavern without the means to catch herself. MAKO follows down into the hole after her.

Tired of trading stones, GAHZAN creates a large mass of lava and surges it forward at BOLIN in a huge wave. GAHZAN smiles in victory just in time to see BOLIN split the lava to each side of of him.

GAHZAN gapes in astonishment. BOLIN simply returns a cocky wink. Then GAHZAN laughs and they clash once more.

INT. UNDERGROUND WATER CHAMBER

MAKO drops down the last distance into this dark cavern and splashes in ankle-deep water. MING HUA is nowhere to be seen as the dim amount of light filtering in from above only illuminates a forest of stalactites and stalagmites. MAKO turns left and right, searching for his foe, then ignites a ball of flame above his hand as a light source.

The firelight illuminates the nightmarish MING HUA rising up into the air on uncountable tentacles of water. Then she attacks. MAKO races away and dodges through the stalagmites as MING HUA slices and smashes across the cavern, roaring with bloodlust. Then MAKO manages to get a little distance, jump up, and brace himself between two natural pillars. He begins to move his arms in practiced circle motions but MING HUA spots him and comes charging forward like a many legged monster. Then MAKO finishes his technique and fires out a crackling web of lightning down at the water covering the floor. The electricity flashes up MING HUA's tentacle arms and with a gasp she seizes up, collapsing face down into the pool as all her control of water vanishes along with her life.

MAKO breathes heavily as he presses his back against the rock wall.

EXT. MOUNTAINS

KORRA and ZAHEER continue their chase across the shuddering landscape. KORRA's attacks are less skilled now, more representative of raw power than the knowledge of all the past Avatars. Phantasmal spirits scatter to get out of their way. Then KORRA stumbles again in pain and once more her eyes and torso pulse with the inner power. As the light pulses, small green vines begin to grow around where her bare feet touch the stones.

ZAHEER

You cannot win.

KORRA attacks again and even weakened she is incredibly strong. When ZAHEER flys too far away she unleashes stone-melting bolts of lightning, and when he gets close she tears down a mountain at him or throws out giant tornadoes.

Finally, a bit of water from one attack clips ZAHEER and drags him down. KORRA lands heavily and prepares for a killing blow but then she doubles over from another bout of pain. ZAHEER breaks free and floats up into the air again. KORRA's eyes pulse with light once more as the astral pattern across her torso shine in and out, now more distinct, and vines grow at her feet but this burst of power does not seem to be refreshing her as much as before.

ZAHEER

The toxin is still in your body. The Avatar State can buy you time but your fate is now inevitable!

KORRA roars and lunges forward once more.

INT. CHAMBER OF THE RED LOTUS

GAHZAN is still fighting BOLIN but the Red Lotus is not smiling as much now. Then SUYIN and several Zaofu soldiers appear in the entrance to the cavern. GAHZAN sees them, then turns to see MAKO climbing back up from below, alone. GAHZAN's face blanches as his world is coming crashing down around him.

SUYIN

Give it up, Gahzan! Zaheer's abandoned you! Surrender and you can still live!

GAHZAN

(crouches down)

No.

(raises his arms in earth-bending exertion)

No! I'm not going back to prison!

As GAHZAN screams, cracks appear across all the walls and the ceiling of the cavern. Orange light begins to shine within those fissures.

ASAMI

He's going to bring the whole place down!

BOLIN runs forward to grab MAKO and helps them get out by deflecting bits of lava that are now running down the walls and falling from the crumbling ceiling above. SUYIN and the Zaofu benders manage to fight the destruction and keep from being sealed inside the mountain. At the exit BOLIN stops and strains his earth-bending to hold the tunnel open for a few more moments as he turns back to the burning chamber.

BOLIN

(to Gahzan)

You don't have to do this!

GAHZAN

(to Bolin, calm even under his incredible strain)

I'm free, from now until the end.

BOLIN and the others escape as the mountain begins to collapse inward behind them in streams of molten rock.

EXT. MOUNTAINS

KORRA crashes down from the air and lands on a small ledge on a tall cliffside. She rises to her hands and knees but she is continually assailed by waves of pain and weakness. The Avatar power pulses within her again and again but though bright green vines begin to grow out across the cliff from where she is, KORRA is not getting better. Her limbs are trembling and weak as she pants for breath. ZAHEER descends and hangs in the air just in front of the ledge.

ZAHEER

It's over.

He raises his hands and wind swirls around KORRA, dragging her up to a sitting position. She is too weak to fight him. ZAHEER transfers into a different pose as a globe of swirling air begins to form around KORRA's head, just as it did the Earth Queen.

ZAHEER

(triumphant)

The age of the Avatar is over, and I am the one to end it!

Down at ground level below the cliff and across a canyon, the rescued air nation members are watching this display helplessly in the distance. They are now joined by MAKO, BOLIN, ASAMI, SUYIN and the rest. ASAMI spots KORRA.

ASAMI

(anguished, raw-throated scream)

Korra!

LIN

(impotent rage)

How can we stop him? How's he even doing this?

TENZIN

(standing upright mostly by virtue of holding onto his wife)

Alone he's achieved more power than any air-bender has for thousands of years.

JINORA

(suddenly determined)

But we're not alone. We are the air nation, and she came for us.

JINORA rushes forward into the group of air-benders in training.

TENZIN

Jinora, what are you-?!

JINORA

Daddy, trust me.

(to air-benders)

Everyone, the first technique!

JINORA assumes a straight back pose with open palms and slowly begins to move in a circle. A gentle swirling breeze picks up around her. Recognition flashes into OPAL's face as she remembers her very first lesson with KORRA. Then all the air-benders join in and the rushing circle of wind begins to grow into something grand and powerful.

Up on the cliff, ZAHEER is so intent on maintaining the swirling wind that is sucking the air out of KORRA's lungs that he notices nothing else. Not even the tornado that is growing up behind him. He watches with hungry eyes as KORRA's weakened struggles grow fewer until she finally sags limply and her eyes close.

However, just as victory begins to light up his face, ZAHEER feels the swirling wind begin to sweep over him. He turns to see the towering tornado drawing him towards it. This new power shreds the suffocation globe he had maintained on KORRA, so ZAHEER grabs hold of her and begins to fly away. He can't, as the tornado is sucking him back, drawing him over and down to where the air nation is still maintaining their powerful unified technique. As ZAHEER is pulled into the heart of the tornado he looks up at the clear sky above him and then after a long moment drops hold of KORRA's limp body.

ZAHEER is suddenly jerked back from his escape flight. He looks down to see KORRA's hand gripped onto his ankle. She slowly raises her head, staring back at him with shining Avatar eyes. ZAHEER begins to kick and fight at her, desperate to escape. Then he finally breaks free of her grasp and flies up towards freedom. But as KORRA falls she flings up with the length of chain still shackled to her wrist. The chain wraps around ZAHEER's foot. KORRA uses every bit of her remaining strength in one last superhuman pull that drags ZAHEER down out of the sky and sends him hurtling to the ground.

ZAHEER hits the dirt hard. KORRA falls a moment later, but her impact is cushioned by an air technique from the air nation. However, after she lands on the ground KORRA doesn't move. The light of the Avatar power still pulses around her, bringing more of the strange vines, but the pulses are further apart each time.

TENZIN

(rushes forward)

Korra!

He pulls her head into his lap. KORRA's eyes are still glowing but they are barely open a slit and her breathing is weak and shallow. The Zaofu forces quickly imprison ZAHEER in earth bonds but everyone else is focused on KORRA.

ZAHEER

(injured and barely able to speak, but triumphant)

You're too late. I've already won. The damage is done.

KORRA's friends stand around her. MAKO is frozen in place unable to react, BOLIN is a panicking wreck, and ASAMI is on the edge of a complete emotional collapse. Even the barely visible spirits drift in to take up this vigil around the fallen Avatar. LIN slides in beside TENZIN.

TENZIN

(broken and panicked)

Lin, I don't know what to do!

LIN

(hesitantly touches KORRA then jerks back)

She's full of metal!

TENZIN

(focusing down)

What? How? And wait, but your bending's-?

LIN

(distracted)

I can still sense it.

(turns and yells)

Suyin! Get over here!

SUYIN runs over and holds her hands over KORRA.

SUYIN

(frightened)

It's through her whole body. I've never done anything like this before and if I make one wrong move-

LIN

She's dying now! Do it!

SUYIN closes her eyes and moves her hands across KORRA's body. For a long moment noting happens as everyone watches with bated breath. Then SUYUN draws her hand up KORRA's throat and a large glob of mercury flows out her mouth. After a long heart-wrenching moment KORRA coughs weakly. The light fades from her eyes as she feebly turns her head.

The crowd celebrates their relief. MEELO and IKI clutch at their mother PEMMA. BOLIN hugs MAKO, then he hugs OPAL, then he squeezes them both together in one big hug. JINORA hangs her arms around KAI's neck and buries her face in his shoulder as he looks awkwardly unsure of what to do. BUMI falls over backwards to rest sprawled out on the rock. ASAMI's legs just give out from under her as she collapses down into a sitting position, tears streaming down over her smile. The spirits bow their heads and then slowly drift away into invisibility once more.

EXT. REPUBLIC CITY

The overhead view of Republic City looks much as it always had before. It is bustling and busy, but there are drifts of trampled flower petals in the gutters. Decorations honoring Raiko's funeral are being taken down. Out in the bay, the Air Temple Island is crowded with boats and people.

INT. AIR TEMPLE ISLAND, KORRA'S ROOM

ASAMI's hands gently work at arranging KORRA's hair. ASAMI takes a final hairpin from between her lips and uses it. She leans back slightly as she presents a mirror.

ASAMI

(gentle and determinedly upbeat)

There we go, perfect. Ready for your official Avatar appearance.

We now see that KORRA is in a wheelchair. She is wearing a formal dress but she does not look healthy and there are dark bags under her eyes. She doesn't move to take the mirror. Instead her hands stay motionless in her lap and after a moment she slowly looks away from her reflection.

KORRA

(dully)

Thank you.

ASAMI kneels down beside KORRA's wheelchair.

ASAMI

Give it time. It's only been a few weeks. You're improving every day, trust me.

KORRA begins to lift one if her hands off her lap, but it trembles and she puts it back down. ASAMI puts her own hand down on top of KORRA's.

ASAMI

(full of restrained emotion)

I want you to know that if you ever need to talk or...anything. I'll always be here for you.

KORRA nods slightly.

ASAMI

(stands up and re-centers herself)

Right, let's just try to enjoy this today; for Jinora.

INT. RITUAL ROOM

It is a dim room seen in the sharp outlines cast by the outside light through paper window screens. JINORA sits with her back to the viewer, almost silhouetted and unrecognizable, as a woman in the costume of an air acolyte temple worker ritually shaves her head.

EXT. AIR TEMPLE ISLAND

KORRA and ASAMI exit into the temple grounds with ASAMI pushing the wheelchair. This part of the temple is empty but there are sounds of many people in the distance.

INT. RITUAL ROOM

Acolytes with long bone needles prick the skin on JINORA's shaved head again and again for the ritual tattoos, invisible to the viewer in this tinted light. One of her arms is already covered in the bandages of a fresh tattoo.

EXT. AIR TEMPLE ISLAND

RAIKO's successor, the former VICE PRESIDENT, is standing outside the main temple building as he talks with LIN.

VICE PRESIDENT

(To Lin)

...But when the United Republic named me Vice President, no one was expecting anything to happen to Raiko. Now he's gone and most of the country is up in arms over once again having a leader the majority never voted for. I tell you, it's a powder keg and I barely...

(spots Korra)

Oh, Avatar Korra. It's very good to see you.

LIN

(to Korra with a supportive nod)

You're getting stronger.

ASAMI

(seeing that Korra is uncomfortable)

We should go inside.

IKI and MEELO hear this and run up.

MEELO

I want to ride with Korra!

(jumps in her lap, then points to main temple)

It smells like shoe trees in there.

IKI

(chides)

That's sandlwood, Meelo.

They exit.

VICE PRESIDENT

She's not looking good.

LIN

You wouldn't either if you'd gone through what she has.

VICE PRESIDENT

I know, but that doesn't make our situation any better. The Earth Kingdom is falling into civil war and we don't know if there are other members of the Red Lotus still out there in the shadows. We need the Avatar more than ever, and our protecter is confined to a wheelchair. How are we going to hold this world together?

INT. AIR TEMPLE

Incense sticks burn in brasiers around the large room. Half the space is filled with waiting guests while at the other end stand the air-benders of the new air nation. MAKO and BOLIN are in the audience. BOLIN is all smiles and makes small waving motions up at the stage to attract OPAL's attention, but MAKO looks more dour. He unconsciously clutches at the hand that shot the lightning to kill Ming Hua.

JINORA stands to the back of the middle of the stage, wearing a hood and cape. TENZIN steps forward before her and the other air benders who are all dressed in the training uniforms of the air nomads.

TENZIN

Jinora, step forward.

She moves to the front of the stage and kneels down.

TENZIN

Today, we welcome the first air-bending master in a generation, and I could not be more proud of my daughter. When the existence of our people was threatened she stood up with bravery and brilliance. But of course, none of this would be possible without Avatar Korra. It was her power that gave the air benders their rebirth. She was even willing to lay down her own life to protect ours. There's no way we can ever repay her for what she's done, but we can learn from her example. When this miracle first occurred I tried to remake the ancient Air Nation. I thought it was my purpose, I wanted it to be my purpose, and I failed. But that was my mistake, and I didn't see what was in front of me. Only when you give up valuing yourself above all else can you achieve greatness. Korra and Jinora showed me that.

(takes a breath)

The Air Nation will never be what it once was. But it can be something new. Our people will not hide in the mountain temples again, we will go on and travel the world as its protectors. We will serve the people of all nations, as the Avatar does, working wherever there is corruption and discord to restore balance and peace.

(steps up to Jinora)

Now, let us anoint the master who will help lead us on our new path.

TENZIN removes JINORA's hood, revealing her arrow tattoo. JINORA stands up, letting the cape drop down off her shoulders, exposing the arrow tattoos along her arms. Behind her, the other air-benders begin to move in perfect unison, summoning a gentle breeze that sweeps up the incense smoke and carries it up to the high rafters of the building where it sets the ritual wind-chimes to singing.

JINORA hugs her father as the audience claps. KORRA looks on with pride, and sorrow, and a million other emotions. A tear rolls down her cheek.

END

------

The next of my Legend of Korra screenplay adaptations can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/10701705/chapters/23703927