The Legend of Qiang

Book One: Unity

Chapter Two: Safe Harbor

Qiang drifted motionless in an azure void. He had no perception or awareness of where he was or what he was doing, or even, truthfully, of who he was. All was nothing, all was everything. Qiang felt at once uneasy and at peace. It was a strange juxtaposition.

A second figure shimmered into existence before Qiang's eyes. The figure was a somewhat aged, muscular woman of apparent Water Tribe descent. Her hair was styled into a long braid which draped over her shoulder. Her eyes, so startlingly cyan, seemed to bathe Qiang in an aura of comfort and kinship. The woman was familiar to Qiang somehow, but he could not understand why. He didn't think he had ever seen this woman before in his life.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice an echo in the endless blue expanse. The woman smiled in response, but did not speak.

"Who are you?" Qiang repeated. "Answer me! Where are we? Why am I here?"

"We are nowhere," the woman finally said, "and yet we are everywhere. The spirit of the Avatar is all-encompassing. There is nowhere our light does not touch, no life we have not affected." Her nose crinkled as her smile grew wider. "Hello, Qiang," the old woman laughed. "I'm so happy we could finally meet. My name is Korra."

Qiang's eyes widened. He tried to move closer to the woman, but his body stayed put. "Korra?" he said. "You're Avatar Korra?"

"That is correct," the woman confirmed. "I am Korra of the Southern Water Tribe, the Avatar that came before you. The first Avatar of our cycle."

"Avatar Korra, I- I don't understand," Qiang said. "Why have I never been able to connect with you before now? I tried before. I tried so hard, but it was like my connection to my Avatar spirit was- blocked."

"That is because it was blocked," Korra answered sadly. "Your mind and spirit were confused because the way you were raised and the things you were taught were in conflict with what you knew to be right as the Avatar. You were unbalanced and lost, but now you are finally moving toward the light."

Qiang beamed. "Does that mean I can call upon you for advice when I need it now?"

Korra frowned sadly. "Perhaps not," she admitted. "Your spirit is still unbalanced. You have taken your first steps forward, but I fear you are still too conflicted within yourself to truly be in tune with your spiritual self. It will take more time and reflection for you to find peace within yourself, and discover your true potential as the Avatar."

The void around them began to blur and fade, and Qiang could feel himself slipping away. "Wait!" he protested. "I still have so many questions!"

"Goodbye, Qiang," Korra said soothingly. "I hope we can see each other again before long."

Qiang screamed. Everything turned black.

His eyes shot open. He was curled up with his head resting on Ping's stomach. Wind was rushing all around him, and for some reason, the clouds seemed closer than normal, and passing by much faster than they should. It was a few moments before Qiang remembered where he was and what had happened before he'd passed out, and he sat up with a groan, rubbing his temples and gritting his teeth. He had the worst headache of his life.

The airbender - Zhi - glanced back at him from her seat on the sky bison's head. She smiled warmly at him. "Oh, good, you're awake!" she said cheerfully. "You were out for a while. I was starting to get worried!"

Qiang got his first good look at the girl, his vision unmuddied by fading consciousness. She was beautiful in that refined, subdued manner which gives airs of normalcy, while remaining utterly unique. She was a relatively thin and small young woman, but was by no means a waif. Qiang could see the contours of muscle underneath her Air Nomad uniform. This girl was a fighter.

"Sorry for worrying you," Qiang apologized. She smiled at him again, a comforting smile almost familial in nature that made Qiang feel at home. He had read in some old novel that smiles such as hers, which have an immediate comforting effect, were the rarest sort. Her eyes flashed when she smiled, and Qiang found himself drawn to them. Those striking eyes were the last thing he remembered seeing before he had passed out in her arms.

"You've got pretty eyes," he said bluntly.

Zhi's face turned red at the sudden compliment, and she snapped her head back around so that Qiang couldn't see. "Uh, th-thanks," she stammered. "People usually comment on them. Apparently they're- they're quite striking." She gulped. "Y-you've got nice eyes yourself, um…" she looked back at Qiang, a trace of red still on her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name."

"My name is Qiang," Qiang said with a bow. "Avatar Qiang."

"Qiang?" Zhi repeated. Another smile. "That's a good name! Does it mean anything?"

Qiang looked away. "It means 'strength,'" he answered. Technically, it was the truth, but it was not entirely accurate at the same time.

"I see," Zhi sighed. "Avatar Qiang, huh? I still can't believe I was the one who finally found the new Avatar."

Qiang's eyes shot back to Zhi. "What? What do you mean 'found?'"

"You didn't know?" Zhi exclaimed, shocked. "After Avatar Korra died, the Order of the White Lotus and the Air Nation searched all over the Earth states, looking for the new Avatar, but every search turned up nothing. Most people eventually just concluded that the Avatar never reincarnated at all, probably due to the light spirit Raava being ripped from Avatar Korra during Harmonic Convergence. Even the Air Nation was beginning to give up hope when we received an anonymous tip that the Avatar was in Shiyi."

"That's what led you there last night, then," Qiang reasoned.

Zhi nodded. "That's right. But still - you really had no idea that world didn't know you existed?"

Qiang scowled and folded his arms. "There was a lot my mother and the others didn't tell me, I guess?"

Zhi frowned. Qiang was clearly upset. She had to cheer him up somehow.

"Where are we right now?" Qiang suddenly asked, leaning his head over the sky bison's saddle. "All I see below are mountains."

Zhi flashed another one of those smiles Qiang was beginning to take as her signature. "Just wait a few moments," she said in a singsong voice. "Just a little bit longer… and… now!"

The sky bison burst out of the mountain range, and Qiang was greeted by a sprawling metropolis opening into the sea. Towering gilded buildings dotted the landscape, and in the center, shooting into the sky, was the sickly green light on the Avatar Korra Spirit Portal.

They had arrived in Republic City.

Qiang scrambled to the front of the saddle to get a better view. His eyes went wide. He'd often wondered how he'd feel the first time he saw the city in person. He'd expected to feel shock, awe, reverence. What Qiang felt now, though, was more akin to unbridled joy. He smiled widely.

"It's even more amazing than I ever imagined," he breathed. He fixed his gaze on Zhi. It was an intense stare; Zhi felt almost as if she was looking into the sun. "It's beautiful," he said. "Thank you for helping me get here. If you hadn't shown up I would still be trapped in Shiyi. I owe you more than I can say.

"I-it's nothing, really," Zhi said embarrassedly. "I was asked to bring the Avatar to Republic City, so… I was just doing my job."

"Zhi," Qiang insisted. "You have my thanks."

Zhi smiled. "You're very welcome. Avatar Qiang."

Qiang leaned against the saddle. "Where are we going now?" he asked.

"Air Temple Island," Zhi answered, her eyes gleaming. "There's a couple of people there who are going to be really excited to meet you."

Zhi brought her bison down to land on Air Temple Island minutes later. She helped Qiang and Ping down from the beast's back before gesturing in the direction of the main temple. Qiang waited a short while before following her, taking a moment to breathe in the wondrous beauty of the island. The wind was still, all was quiet, and a sense of spiritual peace drifted through the air.

"Come on, Qiang!" Zhi called, and Qiang sprinted to catch up, waving back at Ping to stay put.

Ping squawked his annoyance.

The temple was ornate and breathtaking. The central chamber was trimmed with gold, the smell of incense wafted from the rafters, and a lovingly-crafted statue of Sage Tenzin decorated the very center of the room.

Standing in front of the statue was an elderly, wrinkled woman with grey hair and a fond smile, dressed in the traditional robes of the Air Nomads.

"Avatar Qiang," Zhi said reverently, "allow me to introduce Master Jinora, spiritual leader of the Air Nation, daughter of Sage Tenzin and granddaughter of Avatar Aang."

"The formalities aren't necessary," Jinora said, laughing creakily as Qiang approached her. There was a warmth and happiness in her eyes unlike anything Qiang had ever seen before.

She took his hand as he drew near, squeezing it gently. "Hello, Avatar Qiang," she said softly. "It's very good to meet you. And, because I know she's in there… hello again, Korra. It's been too long."

The moment Jinora said Korra's name, Qiang's vision blurred and the room began to spin. Qiang heard the shouts and cries of people he thought he knew as his legs buckled and he fell in on himself, and the last thing he saw before everything went dark was the face of Avatar Korra.

"Mako! Bolin! Come on, we have to stop them before they breach the mountains!"

"The mountains?! Intelligence said they'd be invading through the bay! All of our forces are there!"

"We got bad intel, but we can still stop this invasion before it starts if we take out their air support and reinforce our flank with the troops we have spare! Come on! Jinora, Asami, and Hasook are waiting for us with a war balloon!"

The vast orb of fire burned across the sky. Korra felt the firebender inside her roar in triumph at the incredible power the comet gave her. Mako was probably experiencing the same sensation.

"What's the news from the Fire Nation?" Bolin asked as the trio sprinted towards the rally point. "Is Fire Lord Izumi…"

"Assassinated," Korra confirmed sadly. "Iroh barely made it out alive. These people had it all planned out."

"'Ozaists,'" Mako spat. "Even a hundred years after Fire Lord Ozai was defeated, his shadow still hangs over the world."

"We'll stop them," Korra said confidently. "They want to use the power of Sozin's Comet to start the Hundred-Year War over again? I don't think so. Let's show them how Team Avatar handles- argh!"

Korra fell to her knees, trembling. She clutched her stomach with one arm. Her eyes were wide, and she was panting.

"Korra!" Mako shouted in alarm. "Korra, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Korra said uneasily, rising to her feet. "M-must just be food poisoning from your terrible cooking. Don't worry, everything's alright. Now come on. We have a war balloon to catch."

Qiang bolted upright as he suddenly came to. His skin was hot and itchy from sweat, and he felt queasy. He was in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room, with medical equipment set off to the side. He ran his hand through his head as he tried to remember what had happened.

"Oh, good, you're awake," someone said. Qiang turned his head to see Jinora walk slowly into the room. "How are you feeling, young man?"

"Terrible," Qiang groaned. "How long was I out?"

"Just a couple of days," Jinora informed him. "The healers have been able to treat you physically, but I suspect what caused your blackout has more to do with your spiritual state. Your spiritual self is restless and out of balance. It will take time and effort to soothe your spirit, and no amount of waterbending can do that."

His spirit was out of balance. Qiang felt as if someone had told him that before, but he couldn't remember who or when. There was a blank space where the memory ought to be.

"Well, you're the 'spiritual leader,'" Qiang said. "What do you recommend?"

Jinora stroked her chin in thought for a bit. "Tell me, Avatar Qiang, did you ever begin your airbending training? As a matter of fact, what elements have you mastered so far?"

"Just earth and fire," Qiang shrugged. "Before I left Shiyi I had been assigned airbending scrolls to read and learn forms from, but I didn't get very far and I never had a master."

"I see," Jinora considered. "Of all the bending styles, airbending is considered to be the most spiritual of all. In the era of Raava, those who lived on the air Lion Turtles were the only humans to coexist with the spirits. Perhaps in learning airbending, you will be able to become more at peace with yourself spiritually."

"It's worth a shot," Qiang agreed with a smile. "And I need to learn airbending at some point anyway."

Jinora nodded. "We should get started as soon as possible," she said. "I will introduce you to your master soon. Before that, though, there is someone else you need to meet."

"Who?"

"You'll see," Jinora teased. "Come. Can you stand?"

Qiang rose to his feet and took a few shaky steps forward. "I think so."

Jinora beckoned. "Come, come. He's waiting at the meditation circle with Zhi."

The man Jinora spoke of was tall, old, and stern-looking. He was dressed in an orange suit with the United Republic emblem on the lapel. His head was shaven, displaying his blue arrow-shaped tattoos, and he sported a long black beard.

"Qiang, this is my younger brother Rohan," Jinora said fondly. "He takes after father quite a bit. He's even a politician like my father used to be. The President of the United Republic, in fact."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Qiang said, bowing politely.

"Please," Rohan said, returning the bow. "It is my honor to welcome the new Avatar to our city. If I may ask, why have you chosen to wait until now to make your presence known to the world?"

Qiang looked away shamefully. "To be honest," he sighed. "I didn't even know I was missing until a few days ago. Kun, my mother, everyone who ran the compound where I grew up… they all hid that information from me."

Rohan clenched his jaw in anger. "Unbelievable," he growled. "I knew Governor Kun was a pragmatist, but this… he was trying to use the Avatar as a pawn to gain the upper hand against the other Earth nations, I just know it! This can't be allowed to pass without sanction!"

He stroked his beard slowly. "I'm going to call a world leaders' summit to address this matter, to meet in two months time," Rohan decided. "Under the Compact of Igyo, Kun will be obliged to attend." His eyes narrowed menacingly. "We'll just see what Kun has to say for himself. That demagogue's been a threat to the cause of peace in the Earth states for far too long. This could finally be the opening we need to remove his power base for good."

He bowed to Qiang again. "Forgive me, Avatar," he apologized, "but I must take my leave. I have urgent matters to attend to."

Rohan turned about face and strode away from the meditation circle, heading for the docks.

Jinora waved at her brother as he left. "I don't see Rohan enough," she said cheerfully. Turning to Qiang, she said "are you ready to meet your airbending teacher now?"

Qiang frowned and glanced at Zhi. "Oh…" he said sadly. "For some reason, I assumed Zhi was going to teach me."

"Me?" Zhi said in surprise.

"Oh, what a wonderful idea!" Jinora said, clapping her hands. "Yes, Zhi, you should certainly help the Avatar master airbending! I'm sure your assistance will be of great use!"

"B-but-" Zhi sputtered. "But Master Jinora, I only just got my tattoos! I'm barely a master myself!"

"You won't be alone," Jinora assured her. "You'll be helping- ah, here she is now!"

Qiang turned his head. Approaching the circle were an elderly couple, man and woman, both dressed in the colors of the old Earth Kingdom.

"Master Opal Beifong and her husband, General Bolin Beifong," Jinora introduced the two. "Old friends of both myself and Avatar Korra."

"I'm one lucky son of a gun, getting to meet two Avatars in a lifetime!" Bolin chuckled, punching Qiang's shoulder playfully. "Listen, kid, if you ever want advice on improving your earthbending, don't hesitate to ask. I live right here on the island."

"So do I, Bolin," Opal said, flicking her husband. "And don't try to one-up me. I'm teaching the Avatar right now, not you."

"Pleased to meet you both," Qiang said. He bowed to Opal. "I look forward to our training, Sifu Beifong."

"Wait, if I help train him, do I get to be 'sifu' too?" Zhi asked.

Qiang laughed. "If you want," he confirmed teasingly.

Zhi smirked. "Maybe this whole 'teaching' thing isn't a bad idea after all."

"Are you ready to begin, Avatar Qiang?" Opal asked.

Qiang flashed a determined grin. "Born ready!"

"Mind if we watch?"

Two young women, one tall and one short, approached the circle.

"Officer Hotaru," Jinora greeted the taller of the two. "It's nice to see you again. What brings you to Air Temple Island?"

"Special assignment from the chief," Hotaru said. She had a stern face, with angled eyes and sharp, straight black hair. "I've been asked to act as the Avatar's bodyguard while he remains in Republic City."

"Same here," the shorter girl said. Her face was rounder, with large brown eyes and pudgy cheeks. Her hair was curly and brown, and extended to her shoulders. "General Bolin asked me to help ensure the Avatar's safety. Thank you for the opportunity by the way, sir."

"You've earned it, Yuzuki," Bolin smiled. "I'm sure you'll do great."

"Bodyguards?" Qiang said. "Why would I need bodyguards?"

Jinora frowned and averted her gaze. "I spoke with Rohan before you woke up," she explained. "With the political situation in the world the way it is, we agreed that it might not be safe for you in Republic City without security."

She bit her lip guiltily. "Also… we agreed that for the time being, it would be best if you remain on the island and not venture into the city."

"What?!" Qiang exclaimed. "For how long?"

Jinora swallowed. "Possibly until the summit in two months."

Qiang's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

"Two months?!"

Shiyi, capital of the State of Yi

Kun paced back and forth before his assembled war council. The things he was about to discuss would shake the world. This was well known to his ministers and advisors, as was the fact that, if they breathed a word of any of it to anyone outside this room, they would certainly suffer an intensely grisly fate.

Kun ceased his pacing, and turned to face his ministers with a smirk.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he purred, "by now the Avatar has arrived in Republic City. He does not know it, but in doing this he has ensured that our designs will not fail. The time has finally come, my friends. Soon, Yi will be ascendent, and after six decades of division, the Earth Kingdom will finally know unity once more."

He leaned over the meeting table. "Listen up, and listen well, because I'm only going to explain this once. This is how the next two months will play out…"

To be continued...