"No way." Dominic killed her dreams flat again as his persona changed depending on if the baby was watching. Dominic, after the storm had cleared, managed to get a doctor to the house and check over the baby and mother. Giving credit to Winry and Korra for helping the mother through the traumatic experience. Dominic himself fawned over his new grandchild, a son, while everyone else outside his immediate family looked at bewilderment at the personality shift.
After some fawning Dominic did turn to Winry.
"I don't take apprentice's, I'll never change that rule." Winry Stood up straight after composing herself. "But I do thank you for this. There is an accomplished engineer that's been looking over the idea of an apprentice." Winry's smile started to appear. "And I won't stop you from coming by and looking at models that I'm working on." While Dominic kept his stern face, Winry jumped with joy over the generous offer.
"I won't let you down Dominic." Winry Exclaimed. Dominic groaned as Paniya also stood up.
"And I'll get a job in the valley to pay you back mister Dominic."
"I told you a thousand times, I don't want your money…but if you help around with the baby consider it paid." Dominic offered the girl and she immediately hugged him. Korra, Al, and Ed smiled at the series of events. And a slight breath of release from the Elric's given that meant that Winry wouldn't have to meet their master. They felt they would clash more than likely.
Asami had a more faltering look, not out of sadness or anything of the sort. It was more out of questioning herself. She thought about Winry's choice to stay in Rush Valley to improve her skill. About how she felt that her skills could be expanded in this new place, among such like-minded people. But She also remembered the only thing she remembered clearly. She and Korra need to stop...something. She remembered that it involved Korra's uncle doing...something. But the details were still locked in a mental cage.
How could she think about staying to learn to engineer, while a threat was still on the horizon and she felt there was only so much left. She was at a mental crossroads. And she didn't know if she could even take such a chance while something had to be done.
Then again Korra herself did still Follow the Edwards to find a way home, maybe Asami could trust them to help Korra if anything related to the coming danger came up. They have so far.
As the thoughts swirled within Asami she reached a conclusion.
The group stayed with the Dominic's for the night to be ready for the train to Dublith. If they didn't get it, it would be three more days of waiting. And Elric's and Korra couldn't wait that long. But before they left Asami told them all:
"I'm staying to study Automail with Winry, for a bit." Asami said right before the group left the door.
"Wait, why? I thought you wanted to find-" Edward was cut off by Korra.
"If that's what you want Asami, I support it." Korra said with a reassuring smile. Asami smiled back.
"Okay, Okay mushy stuff later the train is calling" Edward shouted as they all made their way down the mountain with the help of Korra's earth bending. Making good enough time to make the last passenger boarding call. Right before leaving, they said their goodbyes to Paniya, Winry and Asami. Getting on the train as it started to leave.
"You better get good at their machines, Asami! Show them how a republic city girl does it!" Korra shouted out
"You better steal those old man's secrets Winry! I'll be back expecting bigger and badder than anything that came before!" Edward himself shouted as Al held them both as the train made its way.
Asami and Winry stood at the train stop watching them get smaller and smaller in the horizon.
"How long do you give them?" Asami asked Winry. She stifled a laugh.
"A few days at the most, maybe around a week." Winry joked as they both wished for their journey to be safe. The smoke of the train dissipates into the air as they watch their friends go further in their journey.
Republic city
Mako and Bolin were tearing their hair out. Asami had been gone for days now and the spirit that had sent her through that portal had not gotten back to them.
"I knew I shouldn't have let us take her." Mako blamed himself. Bolin slumped in his seat.
"We didn't know it would take this long. Besides he was a spirit, the none evil kind." Bolin tried to rationalize. "Korra and Asami will show up, they always show up, they can't...they can't be…" Bolin couldn't bring himself to say but was dead, he didn't want them to be dead and he was kicking himself for not trying to help Korra harder when this all started. He felt like he wasted so much time with those movers with Varrick.
They were both in the office of Lin Beifon, Lin went to get Tenzin so they could share their information about where Korra was and the spirit they had met. Lin came into the room with Tenzin, both in a state of worry and confusion. Lin broke the awkward quiet first.
"Now explain the part where you lost your friend because of a spirit." Lin chastised them but they did agree they deserved it. They explained in detail what they knew of Green Flame sage, The spirit that made a deal with them.
"I do not know a spirit by that name." Tenzin remarked, trying to think if the description matched anything he knew. "Though I do not blame you for this, with so many spirits turning to Unalaq's side, why wouldn't you assume those that were left would help us." Tenzin did not blame the simple reason that most people did not truly understand spirits, he hated to admit it but he barely did. They are mysterious, mercurial creatures by their nature. The fact that one showed such human traits was upsetting and strange.
A bigger play was in the works.
"Dad." Called a young voice. Tenzin turned to see his daughter, Jinora. She had, to the hidden frustration of her father, managed to meditate into the spirit world. It was through her and a helpful spirit that Tenzin's family was told about what was going on. Though Jinora only heard their voice and not their appearance. "Aunt Kya and Uncle Bumi need some help.
Earlier
On the steps of the police station was an assembled group of worried members of Tenzin's family. Waiting in the lobby, impatiently waiting for Tenzin to finish his talk with Lin and Korra's friends.
"Honestly this is a mess." Kya said lowly, "an entire vacation derailed by our psycho king." Kya bemoaned.
"Technically not our king but yeah bummer that the family trip was dismantled by an apocalypse." Bumi acted jovially but he was worried as well, he just knew that his sister didn't need the extra baggage in her mind. They also had Jinora with them because she managed to outdo their brother in spirituality and also managed to get Bumi a new pet. Bun-jun the flying rabbit spirit.
"You think that we could find Korra and Asami?" Jinora asked, Bumi looked down at his niece and smiled.
"With your spirit magic and my brother's shiny head, we find them in no time." Bumi said jokingly. Kya and Jinora had small smiles grow on their faces. It was interrupted as a man stumbled his way through the police door. Slamming his body on the ground, covered in a ratty cloak on top of salvage robes and sandals.
"Help." He meeked out from chapped lips. The smell of smoke on him was like charcoal. Fresh burns on his arms. The sight of the stranger was followed by the visage of dark spirits, mumbling in distorted voices,
"Trait-tor, Trait-tor, Kill...Trait-tor." The mumbled spectral entity nearly grabbed the young man. Kya discombobulated it with jets of water while Bumi pulled the young man away, noticing the white hair on his head and the one open red eye.
"Ain't you a strange sight." Bumi remarked as Jinora ran off to find her father and backup. Kya managed to push the spirit out of the police station as the officers assisted in restraining it. Or at least trying to do so as the spirit changed its shape as the metal bending police officer's tried to restrain it with their metal cables.
"Draw a circle around it." The figure whispered into Kya's ear. "I can get rid of it, tell the gray hair water bender to make a circle of water. I'll do the rest." The young man promised. Bumi could not believe that such a beaten and exhausted young man could do much in this fight. But he did listen, he did crazier things against human soldiers and bandits. Why not go even crazier for a dark spirit.
"Kya! Wrap the spirit in a ring of water!" Bumi yelled. Kya looked at him confused and at the young man, seeing a flicker of green in the young man's red eyes.
"Better than nothing." Kya relented as she did what she was asked. Making a sphere of water that had a ring around its outside, like a gyroscope. The young man got on his feet and touched the circle, tendrils of flame, reaching out to form an inscription on top of the water. With a touch and flash of red lighting, the spirit disappeared. A small red stone on the ground where it was and the young man pocketing it after clenching it.
"My thanks." He said before collapsing on his knees again. "Please let me see the monk." The young man said as his face lay on the ground. Kya and Bumi stared in disbelief at what they just saw and had many questions as a couple of officers held the young man up to his feet.
"Can you give us a name before we let a guy who disintegrates spirits near our brother." Kya asked, now a slight bit suspicious of the young man as she clearly saw, what looked like the abilities of spirit in his control.
" Azuma Sage, that's what you may call us." The young man said as the ring of black was now on the edge of his red's. A speck of green at the center of his pupils. Kya and Bumi both looked at each other and mentally agreed that something was not right with Azuma.
After catching their breath, Tenzin, Lin, Jinora and the bending brothers came to see the young man with a hot cup of ramen.
"I can see the Avatar's attachment to this city now." Azuma sage as he picked at the noodles with chopsticks. The people looked at him with confusion.
"Who or what-" Azuma hushed Lin Beigfong with a hand made of smoke left his arm. With slight horror, the group saw that he had no arms or hands, what was filling out his gloves and sleeves were separate appendages made from smoke and fire. He was not truly human as his voice now had the sound of two voices. One that was softer but weary but the other was more excitable and boisterous. Mako and Bolin recognized it.
"How do you have a human body!?" Mako and Bolin screamed as the smile of Azuma was ruined by the smoke that came out of it.
"This is the spirit that knows where Korra is!?" Bolin pointed accusatory towards Azuma who seemed to quickly switch between moods. From a kind of sorrowful gloom to a manic smile with wide eyes. The change frightened most in the room. Aside from Mako who seemed to only be angered.
"Where are Asami and Korra!? Tell me Now!" Mako screamed at Azuma as he started to choke with his left hand and hold a fireball in the other. The other held him back as the composite started to laugh.
"That is why we are here, fire bender. The Avatar and the girl are safe in another world." They said joyously. As the separated hands, made of smoke, tried to force Mako to smile. "Be merrier now all of you can be part of the great game." Boling took over for his brother and socked Azuma across the jaw with his fist.
"Just start making sense! What game? What World? Why the body?" Azuma still had his grin after the punching and ranting of Bolin.
"Yes, yes, yes this is the excitement that I wanted, and don't worry I will answer your questions to their fullest." Azuma explained how he had tried to play Vaatu and how he tried to use another world he called Amestris. And how his scheme was found out by the other spirits loyal to Vaatu. Especially how he stashed her there.
It was a lot for the group to take in. too much for some.
"Okay, I cannot believe you." Mako retorted as Azuma kept up the smile. Mako manifested fires in his knuckles. "But if half of it is true and you have Korra and Asami in a dangerous another world." Mako grabbed the young man by the collar of his messy cloth. "I'll make sure that Vaatu and Unalaq are the least of your problems!" Mako screamed before letting go of Azuma.
"Such anger, despite you spurning both of them." Mako's anger peaked again as Azuma spoke. "I mean...how quick did you drop the nice rich girl for the volatile Avatar when the chance came." Bolin held Mako back before he could strike Azuma.
"As much fun as you angering Mako is, what are you after?" Lin asked. "You explained what you did but not what you wanted?" Lin explained as the group narrowed their eyes and the face of Azuma became for the first time in the conversation. No evasion, no coy smile.
"I need your help to kill Unalaq and by extension Vaatu." Azuma explained as the combined group stared at him. His serious and sullen face, staring deep within them. "His death will prevent Vaatu from escaping from the tree and the Avatar's absence ensures that he can't escape." Azuma shrugged.
"Wait but why Asami?" Bolin asked. "I get it, you sent Korra to that other world because that...hurts Vaatu."
"His prison needs an Avatar or a being of equal power to break it." Azuma explained.
"So you sent her to a place that he could not get to." Bolin pierced together as Azuma nodded. "But why Asami?"
"You asked why I did all this?" Azuma dodged the question and looked at lin. "The spirit, I wanted to have some fun. She seemed like a fun person to send to the other world. The human in me, Wants to help me for a deal that would benefit me. Understand me?" Azuma asked them all.
The group absorbed the confusion weaved into the statement. They simply stare at the manic-depressive being.
"I'll make it simpler. The Avatar is safe for now, depending on who she picks a fight with. I can send all of you to that other world or you can help me kill Unalaq before he does the most suicidal move your species has ever committed and release Vaatu." Azuma tried to simplify. "You have little choice in the matter, which I apologize for but I do promise it will be a glorious experience." Azuma held out their hand as they twitch and convulsed. The group did not want to agree to any deal with this stranger. They could not for the life of them believe any word that came out of their mouth.
Extravagant Tall tales and insanity were all they heard. And yet this was their only lead to where Korra was...and Unalaq was waging war against the south. Something had to be done.
"What do you ask of us, we will refuse it if it is unreasonable." Tenzin spoke for the group and Azuma grinned.
"I only ask for a chance." Azuma smirked still holding up their hands.
Everyone had reservations but tried to bite it down for Korra's sake, maybe the world's.
15 miles near Dublith.
"So what can you tell about your Sifu?" Korra asked as she looked over the map to Dublith, home to the Elric's Alchemy teacher. Izumi Curtis.
"Teacher." Edward corrected as he seemed to contain his worry and fear.
"It means the same thing, the person who teaches you, both about life and skills. At least for me, it is." Korra explained. She noticed the worry and wanted the brothers to release some of it.
"She did raise us for some time brother." Alphonse chimed in. "When mom died we wanted to...learn alchemy." Korra could tell he meant how to bring her mother. "She is going to kill us."
"You keep saying that, why would she hate you?" Korra had guessed but she wanted the actual answer. Besides, with the brothers, it would not be that straightforward.
"The military for one...then the oblivious." Alhopnse explained while Edward looked out the window. Korra thought about it and it made sense, she had heard the odd whisper about how alchemists are not universally liked and how that average person viewed more like living weapons. Edward and his brother were exceptions. Korra could understand part of it, she did fight a man that wanted to get rid of people who had special powers over other people.
But bending had more cultural significance than alchemy, it seemed more like a tool. All power with rare bits of technique.
"I'm guessing the part, you don't want to mention is the sticking point." Korra guessed.
Ed and Al looked at each other.
"Maybe." Edward sighed. "I actually think she hates the military more than the taboo. I think at least." Edward described as he seemed to think on it. "Maybe I should give you the skinny so you are not confused while we're there." Korra nodded to the suggestion and raise her hand for a waiter. She asked for Tea for herself and snacks, letting Edward give a small tale of his and Al's training with Izumi.
He talked about he and Al saw her divert a river single-handed with alchemy. She took pity on them because their mother died relatively recently. She let them come with her to Dublith and left them on a small island for a month, to fend for themselves. Korra rose her eyebrows at that statement.
Why let a child fend for themselves for food on an island in the middle of a lake? Seemed slightly cruel.
But when Edward explained it was to teach him the principle, One is All, All is one.
One is all, Allis one: As far as Korra understood, was the philosophy that the universe was one big system of energy moving up a chain in a vaster system. Like a rabbit that was eaten by foxes that provide for larger predators that die at some point, rot and the insects use it for plants, and the circle repeats. It had shades of reincarnation to her but she kept it to herself, Edward
"You almost talk about it like it's a kind of spiritless faith?" Korra did mention, she had self-control but not enough to be completely silent.
"Spiritless faith?" Edward asked.
"Well, this idea of a single god thing that you have here is kind of new to me. Where I'm from it's only spirit. Spirit of the forest, the moon, ocean, anything really. I'm no expert but I know more than most...I think." Korra said with an awkward silence as she thought back to a teacher she did wrong by. Tenzin.
Tenzin was her Airbending and spiritual teacher, then she decided to be a brat as soon as she found a mentor who inflated her ego and basically took the growth of her time in Republic City and spat on it. For Unalaq of all people. She hasn't seen him since then, she hasn't apologized for such a stupid mistake, she thought to herself.
She wondered whether these were the same thoughts that went through the brother's head as they saw Dublith come more into view. And shudder's in their souls.
When they got off the train they went toward Izumi's house first, near a butchery. The town was mostly made of stone and brick. It made Korra feel homey in a sense. Not as different as Republic City but similarly like a small town. Big enough for new experiences but small enough not to be overwhelming.
Korra saw a woman in a bed from a window. It was from a small, one-floor house. A burly, big gut man answered the door and called to the women in bed.
"Izumi, it's the boy's." the man said in a stern but gentle voice.
"Guess she's still sick." Edward before an agile woman with dreads tied into a ponytail nearly stabbed him with a spear. Korra countered by kicking and splitting the spear with a spike of earth.
"To use your own terms, What the hell!" Korra shouted. Edward signaled her to stay out of it with a raised hand. "You can't be, really?" Korra sighed as she saw the determination in Izumi's eyes. How could a woman with so much fight be bedridden? Korra stepped back and let the brothers fight their teacher.
Izumi took wide but strong strikes in quick succession. Knocking down Alphonse with a few quick strikes to the legs, turning to focus on Edward.
"You have a lot of nerve to dare show your face after becoming a dog of the military!" Izumi yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Teacher, you-you-you seem to be doing fine. I heard you weren't feeling well." Edward got out before she could strike him with the spear.
"Not feeling well-!" She vomited blood, to the horror of the trio.
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard." The burly man came to Izumi's aide with a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her mouth. They embraced lovingly while Korra watched in confusion and the Elric's breathed a collective sigh of relief. They were let into the house, albeit begrudgingly. Izumi resting while the Trio unpack in a quest room.
"Can I get a quick explanation?" Korra asked as she pulled out a small device Asami gave her. Something she made on the fly. A two-way walkie-talkie, an easy way to talk with her all the way in Rush valley with barely an issue.
"Teacher?" Al answered. He scratched the back of his armored neck. "She's always been sick, at least for how long we knew her." Al admitted. "We don't know why." Korra raised an eyebrow as she tried to tune the walkie-talkie.
"If you hadn't noticed, it would be a bad choice to try and be blunt and ask her." Edward warned. Korra shrugged.
"Thank I guess….you have an idea Ed." Korra said as she finally turned the brick-like device. Edward kept quiet for a brief second.
"I do but...I need the right moment. I can't unload a potential bombshell while she is still glaring at us." Edward said with his face facing the ground. Korra tried to think about a distraction.
"If you want, we can talk to the girls in Rush Valley now." Korra showed Edward the device.
"That weird telephone?" Edward asked.
"Asami said it was a radio that was portable. We need to charge it for at least an entire day for an hour of talking but yeah, we can talk to them." Korra said with a slight bit of excitement. She told Asami stuff about how the radio's of Amestris works and within a few hours already improved on it. Sure it was thick and heavy like a brick but it did work. Or at least she was giving Ed the chance to be the first caller.
Ed stared at the device and hit the call button. Unsure of its usefulness. After a series of loud ringing and a scattering of beeps, he heard a strange sound and heard it.
"Asami Sato coming at you live! From Rush Valley!" Asami squealed with excitement from the other end of the line. Her voice came out of it like a scratchy, off-tone version of herself but they heard what she was saying clearly enough.
"Amazing! You made a working portable radio!" Alphonse said with glee. "How are you and Winry doing!"
"We're doing fine, better than fine really. I never had a true rival so this place. All these mechanics and gear heads, in one spot. I can see why Winry calls this place heaven!" Asami said with a kind of energy and drive that put a smile on Korra's face.
She knew that Asami needed something to do while the others did their mission. She also needed something to strive for, she also seemed lost without her father around and going through all this trouble to help her. Korra felt she needed something of her own. Matching wits with the best gear heads of this world seemed the best choice.
"Just make sure you have some great stuff to share with us too when we get back." Edward said with a smile. Korra smiled at him. And kept smiling all the way to the dinner that Izumi's husband made. A quiet and imposing man, he showed nothing but love and devotion to his wife.
Izumi had a strained look on the boys but an interesting look on Korra.
"Seems you managed to find an interesting stranger...I want to say girlfriend." Izumi noted. Korra and Edward immediately blushed and tried to wave it off.
"Sorry, gladfully single after my last break-up." Korra said nervously with a bead of sweat.
"I'm married to my research, besides look at this muscle-bound-" Korra slammed her fist to the back of Edwards's head before he could finish.
"I mostly joking but confirmation is nice." Izumi pivoted. "Al, you seemed to have grown quite big since we last saw each other." Izumi noted without changing facial expressions. Al simply nodded trying not to move or hoping that the group explained that he ate on the train was believable.
"It's been sometime when you think about…"Al said with a sad reverberation. Izumi once again pivoted and looked toward Edward.
"I also heard that you boys were looking into something." Izumi asked casually as she drank some tea. "A legend." Korra waited for Edward to give an answer, so she could tailor her own.
"The philosopher's stone...A curiosity mostly, We stopped for now." Edward carefully worded. Izumi had a look of disappointment.
"I actually talked with a man a bit about it." Izumi mentioned, casually.
"Really from who?" Edward asked in a quick bit of excitement.
"What was his name...I think Hoenheim." As soon as Izumi said those words Ed's eyes began to show a cold fury.
"That bastard." He mumbled.
"You know him?" Izumi raised an eyebrow.
"He's our father." Al said lowly and Korra could see why Ed was angry. She heard how they described their home life before their mother passed away. How their father just upped and left them to do...something. They know he is an alchemist but the type they knew not. Korra wanted to slug him. She had friends who were orphans and Asami's father turned against them but at least they all had the precedent of caring about their children at some point. He just abandon his children and wife, the audacity to not check up on them or be there when she died added to make Korra not only agree to Edwards's anger but that she also secretly promised to help slug him.
"The bastard doesn't deserve the pleasure honestly." Korra said as she took a few bites of the food. Edward had a smile on his face from the remark.
"So what did said, bastard, tell you about it." Edward kept his anger more in control to show respect to his master.
"While he did talk to me about it, it was mostly vague. He did say something about an old dream coming to life." Edward sighed heavily at his master's answer.
"Even now the old sack of crap is useless." Al wanted to say to Ed to not talk about their father that way, but he did acknowledge that he was only a baby when he left so his perception was more formed from his mother talking about him. Not quite the reality. "Thanks for telling me teacher." While Izumi did have a slight smile, Korra felt something else behind it. A kind of monitoring. Like she was looking for something on Edward. Or something else.
"In exchange, I wanted to spare after dinner. I need to know that if the military not only rotted your soul but your body as well. Or are you one of those glorified clerks?" Izumi said pointedly. Edward looked at his hands.
"I know that you don't want to hear it from me...but me and Al…" Edward stopped himself. "Never mind." Wondered what he was going to say but knew that it wasn't the right time.
Everyone, minus Al, ate their dinner plates voraciously, taking a few minutes after to let the food settle. Edward and Alphonse looked apprehensive while Korra stretched her limbs. Korra knew the reason why at least. She figure their special clapping alchemy was something to keep to themselves, as well as their metal limbs. She honestly hoped to tire their teacher out before she could engage the brothers.
Which was rendered muted the fact that Izumi did not attack give them any mercy. A chasm opened beneath all three of them, Izumi at the bottom of it with a spear. Expertly holding in her shoulder to clasp her hands again and cause a small explosion on the chasm's sides to force the three down in a narrow crevice.
"Freaking!" Korra was going to stomp her foot on the ground again but Izumi stopped her by proxy. She kicked Edward, who crashed into Alphonse, and the living armor collided with Korra.
Izumi while rapidly spinning the spear, was calm and collected. Not showing a single emotion outside of disappointment as Edward tried to dodge. Edward was too slow to dodge the blow forever sadly so his body defaulted to its usual strategy. With a quick clap of his hands, he turned his metal arm into an arm-mounted sword. Blocking the blow.
"I knew it." Izumi said with disappointment as Korra got up from Alphonse and saw the truth of it. The fight was lost in less than half a minute.
"Dammit." Korra slammed the wall. She was frustrated that once again, the advantage was taken from her. How many more fights am I going to lose in this world? Korra thought.
"You saw it didn't you." Izumi asked the brothers. "You committed the taboo?" Korra and the Elric's looked at each other as they ready themselves for a long explanatio