Chapter 4
Ba Sing Se is the capital of the Earth Kingdom. It was nicknamed the 'Impenetrable City' for its world-famous walls that can only be open with earthbending. It was also the last city of the Earth Kingdom to fall under the terrible might of the Fire Nation during the Hundred Year War. But that did not last long. The war soon ended and the beautiful city was returned back to the Earth Kingdom. All because of the great Avatar Aang.
Years later, Ba Sing Se was in trouble yet again. This time, not by three teenage girls and the Dai Li, but by four exceptional skilled individuals. Four benders, one of which, has not been a bender for long. They took down the entire city of Ba Sing Se in no less than one hour. They turned the whole Earth Kingdom into a cesspool of anarchy in no less than three. In a matter of one month, Ba Sing Se has finally been stabilized. All because of the great Kuvira.
Ba Sing Se was not built in a day. So the same can be said of rebuilding it. Kuvira is still barking orders, working night and day with no rest, ignoring her own health to make her nation's capital back to its former glory. No. Better than it ever was. That is what driving Kuvira.
Currently, Kuvira is walking the streets of her nation's capital with her subordinates surrounding her, informing her on all situations. She can see there is still much work that needs to be done. Her subordinates is helping the people as best they can.
She rub her eyes. Today makes the third day she went without sleep. "Ma'am, we will need additional funds for the plumbing of the Lower Ring." Subordinate number one said.
Kuvira has find it easier to not memorize subordinates names while she is in such poor state. It would be really awkward if she mistake their names for someone else or get it wrong in general. She will make a effort once she is done with Ba Sing Se.
"I will foresee the matters on that tonight and give appropriate funds to the project." Kuvira was handed a document by subordinate number two.
"Ma'am, this is the list of everything we got back that was looted from the Royal Palace." He hands her a pen. "We just need you to check it over and sign it."
She took the pen then proceed to read the document. While reading it she had to blink to refocus her eyes. Every fourth word or so, her vision gets blurry. Maybe she should get some rest if she can not read properly. No, she can't she has too much work to do.
Screw it, she thought. Kuvira did not even get halfway through the list before signing it. She trust her men that the information is correct. As soon they take a right at the intersection, Kuvira was swarm by even more of her subordinates.
They are asking her multiple questions, handing her papers to sign, and identifying her about all the city's situations. She is completely surrounded by her men. Kuvira's heart rate quicken in pace. Her radical moving eyes are looking for a exit in the horde of her subordinates.
They keep rambling to her about the problems. The useless problems of the people and the dumb city. It is giving her a headache. Like she, Kuvira, leader of this damn army, does not already know the problems. The world is starting to spin. She has to get out of here. She needs to get out of here.
"Shut up!" Kuvira yelled.
…
…
…
Silence. Just plain silence. Every single one of them are in complete awe at the outburst of their supposed calm collected leader. Even the civilians are in complete shock. No one has ever seen Kuvira lose her cool before.
Kuvira quickly push her way out of the crowd. She needs some space, some time alone. In her hurry of leaving the area, she stumble over her feet. Embarrassing, absolutely embarrassing. No leader should show their weak side to others. She needs to be strong. She needs to prove her wrong.
Kuvira keep on walking. She ignore the calls and stares the people are giving her. She needs to head back to her room. But first, she needs to catch her breath. She stop at a bench in a surprisingly empty street.
She wipe the sweat off of her forehead. Kuvira has never been good with closed space. She can blame her terrible childhood for that. Mix her with her being awake for three days straight, it was a disaster waiting to happen. She close her eyes, and even out her breathing.
"When was the last time I even closed my eyes this long?' Kuvira muttered. She might fall asleep if she keeps them close a second longer.
"Give me your money."
"Huh?" Kuvira open her eyes to see a mugger with a knife pointed at her. The mugger is a male with no shirt and ragged shorts full of patches. He is obviously not a professional based on his stance and how he is holding his weapon.
Is this seriously happening? This mugger obviously does not whom he is messing with. Kuvira stood up from the bench. When she did, the world starts to spin again. She got up too fast. Kuvira brought a hand to her head and took a step forward to balance herself.
But the mugger did not see it that way. He slash his knife at the daze Kuvira in freight. He was able to nicked her shoulder. The small wound Kuvira received was able to bring her out of her dizziness. She quickly create a hole underneath the mugger with her earthbending.
Once he fell in, Kuvira earthbend the ground so he will be trap, leaving only his head in the open. Someone would come for him. Eventually. She check her wound. It is nothing serious, it might leave a scar but highly unlikely. But,... she should get it check out just in case.
Kuvira groan at the thought of her friend. "Baatar is going to scold me about this."
Kuvira is walking to her room with Baatar not far behind. She had long ignore what he is saying. After seeing her fall asleep while brushing her teeth, he has been on her case of her not overworking herself. Kuvira appreciate the sentiment, but she needs to do this by herself. To her, this is her chance. She can show everyone what she is made of. She can make her nation even better than it ever was. Hell, Kuvira and her men has been in the capital for only one month, and the crime rate has been lower than it ever was. Because of her, the capital has a new, faster form of transportation. Because of her, the people of the capital have jobs and working to better the Earth Kingdom as a whole.
Because of her work, she never been so tired. Because of her work, he never been so frustrated with people's stupidity. Because of her work, she lost face with her men and the people she is trying to help. Because of her work,... because of the work she is doing here she wants to quit. Because of her work, she wants to go back home. Because of her work, she wants to see her mother again and have her console her like she did when she was young.
Kuvira shook her head at the thought. "She's not my mother." She muttered.
"What was that Kuv?" They reach her room.
"Nothing," Kuvira open her door. She enter her room and turn to face her second in command. "Baatar, I got to do some paperwork, so if you could-"
He narrow his eyes at her. "Kuvira." He scolded.
She sigh, "then, I will get some rest. I promise. I'll sleep for two days if it will make you feel better."
"Make it three and then we will have a deal," he said with a cheeky grin. "Even the most ambitious and greatest of leaders need their rest. I'll take care of things during those three days." He turn around and wave goodbye.
Kuvira rub the temples of her head. Why did she bring him along again? Forget it, she has paperwork to do. She close the door and see a decent mountain size of documents on her desk. She walks to it then sit down in her chair. Kuvira roll her neck and stretch her arms.
She pick up her favorite pen. A present that was given to her when she became captain of the guards in Zaofu. "Let's do this." She took the first of many papers that is on her desk then proceed to read it.
After three hours, severe hand pains, strain eyes, and a sore butt, Kuvira completed the stack of documents. She lean back in her chair while hanging her head off the back, releasing a hardy sigh of a work well done. She never want to see another document or paper with words ever again.
"Ugh." She moaned.
Maybe Baatar is right, she should have three days to herself. She has been working nonstop since leaving Zaofu. She sit back up normally.
She raise a eyebrow at the new item on her desk. "Huh?" She pick it up. "A letter? How did I missed this, and who sent this?"
With a sigh, Kuvira open the letter and read the contents of it.
Dear Kuvira,
Hello, Avatar Korra again. Thank you for responding to my previous letter. Truth to be told, I didn't think you will answer me. But I'm glad that you did.
Um, sorry that sound a bit creepy. Anyways, my physical therapist said I should talk to someone about my… rehabiltion. Master Katara say it would be good for me to talk about my problems and stuff. I guess really, I need a girl talk in a sense.
This might sound weird but I don't have a lot of friends, and I would like it if you were one. And it would be a big plus, if you can deal with me bitching and moaning. Of course I would listen to your problems too. I bet stabilizing a nation is hard tiring work. I bet you haven't slept in days because of what you have to do. I know I can see myself working to the bone till everything is well again.
I'm rambling now. Sorry again. It's just weird of me writing a letter to someone I barely know asking them to be my friend and to complain about our shitty situations to each other.
I should end this now before I make more of a fool of myself. I hope you write back.
From, Avatar Korra
P.S. You don't have to write 'Avatar Korra' in your letters. Just call me Korra. It feels weird reading my title.
P.P.S I'm also going to stop writing my title in my letters. It feels even weirder doing that.
Kuvira place the letter down. She can not help but chuckle after reading it. The Avatar is something else. She appreciate the informality of this letter compare to the first. Too many people speak to her formally. It is a nice change of pace. It makes her feel like a normal person again.
She also can not believe she misspelled the word 'rehabilitation'. The Avatar should really proof read her work before sending them off. Kuvira was quite shock that the Avatar was right in her assumption of her not sleeping for the past couple days. She wonder how she guess that. This is the only time they have communicated since the Red Lotus incident.
Kuvira take out her hair tie and shake her head, letting her hair be free. She run her hand through her ebony black colored hair. The Avatar talk of sharing their problems actually seem like a good idea. She can ask her for advice she desperately need. If she is feeling this much pressure after one month of continuous work, the Avatar must feel even worst with her responsibility to the world. Kuvira bet the Avatar hates being cooped up while she is cleaning up the Earth Kingdom. She knows she did.
She went in her drawer to get a piece of paper. Kuvira tap her chin to think of what to write.
"Dear Avat-" She immediately crumble up the paper and threw it aside. She grab another piece of paper. "Dear Korra."
Kuvira has to admit one thing about Korra. She is right about her title. 'Avatar Korra' does feels a bit weird to write rather than just writing plain 'Korra'.
"I hope you won't regret this Korra." She start grinning as she writes. "I'm surprisingly quite good at bitching and moaning."
A/N:Hey guys, I hope you all like this chapter. It took me a while to think of the contents of the letter. In all honesty, to me that is the hardest part of this story. Leave a review and all that jazz.
Still haven't think of the words to write for Dreams to Nightmare, so I'm taking a small break from that story. I started writing a new chapter of Can't Forget You. So look forward to that when it is finished.
Till Next Time.