The Real Legend of Korra

Chapter 1: The Beginnings of a True Legend

Korra tossed her hair back and stared hard at the horizon. All the other Avatars that had been around her just moments before disappeared, leaving her all alone. Well, almost alone. Mako was behind her. He had just seen her in Avatar State and fifteen minutes prior… had just professed his love to her.

If she had been the same girl she was fifteen minutes ago, she would've jumped in his arms. If she had been the same girl two months ago, she would've jumped in his arms and kissed him until her lips were raw. But she wasn't. She was empowered by the avatars before her and she had to be selfless. She knew there was a time when she could settle down, but her instincts told her it wasn't now. Her heart called to all the people who were in dire need of help.

Mako took a step forward and started first, "Korra, are you okay?"

She averted his eyes and stepped past him, "I'm fine."

"Wait, what just happened?" He paused. "How did you get your bending back, Korra? And...Why are you walking … away?"

Korra stopped and cleared her throat from the words that were choking her back. She didn't want to say it, but it was true.

She looked back, "Mako, you're an amazing guy, but right now… there isn't room in my heart for you."

She gritted her teeth, walked back to her home, and didn't look back. That had sounded much better in her head than out loud. But there were more important things to do. She went straight to her room to meditate on what she had seen. She now understood how to unlock the bending Ki within a person, but was not all. There was trouble brewing outside the fire nation. Avatar Roku had shown her a glimpse of villages with all the inhabitants dead—sprawled out on the streets. Long caravans of families were waiting outside the Fire Nation's walls hoping to get inside. Avatar Aang had pointed towards the Northern Air Temple, probably indicating that there were people taking refuge there. Or perhaps the cause was there, Korra didn't know. She didn't get to look for long before Avatar Kyoshi had changed the scenario to the Ba Sing Se. There, thousands of people were working to build a massive wall. It was enormously high, and Avatar Aang placed a hand on her shoulder saying, "It goes from the Chameleon Bay to Kappa's Umi." Then, she had seen buildings burning in the slums of Omashu.

Within the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se, Korra had seen other Equalist rallies. They had probably not heard the recent news of Amon. Avatar Roku said the same was happening in the Fire Nation.

Korra sat cross-legged around the fire and continued to think about what she could do. She couldn't believe that she had been so narrow-minded the past few months. Her life had just revolved around Republic City. She was sure that Avatar Aang had a much more open-minded view of the world by the time he was her age. She was bitter at herself for getting caught up in the Bending Arena and for being so helpless up until now. She knew she could do better.

She was a full-fledged Avatar now. Her duty was not to Republic City. Her duty was between the four nations. The large flames died to a low ember by the time Korra finished making up her mind about her plans. She stepped outside to where two servants of the White Lotus had been stationed. Their cowl was wrapped tightly around their faces to keep out the frost.

"Please send word to Lin Beifong that I would like restore her bending first thing tomorrow morning by Lady Katara's tent."

"Y-Yes, as you wish, Avatar Korra." The man hurried away into the white night.

Mako couldn't sleep. Every other time he closed his eyes, he saw Korra's pretty face. And every other time he closed his eyes, he saw Asami's broken heart. Somehow, even though he had no idea where he stood with Asami now, his mind knew that he had definitely wronged Asami. This was a curious battle between a man's heart and his own mind. Mako slipped a fur coat, donned a pair of southern water boots, and stepped outside.

One of the members from the White Lotus jogged by shouting for Lin Beifong.

Lin Beifong couldn't sleep either. After hearing the news, she stayed up all night. The Avatars can take bending, give bending... is there anything that the Avatar cannot do?

Somewhere west of Omashu, a body floated onto the shores of the Earth Kingdom. The waves lapped over the body as if urging it to wake up.

Pain. Noatak opened his eyes and the wind blew sand into them. Broken ribs. The waves crashed again and he opened them in the salt water to wash out the sand. It burned like his back. He quickly did a body check starting with his toes. Broken leg, dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, and a burn wound across the entire back. Noatak writhed in the sand with his good hand, struggling to pull himself away from the salty water.

This is it. This is how the most powerful bloodbender the world ever knew dies. He was about to give up, take a final breath and let go when Korra's face flashed into his mind. The look on her face when the lucky Avatar managed to airbend at the last second. He clenched his fist. NO! This cannot be how it ends! His rage fueled him, the anger he always had boiled his blood, and he forced his own legs to work. The ocean lapped at his body urging him and reminding him what pain feels like. He had blood-bended to heal himself before, but never this way. His legs didn't work properly, but that didn't matter. He welcomed the pain. He blood-bended himself above the sands to look around. There was a nearby cave.

Perfect.

Above the beach from the cliffs above, an Omashu sentry guard guard thought he saw a man's body hover above the waves like a wandering ghost. He thought he saw the feet dangling as if the body had been recently hung. He moved the wall searchlight to the body, but there was nothing there.

The guard sighed. He needed more sleep.