Winding Legacies: A 'The Legend of Korra' Rewrite

Episode 3: The Coronation Part 2

"The coronation will begin shortly. Everyone, please make your way to your seats."

Zhu Li and Asami shared a glance as the buzzing hotel bar began to die down as droves of people exited toward the raised stands for the ceremony. With only them left, their carefully chosen spot in the corner had been revealed, their faces no longer shrouded by the handfuls of people moving about the room. "Well looks like we can't hide out here anymore," Zhu Li sighed as she finished the last of her drink. Asami pursed her lips, dipping a fry into some tangy sauce they had given her with it.

"I doubt Varrick would have come here anyway."

"Better to be safe than sorry." She shook her shoulders as if a cold chill had run down her spine and reached over to Asami's plate, picking at her last few pieces of food. She said, "I know why I'm moping, but why are you?"

"Oh, I'm not quite ready to be around my friends. It's been too long and things feel..different." Biting down on the last piece in her hand, Asami let her thoughts wander from the table and out into the dense crowds outside. She had run into Mako in the halls and knew that Bolin was there now, probably overseeing something for Kuvira.

Kuvira.

Her lips curled into a deep frown as she itched the side of her scar. Then, as she took another fry off the plate, she wondered about the other friend of her running thoughts. She knew Lemaya would be there and though they had talked the night she arrived, Asami had not had the heart to talk to her about Korra. Not that she would want to and Asami understood that perfectly. Still, she felt guilty that Korra had been writing to her at all.

Sure, she was also pissed that Korra had been lying about where she was for the last six months, but at least she had heard from her. When was the last time Lemaya had?

"If that's the case then don't look now."

Asami jerked back as Zhu Li grabbed the last of her fries and dashed from the table. As she followed her retreat, Zhu Li said a quick hello to Lemaya before running off in the direction of the coronation. Lemaya came to a stop at the entrance to the bar, clearly not expecting to have seen Asami let alone see Zhu Li dashing past her like she had stolen a prized possession of a stingy dragon-bird.

"What's up with her?"

"I told her about some wealthy names I heard were coming today. She's trying to network so she can have an edge over Raiko." She wiped her hands on a napkin and rose from her seat, pushing in her chair as Lemaya slowly walked over to her.

Lemaya said, "I didn't know she wanted to run."

"It's more a thought she's been toying with. Better to have the means just in case, though." Lemaya nodded in agreement as Asami joined her in the middle of the room. They stood in silence, Asami's hands awkwardly fishing for pockets in her slacks while Lemaya calmly watched her, a curious look in her eyes. There was no real use in hiding her unease, Lemaya knew her better than that. The real question was whether or not she could bring herself to add to Lemaya's already heavy plate. "Well, that and the fact that I was telling her that I was nervous to see you."

Her shoulders relaxed immensely at the confession, even more so as Lemaya cracked a grin. "Why? Am I too intimidating now that I've got a promotion?"

"Never," Asami smiled in return. "How is that, by the way?"

For the first time since Tenzin and Tonraq had spoken on that night, Lemaya's eyes brightened with a wonderful intensity that Asami missed dearly. "It's amazing. I've been going through the other candidates' proposals so I can incorporate their ideas along with mine. I must say, they had some really good ideas." Lemaya extended her arm to Asami, a gesture of peace for all of Asami's anxieties. There was no time to talk about it now, but Asami knew they would in time. For now, though, all they needed was to catch up.