We've been traveling for hours after being told by that crazy god to seek out a dragon but so far we'd seen nothing. And with every passing minute I kept thinking about how bad an idea this really was.
Dragons weren't known for their social nature and from what I'd seen in my interactions they would burn first and then ponder what it was they destroyed later. I didn't know if whatever dragon we found would teach Korra but if an immortal of domination said so then we probably had a decent enough chance.
"What do you think this dragon will be like?"
"With our luck it will attack us on sight so we should be prepared." We've long since crossed from the open plains and into the snowy north but that all she said. No actual directions, no land marks, no clear way to travel, just head north.
Well here we are in the middle of snow and mountains and the only thing for miles is the college of winterhold.
"So what now?"
"I guess we can head into the city and ask one of the innkeepers if there've been any dragon sightings." But as we traveled over the massive mountain passed we noticed black smoke traveling in the sky. When we got high enough we saw what had caused it. The entire town of Winterhold was nothing more than a charred scar on the cliff side. The only remains of the city was the college which despite looking torn up seemed to be intact. Unfortunately the rumored already broken bridge was completely destroyed leaving no way across.
Unless you were a bender that could make your own path.
It was always said that the best benders in the country trained here. One of the many reasons Winterhold had been such a high priority for either side, if Amon got it he'd enslave or destroy everyone. And if Unulaq got it he'd use them to bolster his army. Which was why they'd maintained a hardened neutral stance and fought off anyone from both sides.
"What could have done this? Amon's troops? A horde of firebenders?" Both options seemed likely but as we made our way into town and looked more closely at the wreckage we found clues.
"No look here these massive claw marks on the this massive support beam can only be made when a dragon lands on a building before taking off."
"So a dragon burned this entire city?"
"Yeah and it probably destroyed the bridge too. But you can airbend us over there right?" If we wanted answers than that was our first try.
"I don't know it's pretty far from the edge to the college. Perhaps it would be better to use our powers and fly over." It was clear she didn't like that idea even though she was getting better at using them.
"Korra I know you don't like using your powers" no matter what she said otherwise I could tell that she wished she didn't have them. Which was only made worse when every time I realized I'm the reason she had them, even if it was to save her life the choice to become a vampire should have been hers and hers alone.
If there is a cure I'll be sure to find it for her.
"Asami it's not that I don't like them exactly. It's just unnatural, and I know coming from the avatar a person who's lived a thousand lifetimes and can bend every element sounds strange but my powers are completely different from my bending and I've spend a lifetime with bending and only a short time with vampires."
"Korra it's aright. Now you can use your airbending to get across while I transform into a bat and fly over." As she backed up to get a running start I dived off the edge transforming in midair and flew halfway to the edge hovering to watch her powerful stride before she jumped off and used her recently learned airbending techiqune to run on the pockets of air across the gap.
To any onlooker it would seem she was actually flying. Once I saw her land I flew over to her side transforming back and stretching as my body remembered the strain it put on my body.
As we looked around we saw the extent of the dragons attack. Most of the pillars were broken and the ground was charred black. But beyond the damage I saw evidence that whoever was here managed to put up a fight. Slabs of earth were missing from the ground and countless broken water containers were scattered about. But past that were two massive walls of earth in front of the doors which told us that there were probably survivors inside.
"Korra if you would be so kind." in one swing of her hand the wall spit down the middle before falling to the sides revealing the door.
Before we could even think of opening the doors they burst open and a white haired man stepped forward throwing out his hands and surrounding us in a circle of fire.
"Who are you and what business do you have here vampires?"
His tone told us that he was prepared to kill us here and now if he hated our answer.
"We saw the destruction of the town and came here for answers."
He lowered his hands and the flames died down in intensity but didn't die out.
"Two dragons came late last night and laid waste the town. The town's people fled into the college but the dragons collapsed the bridge and tried to breach our walls. They learned that this college housed plenty of powerful benders and fought them off. They flew back over the mountains but with their wounds they couldn't have gotten far."
"Wait you didn't try to finish them off?" Korra asked.
He gestured to the grounds and then to the collapsed bridge.
"Even if we wanted to most of our earthbenders were injured in the attack. Our waterbenders have been busy healing them which left only a few trained firebenders and a couple novice airbenders. Not the ideal dragon hunters."
"Do you have any idea where exactly?" she was desperate for information but I was dreading it. We'd only planned for one dragon, not two destructive town destroying ones.
"There is a cave large enough for them to rest in near the top of the mountain." he turned back inside the building letting the fire die with him and as he walked we saw a few dozen people near the entrance with various injuries.
"Do you need any help?"
"We have all that we need here but if it would help you consciousness then inform Windhelm of what happened. Now leave us to our recovery." the doors were slammed shut and we were left wondering about their fate.
"We'll inform Windhelm and help them whether they want it or not. Now let's go track down those dragons." Knowing she'd make good to help them helped me agree to following her back over the gap and onto Naga as she tracked whatever remained of a frozen blood trail that led up a mountain pass.
Near the top of the mountain we saw evidence of recent kills in various animal and human bones. Most of which were burned to a crisp. As we neared the entrance we dismounted and Korra created a snow covered rock shelter where Naga could rest and remain hidden. But I saw the slight shake in her hands as we walked into the cave.
She was scared but still determined to move forward.
More bones lined the entrance of the cave, nearly all had armor or the college training armor.
The cave soon opened into a massive area with a huge gap in the ceiling. Wide enough for two dragons to enter and leave.
"Asami down there." Near the bottom on a ledge was a sleeping dragon. It's body was a scarlet red with golden yellow spikes going down it's back along with massive white fangs and claws.
We didn't see or hear any traces of its partner.
"Korra wait, we have no idea if that's the dragon we want or if it's just another one. We need to be careful."
"Don't worry Asami what could go wrong." To answer her question I gestured to the dozen or so burned corpses scattered around us.
"Fair enough we'll be careful." We'd have to be. A dragon's senses were incredibly acute. They'd have to be to spot prey so high up in the sky.
The dragon made no indication that it was going to wake up but every time it let out a massive breath our hearts stopped.
I can't believe I'm sneaking up to a dragon. Of all the things I thought I'd never do this has to top the list. Despite that I couldn't hide the flutter of excitement in my chest as we got closer.
The dragon's ledge was at a bit of a higher elevation which meant we'd have to climb to reach a neighboring edge. Not wanting to risk waking it we used our powers and flew the way up.
As we prepared ourselves for the conversation or fight to come it happened. A roar that still rings in my ears filled the cave as giant black wings descend into the cave.
We turned and I came face to face with the dragon that destroyed Helgen. The first time I saw it I was running for my life but now I could see every horrifying detail.
Every scale on it's body was pitch black and surrounded by giant spikes. His teeth were daggers but his eyes were the worst. Deep blood red, filled with hate and brimming with power. My father had similar eyes but nothing compared to this. For the eyes of this dragon showed a power born from centuries of battle and a hunger that dwarfed any vampires.
"So we meet at last little avatar. I knew we would meet the moment I sensed your spiritual energy."
I knew dragons could talk the ancient scrolls said as such but actually hearing it. I didn't have words to describe what I was feeling.
"Your kind has sullied these lands with its presence. Now the rightful rulers of these lands will purify the lands with our power."
"Like you did to Winterhold!?" her voice was mixed with fear but her authority was still clear.
"That was just sport to test my powers." We could both tell how powerful he was just from seeing him. And if Winterhold was just for fun then him truly using his powers would be utter chaos.
"We'll stop you!"
"You can try avatar, Oodahviing destroy them!" he let loose a roar before flying up and out of the cave and Korra started after him only to be stopped by a low horrible grumbling. We whipped around to find the dragon no longer asleep and its massive green reptilian eyes staring at us.
The fire came before I had time to act but Korra managed to erect a rock wall but this close of range it collapsed as the fire hit it sending is flying back.
"Nothing personal little mortals." it reared its head up and let loose another blast of fire. All Korra could do was raise her hands up in an attempt to shield me from the blast.
I was actually surprised when it worked but like the wall she couldn't take the blast and was forced down to one knee but she still held.
"Korra!" What happened next was a complete blur. One moment Korra was on one knee nearly engulfed in flames the next she's rising to her feet and sending her own stream of fire from her mouth, completely overpowering the dragons.
Her fire pushed back the dragon catching it full on in the face. As it shook in outrage I went to check on her and was startled by what I saw. Her eyes were glowing and completely white. I'd seen it before when she learned a new technique but this time was different.
"Don't worry I'll end this quickly." that was all she said before shooting off from a rock and delivering a front flip of fire down onto the dragon followed by another blast from her mouth.
The dragon was prepared this time and soared into the limited amount of sky it had and sent a massive gust of air from its wing sending Korra flying into the wall near me. As she landed I rushed to her aid. Her eyes were open but they had returned to normal which at the moment wasn't the best thing.
The dragon landed feet from us and opened it's mouth to let loose another fireball but stopped as it's nostrils enlarged taking in our scent.
"You smell of power little ones, why is that?" Sensing our chance at survival I moved into action.
"We come with a message from the Deaderic lord Azula. You are to train her champion in the ways of fire."
Silence was all that was heard as I stared at him and he stared at the two of us. I was sure he was going to lung forward and kill us but instead he started laughing or at least I thought it was laughter it was hard to tell.
"She always did find amusing ways to entertain eternity. Very well little vampire I will teach the avatar when she wakes up. But if she fails to master fire I will devour both of you."
Well at least we found her final master. Now we just have to make sure he doesn't eat us.