Chapter 10: New Beginnings; A Friend's Farewell
The Conversation
Three days after Korra's bending had been restored, Republic City was still celebrating its liberation from Amon's rule. But in a quiet corner of Air Temple Island's rebuilt meditation pavilion, a very different kind of resolution was taking place.
Mako sat on a cushion, his posture tense, as Asami and Khanna settled across from him. The afternoon sun cast long shadows through the windows, and for a long moment, nobody spoke.
"So," Asami finally said, breaking the silence with her characteristic directness. "We should probably actually have this conversation now."
"Yeah," Mako agreed, running his hand through his hair – a nervous gesture that both women had come to recognize. "I've been trying to figure out what to say for days."
"Then let me start," Khanna said, her amber eyes steady. "Mako, I need you to be completely honest. Not diplomatic, not trying to spare feelings. Just honest. Do you love Asami?"
The bluntness of the question made Mako's eyes widen. He looked at Asami, who was watching him with an expression that was equal parts hope and dread.
"I..." Mako began, then stopped. He took a breath and tried again. "Yes. I do. I didn't realize it for a long time, kept confusing it with other feelings, but yes. I love Asami."
Asami's breath caught, her eyes suddenly bright with emotion. But before she could respond, Khanna continued her interrogation.
"And me?" the dark elf asked. "What do you feel for me, Mako?"
This question was harder. Mako looked at Khanna – her silver-purple hair, her regal bearing, the intelligence and strength that had drawn him to her in the first place.
"I care about you," he said honestly. "There's an attraction, a connection. In another life, in different circumstances, maybe it could have been love. But Asami was there first. She's been part of my life longer, and I think... I think my feelings for you were partly about how new and different you were. How you challenged me in ways I wasn't used to."
"But not love," Khanna confirmed.
"Not the same way," Mako admitted, and for the first time, saying it out loud felt like a relief rather than a failure. "I'm sorry, Khanna. I know that's not what you wanted to hear."
Khanna was quiet for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, surprisingly, she smiled – not a bitter smile, but one tinged with genuine warmth and something that looked like relief.
"Actually," she said, "it's exactly what I needed to hear."
Both Mako and Asami looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Asami asked carefully.
Khanna turned to face her. "Asami, over these past few months, you've become a true friend to me. The first real friend I've had outside my family in longer than I care to admit. And I've watched you struggle with this situation, trying to be mature and fair about it even though it was tearing you apart inside."
"I didn't want to hurt you—" Asami began.
"I know," Khanna interrupted gently. "And that's exactly why I'm making this decision. Asami, you're a better friend than I deserve. You've welcomed me into your circle, treated me with respect and kindness even while we were rivals for the same man. You've fought beside me, trusted me with your vulnerabilities, and never once made me feel like an outsider."
She stood up, her posture taking on the formal bearing of Shadowvale royalty. "Mako, I release you from any obligation you might feel toward me. Asami, I step aside with no resentment, no bitterness. You two belong together. Anyone with eyes can see it."
"Khanna—" Asami protested, standing as well. "You don't have to do this. If Mako has feelings for you too—"
"But he doesn't," Khanna said simply. "Not the way he feels for you. And I won't settle for being someone's second choice or part of some complicated arrangement when my friend could have the straightforward love she deserves."
"This isn't what I wanted for you," Asami said, her voice thick with emotion. "I wanted you to be happy too."
"I will be," Khanna assured her. "Just not with Mako. And honestly?" She glanced at the firebender with a slight, teasing smile. "I think I was more in love with the idea of him than the reality. The mysterious, brooding firebender who could match me in combat. It was romantic in theory, but in practice..."
"In practice, I'm kind of a mess," Mako supplied, managing a weak smile.
"You're a work in progress," Khanna corrected diplomatically. "But you're Asami's work in progress, not mine. And I'm okay with that."
Asami moved forward and pulled Khanna into a hug. "Thank you," she whispered. "For being understanding. For being my friend. For... for this."
"Just promise me something," Khanna said, returning the embrace. "Don't waste this. Either of you. You've both been given a second chance at something real. Make it count."
"We will," Mako promised, standing to join them. "And Khanna, for what it's worth, I'm honored that you were interested. Any man would be lucky to have your attention."
"Flattery will get you nowhere now," Khanna replied with a laugh. "I've moved on already. In fact, I've been thinking about returning to Shadowvale once Roy and Sarai begin the rebuilding efforts in earnest. My skills would be better used there than here."
"You're leaving?" Asami asked, surprised and saddened.
"Eventually," Khanna confirmed. "Not immediately. But yes. I think it's time I focused on my own people, my own future. Republic City was a wonderful adventure, but it's not my home."
As they separated, the three of them stood together in a comfortable silence that held none of the tension from before.
"So," Mako said finally, looking at Asami. "I guess this means we're actually together now? For real?"
"For real," Asami confirmed, taking his hand. "No more confusion, no more complications. Just us, figuring out what we want to build together."
"I can work with that," Mako said, pulling her close.
Khanna watched them for a moment, feeling a pang of wistfulness but no real regret. She'd made the right choice. And as she left the pavilion to give them privacy, she felt lighter than she had in months.
Sometimes love meant letting go. And sometimes, that was the most selfless act of all.
Bolin and Sarai - Planning a Future
In the training grounds, Bolin was attempting to earthbend with one hand while eating a dumpling with the other, much to Sarai's exasperation.
"You're going to choke," she observed, watching him fumble both the bending and the food.
"I'm multitasking!" Bolin protested, managing to send a rock flying in completely the wrong direction while saving his dumpling at the last second. "See? Skills!"
Sarai laughed despite herself. "You're impossible."
"Impossibly charming," Bolin corrected, finally giving up on the bending to focus on his food. "Hey, can we talk about something serious for a minute?"
The shift in his tone made Sarai's attention sharpen. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
"Us," Bolin said, settling on a nearby bench and patting the space beside him. "Specifically, our future. You said something during the battle that's been stuck in my head."
"What did I say?"
"That you'd fight to come back to me," Bolin replied. "To our future, whatever that looks like. But Sarai, what does it look like? Because I've been thinking about it a lot, and I realize I don't actually know what we're building toward."
Sarai sat beside him, taking his hand. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything," Bolin said earnestly. "You're a princess, and yeah, you keep saying it doesn't matter, but it does. Eventually, you and your brothers are going to rebuild Shadowvale. You'll have responsibilities, expectations. Where does that leave me? Where does that leave us?"
"Where do you want to be?" Sarai asked gently.
"With you," Bolin replied immediately. "But I need to know if that's actually possible. Like, logistically. Can a human earthbender from Republic City's streets actually have a future with a dark elf princess? Or are we just enjoying what we have while we can before reality catches up?"
Sarai was quiet for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "When we rebuild Shadowvale, things will be different from how they were before. The old kingdom was isolated, hiding from human persecution. But the new Shadowvale – the one Korra saw in her vision – that's going to be open, integrated, a bridge between our peoples."
"Okay," Bolin said slowly. "And?"
"And that means we need people who understand both worlds," Sarai continued. "People who can help our two peoples work together. Bolin, you're not just some random human. You're a skilled earthbender, you understand both Republic City culture and you've taken the time to learn about our traditions. You're exactly the kind of person we'll need."
"So you're saying there's a place for me in this new Shadowvale?"
"I'm saying there's a place for you at my side," Sarai clarified. "If you want it. Not as some title or political arrangement, but as my partner. My equal. Someone I build this future with, not just someone along for the ride."
Bolin felt his throat tighten with emotion. "That's... that's a big responsibility. I'm not exactly known for my maturity or strategic thinking."
"You're known for your heart," Sarai countered. "For seeing the good in people, for bringing joy to difficult situations, for making everyone around you better just by being yourself. Those are the qualities that will make you an excellent partner in rebuilding a kingdom, Bolin. We'll have plenty of serious, strategic thinkers. What we'll need is someone who reminds us why we're doing all this work – to create a place where people can be happy."
"You really mean that," Bolin said, searching her face.
"Every word," Sarai confirmed. "But Bolin, I need you to understand what you'd be signing up for. It won't be easy. There will be dark elves who question a human in a position of influence. There will be humans who don't understand why you'd choose to be part of a dark elf kingdom. You'd be a pioneer, a bridge-builder. It would be hard."
"But I'd be doing it with you," Bolin said.
"With me," Sarai agreed.
"Then I'm in," Bolin declared. "Whatever it takes, whatever challenges come up, I want to build this future with you. I want to be part of what Shadowvale becomes."
Sarai kissed him, pouring all her love and gratitude and hope into it. When they separated, both were smiling.
"Fair warning," Bolin said. "I'm going to be a terrible noble. I'll probably forget proper etiquette and make jokes at inappropriate times and definitely embarrass you at official functions."
"I'm counting on it," Sarai replied. "Someone needs to keep things from getting too stuffy. Might as well be you."
"Prince Consort Bolin," he tested the title again. "Yeah, I could get used to that."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Sarai teased. "We should probably get officially engaged first."
"Is that a hint?"
"It's a very direct statement," Sarai replied with a grin. "But I'll let you figure out the timing and the romantic proposal. Just... maybe don't do it right after eating dumplings?"
"Hey, I'll have you know I can be very romantic!" Bolin protested. "I'll plan something amazing. With flowers and music and maybe some earthbending sculptures and—"
"Bolin," Sarai interrupted gently.
"Yeah?"
"I don't need amazing. I just need you."
Bolin pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. "You've got me. Forever, if you'll have me."
"Forever sounds perfect," Sarai whispered.
Roy and Ikki - Navigating New Territory
In Roy's office, which had been temporarily set up in one of Air Temple Island's administrative buildings, the dark elf captain was attempting to focus on post-war logistics. He was failing miserably, because Ikki kept appearing in his peripheral vision every few minutes, clearly trying to work up the courage to talk to him.
Finally, he set down his reports with a sigh. "Miss Ikki, you've circled past my door seventeen times in the last hour. Either come in and talk to me or go practice your airbending. This middle ground is distracting."
Ikki poked her head around the doorframe. "You were counting?"
"I'm a tactical officer. Counting is what I do," Roy replied dryly. "Now, are we going to discuss what happened before the battle, or are you going to continue pretending to have urgent business in this hallway?"
Ikki entered properly, closing the door behind her. "I wasn't pretending. I do have urgent business. With you. About... the thing that happened."
"The kiss," Roy supplied, deciding that someone needed to be direct about this.
"The kiss," Ikki confirmed, her cheeks flushing. "Which I initiated without asking permission, which was probably inappropriate, but I meant it, and I've been thinking about it constantly for three days, and I need to know if you've been thinking about it too or if I just made everything incredibly awkward forever."
Roy set down his stylus and gave her his full attention. "Sit down, Ikki. Please."
She sat, her usual exuberance contained by nervous energy.
"I have been thinking about it," Roy admitted. "Quite a lot, actually. Which is problematic because I'm supposed to be coordinating the return of displaced citizens and rebuilding infrastructure, but instead my mind keeps wandering to a certain impulsive airbender."
"Is that good or bad?" Ikki asked hopefully.
"It's... complicated," Roy said carefully. "Ikki, I need you to understand something about my life. I'm not just a guard captain or a dark elf noble. I'm a crown prince of a kingdom that's currently scattered and in hiding. My life is not my own – every decision I make has to be weighed against its impact on my people, my family, our eventual restoration."
"I know that," Ikki said.
"Do you?" Roy challenged gently. "Because getting involved with me means accepting that uncertainty. It means potentially having to leave Republic City when we rebuild Shadowvale. It means dealing with political complications and possible dangers from our enemies. It means entering a life where duty often has to come before personal happiness."
"You're trying to talk me out of this," Ikki observed.
"I'm trying to make sure you understand what you'd be getting into," Roy corrected. "You're young, Ikki. You have your whole life ahead of you. You shouldn't limit your options by tying yourself to someone whose future is so uncertain."
Ikki stood up, her expression shifting from nervous to determined. "Roy – Thallion – whatever name you want to use – do you think I haven't thought about all of this? I'm Tenzin's daughter. I've lived my entire life with the weight of being one of the only airbenders in the world. I understand duty and responsibility and making sacrifices for the greater good."
"This is different—"
"It's not that different," Ikki interrupted. "And here's what I've realized: I could spend my whole life waiting for something safe and simple and easy. Or I could take a chance on something complicated and uncertain but real. And Roy, what I feel when I'm with you is real."
Roy was quiet, his usual strategic composure cracking slightly. "What do you feel?"
"Safe," Ikki said immediately. "Challenged. Seen. Like I'm not just Tenzin's daughter or Aang's granddaughter, but actually me. You listen when I talk, even when I'm being silly. You take me seriously even when no one else does. And when you smile – which isn't often – it feels like I've accomplished something amazing."
"Ikki—"
"I'm not asking you to marry me," Ikki continued, gaining confidence. "I'm not even asking for a formal commitment. I'm just asking if you feel something too. If there's enough there to explore, to see where it goes. Can you give me that? Honestly?"
Roy stood, moving around his desk to stand in front of her. For a long moment, he just looked at her – this vibrant, enthusiastic young woman who had somehow managed to slip past all his carefully constructed defenses.
"Yes," he said finally. "I feel something. More than I'm comfortable with, honestly. You're intelligent, brave, and you have a joy for life that I find both baffling and captivating. Against every tactical instinct I have, against my better judgment, I find myself wanting to spend time with you. Wanting to see you smile. Wanting to—"
He stopped himself, but Ikki's face had already lit up with pure happiness.
"Wanting to what?" she prompted.
"Wanting to see where this goes," Roy admitted. "Even though it's unwise. Even though it's complicated. Even though your father is probably going to challenge me to an agni kai or whatever the airbending equivalent is."
"An air duel," Ikki supplied helpfully. "And he'll get over it. Probably. Eventually."
"That's not reassuring."
"But you're willing to try anyway?" Ikki asked hopefully.
Roy sighed, but there was warmth in it. "I'm willing to try. Slowly. Carefully. With appropriate boundaries and expectations. We're not children, Ikki. Whatever this is between us, we need to approach it with maturity."
"I can do maturity," Ikki assured him. "Super mature. The most mature person you've ever—"
Roy silenced her by gently taking her hand. "Let's start with something simple. Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow evening? Properly. As a... what would you call it?"
"A date," Ikki supplied, beaming. "It's called a date, Roy."
"A date," Roy repeated, testing the unfamiliar concept. "Yes. Let's try that."
"Yes!" Ikki exclaimed, then seemed to remember her promise about maturity. "I mean, yes, that would be lovely. Very mature dinner date. With conversation and everything."
Despite himself, Roy smiled – a real, genuine smile that transformed his usually serious face. "You're impossible."
"You keep saying that like it's a bad thing," Ikki replied.
"It terrifies me," Roy admitted. "But I'm beginning to think that might not be entirely bad either."
As Ikki left his office, practically floating with happiness, Roy returned to his desk. He picked up his reports, trying to refocus on his work.
He lasted approximately thirty seconds before his mind wandered back to a certain airbender's smile.
"I'm in so much trouble," he muttered to himself.
But he was smiling as he said it.
That Evening - Group Reflection
As the sun set over Air Temple Island, the various couples found themselves gathered on the main balcony, watching the lights of Republic City flicker to life across the bay.
Korra and Odyn stood together, their bond visible in the way they moved in perfect synchronization. Mako and Asami sat close, finally comfortable with their relationship now that the confusion had been resolved. Bolin and Sarai engaged in their usual playful banter, but with an underlying seriousness that spoke to their deepened commitment. And Roy stood somewhat awkwardly beside Ikki, clearly still adjusting to the idea of being in a relationship but not running away from it either.
"We make a strange group," Tenzin observed, joining them on the balcony. "The Avatar bonded to a dragon prince. My daughter apparently dating a dark elf royal." He gave Roy a look that made the captain straighten slightly. "And all of you preparing to reshape the world."
"Is that a problem?" Korra asked, though her tone suggested she didn't particularly care if it was.
"No," Tenzin said, surprising them. "It's exactly what the world needs. My father spent his life trying to restore balance after a century of war. But he did it by maintaining old structures, old divisions. What you're all building – bridges between peoples, cooperation instead of isolation – that's the next evolution of that balance."
"No pressure or anything," Bolin muttered.
"The pressure is always there," Sarai replied. "The question is whether we let it paralyze us or motivate us."
"Spoken like a true princess," Roy observed.
"Spoken like someone who learned from the best," Sarai countered, nodding to her brother.
"So what happens now?" Asami asked. "The war's over. Amon is gone. Republic City is rebuilding. What comes next for all of us?"
"We finish what we started," Korra said firmly. "We work toward the vision – integrated communities, cooperation between all peoples, a world where dark elves and humans and everyone else can build together."
"Shadowvale gets rebuilt," Odyn added. "But as something new. Not a hidden kingdom, but a beacon. Proof that our peoples can thrive together."
"And we do it together," Mako said, looking around at the assembled group. "Not just as individuals or couples, but as Team Avatar. As family."
"Family," Ikki repeated softly, testing the word. "I like that. A family that chose each other."
"The best kind," Bolin agreed.
They stood together as night fell completely, watching the city they'd saved begin the long process of healing. Each of them carried scars from the conflict – physical, emotional, spiritual. But they also carried hope, and love, and the unshakeable certainty that together, they could build something better than what had come before.
The war with Amon was over. But their true work – reshaping the world into something worth saving – was just beginning.
And they would face it together, as they faced everything: with courage, with love, and with the bonds that made them stronger than any individual could be alone.
A Friend's Farewell
The Chase
Asami watched Khanna leave the meditation pavilion with measured, dignified steps – every inch the warrior princess maintaining her composure. But Asami had spent months learning to read the subtle tells beneath that regal bearing. The slight stiffness in Khanna's shoulders. The way her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. The barely perceptible quickening of her pace as she moved further from the pavilion.
She was hurting. And she was trying very hard not to show it.
"Asami?" Mako's voice was gentle, questioning. "Are you—"
"I need to talk to her," Asami said, already moving toward the door. "I'll be back soon. We can... we can celebrate properly later."
"Of course," Mako said, understanding in his voice. "Go."
Asami caught up to Khanna halfway across the courtyard, just as the dark elf was about to round the corner toward the residential buildings.
"Khanna, wait!"
Khanna stopped but didn't immediately turn around. When she did, her expression was carefully neutral – the mask she wore in formal situations, Asami realized. The one that hid everything.
"You should be with Mako," Khanna said, her voice steady. "Celebrating your—"
"I couldn't," Asami interrupted, slightly out of breath from her sprint. "Not without talking to you first. Please, Khanna. As my friend."
Something flickered in Khanna's amber eyes at the word 'friend.' She glanced around the courtyard – several Air Acolytes were working nearby, close enough to overhear a conversation.
"Walk with me," Khanna said quietly, leading them toward one of the island's more secluded garden paths. They walked in silence until they reached a small clearing overlooking the bay, far enough from the main buildings to ensure privacy.
Khanna settled on a stone bench, her posture still rigid. Asami sat beside her, leaving a respectful distance but close enough to talk comfortably.
"I hate this," Asami said finally, breaking the silence. "I hate that I'm happy and you're hurt because of it."
"Asami—"
"No, let me finish," Asami insisted. "These past few months, you've become one of my closest friends. Not despite the romantic rivalry, but almost because of it. You never treated me like an enemy. You were honest, direct, fair. You pushed me to be better, to be clearer about what I wanted. And now I feel like I've won something at your expense, and it makes me feel terrible."
Khanna was quiet for a long moment, staring out at the bay. When she spoke, her voice was softer than usual, some of the formal distance dropped.
"It does hurt," she admitted. "I won't lie to you about that. When Mako said he loved you, when I saw the way he looked at you... yes, it hurt. It still hurts."
"I'm so sorry—"
"Don't apologize," Khanna interrupted gently. "You did nothing wrong. Neither did Mako. He was honest about his feelings, which took courage. And you were honest about yours. That's more than many people manage in these situations."
"But you're leaving," Asami said, her voice small. "Going back to Shadowvale. And I keep thinking that I'm losing a friend because—"
"Stop," Khanna said, finally turning to look at Asami directly. "You're not losing me as a friend. Is that what you think this is?"
"Isn't it?" Asami asked. "You said you were returning to Shadowvale, focusing on your own people—"
"Asami," Khanna said, and now there was a hint of her usual warmth beneath the pain. "I said I was going home for a while. I didn't say I was leaving permanently."
Asami blinked. "You're... you're not?"
"No," Khanna confirmed. "I'm going back to the original Shadowvale for a few weeks. Maybe a month. To visit my parents, to process these feelings with my own people around me, to remember who I am when I'm not competing for someone's affection." She paused. "But then I'm coming back."
"Back to Republic City?"
"To the New Shadowvale district, specifically," Khanna explained. "Roy and Sarai have been working on establishing it for months – a section of the city where our people can live openly, maintaining our culture while integrating with Republic City's broader community. They need help organizing the migration, training new arrivals, building the infrastructure. It's important work."
"And you'll be here," Asami said, hope creeping into her voice. "In the city."
"Yes," Khanna confirmed. "I'll be here. Not on Air Temple Island probably – I'll need my own space, my own community. But I'm not leaving Team Avatar. I'm not leaving our friendship. I just need..." she searched for words, "I need some time and distance to grieve what might have been and figure out who I want to be going forward."
Asami felt tears prickling at her eyes. "I was so worried I'd ruined everything. That you'd hate me or disappear or—"
"I could never hate you," Khanna said firmly. "Asami, you've been nothing but kind to me. You welcomed me into your circle when you had every reason not to. You treated me with respect and honesty even when we were competing for the same person. You became my friend, truly my friend, and that's not something I take lightly."
"Then why does it feel like I'm losing you?"
"Because change is hard," Khanna replied. "Our relationship is shifting. We're no longer rivals, and that was part of how we related to each other. Now we need to figure out what our friendship looks like without that dynamic. But Asami, we will figure it out. I promise."
They sat in silence for a moment, both processing the emotion of the conversation. Finally, Asami spoke again.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Three weeks, maybe four," Khanna said. "Long enough to visit with family, help coordinate some of the migration logistics, and honestly... long enough to not have to watch you and Mako be happy together while I'm still processing my feelings about it."
"That's fair," Asami said quietly.
"It's not about blame," Khanna clarified. "You deserve to be happy. Mako deserves to be happy. I just need to be somewhere else while I work through my own emotions about it. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense," Asami replied. "I'd probably feel the same way in your position."
"I know you would," Khanna said with a slight smile. "That's one of the things I appreciate about you, Asami. You understand complicated emotions. You don't try to simplify them or rush past them."
"My father's betrayal taught me that," Asami said sadly. "Emotions are messy and complicated and they take time to process. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying."
"Exactly," Khanna agreed.
Another pause, then Asami asked, "Will you write? While you're away?"
Khanna looked surprised. "You want me to write to you?"
"Of course I do," Asami said. "You're my friend, Khanna. I'll want to know how you're doing, what's happening with the migration preparations, how your visit home is going. If you're comfortable sharing that, I mean."
"I'd like that," Khanna said softly. "Though fair warning – dark elf correspondence tends to be rather formal. Years of royal training. You might get letters that read like diplomatic reports."
"I'll take what I can get," Asami said with a small laugh. "And I'll try to keep my letters from being too boring. Though honestly, most of what happens around here involves Bolin doing something ridiculous, so at least they'll be entertaining."
"I'll hold you to that," Khanna said, and for the first time since the conversation in the pavilion, she smiled genuinely. "I expect detailed reports on all of Bolin's antics. They'll help keep things in perspective while I'm dealing with stuffy noble politics at home."
"It's a deal," Asami said. Then, more hesitantly, "Khanna, can I ask you something personal?"
"Of course."
"Do you regret it? Getting involved with this whole situation? Pursuing Mako even though Asami was already in the picture?"
Khanna considered the question carefully. "No," she said finally. "I don't regret it. It hurt, yes. It's hurting now. But I learned things about myself through this process. I learned what I actually want in a partner versus what I thought I wanted. I learned that I can handle rejection with grace. And most importantly..." she turned to look at Asami, "I gained a true friend. Someone I can trust, someone who understands me. That's not nothing, Asami."
"It's not nothing," Asami agreed, her voice thick with emotion. "It's everything to me. You're one of the first real friends I've made since my whole life fell apart. Since my father's betrayal, since losing my home, my company, everything I thought I knew about myself."
"Then we're even," Khanna said. "Because you're one of the first friends I've made outside of Shadowvale. Outside of royal obligations and family connections. Someone who chose to be my friend despite having every reason not to."
They looked at each other, and suddenly both women were crying – not sad tears exactly, but the complicated kind that came from strong emotion and honest connection.
"I'm going to miss you," Asami said, pulling Khanna into a hug.
"I'll miss you too," Khanna replied, returning the embrace. "But it's only a few weeks. And then I'll be back, and we'll figure out this friendship properly. Without romantic complications getting in the way."
"Promise?" Asami asked, pulling back to look at her.
"I promise," Khanna said firmly. "You're stuck with me now, Asami Sato. Warrior princess and all."
"I can live with that," Asami said, laughing through her tears.
They sat together for a while longer, talking about lighter things – Khanna's plans for her visit home, Asami's ideas for rebuilding Future Industries, the various antics of their friends. The conversation flowed easily now, the air cleared by honesty and mutual affection.
Finally, as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the garden, Khanna stood.
"I should go pack," she said. "Roy's arranged transport for tomorrow morning. Early departure, before everyone's awake. I'm not good at long goodbyes with crowds."
"Will you at least let me see you off?" Asami asked.
"I'd like that," Khanna said. "Meet me at the dock at dawn?"
"I'll be there," Asami promised.
They walked back toward the residential buildings together, their conversation comfortable now, the weight of unspoken things lifted. As they reached the point where their paths diverged, Khanna paused.
"Asami?" she said. "Thank you. For chasing after me. For refusing to let me leave things unresolved between us. For being the kind of friend who cares enough to have difficult conversations."
"Thank you for letting me," Asami replied. "For being honest about your feelings. For not hating me for something I couldn't control."
"I could never hate you," Khanna said again. "You're too good a friend for that."
They hugged one more time, brief but sincere, before parting ways. As Asami walked back toward her dormitory, she found Mako waiting for her on the steps.
"How is she?" he asked quietly.
"Hurting," Asami admitted, settling beside him. "But she'll be okay. She's going home for a few weeks to process everything, then she's coming back to help with the New Shadowvale district."
"She's coming back?" Mako sounded relieved. "I was worried we'd lost her entirely."
"We all were," Asami said. "But no. She just needs time. And honestly, I think that's healthy. Better than pretending she's fine when she's not."
"You're a good friend to her," Mako observed.
"She's a good friend to me," Asami replied. "Even when it cost her something she wanted. That kind of friendship is rare, Mako. Worth protecting."
"Agreed," Mako said, taking her hand. "So, we're really doing this? For real this time? No more complications?"
"For real," Asami confirmed. "Just you and me, figuring out what we want to build together."
"I can work with that," Mako said, smiling.
As they sat together watching the sunset, Asami felt a complex mix of emotions – happiness about her relationship with Mako, sadness for Khanna's pain, gratitude for honest friendship, and hope for what came next.
Sometimes the best outcomes weren't the simplest ones. Sometimes the path to happiness required other people to hurt first. And sometimes, the most meaningful relationships were the ones that survived difficult conversations and came out stronger on the other side.
Dawn Departure
The next morning, Asami rose before the sun, dressing quietly so as not to wake her dormitory neighbors. She made her way through the still-dark paths of Air Temple Island to the main dock, where she found Khanna already waiting.
The dark elf was dressed in traveling clothes – practical but with the subtle elegance that marked Shadowvale nobility. Her bags were packed and waiting, and she stood looking out at the bay, where the first hints of dawn were beginning to paint the sky.
"You came," Khanna said as Asami approached.
"I said I would," Asami replied. "I'm not good at keeping promises, in case you haven't noticed."
"I've noticed," Khanna said with a smile.
They stood together in companionable silence, watching the sky lighten gradually. In the distance, they could see the lights of Republic City beginning to dim as the city woke to a new day.
"The boat will be here soon," Khanna said eventually. "Roy arranged for one of our people to take me to the port where I'll catch the ship to Shadowvale."
"How long is the journey?"
"About ten days by sea," Khanna replied. "Longer than I'd like, but it gives me time to think. To process. To figure out what I want to say to my parents when I see them."
"What will you tell them?" Asami asked. "About... all of this?"
Khanna smiled ruefully. "The truth, I suppose. That I came to Republic City to help my cousins, got caught up in a romantic entanglement with a firebender, had my heart gently broken, and made a true friend in the process. They'll probably be relieved. My mother was worried I'd never connect with anyone outside our own people."
"You're making it sound simple," Asami observed.
"It is simple, at its core," Khanna replied. "It just doesn't feel simple right now."
The sound of oars in water drew their attention. A small boat approached the dock, piloted by a dark elf Asami didn't recognize. Khanna's ride had arrived.
"I guess this is it," Khanna said, picking up her bags.
"For a few weeks," Asami corrected. "Not forever."
"Not forever," Khanna agreed.
They hugged one more time, longer than the previous evening, both women holding on to the connection they'd built.
"Take care of yourself," Asami said. "And write to me. Please."
"I will," Khanna promised. "And you take care of that firebender. He means well, but he needs someone to keep him grounded."
"I know," Asami said with a laugh. "I've noticed."
Khanna climbed into the boat, settling her bags beside her. As the pilot began to row away from the dock, she called back, "Asami?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For everything. For being exactly the friend I needed, even when I didn't know I needed one."
"Same to you," Asami replied, her voice carrying across the water. "Travel safe, Khanna. We'll all be here when you get back."
"I'm counting on it," Khanna said.
Asami stood on the dock, watching until the boat disappeared into the morning mist. Behind her, she heard footsteps and turned to find Korra approaching, wrapped in a blanket against the morning chill.
"She left?" Korra asked.
"She left," Asami confirmed. "But she's coming back in a few weeks."
"Good," Korra said, settling beside Asami on the dock. "We need her. Team Avatar isn't complete without all of us."
"No," Asami agreed. "It's not."
They sat together as the sun rose fully over Republic City, two women who had found friendship and family in the most unexpected places. And somewhere on the bay, heading toward the port and a journey home, a warrior princess began the process of healing her heart while holding onto the friendship that made the healing possible.
Sometimes love meant romantic relationships. Sometimes it meant knowing when to step back. And sometimes, the most lasting love was the kind shared between friends who chose each other despite having every reason not to.
Khanna was going home. But in a few weeks, she would return. And when she did, she would find a place waiting for her – not as a rival, not as an outsider, but as family.
Because that's what they'd all become, in the end. A family forged by choice, sustained by honesty, and strengthened by the willingness to let each other hurt, heal, and grow.
And that was worth more than any romance could ever be.
To be continued in Chapter 11: Interlude- Khanna's Journey Home; Dark Tidings?