"Out of the past: my way"
A Legend of Korra fanfic by J.W. Appel
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Avatar franchise. If I did, Borra would be canon and Book 1 would be twenty six episodes by itself. Also, this would have been episode 9.
Author's note: A revamp of episode 9 to deal with my first real disappointment with an otherwise excellent show. I had hoped Korra's visions would tie Yakone, Tarrlok, and Amon together in some way rather than reveal Tarrlok as a threat that Amon easily dispatches. This also bares no connection to my other Korra fic and will actually contradict it. Enjoy!
Tarrlok had driven through the streets of Republic City for hours now, ignoring the angry protests of Avatar Korra behind him. The corrupt councilman eventually arrived at manhole and pulled it aside before climbing down into the sewers below; dragging a still blood bent Korra behind him. "This is your big plan?" Korra asked sarcastically as they walked through the murk "suffocate me with the stink down here? Your cologne does the job well enough."
"Joke while you can Avatar" Tarrlok snapped at her "it will be the last one you'll ever make in this lifetime." They soon arrived at a wall and it looked to be a dead end but Tarrlok smiled. He pressed a section of the wall and it actually rose upward to reveal a hidden chamber that contained what looked like prison cells. "Where are we?" Korra asked.
"This is my own special little hiding place for people who would stand in the way of Republic City's welfare" Tarrlok explained "it's only fitting that you be its first occupant." The corrupt councilman made Korra enter the cell and slid the door closed. Feeling that she was now free of Tarrlok's blood bending, the Avatar used fire bending to blast the door but it did nothing. "I paid a lot of money to have the cells made with special flame-resistant metal. When my father used this place, it was made to hold only non-benders but I've thought ahead for any type of nuisance."
Korra's head jerked up. "Your father?" "I am…or was, the son of Yakone, Republic City's most feared crime lord. He thought he could drive non-benders away by fear and rule the city but he failed. I was all set to realize his vision until Amon came here and you soon followed. Well, now I intend to take care of you both! Tarrlok sneered.
"What are you planning!" Korra demanded and Tarrlok chuckled. "I'm going to use you as a bargaining chip with Amon. If he has you, maybe I can convince him to leave Republic City for good."
"You won't win" Korra snarled as she fixed the Councilman with a deadly glare "I'll stop you both!" Tarrlok laughed even louder. "How do you propose to do that? The cell can't be burned with fire bending, you can't bend metal, there is no water to bend here, and both know you can't air bend. Avatar Aang must be rolling in his grave. Goodbye Half baked Avatar Korra."
With that, Tarrlok was gone and Korra was alone with her thoughts. His words stung her to her core because she knew he was right. She had failed Avatar Aang and all the Avatars before him. If only she had been more spiritual, if only she could understand the visions that her predecessor had sent her.
But then, Tenzin's words ring in her head: "I urge you to meditate; Aang's spirit is obviously trying to contact you." Her determination instantly restored, Korra assumed meditation stance and tried to focus on her visions. She could see every one of them as they occurred all at once in her head but she could not piece them together. All the while however, she could feel her predecessor trying to call out to her and she tried to call back.
"Aang, please" Korra whispered in the darkness "please talk to me. Tell me what these visions you've sent me mean. I need your wisdom."
For a moment, nothing happens. Then Korra feels a slight gust of wind blow across her face and a part of her seems to detach from her very soul. She opens her eyes to see Avatar Aang himself standing before her. He looked just as he did in her visions except he was pale blue. His stern and serious expression was also replaced with a kind smile.
"Hello Korra" he said in a warm, almost fatherly voice "it's an honor to finally meet you. I've been waiting for this for a long time." Korra bowed respectfully and Aang bit back a chuckle at her nervousness. She then looked at her predecessor with a sad expression and said "Aang, I've failed you. I've tried to protect Republic City from the Equalists and learn air bending but I can't do either! I'm the worst Avatar ever!"
Aang frowned. He stayed silent for a while before walking towards his successor. Korra was expecting a harsh lecture or even a slap to the face for her weakness but nothing shocked her more than when Aang hugged her.
"You really think you could fail me after being so strong and so dedicated? You've faced your destiny more readily than I ever did and you've refused to give in despite all that's happened" Aang whispered. "You truly believe you're the worst Avatar ever? Far from it. From where I stand, you're shaping up to be one of the best."
Aang broke away from her then said "as for air bending, if it's anyone's fault you can't learn it yet, it's mine. When I asked the Order of the White Lotus to watch over you, I had no idea they would confine you the way they did. They robbed you of freedom and how can you master the element of Air without that?" Aang looked angry for a brief second then smiled reassuringly. "But it's just a stumbling block, trust me. You aren't the first Avatar to have problems with the spiritual aspects of the job or air bending and you won't be the last."
Aang turned serious once again. "Now, to business. You called me about your visions?" "Yeah" Korra affirmed "what do they mean? What does what happened then have to do with now? Tell me!"
"I can do better than that, I can show you." Aang touched his hand to Korra's forehead and both their eyes glowed pure white. In that instant, Korra's visions become clear and she sees and hears it all just as it happened over forty years ago.