Author's Note: While I have much of this story already planned out, this is only a test-run to see if people are into it. While characters from the shows will appear from time to time, for the most part this is an original story, with original characters, taking place in the wonderfully complex Avatar universe. I'm going to try to emulate the writers' style and message, but rather than copying their format for an Avatar TV series this story will aim to use new concepts and unique character arcs to create something that actually adds to the wider Avatar story in a positive way.

Please note that the 'The Legend of Korra' show ended in AG 174, and we begin nearly a century later. A lot has changed in the Avatar world.

Prologue:

AG 259

The rasps of her breath were the only sound. The room was bare, the door was locked. The bed she lay on was old, the wood decaying, the mattress torn and damp. The sheets were thin, and through them her frail body was clearly visible.

Her skin, once tanned brown, was pale. Her arms and legs were barely more than bone, and each of her ribs could be counted. What was left of her hair was grey, dirty and fraying.

Her eyes, for the first time in a long time, were open. She gazed upon the room. She gazed upon her body. For the past eighteen years, she had looked within herself. She had searched for answers to questions she didn't understand. Now, for the last time, she was awake.

Her left ear no longer worked, so she did not hear the footsteps until they were right outside the door. She was not, however, surprised. She knew they were coming. She knew what was coming.

The lock rattled and the door burst open. A man in a blue cloak rushed to her bed. He did not look at her face, did not expect her eyes to be open. His focus was on the monitor beside her, and the numbers it displayed next to a detailed image of her body. The numbers were decreasing. Quickly.

"Not good," he murmured. "It's too soon." Then he looked at her anxiously. And met her gaze.

His eyes widened, but hers were unflinching. In them he saw more emotion than he had ever seen, and at the same time, nothing. Even if she could have spoken, she would have had nothing to say to him.

Others appeared, bursting through the door. They all wore blue cloaks, like the first. One wore a chain around his neck, with a Pai Sho piece resting against his chest. He took one look at the monitor and pressed a button by the door. A man dressed in white appeared moments later, quickly pushing past the others and placing a stethoscope on her chest.

"Do something," urged the first to enter.

The nurse shook his head.

"Quickly," spoke the one with the Pai Sho piece. His voice was deep. Commanding.

The nurse shook his head again. "I'm sorry. I can't."

The monitor started beeping, loud and urgent.

"It's too soon! Do something!" This from one of the others.

With the last of her strength, she raised her head, and looked them in the eyes, taking several seconds to stare at each of them before resting her gaze on the Grand Lotus. He bristled, looking defiant. He was frustrated, angry.

In his eyes she saw desperation. And she felt triumph. After everything they had forced her to endure, he could not prevent her escape.

In her final moments, Korra breathed a sigh of relief. And like the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of the Avatar began anew.

Chapter 1:

AG 284

The wind sighed. Mulo crouched on the branch, staying absolutely still. The sounds of the forest, so familiar to her now, did nothing to dampen her hearing. She knew where he was.

She stared at a bush that could easily hide someone his size. For once, the energy was quiet, and her focus was absolute. She leaned back ever so slightly, as if to pounce. She paused for a single moment, then jumped off the branch, grasped it with her left hand, and swung herself around and under it, launching into the figure that had been lurking on the branch behind her.

"Got you!" she cried, laughing even before they hit the ground.

"Ouch! Bleeding hogmonkeys Mulo, you scared the life out of me!"

She grinned, leaping up and pinning him down with her foot. "'S what you get for thinking you can sneak up on me."

Wriggling beneath her, Arlin shot Mulo a vengeful glare and abandoned his feeble attempt at camouflage. His skin went from a mix of dark green and muddy brown to bright blue, and his eyes shone yellow. "I figured you thought I was in the bush."

He whipped his tail lazily, slapping at her foot until she let him up. He flipped over onto all fours, peddling his webbed feet over to a low hanging tree, and relaxing in the shade. "Besides, the energy was shifting, I was hoping you'd be distracted."

Mulo laughed again, strolling over and taking a seat next to him, leaning against the bark and sighing. "I didn't feel a thing. You must have imagined it. Anyway, that's a feeble excuse. Just admit that you'll never beat me at this game. I know this forest better than you do. Which is saying something, since this is your world and all."

He rolled his beady little eyes, then paused and gave her a concerned look. "You really didn't feel that? The spiritual energies shifted in a big way. That's not good, Mulo. Your senses used to be better."

"Yeah, right, because I totally care about the inner workings of the spirit world. The energy shifts all the time Arlin. Let it go."

Arlin straightened, lifting up a gangly blue arm and placing a webbed hand on her shoulder. "I can't let it go. It's not normal for you to be so disconnected from things. Especially here. I still don't understand why you chose to live in the Spirit world if you can't stand listening to us."

"Hey, I don't mind listening to you. Most of the time. And you know why I came here. Anything was better than staying with the Elders."

Arlin shook his head. "I just know I'm going to regret helping you get away from that Elite guy one day. You don't belong here, and we both know it."

Mulo stiffened. "I belong were I choose to belong. And Yeren gets no say in the matter. If you hadn't helped me I would've just escaped to somewhere in the human world. His offer of a spiritual journey was just too good an opportunity to pass up."

"Coward…" Arlin muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Mulo snapped.

"Nothing."

"Come on then." Mulo leaped up. "Let's go get something to eat. I'm starving."

"Typical human, always thinking with your stomach." Arlin got up too, albeit more slowly. He stood on two feet, his reptilian head only just reaching her shoulders. While Arlin was most certainly the older of the two, and significantly wiser, he always looked like a little brother when standing next to her.

"Let's go to the pond this time, the fruit is better there."

If Arlin had an eyebrow, he would have raised it. "Oh, really. And you're sure you don't just want to avoid talking to Iroh?"

Mulo didn't react, but she took a beat before saying, "Nah, I love Iroh. I'm just a little tired of his tea. If that's what you wanted, I'm sure I can make it as good as he does."

Arlin sighed. "No, that's fine. The pond is fine. But I wish you would tell me what happened between you too. You used to be so close. I know he can be boring at times, but you once told me he was like the father you never-"

"I know what I said!" She yelled, startling both of them. She kept walking, and after a moment Arlin followed. They didn't talk again until they reached the pond.

"Hey Arlin, Mulo, how's it going?" They looked up and saw a large pink bird swooping down towards them.

"Hey, Tuona, nothing much. We were just playing in the woods." Arlin replied, brushing a feather from his face as the ever-cheerful bird spirit landed in front of them.

"Ah, of course. Who won?"

Mulo laughed. "Do you even have to ask?" She knocked a tree with her fist, causing several purple fruits to fall into her other hand.

"So, what's new in the human world?" asked Arlin, snatching at one of the fruits and grumbling when Mulo ducked out of range.

"The usual. That President guy was talking about his fancy new 'space-ship' on the human news. All the humans seem to care about these days are boats that can sail in emptiness."

"Yep, humans are boring," agreed Mulo, drinking from the pond with her hand.

"Actually Mulo, I was hoping to catch you," Tuona remarked. "There's another human nearby. He just came through the portal a couple days ago, but he's already halfway through the forest. I think he's coming this way."

"What?!" Mulo dropped her fruit and leaped up. "You're just telling me this now?"

"I told you, I was looking for you. You don't exactly make yourself easy to find."

Arlin tried to put a hand on her shoulder, but Mulo batted him away.

"Damn tourists," she muttered. "I'll send him packing."

"What's your problem with other humans anyway?" asked Tuona. "Aren't you a tourist yourself?"

Arlin chuckled softly. "No, she lives here. She's more like an immigrant."

Mulo was already jogging away, but before she could disappear into the trees, a voice called, "I prefer to think of us as welcome guests."

Mulo whirled around. General Iroh stood in the clearing, with a pot of tea in one hand and an envelope in the other.

"Hello, Iroh. Good to see you," Arlin offered, trying and failing not to look uncomfortable.

"You too, Arlin. You're looking well."

"What are you doing here? And why do you have a letter?" This from Mulo, who felt just as awkward but was better at hiding it. "Is that paper? From the human world?"

Iroh smiled with what looked like pity. "Yes. It's from a friend of mine. Or rather, from the great-grandson of a very old friend of mine. He wrote to tell me he was coming. I was going to tell you, but you were nowhere to be found."

"That's what I said," laughed Tuona. "So this surprisingly fast human is coming to see you?"

Mulo was silent, but they could all feel the tension coming off her. Ignoring her glare, Iroh replied. "Actually, he's coming to see Mulo. At my request."

"Who is he?" asked Arlin, sensing the imminent explosion from Mulo but clueless as to how to stop it.

"His name is Bolin. His great-grandfather was called Aang, and he and I used to be very good friends."

"Wait, Aang? You mean Avatar Aang?" Arlin's eyes went as wide as they could go, and Mulo's fists were clenched

"That's right. He's a well-respected Nomad. I asked him to come here because-"

A flash of green light blinded them, and when they opened their eyes, Mulo was gone.

Iroh shook his head. "Oh dear. I should have seen that coming." He turned to Arlin. "Would you kindly bring her back? Please?"

Arlin sighed. "Here we go again."