Elementary Alchemy
Chapter 2: Damned Reagents
By Vox Deruste
Korra sat through an entire lecture on Alchemy for over four hours and the only thing she learned is that she doesn't understand alchemy. It's partially her own fault, she spent most of the lecture looking at the window while Armstrong and Edward discussed alchemy. Major Armstrong talked about how old and beautiful his family technique is, while Edward talked about his theories about the Philosopher's stone.
The way Edward talked about it made it seem like a magical thing. The way that it was a perfect substance, never truly breaking, able to bypass the scientific laws of Alchemy. That he would return Alphonse and himself to their original states. It ensured that Korra paid attention to that part of the lecture.
"So find that magic stone-"
"It doesn't have to be a stone, it's a perfect material." Edward corrected. Korra rolled her eyes.
"So the philosopher's stone can pretty much do anything? You think it can help me if you use it?" Korra asked. Edward smiled.
"I may not know much about medical Alchemy but I think me and Al can lend it to someone who does, so they can help you." Edward promised. He was genuine and Korra felt it in his words. He had an honest optimism about himself when he talked about his plans and what they will find in the central library. It was infectious and Korra appreciated it. It swelled when they reached Central station, the announcer declaring that the final stop was coming.
Korra outstretched her limbs, happy that she could leave her cramp seat right next to Alphonse. His large size takes up most of their shared seat and she was squeezed between his metal and the seat's wood. She ran out to see what the central city looked like. Much to the surprise of the Alchemist, Korra seemed unimpressed with it.
"Is...that it?" Korra asked. Central city's only true big structure in Korra's eyes was the fortress-like center point. Korra's memories started to rise to the surface again, large buildings stretching toward the sky. Airships patrolling above. A Harbor with ships of several nations. A massive metropolis. In short, Korra remembered a city that made Central looked like a quaint town. Though she kept that part of her thoughts to herself.
"At the footsteps of the capital of one of the most alchemically powerful nations in the world and your reaction is Is that it?" Armstrong said with great confusion. Edward started laughing.
"I could only imagine what you're remembering that makes central look quaint." After Edward had his chuckle, Korra described in detail the city in her mind with exquisite detail.
The alchemist stared at her with partial disbelief.
"I wasn't making it up, that's what I remember." Korra tried to temper the men's skepticism. "I guess I have been to...strange, far-off places." Korra tried to explain. Edward shook of the disorientating feeling and went toward the exit.
"We can pinpoint where it is when we get to the central library." Korra felt that optimism again and buried the disappointment of them not recognizing the city in her memory. But that quickly died when they saw what was left.
The library was burned to dust with only what remained of the inner wall's still standing.
"Well...that is...unfortunate." Armstrong tried to keep his upper lip but Edward was scrambling with very visible disappointment and annoyance. Pulling at his hair.
"Can't alchemy puts things back together." Edward held up a burned book that fell to pieces.
"Alchemy needs intact materials." Alphonse pointed to the pile of ash. "Spent material would take extensive alchemical knowledge and for us to know which is the book we are looking for." Alphonse looked toward the library and Korra followed the gaze. Piles on piles of ashes.
"Like staring at sand trying to find a grain of rice." Korra summarized. But her observation was cut short by sounds of unquiet footsteps. Two people in military uniforms saluted behind them all. A woman with short brown hair and a mole on her cheek. And a blond man with long hair.
"Ah second liutenant Ross and Sargent Brosch. What brings you here?" Armstrong asked with his arms crossed.
"You have been ordered back to Central Command sir."
"We will take over guarding duties for Fullmetal alchemist…" They then noticed Korra standing near Edward.
"Who is that Major Armstrong?" Ross asked, trying to get a read on the young woman.
"A traveler with amnesia that has joined us for the time being. She is a quest of the city and of our nation, treat her fairly." Armstrong said as he walked away. " Nice of you to get them off my hands." Despite the words of Major Ross and Brosch still stared at Korra, she wore the clothing Winry found her in. The ones with leather boots and the light blue top with the waist pelt. Which made her seem out of place. Though they did give similar looks to Edward when they thought he wasn't looking.
They were all brought to a car, squeezing into their seats. Korra is being squished into the car door by Ross. The second lieutenant told them how they might still have a chance.
"There is a woman from the first branch who does live nearby, she proves some amount of help." Edward scoff at it.
"It ain't much but we'll look into it." Edward said with a dismissive aggravation. Korra saw Borsch give Alphonse an inquisitive look which Alphonse reciprocated. She was getting better at telling the armor's emotion from subtle gestures and speech patterns.
"oh sorry." Borsch apologized. "But if you don't mind why the armor." Korra knew part of the reason. That it was lost because they wanted to bring their mother back, but the parts about human transmutation deeply confused her. She did know enough that it was not something to blurt out. Edward gave her the 'don't tell' look and Korra silently nodded while Ross and Borsch watched the brothers. A cold sweat developing.
"It's a hobby." The brothers said awkwardly as the two officers returned said awkwardness with whispering with each other like chatty gossips. She heard some speculation from the officers but didn't feed the fire.
"So what's your story Miss." The blond man asked before being elbowed by the woman officer.
"I don't really remember at the moment but I have a guess. A traveling martial artist who kicks bad-guy butt?" Korra said half-seriously
The officers looked toward Edward and then to Kora, giving awkward smiles and laughs. The fake kind you make when you're trying to laugh along to a bad joke. Korra scowled and they immediately stopped. She had another surge of memories, smarmy butt kissers that tried to get something out of her or try to control her.
A more clear picture was forming in Korra's mind of her former life. She was half-joking about the martial artist fighting evil ideas. That was a large number of her memories, at least that for the recent ones. There was still haze around them but some information was returning. Like the name of her ability, bending. And that she is something called an Avatar.
Though whether it was a title or a...thing she was physical, was very unclear.
Eventually, they reach the home of a recently fired library employee, a book collector who might have the information that the brothers needed.
As soon as they opened the door a mountain of books stood in front of the door. Behind that stack, pillars of books, lined up like a maze, filled the room. It barely looked like a home and more of a poorly constructed library.
"This is just weird, but maybe one of these is a copy of the book you're looking for?" Korra said cautiously. She didn't need her memories to tell her that she wasn't the academic type. Besides, she couldn't read the Amestiran language anyway.
Ed and Al went right in looking for the book pillar's owner.
"Hey! Anyone in there!" Korra yelled out along with Ed.
"It will take ages to read all these." Al admired the bookshelves. And after pressing his hand against it, he heard a low groaning. "Brother." AL asked he moved the bookshelf and saw a hand sticking out of a pile of fallen books, being slowly crushed.
In a frenzied panic, Korra and Edward dug into the book.
"Get back Ed!" Korra yelled as she was about to kick. Ed's instinct kicked in and he got out of the way of a blast of air. The books are flying off and tipping over other shelves. Revealing a petite woman under the books.
She got on her knees and bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you so much! I thought I was going to suffocate under all those books!" She yelled out in pained relief.
"It's cool." Korra said with some pride looking over her muscles. Second lieutenant Ross went over to the women.
"Are you Sheska?" Ross asked. "You were employed at the library." The girl hugged herself and squealed with pleasure.
"Oh, the library!" She started to rumble and deluge a lot of information about herself at blistering speed. "Ilovedreadingsomuch, itwastheperfectjob but theyfiredmeforonlyreading. IfIdon'tgetanewoneIllneverpayformysickmother'shospitalbills." The people around Sheska could only get bits and pieces of what she said. "I'm useless! Good for nothing! Worse than pond scum!" She cried out.
Ed turned to Al and Korra.
"Don't look at me. All I got was, bookworm, read too much at work, and need a new job." Korra summarized.
"More than I got." Al agreed.
"Hey sorry but this is important, you wouldn't know what happened to a book written by Tim Marcoh?" Edward asked Sheska. After a second of thought.
"Tim...Tim...Oh yes, there was a book by him in the library." Ed and Al had looked for happiness that quickly deflated.
"So we were right but it burned." Al groaned. Korra sighed with them. The only lead was just a reminder of the first setback.
"I remembered everything that was written in them? Does that help?" Sheska casually gave them a treasure. Everyone stared at her. "I have a photographic memory."
"Thank you bookworm!" Ed shouted out as he grasped her hand. Tears of joy with Al celebrating in the background. Korra was put off by the whiplash but was happy for them all the same. "Can you compile what you remember of his book so we could research it." Edward asked. "I'll pay for your efforts." He said sincerely. Korra believed it too; she saw the bill Winry gave him for the automail, mostly the number of zeros on it.
"I'll do that right away sir, it will just be a few days." Edward looked toward Korra and Al.
"Deal." They shook on it and everyone left the apartment. Filling the time of the car ride by Korra dodging questions about how she did the air blasts. She felt that Edward and Al were fine. Even Armstrong. These two, she wasn't sure about. Not that they would believe her if the answer wasn't alchemy.
They did learn that Brosch has family in central and that he and Ross worked together for years. Ross herself also had family, her parents. They both seemed to be favorites of Armstrong.
"So you really know nothing about yourself?" Ross asked.
Korra shrugged.
"Some stuff, my parents, my home, some names, some places...I think. It's still jumbled mostly." Korra said somberly. Ross noticed the look.
"I'm sure you'll remember more. It seems to be slowly coming back." Ross assured her. Korra accepted it but the lingering feeling that she is missing something important gnawed at her.
"Well, we have some time before Sheska finishes the notes." Al remarked. "How do you want to spend your time?" Korra thought about it but it was incredibly difficult since she couldn't remember very well if she had hobbies before her memory was wiped.
"Looking around the city might make some memories appear? You have any place you like to go too." Korra asked Ed.
Edward pointed to the hotel and the first floor of it, a restaurant.
"Mostly, me and Al just kinda stay in the hotel researching, that or the library." Korra got the picture, the boys were insular and introverted with their prime spot for doing anything turned into an asheap.
"I guess food and some sparring then?" Korra suggested. Edward nodded.
"Not the worst way to use time." The three went back to the Hotel to eat at its restaurant. Ross and Brosch keeping an eye on them.
"You know you can take a break right?" Korra asked as she had steam vegetables and steak.
"I don't think Scar is going to come after me in a crowded restaurant. Eat a meal or something." Edward agreed as Al sat next to both of them.
"You don't want us interfering with your date?" Brosch said jokingly. Korra and Edward both spat out their food.
"Brosch!" They said in unison.
"I'm pretty sure I have a….no we broke-up recently." Korra said defensively.
"Kinda too busy at the moment to be dating Sergeant Brosch." Edward refuted.
"Cool, I helped her get her memory back!" Brosch ignored Edward.
"I think he betrayed me?"
"Cheated on you?" Ross inquired.
"No, no...something about my family...A fight, it was...well we did have a fight, a lot actually." Korra relented as she remembered a young man with sharp hair, gold eyes, and a red scarf. Handsome, cool but emotionally withdrawn at times. "Mako, his name is Mako. I actually went on a date or two with his brother. We kissed, we got into a fight, got over it. He went out with a rich girl, Asami, that was a thing for a while. Some stuff...happened, I think, and then we got together." Korra explained in full. She said it out loud as she remembered it and when she remembered she said it out loud she saw the secondhand embarrassment on the other's faces.
Turning to firsthand when Korra realized she divulged a romantic nightmare.
"That sounds…" Ross struggled to find the right words.
"An overly complicated love square that seems to be a wire trap of a relationship that was doomed to fail." Brosch said simply. Everyone looked toward him. "Oh don't look at me like that, I like romance alright." Korra and Edward shook off the notion and went back to eating.
Korra started to remember a few people close to her a bit better now. Her friends at least. Including a man called Tenzin, who was her mentor in spiritual matters and airbending. The air she was blasting out.
A few other names popped up in her mind, Lin Beifong, General Iroh, Sifu Katara, Varrick. Then there was another, Unaloq. That name made her angry, like there was a know of anger and hate tied up with it. A pit that kept getting bigger as she put more thought into it.
Gaunt, angular features, skin was the same shade of brown as her as well as the hair. Superficially similar, down to the blue eyes.
"Damn him." Korra growled as the sound of her plate breaking in half started the officers. She didn't have a hand on the plate.
"What was that?" Edward asked. Looking at the destroyed plate and the angered expression on Korra.
"A bad memory of a bad man. I don't remember clearly why but he is." Korra said strongly. " I also think he's family."
Spirit world
"Why must you pester me?" Wan shi tong bemoaned as he reorganized his collection of books.
"Surely a spirit of knowledge knows of the location of the Avatar." Unalaq said pointedly.
"Yes, a spirit of knowledge. Not omniscience. In all honesty, I'm doubtful if it's even an important import for my collection." Wan shi tong collection of knowledge is a massive library that once had a foothill in the material world. But now it was hanging off a metaphysical cliff in the metaphysical spirit world. The counterpart of the material world.
"Vaatu-"
"Vaatu does not give me orders, nor do you." Wan shi tong cut off Unalaq. "I respect you enough not to drive you out of here. Do not push it." The owl spirit said harshly. The spirit's distrust and outright hatred of humans is well documented. Only growing worse with the last Avatar, Avatar Aang.
Wan Shi Tong was not going to shed any tears over the latest Avatar's disappearance. He would find the body so he could have a stuffed Avatar for his taxidermies. He has one for each human nation but not one of an Avatar.
"And the plans and ambitions of Vaatu?"
"Can be filled by his own will. It's embarrassing enough for such an ancient and powerful spirit to use fleshinglings such as you." Wan Shi Tong cared little for conflict in all honesty. His place was in places of learning. Struggles between entities over wide expansive moralities? Why bother while there is still information to collect. Let Raava and Vaatu grind each other into dust, thought the owl spirit.
"I don't know. Maybe an exception for something this important? It is literally one in ten thousand years." Called out a voice floating downward toward the arguing human king and knowledge spirit. A green flame in blue and red robes. Vaguely in humanoid form. Black smoke emanating from the mouth and eyes.
"Here for another haul of stories, Green flame?" Wan Shi Tong asked the living flame to return a box of stories.
"Another collection of scrolls and tomes to be voraciously consumed? Yes, I'll take them! But I'm not interrupting you both for that." The strange spirit looked toward Unalaq, the pungent smell of smoke invading the human's nose. "I know you have special hatred of humans Wan buddy-"
"Don't call me that."
"But the opportunity to be a part of something, something ten thousand years in the making. I dare say for once, you can make history instead of recording it."Wan ignored the spirit and looked toward the library shelves. "Of Course you could leave your crowning achievement the fact you let humans gain information on how to kill La the moon spirit. Or perhaps another in the long line of spirit that was manipulated by the Avatar." The spirit's words cut into Wan Shi Tong Showing his beak and becoming slightly more monstrous.
"How dare you." Despite baring his metaphoric fangs, Wan Shi Tong kept a composed tone, reigning in yet more anger to be unleashed. A quiet rage. "I was tricked by humans who want nothing more than to control and use our kind. And you would throw your lot with humans."
"Do you feel sorry for a child that was tricked by a con man, Mister King of the Northern Water Tribe?" The spirit turned to Unalaq. It was but only a look but the king knew what play the spirit was pulling.
"You can blame the con man but the child must be taught how to not be tricked."Unalaq explained.
"What does this have to do with-"
"You cannot ignore ignorance, for like spirit's, children have a purer look of the world. But instead of learning, your function, and your passion, you stagnate and expect everyone to follow your example. Green flame kept twisting the knife in Wan Shi Tong. The spirit continued to fill with rage. "So perhaps we learn from it and try to use this to our collective advantage like humans do."
"You expose the manipulation of humans and want us to mimic their heinous actions. The actions that led to the most disgraceful events in my life!" Wan Shi Tong hissed at Green Flame.
"To learn from the actions to never be tricked again." Green flame corrected. "Think about it, Wan Shi Tong. You can be stuck in your library in self-imposed exile or you can be a part of something greater and bigger than one spirit's grievances." The words started to ring clearer in Wan Shi Tong's mind. "But then again, if you just want to admit that you know nothing about this and that out of the ten thousand things you know this isn't one of the things. The ability to change or when to act."
Wan Shi Tong thought about the words of Green Flame. As obvious provocation as ever, there was one. But the fact he could not say they were lies was eating away at the spirit of knowledge.
How many times did he cut himself from everything around him only to be stabbed by the willfully unknown? How many times has a human used him as a tool for their ends? How many times would he allow this?
"I could be persuaded to have my knowledge seekers locate the Avatar." Wan Shi Tong relaxed and changed back into his owl form.
"I hope the persuasion goes further." Green Flame said with restrained excitement. He started to leave, leading Unalaq away from the library and more importantly away from Wan Shi Tong.
"Why did you help me?" Unalaq enjoyed the helping hand but made sure to assert his position in the conversation. This Green Flame had little regard for him and looked at him with the same look one gave a sick pet. Mild amusement and pity.
"Because it's fun." Green Flame said simply as he floated into the air. "I gain nothing from this war between presumed darkness and light as well. I just hate watching from the gate all this time." He kept a superior gaze over Unalaq. Mixed with a morose excitement and pleasure.
"You join an event of cosmic significance...for fun?" Unalaq always held spirits in higher regard than humans but this one was reminding him of certain humans. The kind who cares not for the spiritual.
"And you joined for power and dominance of the human world." Green flame retorted.
"I join for the spirit's sa-"
"Lie to yourself but not to me." Green Flame glared at him. "I'm only helping your side at the moment because not even Korra's friends know where she is and it's getting boring waiting for them to do something."Green Flame slumped his shoulders. " Even more frustrating that her disappearance was not your plan! I thought you had captured her and were brainwashing her so she would open the portal. Now you can't do anything."
"I can spirit bend obnoxious spirits." Unalaq threatened. Green Flame scoffed.
"You would have pulled that trick with Wan if you had the confidence to do so. All that pride and scheming and yet your plans are falling apart. What is Vaatu going to do to you when Harmonic Convergence comes and you can do nothing as the big kite is stuck in a tree." Green Flame openly mocked.
"And yet you help."
"Because I need something to happen and I'll help you so long as you can promise that, Just make this war not boring and you get a semi-loyalty mercenary." Green Flame bowed.
Unalaq didn't trust this spirit. But he had few willing collaborators. Most were spirits he turned to Vaatu's side. And he needed more intelligent spirit's on his side to combat whatever the Avatar was hiding.
"I accept your deal...for now, and know this. Betray me and I'll make sure to scream your name as Vaatu takes vengeance on me for any setbacks you give me." Green Flame laughed at the bravado but put his hand in front of him for Unalaq to shake.
"Sure why not. Scream it when you need attention or an info broker. When I'm not at the gate at least." Green Flame relented. Unalaq raised an eyebrow.
"What gate? There are only three ways into the spirit realm. Through meditation, and the two portals. What gate?" Green Flame didn't answer the human's question and simply flew away. Becoming a stream of green fire and spiraled into the distance. Far from the eyes of any spirit and that of any human with enough spiritual acumen's eyes.
At the edge of the spirit realm, where everything begins to end, and the void begins. A blackness where the color of the spirit world was swallowed. Divide by two gates. One a traditional wooden one, made of redwood, with symbols of the traditional Elements of the first four lion turtle cities. The gate opposite the wooden one was an iron door. It had blank features and stood on the edge of oblivion. Green Flame stood between the two gates. Standing and waiting.
The spirit was not aware who made the gates or knew of their purpose. He had speculated that no existing spirit was aware of the gates other than him. But he did not know what lay beyond the iron gate. He feigned ignorance to Wan Shi Tong and the Human king to see what they would do.
He knew well where the Avatar was. On the other side of the gate.
He did not know where it led but that didn't matter. What mattered was the absence she caused. The fun and possibilities that could fill such an absence. What enjoyable routes of possibility it would lead to. Green Flame thought.
He saw Unalaq's children attack Korra and how a dark spirit attacked and laid the finishing blow. It took all of the spirit's strength but he took her and put her somewhere far away. Far from his or any other spirit's gaze. And the fun has begun.
How will Vaatu respond, he wondered? How will the chaos bringer react when harmonic convergence comes and he is still stuck in his tree.
Only a few more weeks to find out.
Amestris
The days were long and short before Sheska finished the compiled notes. The Edward brothers and their new companion spent it figuring out the limits and extent of Korra's abilities.
They knew of air manipulation but it seemed antithetic to her fighting style. Edward honestly came close to beating her in mock training when she was focusing on only using air. She came out on top of everything they fought but he came closer than she felt he should. Documenting the possibilities of her air ability took over the first two days. That and making sure that Brosch and Ross were kept out of it. Edward felt they were fine people but Korra didn't trust them fully yet.
By the third day they tried to see the extent of her next ability. A kind of mineral or 'earth' manipulation, earth bending Korra called it. Not enough of her memories returned for her to explain how she did these manipulations. She could describe using a kind of energy in herself and around her.
Edward speculated a similar answer to alchemy. That she was using the ambient energy of tectonic movement and directing it as element manipulation. The same energy source as Alchemy. They argued for hours into the night about whether it is or not that explanation. Korra seemed to champion a sort of spiritual view on it. One A scientific mind like Edward could not accept. Al played peacemaker while they experimented with earth manipulation. Again alone, Korra had trouble fighting Ed, who was trying less to help Korra and more trying to even the fight score. And in a direct battle of her earthworks versus Edwards it became exceedingly close.
Though that could be from the fact he was learning her moves.
She could, with a few simple sturdy and strong moves she could move stone and rocks of varying sizes. The brothers documented. Which they tested for the last three days until the promised day came.
"Phew! Is that it for today?" Korra asked as she heaved a human size of stone out of the ground. Their exercise to study her abilities was taking place near the city's outskirts, near the wilderness. Their first attempt in the city to test her abilities nearly caused several car crashes.
"I think that's enough. You both seemed tired." Al remarked, tossing a towel to Korra and Edward. Their endless sparing and pseudo-fight training were eating at their stamina.
"Yeah, keeping this pipsqueak in check really drives up a thirst." Korra said coyly. Edward responded with a swift high kick with his metal leg that was blocked by an arm reinforced with rock. Korra had the bruises from trying to parry a metallic arm on her arm and didn't need more. Korra had a wicked grin while Edward had strained, suppressed.
"Call a pee-wee, micro, man-let again! I dare you!" Edward angrily said through gritted teeth and he moved to swift jabs.
"I swear one of these day's someone's going to get the better of you with that trick. I also didn't say that." Korra reminded him and she dodged his blows. Using a small bit of the air manipulation, or bending as she started calling it in her head. She moved like a floating leaf mixed with an intense dancer.
"Fullmetal Alchemist! Sir!" Borsch called from the tree he and Ross stood behind. By orders of Edward and Korra and request.
"What!" Edward screamed out. In the split second, he knew that he made the wrong move. Korra then used earth bending to launch Edward, face-first into the tree next to Brosch.
"I think that makes me the strongest fighter here!" Korra grandstand a slight bit. "Avatar 8, Alchemist 0." She cried out as Edward limped his way back up, glaring at Brosch.
"Sorry, sir-"
"Just give me the news."Edward said promptly, wiping the dirt and leaves on himself.
"Sheska finished with the notes, SIr!" The officers said in unison. Edward had a grin on his face as he heard the news.
"All right." Edward looked back at the flexing Korra and emotionally exhausted Alphonse. "Hey we can try some more elemental stuff later, the notes are ready."Korra grimaced slightly. She wanted to spar some more but she knew that this was more important. Didn't stop her grumbling about it though.
"Let's see if these notes are as good as Sheska promised." Al agreed with his brother and they went toward the car to finally get the notes they had been waiting for. But right before Korra got into the car, she felt a surge of malevolent energy, a kind of dark chill in her spine. Like something with less than honest intentions was watching her. Studying her.
She looked up but didn't see anything.
"Hey Korra you're going to see the sky all day or we're going to Sheska's?" Edward snapped her out of it. Korra put on a smile and got into the car right next to Edward and was sandwiched by the brothers.
The feeling wasn't gone but being surrounded by honest people was comforting her. Despite the dread in the base of her spine and a name being yelled in her head. Raava.