Author's Note: Logged back to see I still had all my thirty-five followers still sticking with the story. Thank you :')
169 ASC
"Focus, Korra," Chief Unalaq commanded, stroking his chin, taking long strides in circles around the young Avatar.
"I'm trying!" Korra fumed, her fists together in front of her, impatiently blowing a strand of hair from forehead.
"In order to master the Avatar State, you must open all the chakras," Unalaq sat in front of the Avatar, legs crossed, palms upward. "Maybe then you can connect with your previous lives."
Korra muttered nonsense, straightening her back and breathing in deeply.
"There are seven chakras, seven pools of energy within you," Unalaq continued, pretending not to hear the frustrated Avatar. "Each chakra deals with a different emotion. Sometimes they are blocked by an emotion that stop the energy from flowing. You must open all seven in the right order to master the Avatar State."
"I know, I know," Korra pouted, shifting her weight from side to side. She shivered slightly, the small igloo where they were seated providing no means of heat, wind escaping through the cracks of the doorway.
"The first chakra deals with survival and is blocked by fear. It is located in the base of the spine. Tell me. What are you scared of?"
"Nothing. I'm not scared of anything," Korra replied defiantly, opening her eyes before falling back on the hard floor, her mocha coloured hair falling loosely as a cushion. After a long pause, Korra yelled in frustration. "Why is this so hard for me! Why can't I just open the damn chakras!"
Chief Unalaq sighed. He moved closer to Korra's head, helping her back up. "It seems like you have a spiritual block."
"What?" Korra mumbled, shaking her head to stay focused.
"It's when you can't connect with your past lives. There is literally a block in your mind. But I'm not sure what's causing this. None of the other Avatars who have learned this art have had any issue."
The sixteen-year old shrugged, her movements lacking life. All she wanted to do, so desperately do, was to connect with her spiritual side so she could leave this South Pole compound and explore the world. Ever since she was a little girl, she'd been immersed in bending, learning new forms and styles, but had she put them into use in real life? No. She'd never gotten to travel the world, meet new people and experience new cultures. Everyone expected her to live up to the greatness of Avatar Aang, but no one knew just how hard that would be for the teenager. And it didn't help that people whispered behind her back about what a letdown she was. Unalaq thinking aloud interrupted her thoughts.
"What if...? Yes, Korra, do one thing for me, will you?" Unalaq spoke kindly, helping his niece back to her meditating position. "I know connecting with your chakras isn't going to be an easy task. But, close your eyes and imagine Avatar Aang in front of you. You remember the picture I showed you? That was Aang, along with Chief Beifong, Councilman Sokka, his wife Katara and Fire Lord Zuko."
And like a lightning strike, memories flooded through Korra's mind. An iceberg shooting blue light from the top, a young bald monk with an arrow on his head, an great city made out of snow, a capital fortified by huge walls, a cave, jade crystals protruding from rocks, an invasion plan, a play, a comet, a kiss, the rush overwhelmed Korra, like the wind had been swept from her lungs. Faint images of a flying animal, travelling around the world on it's back, feelings of happiness, revenge, betrayal, sadness & joy coiled inside her, pounding in her head. And Korra felt as if she was speeding backwards, her own spirit releasing from her body. And out of the sudden blackness, a figure appeared.
Her face was filled with kindness but at the same time, a fierce determination, blue shimmering orb sparkling in her eyes, her long dark hair in a braid, flowing gracefully behind her. The girl looked younger than her, maybe by a year or two, but she showed signs of wisdom and knowledge behind her eyes. She looked at Korra, her gaze softening at the sight, and a sudden warmth washed over Korra, her spine trickling.
"Hello, Avatar," her voice chimed, sounding strangely familiar to Korra, who could just gaze at her in awe.
It took a few moments before Korra blinked rapidly, digesting her surroundings. As soon as she could her heart beating, words flew out of her mouth.
"Who are you? Where am I? Why did you bring me here?" Korra spoke, wary of the stranger, even though she felt an odd attachment to the girl in front of her.
"Relax, young one," The girl laughed, but Korra could only shake her head. As far as she could see, the stranger was younger than her.
"My name is Katara," The stranger spoke, a soft smile playing on her lips. "You may have heard of me."
"You were Avatar Aang's wife!" Korra exclaimed, as Katara nodded, her smile faltering for the slightest moment. "I've heard about you. Weren't you supposed to be a master healer?"
"I see we're in the past tense," Katara winced jokingly as Korra blushed. "Yes, I was a master healer, and I've healed someone you may know very well."
Korra peered up at the girl, a sense of fascination overwhelming her. "Didn't you save the world along with Avatar Aang?"
"I did," Katara said. "Along with some of our friends."
"That's amazing. You saved the world when you were so young. I could've learnt so much from you. It's a shame you died." Korra exclaimed, before biting back her lip. Dead people didn't want to be reminded they were dead.
"But you still can," Katara's voice cut through Korra's thoughts like a clean blade. It was almost if as she was speaking in Korra's mind. "You see, we're similar in more ways then you can imagine."
"Well, other than the fact that we're both badass–"
"You are me."
Korra paused. She probably heard Katara wrong. "Sorry, what?"
Katara sighed, pushing back a wisp of her hair that had fallen out of place. "How do I put this?"
"What do you mean? How can I be you?" Korra examined Katara's face, searching for a shred of humor. But she was met with all seriousness.
"No one must have told you, but when you were born, you were born without life. It was if you were a body, but without that spark of energy or living. I was there. And I gave my life to save yours."
"What?! That's nonsense…" Korra shook her head. "I think I would've known how I was born."
"Believe me. I saw you, I held you in my arms and I saw you without a single thread of life."
"Well maybe your weren't the greatest healer in the world, then!" Korra exclaimed. What was Katara saying? That the Avatar was born without a spirit?
"I gave you my spirit! I didn't want to live! I used the greatest healing technique on you so that you could live."
"Why? Why would the great Katara end her life to save a little baby? Was it out of obligation since I was the Avatar?"
"I –I didn't know you were the Avatar. Aang was still alive as far as I knew. I'm not sure how you even became the Avatar."
"Does it matter anymore? The Avatar was born without a life, and she came back from the dead. That's what your saying isn't it?"
"Yes, I know that must've been hard, but trust me, I gave you my soul so you could live. If I'd known that you Aang passed on at the same moment and he was to pass on his soul…"
Korra was stunned. It all made sense now. "I know why I haven't been able to connect with my past Avatar lives. You've come in between them! A good-for-nothing excuse for a Waterbender has blocked me from connecting with the other Avatars! You're one of my past lives!"
"I'm sorry Korra, if I'd known it would ruin the cycle–" Katara began but was cut off by a furious Korra.
"Ruin?! So it can't be fixed? You've wrecked my spiritual connection with the Avatars! Now all I have is you! People will see me as an inexperienced Avatar who doesn't know a damn thing about the job!"
Katara looked at Korra with a saddened glance. Her face made Korra even angrier.
"And what is this about you not wanting to live? As far as I could tell, you had a great life, complete as the savior of the world. You didn't want that? And you had to go mess it up for me."
"You knew NOTHING!" Katara screamed, tears tracing her face as she glared at Korra, who surprised by the sudden outburst was silenced. "I- had to live with the fact that my one true love had left me– While Aang questioning my sanity and faithfulness– I–"
"So this is about boys? You have up your life for boys? What a pathetic excuse for a master." Korra sneered.
"You wouldn't know, oh-great Avatar." Katara recovered enough to speak, her voice dripping with venom. "You've never been kissed, never been held by a boy. You're sixteen! What good is an Avatar who has no experience in the real world, anyways? With your past lives or not, you're still a failure."
Before Korra had a chance to reply, a gust of wind enveloped her, a flash of blue blinding her vision. Before she could utter a single word, Korra was back in the igloo, a wave of Southern air washing over her skin.
Unalaq looked at her curiously, before speaking, "Are you alright, Avatar? You zoned out for just a second, and then-" Unalaq faltered, unsure what to say.
Korra glanced around the igloo, Katara's words still ringing in her head; 'With your past lives or not, you're still a failure.'. Her head throbbed, a piercing feeling at the base of her head.
"Avatar?" Unalaq whispered cautiously, before Korra whipped her head to face him.
"Don't. Call. Me. That." Korra's icily replied, racing out of the igloo in a trail of light mist, wondering if it was all just a dream.
Author's Note: It's been a while, but hopefully this extra long chapter makes up for it. Thank you for reading, and if you're in North America, woo-hoo, extra hour of sleep last night! ;)
