I apologize, but I will be on vacation next week, so there will be no chapters. To make up for it, I made this chapter almost twice as long!
You can go back and re-read some of the chapters, as I have made some minor changes. Thank you if you PM'ed me about edits!
Chapter 7: What's a Blessing?
Noatak tried to focus his blood bending down to the cellular level. I am a prodigy. I will never surrender. I will NOT die here. He was hungry and had to stop the bleeding. By withdrawing the water from within his own blood at the surface of his cuts, he could instantly form a layer of scabbing and from there use water healing techniques to smoothen out his skin. He did this all without lifting a finger. However, the external cuts were not the problem. His broken bones demanded attention.
So hungry. So tired.
A curious mouse squeaked nearby in the dark cave. Noatak was so weak he heard it first before sensing it. When it came close enough, he mentally blood-bended it by pulling its blood in every direction. The mouse popped as if it were part of a controlled explosion. Noatak was too weak to chew, so he brought the mouse blood nearby him and dehydrated the mouse's blood. With the blood cells dead, he mixed the clean water he had just pulled from the blood back into the remaining dried minerals. Noatak let the dead blood cells float to the top and bended the bottom half of the solution. He waited several minutes before continuing, but he was so hungry, it seemed like an eternity. Next, he pricked himself with his own blood by pulling a drop of blood from his own vein out, and he carefully water-bended a fine thin trickle of the solution he created into his own body.
His stomach still growled, but the hunger ebbed away. His intravenous solution had worked. He left the rodent scraps on the ground to attract other prey. Noatak did this for two days without sleep. He forced himself to stay awake by pricking his own nerves enough so that his pain was greater than the broken bones he was trying to heal. By the end of the second day Noatak was concentrating on the bone marrow to produce more blood. He knew his blood-bending skills were becoming even better than before, the more he concentrated on healing himself.
In fact, Noatak was surpassing blood-bending. When his stomach growled, he pulled the stomach acid away from his body. Noatak had complete control of every function within his body, but it required much concentration to keep up. No matter, I am a prodigy, he thought. No water bender could do this before because they did not possess my skill. I was given these skills so that I could realize my dream. I refuse death.
On the third day, Noatak got up and tested his legs and back. Pain shot through his chest and leg so he blocked his pain receptors temporarily. Noatak continued to hobble along the dark cavern.
Once, he thought of his younger brother, Tarrlok, and the cave seemed to respond to him. Noatak thought it was merely his eyes adjusting to the light so he continued without a second thought. Noatak continued to slowly follow the cave walls, healing himself whenever he stopped to rest. Noatak stopped to rest and thought about his failed plan... his idea for the perfect world…and then the cave blinded him.
His love for the future generations and all those who would enjoy the perfect lives he would help create were somehow linked to the cave. Noatak believed the future generations would never have to face the cruelties that he endured by his father. The horrors of war, and the hatred of others stemming from differences would be a thing of the past. Abominations of terror like himself would cease to exist and the world would finally see peace. I'm not the villain. I'm just doing what is right.He was doing what was necessary for a non-violent future. Noatak was going to start the war to end all wars...forever. Noatak slumped against the cave wall and laughed. His laugh carried throughout The Cave of Two Lovers and the cave got brighter and brighter. It got so bright to the point that Noatak had to stop thinking about his plans and concentrate on healing in order to see.
The cave opened up to the other side of Omashu. Ahead, Noatak could see a busy road bustling with merchants trying to get into the city to sell their goods. It must have been a particularly busy day with this amount of people. Noatak looked down at his tattered robes and spied a cabbage farmer preoccupied with a small air bison that was eating the farmer's produce. Noatak crept closer and lifted his body using blood bending to avoid noise. When he was in range, Noatak pulled a large amount of blood from the farmer's head to the rest of his body. To be honest, Noatak pulled too strongly, and the farmer would most likely never wake up.
Noatak lifted the straw sack and the remaining cabbages away from the sky bison. He checked to be sure that it wasn't the same animal as the Avatar's mentor. It wasn't. This one was too small and had too few stripes.
Noatak made his way to the road and joined the morning rush hour into the city.
Korra and Mako rode over the Kolau Mountain range for hours until they saw the great city of Omashu. It was early dawn, and the city was illuminated by lights from above so that it looked like large fire-butterflies- the large bugs that lit up the summer sky in the fire nation glowing in the distance. The city looked very dense and Mako suggested that they let Ombi graze outside the city and the two of them walk into the city together. Korra agreed and Mako reached over to put his arm around the Avatar, but she made no response. Eventually Korra shrugged his arm off of her.
A little hurt, Mako retreated and mentioned his brother. "Do you think Bolin sent you any messages yet?"
"I don't know. I guess we should check Eastern Union when we get into town."
"My brother's probably spending his entire paycheck on food right now."
Korra smiled. Bolin would do that. She steered Ombi towards the side of the road. Then she hopped off.
"Stay here okay, Ombi?" The sky bison grunted as if to say yes, but as soon as Korra turned around, Ombi also turned to start walking away. Mako had to stop him by offering the last of the moon peaches he picked from the Southern Air Temple.
Korra found some small vines growing on a small tree and hovered her right hand over them. She could sense the water contained inside the plant and moving ever so slowly within it. Getting in touch with her spiritual side as she had done to get to Avatar State, she persuaded the plant to move along to her will. She water bended the plant to coil around her arms and walked back to Mako and Ombi. Korra fashioned a small leash which held Ombi's back left leg to the tree. The little sky bison could easily get away, but Korra just wanted to let him know his boundaries. Ombi whined a little, but was distracted by a new patch of grass he found that he had been sitting on.
"When'd you learn how to do that?"
Korra was packing and didn't look up. "Just now, I guess."
Mako slung his bag over his shoulder and tossed Korra her rolled up snow-leopard skin bed. Together, they walked the path leading into Omashu.
At the gates, the guards were surprised to see the Avatar and immediately opened the way for Korra and Mako. The city was just waking up as the early-birds of Omashu society were leaving their homes to go to work. Three small children in rags quickly greeted them and asked for change.
Korra didn't have any money on her, and neither did Mako.
The middle child thanked them for their trouble, but she stepped closer and mumbled something else. Mako said, "Excuse me?" and leaned in closer to hear better, but he already fell for it. The oldest had crawled behind Mako. The girl whispering shoved Mako as hard as she could. Mako lost balance and toppled over. Both the youngest and oldest checked Mako's pockets.
The youngest yelled, "Nothing, sis!"
The girl who shoved Mako over scowled and spit on his pants before running off. Mako's hands flared as he held back from blasting the child from a fireball.
Korra just stood there and tried assess the situation and wondered if all the kids in Omashu were like that.
"Thanks for the help, Korra."
Korra grinned. "No problem. I thought you could handle it. Guess I was wrong!"
"Well, the girl just caught me by surprise. But I didn't want to burn the runts to a crisp! They couldn't have been older than 8 or 9!"
Korra airbounced Mako back onto his feet and they wandered into the City Market where many of the shops were just setting up.
"Oh it's the Avatar!" A merchant ran excitedly up to the two. "Welcome to Omashu! I had no idea you were visiting! The King said nothing! Yes, yes, we would've all thrown a parade! How was your travels? Tiring, no?
Korra was about to answer, but the man seemed perfectly fine without her saying a thing, so she simply listened.
"Young man, try some of my fine ale. A companion of the Avatar is always welcome for a drink, even if the sun isn't fully up yet. No better time to drink, I'd say so myself! Now, where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself! I guess I have many names, but all the merchant folk just call me Bee."
Mako was handed a wooden mug with a sweet beer. He was going to complain that he hadn't yet eaten anything, but couldn't interrupt their cheery fan.
"Now for you miss Avatar, I was hoping to sell these today, but my finest crop of white kiwiberries are yours! Please, you cannot refuse these. Try one, and let me know what you think."
Korra had never even seen such a fruit. It had the shape of a strawberry and was white with no seeds on the outside, but when she bit into the berry, the inside had a ring of red seeds much like how a kiwi would have. The fruit was sweet with a tart aftertaste, but was very delicious.
By now, a small crowd was drawing around Mako, Korra, and their new friend, which they had no name yet. One man bowed and asked to kiss her hand. Korra shook her head and said that sort of treatment are for queens, but not her. The man bent over, kissed her Southern Water Tribe boots, and asked her to keep him and his family safe. He left a small wooden carving of King Bumi by her feet.
Things started to get out of control as soon as one person finished paying their respect or asking favors from Korra, so Mako stepped in and ordered everyone to form a line. Many people simply wanted to give Korra small offering of food, and soon, she had a large pile of gifts behind her. Then, a mother carrying her child around her arms stepped forward.
"Avatar Korra, I have heard that you can restore bending. Can you please bless my child, as today is her 8th month. Please grant her the gift of power, so that she is never oppressed."
Korra responded, "I have restored and returned bending, but I have never tried creating a power that did not exist. I can try, ma'am, but please do not expect anything."
The mother extended her arms and Korra closed her eyes and placed her thumb downwards onto the baby's forehead. She connected with her spirit and the baby's while focusing on energy-bending. Korra focused on her own energy to make sure that it was stable before entering the infant's mind.
Instantly, Korra knew she had wandered into a mistake. The baby's mind was not structured. It demanded to be fed, but it was not really a demand. It was a drive. There were drives for touch, love, affection, and urinating. Navigating through to find the Ki source was extremely difficult, but Korra felt like she had to give the mother what she asked for, since Korra agreed. So, Korra pushed onward until she found an energy gate.
The gate was completely sealed off and Korra used her own energy to force it open. Immediately, the flow of Ki began rushing out, but it was wild and uncontrolled. Korra exited the infants mind and woke to find it crying at full volume. The other merchants gasped as its hands and feet were fire bending, but without technique so that it was burning itself. The area smelled a little of burning flesh. The mother had severe burns on her from holding onto her baby since she forced herself to hold onto her child after it scorched her.
The mother was holding back tears of pain, and nodded to Korra before walking away.
Korra felt terrible, but didn't have much time to think about it before four city guards approached her.
"Avatar Korra, the king would like to see you. Please follow us."
Mako looked at all the gifts. As if reading his mind, the guard said, "Do not worry. We will send palace servants to fetch those."
And Mako looked at Bee. The guard frowned. "Was he with you too? Alright then, if the Avatar allows it, of course."
Korra nodded. She began following the guards when she felt a chill run down her back. She looked over at an alleyway and thought she saw Amon wearing his mask in black robes. Korra ran over bracing herself for battle. The guards were following her, but when she reached the alleyway, there was nothing there.
Noatak found Bon Ni and Cloud rather easily. The two had been put in charge of the Equalist movement in Omashu, but they had gotten little progress compared to their Equalist brothers and sisters out in Ba Sing Se.
"Aw, but Boss, you don't understand! The Agni Kai Triads are super strong!" Cloud complained.
"Yeah! Super strong!" Chimed in Bon Ni.
Noatak was disappointed. Cloud didn't quite live up to his name.
Cloud continued. "We here holding up one of the banks to get the money we needed for a demonstration, when the Agni Kai Triads showed up! They tied us up! They tied the city guards up! They beat the bankers and made off with the money we were going to steal!"
Bon Ni gave several "mmhmm's" while Cloud talked and nodded several more times in confirmation of his story.
Noatak didn't know what the Lieutenant was thinking letting these two spread word in Omashu. He remembered that he specified that Ba Sing Se was more important, but he hadn't meant to completely give up on Omashu.
"So tell me then, what have you two been doing?"
Cloud pulled out a mask from his robes and whipped it on. "We've been making masks! TA DAH!"
Bon Ni reached for her's and echoed, "TA DAH!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Noatak saw the Korra, The girl that stood in the way of his plans and foiled years of his work. His blood boiled, and she looked over. Noatak quickly blood-bended the two of his followers against the wall and slowly levitated themselves up and against the building. When the Avatar got to the alley, they were just nearly at the top fo the brick building and Korra never bothered to look up.
Bon Ni and Cloud were holding their breathes and exhaled in unison.
Noatak asked, "Where are the Agni Kai Triad headquarters? I think I would like to be recruited."
