KorraIf my uncle came up with the plan to abduct me as a kid, why wasn't he caught?
He wasn't with us that night... and he covered up his involvement, afterwards.
Korra
So he betrayed you, just like he betrayed me.
(nods grimly) Yes. He allowed me and my friends to remain in prison while he pursued his own selfish goals. Unalaq becoming a Dark Avatar was never part of our mission.
Korra
What is your "mission", exactly?
I want what you want. To restore balance to this world.
Korra
[smirks] I don't think our ideas of balance are the same.
Are you sure about that? [Korra's smirk fades] You kept the Spirit Portals open, but why stop there? Bringing the spirits back should only be the beginning.
Korra
What do you mean?
The idea of having nations and governments, is as foolish as keeping the human and spirit realms separate. You've had to deal with a moronic president, and a tyrannical Queen. Don't you think the world would be better off... if leaders like them were eliminated?
Korra
(shocked) No! I-I mean, I don't really agree with what they've done, but... taking out world leaders isn't the answer!
It wasn't too long ago, that the Airbenders were nearly all wiped out, thanks to the Fire Lord's desire for world dominance. True freedom can only be achieved when oppressive governments are torn down.
Korra
But that won't bring balance, it will throw the world into chaos!
(smiles) Exactly. The natural order, is disorder. [pause] Do you know who once said, "New growth cannot exist, without first the destruction of the old?"
Korra
No.
The wise Guru Laghima...an airbender.
Um, so what happened to you two? Where have you been?
We were captured by Zaheer and taken to Ba Sing Se. We were there when the Earth Queen was overthrown.
Korra
What? How did you escape?
Korra
What? Why would he do that?
Because he wanted us to find you and deliver a message.
Zaheer's on his way to the Northern Air Temple, as we speak. He says he's gonna wipe out the new Air Nation, and everything in it... unless you turn yourself over to him.
Korra
(angrily) Zaheer's threatening innocent lives just to get to me!
(darkly) He's already taken out the Earth Queen. I don't think he bluffs.
Drop your staff and surrender yourself! (long pause) Don't make me come get you!
Korra
(via radio) Mako! What's going on?
They're here, but so is the lavabender!
Korra
Tell Ghazan to let the Airbenders go!
Not until you turn yourself over. This isn't a negotiation! (long pause, Zaheer raises his radio) Wipe them out!
Korra
No! Wait! I'm coming. (she walks towards them)
(into his radio) Stand down.
(smirks) And don't bother trying to Metalbend out of these. They're platinum. (she pushes Korra towards Zaheer)
(to Ghazan, via radio) We have her.
It's okay, Tenzin. We're about to get you out of here-
(deflects her attack with Firebending and grabs his radio) Korra! It was a trick, they're not here! Don't turn yourself over!
Korra
(to Zaheer, furious) We had a deal!
(to Lin, via radio) Chief, get Korra outta there, now!
(to her team) Go, go, go!
Korra
(struggling frantically) When I get out of here, none of you will survive!
You won't get out, unless the Metal Clan taught you a way to bend platinum. Once we administer this poison, your body will naturally react, forcing you into the Avatar State, in an effort to keep you alive. Sadly for you, you'll be entering it for the last time.
Korra
(shocked) No! The Avatar Cycle-
Yes. When we dispatch you in the Avatar State, the cycle will end. (glances at the other members of the Red Lotus) So we lucky few, this band of brothers and sisters in anarchy, are witnessing the beginning of an era of true freedom. Together, we will forge a world without Kings and Queens- without borders or nations. Where Man's only allegiance is to himself, and those he loves. We will return to the true balance... of natural order. And though you will never again be re-born, your name will echo throughout history: Korra, the last Avatar.
[Korra, after fighting with a vision of her past self and getting knocked out, wakes up in a cave. She sits up and holds her head. A mysterious woman stirs a pot on a fire nearby.]
MWMysterious woman
Feeling better?
Korra
Where am I? What happened?
MWMysterious woman
I was hoping you could tell me. I found you passed out in the mud.
Korra
How did you know I was out there?
MWMysterious woman
I'm pretty tapped into the goings-on around here. [Slight pause] what brings you to the Swamp, anyway?
Korra
A spirit led me here and told me I was supposed to find someone; is that you?
MWMysterious woman
Beats me, but if your Avatar senses called you here, you should probably listen to them.
Korra
[Standing up] Wait. You recognize me?
MWMysterious woman
In a manner of speaking. We were good friends in your previous life.
[Korra uses her firebending to create a small flame in her hand. The mysterious woman turns around and reveals herself to be Toph Beifong.]
Korra
I can't believe it ... Toph?!
TBToph Beifong
[chuckles] Nice to see you again, Twinkle Toes.
Korra
That was terrible.
Ha! Maybe for you. I had a great time. I never realized how much I missed tormenting the Avatar. I wish you were putting up more of a fight, but it was still fun.
Korra
You were tossing me around like a rag doll all day long.
I know! And I'm an old lady! Imagine me in my prime. [laughing] I would have destroyed you!
Korra
I just don't understand why I can't get back to my former self. It's like ... I'm a step slower. I'm tentative, I'm out of sync, I just can't get back in the groove.
[matter-of-factly] Probably carrying around that metal doesn't help.
Korra
[surprised] What metal?
The little bits of metal poison stuck in your body. [Pause] You mean to tell me you can't feel metal in your own body?! You really are the worst Avatar ever.
Korra
I thought Su got it all out...
No, my girls never really picked up metalbending all that well, if you ask me.
Korra
[excited] That's been my problem this entire time! [grabbing Toph by the shoulders] I gotta get it out! You can get it out for me, right?
Who do you think you're talking to? [puts her hand on Korra's face, pushing her away]
Okay, if you want me to bend out this metal, you need to relax.
Korra
[Tense] I am relaxed.
Seriously? Your body is like a twisted tree trunk!
Korra
Just do it! I'm ready.
It wouldn't hurt if you would just relax! Stop fighting me!
Korra
[frustrated] I'm not fighting!
[giving up] All right, that's it. You're going to have to do this on your own. Clearly, you want to keep the metal in there.
Korra
What do you mean? Why would I want poison inside me?
I don't know! Maybe so you have an excuse not to go back to being the Avatar. If you don't get better, you can't do your job, so you don't have to worry about getting hurt again!
Korra
Wha - that's ridiculous!
Whatever. When you want it out, you can bend it out. I can't deal with all your issues for you.
Korra
Wait! What am I supposed to do now?
How should I know? Ask the spirit that brought you here. The good news is, if you're looking for a place to hang where no one will bother you, you picked the best swamp in the world!
[Toph relaxes on a tree root, whistling a little tune as Korra approaches]
Korra
So ... what's the plan for today?
[smiling] You're looking at it.
Korra
We didn't do anything yesterday, or the day before that. [She sits down on a nearby root. After a brief pause, she's upbeat again.] I know! Tell me the story of how you taught Aang to earthbend!
[nonchalantly] What's there to tell? I threw some rocks at the Avatar, he got all whiny, and Sokka fell in a hole.
Korra
[underwhelmed] I thought there'd be more to it than that ... [another brief pause] Oh, what about the time you guys took down the Fire Lord? That must've been epic!
Oh yeah! [blandly] It was hot. I was on a blimp. And I think a giant turtle showed up. Wow, what a day.
Korra
Okay, you're terrible at telling stories.
You're terrible at listening to them!
[Korra sits on a tree root, having encountered visions in the Swamp of her enemies at moments where they did her the most harm. Toph walks up to her.]
There you are! You got my dinner yet?
Korra
No ... this swamp ... It did crazy things to my mind. I had visions, of all the times my enemies hurt me.
[nonchalantly] Yeah, I figured something like that might happen.
Korra
[surprised] What? You wanted me to see those visions? You are one twisted old lady, you know that?
Look, I know you want to get better. And so does the Swamp! It can sense you're out of balance. It will teach you what you need to learn, if you're open to listening.
Korra
[sighs] Okay, Swamp, I'm all ears.
You said you saw your past enemies. Now why do you think that is?
Korra
I don't know. Because they made me and a lot of other people suffer.
Sounds like you're carrying around your former enemies, the same way you're still carrying around that metal poison. You maybe consider you could learn something from them?
Korra
[unconvinced] Sounds like the swamp is messing with your mind, too.
My mind's just fine, thank you. Listen: [as she speaks, images of each of Korra's enemies fade in and out] what did Amon want? Equality for all. Unalaq? He brought back the spirits. And Zaheer believed in freedom.
Korra
I guess ...
The problem was, those guys were totally out of balance and they took their ideologies too far.
Korra
Okay, fine. But that doesn't explain why they keep haunting me.
Because you need to face your fears. You can't expect to deal with future enemies if you're still fighting the old ones.
[Korra confronts Zaheer in his prison; he is meditating in mid-air, his wrists and ankles shackled]
I figured you would show up, sooner or later. So... You must really be in trouble if you came all the way down here to see me.
Korra
I came here to look you in the eye and tell you that you have no power over me. I will no longer be scared of you.
[Zaheer suddenly flies straight at Korra, who is visibly startled, before he is restrained by his chains]
[laughs] I guess it didn't work. You still seem scared.
Korra
This was a mistake.
Korra
You don't know anything about me!
You can't go into the Spirit World. [Korra, surprised, turns and faces Zaheer] I spend most of my time in the Spirit World, and it's well-known that the Avatar's spirit hasn't been there for a few years.
Korra
You can meditate into the Spirit World from here? Doesn't feel very spiritually charged.
This is your problem. Republic City is flowing with spiritual energy, and you can't even tap into it.
Korra
No, my problem is you. You poisoned me! You ruined me! People used to think I was unstoppable, but now they don't think I'm capable of anything!
Blaming me is a crutch to make you feel better, but it's not helping you recover.
Korra
I thought seeing you face-to-face would put an end to all of this, but maybe it's time I realize I'll never be the same.
Neither of us are the same as before. I learned to fly, but now I'm bound in chains. You have all the power in the world and the freedom to use it, but you choose to hold yourself down.
Korra
I'm not holding myself down, but my powers have limits.
You're wrong. That poison should've killed you, but you were able to fight it off. You think your power has limits. I say... it's limitless.
Korra
Whatever. Before, you were always talking about chaos and freedom. Then you took out the Earth Queen and created the worst dictator the Earth Kingdom has ever seen. Thanks for that.
(frowns, grimly)...I've heard rumors about her, but I didn't know she achieved so much power. She needs to be stopped.
Korra
Well, I can't stop her unless I get over this block.
I think I can help. Let me lead you into the spirit world.
Korra
No way. I can't trust you.
Maybe not. But if you had any other options, you wouldn't be here now, would you? We may have been enemies once, but for now, our interests align.
Korra
...I've come this far. What have I got to lose?
Focus on the sound of my voice and clear your mind.
Korra
I can't!
You can. Accept what happened to you. Don't fear what might have been.
Korra
I have no control!
Don't be afraid. Hold on.
Korra
I made it... and you led me here. Do you know where Jinora and the others are?
What happened? Are we dead?
Korra
No, we're okay, but we're in the Spirit World. All the energy from your weapon tore open a new portal and blasted us in here.
Why would you save my life? After everything I did to you.
Korra
I guess I see a lot of myself in you.
Korra
Yes, we are. We're both fierce and determined to succeed, sometimes without thinking things through.
This wasn't how I wanted things to end. If you had all just surrendered, none of this would've happened.
Korra
You brought this on yourself. Messing with the spirit vines, acting like a dictator over your people; you had to know what you were doing wasn't right.
I was trying to help my people. Su turned her back on the Earth Kingdom. You were gone. I had to do something.
Korra
I think I get it now.
You don't understand anything about me.
Korra
I do. Su told me how she took you in when you were younger. It must have been so hard being an orphan.
Don't pretend you know what it felt like. The Avatar is adored by millions! I was cast aside by my own parents, like I meant nothing to them! How could I just stand by and watch the same thing happen to my nation when it needed someone to guide it?
Korra
You wanted to create a place where you and your people would never be vulnerable again. I may not have been an orphan, but believe me, I understand what it feels like to be afraid. After I was poisoned, I would've done anything to feel in control.
[last scene of the series]
I spoke to President Raiko. Tomorrow, he's announcing a plan to expand the city, rather than rebuild downtown.
Korra
I bet Aang never could've imagined there'd be a spirit portal right in the heart of Republic City.
Korra, you've transformed the world more in a few years than most Avatars did during their lifetimes.
Korra
But I feel like I've only just begun. There's so much more I want to learn and do.
You don't know how happy I am to hear you so full of hope again.
Korra
It's been a bit of a bumpy ride, huh?
I've come to realize life is one big, bumpy ride.
Korra
I know I was in a pretty dark place after I was poisoned, but I finally understand why I needed to go through all that. I needed to understand what real suffering was, so I could become more compassionate to others ... even to people like Kuvira.
[Asami walks over]
Excuse me, Tenzin. Varrick is looking for you. Something about wanting to borrow a glider suit to fly off the tower?
[running off] That doesn't seem like a good idea!
Korra
You want to sit with me for a minute? I'm not ready to get back to the party just yet.
[Asami and Korra sit on the steps, looking out at Republic City]
Korra
I don't think I ever really apologized.
Korra
For being gone all that time. For not coming back sooner.
You don't have to apologize for anything. I'm just so happy you're here now. I don't think I could've handled losing you and my father in the same day.
Korra
I am so sorry about what happened. [She leans in and hugs Asami]
Thank you. I'm just glad I was able to forgive him.
Korra
So, what now? Back to the dance floor?
I'm kind of all danced out. Honestly, with everything that's happened the past few months, I could use a vacation.
Korra
Let's do it! Let's go on a vacation, just the two of us. Anywhere you want.
Really? Ok ... I've always wanted to see what the Spirit World is like.
Korra
[last lines] Sounds perfect.
[Cut to Korra and Asami walking towards the spirit portal. As they walk into the portal, they hold hands, and turn to look into each other's eyes. The Chinese characters for "The End" appear in the sky]
The Legend of Korra · 160 quotes
