Chapter 1
The cavern was spined with jagged crystals. Roof, walls, floor, all covered with the purple growth, each as wide as a man's arm and as tall as was allowed. Barely a sliver of rock could be seen in the midst – even the air was filled with a purple haze, thick like cloud cover but it moved without the aid of wind.
In the centre of it all was a single column of crystal, reaching from the ground to the ceiling. Within was a man, frozen, his head thrown back, limbs sprawled. The richness of the crystal made it so no feature was distinguishable, none except his wide open eyes from which a keen awareness hung.
How long had he been trapped here? Trapped in his own domain? Years, decades, centuries. Millennia? So long that his own subjects have forgotten his existence. So long that the spirits he'd known before his imprisonment had long since changed, morphed from the youthful, immature forms to beings with power as great as his own.
Yet for all that this was his realm, he was powerless in his prison. With only his mind for company, it took all the focus he had to remain sane – and even then, he had his doubts. He couldn't stand it any longer, but that was a familiar thought, frequented every day that he was held.
There was a change. Recent, not more than an eye-blink's time had passed. Something was different, and dare as he must, a grain of hope grew that he'd one day be free of this prison. The prison of Death, or as a handful of humans had known of him, long ago and in another world, Harry James Potter.
#scene break#
A light breeze stirred the curtains of Korra's room in Air Temple Island as the evening's news played out on short bursts from radio. From outside, the scent of jade blossoms and the sweetness of apple pie.
Korra wheeled herself around, grabbed a hair tie and strung up her regular do. The simple dresser by her bed had a mirror attached, but now it was much too high with her bound to the wheelchair. She strained, pushing herself up with a light gust of air, testing the strength in her legs and managed a glimpse.
"Today marks the first day in the Air Nomad's patrol as the newest master airbender, Jinora, leads relief efforts to eastern Earth Kingdom." The radio crackled from across the room.
A small smile from Korra. Jinora, with her new tattoos, was still the same girl she'd always been but now, with the added responsibility of leading the newly trained airbenders, she was someone to be proud of. The eastern Earth Kingdom? If the weather held true, they should be safely there in two or three days. A little longer with the supply packages on their gliders.
"As the initial wave of relief, the airbenders have elected the port town of Ting Lo as their first mission of choice, where they will review the situation and make necessary preparations for evacuations if necessary. The town has been overrun with a forest of bamboo shoots, seemingly grown overnight. Is this another manifestation of the spirit world? Is the Avatar responsible for this like she is for the vines still keeping many of Republic City's resident-?"
The radio fizzed out, the announcer cut off midsentence. Korra spun herself to face the door.
"What are you doing, listening to this kind of garbage?" Mako leaned against the frame, arms crossed, clad in his police uniform.
"It's not garbage, it's the news."
He kept her gaze. Korra, already conscious at being caught unawares, gripped the handles of her wheelchair tight. She didn't like looking up at him, as if she was a child and him a full grown man. They'd never had to do anything but look straight at each other before, and this sudden change was just another in a long line of changes.
"You're letting it get to you. You know there's always going to be people questioning your actions. There's no escaping it, not if you're the Avatar."
"So what? Did you come up here just to lecture me about my responsibilities? I thought you'd have enough work trying to keep order in the city, or did Lin mellow out after her return?"
Silence. Damn it, Mako hadn't tried to stir her up. He never did.
Korra sighed, wiped a hand across her eyes and looked to the side. "Sorry. I'm not trying to kick you out. It's just…"
Mako neared, his combat duty boots scuffing the boards as he stepped. He knelt, dipping to be on the same level. "You're still not making any progress with -"
"Heeeeey! Pema made me ask what's taking so long. Dinner's ready!" Bolin barrelled in, squeezed in between Korra and Mako and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He took in Mako, kneeling, and blinked. "Oh uhhh. Did I interrupt something? Ah well, can't have been more important than dinner. Come on, you guys. If we don't get back soon Ikki and Meelo are going to eat all the dessert."
Mako grimaced good-naturedly and raised an eyebrow.
Korra shrugged. What could they do with Bolin? What would they do without him? But internally, she was glad the conversation was over. If there was anyone more frustrated with her lack of progress, it was herself. Her legs lay still in front of her, as still as the day she woke from her poisoning. Just when was she going to get rid of this stupid chair? When could she return to being the Avatar for real?
"Come on, Mako. I'll race you with Korra."
Without a moment to prepare, Bolin snatched the rear handles of her wheelchair and made a dash for the door. Korra gritted her teeth, eyes wide as adrenaline shot through her body. Unwilling, a smile of pure excitement stretched her lips.
Mako's shouts faded into the background as Bolin kicked up a dust storm inside the house and the careened through the corridors, dodging vases balanced on display tables and left a trail of fluttering scrolls and bemused onlookers in their wake.
"Through the kitchens, Bolin. It'll take us straight to the dining room." Korra flung out an arm, leant forwards. The streak of competitiveness delighting in how far behind Mako was already.
"Aye, aye, captain. Through the kitch-"
A trail of yellow and orange, startled eyes and barely disguised horror as Tenzin emerged from the cloth covered door to the kitchens. Bolin yelped and dug in his heels but they were going too fast. Korra threw her arms up in anticipated crash. Tenzin drew in a deep breath, his chest puffed out and out breathed a torrent of air.
Korra's hair flew back from her face, leaving her ties in disarray and they slowed, teetered as the momentum threw Bolin onto the back of her chair and for a second, both of them balanced on the front wheels of her chair.
Then Tenzin re-centered, brushed his hands across his chest and a soft puff of air lowered the two of them down. Mako skidded to a stop before them, panting. Korra shared a sheepish look with Bolin who scratched the back of his head. He shuffled so he stood behind her. Ahh well, she thought. She'd dealt with Tenzin's anger enough times in the past to have a handle on how things will turn out.
"Uhh. Hi Tenzin," Korra said with a wonky grin.
"Tenzin? What are you doing out here. I thought you'd be having dinner like the normal people around here," Mako said between breaths.
Tenzin brushed down his airbender robes and folded his arms. He looked serious, but Tenzin always looked serious. Korra frowned. But today he looked more serious than normal.
The smile slipped. "What's wrong?" she asked.
The master airbender blinked down at her. Korra pushed away the feeling of being a child. It wasn't true, she knew she had earned his respect. It was only a matter of circumstance that she felt this way, this blasted chair and these blasted legs.
"It's nothing. A spot of trouble at the markets. A few people spooked at some spirits. I'm just going to take a quick trip and reassure everyone that they're fine. With luck, I'll be back before tea."
Mako stepped to the side and let Tenzin brush past. They waited until the master airbender had launched off with his glider. Korra stroked her chin in thought.
"Is it me or does it seem odd that Tenzin's out on a mission to reassure people?" Bolin said. "I mean, he's the grand, master, head of the airbender nation. Isn't this a bit like sending out the President to fetch the paper?"
Mako smacked Bolin on the back of the head. "You're reading too much into this."
"No," Korra said, "I think Bolin's right."
"Ha! Did you hear that, Mako? She thinks I'm right. Pabu, you heard that, right?"
Pabu, the fire ferret, poked his head out of Bolin's jacket, took a sniff around and scrambled off under the flap of the kitchen screen.
"Uhoh. You better catch him. Or he's going to end up in the sweet flour again."
"Nooo. Pabu, come back here." Bolin dug through his pockets and brandished a half-eaten candy bar. "Look what I have here. A treat, just for you. Come on buddy, don't make me have to clean up the white, horrid mess of flour like last time. Come here, Pabu."
Korra took one more look towards the temple gates, where Tenzin took off. Then she released her wheelchair brakes and wheeled herself after Bolin. Mako followed after her, keeping with her slower pace. He knew better than to ask if she wanted to be pushed.
They paused in the kitchen as the pans clattered in Bolin's attempt to lure Pabu out from under one of the stoves. There were four stoves in all, between them benches laden with stews and baskets of freshly picked greens. In one basket, pears and in another, the peculiar brand of purple carrots native to Yue Bay. Above them jangled an array of cooking utensils, hung on hooks along the wall. A freshly baked apple pie sat under a dome of netting, steaming and smelling divine.
Pabu, also lured by the scent, shot out, lightning quick, made the tabletop in one giant leap. A bang as Bolin hit his head on the base of the stove. Korra grimaced as the earthbender emerged, muttering under his breath and rubbing the back of his head for a totally different reason to before.
Pabu crouched, tail high in the air, nose pointed directly for the cloche covered pie.
"No! Not the apple pie. Bad Pabu!"
Mako snapped down. Pabu's ears could only twitch before he was swept up in Mako's arms. Tiny paws reached for the pie as all four limbs did their best to pry him away.
"Gotcha!"
"Nice going, Mako," Korra said. She rolled her eyes. "Congratulations. You are officially the fire ferret catcher."
"Hey," Mako said. "I didn't see you helping out."
Pabu, in the moment of distraction, jumped out, only to be caught again by Bolin. "Aww, I know, I know. I want a piece of that pie as well. But you know the drill. Only after you eat your vegetables."
Korra pressed her lips into a thin line, narrowed her eyes at Mako and wheeled off without a word. Help? He wanted her to help him catch a single fire ferret? One single, slippery, intelligent fire ferret in the form of Pabu? Well, maybe the request wasn't that farfetched. And he was right, that she hadn't been of help. Kora reached the end of the kitchen, where this time a wooden door faced her. Another adversary.
She manoeuvred herself to the side so she could both reach the handle and not be in the way of the door. It was a tricky thing, with how weak her legs still were, taking all of her reach to manage opening a simple door. She caught the latch, flicked it open and pulled the door open.
Only to have it clunk on the footrest of her chair.
"Blasted thing," she said.
"Oh, hey. I'll get that," Bolin said with an armful of Pabu.
"No, don't bother. I've got it." Korra wheeled herself back, readjusted, and this time the door opened, no problem. As soon as it was, Bolin pressed through, a wide grin on his face at the sight of the loaded table.
"Oh boy, you didn't have to wait for us."
Ikki and Meelo nudged each other, their arms behind their backs and with perfectly innocent smiles on their faces. Pema held baby Rohan, feeding him from a bottle. Bolin collapsed in between them, and Mako settled down beside him.
"Korra, come. We asked chef Olin to cook some of your favourates today. Stewed sea prunes." Pema held up a bowl to Korra and she took it.
It did smell good. The taste of salt and ice, and if cooked properly, just a hint of bite in the flesh.
"Thanks. Sorry I kept you."
Pema smiled. "Not to worry. The food's still hot, so dig in."
Korra wheeled herself to her place at the table, next to Mako and lifted the bowl of prunes up to her nose. Mmmm. Just like mother used to make. A moment of peace as Ikki fought Meelo to reach the sugared pear swirls. She closed her eyes and saw the ice plains of the southern water tribe, creaking, and imagined all the spirits that must have come out through the portal to live among the humans. With luck, the tribe would fare better with the changes than Republic City. They'd know that spirits aren't anything to be afraid of, not if you don't wrong them.
The door slammed open. A burst of cool night air rushed into the room. Tenzin filled the doorway, his hands clenching the boarders, beard frazzled and the airbending cape thrown lopsided over one shoulder.
"Bolin! Mako! I need your help. A spirit has gone mad."
"What?!" Korra dropped her bowl of prunes, caught the soup right before it splashed onto the table and rolled it into a sphere. She let it drop into the upturned bowl and peeled back from the table as Mako and Bolin jumped up into ready stances.
"What do you mean, mad?" she asked. "And I'm coming too."
"Korra, no. You're not yet recovered and Katara will be arriving tonight for your first healing session. Don't worry about us. I'm much more experienced with the spirit realm than I used to be, and there'll be the best of Lin's metalbenders backing us up. Now, we have to move."
Korra bit her lip, staying in place as the three men left. She dropped her gaze to her lap, eyed the bowl of prunes she saved and found their allure had faded.
"I'm a giant spirit," Meelo said, arms reached above his head, baring his teeth at his sister. "Just try to stop me." He roared and the sound, magnified with bending, echoed through the whole temple.
Ikki, scrunched her nose up in annoyance and blasted him with a thin yet of air from her fingers.
"Meelo, sit back down and finish your dinner."
Korra had never felt as distant from them as she did now. They were a happy family. She shouldn't be here, intruding. She wasn't even hungry anymore. With agonising slowness, she eased herself away. Back to her room, perhaps, where she'd wait for Katara. If only she'd been able to get back on her feet. It's been two weeks already. Then she wouldn't have had to pull the elderly waterbender all the way up to Republic city.
"Korra?" came Ikki's concerned voice from behind her. "Is everything alright?"
Alright? Everything was… fine. The world was doing just… fine without her. It was what she had been fighting for this whole time. The restoration of the air nomads. Balance between the spirit realm and the humans. This whole business with Tenzin's 'mad spirit' will settle down soon. No doubt some foolish human had accidentally desecrated a sacred site, or something to that effect. And now, with her bound to the wheelchair, everyone was forced to take matters into their own hands and they weren't struggling as much as she had thought. Hoped?
No.
She forced a smile back on, turned back to Ikki. "Everything's just great. Thanks for the food but I already ate earlier, Pema. I'll be in my room if you need anything."
Then, avoiding all of their gazes, Korra made for the door. They didn't try to stop her.
#chapter end#
AN: Soooo. I couldn't not write this. What do you think? Continue? I know I'm in need of some Korra action after that season 3 finale. Such an awesome show, and totally excited for season 4 next year. Not sure how many people are interested in a LoK x HP seeing as there's only like 10 crossovers in the genre but whatever. If you like, please review!
Thanks for reading, and until next time,
31st
