Lightning Rod

Azula shook her head. Was there something about being the Avatar that robbed people of their common sense? Still, it was possible that she wasn't being entirely fair. Korra would probably have lacked common sense even if she hadn't been the Avatar.

"You'd better not be dead," Azula muttered. "I've put far too much effort into training you."

The old woman walked closer to Korra. Thin wisps of smoke rose from the downed Avatar. Good grief. This was almost as bad as the time Zuko had gotten drunk and attempted to bend lightning. Fortunately, he'd survived. Her brother had grown on her over the years, not unlike a barnacle on the side of a ship.

Azula stopped next to Korra and poked the Avatar with the walking stick she carried around for appearances. Korra groaned and rolled onto her back. Good. She was still alive.

"Did I do it?" Korra asked.

"Do what?" Azula asked. "Kill yourself? No, but not for lack of trying."

"No." Korra sat up and tried to pat down her frizzy hair. "I mean was I able to bend the lightning in the storm?"

"In a manner of speaking," Azula replied dryly. "You were struck by lightning eleven times before the storm dissipated. Congratulations: you now hold the world record for the most number of times someone has been hit by lightning and survived."

"What was the old record, and who held it?"

"That would be my brother, and I think he's up to nine."

"Oh." Korra paused. "Um… are we only counting natural lightning?"

Azula's lips curled. "Contradictory to common belief, I do not attempt to assassinate my brother on a daily basis. No, my brother simply overestimated his talent for bending lightning while drunk. You, on the other hand, are not drunk. So… what's your excuse?"

"Um… I'm the Avatar and I'm awesome?"

"Well, Avatar, you need to see Katara to make sure that you haven't done any permanent damage to yourself. You can also consider your chores for the next week doubled."

Korra gaped. "Doubled?"

"Yes. I would have halved them if you'd succeeded. Consider this a lesson. Before attempting anything crazy, make sure that you can actually pull it off."

X X X

Asami bit back a giggle. She and Korra were both a bit drunk, but they were on holiday, and the beach house they had seemed like a perfect place to enjoy some good wine and each other. Besides, after how stressful the last month had been, it was good to let go a little.

"What are you doing, Korra?" Asami asked as Korra stumbled out of the beach house and into the rain.

"Behold the power of the Avatar!" Korra cried, hiccupping and gesturing extravagantly at the storm clouds overhead. "I can bend lightning –"

ZAAAAAP.

ZAAAAAP.

ZAAAAAP.

On another part of the same island, an old firebender and an old acrobat both looked up at the sky. They too were enjoying some wine although they were doing so from the safety of their porch.

"Hmm…" Ty Lee tilted her head to one side. "It looks all the lightning is hitting one spot."

Azula shook her head. "It's not hitting one spot. It's hitting one person. Honestly… at this rate, I might actually outlive her."

X X X

Author's Notes

As always, I do not own Legend of Korra. I am not making any money off of this either.

Behold the might of the Avatar! But, seriously, I can easily see Korra biting off more than she can chew while Azula just shakes her head.

As always, I appreciate feedback. Reviews and comments are welcome.