Korra Untethered
A solid wall of air met her, halting her and making her spin, her long hair whirling around her head in a way she had forgotten. She identified the person floating before her, and a pang of fear gave way to anger. Anger that her flight was stalled and that she may be forced to think about things. She didn't want to think right now, she wanted to go away as fast as possible.
Korra: "Get out of the way!"
"What way is that?" Zaheer responded. "I only see aimless flight. You have no clue where you want to go. How funny that the loss of your direction in life has given you the ability to travel at high speeds in all the wrong directions.
Korra: "You're going to get hurt Zaheer! You don't have any advantage over me anymore, even if I'm not the Avatar now!" As she said the words aloud, a the truth of the situation rose to the forefront, and she felt dizzy and even more afraid.
Zaheer: "No, you are not the Avatar.
What you are now is the first human created through the use of bending. And, more importantly to your true self, the first human since Wan to bend 4 elements without a resident spirit."
Korra: "You think that's a gift? I am Vaatu's curse, he just created a pawn. I'm not really Korra, I don't know if I can trust myself. My own free will can be taken away again! And I don't have Raava to keep me safe."
Zaheer: "Vaatu knew he needed a powerful human form to challenge the Avatar, so you are a perfect recreation. He wouldn't introduce extra variables that could end up falling short of the original. What he didn't expect is that the Avatar's friends and the bond between Raava and Korra trumped his power utterly. And thanks to them, you are now incorruptible."
On one of the tallest buildings below, Bumi and his nieces and nephew stood poised.
Bumi: "Keep sharp kids, watch for any wrong moves..."
In front of them, perched on the edge of the roof, the shorter-haired and grounded Avatar looked up at the two floating figures, not worried about Zaheer's intentions. She was unsure what to say in this situation, to a distressed version of herself. Somehow, the image that had haunted her for months needed her help now. "I know you, Korra, you've made it through this before, helpless powerlessness won't defeat you! You can't let your origin undo all you've worked for! Vaatu is gone, you are your own self, free forever."
Korra: "Not free to fly away? Not free to give up my old life that was taken from me as soon as I started breathing!"
Avatar Korra: "Even without your old power, you have total power in what you can achieve in this life! You know by now that running away will never satisfy you. Come back down please. Once you get started, I know... that you will be driven to see what YOU are capable of."
Zaheer: "I admit by now that with someone like Avatar Korra guiding it, the world will slowly tend toward order. Perhaps even Harmony can be achieved, but you know all the threats to be overcome. You know the Avatar needs all the help she can find to aid her. You can become her greatest ally."
Av. Korra: "You've been fighting with yourself for years Korra, and you've learned plenty along the way. You know the truth of what you want to do! I won't let you just disappear!"
The flying Korra had been losing her foothold in the air, she seemed to be drifting slowly, like a leaf. She pushed the uncertainty out of her mind, and told herself that she had reached her decision. Suddenly and not giving Zaheer a chance to act, she shot straight up, faster than she expected and the rush of such pure airbending made her eyes fill with tears. She went even faster, trying to outpace the thoughts of failed responsibilities. Nearing the clouds, she wanted to make a choice, to turn and go far in some direction over the clouds, only descending once her energy was used up.
But she couldn't choose any direction, and she slowed, and stopped, and forced herself to look down. Her home was far below, the people she loved. She could make out every person clearly, even at impossible heights.
Her mind was rebelling, as if it didn't want to permit any rational thoughts, even though the dark spirit was long gone. But slowly... her true feelings shone through, stronger and stronger, until her choice of direction was made: straight back to her home, and herself.
The floor of air fell out from under her, dropping her like a brick. For a moment she worried, but quickly her mood changed as she could see and hope for the future. Korra flipped downward end over end, until she steered herself straight, with a big grin across her face.
The Avatar below was surprised, and instinctively was ready to leap upward, but she hesitated as she noticed the control of her falling twin, hundreds of feet above. She then smiled in return and shouted "Remember to slow down!"
"Easy!" came the response
:Epilogue:
*swoop Fwoosh*, *BOOoooom*
"Look uncle Bumi, a snowbender!" Meelo pointed, while snowflakes drifted downward as Korra stood on the cracked street with scorch marks under her bare feet. The snow conjured during her descent was not entirely necessary, but she was happy to see a bit of it out of season.
Airbenders were jumping down from the rooftops. Though since all their attention was on Korra, nobody noticed when Zaheer disappeared, doubting whether or not he should have interfered.
The ex-avatar looked up as the Avatar approached on a pillar of air, and ran to meet her.
Av. Korra: "Impressive landing! But a bit dangerous don't you think?"
Korra: "Oh you've done plenty of stuff worse than that!"
Bolin ran up quickly, thankful that he could tell them apart by their hair. Asami and Mako followed, the pain in Mako's arm replaced by surprise. Bolin shook the hand of, who? He decided to call her Korra.
Bolin: "Well, Korra, let me be the first to welcome you to the team! But what kind of title do you want? You gotta have a new one!"
Av. Korra: "Oh! uhh... Maybe something like... vice-Avatar?"
Korra: "Um no, sounds horrible!
Ikki floated down from above speaking rapidly, "Well of course you're Princess Korra of the South! The old Korra never lets me call her princess!"
Korra: "That hasn't changed, Ikki!"
Av. Korra: "...I sure hope dad doesn't bring up that horrible nickname to tell us apart."
Mako: "Oh? What nickname is so horrible?"
Korra: "Nothing! It's nothing, forget about it."
Asami: "For now... shouldn't you just stick with Korra? Anything else won't fit, it'll just be a bit of effort clarifying."
Bolin: "A bit! I'll get so confused, it could drive us all apart!"
Mako: "No way."
Asami: "Don't worry Bolin. Some friendships can transcend corporeal forms."
Korra: "...It certainly feels different, having just one name."
Avatar Korra: "It might take some time. But losing a title doesn't mean you've lost your way. And you still have all YOUR friends, that will never change."
