What a powerful, powerful piece.

Easily one of the best EPU works ever written.

I think the others have gone into more detail than I can, since I read it at oh-dark-hundred last night, but I was riveted from beginning to end.

Aftermath thoughts, though...

I shudder to contemplate what Jinora will think of this. I can only hope she finds out from someone other than Avatar Kyoshi. I don't thnk anyone ever really realized the depth of contempt those White Lotus members really had for the Avatar. What I'm not sure of is why they thought she needed to be a machine. A slave. What -really- puzzles me is why they thought their White Lotus oath obligated them to -not- listen to Jinora! Cheong could waffle all he likes about serving the office rather than Korra, he still can't explain away that.

Obviously, the White Lotus being run by an Air Nomad, the traitors will not be looking at capital punishment. And yet, what else fits? They invited demons--literally DEMONS--to a secure compound in a secure pocket plane for the express purpose of capturing members of the Avatar's family. What blows my mind about this is how they thought Korra wouldn't find out what happened after the fact, even if everything had gone according to plan! Truthfully, they wouldn't have known who Touga really was? But surely the signs were there.

If anything can pull Corwin out of his fugue, perhaps it's I-401's presence. She may not be Iona yet, but I'm sure she will be, and once he realizes none of this is his fault...yeah. Take her to Oriphos, have her sit offshore, plow a horizontal line of absolute devastation across campus, turn Akio's home from 'Phallus Pillar' to 'Stubby Stones'...

I'm good with that.

Speaking of Oriphos, there's two presences still unaccounted for. Saionji has finally touched on his real purpose for being there, and rescuing Touga (physically and mentally) appeared to be one. Nanami, I assume, was another. But what's going on with Mia?

It may be silly of me, but I almost hope Leyna Tarrant ends up giving up her hate instead of fighting to the end. Obviously Anakin has contempt for her now, but I'm not sure if it's because she didn't care if she lived or because her hate is all out of proportion to what happened to her.

Hm...I admit I realized their target had to be Annabelle the moment the words Black Rose were mentioned.

I did not for a moment expect them to succeed. Knocked me for a loop when I realized they would, right when I realized the battle was over and Anthy and Nyima hadn't made an appearance.

Now, I can't help but think about celestial politics for a minute here. So far this event involved the kidnapping of Odin Winterbeard's great granddaughter. By demons who by their covenant shouldn't be able to affect the mortal world directly. From where I stand, that seems like two legitimate reasons Asgard can step into this matter and not violate the agreement. Lin Beifong's presence (with a Valkyrie insignia!) seems to bear this out. One wonders how far they will be able to go to redress this.

I had a crazy thought, though. Anyone ever seen the Incredibles? That's a gifted little girl there, she is...

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Thy life is a riddle, to bear rapture and sorrow
To listen, to suffer, to entrust unto tomorrow
In one fleeting moment, from the Land doth life flow
Yet in one fleeting moment, for anew it doth grow
In the same fleeting moment thou must live, die and know