Osore (Complete)

Conquer - Final Chapter

Lin opened her eyes slowly. The room was familiar but she couldn't quite place it. She felt a comforting breeze and realized she wasn't alone in the room, someone was sitting with her with their head resting softly across her stomach.

"Aang?"

The figure lifted her head and looked at her in surprise. Lin knew her face and as her mind came back into focus she smiled at the young woman. Korra.

"Lin? Lin! KYA!"

She turned to the door but Kya was already pushing her way through. Lin felt her heart flutter at the sight of Kya, alive and well, running to her side. She struggled as she sat up and flung her arms around Kya's neck. She pulled her as tightly against her as she could, listening to the beautiful sound of her heart pounding strong and in sync with her own.

"Everyone has been so worried."

Lin didn't want to let go of her yet but she slowly pulled away to look at her face, taking in every little detail. Her brain caught up the words after a few seconds and she looked around from Kya to Korra who was just watching them with a big smile.

"Everyone?"

Before Kya could respond three tiny humans came bursting in the room and jumped on her bed.

"AUNT LIN!"

Meelo had flung his arms around her neck while Ikki just hopped up and down excited on the edge of the bed. Rohan wormed his way in between Lin and Kya, nestling himself awkwardly against her chest.

"You guys need to be quiet! I already told you-"

Jinora stopped, her eyes wide in shock as she saw that Lin was awake and seemingly okay. Tenzin came running up behind her and Lin saw a definite look of relief cross his face as he smiled at her. Lin shifted her body and pulled the three kids into a big hug. They giggled and hung tightly to her neck, constricting her airflow just a bit.

Kya carefully started to pry Rohan off her.

"Okay, I think you guys need to clear out and let Lin get some rest. You can all see her again in the morning."

Instead, Lin pulled the young boy back to her and squeezed him against her again gently.

"Actually, I think I'd like to get up and see everyone if that's okay."

Kya didn't argue, picking up Rohan as she helped Lin get shakily to her feet. Korra quickly ran to her other side, offering a supportive arm that Lin graciously accepted. The airkids ran ahead of them announcing to the rest of the house than Lin was awake.

As they walked to the main living area, Lin got a glimpse of Mako, Bolin, and Asami being violently awoken by the age old method of being jumped on by an enthusiastic airbender. Mako blinked tiredly before catching sight of her, immediately jumping up and shifting awkwardly on his feet, not quite meeting her gaze.

Bolin had the opposite reaction, quickly jumping up and giving her a bone crushing hug.

"I'm so glad you're not dead."

"Ease up, Bolin, you're going to crush her."

He let her go as Asami approached. Lin gave her a warm hug, surprised at how tightly the young woman held onto her. Mako finally came over, standing in front her but still looking at his feet. Lin felt another pang of indescribable relief as she watched him, perfectly fine and just as socially awkward as ever.

"Glad you're okay, Chief."

Lin let out a scoffed laugh before she grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him to her in a tight embrace. He didn't fight it and after a second he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder.

There was suddenly a loud, unmistakable dragon cry as a loud thud rocked the island. Kya came back to her side as Mako and the others went to look outside. Lin already knew who had arrived as she carefully wrapped her arm around Kya's waist.

"I don't understand why we're even still here. I told you she was fine and to turn this overgrown lizard around and bring me back to my swamp."

"Excuse me for wanting to see that Lin was okay for myself, Chief Crankypants."

"Watch it, Sparky."

Su and Opal entered first, the former rolling her eyes as the two legendary benders followed behind them. Lin shakily stepped from Kya's arms, meeting her sister partway across the room. As Su wrapped her arms around her middle Lin mentally noted that she had willingly given more hugs in the last 20 minutes than she had in the last 20 years of her life. She felt Opal grab her from behind and eyed her mother over Su's shoulder.

Lin blocked out images of her cradling her lifeless form in her lap before reaching out a hand to her. Toph reluctantly took her hand and before she could stop it, Lin had yanked her in, Su quickly wrapping one of her arms around their mother so she couldn't escape.

"Okay, okay! Enough of this. Lin, I hope this mushy gushy side of you is only temporary."

Lin and Su both rolled their eyes in unison.

"I don't even know what all the fuss was about, I knew Lin would be fine."

Zuko nudged the earthbender out of the way and pulled Lin into a hug, whispering in her ear loud enough for the others to hear.

"Don't listen to a word she says. I haven't seen Toph Beifong that worried in ages. Ouch!"

Lin laughed as he pulled away from her, rubbing a spot on his head as a small pebble clattered to the ground. He whipped around to Toph, who only looked to the ceiling, the perfect look of mock innocence on her face.

Jinora watched them all, smiling at how happy Lin looked. A quick movement caught her eye and she watched as a small, annoyed looking spirit flew out an open window and into the night.