Previously:

Yue used an ice ramp to teach Korra about Water Mindbending in motion. It didn't go very well. (until it did.) (to a point.) Korra managed to make progress with a ramp, but only by doing it step by step with pauses, and not yet in one continuous motion.

Korra started journaling and wondered if having the ability to restore people's lost bending also means she can turn non-Benders into Benders, or even create another Avatar by giving a bender the power to bend another element.

Yue assumed that Korra could create new Benders, but not another Avatar, because being the Avatar is not just about bending the four elements, it's about her essence. And also, without Raava, a person won't be able to hold on to all that power.

They wondered if Korra's abilities to create something out of nothing, an ability that manifests in multiple ways, means that she can also restore lost memories, and lifetimes.

Asami asked Korra how come she didn't ask if Asami wanted to be a Bender. Korra said that asking that would imply that Asami needs an upgrade, and Korra thinks Asami is the most incredible person in the world.

Chapter 8

The nights were much colder now that they were at the southern tip of the Earth Kingdom's mainland. Korra was getting more and more excited the closer they were getting to the Southern Water Tribe, even though she knew that at their pace it'll take a few more weeks to get home. She appreciated the time and the learning opportunities the extended journey provided. The longer they spent on the road, the better she understood why Yue chose such a lengthy route.

"Your formations are looking really good Korra," Yue complimented, bringing Korra back to the present. Some of what the Avatar learned became so natural, that she could let her mind wonder as she was training. "I wanna try something a little different today. I think you're ready. I wanna go further with treating your element as an extension of yourself. Remember that when we just met we talked about what to do when your own limbs can't assist your bending?"

"I remember thinking you were nuts. Yet here we are," Korra smiled.

"Here we are," Yue agreed. "Okay, so, when we move a limb, it's a neurological thing first and foremost."

That statement piqued at Asami's interest and she looked up from her notebook in intrigue, clearly wondering where this was going.

"Your brain sends the command for your hand to move," Yue continued. "Our bodies help us channel the chi to execute the bending, but it starts up here," she tapped her temple with her index finger. "Ming-Hua figured out she could use water as faux limbs. We also spoke about serving a need with your bending."

"I remember. "You said that sometimes new forms of bending emerge when you recognize a past need and find ways to address it differently in the future," Korra commented. "Oh, that's good, I should write it down in my journal."

Yue smiled. Her friend seemed to have taken to journaling better than anyone could've expected. Asami spoke to Yue about it a few days prior. They were both happy to see it turned into a source of comfort, another therapeutic practice, instead of a source of annoyance.

"Sometimes, a new ability is born as a result of trying to overcome a limitation," Yue pointed out. "Ming-Hua is one example for that, another one would be…"

"Toph," Korra and Asami provided in unison.

"Exactly. So, if you treat your element as an extension of you, it means it's something your brain can command, just like it would a limb. Every time you Mindbend you do that, but the precision, the form, can help you actually use it like a limb."

Before Korra had a chance to ask what Yue meant, Asami was on her feet. "I… never heard anyone say it out loud like that. I never thought about it."

"Thought about what?" Yue inquired, confused.

"The neurological connection to limb movement," Asami explained. "And ways to overcompensate when you're missing one."

"Is that… is that wrong? Was I being inaccurate, or…"

"No, no. You're not wrong," Asami was quick to note. "I mean, medicine isn't my field of expertise, but you're right. Every movement-related action starts from the brain. I don't know why it never occurred to me when it comes to bending, but you're right. Essentially, Ming-Hua used water as a limb. An elemental prosthtic."

"Baby, I know this face. What are you thinking? Say it oud loud before it's gone," Korra encouraged.

"Oh, no way am I forgetting this," Asami chuckled in excitement. "She operated her elemental prosthetic with the help of her brain. But it's not like a wooden, or a metal prosthetic. It's bendable, it's flexible."

"And?" Korra exchanged puzzled looks with Yue.

"And… that might mean that if I build a robotic, more felxible prosthetic, maybe I can develop an implant, one that connets to the brain on one side, and…"

"To the prosthetic on the other!" Korra caught up.

"That means that amputees can get way more freedom of movement," Yue realized.

"Yes, and do sports, and bend, and carry weight and who knows what else! I… I gotta go talk to Varrick!"

She sprinted to the tent to get the radio.

"Is she really gonna leave us to train after dropping all this insane info?" Korra eye's followed her girlfriend in amazement.

"This is an incredible idea," Yue agreed. "Do you… do you want to take a break?"

"No, no. Fuck. Maybe? I mean… Yue, if this works out that means she's now came up with two groundbreaking ideas since we started this journey with you. Did you know this would happen when you offered that she joins us?"

"Well, I had no way of knowing that this specifically would happen. I just figured, you know, when an entrepreneur is exposed to so many new places and concepts it must trigger something, right?"

"My girlfriend is gonna change the fucking world. And that, at least in part, is thanks to you."

"Thanks," Yue blushed. "But she was doing pretty well on her own."

"Yeah, yeah. Training?" Korra grinned at her, offering her an out.

"Training." Yue nodded.

"What do you mean 'a hand'?" Korra looked at her, dumbfounded.

"Like, a hand. Just like Ming-Hua!" Yue tried to explain, unsuccessfully.

"But… she literally used water instead of her hand!" Korra reminded.

Yue rolled her eyes. "Here," she finally said. "You can create like a… an external arm."

Yue Mindbend a blob from the sea. Even she had to admit that the proximity to the sea felt good and empowering, even though she always dreaded nearing any of the Water Tribes.

She shaped the blob to look like like an arm, all the way down to the fingers.

Korra whistled, impressed. "Holy shit, you're precise."

"So are you," Yue insisted. She Mindbent the finger tips into ice and dug the palm into the ground, picking up some of the dirt and turning the ice back to finger-looking water.

"A hand," Korra repeated, now comprehending.

"A hand," Yue confirmed.

Korra bit her lip.

"What?" Yue askes, confused.

"Nothing. I'm just really glad I met you," Korra offered her a sweet smile.

"Oh. I'm really glad I met you, too," Yue smiled back. Like, really, glad. She Mindbent the arm towards Tui and used the watery fingers to rub under the bison's chin. Tui responded in kind, closing her eyes and enjoying the attention. Naga barked, not so pleased to be left out. Yue snorted and moved the arm to Naga, to pat her head.

"That's insane," Korra noted. "I can't believe it's so versatile."

"If you wanna put more weight behind an action you can always switch to ice, or add more water," Yue explained. "You want it to be able to do whatever. Things you'd do with your own hands, and even beyond. Earthbend a little table for us," she asked her friend and Korra obliged, not questioning the order.

Yue brought the arm back towards them and shrunk it so it was about the size of an average human arm. She placed it right above the table. "Arm wrestle with me."

"Seriously?" Korra quirked an eyebrow. "It's water."

"Water is gonna kick your ass," Yue shrugged, knowing that her friend will take the bait.

"Oh yeah?" Korra sat by the table, placing her elbow on it, and clasping palms with the watery arm. "Okay, that's a little more resistance than I expected," she admitted.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Go!"

It was physical strength versus Mindbending combined with an actual element.

"Hey guys, can you…" Asami showed up. "What is going on?" She head no idea what she was looking at.

"Your girlfriend is losing to water," Yue provided.

"How… how is your hand not just going through it?!" Asami demanded to know.

"I don't know!" Korra pouted. "This was supposed to be an easy win. But instead… I dunno! Chemistry?"

Yue added more water to the palm, but kept the arm the exact same size.

"You're increasing the concentration of the water!" Asami realized. "Making it feel really solid."

"Without turning it to ice," Yue smirked. "Cool, right?" She allowed herself to push a little harder with her Mindbending and it was clear who had the upper hand.

"I wanna be a sore loser but this is too cool," Korra groaned.

"Yes, it is," Yue added even more water, and then even more pressure.

Asami circled them and looked at the arm closely, from all directions. "Is that what you were getting at earlier? A limb?"

"Yes," Yue confirmed, driving Korra's hand into the table. "Flexible, adjustable, strong."

"What cool stuff have used it for?" Korra inquired.

"Umm… getting a glass of water to bed when it's late and I don't wanna get up?" Yue provided sheepishly.

"You have all these amazing abilities and you use them in such boring ways," Korra shook her head.

"Hey! I resent that!"

Asami started laughing at the antics.

"What did Varrick say, Baby?" Korra turned to her girlfriend.

"He said, and I quote, 'we have to do the thing!'"

"What does that mean?" Yue tilted her head.

"It means that I have so much work to do. And it means I might need us to take a longer hiatus after we get to the Southern Water Tribe. Is that okay? Because if not, you two can always…"

"No, no, Asami, it's fine," Korra promised. You've been on the road with us for months. And it was mostly about me. I think it's okay if we stay put a little longer and spend some time at home. I mean…" she turned to Yue. "Will you be okay?"

"Me? Oh, absolutely. I think it's a good idea. I have people I need to see, too." The thought of being separated from Korra and Asami for an extended amount of time saddened her. But Mara's face popped into her head and a sense of calm washed over her. Home, she thought. "Yeah, yeah I think it's a great idea."

After Asami left them again, they spent more time on the faux limb. Korra did pretty well with the shaping, considering it was her first time. She knew full well she owed it to all the precision exercises Yue made her do. But going back and forth between different sizes, adding more water while maintaining the same size, and changing into different shapes, proved to be hard. Not to mention, every time she tried to touch an object, it just went through the water, and she was unable to put weight behind it.

"I don't get it, I've knocked items with water before," she huffed.

"This is different. You're trying to operate a certain shape. The goal isn't to knock something or use brute force, but to hold something, which is objectively harder. Any shape can knock something. But grabbing is harder."

"You're right," Korra nodded. She decided to congratulate herself on a job well done with the initial shaping, and be more forgiving towards herself when she didn't get everything right away. It was a practice she discussed with Asami. More patience, not expecting things to happen at once.

She flopped on the ground, lost in thought.

"What's on your mind, Avatar?" Yue sat down next to her.

"You've taught me a lot already, and you constantly want me to try and experience everything, and yet…"

"And yet?"

"You haven't mentioned the most common use of Bloodbending."

"Puppeteering?"

"That's a disturbing name."

"It's a disturbing ability," Yue pointed out.

"So you think so, too?"

"Of course. I've never done it."

"Wait, you haven't?" Korra was surprised. That was in line with her friend's natural curiosity.

"No. And frankly? We already know suspension. I think it's a good foundation. We already know how to manipulate blood within a person's body. I bet it won't be that hard for us to learn, if we wanted to. We'll probably get it in an hour."

"So simple, ah?" Korra mused. There was a sad undercurrent to the words. "An hour to learn how to twist a body and cause pain."

"Or not," Yue reminded. "Or never."

"I bet you would've been very kind about it if you had to teach me," Korra elbowed her.

"I'd like to think that I already am a very kind teacher," Yue elbowed her back. "And I was very hesitant before I Bloodbent for the first time, too. But my training partner was yelling insults at me until I finally did it. So, yeah, I would've probably tried a different approach with you," she rolled her eyes.

"Do you think we need to know how to do it?"

"Not really. Because of how close to suspension it is. Though, I must say, when my training partner's shoulder got dislocated, I sorta used puppeteering to re-set it. I think."

Korra was wondering how many more of them were out there, undocumented, just like Yue. "Is this mysterious partner of yours also a Bloodbender?"

"No. Just a dumbass," Yue bit her lip, a gesture that Korra didn't miss.

"Are they the ones who gave you that hickie?" she quirked an eyebrow.

Yes. "There was no hickie!" Yue protested.

"There was totally a hickie," Asami deadpanned, joining them again, this time with firewood. "How is your water limb going?"

Yue was thankful for the change of subject.

"It's… going," Korra shrugged. "Growing pains."

"Good, so there's growth," Asami sent her girlfriend a dazzling smile.

"You know what I've noticed over the last few months?" Korra turned back to Yue. "A lot of the examples you gave me ever since we started doing this had to do with past enemies of mine."

"Listen, if enemies are good for one thing it's for lessons," Yue pointed out.

Korra and Asami exchanged looks. Korra was yet to tell Yue everything about her meeting with Zaheer. How exactly he helped her on their last encounter. She knew with clarity that it was a one-off, and that their wants and needs would probably never align again. But the fact that he taught her something, too, was irrefutable.

She started laughing bitterly.

"What is it?" Asami asked in concern.

"Considering all the people who tried to kill me over the years, it really is a miracle I still like being the Avatar."

"How come that's the case?" Yue wondered. She has thought about it before.

"I'm always afraid that you'll say it's because you have no choice," Asami admitted quietly, before Korra could answer. "It breaks my heart to think about it. Because it's such a big part of who you are and what makes you beautiful, and don't get me wrong!" she was quick to add. "What I mean by that is that it makes you happy. Being a bender of all trades," she smiled, and Korra mirrored her smile. "It affects the way you move, and think, and see the world. I've seen you these past few months. Every time you learn something new, even though you can be cranky at first, you're just so filled with joy. It's a beautiful thing to see."

"I imagine it's similar to how you look when a new idea comes to you. It's one of my favorite things," Korra admitted.

"You guys are cute," Yue chuckled. She couldn't help it. For all her teasing, seeing the people who grew to become her friends together and in love, made her happy.

"Oh, are we now?" Asami challenged. "As cute as the person who gave you that hickie?"

Not a chance, Yue thought. "Ugh. You ruined it."

"Okay, since the moment is ruined I have a question," Korra jumped in. "All of this got me wondering. "Did an Avatar ever… abdicate?"

"That's a really interesting question," Yue seemed contemplative. "I honestly don't know. Maybe once you reestablish the connection to your past lives you can figure it out and tell me?"

"Maybe."

"Besides, you can't exactly abdicate you Avatarhood. It's not a title, it's a destiny."

Korra sighed. "Yeah."

"I do know that part of why Aang ran away was because he didn't want to be the Avatar. But that was when he was young."

"I was always so excited to be the Avatar growing up. I love bending. Being the Avatar was this cool and fun concept."

"Is that not how you feel anymore?" It broke Yue's heart a little to think about the pain that this calling brought into her friend's life. Whether or not Korra would even be in her life if she weren't the Avatar, Yue didn't know.

"It is. It's just that I was so naïve back then," Korra smiled sadly. "I love being the Avatar, I really do, and I'm honored that Raava chose me, and I don't take the responsibility lightly. But it's not just fun, it's also…"

"A job?"

"Yeah. A really tough one sometimes."

Asami walked behind Korra and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. "Sweetie, newsflash. Everyone hates their jobs sometimes."

Korra snorted, which only made Asami hug her even tighter and kiss her cheek.

"You know," Asami addressed Yue. "It's us, members of team Avatar who are really screwed. We should get hazard pay."

"You're screwed alright," Korra mumbled under her breath.

Yue looked away, but Asami burst into laughter. She couldn't stop.

"I'm gonna prepare lunch," Yue excused herself. Her friends were cute, sure, but seeing them like that just made her incredibly homesick. Still, she couldn't help but smile.

When Yue came back Korra smirked at her.

"What?" The historian asked in suspicion.

"I think you've earned your keep," Korra provided.

"What does that mean?" Yue turned to Asami for an explanation. But Asami just smiled at her, as if she knew what exactly what was coming.

"It means that you've led me through a lot, and gave me an incredible amount of knowledge, and now it's my time to repay the favor."

"Are you…" Yue's eyes lit up.

"She is," Asami chuckled.

"Gonna tell me about Wan?"

"Absolutely," Korra confirmed. "I know how you feel about homework."

"Technically, this isn't home, so…" Yue pointed out.

"Home is where your tent is," Korra argued.

"Yeah, when your girlfriend is in that tent," Asami snorted.

"So," Korra made a point of ignoring Asami. "What do you actually know about Wan?"

"Not that much," Yue admitted. "Mostly that he was the first Avatar, and that he lived during the previous Harmonic Convergence."

"Not that much is an overstatement then," Asami stretched her arms over her head and yawned.

"Yeah, rub it in, why won't you," Yue huffed.

"Well I guess I'll start from the beginning then," Korra patted the ground next to her, letting Yue know she should sit down.

Yue was quick to do so, not even bothering to hide her growing excitement. It was a missing piece of the puzzle. A piece which she wanted to posses for a very long time.

"Ages ago, during the era of Wan, people lived in different cities, all on the backs of the lion turtles."

"Wait, what?" Yue stopped her. "How… how did that even work? You're telling me…"

"That lion turtles used to carry cities? Yes. And what's more, people in each city didn't know about people in other cities. I told you the turtles are guardians. By housing people on their backs, they protected them from the wild, and whenever people left the cities, to hunt or otherwise, the turtles entrusted them with an element to protect them. Each turtle had a different element to give."

"So… is that how the original four nations were born?"

"That's right, girl genius."

"So… those people were the first benders?"

"Not exactly. Because every time they returned to the city, they had to give the gift back. Wan was the first person not to do so."

"How?"

Asami observed the historian, thinking what a shame it was that Yue didn't have a seat to be on the edge of.

"Well," Korra paused. "He… cheated."

"Huh."

"I know, not a great beginning for the first Avatar, but it gets better, I promise. As a matter of fact, the reason he maintained the fire…"

"Was that his city's element? And the first one he acquired?"

"Exactly. And he kept it because his city was infested with corruption. He was poor and wanted to stand up to them. To make a long story short…"

"Oh, please don't," Yue pleaded.

"What was I thinking? Of course you don't want the short version. Okay, I'm gonna make a deal with you. I'll jump to my favorite parts, but I'll write down for you some of the in between later."

"Deal." Yue agreed. She wanted the details, but she found herself eager to hear about the meatier portions of the story of the first Avatar.

"He found himself with his bending in the wild, where he met spirits for the first time. They didn't get along at first, but he lived among them for a very long time and became their friend."

"The origin of the Avatar's connection to the spirits?" Yue contemplated. "In addition to the Avatar's connection to Raava?"

"Maybe. That sounds very reasonable," Korra nodded. "Eventually he travelled, seeking the rest of the lion turtles, which is when he ran into Vaatu and Raava who were engaged in their never-ending battle. It was about a year before the Harmonic Convergence. Vaatu manipulated Wan into helping him escape Raava's grasp. After he realized what he's done, he spent the next year trying to prepare to assist Raava by asking other lion turtles for their help. First air, then water, then earth.

"The origin of the Avatar cycle," Yue smiled.

"That's right. And Raava had to carry the other elements for him at times. But during Harmonic Convergence, when he nearly lost to Vaatu, he touched the spirit portal and made his connection with Raava permanent, locking Vaatu in the Tree of Time, and dedicating his life to make the world a better place. When he was about to die, Raava promised him she'll be with him forever, for all his lives."

"I really like this story no matter how many times I hear it," Asami offered her girlfriend a toothy grin. "You're a walking freaking legacy of thousands of years. That's really hot."

"This is a really cool story," Yue said, seeming distracted.

"Um, yeah, very convincing, friend," Korra huffed. "I thought there'll be more… pizzazz."

"It's not that," Yue turned to Korra. "This really is amazing and I'm so glad you shared it with me. But it made me realize something."

"And what is that?"

"From what I know, when Avatars talk to their past lives it's in reverse order. You can't get to the next one without talking to a more recent life first. So, for example, in order to speak to Roku you had to be able to speak to Aang first."

"But… I spoke to Wan, and he was the first."

"Exactly."

"You think Korra found a way to skip the line," Asami realized.

"Yes. Which means…"

"That if I ever regain my connection to my past lives I might be able to communicate with every single one of them."

"Well, that's a…" Yue started.

"Let me guess," Korra smirked. "A working theory?"

Yue snorted. "Yep. But potentially, it could give us a way, down the line, to map the entire Avatar lineage. And some were lost to time," Yue's eyes lit up. "If you're up for it, this could be huge!"

"One reconnecting to past life at a time, 'kay?" Korra patted her friend on the shoulder.

"I just know you can do it," Yue looked at her, determined.

"How? How are you so sure? I'm usually sure and I'm not even sure."

"You're limitless," Yue shrugged. But when she saw Korra's face fall she added, "did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just… you've said that before, and I want to believe you, but the last person who said that to me was Zaheer, so, I need to consider what being limitless actually means."

"And if you want it," Yue realized.

"Yeah."

"Here's how I see it. It doesn't have to mean that you're capable of anything, just that you have the potential of being capable of anything. And you're only limited by the limits you set for yourself, which are a testament to who you are," Yue concluded.

"I knew there's a reason I'm keeping you around."

"Avatar, please, at this point I'm keeping you around. And it's only because I don't want Asami to get bored."

Korra laughed. A genuine, happy laugh.