Woah! Can this be? TWO posts in one day?
Yes. Yes it is.
For multiple reasons. 1) I'm trying to make up for some lost time. 2) I'm trying to speed through these parts with Korra just a /tad/ bit so it doesn't seem as, well, depressing. I know a few people have been disliking the speed and the sadness of seeing Korra in such a state, so I figured I would try and move the process along just a /little/ quicker than originally planned (considering my original plan is actually behind schedule from me being sick). But after a shower and some contemplation in said shower, I'm picking up the speed a little bit. 3) I love these chapters, but I love the ones coming up even more and I really just want to share them with you!
These next two chapters are similar to the past ones, but things start to pick up afterwards (into one of my favorite chapters; Worthy). Sooooo, enjoy this extra post! Or, at least, try to. Hahah.
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Chapter 25
Plummet
The group exited the limits of Harbor City and halted at the base of the dormant volcano that held Caldera City and the Fire Nation Royal Palace. Korra gulped as she eyed the jagged, meandering path that led up the side of the natural scape. The edges were rough and steep, though not as great in slope as the rest of the mountain.
"Ready, Korra?" Iroh stepped up to her side as he asked, his hands folded behind his back.
She traced the path once more, the strap of her bag loose in her fingers. The fatigue was returning, drowning out the fire she felt from her travels through Harbor City. The volcano seemed to grow in height with each blink of her lids. "Don't you have, like, animals or Satomobiles or something we can take up there instead of walking?" She turned to the General, a hidden pleading in her eyes; her body was just too weak from lack of food, water, and rest. She didn't consider the broken sleep she got the night before to really count, since it didn't do much to restore her aches and enervation. While the walk through Harbor City wasn't too bad and relatively flat, scaling this volcano just seemed like an impossible task.
He shook his head. "We don't have Satomobiles in the Fire Nation, Korra." He narrowed his eyes and held his chin in thought. "I believe most of the komodo rhinos are out delivering supplies to Shinzong Island for the farmers there while the others are on the other side of Caldera City, heading into the mountains for some scouting." He turned to her and met her eyes. "I suppose to get to Caldera City, we'll have to walk." The Prince moved a few feet forward and gazed at his homeland, though the Palace itself wasn't quite in his sight yet. "We could always take another break, if you'd like."
It was Korra's turn to shake. "No, I don't need another break." It was a lie and she knew it, though her preferred break would be a buffet and a twenty-four hour nap. But she wouldn't let this truth out, wouldn't expose herself further. She approached the Fire Bender and walked past him. "Let's keep moving. We're losing daylight." Her voice held a level of determination that she didn't believe was possible in her state.
The United Forces members stared at her parka-covered back as she continued onward, blue bag swung over her shoulder. Her steps were shaky and her path was not exactly straight. Iroh raised an eyebrow and grinned at her stubbornness – which reminded him of his own self at her age, almost two decades ago. "Come on," he waved his crew on, "we've got a ways to go."
They nodded and followed their General without a sound. It didn't take long for them to catch up to the winding Southerner. They approached the road leading up to Caldera City and began the long climb. Korra struggled around the first bend, the smallest of the twelve that were to come. She gritted her teeth and fought for breath.
Come on, body. You can do this. Just take your time. Nice… and… slow…
"Korra!" Iroh lunged for her and caught her in his arms before she fell to her knees. The crew turned to the pair, frozen in their tracks. "Are you alright?"
She held her swirling head with a single palm. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Another lie. She tried to push herself to her feet, only to fall once more.
"Rest. Take a break." He lowered her to the ground and scanned the surrounding area. The sun was high in the sky, marking the midpoint of the day. A chilling wind wrapped around them, forcing a short shiver from all involved. He eyed the Southerner beside him, who was mumbling "come on, keep going" to herself over and over, as if she had lost control of the ability to keep her thoughts in her head. "Let's help her up the volcano." He motioned for a member of his group to come over. They wrapped one of Korra's arms around each of their backs and hoisted her to her feet.
What – what's going on?
Korra's blurry eyes focused on the ground shifting below her. Her legs moved without her command as they approached the second bend. She lifted her head to find Iroh on her left side and another man on her right, carrying her upper body along the road.
No.
She pulled away from the men, rejecting this idea, and nearly stumbled down the side of the path. Korra got her footing – as weak as it was – and held the strap of her bag tight between her fingers.
"Korra?" Iroh reached for her, shock and annoyance mixed in his eyes.
"I can do this on my own." Her voice was in a deep growl, much to everyone's surprise – including her own. She slipped her way through the loose rocks and back onto the main trail. "If I'm going to see the Fire Lord, I'm going to make the journey. I'm going to. I'm going to do this on my own. I can do this." She walked, almost in a gaze, around the second turn. Her steps were slow and groggy. Her stubbornness – on the other hand – was blazing, despite her absent mind. "I can do this. I can do this. Come on, body; keep moving. Come on, come on."
Korra was on her hands and knees by the time she hit the third bend.
"Korra, for Spirits' sake, let us help you."
She shook her head. Her vision swirled. Her fingertips were firm against the ground below, keeping her torso upright. She looked up at the road ahead, towering over her and splitting into two images on occasion. Another gust of wind blew through her. A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders, but she pulled away.
"Korra –"
"I can do this!" An eager fire burst through her. She pushed herself to her feet, swayed, and continued trudging through the gales, bag strap tight in her grip. An overwhelming need to prove herself took control.
Iroh and the other members of the United Forces' First Battalion glanced at each other, concern plastered on their faces. They caught up to the Southerner and formed a perimeter around her on the General's silent command. There weren't many of them that went with her on the journey to Caldera City; all but five of the over two-hundred deployed in the unit – not including the Prince – stayed at the perimeter around the Fire Nation to continue testing their weaponry. Regardless of their numbers, they were able to keep the brunette secure. The group kept a careful eye on her as they walked, ensuring they were close enough to catch her if she fell again.
Korra's confidence faded by the time she reached the halfway point. She refused to falter and collapse, though she did agree to take a break. Even though the submission came with reluctance, Iroh was relieved that the woman followed suit; he did not like the looks of her health and mental status, at the moment. She sat at the edge of the road, feet dangling over the side, as she gazed at all she had conquered so far. She glanced over her shoulder at the slope to come and groaned inside.
"Don't let it intimidate you." Iroh approached her and plopped beside her, looking to bring some comfort to the foreigner. "You've come a long way so far, especially given your condition."
"My condition?" Her tone was defensive, despite the fact that she was well aware of what the General was referring to.
He nodded with a soft face. "You're tired, Korra. There's no surprise in that, no way to hide it. Hell, you swam all the way from Republic City. You had to have been going for a few days straight, so it's no wonder you're so exhausted. I doubt the few hours of sleep you were able to get last night did much for you."
She sighed, knowing the truth in his statement. She looked out over the portion of the Fire Nation she could see. Harbor City looked a lot smaller from this height. The Royal Plaza was but a tiny figure in the distance before the water outstretched to the Harbor Gates and out into the Mo Ce Sea.
To think, I swam across that. But how?
Pain surfaced in the center of her mind when she tried to remember. She rubbed her temples, fighting to rid herself of the sting.
"Are you alright?"
She bobbed her head, though her eyes were still shut as she focused on her discomfort. After a few minutes of adjustment, she opened her lids and stared at the water beyond.
"It seems like you've been having a lot of headaches since I brought you in from the water."
"Yeah." Korra dropped her sight from the scenery to her hands. She observed the bruising around her knuckles. A flash of imagery crossed her vision. She was panting, sweating, punching and kicking the air in boiled-over fury. She heard her own voice echo against the empty stone walls.
"I was there."
"I was there."
The smack of her lit fist against the pillar forced its way through her bones. She trembled and held her hand against her chest.
"Easy, easy." Iroh gripped her shoulders to prevent her from tipping over the edge. "If you're not careful, you're going to fall."
Fall.
Another memory rammed itself into her vision. This moment was much more groggy and unclear than the first. She was standing and staring down at the water crashing into the rocks below. With an empty mind and a body out of her control, she plummeted for the bottom of the cliff.
"It wasn't a fall," she whispered, realization breaking through her painful recollection, "I jumped."
"Jumped? What do you mean: jumped?"
His words fell on deaf ears as Korra held her head in her hands, trying to use the pressure to calm the quake in her mind. She whimpered and panted. She pushed the memories away, coerced herself to shut everything off for the moment being.
"Korra?" Iroh rubbed her back to soothe her.
"I'm fine." She pushed herself onto her feet, a tired determination and a tad bit of fear setting in. She didn't want to think about all that she had done – not right now, at least. "Let's keep moving." She led the way, looking for anything that could distract her from her past. She left the sitting General to ponder after her.
Jumped? Where could she have jumped from? What does she mean? Is she –
"Sir?" One of his crew approached the Prince as the others watched after Korra.
Iroh nodded and rose, shaking himself from his ruminations. He eyed the Water Tribe girl, who was staggering to the next bend, before leaving his spot. He caught up to Korra and stayed close to her side, absorbed in the mystery that was this woman. A hundred questions crossed his mind, and he wanted to ask each one, but he thought better of it.
"How did you know I swam from Republic City and not somewhere else?"
Her inquiry pulled him from his contemplations. "My grandfather told me after I radioed him earlier from the docks. He said you were there attending the university."
She raised an eyebrow and met his golden irises. "Master Zuko?"
He nodded. "Have you ever met him before?"
Korra rubbed her eyes. "I – I don't think I have. I'm not entirely sure, to be honest." She massaged her temples, pain rebirthing in her skull upon her attempts to remember. "These past few days have been a blur. It's hard for me to remember anything..." She set her jaw to another shock that forced her to sway.
"Easy." Iroh steadied her as they crossed another bend.
"What else did he tell you about me?"
Iroh hesitated. "He told me you were from the Southern Water Tribe, the daughter of Chief Tonraq."
She gave him a single bob of her head as the ache dissipated. It was replaced by a new fire upon the thought of her parents. Her pace increased as she drew from it. "Anything else?"
He shook his head. "Maybe you could tell me more."
She eyed him with a hidden suspicion. His question and gesture was innocent enough, but her internal guard forced her to be weary of most people.
Most adults, anyways.
Her insides agreed with the thought. It had been adults and people her own age that had fucked her over in the past. She took another glance at him, this time locking pupils. "What do you want to know, specifically?"
His face perplexed as he held his chin in thought. "Well, what brings you to the Fire Nation?"
"I already told you." She looked away to the scenery around her. She took in the vast expanse of forested land stretching out into the grand mountains in the distance. There was a small amount of snow spattered across the high areas, and several patches of brown where the trees had lost their leaves. "I'm here to see Master Zuko."
"Yes, you did tell me. But your phrasing," he narrowed his eyes in contemplation, "you referred to him as the Fire Lord."
"And?"
"Well, my grandfather hasn't been the Fire Lord for years," he replied as they rounded the next curve. "My mother is the current Fire Lord. Zuko abdicated the throne about four years ago to help in the search for the Avatar and to be an ambassador of peace."
Korra raised her eyebrow. "Four years ago? But Master Aang has been gone for eighteen. Why wouldn't he abdicate sooner if he was going to look for the Avatar?"
"That's something that you'll have to ask him yourself." Iroh motioned as they approached the final two bends of the road to Caldera City.
Woah. We're here already?
She took a mental check of her body, unable to believe that she had made it a majority of the way without collapsing again.
Nope, still tired. So… tired…
She staggered a bit, the exhaustion coming back once she thought of it again; her determined fire had kept her mind off of the horrible fatigue she endured.
Fire.
A shock blasted through her, from the base of her spine straight into her mind, through her abdomen, her stomach, to her heart and her throat, and into the entirety of her skull. Images of her Fire Bending, of the white flames within her, flashed in bursts, drowning out the reality around her.
"Korra!" Iroh reached for her and grabbed onto her wrist just before she fell out of his grasp down the top of the road.
A few stones broke from the ground and bounced below her dangling feet. She watched them fall and collide several times with the mountain below before they disappeared from her sight. Her own plummet down to the jagged-edged water a few days before filled her mind. Fear pumped through her. Adrenaline fueled her limbs. She dug her toes into the side of the volcano and pushed herself onto the path with the help of the General pulling her. She clung to the ground for just a moment – grateful for its security – before scurrying up to the entrance of the volcano rim, desiring to get as far away from the final bends as possible. She braced herself against the stone cliff beside her after her sprint, heart and lungs racing. She stared at the small entrance before her, with its short red steeples and worn, earthen structure. It stood atop a short amount of stairs, which she groaned at on the inside.
"The Capitol is just through these gates." Iroh joined her side with a minor pant, hiding his concern for her through the tone of his statement. "Are you ready?"
Determination set in. Her thrashing insides settled upon the thought of more solid, less terrifying ground. A crooked grin fell on her face, her exhaustion yet again ignored. "Let's do this."
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