{I would personally like to take this moment in order to thank a dear acquaintance of mine for helping me through the writing process of this story. DrkVrtx, thank you for all the help and once again I really appreciate how much of your time and effort you've put [and continue to put] into helping me write this story}
It has been half a year since the epic battle between the avatar [Korra] and the highly skilled earth and metal bender [Kuvira]. During the battle, Korra had managed to go into the avatar state and reconnect with Raava and the past avatars. However, things took a turn for the worst when Korra sustained a few injuries while she was in the avatar state. These injuries, at first, had no effect. That is, until Korra had attempted to contact her past avatars and Raava and realized that her connection had once again been severed. Korra has yet to figure out how she lost connection so soon.
Although no one can see it…there is something residing within Korra. Not even the avatar can see it. It resides within the young avatar…deep down within her. However, it wants to be let out…it wants her to let it in.
So, without further ado let the madness begin.
A gong chimed in the distance and the girl lifted cerulean eyes towards the Temple. It was time for dinner. After hours of exploring the corners of the island, Korra was ravenous.
Making her way back to the Temple, she had the quiet path to herself and her thoughts – until the sharp whistling of wind met her ear and Korra glanced over her shoulder. She gave a yelp of surprise and jumped back off the path as two children blew right past her on air scooters.
A girl's voice shouted through the dust kicked up into the air. "Sorry!"
"Move out of the way next time!" called the immediately familiar voice of young boy.
"Those kids," Korra chuckled, shaking her head as she put two and two together. "Why am I not surprised?"
As she brushed dust off of herself, Korra's stomach grumbled impatiently. Appeasing it was her number one priority right now. With a light jog, passing several acolytes along the way as they all headed in the same direction, Korra arrived at the dining hall.
She slid the door open and stepped inside, turning to close it behind her. She made her way over to her usual spot –- at the far left end of the table, closer to the kitchen entryway — and made sure not to trip over the mats on the way over. Before sitting down, she glanced around to see who had come to dinner tonight. Tenzin, his wife and Rohan were directly across from her and on the same side were Ikki and Meelo; the latter's grumpiness suggesting he had lost their race. Jinora and Tenzin's mother– visiting from the South Pole — were seated on Korra's side of the table.
The girl lowered herself onto the mat, a plate of food already served for her and ready to eat.
"Korra," Tenzin began, only to find himself being interrupted by the girl.
"I'm sorry I'm late for dinner," she said quickly, hoping that her reason would prevent a lecture. "I got a little distracted by something and just sort of forgot the time."
Tenzin stared at her for a moment before snapping out of his stupor.
"Korra, that's fine. I was only going to ask how your healing sessions have been going," he said, raising an eyebrow in question.
She gulped and bowed her head slightly in order to feed herself. "Oh…"
The sound came out muffled. Korra looked over at the elder water bender beside her as she answered, who simply smiled and looked at her son.
"They've been going great, right, Katara?"
"Tenzin, Korra is doing fine," the old woman said. "Although she sustained a few injuries, they are healing faster than I thought they would. There are a few scars here and there, but other than that…she's perfectly fine."
Korra thanked the high spirits for Katara in that moment. Tenzin, however, could see right through his mother's smile, noting that there was something she wasn't telling him. He made a mental note to discuss it with her later on.
"Yeah, I'm doing fine." Korra added to back up Katara's statement, though it was unnecessary.
"Well that's good, Korra," Tenzin replied, nodding. "And how has your training been progressing?"
Before she could think up a lie, Pema jumped into the conversation.
"Sweetheart, give her a break. She doesn't have to train every day. I'm pretty sure in order for her to heal, she needs rest as well. Even the avatar needs some time off now and then," Pema said, as she spoon-fed the toddler in her lap some rice. She smiled surreptitiously at Korra afterwards, empathy evident in the curve of her mouth.
Thank you spirits for both Katara and Pema! The young avatar thought as she heard Katara speak up.
"Tenzin, Pema is right. Before Korra can heal physically, she must find her inner peace and spirituality in order to first recover emotionally."
"I know, mother," Tenzin sighed, looking over at Korra. "I just want you to be okay."
Korra smiled softly. "I'll be fine. Really, I'm feeling much better already. It's been what? Almost six months since the whole battle thing? I'll be back in action before you know it."
She grinned and Tenzin couldn't help but smile in return.
"Well, that's great!" Ikki interjected from the other side of the table.
"Yeah, Korra! That way you can race me and Ikki!" Meelo grinned.
Laughing softly, she nodded as she spoke. "Sure thing, kids. I'm a bit rusty though, so you might need to go easy on me."
Korra heard Jinora scoff at that. When she glanced over at her, she saw that the girl was smiling.
"Sorry, little Miss air bending master. I forgot you're too mature for fun stuff like that," Korra teased.
"Oh please. I could beat you with my eyes closed," the younger girl replied, smirking.
Korra grinned. "Is that a challenge I hear?"
Jinora simply shrugged, though a smile rose to her lips.
"Alright, kids, enough." Tenzin scolded, but Korra could see he wanted to smile too.
Huh, I guess everything is going to be alright after all, she thought as she continued eating.
After dinner, Korra was in the mood to meditate, feeling in need of redeeming herself for not putting enough effort into her training. Making her way outside, she walked around the Temple to the air bending training area, her eyes finding the gazebo Tenzin liked to use for meditation sessions. Walking up its steps, Korra could already feel a sense of peace coming over her. Yue Bay was close, in fact the gazebo sat close to the edge of a cliff overlooking it. She could hear it molding itself around the rocks far below. Water was her native element and listening to its movements had always helped her relax.
Korra glanced over her shoulder at the sound of a deep, throaty rumble and saw her best friend curled up in front of the ancient spinning gates.
"Naga!" Korra called out in genuine surprise, to which her polar bear dog lifted her great head, stood, and ran forward to meet her.
"Hey, girl!" Korra let out a gleeful laugh as she hugged her. She grinned and rubbed the dog behind her ear. Naga's tongue lolled from her mouth as she nuzzled against Korra's cheek.
After some time of playing around with her furry friend, Korra recalled why she had even come here.
"Well, Naga, I'm going to meditate for a bit."
Korra kissed her on the nose and turned away. She looked back and smiled after hearing the polar bear dog whine in protest.
"Oh, you know you can come too!"
The Naga's ears perked up at that and happily, she followed Korra over to the gazebo.
Walking up the steps, Korra sat herself down right in the center and crossed her legs. The floor was hard and it took her a few moments to find a comfortable position. Finally, Korra folded her hands together between her thighs and she straightened her back. Tenzin had a thing for perfect posture and all that mumbo-jumbo, so it had become a habit for her to maintain it even when he wasn't present. Off to the side, Korra heard and felt her large friend plop down and get comfortable. It wasn't long before Naga dozed off and began softly snoring.
Finally at peace, Korra began to focus on her breathing. She slowly inhaled, then exhaled, and eventually a sense of otherworldly calm encompassed her. The weight of the material world was left behind as she stepped into the spiritual.
Korra opened her eyes and found herself in the Spirit World, smiling as her body remembered the familiar sensation of lightness. Her chest was full as she breathed in deeply, lifting her eyes to watch spirits wend their way across the sky. Feeling at peace – at home, almost – Korra took a step forward. And in the same instant, the Spirit World disappeared.
In its place was complete and utter darkness. A black void of nothing.
Something was wrong.
"Hello?" Korra called out, igniting a flame in her palm.
Holding it a few inches away from her, Korra attempted to look around. She started to grow uneasy when she couldn't see anything past the flame, its warm light swallowed whole by a cold, impenetrable nothingness. Korra could feel sweat dripping down her back, her body trembling with a shiver. She was nervous, more than, in fact, with every second that passed. She didn't like this one bit.
Korra hated the dark; the years that passed since her childhood had done nothing to change that. She always made her mother and father leave her door open, allowing light in from the living room. She remembered curling under the covers as shadows danced across the bedroom wall. Her heart pounded in her chest now as those same shadows pressed in on her from every side.
"Maybe I'm dreaming?" Korra whispered, trying to compose herself. She took a step forward and regretted it immediately.
Her foot met nothing and she fell, her flame extinguished in the process. The darkness was thick, suffocating and everywhere, no matter where she looked. And then Korra realized she could no longer feel her legs…almost like she had been paralyzed from the waist down. She felt her eyes grow in fear. This couldn't be happening. Not again. She shot up into a sitting position only to have searing pain course throughout her entire body. Frightened beyond measure, the avatar let out a horrid scream.
"HELP!"
None came. All Korra could do was lie still and helpless as pain flashed through her body.
"Somebody help me! Please!" she cried out. But there was no answer, no help; only agony, and darkness.
Back under the gazebo, the young avatar's glowing white eyes were now starkly black. From the middle of her back, a grotesque looking vein had appeared. It spread intricately outwards, bulging underneath her skin, resembling vines as it grew to cover her entire body, even to her very extremities. And through it all, the young avatar did not wake, as though she were dead to the world.
