Earth
Fire
Air
Water
Broken Paths
Book I: Shattered
Chapter I: Venom of the Red Lotus
Wan eyes fluttered open, it all happened so quickly. It registered as his eyes shot open, and he saw the chains on all of his limbs. He was in a cave, with luminous green crystals. He tries to escape, pull, struggle for anything to get out. Wan shirt was off, his armbands and shoes gone. They rolled his pants up. Wan soon saw Zaheer step in with his team.
Wan grasps at the realization he was captured. His memory of Korra came as clear as day when Zaheer threw her and Tonraq off of a cliff. He glares at the other man with rage, "You killed my partner!" Wan roared with fire but didn't reach his target.
"I know your grief, I lost someone I love too, but your pain will soon be over, or should I say just beginning." Zaheer darkly states.
"What!? What's going on?" Wan trembles, "Bring in the poison." Zaheer commands.
Three men in red robes walk in with a bowl in hand. The middle one held the bowl.
"This is Mercury, a metallic poison that hits the person's nervous system and forces you, Wan, to enter the Avatar State," Zaheer explained with a grin on his face. "While you are in the Avatar State we the Red Lotus will kill you and end the Avatar Cycle, then we'll move Korra if she's alive that is," Wan struggled against his bindings. Zaheer turned to the three men and nodded his head signally to begin the process. He moves out of the way, "Administrator the poison."
One of the three men started bending the metallic liquid as it floated into the air. Being divided into four globs. Wan's eyes widened in pure terror.
"The end of First Avatar Reborn Wan is approaching, and there will be no second chances," Zaheer grinned as the liquid made its way to him. The poison attaches to his skin on all limbs as the man does his work, he clenches his fists, forcing the poison inside. Wan wails in agony. His heart quickened as his eyes flashed between his copper and the pure white of the Avatar state.
Wan frights it as much as he could, screaming in torment, thrashing around.
"As soon as he's in the Avatar state, Kill him," Zaheer decrees. "One less Avatar to worry about."
Korra was being bandaged up by a metal clan guard. Her thoughts were clouded with horror as Wan was captured and Zaheer flying. Her hair was down from its top ponytail, she needed to not lose focus. Then a sharp pain was in her abdomen.
"Gah," She groaned in pain as the metal clan guard checked up on her. "Are you alright, Avatar Korra," The guard asked her in which she nodded her head. Her dad was also next to them, seeing what happened.
"Korra?" Tonraq asked worriedly. "I'm fine, Dad," Korra replied with a shaking voice. She didn't know why she felt this pain, but something inside her told her Wan was in danger.
Tonraq gave a nod to his daughter and looked around, seeing Suyin and Lin being treated but no sign of Wan anywhere. Tonraq walked over to them.
Lin had a few bruises on her face, while Suyin's hair was bewildered.
"Where's Wan?" He asked, his voice low with concern. They didn't answer immediately, but he knew what the answer was. "Then why are we just standing here? We should track them down before–!?"
They heard someone scream, and he turned his head and saw Korra on the ground in pain? Their eyes widened at this as they made their way to her.
"What's wrong?" Lin asked as she checked up on her. Korra never felt this pain before, but she knew where it was coming from.
Then she heard a scream, from Raava. "WAN. PAIN. MUST. !.POISON!"
Korra's eyes widened at this. Poison? Wan? No, no, no! She muttered those words to herself as the pain slowly left her body.
What was happening to Wan? Was in her mind at the moment.
Wan kept fighting, growing weaker by the second, his whole body was in agony. He slumps weakly. As his eyes began to blur as his nervous system under attack. He heard a dark voice call out to him.
You're Weak.
Wan eyes shot open as he looked up, and it was Vaatu right in front of him.
You Were Always Weak. Look at you! Dying a failure! You are useless. There is no use fighting. Just surrender and die.
His eyes looked at the dark spirit that was in front of him and only him. He felt himself slip into the darkness that was the poison as Zaheer looked on delighted with a grin on his face.
Wan struggled for a brief period. The pain became worse. Wan couldn't hold on anymore and then stopped. His eyes snapped open, revealing only pure white eyes.
Avatar Wan has succumbed to the poison.
"Now it's the time!" Zaheer started floating into the air preparing to end Wan, but saw the earth shake as his bonds were coming loose. Wan screamed in pure rage as his right arm chain snapped off and used a stream of fire and air to blast Zaheer away.
"Gah!" Zaheer yells out in pain but quickly gets up and stares at Wan in utter shock. He grinned, his teeth together in anger. "No!"
Wan snaps off his chains in anger, avoiding every attack made. He freed himself and crashed to the edge of the shift, lifting one hundred tons of earth with his bending.
He aimed at Zaheer, who evades, he roars. Tonraq, Korra, Mako, and Bolin came to the cave entrance.
"Wan!" Korra calls out. Wan didn't hear her. He was in pure anger and rage as he went after Zaheer with his air cloud.
The trio along with Tonraq tried and went after but was stopped by Gazhan and Ming Hua. The former holding onto a few rocks then transformed them into magma rocks while the ladder had water tendrils.
"Looks like we have to pass them if we want to go after Wan," Mako said, taking a stance with Bolin and Korra at their sides. "Korra, Tonraq Go! Help Wan, we got this," Mako yelled and sent a fireball at Ming-Hua. Korra and Tonraq run out of the cave as the bending brothers take on the red lotus duo.
Zaheer flew out of the cave and wan followed with full speed. Wan throws everything at the man, wrathful killing intent, taking over. Zaheer digges and Wan grabs hold of him and flings him.
Tonraq and Korra ran out to see the fight from afar before their eyes. "Wan!" Korra cries in horror,"I have to help him!" Korra tries to enter the avatar state, but it refuses to work. "Why isn't it working?" She asked furiously. Korra never felt so helpless.
"Korra?" Tonraq looked at his daughter. He saw the helplessness in her eyes. "I'm sorry Dad," Korra cries. "I don't know-"
Zaheer was flung across the area and crashed into a mountainside. Wan was flying towards him at fast speeds, having a fire in one hand and water in the other. He roared out in anger as he prepared to fire the two elements, but his body failed him as the cloud dissipated. He falls against the mountainside and crashes into the ground.
"You can't fight me and the poison," Zaheer calls out, smirking.
Zaheer saw this as an opportunity, he flew past Wan getting him weaker and weaker. He floated above Wan, "The poison has done its work, your legacy ends here First Avatar." Zaheer does a few swift motions picking Wan up with his airbending, soon using the air from his lungs to form a vacuum around his head.
Wan felt the air from his lungs leave him. His vision became darker with each passing second.
Zaheer smirks then feels the wind shift around him, he looks over, and a huge vortex is approaching him.
The Air benders along with Jinora we're creating the vortex that was approaching him. He tried to fly away but failed as he was sucked up into the air.
Wan regained his composure as he looked up in the sky and saw what was happening. Zaheer in a hopeless attempt tried to grab Wan but failed. Soon they were both pulled into the vortex. Wan grabbed his leg and slammed him down with his chain. Wan landed on the ground, bringing Zaheer with him. Zaheer screamed in agony, the vortex dissipated as the airbenders stopped adding power. Wan pants engaged, then he collapses as the poison becomes too much.
Korra gasps, with all her strength she gets up and runs to Wan. Along with and Jinora. Dual team avatar followed. Zaheer was quickly apprehended in an earth shell that kept only his shoulders and above.
Korra scoops Wan into her arms, "Wan, it's me, you're safe now… please say something," She caresses his cheek softly and sees his white eyes soften for a bit. His hand reaches for her but falls as his eyes are closed. "Darling?" asked in shock. Her heart stops as her hands shook with terror,
"It's too late," Zaheer chuckles lowly, "What's too late?" Lin glares at the red lotus leader in disgust
"The poison has been in his system for far longer, soon Avatar Wan be no more! The dual avatars will be no more! The red lotus has won today, we may not have gotten Korra, but someone will!" Zaheer then laughs out like a maniac, celebrating Wan's death as a victory.
Korra didn't want to believe it, she couldn't believe it, but once she saw his eyes close and his hand fell on the ground. Korra's eyes swell with tears. Her heart ran cold. Her throat stuck. The world grew colder. Her eyes were quickly drained of any happiness she had.
She hears Zaheer's laughter.
Something inside her snapped. Her anger was boiling, it became undying rage. She clenches her fists as her eyes switch between cyan and pure white. She let go of Wan gently letting him rest on the ground. "No-No-You-You" Korra began mumbling as she looked at Zaheer, who was still laughing. She cried tears as she shook her head, trying to keep herself at bay.
Too late for that.
"KILLED HIM!" Korra and Raava voices mixed as their anger exploded.
Her feet lit ablaze as she charged at him and blasted fire in his laughing face. His laughter turned into screams as the flames burned him. Everyone near Zaheer ran out of the way of Korra's flames. Korra didn't let up and kept fired towards him. Zaheer didn't think or do anything as fear took over him. He screamed in agony as the flames scoured his flesh.
"You can save Wan! The poison is metallic!" Jinora yells out to Korra.
Suyin rushes up to Wan's side and kneels next to him. Korra's eyes turned normal, leaving Zaheer's face smoking.
Suyin focuses on the metal within Wan and bends it so it comes out of his mouth. Wan gasps as the poison is pulled out of his mouth, his eyes returning to normal. Korra cries as she rushes to Wan's side as he coughs. Suyin bends the metal away.
Wan glances at Korra, a small weak smile graces his face, "Korra, you're alive." He says weakly. "Of course I'm alive! , I'm not leaving you ever!," Korra proclaims crying while holding on to him.
cried as she stood there. She couldn't believe it, Wan was alive. She embraces the first avatar calming herself.
Korra taps her feet, waiting for news. Everyone else is being healed or checked on. She was worried about Wan. No one dared to anger the female Avatar. Especially after what they had witnessed from and Asami saw Korra become frantic. They saw her snap after even one moment of Wan being dead. She did not sleep or eat, only worried about one thing.
Wan.
They took Korra to an empty room, away from everyone else where they wanted to talk. Korra was still moving frantically, and Asami placed her hands onto her best friend's shoulder." Korra, relax for a bit," Asami said, worried for her friend. "You've been worried since we got back, Wan is going to be okay."
"I know, Asami, but why is it taking so long for him to get healed by Katara?" Korra asked with her eyes filled with sorrow at what could have happened. Tonraq sighed, "Korra take a seat." He commanded, and she did, Asami sat beside her. Both looked at the Southern Water Tribe Chief wanting to know what he was going to say next.
"Korra, you know we have our best healers on the job right now treating Wan. But there was one thing that they couldn't heal," Korra's eyes widened at what his father was saying. Her mind began racing. She went to the worst in her head, Tonraq goes to her level, knowing he must do this. Even though he knows Korra cried enough, every tear broke his heart. "Korra, Wan paralyzed from the waist below. The healers aren't sure right now if he could recover." Tonraq breaths out, knowing this as going to be painful.
Asami could see the horror in Korra's eyes. She saw her heart break all over again. "N-No." Korra cries, her tears become sobs. Asami rubs her back as Korra sobs even harder. Tonraq went to them and gave them a big hug.
"I'm sorry, Korra," Was the only thing she heard as she cried more.
Wan was in a room, sitting on a chair. He wore some spare water tribe clothing as his hair was loose. He groaned looking around and soon he had a mini panic attack. "STOP! AH! NO NO!" He yelled out in fear. The door to his room opens as White Lotus members hold him down.
"STOP! NO! LET ME GO!" Wan kept screaming as one Lotus member injected him and he fell asleep soon after.
They all sighed relief. They hadn't expected him to have another panic attack now.
One nurse came out of one of the most secure rooms that held Zaheer. The woman breaths in, expains the Chief and White Lotus. "The burns on Zaheer are rather severe. He has third-degree burns that will scare his face for life, if he comes out of critical medical condition. He is in a comatose state and may not live to the next month."
Tonraq, later on, gives the news to Korra. "Zaheer might die… he's in a coma."
Korra smirks, almost laughing, "Nothing less than he deserves. Good, I hope he dies. He deserves to die a slow and unbearable death for what he did to Wan." Tonraq and the Dual team avatar remained silent at this, no one expected Korra to be this brutal with her words."Korra, isn't that a little too much even for you?" Mako asked her, and she looked at the Firebender with a scoff. "No, he got what was coming to him. I hope the bastard suffers." She said and left them alone.
Korra needed to talk to someone, someone who understands. "Raava.." Korra sobs, then hears a voice in her head.
"I'm here, Korra," Raava says, "Is there something you need?"
Korra just sobbed, "This is my fault. They hurt Wan because of me."
"It isn't your fault, child."
"It is, and now he can't even walk!"
"Korra… Wan is strong, he'll get through this one way or another," Raava said,door, reassuring her. Korra wipes her tears away.
"Is there anything I can do for him?" Korra asked, her voice cracking a little.
"He's currently sleeping now you can go check upon him," Raava informed her and Korra walked to Wan's room.
Upon arriving at his door, Korra was nervous to enter. She was worried, yes, but she didn't want to wake or scare him. She cracked the door and went in. Wan was sleeping soundly, as if nothing ever happened that day.
"He looks so peaceful," Korra commented and sat next to him, making sure not to wake him. Over time, Korra sat down on a chair. Watching him like a hawk, holding his hand gently. Korra eventually dozed off, her head resting on Wan's bedside and her hands on his.
Wan head turns to her, "Korra?" His voice is hoarse and fragile. Korra quickly arose from her sleep. "Shh, I'm here," Korra creases Wan's face. She sits at his bedside, "Zaheer- He-" Wan trembles in fear, about to go into another panic attack.
"You're safe, don't worry, he'll never hurt you again. I guarantee that." Korra softly strokes Wan's left cheek. She calmed Wan down by hugging him.
Asami cracks the door open, seeing Korra hug Wan, protecting and caring for him. A small smile appears on her face as she shuts the door back.
Later, after everyone was sleeping after a long day of work. Asami couldn't sleep, not after what she saw happening. She didn't witness it like Korra and Ms. Nami did, but she felt it.
She was currently walking around the ship trying to get her mind at ease when she saw someone she knew very well. It was Korra and she looked lost in thought. She stared out a window, looking at the night stars.
"Hey," She said, dragging the female Avatar back to reality. "Oh! Asami, hey, what are you doing up?" Korra asked.
"Couldn't sleep and you?"
"Same, but for different reasons…"
"Like Wan?" Korra's eyes widened as she looked at her best friend with shock. "I saw how you hugged and wept for him, Korra. No woman would do that for just any guy." She got her Korra sigh in defeat and looked at the stars again.
"I honestly don't know how I truly feel, Asami," Korra admitted. The businesswoman gave her a questionable look.
"Really, You don't know? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, and I dated Mako," She pointed out and Korra started laughing."Honestly, what did I even see in him? He was my first crush and boyfriend but we fought so much. It was toxic, he was a better friend than a boyfriend."
"See? and that's where Wan shows up. He isn't like Mako or any other guy you would meet. He's sweet, kind, witty and most of all he's a true gentleman," Korra smiled at Asami about her partner's turn crush.
"Yeah, he really is…"
"How are you holding up with all of this, Korra," Asami asked finally. She grabs her shoulder softly, showing her she was there for her.
"I don't know…" She whispered. "It all happened so fast, I don't know where to begin, and Wan almost died in my arms!" Korra yelled out in anger as tears formed on her face. "He… could… have… died, Asami. I was so scared," She began crying again but this time softly, not wanting to wake the other up.
"Korra," Asami made the Avatar look at her. "Wan didn't die, he survived and yes, he's paralyzed from the waist down, but that won't stop someone like him from getting better. And I don't think Wan would appreciate seeing you like this, Korra. He cares for you dearly more than you know." Korra looked shocked at her as the tears still went down her face. She was right. Wan can get better. And she'll be there with him. But she had to ask one more thing.
"H-How do you know, Wan doesn't just see me as his partner or friend?" She asked nervously, her cheeks gave a pink tint on them.
Instead of answering her question, she just smirked at her and winked. "That's for you to find out, Korra," She said and hugged her. Korra returned the hug and gave a small smile.
"Thank you, Asami." She whispered in her ear.
The meeting with Dual Team Avatar was a simple one. How do we get back to air Temple without drugging Wan every time he has a panic attack?
The poor boy was triggered with any type of air if it wasn't still. "Maybe we should go by sea?" Mako suggests.
"The earth kingdom waters are not safe, it would be disastrous," Lin adds, Korra sits patiently in silence. "What about Korra?" Asami points out, "Wan is much calmer with her. Maybe she could put him to sleep?"
"That's a good idea." Mako turns to Asami.
Korra's face burns red on her cheeks, she composed herself, "Korra are you alright?" Tonraq asks as her face becomes even redder. In Korra's head, Raava is laughing out loud. Korra stands up and rushes out of the room, "Excuse me," Korra walks out of the room, Raava continues laughing as she exits the room.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Lin asked to which Asami replied with a smirk. "Oh yeah, she'll be fine."
"What do you mean I'm obvious!?" Korra yelled in frustration at the light spirit.
"Oh child, I should have seen it sooner, what you have is no crush, you are in love Wan."
"l-I don't… I love him as a good friend!" Korra argues, denying it.
"Really, Do you mean that? Or are you just saying that so the pain of seeing him like this would hurt a little less? Speak your mind, Korra."
Korra paused, Raava was on to something subconsciously and shakes her head, "No! It's not like that. I only see him as a good partner and a friend, Raava."
"Are you certain of this, Korra? Cause the way you've been looking at him and been thinking about him, nonstop says otherwise." Her tone was playful, like a friend teasing another for more than a crush.
"You're overreaching Raava, Grabbing sticks for evidence." Korra crosses her arms,Oh, ignoring the ancient light spirit.
"Oh, am I now? What about that time you and Wan we're in bed together after Amon almost took your bending at Aang Memorial Island? You felt safe with him."
"We always do that.. it wasn't anything else. You know what, Raava-" The light spirit interrupts Korra.
"The way you looked at him while he didn't have his shirt on? I see how you look at him, Korra. The fantasy you imagined in your head. Wan touching your naked flesh and you touched him. You wanted his lips on your skin, to feel his warmth and masculinity."
Korra paused as she gasped in surprise, "Raava-"
Raava wouldn't relent so easily.
"And how you keep calling his name while pleasuring yourself from time to time in the middle of the night, hoping you don't scream. You even stare at his bulge while he's training. Wondering how big it is, you moan in your sleep, wanting to see it for yourself. Do you think I don't know this? I am inside you, a part of you, Korra."
Korra covers her head in shame, as she didn't know Raava knew all that. "That was another Wan," Korra argues, but inside she knew Raava had won this.
"Oh, another Wan? Tell me how many Wan's do you know of?" Raava asked, almost amused by her denial. "Come on, who is the dark-haired, copper eye man that's Wan's twin?" Raava almost teases her Avatar. Korra remained silent, Raava made a small noise of 'I thought so'.
"You never thought of Mako like that, even when you let Mako take you, you imagined a different man, Wan. Every time without fail."
Korra didn't know what to say. However, Raava was one hundred percent right.
"Your right." The Avatar relents.
"Of course I am, I know you Korra and I know Wan. I don't even mind that you have feelings for him."
"You don't?" Korra mumbles in shock.
"No, why would l? Plenty of souls from different era's fall in love, I don't see the issue."
"Thank you, Raava, that helps a lot," She smiled. She never thought Raava knew her so deeply. It wasn't embarrassing, but wholesome.
"You're welcome, child."
"What should I do about Wan, Raava?" Korra says thoughtfully.
"There is a lullaby from his childhood that might let him sleep. lt was sung by his mother before she passed. Wan hums it when he's anxious, singing that would most likely get him to sleep. I can teach you the words if you like?"
"Yes of course!"
Tonraq walks into Korra singing to Wan, stroking his hair as Wan sleeps soundly as Korra sings the lullaby. She wasn't the best singer, but her voice was smoothing for Wan. He smiles, seeing his daughter singing a lullaby he doesn't know about. Now they've found a way to go back.
"And here I thought you and Wan were just friends?"
Korra hushes her father softly then whispers, "Dad, he's a light sleeper. He takes a while to go into a deep sleep. You have to whisper." Tonraq then whispers back, "Sorry, Korra, but it seems like whatever you sang him worked. Tenzin would be happy to go home now that he won't be in too much panic."
"It's a song from his childhood" Korra explains while stroking the sleeping first avatar's hair.
"From his childhood, huh? And how did you figure that."
"Raava" Korra shrugs, "Oh yeah, the spirit that both of you have, I almost forgot about that." Tonraq looked on as Wan was sleeping peacefully, then looked at Korra. He saw how much she did for the boy and just smiled.
"I'll leave you two alone," Tonraq said and left the room silently closing the door behind him.
