We're back on chapter eight.
REMINDER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF KORRA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
Korra's entire body and the pool of water she is lying in where the underground pool is left and four members of the Bhanti overseeing Korra's sleeping.
"Should we pull her up?" Kaori asked.
"No. She is connecting with her deepest Avatar memories." The shaman said.
"She must confront her own past if she is to move forward. We can only hope that she survives her ordeal. I didn't tell her about the Dark Avatar, but it's because I wasn't sure if it is Unalaq. We must have faith in her. If she stops Harmonic Convergence from happening." Dr. Franceschini said.
Fire Lord Zuko approaches. "Dr. Franceschini."
"Fire Lord Zuko, good to see you again."
"How is she doing, Dallas?" Zuko asked. "She's found Raava. As long as she learns of Unalaq and his partner's plans and the origins of Wan, she and Raava shall be ancora uno. Watch this." Zuko and Dallas watches the screen on his memory machine.
Korra's closed eyes twitch, and suddenly open. When they do, the shot moves back to reveal Korra's entire body, surrounded by a purple light, signaling she is still in her dream world. Korra's spirit is looking wide-eyed at something before her.
"The human and spirit realms are headed toward annihilation." She turns around upon hearing the voice; voice-over. "And it's all your fault." Around Korra , showing that she is now looking at a vision between Raava and Wan. "This is why humans have no place interfering in the business of spirits."
"This world is home to all of us, and what happens here is everyone's business." Wan said.
"Thanks to you, this world may cease to exist! I only hope I can track down Vaatu before it's too late." Raava said angry.
"Let me help you. "
"I don't want your help. Don't interfere with me again, human!" said Raava sternly.
Raava flies away, weaving herself through the sky. Wan and Mula they turn to one another with wondering looks on their faces.
"Let's get moving." Wan said.
Wan and Mula are standing in the clearing. They start to walk to the right. A trail leading through the woods. Mula walks into view with Wan perched on its back. They stop and look to their left as they hear a noise coming from the bushes. There a fruit tree, its branches shaking slightly. Mula emerges from shrub. Both the animal and Wan look toward the scene before them. Four monks who are busy harvesting the fruits from the tree. Two of the monks bring their left hand toward their chest, their fingers stretched, which creates a cloud underneath them. The monks are floating to the top branches of the tree, where another monk, on a cloud of his own, is already plucking the fruit. There a fruit that is being plucked by a monk, and zoom out to reveal that the monk wears similar clothing and tattoos to the later Air Nomads.
"Do you see that, Mula? People. And they have some kind of wind power." Wan said before he rides up to nomads; laughs; excitedly. "More humans! I found you." The nomads startle and run away in fright, one dropping his basket. "Wait! I'm friendly!"
Wan gives chase, which nearly ends up killing him when Mula stops abruptly before a cliff, tossing him. He manages to grab an overhanging branch and pulls himself back up. As he emerges above the cliff again, he sees one of the nomads running up to him and use his airbending to fly toward a floating lion turtle.
"The legends are true. Another lion turtle city. And it's flying." he said as he sees the lion turtle taking back the airbending of the foragers, made him amazed. "I have got to get over there." Wan tries a rope to a tree and around a rock. "There. Okay, Mula. Wish me luck." Wan climbs on the tree and burns the rope with his firebending, catapulting himself toward the lion turtle. However, he does not fly far enough, falling down. "Oh, no..." He manages to grab hold of dangling vines; fade to an aerial view of the village; cut to inside the city as Wan explores the village. A green transparent bird-like spirit flies by him much to Wan's surprise and amazement. Wan smiles in amazement as he watches it go past him.
"Wow." There are a group of meditating nomads. Wan approaches the nomads. "Hi, how are you? I'm Wan." The nomads stay silent and look at each other. "Um, sorry to interrupt, but it's been a while since I've seen other humans."
"Where did you come from, stranger?" a nomad said.
"Another lion turtle city far away. For the past two years I've been living among the spirits and exploring the wilds."
The nomad gets amazed. "Remarkable. Come. Sit with us. We would love to hear of your travels."
A spirit sitting on the nomad's shoulder becomes dark and flies off much to the nomads' surprise and shock. Another dark spirit cuts through a wall of a nearby hut. People run out screaming. Next moment, there are dark spirits all over the village and Vaatu floats in the sky. Wan recognized him. "Vaatu."
"So, we meet again, human." Vaatu said evily. "Wan, is it?"
"Why in the heaven is the great spirit of the darkness here but not his other half?" the nomad asked as Wan slightly flinches nervously.
"Uh, I'll explain later." Wan said before runs up to Vaatu. "Leave these people in peace. They've done nothing to harm you." He firebends at a dark spirit who attacks a woman, and proceeds to fight the other spirits.
Raava appears and knocks Vaatu away. "Be gone, Vaatu."
"How are you feeling since our split, Raava? I've never been better. When Harmonic Convergence comes, I will destroy you forever." Vaatu said before he leaves. Wan sighs in relief.
"I told you not to interfere." Raava said. "I had to do something. These people were in danger." Wan said back.
"Great spirit of light, we thank you for your help. But how did you become split from Vaatu?" the nomad asked as Wan's face turns to a worried one.
"Ask him." Raava said before the nomad turns his head to Wan. Wan slowly turns to the nomad.
"It wasn't my fault. Vaatu tricked me into freeing him. I'd take it all back if I could."
"It's too late for that. Now that Vaatu is free, he is turning other spirits dark. The more spirits he turns, the stronger he becomes."
He's getting bigger, and you're getting smaller." Wan said.
"As darkness grows, light fades." she said as Wan lowers his head in shame.
"I'm sorry for endangering your village, but I promise to set things right." Wan said.
The nomad turns his head to another nomad in confusion and back to Wan. "How, my friend?"
Wan, along with Raava, Mula and a nomad, facing the air lion turtle. "Great lion turtle, I ask that you grant me the power of air so that I can defeat Vaatu before it's too late."
"You already carry the power of fire. No human has ever held two elements at the same time." the air lion turtle said.
"I'm not like other humans. I can learn to do it."
"Hmm, perhaps. But to do so, Raava must hold the power for you until you master it." said the air lion turtle. "Ancient one, why would I do that for a human? Especially one who's caused so much trouble?" Raava asked.
"Raava, please, I can't let the world fall into chaos because of my mistake. Neither of us can defeat Vaatu alone, but together we have a chance." Wan said.
"You may be right. Very well. I will help you to master the power of air." Raava agreed.
"Thank you. And in return I will help you restore balance to the world."
Raava and Wan are walking through deserted lands. "What's this harmonic thing Vaatu was talking about?" Wan asked. "Harmonic Convergence. That is when Vaatu and I must battle for the fate of the world." Raava answered.
"How long do we have until then?"
"About a year in your time."
"Then we better start training." Wan said before he firebends. "Alright, I'm ready to try air. How's this gonna work?"
"The only way for me to give you the other element is to pass through your body and combine our energies." Raava said. "Great. So you've done this before?" Wan asked.
"No. This has never even been attempted. It is very dangerous."
"That's what they said about living in the Spirit Wilds, and I survived that. I'm ready. Give me the air." Wan shouts as Raava passes through his body. After he regains his composure, he sends out a burst of air. "It feels completely different. If you and Vaatu have the same fight every ten thousand years, why hasn't one of you destroyed the other?" Wan asked as he continues practicing his airbending.
"He cannot destroy light any more than I can destroy darkness. One cannot exist without the other. Even if I defeat Vaatu in this encounter, darkness will grow inside me until he emerges again. The same will hold true if Vaatu defeats me."
"That doesn't sound so bad. Even if Vaatu wins, you'll come back." Wan said.
"Yes, but you will probably not survive to see it. Vaatu will destroy the world as you know it. Darkness will cover the Earth for ten thousand years. Vaatu has never understood how humans lived in peace, harmony, and love." Wan is thinking with his head down. Then he raises his head to Raava.
"If I'm gonna help you battle Vaatu, then I should visit more lion turtles." A water lion turtle gives Wan the power of water. Wan immediately raises some water. "Why is there so much conflict between humans and spirits in the first place?"
"This physical world is where humans come from. Spirits come from another realm. At the north and south poles, the two realms intersect. Over time, more and more spirits have drifted into this world." The earth lion turtle rising and giving Wan the power of earth. "Humans have been forced apart, settling on the lion turtles who protect them and losing touch with each other."
Wan starts waterbending. "Most people think they live in the only human city in the world."
"Most humans think only of themselves, no matter how many others are around." Raava said before she passes through Wan's body.
"When you pass through me, I feel an incredible rush of power." Wan said as he earthbends. Raava passes through him again. "I feel like I'm changing. The more we practice, the stronger I become." Wan said before he sniffs. "Smells like smoke."
"Humans are nearby." Raava said.
"Let's check it out."
Raava and Wan see a group of humans burning down a forest for wood and approach the humans.
"A spirit!" A settler hurls a fireball toward Raava.
Wan jumps in front, deflecting the fire. :Easy there, fellas. We're friendly."
Back to the settlers is Jaya. He walks up to Wan. "I can't believe it. Wan?"
"Jaya!" They walk toward each other and hug. "What are you doing out here?"
Jaya laughs. "You inspired us. Once we heard that you survived out in the wilds, we decided to try it, too."
"Where's Yao?" Wan asked hopeful. Jaya's expression turns to sadness. "Did he come with you?"
Jaya hangs his head in sorrow. "Yes, but sadly he didn't make it." Wan hangs his head in sadness and sorrow. "We... we lost a lot of good men along the way. So why were you protecting this spirit?"
"This is Raava. Don't worry. She's not like the dark spirits you've probably run into." Wan said. "Dark spirits? What's the difference? We throw fire at any spirit we see around here. Just like they attack any man." Jaya said.
"You have no idea what you're doing. You're only making things worse by falling into Vaatu's hands." Raava said.
A settler points to the right. "The spirits are coming back!"
Jaya turns to his settlers. "Let's wipe 'em out this time!" The settlers run off to fight the spirits. "We'll burn down this whole forest if we have to!"
"What happened to you? When did you become so violent?" Wan asked in a worried way.
"You showed me we could change the world if we just stopped being so afraid. Now, we're doing it." Jaya said before he runs off to join the settlers.
"This isn't what I had in mind." Wan said.
A group of spirits and the firebending settlers approach each other; the settlers lit up their hands. The aye-aye spirit is leading the spirits to attack. "Get out of the forest, humans."
Wan runs in between the groups. "Wait! We can resolve this peacefully."
"Stinky?" The aye-aye becomes happy. "You came back."
"It's good to see you again."
"You and Raava are just in time to help us clear these tree-killing fire-lovers the hell out of here just like the old days." said the aye-aye spirit.
"You are the one who's getting cleared the hell out." Jaya said violently.
"There's no need for violence. I know there must be a way to work out a compromise." Wan said calmly.
"You have a good heart, Stinky. But these fire tossers aren't like you." Aye-aye said.
"Spirits like him killed our friends! I can't let them get away with that." Jaya said.
The rumbling of thunder is heard. Around the battlefield as clouds roll in overhead. A lightning bolt splits the sky, illuminating Vaatu's form in the sky. He laughs wickedly. The angry-looking aye-aye spirit as he and the other spirits turn dark. "We are protectors of the forest. We won't let you burn it down."
"It's Vaatu. He's growing stronger, using their anger to turn them to his side." Raava said.
Dark aye-aye spirit avoids a fire ball tossed at him by Jaya. "Wipe them out!"
Man and spirit charge each other, though are kept apart by the efforts of Wan and Raava.
Stop, please!" Wan chouts as he continues airbending to keep the two groups apart, but they keep charging at each other. "Raava, we need to combine our energies. Maybe then we'll have enough power to stop this." Raava and Wan merge, and Wan shoots himself in the air, riding an air spout while the other elements circle around him. At the same time, he is enveloped in white energy. "Enough! You need to stop fighting now, before you destroy each other!"
Aye-aye groans as he is pushed back and turns back to normal. Notices Wan as he holds his head with his ears drooped. "Stinky, w-what happened?"
"He's controlling all four elements." Jaya said in surprised.
Wan's energy begins to become visibly unstable. "Wan, I have to leave your body, or I'll destroy you."
"No. It's working. If you leave, the fighting will start again."
Wan groans under the strain Raava's presence is putting on his body until he cannot take it anymore, and he faints, falling down out of the sky.
"Wan!" Raava shouts.
Raava leaves his body, catches him before he crashes on the ground, and carries him off the battlefield. As they leave, the two groups clash with one another, continuing the battle.
Groaning, Wan awakens on a nearby cliff overlooking the burned down remains of the battlefield. "We have to go back." he said.
Vaatu flies in front of him. "Don't bother, Wan. Your human friends have already been annihilated."
"No! You bastard!"
"Well, enjoy your final days. See you at the end of the world!" Vaatu flies away, leaving Wan to search for Raava. He finds her severely shrunken behind a rock. He picks up the weak spirit that he can now easily take into his arms. "Raava..."
"I'm sorry, Wan." Raava said.
Wan slides Raava into a teapot, and jumps on Mula, setting course for the southern spirit portal.
"We're almost there. I was wrong about you, Wan. I had no idea that humans were capable of such nobility and courage. I'm sorry that we do not have much more time together."
Let's not give up before the battle's even begun. Who knows what will happen?" A slight smile appears on his face. "After all, this is my first Harmonic Convergence with you."
Raava laughs. "True. This is the southern portal to the Spirit World. Here, Vaatu and I will do battle once again, at the place where the two worlds meet."
Mula, Wan, and Raava pass through the portal. As they enter, around the portal fade into those of the Spirit World. They emerge in the Spirit World that is barren with the exception of a hollow tree, several streams, and two portals. On the battlefield, Vaatu emerges from the northern portal.
"Are you ready for our final battle, Raava? Thanks to our friend separating us, I think this time I may be rid of you once and for all."
"Before you get to her, you'll have to go through me." Wan said with courage.
Vaatu slightly chuckles. "No human can stand against me."
"Haven't you heard the legends? I'm not a regular human anymore. I am… the Avatar!"
"Then, you will die. But ask me something in your last words, Wan. You humans always lived in peace and harmony, always thanked the God of Heaven Himself for his wonders. What does He possibly offer you all?"
"How about love and selflessness? That's what, Vaatu." Wan answered before he firebends at Vaatu, who flies away to avoid the blasts. However, he turns back and knocks Wan away with one of his tentacles.
"I lived ten thousand lifetimes before the first of your kind crawled out of the mud!" Vaatu said.
Fires a purple energy beam out of his face. Wan screams as he is knocked backward again.
"It was I who broke through the divide that separated the plane of spirits from the material world!" Vaatu fires the purple beam again. Wan grunts as he ricochets over the ground. "To hate me is to give me breath. To fight me is to give me strength. Now prepare to face oblivion!"
Vaatu fires a purple energy beam at Wan, who propels himself with his firebending to avoid it.
Wan turns to Raava desperately. "Raava! The only way to win is together." Raava flies to Wan and merges with him, who is briefly surrounded by unstable white energy. "Ah!"
Vaatu attacks with his whpping tentacles, which Wan evades by flying on a cloud. The two of them exchange blows, with Wan being more powerful and is making a decent stand against Vaatu. Vaatu still has the upper hand in the fight though, even though Wan is now capable of bending two elements simultaneously. Wan is forced back, his physical form starting to become static as his energy becomes unstable.
"I have to leave you. If I stay any longer, you will die." Raava said.
"It doesn't matter. If you leave me now, Vaatu will destroy everything. We have to finish this together!"
Wan and Vaatu exchange more blows, the former becoming more static while losing ground. Wan promptly charges at Vaatu, and although he manages to land a fire blast, he is shot backward toward the southern portal by a purple energy beam. He skids to a halt right before the portal, where Vaatu pins hims down using one of his tentacles.
"The Harmonic Convergence is about to begin. The era of Raava is over. And so is the era of peace, harmony, and love!" vaatu said.
Outer space, the planets align, the two beams from the spirit portals bend over to connect with one another. Vaatu starts to glow purple as he watches the spectacle in the sky. While still static, Wan lights up briefly, showing Raava's form inside his chest. He puts his right hand behind him, causing the energy of the southern spirit portal during Harmonic Convergence to flow though him, basking him in blue light, as he permanently merges his spirit with Raava's. Vaatu notices and releases him in shock. Wan's form becomes less static and his eyes glow white. He cries out and white lights shoot out of his mouth and eyes, enveloping the area.
Vaatu moves away a safe distance before turning back. As the light subsides, Wan emerges and his energy has stabilized.
"We are bonded forever." Raava said.
Wan, eyes still glowing, attacks Vaatu, hitting him consistently and pressuring him before trapping him in an air bubble, which he secures with rings of all four elements. He uses his bending to guide the bubble to the hollow of a tree in which he imprisons Vaatu behind a purple energy field.
"This is your prison now. And I will close the portals so no human will ever be able to physically enter the Spirit World and release you." Wan said as he closes the northern portal.
Back in the mortal world, spirits are lining up to return to the Spirit World through the southern portal.
"The spirits must stop fighting with humans and return to their home in the Spirit World. I will teach men to respect the spirits so that balance will be maintained." said Wan.
Before the aye-aye spirit enters the spirit portal, he turns to Wan and bows respectfully, a gesture that is returned by the first Avatar.
"I will be the bridge between our two worlds." He closes the portal. The fire lion turtle with his city's former residents looking at him.
"The world is entering a new age. Our time protecting mankind is over. We will no longer give humans the power of the elements." the fire lion turtle said.
Armored warriors fighting with weapons, fire and water bending. "Different groups of people must learn to live together." A determined-looking Wan entering the Avatar State. "This is my mission: to use Raava's light spirit to guide the world toward peace." Wan is using the four elements to separate the fighting parties which are distinguished by red and blue flags.
At a burning battlefield. Rocks are elevated everywhere, red flags, arrows, and large earth coins lie scattered over the field. An old and armored Wan slumps against an earth coin, surrounded by arrows.
"I'm sorry, Raava. I failed to bring peace. Even with Vaatu locked away, darkness still surrounds humanity. There wasn't enough time." said the old Wan.
"Don't worry. We will be together for all of your lifetimes. And we will never give up.' Raava said inside Wan's body.
As Wan exhales for a last time, a golden light escapes his mouth. It dissipates into little golden specks and scatters. The vision fades to bright white as the sound of a baby crying is heard. Fades to Korra's closed eyes that suddenly shoot open, glowing a bright white. As she jolts up, little white beams shooting out of her eyes. She gasps for air, and the light in her eyes stop. Dr. Franceschini, Zuko, Kaori, the shaman and two Bhanti tribesmen are looking down upon her from the mouth of the cave Korra is in and awake.
"She awakes, Doc." Kaori said. "Oh, loda il Santo Signore, how we've discovered the creation of the Avatar. It is time." Dr. Franceschini said.
"Do you know what you must do?" the shaman asked.
"I must stop the dark future from happening by stopping Unalaq and who ever this partner is." Kora said.
"I'll go with you." Kaori said.
"Come lo farò io, Avatar Korra." Dr. Franceschini said in Italian.
Outside the cave, where Korra, Kaori, Franceschini, Zuko and the shaman reach a grass clearing where bison are grazing.
"We've been raising this herd of air bison since the Hundred Year War. I never thought I'd be able to present one to the Avatar."
"Thank you for all your kindness. I wonder how long I've been asleep." Korra said.
"Just hours, Korra." Zuko said. "I will send my troops to the South for aid."
"Thank you, Zuko."
"You do not have much time left. The Harmonic Convergence is only weeks away." said the shaman.
"I have to close the spirit portal before that happens." Kora said as she, Kaori, and Dr. Franceschini atop a flying bison missing a part of its right horn, flying through the sky.
Chapter 9 will be coming soon.
Review if you enjoyed the story.