Republic City
"As you can see, having these space people around has just brought chaos." Unalaq, Korra's uncle and Chieftain of the Northern Water Tribe said while they walked through the reconstructing streets of the once glorious city. People rushed through the busy alleys and boulevards, with UNSC Army Troopers trying to calm the down the enraged citizens. "Weapons and war that is all these people know."
"But I thought that the city was already fixed." Korra replied.
"It takes more than some strong arms and pretty faces to rebuild a metropolis young lady, especially one that has gone through hell and back." Major Antonio D. Wright, commanding officer of the UNSC Army on Requiem and administrator of the temporary colonial government on the planet until official vote. He was a middle aged man, standard height of five feet and eleven inches and wore the standard UNSC Army officer's uniform. "The Council has been cooperating but until now, looters and anti-space people have been popping around and made our work harder for us."
"Hardly a problem for your men." Unalaq responded on the offensive. "The United Republic is not the only place that has seen issues, even though us on the Northern Water Tribe were able to repel the aliens' attacks, we too have lost several businesses and lives through the course of the past months."
"How can I help?" Korra asked the two men.
"You are the Avatar, the only beacon of hope on the world." Unalaq replied. "And the only one who can fix it."
"What do you mean?"
"The world has been in a frail balance ever since the Hundred Year War was over, but from current events it has fallen into disarray. We can bring on balance."
"Hold on now, nothing is going to happen without my authorization." Major Wright stated. "I can't have her running around getting into trouble, she is far too valuable."
"I agree, but she has a duty." Unalaq responded. Tenzin stepped into the conversation, having listened to Unalaq and the UNSC officer bickering.
"I believe the best course of action is to get to the bottom of this, obviously Unalaq is correct that the general populace is getting out of hand and the Major is right that the UNSC has limited jurisdiction." Tenzin said.
"Fine, I will talk with Captain Lasky aboard the Infinity, tell him what you plan. But the Spartans stay." Wright agreed and walked away.
"Thank you Tenzin." Unalaq said.
"What's your plan?" Tenzin asked the Cheiftain of the North.
"Come, I will explain on the way there."
UNSC/UNITED FORCES Barracks, Republic City
UNSC Marines marched around the perimeter of the compound as ODST drill sergeants trained a handful of United Forces soldiers in UNSC combat and firearms usage. Several higher ranked United Forces officers taught some Army troopers and Marines in martial arts even though bending was blocked for the UNSC soldiers.
Inside the command tent, General Iroh II was still in deep thinking on the situation that arose from the UNSC presence on the planet. He read the newspapers from the other nations and this one, some good news and some that weren't. Riots in the Earth Kingdom cities and unsuccessful rebellions in the Fire Nation, terrorists wanting to do away with the Fire Lady and the royal family, but were stopped and annihilated by UNSC Marines guarding the palace, things were not going as he believed they would.
The tech was good and the inventors and big science types were going nuts with all the shiny stuff brought down from the Infinity and the Halcyon-class cruisers that accompanies it but it seemed that the bad stuff outweighed the good. "At this rate, you will grow white hairs all over your head." An old man sat in front of the General's desk.
"Lots of bad things are going on, riots, uprisings and now dead fishermen out on sea. What's next, another invasion? It's just one bad thing after another." General Iroh said as he ruffled his hair, trying to relax.
"Your mother is safe, she told me to tell you that the fire burns brighter when the things around it heat up." The old man said with a smile on his face. The General laughed, he hadn't done so in a while.
"Thanks for that Grandpa Zuko."
On another part of the compound which was more of a city square turned into a campsite, Unalaq surround by his personal guard, Korra, Tenzin, Mako, Asami, Bolin and Majestic Squad headed towards the Strategist Tent, were all the maps and military tacticians from the two militaries met and exchanged ideas.
"The Southern Water Tribe?" Korra asked with disbelief.
"The solstice is almost here, if we open the southern portal we might be able to decrease the immense pressure that the physical world is getting." Unalaq said as he pointed at the Southern Water Tribe on the map.
"Whoa whoa there, a portal?" Hoya asked.
"Hoya's right, what do you mean by portal?" DeMarco stepped in.
"It's a portal to the Spirit World, it has been closed for millions of years, if we open it, it's positive energies will purify the planet." Unalaq replied.
"Is this guy for real?" Madsen mocked the Chieftain, earning a stern look from both Unalaq and Korra who didn't like anyone talking bad of her family members.
"It's a longshot but it might be our only option." Tenzin added.
"Wait, this is the mission?" Grant asked.
"Captain Lasky and Major Wright already authorized it, we are all theirs." Thorne responded.
"Yeah! Awesome mission with the super-soldiers!" Bolin yelled. Korra then felt a slight sting inside her head, like a small migraine. She has been feeling them quite constantly since the attack on Galileo.
Outside in the barracks, Red Fireteam and Crimson Fireteam had comeback alive, Jonas was cleaning his helmet while Gustavo was yawning inside the team's warthog. Geoff and the squad leader were checking on the weapon's crates.
"Where are the rest of the weapons Geoff?" The Squad Leader asked.
"That was my job?" Geoff responded.
"We were given our task on the last staff meeting." Gustavo quickly stated.
"We actually do stuff? I just fall sleep inside my helmet." Geoff replied.
"Sir I think Geoff is a lazy bum." Gustavo said.
"Geoff is a lazy bum? Stop the fucking presses." Squad Leader sarcastically said.
"I found some extra rounds on the back of Sabre Fireteam's weapon stashes, bunch of blow-dryers and baby oil was stuffed with the ammo and guns. Took the guns, ammo and the baby oil." Jonas told them.
"Good job cupcake." The Squad Leader congratulated the soldier.
"What was the baby oil for?" Geoff asked.
"For my dance routines." Jonas replied.
"Why would you use baby oil for…never mind, I don't want to know." Gustavo stopped himself.
"I just got word from command, we are getting promotions! I am a Staff Sergeant now, Gustavo you are now a Lance Corporal." The Squad Leader, now Sergeant, let everybody know.
"Awesome, whoot whoot!" Gustavo padded himself on the back.
"Jonas, you are now a Private First Class." The Sergeant told him, Jonas was happy…and started to dance. "Geoff, command has given me authorization to promote you myself."
"Awesome so…"
"You are now Minor Junior Private Negative First Class!"
"That rank doesn't even exist!"
"It does now."
Southern Water Tribe
Three days later on the eve of the Winter Solstice
A ship, quite the largest of all of those around, docked on the city's docks. It had the emblem of the Northern Water Tribe on its hull and from it came walking Unalaq, his bodyguards and children, Eska and Desna. From the skies, a lone Sky Bison flew down to meet those who had stepped out of the bridge connecting the ship and docks.
"Right here Oogi." Tenzin commanded his Sky Bison; the Spartan IVs still couldn't believe their eyes, a flying bison? Now that was weird…in a way. They hopped off the animal; they had their weapons on their backs ready for anything.
"Found the trip enjoyable?" Korra asked her personal guard, Spartan Thorne.
"It was…something." Thorne replied as he took out his helmet and breathed the cool air of the South Pole. "So…people actually live on the south pole."
"Yeah, I was born here." Korra responded while she looked through the crowd of reporters and on-lookers.
"Who are you looking for?" Bolin asked his friend.
"Dad! Mom!" Korra yelled with a wide smile on her face and ran into the crowd. Mako and Thorne quickly reacted and followed her.
"Does she always do this?" Thorne asked the young firebender.
"Better get used to it tin man." Mako replied with a sly smirk, Thorne didn't like this guy…especially his cocky attitude. Once through the ocean people, Spartan Thorne who was more of a giant among everyone else and Mako found Korra hugging her dad and mom.
"Mom, Dad this is Mako, I told you guys about him thought the telegraph." Korra said introducing Mako to her parents.
"I'm glad to meet you." Senna, Korra's mother said. Korra's father, Tonraq crossed his arms and looked at Mako carefully.
"You aren't doing anything funny with my daughter are you?" The bigger and more muscular man asked Mako.
"Uhh…ehh…no…sir?" Mako responded, not knowing what to say to this hulk of a man.
"Dad…" Korra said.
"I'm just messing with you, welcome!" Tonraq then shook Mako's hand and began to laugh. Then he looked at the heavily armored demi-god standing behind both Mako and Korra. He was as tall as the legends had said and his face was hidden by a golden visor…emotionless with it on. "And you are?"
"UNSC Spartan Gabriel Thorne of Majestic Squad, assigned bodyguard of Avatar Korra." Thorne formally responded.
"Quite the bodyguard you got there eh?"
"It's his job." Korra replied, through the crowd came Tenzin, Korra's friends and the other members of Majestic Squad.
"Next time, don't leave me with the cameras." Madsen said to Thorne.
"Sorry." Thorne said shrugging his shoulders.
"More giants, great." Tonraq stated. Following them came walking Unalaq and his children, Tonraq quickly noticed him.
They stared at each other for a moment, "It's good to see you again brother." Unalaq said.
"It's an honor to be at the presence of the Northern Water Tribe Chieftain." Tonraq responded with clear sarcasm.
"Oh come on brother, I'm here to help my niece."
"You are?"
"Uh dad, we better get going." Korra said.
"How about you come to the city? We are preparing the festival for the solstice." Senna said.
"That would be great!" Bolin said from the back.
"Festival? What are we going to do in a festival?" Hoya asked.
"Our jobs." Grant responded following the others who were leaving.
"How about we get ourselves some cotton candy eh?" DeMarco proposed.
"I'm game." Madsen said.
It was nightfall and the festival began, people from all over attended the solstice festival. There was everything from games to some other stuff that the wandering Spartan-IVs didn't recognize or understood. They were without their helmets, carrying them with their arms.
"This is reminds of back home, Coney Island you know? My parents and I used to take trips there every summer…I miss those days." Thorne said, remembering when his childhood…and the faces he will never see. All because of the Didact…
"Come on man, no need to get all angsty. We're in a festival, lighten up." Madsen told his friend. "Hey look, shoot the duck-weasel!"
"What a weird animal." Thorne said as he joined his more optimistic friend.
Meanwhile, Korra, Tenzin and Unalaq walked together while discussing the fact about the southern portal. "So I just open it and that's it?" Korra asked.
"Sounds simple, but there is more to it. Opening the gate requires concentration and the ability to use the Avatar State." Unalaq said.
"I can do that."
"Korra said she was attack by a dark spirit, can we expect more of those?" Tenzin asked.
"Indeed, dealing with them will be quite troublesome." Unalaq began to think. Then Tonraq joined them. "Ah brother, it is good of you to join us."
"I heard that you're taking Korra into the South Pole." Tonraq said.
"Correct." Unalaq replied.
"It's too dangerous to go in there and you know it." Tonraq responded.
"Why is too dangerous?" Korra asked.
"It's the Forever Storm…it has been ravaging the area for more than a century. It's too cold for anyone to get there." Tonraq answered.
"It quite is, but with the help of the soldiers I'm sure we can get to it." Unalaq said with confidence.
"She is not going in there."
"Korra is the Avatar, it is her duty."
"Tonraq is right; if it's too dangerous then we must be better prepared." Tenzin joined into the fray. Korra tried to voice her opinion, but no one listened to her. She began to grow more irritated as the three grown men bickered between each other.
"I'm going." Korra said.
"What?" Tonraq and Tenzin said in unison while Unalaq was surprised but then smiled sheepishly.
"I'm going into the South Pole, as the Avatar I must set things straight." Korra responded. "We set off tomorrow, on the solstice."
She walked away leaving the three men to themselves. Along the way she found Mako who was playing dart throwing game, one of them barely missed the bull's eye. "You okay?" Mako asked his girlfriend.
"Yeah I'm fine, it's just that it seems that everyone takes decisions for me without my consent, first there's this thing with the UNSC thinking that I need protection, then there's Unalaq forcing my duty as the Avatar down my throat and now Tenzin and my Dad still treat me as a little girl." Korra wasn't feeling very good and all these things going around her weren't really helping. "I essentially took down the Didact, saved the Master Chief and prevented planetary genocide; I think I'm capable of handling my own on extreme situations."
"I know you can, and the others do to its just that…you're the Avatar, and people tend to look after you, especially Tenzin and your dad." Mako said trying to make her feel better.
"Oh now you're on their side." Korra quickly said.
"No wait…I'm not on anybody's side. I'm just trying to tell you that…you're too important and no one wants to see you hurt. Especially those who love you." Mako replied.
"I'm sorry…yeah you're right. My head hurts, I'm going to sleep, wanna come?" Korra asked her boyfriend who's face quickly turned red.
"Eh…uh…I don't..uhh…"
"By the way where's Bolin and Asami?" Korra asked.
"Uh they went with DeMarco and the other Spartans to play around the games."
"You still wanna come?"
Mako couldn't resist the smile appearing on his face and just said the most normal answer for a guy his age. "Sure!"
The Spartans followed their VIPs back to the lodging area outside the festival, the party was over and everything seemed to tone down. On their way back, Thorne and Madsen noticed something.
"Oh shit…we lost our VIPs." Madsen said.
"We were too entertained that we forgot our damn mission…" Thorne added. "Maybe they went back to the lodges without us noticing."
"Yeah, let's go." Madsen said, they made their ways to the lodges. Madsen entered his, he was supposed to have guard duty and well…guard in the living room. He was going to sleep on the couch, same with Thorne. He entered… "Hey Thorne, my cabin's empty."
"What?" Thorne couldn't understand, and then it hit him. He entered his and found Mako dead asleep on the couch, he sighed and went to the room to see if Korra was in. She was, sleeping in her bed comfortably. For some odd reason the Spartan smiled warmly but then shook his head and thought clearly again.
"Found them, they're fine. He's on the couch and she's in her bed." Thorne told Madsen.
"Ufff…for a moment there I almost shit my pants. Would you have imagined the face on DeMarco if told him that we had lost them?"
"Yeah."
"Good thing the little man wasn't snooping around eh Thorne?"
"Shut up."
It was the following morning, Korra yawned awake as the sun's rays hit her tanned skin. She put on her fur boots and walked into the living room. There, Thorne had fallen asleep sitting on a chair next to the door and Mako was still sleeping on the couch. Firebenders apparently didn't rise with the sun.
"Hey wake up." Korra shook Thorne awake; the armored man opened his eyes slowly. His first sight being Korra whose hair was down and eyes were as blue as ever. "Good morning."
Thorne yawned, he had never sleep in, it was ten thirty…he usually woke at five. "Morning." He replied. "Madsen was kinda worried for scarf boy there."
"Yeah, sorry about that." Korra said while she woke Mako up.
"Five more minutes." Mako said with a tired voice, Korra laughed while Thorne just shook his head.
On the stables of the city, Unalaq and the Spartans were readying their cargo. Traveling to the South Pole would require extra supplies for those not in power armor. Luckily they had already invented snow bikes, no need for snow…camels.
"I don't like following this guy's mumbo jumbo." Hoya told DeMarco.
"Me neither but we are on orders, just protect your VIPs." DeMarco responded.
"We already fought a 'dark spirit' he might be onto something." Grant said.
"Yeah on drugs." Hoya replied.
"Sorry for being late, Thorne decided to get some more beauty sleep." Madsen said arriving with Thorne to the stables.
"Why are there snow bikes in a stable full of…camels?" Thorne asked.
"Beats me, just get the equipment set up." DeMarco said.
"Soldiers." Unalaq said, the Spartans turned to face him. "It is clear that none of you trust me."
"To be frank, it's not that we don't trust you it's just that you say some pretty unbelievable things." DeMarco responded.
"I do? You're calling me a liar for believing the ancient knowledge of my people?"
"No we don't, it's just that…we just want to get along alright? Command told us to get things straight down here; we just were picked for this safari okay?" Madsen stepped in.
"Loyal and obedient, good traits for soldiers. We are going to get along just fine." Unalaq said as he smiled and walked away leaving a bad taste in the Spartans' mouths.
"Yep, I don't like him." Grant stated.
The South Pole, Southern Water Tribe
The team began their expedition, it was obvious that it was going to take a while and as they went deeper into the southern pole the blizzard intensified. The Spartans ignored the cold winds and snow for their MJOLNIR GEN2 power armor protected them to a degree, they could barely feel the sub-zero winds.
It was a different story for the others; they had to wear extra layers of clothing and what not. Some of them were riding snow camels, a thought that still perplexed the Spartans' minds. Since these beasts looked more like horses than camels.
On the way there, Bolin kept commenting on how they were being followed. "You guys hear that?" Bolin asked as he looked around.
"Yeah we hear it." Tenzin replied.
"I don't see anything in my motion sensor." Madsen added. "It's probably the wind."
"Yeah…just the wind." Bolin tried to make himself feel better.
"How much to the pole?" Korra asked.
"Not too much now, the storm is getting bigger." Unalaq answered.
"We better make camp and rest a while; it has been hours since we began." Tonraq said.
They hid below a big rock, they were safe from the snow but they still needed heat. Hoya took out one of his flares and with some wood made a campfire. "Now this is what I'm talking about." Bolin said as he warmed up.
"Now that we're better, there's something weird…" Mako said. "If you two are brothers wouldn't that make Korra a princess?"
"A what?" Korra raised an eyebrow.
"Technically…" Unalaq responded.
"Oh yeah…" Bolin said. "What happened? Aren't you older Mr. Tonraq sir?"
"Yes, I am." Tonraq answered, and then Korra pieced the puzzle together. "I should've been Chieftain of the Northern Water Tribe."
"What!?" They all said together.
"What a twist!" Madsen told Thorne. "Get it because…agh you wouldn't understand."
"Yeah." Thorne said as he smirked.
"What do you mean Dad?" Korra asked.
"You should've told her long ago." Unalaq said.
"Told me what!" Korra insisted.
"I left the North Pole because…I was banished."
"Twenty years ago, a group of barbarians attacked the capital city of the north. I was able to fight them and drive them out of the city. We followed them into a forest, it was odd to find an oasis in the polar desert but nevertheless we knew they were hiding in it." Tonraq told. "I knew that going inside meant walking into an ambush, so we did the most logical…we flooded the entire forest."
"It was an error that would change my entire life." Tonraq said. "After I returned, the city was attacked again during the night, but not by bandits or barbarians, but by spirits. Mad that we had flooded and destroyed their spiritual forest, I had no idea and the city was paying the price."
"The warriors rallied and tried to stop the spirits, but we were outmatched. But then my brother, Unalaq, was able to calm the spirits down. His knowledge of the spirits saved us, but after the battle my father told me that because of my ignorance and attitude, I had endangered our home and he banished me from the kingdom." Tonraq revealed. "I later traveled to the Southern Water Tribe where I met your mother, Senna and well then you were born."
"Whoa…quite the comic book tale." Madsen said.
"Shut it." DeMarco told the childish Spartan.
"Why didn't you tell me this?!" Korra yelled.
"I wanted to protect you from the shame I brought to the family." Tonraq tried to explain.
"Oh now you are protecting me by lying? I am tired of this, of everyone giving out excuses for trying to protect me; well I don't need your protection!" Korra yelled and walked away from the campfire towards her snow came
"Korra wait…!" Tonraq tried to reason with her but she wouldn't listen.
"Drama…teenage angst…you got to love it." Grant said, the Spartans were listening from a distance. They were near the snow mobiles/bikes.
"Hey now, Thorne here is barely passed his teenage years." Hoya poked fun at his rookie teammate.
"I'm twenty-four." Thorne replied.
"A kid by our standards." DeMarco said. "But you are a Spartan, one of us."
Thorne watched how Korra stood alone by her animal guide, Naga. He sighed…
From the back, after they had resumed their trek, Thorne watched how Korra ignored her father; he tried to reason with her but to no avail. Something in him wanted to tell her how lucky she was that at least she had a family…a real one, but another part of him wanted to hug her…? 'Earth…well this place to Thorne, you are a Spartan, the best of the best. Keep your daydreams and nightmares away from the mission, like a true Spartan.' Thorne thought, trying to focus on the mission at hand.
Then he saw Tonraq move his snow mobile and leave them, heading back to the city. "Guy must've had it." Madsen said. "I don't blame him."
Thorne watched him leave…"Yeah."
"He we are…the South Pole." Unalaq said, arriving into the very center of the Forever Storm raging above the seal south pole.
"This is different." Grant said as she looked at the sky, the green colors of the dark clouds swirling around the frozen forest below.
"Alright team, protect your person. Anything could happen." DeMarco ordered.
"What now?" Korra asked her uncle.
"You must go inside the forest and unlock the South Pole." Unalaq answered.
"No way, she isn't going without us." Mako stepped in.
"Without me neither." Thorne said too, holding on to his Battle Rifle.
"No." Korra said gaining everyone's attention. "This is something I have to do alone."
"I have my orders and I'm not about to disobey them." Thorne told her.
"I am the Avatar; it is my duty to do this!" Korra responded. She hopped off Naga and walked towards the Forever Storm. "And don't follow me."
Thorne placed the safety off his rifle and reloaded it. "Watch over them." Thorne said as he quickly went after Korra.
"He's crazy; she's the only one that can survive in there." Unalaq said.
"He's a Spartan, the best of the best. He will make it out." DeMarco told him.
Thorne entered the frozen forest, he couldn't see Korra anywhere. "Korra!" He yelled but no one responded. Then he saw above him something move, "Shit!" He then jumped out of the way as two dark snake-like spirits were about to take his head off.
He then fired with his BR at them, the bullets ripping through the spirit snakes, making them disappear. "Well that wasn't so hard." He said but then he saw a shadow appear behind him. He turned and beheld an enormous dark spirit being.
"Ah!" It struck him with its long arms, his shields broke and his body broke through the ice sheets. He stood up and saw the beast coming towards him at an alarming speed. He threw a grenade; the explosion made the monster fall back and allowed Thorne to run towards a safer location.
Then he saw what appeared to be Korra, "Hey!" He yelled, but the beast then grabbed him by the neck and threw him into the direction he was looking at.
"Augh…this is bad." Thorne said as the monster turned into about a hundred of spirit snakes and began to constrict him. Throne felt like his armor was about to crack but he resisted, he gathered all of his strength and with all his might he broke free from the spirit snakes' grip.
Angry, the dark spirits punched the Spartan into more ice trees and sheets, finally ending up inside an open area, where the closed spirit gate was. Korra was there punching the ice blocking the gate. "I told you not to follow me!" Korra told him.
"Behind you!" He whipped out his BR and shot at the spirit coming behind Korra, it retreated but then the snakes returned. They grabbed the two of them; Thorne was feeling the weight of these supposed ethereal beings crushing his ribs. "This…is…a good time…to do something!" Thorne yelled.
Korra tried to touch the spirit gate but the dark spirits were pulling her back…there was only one things left to do. She entered the Avatar State and with it pulled herself closer to the gate, Thorne watching as how she at that state was burning several of these dark spirits by just touching them. She was close…closer…closer and…
A white lighted engulfed the entire South Pole as Korra unlocked the spirit gate with her Avatar power. The ice melted and the Forever Storm died down, Korra stood up from the grassy ground to see the opened gate. She looked at the base of it…it looked a lot like the stuff that the Forerunners made their tech out of.
"It worked…" Thorne said as he saw the light pillar coming out of the spirit gate. And the sky was then full of what seemed Aurora Borealis. It was beautiful… "Good job." He told Korra.
She smiled, "Let's go back." Korra said. From the other side Unalaq also smiled.
"Christ…they did it." DeMarco said.
"She did it." Unalaq corrected him. "She's the Avatar after all."