Hello any and all viewers! In the third chapter of my other story, Dragon of the West, I promised that a surprise was on the way. I give you a new story that takes place right after Legend of Korra ends, about the rise of the resurgent Red Lotus. I hope you like it. Also, like Dragon of the West I will try to remain faithful to the canon so I'm not about to majorly change any big details from Legend of Korra. Enjoy!
-Darthlane
Revenge of the Red Lotus
Chapter 1
Avatar Korra and Asami Sato gently reached for each other and connected their hands. Together they stepped into the bright golden light of the Spirit Portal. Before they faded they turned to face each other and gazed into each other's eyes. Slight smiles grew on both of their faces as they enjoyed their moment together. To anyone watching, it might appear that they were more than friends. Then they disappeared, almost as if they had never been there to begin with.
Far away, on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Republic City, two men watched the Avatar and her new girlfriend vanish. Both wore pale wide brimmed hats and blood red cloaks over loose fitting black clothes. One, the taller of the two, stood on the very edge of the building. He began putting away his binoculars as Korra and Asami disappeared. His companion lay a few meters away, resting.
"Are they gone already?" The second man asked. "I swear we just got here. They didn't take long to get out of town."
The taller man looked down at his friend with disdain. "Get up, you lazy fool." He spoke with a slow drawl. "The Avatar is gone, so now is the time to act. We have to get back to Goru as soon as possible for our orders."
The second man dismissed his companion's words with a wave of a hand. "I don't care what Goru thinks we should do. I'm not scared of Goru like you seem to be. He isn't that scary at all. Honestly, you would make a better leader of the Red Lotus. If it came to it I would back you."
"Again you show your ignorance, Inagi. Goru is much more powerful than either of us, as well as wiser. He deserves to be the one to bring eternal peace to the world. For now, at least, I am merely a pawn."
Inagi clambered to his feet and said, "Whatever you say, Terus. Go ahead and be a pawn. I'm just saying that I haven't seen him do much but sit in dark rooms and give us orders. Not the best example, if you know what I mean. Not really doing the leading part of being a leader, you know?" He stretched. "He had better give us something interesting to do." The duo disappeared down a set of stairs in the center of the building.
They travelled down the building until they eventually exited at the ground. By now it was becoming nighttime. They walked the devastated streets of Republic City without fear. They were too powerful to be worried about thieves or police attempting to stop them.
After travelling several blocks they entered a different building, a small one that had more underground than above. They descended down the poorly lit stairs several floors before heading down a dark hall.
Terus and Inagi entered the room where their leader waited. The room was too dark to see much more than his eyes in the shadows. They approached his ornate chair and bowed down at his feet.
"O great Lotus, we have arrived to receive our orders." Terus said humbly. After a moment the two men stood up again. "We have news you would be very interested in."
"You don't need to bow to me." Goru said as he stood up and walked forward, entering the light. He was a man in his late forties with long shaggy black hair and a thick beard. He was tall but not so much that he towered over people. "I'm not a king and I don't pretend to be."
"Thank the spirits." Inagi muttered under his breath. He walked over to a nearby wall and slid down to a sitting position. He always seemed to be resting.
"But shouldn't we give you the respect you deserve as our leader?" Terus asked. "How can we separate ourselves from the masses unless we make an example with our behavior?"
"I'm telling you Terus, you are way too formal." Inagi said to his partner. "You aren't in the Fire Nation anymore. The manners aren't necessary."
Terus glared. "No one asked your opinion, Inagi."
"He's right, Terus." Goru said. "You're among friends. Relax a little."
Terus sighed and took off his wide brimmed hat, revealing a handsome but grim face with cold grey eyes hidden by a mass of shoulder length dark hair.
Goru smiled at the brooding man. "See? Doesn't that feel better?" When Terus didn't answer, he asked, "So why the surprise visit?"
"It's the Avatar. She has left to the Spirit World for an unknown amount of time." Terus informed. After a moment he added, "With the Sato girl."
Goru's eyebrows went up. "Really?" He stroked his beard, thinking. "Yes, it's what I have been waiting for. The Avatar has finally disappeared." His eyes lit up and he grinned evilly. "We can finally strike."
He moved with surprising speed to the door. "Come! We must gather the others." They both moved in a blur to follow him. With the other two Red Lotus members following close behind, Goru said, "By leaving, Avatar Korra has left the world open for us to begin our plans. It is time for the Red Lotus to assemble and begin our plans."
"Wait, wait, wait." Inagi said, confused. "Hold up. Why are we doing this now? Why didn't we just do this before? I mean, she was injured for three years. Three damn years and we are acting now? What's so different about now?"
Instead of answering Goru glanced at Terus. "I know he's new. He joined what, a month ago, didn't he?"" Goru said to Terus. "Have you had time to tell him what our goal is?"
"I've tried. He doesn't like to listen much." Terus said.
Goru stopped and turned to Inagi. "The reason we didn't strike before is because we were waiting for the world to stabilize itself again. As powerful as we are we can't reassemble whole nations by ourselves. We had to wait. A lot of things changed three years ago, with the spirits arriving and the Earth Queen's death and all. The Earth Kingdom collapsed and much of the world fell into chaos. The world needed time to adapt to that change. We were waiting for peace to return to the Earth Kingdom, which Kuvira did a very good job accomplishing. The problem was, right after the Earth Kingdom, my bad, the Earth Empire was unified once more, Avatar Korra reappeared. Naturally we couldn't come out of hiding then. The Avatar is much too powerful. But now that she is gone again we are ready and the world is ours to mold."
"So why did we need to wait for the Earth Kingdom to get its shit together to start? I don't see how that has much to do with destroying the White Lotus."
Goru chuckled. "So that's what you think we're doing? Destroying the White Lotus? No, no. We," he motioned to the three of them, "are trying to do what no one else has accomplished before. We are trying to bring world peace. Yes, it will involve destroying our errant brothers, but only because they will be sure to try to get in our way."
"World peace?" Inagi asked. "Really? I assumed we were out to destroy the whole damn map. I thought peace and all that was Avatar preachings. Heck, I thought the White Lotus wanted that."
Goru nodded. "They do, and so do we. We all want the same thing. It's just that they are confused as to how to achieve it. Ozai and his ancestors already proved that peace among four nations won't last. What we have now, what they have built in their error, will fall. More likely sooner than later."
Inagi nodded. "I get that. But what is your idea? How do I know your plans are any better?"
"Do not speak so disrespectfully to him!" Terus hissed. His hand raised in threat. Inagi backed up quickly. He knew all too well what Terus was capable of.
"It's alright, Terus." Goru said softly. "I understand his doubt." Turning back to Inagi, he said, "What I want is to unite everyone together. All must become one, and through that one may become all. That is the only way to achieve lasting peace. As long as we remain divided as the four Nations, bender and nonbender, and even human and spirit. . ." he let his words hang in the air for a moment. "we will never find peace. As long as we remain divided and different there will always be war and suffering. It is how humans operate."
Inagi nodded slowly. "So we are gonna unite everyone? Cool. Let's make it happen."
The three men continued on their way down the dark hall deep in the building they were hidden in. They eventually entered a small dimly lit room. There was only a single table with a phone on it. Goru picked it up and dialed a number. After a moment someone answered. "Hello? Who is this?"
Goru asked the other person, "What grows as it feeds but dies as it drinks?"
There was a pause before the person answered, "A fire. What is the occasion, Goru?"
"It is beginning, Setta. The Avatar is gone and the time to strike is now. Come here. Bring Jiqi with you. Our revolution will soon be at hand."
"We'll be there soon, Goru." The person on the other end, Setta, hung up.
Goru dialed a different number. "Yes?" A much deeper voice answered. Goru asked the same riddle and the other Red Lotus member answered correctly.
"Come here, Tymo. All of the Red Lotus are on their way. The time for our new world has come. Bring Lyri."
"Finally." Tymo said before he hung up as well.
"Are you ready my brothers?" Goru asked as they returned to his chamber where he had been waiting before. "The time is coming and we shall bring the world into a new age!"
Neither man answered. Terus was too absorbed in planning the future of the Red Lotus, thinking of every stray detail. Inagi, however was barely listening, not caring for Goru's excitement. His lack of attention was not lost on Terus, who glared daggers at his partner.
Soon the others arrived. The first pair, a man encased in a metal suit named Jiqi and a girl no older than fifteen named Setta, arrived first.
Jiqi's suit was much smaller and more refined than the mechasuits Varrick had invented. It looked rather plain, but it was completely filled with all sorts of weapons and contraptions that could pop out for use at a moment's notice. Jiqi took a great deal of pride in the knowledge that his own suit was stronger, faster, more precise, and generally superior to the mechasuits produced by Varrick and Asami Sato. Despite this, bringing up any of the famous inventors of recent years was a sore spot for him.
Setta was a young girl but looked even younger than her age. She was adorable at first sight, but in reality she was a cold blooded sadist. She had really short red hair and she hardly ever smiled. When she did it was usually at the pain of others.
Jiqi instantly marched over to Inagi. "I don't think we've met. Who are you?" Before Inagi even answered Jiqi raised his metal hand and a static shock jumped out and struck Inagi before he could dodge. He writhed around on the ground for a moment before the shock wore off. In the struggle his hat flew off finally revealing his face. It was covered in many bandages wrapped entirely around his head. The only parts visible were his eyes, a brown so bright they were almost orange.
"What the hell? You asshole! Is that how you always greet people?" Inagi exclaimed as he clambered back to his feet.
"What's with the wrappings? Do you have something to hide?" Jiqi asked. "Is something wrong with your face?"
"Yeah!" Inagi snarled. "You're too close to it." He shoved Jiqi back and put his hat back on. "Just leave me alone."
Jiqi shrugged and turned to Goru. "What's the job, boss? Are we finally gonna blow some shit up?"
Goru nodded. "It's likely, but I would like you to try to damage as little as possible. We'll be the ones that have to pick up after words."
"Sure." Jiqi said. "Whatever you say, boss."
The final pair of Red Lotus members entered. Lyri and Tymo had been married happily for several years. Lyri was tall and elegant with flowing movements, long raven hair, and an enchanting smile. Tymo was a monster of a man, pure muscle. He towered over everyone except the late P'Li. His face was crisscrossed with a huge number of scars. Sometimes it was hard to find his mouth among the network of lines.
"Hello, everyone!" Tymo said happily. "It's good to see you all." Everyone but Setta, who tended to stay quiet, answered his greeting. When they had all quieted down all eyes turned to Goru.
"Everyone," he began, "today is the day we have been waiting for. Avatar Korra has left for the Spirit World, and the Earth Kingdom is united once more. Our dream of world peace is within reach. But we must guide the world in the right direction. We cannot afford mistakes now." He paused before continuing. "I have missions for all three teams. Each mission is vital, so do not treat them lightly."
"Setta, Jiqi, you two don't need to travel far. All I need you to do is send a message. Wake up the masses. See what damage you can do to Republic City, and be sure to drop the name Red Lotus. Simple."
He cleared his throat. "Terus, Inagi, your mission is very important. Very important. I think our imprisoned brother has spent long enough incarcerated. Zaheer is your mission. Free him and bring him back."
"Finally, Tymo and Lyri. You have the toughest job. In fact a lot hinges on if you are successful or not. Are you ready?"
"Of course we are, Goru." Lyri said. "Do you not have faith in us?" She squeezed her husband's hand.
"It's not any doubt in my faith in you, but the certainty of the difficulty of your task." Goru said solemnly. "I need you to kill Fire Lord Zuko."
Lyri smiled. "Consider it done." The couple was no stranger to death; they had been assassinating people together for years.
"Do not underestimate him, Lyri." Goru warned. "Even in his old age he is one of the most powerful people in the world. He is craftier than you could possibly imagine and is merciless. If you make a mistake he won't give you the chance to make another."
"No one I have ever faced has ever had the power to bring me down." Tymo said. "And I don't expect that streak to end now, no matter how powerful Lord Zuko is."
"Just be careful." Goru said softly. "Meet back here when you are done, everyone. We are close to victory. Close to a new world." He raised a fist into the air and said, "To victory!"
"To victory!" Everyone chanted back.
"To peace!" Goru said to his followers.
"To peace!" They answered.
Lastly he called out, "To the Red Lotus!"
Their voices rang throughout the room. "To the Red Lotus!"
He smiled and said, "Let's start a revolution."
Thank you for reading the first chapter of my story! I really hope you liked it! Let me know what you thought with reviews! If you really liked this story, I hope you favorite and/or follow it! And don't forget to come to the dark side(we have cookies!).
-Darthlane
