(Jinora's voice)
Earth, Fire, Air, Water. Only the Avatars can master all four elements, and so bring balance to the world.
But sometimes fate requires more than one.
At Harmonic convergence, over four years ago, in the Battle for Republic City, Avatar Korra and I brought back Avatar Aang, along with the air nation.
That was so long ago it feels like years now.
The world is a different place. The air nation is part of it.
But sometimes…I wonder if it was all for the best. The situation in the Earth Kingdom is pulling people apart.
Sometimes….I hate myself for thinking…If we hadn't brought back airbending…Zaheer wouldn't have escaped…the earth kingdom wouldn't have been brought back…Korra wouldn't have been hurt…
But Aang wouldn't have come back either.
I don't think we'd have made it through the past years without him. He and Appa rarely stayed in one place for more than a few days at a time, though most of his time was spent in the earth kingdom.
The world has changed so much…
After all these years…
An air bison roared in the sky, flying down to a small earth down village being attacked by raiders. Jinora and Opal jumped off its back, unfastening their glider suits. The jeep with the bandits tried to drive away, but the two skilled airbenders flew in close the ground after it.
Kai flew in front of the vehicle, spinning and kicking out with legs, sending a blast of air at the jeep. The jeep was thrown forward, and its occupants were thrown out onto the ground. Opal and Kai landed on opposite sides of the bandits as their vehicle crashed and quickly had them tied up.
"It's safe to come out everyone," Kai told the village, "The airbenders are here."
"You finally made it," Said the governed of Yi, running out. "So where are the rest of you?" He finished, coming up to them,
"Actually…It's just the two of us," Opal explained. "But we're going to do everything we can. I'm Opal, and this is Kai."
"It's nice to meet you," Kai said, offering his hand.
"What?" The mad asked. "I tied to call avatar Aang, only eventually getting through to Master Tenzin, because my state has been under siege by bandits for months. They blocked all the roads, cut of supplies, and they sent was you two kids?!"
"Hey!" Kai retorted, a bit offended. "'Us two kids' just took care of those three bandits for you."
"There are hundreds more like them." The governor explained. "My citizens are going hungry; our entire state is on the brink of collapse."
"Unfortunately, the air nation is spread pretty thin right now. We're all you have."
Bolin walked in to the train compartment, holding a binder under his arm. "We just got some good news; two more earth kingdom states have agreed to join us."
"Excellent Bolin," Opal brother said. "We're 90% there," he continued, walking towards Kuvira.
"That's great!" Exclaimed Varik. "Julie, go fish out some of that special celebration tea."
Kuvira moved to the map and metal bent up another two states, filling them into their proper places. "None for me," She said to the tea. "I won't celebrate until the earth kingdom is 100% united."
In an awkward silence tea cups were set back down on tea plates.
"Okay then…" Bolin said warily. "Do you know when the next meeting with Avatar Aang is? I thought he planned to be out here with us right now."
A small, practically unnoticeable flash of uncertainty passed over Kuvira but it passed almost as soon as it came, and no one noticed. "He planned to fly out to meet us on his bison soon. He's a busy man though, so I wouldn't know."
Bolin frowned and was about to continue the conversation when the train lurched and came to a sudden stop. A man walked in, saluting, and Kuvira walked over to meet him.
"Why have we stopped?" She asked.
"Apologies, there are rocks on the tracks; it's most likely bandits. We're sending troops to handle it."
"Call them off," Kuvira declared. She smiled a small, controlled smile. "I will tack care of the bandits myself."
Kuvira came into the open air by climbing onto the top of the train, her senses alert for any movement. And in a few movement earth bender moved down the hill of slabs of rock, determined expressions on their faces.
It was a trap, earth benders moving down both side of the hill, trapping the train.
Kuvira's confidence never wavered though. She dodged the earth bent rocks thrown at her from the hill with ease, and then sent out strips of metal like vipers. The metal strips covered the earth benders' eyes, and bound their feet and hands. Soon they were bundled up like potatoes.
Minutes later Kuvira had them on their knees; their metal handcuffs bound the railroad tracks. Kuvira recalled the strips over their eyes.
A woman looked up. "You're…Kuvira."
"And you're the bandits who have been causing chaos, where I and the air nation have been trying to create order."
"We heard the air nation doesn't work-" A man spoke out, only to be silence with a metal strip and a glare.
"We're sorry, we didn't know this was your train-" The woman continued quickly, only to be silenced again.
"Don't talk over me." Kuvira said harshly.
"Please, take mercy on us," A man to the woman's right said.
"Stop groveling as if this is the worst day of your life." Kuvira said. "This is a good day. I'm going to give you all the opportunity to rehabilitate yourselves and become productive members of you nation. Right now, you're lost." She continued. "But pledge your loyalty to me, and I'll give you a new purpose in your lives." Kuvira cast them a side long glance. "Of course, if you don't want to join, you could always stay right here." She smiled. "Hopefully someone saves you before the next train comes through, but I wouldn't count on it."
"No, we'll join," The man said desperately. "Don't leave us here."
"We pledge our loyalty to you, Great Uniter." The woman said.
Kuvira only smiled.
Opal and Bolin came into the village from feeding the bison, to see Kuvira's train role in. They both had the same immediate thought, maybe Aang was with them.
Men stepped of the train, followed by Bolin.
"Hey, what's your boyfriend what's your boyfriend doing here?"
"If he's here…he must be with Kuvira." Opal said. "And…I'm not seeing Aang." Something was up. "This is not going to be good."
"Bolin!" Kai called out.
"Kai!" Bolin said in return. The two ran to each other and hugged, as strange boys do. "Wow you are a lot heavier than you used to be, you're really growing up."
"What's up with your new hair?" Kai asked. "You look like a stiff."
"Hey, Kuvira says it makes me look intelligent and professional."
"Don't believe everything she says," Opal said, coming up from behind and messing up Bolin's hair.
"Opal!" Bolin exclaimed. "I can't believe you're here two." He sighed, and they hugged. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too."
"Look who it is," Opal brother said, stepping of the train. "It's good to see you again, little sister."
"What a wonderful surprise," Kuvira said. "A happy reunion for my favorite couple."
"How's mom doing?" Opal's brother asked.
"Like you care," Opal retorted. "She still hasn't forgiven you."
"You know for someone who claims to be so enlightened," He brother said. "Mom can really hold a grudge."
"I guess when her son betrays her," Opal said, getting angrier.
"Please," Kuvira interjected. "Opal, we're not here to bicker with you about things that happened three years ago. We're here to help this town, just like you."
"I've heard how you towns, by conquering them," Opal said. "And where is avatar Aang?"
"Aang is going to be going us soon by bison when he can manage it." Kuvira hesitated for a moment, and then continued. "I know the rumors about me can be pretty nasty, but I am giving everyone in this nation a better future, and with Bolin's help, the Avatar's peace making skills, and my fiancé's ideas, we're laying the groundwork for people to build their own achievements."
"You're fiancé?" Opal said incredulous.
"You haven't heard?" Kuvira Said, looking to Opal's brother. "You're brother and I are getting married."
Bolin gave a nervous laugh. "Isn't that great, sweetie?"
"I know things got heated in your family," Kuvira continued. "When Batar and I left Zaofu, I know tensions were running high." She put her hand on Opal's shoulder. "But don't you think it's time to forgive and forget?"
"What are you doing here?" The governor of Yi asked, walking up.
"Hello governor," Kuvira said. "I was wondering if you and I could talk privately."
Aang opened his eyes, his head pounding, in a large metal room. His hands and feet had been chained to two posts, making it impossible to move and bend.
Memories flashed around his head like lightening. Kuvira. He remembered, how'd she changed. At first he'd admired her, but then she'd shown her true self. He'd gone to confront her that knight, and she'd turned. All along she'd been playing him.
And along the way before that everything had seemed to go so fine. Katara had sent him letters, saying that Korra was on the mend among other things, and he'd even managed to get down there on Appa a few times.
He'd been wrong to trust Kuvira.
Aang felt like a fool
Korra walked away from an empty fighting ring, dressed in earth kingdom clothing. He hair was cut, her eyes haunted.
She wondered how long it would take for Aang to figure out she was gone. They're connection was weird, he could go into the avatar state but when he did she only felt the barest trace of it.
But he would find out.
She couldn't go back though…not like this.
And that's all for now folks. I'm trying to get this done efficiently, so I can't do entire episodes. The story will focus on Aang with a bit of others.
Anyway, constructive criticism welcomed, and I hoped you enjoyed that.
(Updates will come out every one of two weeks, on weekends)
Avatar Lizzy