Disclaimer : I certainly do not own Lord of the Rings or Legend of Korra. But the plot and my OC are totally mine.

Fractures in the mind

And if by any world's end I had to sacrifice myself, there would be no hesitation.

If the world is right, then Republic City should remain in peace. All threat of darkness reigning over the world was immediately eliminated, thus avoiding both the destruction of the Avatar cycle and the end of ten thousand years of peace. Having gone mad with Vaatu's deceitful promises, her father couldn't have been saved. Koha-Lan was not even surprised to hear from her two youngest siblings that Korra had defeated Unalaq. Somehow, she ''released'' him of his growing madness. Her mother couldn't bear listening to her husband talking about creating a new world with the Spirit of Chaos, thus leading to her imprisonment.

Koha-Lan had come to think that if she had been more persistant on telling and telling, protesting over and over again, then maybe none of this would have happened. But it was too late for that. Now what ? Vaatu had not just threatened balance in the world, he had also taken her father away and broken her mother's heart. Though it had been already hurt by her husband's folly, she would have pardoned his actions – all his actions, including neglecting her's and their children's well-being. How far would someone go for love ? Her father had stopped being the man he was – a loving, caring man who loved and protected his family – to become someone even Koha-Lan didn't know and recognize. The Waterbender had tried to warn her siblings, but trying to reason with the twins was just as tiring as futile (How they could be so slow to come to realize something was beyond her intelligence. And it was just far too tiring to even muse about it.).

Nonetheless, Koha-Lan didn't really feel at peace her mother hadn't still said a word concerning her late husband since Eska and Desna came back from the spiritual world, bringing the dreaded – but hopeful – news about their father's demise. Pronouncing his name had been forbidden in the North Pole. Koha-Lan was not blind and ignorant, her mother was mourning his loss. Quietly and in private. Her muffled sobs she could sometimes hear in the night were addressed to the man who disappeared and took her broken heart with him.

Koha-Lan gazed upon the gigantic city. Around her, citizens were smiling and cheering. The cries they released when they heard the Avatar's words were happy ones, succeeding in making the Waterbender brood the rest of the day. She avoided friends, even former lovers who tried to take her to some dates after learning her father's death.

Alright. Spirits and humans living together ? Now that was something she would like to witness by herself. Korra seemed sure about her decision in leaving the portal open and she appeared...serene. Not even worried. Did she acquire so much knowledge and maturity in the spiritual world to speak and appear as a wise and calm Avatar so that even Koha-Lan could mistake her as someone else ? She wasn't the same Korra she used to know the hot-tempered, ruthless and sometimes unnverving cousin was replaced with another Korra more...tolerable.

''Big sister ?''

Eska and Desna have just joined her on the balcony. They were standing behind her, watching their older sibling intently. Koha-Lan, despite her musing, managed to crack a smile.

''Come, my little brother and sister,'' she encouraged, waving a hand at them.

Still, what do they have to talk about ? Was there something to talk about ? Feeling their presence around her made her uncomfortable and that was surprising even though Eska and Desna were always together, the three of them were very close and protective of each other. Koha-Lan knew they loved her dearly, she knew it. But somehow, some things had changed since their father started to act strangely because of his obsession toward Vaatu.

It was not only because they supported his decisions concerning the fate of the world, but rather because they hadn't thought of wondering if the world would be right once their father fusioned with the dark Spirit of Chaos. The twins were blinded and therefore refused to accept the truth from Korra's mouth – even their cousin had tried to reason with them, only to fail. And for that, she blamed her sister and brother for not believing in their cousin's words.

Father was lost the very moment he chose to bring chaos to the world, she thought bitterly. Who could have changed him back to the man he was when we were just children ? Or even before we were all born ? He got his brother banished from the North Pole just to take his place upon the throne, imprisoned his wife because she stood up to him and tried to rally me to their insane plan because with me all along, he would have been more difficult and nearly impossible to stop. This was just madness !

Koha-Lan sighed heavily.

''You are still upset with us, big sister,'' Eska muttered slowly, almost sounding ashamed.

Yes. ''Indeed I am,'' she admitted slowly, clenching her teeth.

A silence fell upon them, sorrowful and heavy. Desna glanced at her but quickly looked away, unable to meet his older sister's eyes and almost afraid to hold her gaze. Eska didn't even dare to do much more, for she also dreaded the reaction.

Both had always looked upon their loving and caring sister. They would probably never admit it – which would be endearing and astonishing – but they secretly worshipped her. Koha-Lan inherited both the loving kindness and wisdom of their mother and the genius at waterbending of their late father, which made her one of the most powerful Waterbenders of her time. Eska and Desna had always known that she was the favoured one by their father because of her quite unique skills, but they didn't really care ; as long as she kept loving her younger siblings and almost spoiling them all the time, the twins could never hold any grudge toward her.

Though, they had felt a pang of guilt when Koha-Lan came rushing toward them after she heard words of their come back to the North Pole, almost crying and forgetting any royalty formality and her position to press her twins into a bone-crushing hug. Surely this action had taken them by surprise, but they were also pleased. And they missed her dearly.

''But I cannot judge you,'' the soft voice of Koha-Lan snapped them back to reality. ''Who am I to judge my preciouses sister and brother ?''

''We disappointed you and we didn't trust your words,'' Desna countered.

''Korra told me that you both changed sides and chose to fight along with her allies.'' When they looked up to her, they were surprised to see a sweet smile upon her lips. A twinkle was shining in her ice blue eyes. ''You made a choice and chose the light instead of the darkness, and you were right to listen to your heart. Do you remember what I always say ? The path of your life is something only you can choose, not someone else.''

''But Father-''

''Father has long lost his mind, Eska.'' Her voice was soothing, but full of sadness. ''How long had it been ? Months. Tiring, long months during which we had to bear with his corrupted spirit. Mother couldn't bear no more and shielded away from him, thus resulting in her imprisonment. Yes, she was imprisoned when she stood up to him,'' she confirmed upon seeing their stunned expression. ''Mother tried to reason with him, to give up this madness but he wouldn't hear. His own wife, throwing into a cell until the world was lost into chaos...was he still the father we knew, tell me ?''

And before they could respond to her, Koha-Lan left them to think after embracing them tightly.

[…]

Due to her position as a princess, Koha-Lan was forced to attend the party held to honor her uncle Tonraq, who was proclaimed the new leader of the Water Tribe. Truly, she had never shared her father's disdain toward him and couldn't decipher why he hated his brother Korra's father was everything hers was before he became corrupted and deeply, Naho-Lin was jealous of that. She could see the joy on their features, their smiles holding this emotion she seeked for months and they missed dearly. They were a happy family together, she noted. More happy than hers.

The traditional Water Tribe dress she wore clung to her curves, making them deliciously appealing to many males's eyes in the gigantic room. Her long chocolate curls were tied into a sophisticated hairstyle that Korra found ''upsettingly'' complicated, which made Koha-Lan snicker with amusement. Her chest, already large in natural, was lovingly exposed and her long legs in such a way she almost wanted to shield herself behind her Water Tribe ninja tunique. But all the males's smiling faces screamed one thing at her : «You're stunning ! Don't hide ! »

Koha-Lan was picking up food on the buffet when someone suddenly stopped besides her.

''So, what do you think of the party ? Pretty cool, huh ?'' a familiar and cheerful voice said.

She just smiled. A little. ''At least, that brings joy to people in the North,'' she joked. ''We sort of needed joy to remind us that our Avatar just saved the world. Again. Right, Korra ?'' A little smirk appeared on her face when the younger girl pouted and grumbled under her breath.

''Yeah...whatever, it's over Koha-Lan !'' Korra beamed. ''The balance of the world will not be threatened anymore, let's party now !''

''Wait, Korra !''

The young Avatar was already gone, disappearing behind Water Tribe clothing to do whatever spirits must know. Naho-Lin bit her lip and closed her eyes in silent anguish. Joy. Everyone was partying around her, the reminiscence of the chaos long forgotten in their minds. It was as if everyone had forgotten about her father's death, but the Waterbender genius could understand their feelings. The Avatar once again freed the world from another threat and saved them all, but couldn't have saved Unalaq from Vaatu and so, he was gone with him. Gone, lost forever. Sure, she could understand their state of joy.

But it was still pretty early for her. Sighing, Koha-Lan abandoned the buffet and walked off. She wasn't in the mood to party anymore, she needed cool air. Successfully avoiding all males's hands with her agility, she left and dashed to the palace.

The cool air outside was mostly welcome, succeeding in making the woman grin. Her long hair flew around her and the ferocious wind was so powerful that she almost fell on her back a few times before she finally reached the doors. Entering the palace, Koha-Lan let a shaky breath escape her lips and ran the stairs to her room. Silence was honoring her presence since everyone including the guards were at the party, celebrating both the proclamation of Tonraq and the victory of Avatar Korra against the Dark Avatar. So she was all alone in here.

Koha-Lan opened her room in a rush and immediately began to undress herself. The clothing was sure refined and royal, but she really wasn't in the mood for partying. As she put on her Water Tribe ninja clothing, she fought back the tears that moistened her icy blue eyes. No, she was not being weak because her father was gone ! There was a slight difference between being weak and being sad, Naho-Lin chose to be sad before accepting to appear weak. Looking at all those happy faces, those smiles and listening to those unnerving laughs made her sick and fueled her anger.

It had to be released. Somehow.

The twenty-five years-old Waterbender put her boots on and her coat, then walked to the windows and opened them. A strong gust of wind whistled in her room, but she didn't seem fazed. Outside, the night was still beautifully gracing the North Pole by its calmness, letting the stars illuminate the world of snow Koha-Lan loved so much. Their brightness shone into her own eyes, reflecting how much she was hurt inside. That growing pain in her heart was becoming unbearable, she knew she had to release it. Jumping gracefully onto the railing, she waited. Only two seconds later, she let herself go.

Her room being located in one of the highest towers of the palace, a jump that high would have killed a non-bender if he was suicidal. However, Koha-Lan skillfully bent the water and created a long slide so she could ice-skate on it. Moving her arms both gracefully and confidently, the princess launched herself into the night to a place where she could meditate, thus going far from home.

Her father had taught her how to waterbend without exhausting herself too much. His lessons had always been fruitful, encouraging her to train harder and harder to reach perfection. What a wonderful and delightful surprise it had been when her parents discovered that she started bending the water at the early age of five, and that look of pure joy on her father's face once had the power to make Koha-Lan smile in nostalgy.

« Spirits...Koha-Lan, you're a Waterbender. Do you know what it is ? A gift. A precious gift you will have to train and protect, like a little bird which just came to life. And I will help you, my daughter. »

Memories were something precious to Koha-Lan. Ever since her mother had told her how she and Unalaq started dating, she made a resolution : immortalizing every memory she found beautiful, sad or even hurting, because it was that important to her. Forgetting the memory of her father seemed insulting somehow and seeing all her people enjoying a party after his demise started to enrage her. Slowly.

Was blaming the Avatar spirit for being unable to save her father the solution to apease her anger ? Koha-Lan just couldn't go back to the party, barge in and attack her cousin, it would be seen as an affront. Though Koha-Lan had always been kind and over-protective like a mother to her when she and her family went to the South Pole for a visit, the fact that Korra wasn't able to do anything to separate her uncle from the Dark Spirit Vaatu was a poisenous sting in her guts. Eska and Desna may not have been shaken to having lost their father, since he had become ''a deplorable man'', but it was completely different with Koha-Lan.

''You couldn't save him, huh ?'' she muttered through clenched teeth.

She finally came to an abrupt halt and, ordering her body to twist into a flexible spin, landed softly in the snow. Then, she put herself into an attacking position and fixed her gaze before her.

Emerging slowly from the fog was a dark silhouette walking up to her. Koha-Lan couldn't make a description and define if the person was a she or a he, but her senses were ringing dangerously in her mind. Whoever that was, her guts were telling her to run away. But as a Waterbender and the princess of the North Pole, she would not back away like a coward !

''Identify yourself !'' she demanded.

The only response she got was a dark chuckle which sent light but real shivers in her spine. Narrowing her eyes she bent the water, obliging it to form a big tornado from the ice beneath her feet to propulse it onto the mysterious person. A surge of energy surprised her by making her attack explode in multiple bubbles as if it was ground shook with visible and incredible force before stopping almost immediately. Snapping quickly back to reality, she dashed forward with great speed to the man, not willing to let him have an advantage. For her father who passed away in one of the most bizarre and ironic way, she would release her anger on this stranger !

The next thing she knew was that a light suddenly blinded her, then absolutely nothing.

Author's note : Right. Eska and Desna do not have a sister but still, I think I wanted one member of the North Pole royal family to be really shaken with Unalaq's demise. Older, in her twenties...and have you seen those phlegmatic twins ? They truly give me the creeps with being as impassive as British guards ! So giving them an older sister who is their total opposite and emotional when it came to personal things such as family was like giving them some...humanity ? Yes.

Alright ! If you enjoyed, please review it. Next chapter would be Koha-Lan's arrival to Middle Earth. Where she would land, that I don't know. Yet. But, she will not be alone.

See ya !