A Legend of Korra Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez (aka SMTsukishiro)


Summary:

A promising engineering student. A mysterious woman capable of controlling the four elements. When their paths cross, the resulting collision not only changes their lives and themselves, but the fate of the entire world as well. [Korrasami AU]


Notes:

CHRISTMAS UPDAAAATEEE!

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday despite the whole COVID-19 circumstance and are keeping safe. My situation here is still pretty challenging, and having to rewrite this chapter still stung as I am constantly reminded of my now-deceased computer that still hasn't been replaced as I wrote this on my phone (thankfully, said phone was pretty cooperative and only crashed twice haha), but I hope I did this chapter justice.

This is, basically, the penultimate chapter in the Earth Kingdom Elemental Core of the Earth Arc. I hope you all enjoy! :)


The Legend of Korra
The Schism

Chapter 78: Echoes to the Future


It was pleasant. But more than that, it felt...nice.

Despite how she had felt prior to waking—and even in the midst of it—looking at Asami who had fallen asleep with her head pillowed by her left arm and hands holding onto Korra's bandaged arm, all that seemed so distant. Despite what they had discussed—and despite Korra finally sharing the secret she had kept for so long—she felt tranquility and peace.

Looking over at Asami's sleeping form, she could not fathom how sleeping in such a way: sitting on a sofa seat pulled close to her bed, back bent so low in order for her arms to reach Korra's bed, could possibly be comfortable. And yet Asami insisted, quite adamantly, that she did, in fact, feel perfectly cozy and snug in such a position, claiming that she had done it several times in the past few days.

"Your bed is just right over then then," Korra had pointed out when her suggestion of sharing the bed just so Asami wouldn't have to hurt her back when Asami refused to leave her side, had been shut down with much too stuttering and a flushness of the face from the young Prodigy that baffled the Avatar and made her wonder if Asami was fatigued or feeling unwell.

She had asked, of course, if the other girl was feeling alright but the raven-haired, young woman merely shook her worries away, reverting back to her calm disposition, and assured her she was fine.

"It's just much easier looking after you from here," Asami had told her. "Besides, I'm not really feeling tired enough to fall asleep. You, on the other hand, are free to rest up if you still think you need it, Korra."

Korra didn't argue about Asami's claims though she did not take her up on her offer to rest. She had felt like she had rested enough, after all, and would much rather spend her time awake with Asami than fall asleep while she was there.

That was half an hour ago. The dark-skinned Avatar could not help the grin that tugged at her lips with how Asami actually ended up being the one who fell asleep despite her repeated assurances that she was not the least bit sleepy.

That felt like an ammunition she could use to tease Asami with. Though she wondered what the merit for that would be, especially when she understood she was also the cause of the other girl's exhaustion.

Several strands of hair slid down and covered Asami's face when she moved slightly. It was followed by random mumblings of words strung together Korra could not understand. Her grin turned into a gentle smile as she reached for those strands and tucked them back behind Asami's exposed ear.

Korra's hand hovered afterwards, eyes drawn to the features of the sleeping girl's face; drawn mainly to her slightly parted lips.

The Avatar's fingers twitched.

I do not wish for this to end. Korra found the thought surfacing itself to the forefront of her mind, unbidden and unwilling to be shaken away, as she pulled her hand and eyes away.

It was not like she was hiding that fact from herself. It was one of those desires of hers that she knew of and considered to be selfish wanting. Though she knew not what, exactly, it was she did not wish to end.

The journey? The adventure and misadventures that came along with it?

If she was being honest, she wanted to be done with those; to finally get to the end and accomplish what she had set out to do. To be done with the danger that seemed to always be following on her heels and to ensure tat her companions would be safe in the aftermath. Of course, she would rather not face what came after. That was something she could do without and needed to find a way—if any—to escape from.

Though, if the journey did come to a close, would that not also mean the end of the time spent with the people she was journeying with—the insufferable Iroh, included?

No. She did not want that, but she could sense that regardless of whether or not she wished for them to remain by her side,, their own paths in their lives had only been put on hold and was still calling for them to walk on. It would be far more selfish of her to keep them from chasing down those paths she had—especially in Asami and Opal's case—forcefully pulled them off from.

With that thought in mind came a question Korra had wanted to ask Asami for a while now. But, whenever she deemed it time to voice it, the Avatar found her heart pounding so loud it felt right about to burst from her chest and her breath impossible to control. It was like her whole being was in a vice she could not break free from. And so her resolve weakens and she finds her question unasked despite the nagging desire and curiosity to know.

It was really strange how this girl could evoke so many emotions from her—some she did not know the meaning of or reasoning behind, and others are of equally contradicting natures. It was so hard to place and it caused her quite a headache trying to decipher.

But, there are some things Korra had come to understand about these emotions and feelings.

Like, for instance, being with Asami was like being with Master Katara.

It had taken a while for her to connect the two, but she could finally place why that feeling she got from being with Asami was familiar...it was because Asami Sato reminded her strongly about the old woman who always visited Nia Bayou and who was the first human she had held in high regard.

...Of that warm and fuzzy feeling that blooms within her chest every time Master Katara looked at her and smiled, acknowledged her, or approved of something she had said or done.

...Of how it weighed heavily on her than she cared to admit when she was at the receiving end of the look of disappointment that crosses Master Katara's face.

...Of how she realized she wanted to do things that made the old woman proud of her and proud to be associated with her.

It was the same thing with Asami, albeit much more magnified and much more intoxicating...and much more...different as well.

She had never had the longing with the old Tribeswoman as she strongly has for the Republic City native. Though as for what she was longing for from Asami, Korra could not really tell. It was just a longing for her. And it was confusing.

A conversation from the past fleeted into the Avatar's mind—one she had with the aspiring, young Inventor, and Korra was reminded of a word the taller girl had said and described for her: Mother.

Katara was like that for the young Avatar, though Korra had an inexplicable inkling that word was not what she was looking for when thinking about Asami.

"Asami, you remind me of Katara. You know, that woman who I feel was the closest I had to a mother?" With a bemused smile, Korra wondered how that conversation would go.

Perhaps she would take it that I see her as someone familial?

It did feel like that...or she assumed it was what it would feel like. But, again, at the same time, it did not. Once more, a contradiction.

I need someone to ask about this, was Korra's conclusion.

Placing her free hand underneath her chin in thought, Korra muttered to herself, "Perhaps Master Katara, herself, would be able to shed light on this matter? She seems like the best one to confide this matter with..."

"You want to take to Katara?" The booming voice of the old woman—Toph-nearly gave Korra a fright and almost caused her to summon her bending. So lost in thought was she that she did not realize the Guardian of the Elemental Core of the Earth had returned. Without missing a beat, and feigning ignorance at having just surprise Korra, Toph went on to say: "Well, that shouldn't be a problem. You are heading her way next and about damn time, too!"

Korra silently cursed the old woman in the ancient tongue, glaring at her.

Toph, even without the gift of sight, noticed and asked, "What?"

"You almost gave me a fright!" Korra hissed.

Toph tutted andd waved her hand as though to swat such a notion away. "Well now...I didn't think I would be capable of doing something like that to the Avatar." She chuckled then, "That was not my intention seeing as how I have been back here for a while now, Korra."

"A while?" How was that possible? Surely she was not that deep in thought that what should be second nature to her was overridden by her musings.

"Yes. A while." The quirk of the old woman's lips remained on her face as she added, "I may be blind, Korra, but even I can see that you're just as hopelessly pining over the Avatar's Chosen as your predecessor."

"Pining?" Korra cocked her head to the side in confusion at the word that she had forgotten she was frustrated with the old woman not too long ago. "Pine? Like...the tree? That does not make sense. How am I acting like a tree?"

Toph blinked.

Then blinked again.

It took a while for the old woman to process what Korra had said, and when she finally did, the Lady of the Swamp had to do all within her power to keep herself from bursting out laughing and waking Asami up in the process. She would rather not wake the poor girl up. Toph knew how badly the Avatar's Chosen needed rest.

Korra frowned. "I do not understand. Did I say something funny?"

"We're you actually being serious with that?" Toph snorted a laugh then hid it with a cough. "For real? What have they been teaching you when you were growing up? You're much too sheltered and clueless, Korra."

The Avatar bit the insides of her lip, not wanting to deign that with a comment.

She already knew—was being constantly reminded, in fact—of her ignorance to the ways, the ebbs and flows, of the mortal realm and everything that it encompassed. She did not need her education—or lack thereof—to be put bluntly in question.

Toph noticed that dour shift in Korra's mood. She shook her head, looked out the window and said, "To be fair, the blame for that doesn't really lie on you. You weren't the one who chose to be sheltered away from others, hidden in the heart of Nia Bayou, and be placed on such a high pedestal no one could possibly reach you and teach ou things that should matter well beyond your responsibilities. That fault...well, that one lies with us."

"What are you talking about this time?" Korra's self-made vow to remain silent and not entertain the old woman further was forgotten quite quickly and easily as it was made.

A gust of wind blew through the room just before Toph could open her mouth, ruffling the hair of those within its walls.

When the wind died down, the old woman shook her head and in response to Korra's inquiry said, "That's another thing you can ask Katara about when you see her again."


There were so many questions playing through his mind as he stared in a mixture of awe, confusion, wonder, and incredulity. First and foremost of them was the question of where the Mercenary has procured such a substance of immense energy. The second was why he would just hand it over to him without outright asking for any kind of compensation.

Of course, there was also the question of how he even knew that this was the something—the missing key—that his creation needed. The sort of boosting agent that would make his marionettes become the 'super soldiers' they were meant to be.

Hiroshi had asked, of course but the Mercenary merely grinned and shrugged off his questions and rather than be forthright with the Sato Patriarch, Mako instead made it clear that this was a debt he would, at some point in time, come to collect.

He then let with nary a word of explanation after that leaving Asami's father to further scrutinize the vial and its contents.

Hiroshi didn't want to think what the Mercenary would ask in return when the time comes, there would be a time to ponder and worry about that at a much later time—And, hopefully, that brat would not be around to even collect that debt, he thought to himself. He still had much work to be done with his Automatons if he wanted to prove himself and his capabilities to the Earth Queen and, of course, his Benefactor.

And so, he went about his preparations to begin experimenting with the strange, dark, plasma-like substance within the vial and the core he had designed and developed for the Automata.

It took him a short while to see that some of his more important parts to his invention were running low. Briefly, Hiroshi contemplated on how he could replenish his supply, especially with the key component to the Automata's core. It didn't take long for him to come to the conclusion to get these key components himself.

And so, the Future Industries CEO made his way to the safe hidden behind the family portrait in his study. A few button presses later and he has unlocked and revealed its contents. Without much preamble, he took one of his most prized inventions out: the upgraded glove he had designed for Amon.

A few quick checks and Hiroshi deemed the device still perfectly functional and ready to go—not that he had any misgivings about it. It was one of his creations, after all.

He didn't wear the gloves just yet. It was not the least bit inconspicuous to wear, after all. Instead, he took one of his coats and put it on, hiding the glove within one of its secret pockets.

Not wasting any more time—for time was of the essence—Hiroshi made his way out of his mansion, dismissing the Equalist lackeys that were part of his security detail in favor of completing his errand by himself. He didn't need them, after all. He didn't trust them either and he was sure if they knew what he had done, they would think twice about trusting and protecting him too.

As Hiroshi made his way to the streets of Republic City in search for 'volunteers' that could supply him with the components he needed, he couldn't help but gleefully imagine how his experiment into improving the Automatons would go.

Wherever his imaginings would take him, he was certain it would bear fruit and their enemies were going to see that his inventions were something to die for.


Excitement and dread were two of the emotions that swirled within Bolin as he listened to the words of wisdom Iroh was imparting with him.

Since the afternoon when he had finally been allowed out of the infirmary, the young Mover Star had spent his days training with the Prince of the Fire Nation.

Yes. Training. And not just any boring, old training either. Iroh had been teaching him—or, at the very least, trying to—how to bend the elements. In his case, earth.

At times, Opal's strange grandmother would join them. His stress levels would peak during those times. The old woman was very...spirited, to say the least, and had her own brand of teaching that left quite a lot of bruises not just on Bolin's ego, but on his arms, legs, back...oh, who was he kidding? His entire being was sore! But, the young Mover Star gritted his teeth and bore it like a man who did his whinin internally.

He had been told, upon waking up the day after the big battle against those scary, metallic monsters, that he had been chosen and imparted with the Gift. It was how he had managed to destroy that last enemy that had attempted to get one kill done from the Bei Fong line.

Bolin still couldn't believe that he had managed to do that. He didn't even know how he did it. He didn't have any kind of epiphany during that battle; not even some kind of life-changing spark of anything...

If he was being honest, the only thought he had during that moment was that he had to stand his ground, frightened to death as he was, and hold the line. There was also that split second when he thought he didn't want to die and that it was so messed up that he was going to get skewered just because he wanted to make a good impression on Opal and her family.

He couldn't help but think about changing his tactics when it comes to the young Bei Fong. It felt like trying to get her to like him was very much dangerous to his health with the way he was doing things...

Thinking about Opal, he couldn't help but note the change in her demeanor, too.

She'd been much too quiet over the past few days and often, when he would come across her as he was walking to the small plot of land he and Iroh had claimed as their 'Training Grounds', Opal looked to be so deep in thought that she wouldn't even return his greeting.

There seemed to be something up between her and Asami, too. On those occasions when the two were not busy enough to join them over for a meal, tension would be so thick in the air you could cut it with a knife!

"What do you think is going on between Opal and Asami, Iroh?" Bolin suddenly asked.

Whatever it was the Prince was saying about breathing techniques, or...whatever (Bolin wasn't going to pretend he was listening. He hasn't been for the last hour or so, anyways) was cut short. The patient look he had on his face morphed into one of irritation and disdain.

"Please tell me your mind hasn't been on that question since we began." There was a hint of surrender in Iroh's voice as though he already knew the answer anyway and wasn't holding out any hope it could be otherwise.

Bolin didn't bother to affirm the Fire Nation Prince and, instead, just plowed through with his chosen topic.

"It's just, don't you think there's something up between those two? Or am I just assuming things?"

Iroh sighed. "How would I know? Perhaps they have come into a disagreement of sorts? Perhaps both of them are just too preoccupied with their respective responsibilities right now? Perhaps they are simply too fatigued to socialize with each other? Really, Bolin there could be a myriad of reasons and if they do not wish to share it with you, it is best not to pry."

"I'm not prying!" He really wasn't. He was just curious. Asami was one of his oldest friends and Opal was someone he really would like to get to know more than just a friend. Was it really wrong to worry about what was going on between the two?

He made that question known to Iroh who, in Bolin's opinion, seemed to know more than he was letting on. The Prince was like that, after all. Or, at least, that's the vibe Bolin always got from him.

"It is not...wrong," Iroh conceded, "but what good is asking me about those two? If you really are worried, you should ask either—or both of them—directly. Though whether or not they will entertain your question is another matter all on its own."

"But you do think there is something up with them, right?" Iroh must have an answer to that question, at least.

Iroh crossed his arms and frowned. "I suppose so. I do not think it has anything to do with the attack, though.. Or with Asami and Korra missing during that time. If that was the reason behind it, it would not just be Opal who would be feeling sour against Asami, nor do I think Asami would be the target of her ire."

"So...it could just be a girl thing?"

Iroh shook his head and refused to comment much further. Instead, he clapped his hands together and said, "Considering it seems like you are not in the mood for theoretical learning regarding your new-found powers, perhaps we should do some physical exercises now..."

Bolin wasn't sure exactly, but he could've sworn he saw a glint in Iroh's eyes as he uttered those words.

Maybe I should have just kept my thoughts to myself, was the last thin that crossed the Mover Star's mind before he was subjected to a grueling round of exercises and sparing.


There was nothing. Absolutely nothing. And it was aggravating.

She had scoured every book, every known writings she could find, on hints about the strange and abnormal condition her Aunt Lin had but there was nothing in them that spoke of it.

It was not like she knew there would be. She was prepared not to find anything. After all, if writings about the Avatar, the most powerful being, were scarce and difficult to come across, what hope did she have of finding anything regarding a man-made sickness that turns people into empty husks of themselves, devoid of life yet still breathing? Still...she had hoped there was something, even a minuscule breadcrumb that could lead her to a cure.

Opal couldn't help the sob that escaped her lips as she rubbed her weary eyes of the sleep that was threatening to come. Her head throbbed with fatigue and her stomach grumbled with hunger, but she couldn't stop her search just yet. In her mind, Opal believed she was the only one left who could crack open the mysterious disease that had struck her aunt.

Korra could help, Opal was certain of it. And yet, Asami is keeping me from asking. She wouldn't even ask Korra herself.

Anger and resentment bubbled up from within Opal. She couldn't understand why Asami woouldl stand in her way. Was she not her friend? Did she not see the sorry state Aunt Lin was in? Did she not feel bad or even feel a little bit of desire to repay the help and kindness they had been given and were extended to them when they were trying to leave Republic City?

The young, aspiring Historian wanted to scream at her friend.

Just as much as she wanted to scream at her Grandmother—the woman she had been told had long died, but as it turned out, was only hiding in the swamp for who knows how long, letting her family fend for themselves against the Earth Queen and her minions when she had the power to actually help them and turn the tides to their favor.

It was maddening and baffling how Gradma Toph didn't at all seemed disturbed nor distressed with how Aunt Lin looked. It was equally maddening and baffling why she wasn't at the front of the line trying to find something that could help. Instead, the old woman was the first one to shoot down her plea to ask for Korra's help.

She slumped back down on the desk littered with opened books, rolled out parchments, and stone writings of various shapes and sizes.

There's still that...She thought to herself, even as she wanted not to have to go through with it. I just have to wait for Gommu to return.

Yes, there was still that one option. But, as much as possible, Opal would rather find a solution on her own.


Duo Xing was, to put it simply, quite impressed with the tenacity and resiliency of the people of Zaofu. Even with the horrors they had witnessed and undergone at the hands...er, claws...of those strange machines, they were still moving forward with their eyes fixed unto a hopeful and bright future.

And that's despite the fact that they're not out of the woods just quite yet...

It was not hard to come up with that conclusion. Those...things...had come with one goal in mind: to eradicate Zaofu and everyone in it. As long as the city and its people still stand, whoever sent them would just do so again, maybe in greater numbers next time around.

What they—the people of Zaofu—needed to do was nip the danger from the bud. Duo Xing knew Suyin Bei Fong knew that as well. Just like how she knew who was behind the attack.

The Secretary-slash-Agent's eyes darted towards the pile of various metallic parts that littered the surface of the wooden box she had turned into a makeshift table.

To the untrained eyes, they looked nothing more than a pile of junk. But, to her, it gavethe answer to the other questions she was certain Suyin Bei Fong was looking for answers for.

What were those things that attacked them?

Who made them?

She doesn't have the clear and concrete answer she had wanted for the former of those two questions. But, for the latter?

This is going to put an even greater strain on an already strained relationship, she couldn't help but think with a sigh.

Especially when Fire Lord Izumi had also arrived at the same conclusions as she with the same collection of evidences that Duo Xing had gathered.

She bit her lip. There was not a soul who yet knew of what they both had stumbled upon. They had both agreed, for the moment, to keep it as highly classified an information as it could possibly be. But, there was a part of her that wanted to let one other person know: the one who would be most affected by it.

Asami Sato.

Duo Xing knew the young woman had a lot on her plate at the moment, adding the knowledge that her father was the creator of those terrible machines? How would Asami react? How would she cope?

From what she knew of the Prodigy, Asami was headstrong, smart, and independent; she had strength that far exceeded her age and the tenacity that could turn a powerful being such as the Avatar into a mess.

If Korra was capable of bending the elements to her will and Asami was able to—to some extent—bend Korra into her will, does that make the young Heiress the most powerful person in existence? It was an amusing thought to ponder. At least, for Duo Xing who was privy enough to overhear (No, she wasn't spying or eavesdropping on them. She really just happened to overhear what she had assumed, at first, was an argument between the two) the almost-confession Korra had blurted out that night prior to the attack and their little escapade.

It was pretty entertaining hearing the Avatar flounder about. That memory gave Duo Xing a reprieve from the decision that lay before her.

Grasping the communicator in her hand and fiddling with it, the Secretary weighed in on the consequences of keeping Asami out of the loop. And if that was truly the decision she and Izumi both shared, how long could they keep the young Sato in the dark?

If she had to guess, it probably won't be long until Asami comes into the same conclusion as they did, especially when she finally decides to take a look at what remained of the machines they had destroyed.

What would you do then, Asami Sato?

She could picture so many scenarios in her head, as she was trained to do in order to be one step ahead, and there were so many ways it could jeopardize things.

And if she finds out just how much deeper and widespread Hiroshi Sato's involvement is? Yes. That was going to be a whole different ball game.

The Fall of Republic City?

The large, bipedal machines that now roamed Republic City at night piloted by the members of the Equalists?

The gloves similar to the one Asami uses being made available in the Underground Black Market?

The puppets fueled by blood lust sent by the Earth Queen to wipe out the Bei Fongs and their people?

Duo Xing was willing to bet Hiroshi Sato's name would be tied up with a whole lot more shady dealings than that.

She pondered on it a bit more and, before she realized it, the sun had already begun to set, basking the city in a hue or orange and purples.

As the lights in the houses that stood around her little spot begin to turn on one by one, Duo Xing flipped open her communicator and dialed in the Fire Lord's hotline.

She had come to a decision. She hoped it was the right one. She hoped she wouldn't regret it.

Now, if only she could get Izumi to share the same sentiment...


"They should be coming here next," one of the four with whom he had found his belonging with—a long-haired man with a fu manchu for a mustache, thick eyebrows, and tattoos painted on most of his bare chest, arms, and feet—said as he stared at the golden-yellow pillar that brightened the far-off sky. "They've unlocked the Seal of the Earth."

"Only two more remain," the other one—a honey-skinned woman with an equally dark hair as the man who had spoken—added, "Water and Air. And, after that..."

"That would be the opportune moment to strike," the third in the group finished: a woman with a tattoo of an eye on her forehead and, like the two before her, had ebony hair. "Isn't that right, Zaheer?"

The man he had sought to find and the leader of the small group—Zaheer—grunted in response with his eyes were closed, chin almost touching his chest, and arms crossed.

Zaheer didn't look like what Unalaq had envisioned him to. He was unkempt, hair messy and long just as his beard was, he had a scar on his right brow, and, like the rest of his motley crew, wore rags for clothes. And yet, there was a certain kind of dignity in them; the kind, the ex-Chieftain could only guess, that was borne from surmounting countless hardships or living a life full of it.

It had been months since he had found them: the only other group of people who knew the truth behind Nia Bayou and about the Avatar. He had been worried that, when they found and captured him, they would turn a deaf ear to his words.

They almost did.

After all, he had nothing but the small sack where he had stuffed all the documents he had procured from that woman he had rescued and the clothes on his back—the clothes which bore his rank and station, both of which Zaheer and his group abhor.

At one point, the tattooed man, Ghazan and the honey-skinned woman, Ming-Hua, had really been pushing his death to Zaheer, claiming that keeping him prisoner would not do much for them. It was only thanks to the insatiable curiosity that the other woman, P'Li, had that she ended up looking through his things and showing them off to Zaheer was he allowed a chance to speak fully.

It didn't take much after that when they saw what they all shared and he was taken—not as a prisoner any longer, but as someone who was part of the cause. And, he had been doing his part, sharing with them what they wanted to know about Nia Bayou: their fortifications, defenses, and weaknesses. And he did so without remorse. His allegiance with them had been cut the moment his eyes had been opened to the truth.

"It would make for a great showing," he agreed with P'Li. "Nia Bayou would be lax with their security by then. They would probably start the merrymaking the moment the fourth seal has been unlocked and it would keep going until the Avatar's return. And return there she must, one of the nexus to the Spirit Realm lies there, after all."

"With the information we now have—thanks to you, Unalaq—there is no way we could fail!" Ghazan's voice boomed, filled with excitement he couldn't contain.

It was hearing those words that made Zaheer speak, asking, "Are you sure about that, Ghazan?"

That effectively made them all quiet down, even before Zaheer continued on speaking and asking his questions.

"Have you gotten a better grasp of your Earth-bending now?" He went on. Then, turning towards P'Li, asked, "What about you, P'Li? How goes your Fire-bending? Would they be enough to overcome the Avatar and those whose gifts would be awakened that side with her?"

"Well..." Ghazan scratched the back of his head.

P'Li, on the other hand, scoffed and looked away.

"The most opportune of moment to strike," Zaheer went on, standing from where he had sat throughout the discussion, "is when those of us who are given—or will be given—the Gift can use them to their utmost; the most opportune moment to strike is when we can be certain that our strengths, our power, would be enough to put the Avatar down to her knees."


Chapter End Notes:

And...that's a wrap.

So, we finally now have a glimpse of Zaheer and his group. It will be a while longer before we can see them, though. We still have to wrap things up with Republic City's villain(s) after all.

Now, for the next chapter...I am hoping to upload it before my birthday (the 31st) or before New Year. I've been in a slump lately though I am keeping on and I don't want that (the slump-thing) be reflected in my writing so I am taking a step back whenever things get "bad".

I have also decided to put all updates regarding chapters, artworks, sneak peeks for my stories (not just LoK: The Schism) on my Ko-Fi page (check my profile for the link). So, if you guys are interested, follow me there as well.

What else? Well, I suppose that's everything. I'll see you all in the next chapter! Until then, dream on; fly on! And...once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!