A Legend of Korra Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez (aka SMTsukishiro)
Summary:
A promising engineering student. A mysterious woman capable of controlling the four elements. When their paths crossed, the resulting collision not only changes their lives and themselves, but the fate of the entire world as well. [Korrasami AU]
Author's Note:
Update tiiiiime~
Enjoy reading, guys! And thank you for the reviews and follows!
Allons-y~!
The Legend of Korra
The Schism
Chapter 3. Korra
There were quite a number of things that Asami Sato prided herself on: her heritage, her intellect and ingenuity. Even her beauty was something to be admired. People—most notably her father and Opal—would frequently comment on her patience, humility, and kindness as well. Often, the youngest of the Bei Fongs would even tease her for being a 'goody two-shoes', though at the same time admiring her for it and for not being quick-tempered. So when anger gripped the young engineer and inventor, one could ascertain that it wasn't over something petty. Her fury was often justified and not to be taken lightly.
At the moment, the object of her ire was the forceful, demanding foreigner, whom she was now absolutely certain was anything but an illusionist…or human, for that matter. After all, no human could command the air to lift her up and make her fly. Or freeze the water with a mere touch. The fascination and wonder over this person and what she could do, however, was greatly outweighed by irritation and annoyance—a sentiment Asami did not bother to hide as she continued to glare daggers at the offending girl while rubbing the soreness away from her left wrist.
This peculiar girl, however, did not notice the antagonistic look she was being given. Though it was more likely that she chose not to.
"Well?" the impatience in the dark-skinned, young woman matched her countenance as she spoke, directing the question to Asami. "Speak, human. How do I get inside this so-called 'Great Republic University' of yours?"
"You can't. No one can. Not unless they're a part of the faculty or the student body." Asami spat the answer. And then she added as an afterthought, "And will you please stop calling me that!"
"Calling you what? Human? Why should I? That is what you are after all."
"That's not the point! You know what? Forget about it. And forget whatever it is that impels you to trespass within the university's walls as well. As strong and powerful as you think you are, you won't stand a chance against the school's defenses." The prodigy was assured of that, speaking with hopes to dissuade the other girl. "This may be a place of learning, but the Great Republic Academy is one of the most heavily fortified facilities in Republic City. There is no way you can force your way in. Besides, unless you have in your arsenal a way to destroy the metal grates to the university's underground sewer—which, by the way, is made from one of the sturdiest materials in the world—you are stuck with no way in. So just give it up and let me be."
"If I wasn't in a hurry, I would gladly take on that challenge of showing you just how incapable this ostensible 'heavy defenses' are against me, human." the stranger said. Asami was certain she stressed the word out just to vex her. "But if I had intended to force my way through, I wouldn't be in need of your assistance now, would I? Now, show me where this metal grate is."
"Why?" The prodigy was truly perplexed. Did the girl not hear her when she said it was indestructible? Part of her was curious at what this outlandish, young girl planned to do. Another part hated to have to ask that question.
"You said it was the only way in, save the front doors." The stranger—who had begun scanning her surroundings, possibly looking for this grate—answered in a way that told Asami she didn't understand why the Prodigy even had to ask.
"I also said that it is unbreakable. Or is your hearing really that selective and you just decided that it's not pertinent information?"
"Now it seems you are the one who wasn't listening to me. What was it you humans like to say? 'Pot calling the kettle black'? How many times do I have to say that there is nothing I can't do?" The cocky smirk was back. Asami had never met anyone so confident that it was bordering on arrogant. "Now, take me to that metal you speak so highly of and I'll show you I'm not all talk."
Asami couldn't help but roll her eyes, muttering, "Somebody certainly has a very high opinion of herself."
Regardless of the fact that she had mumbled those words to herself, the foreigner heard her and gave another shrug as though she didn't care for it. The jab on her lack of humility and modesty was lost to the outsider.
"Why shouldn't I think of myself as such? I am the Avatar, after all." The dark-skinned, young woman had said with so much pride, puffing her chest out, fisted hands on her hips. Then with an even cockier grin added, "Deal with it."
Now, those words—that declaration—would have been something important if it had meant anything to Asami Sato. But as it had been, Asami didn't have a clue as to what the title meant. She did, however, have the strange feeling of having heard or read about it somewhere before. A long time ago.
The young inventor shook her head. She had plenty of time later to try and remember. For the moment however, she had decided to be rid with the other girl the only way she knew how.
And maybe even bring her down a peg or two. This girl certainly needs to be taught a lesson on humility.
As it turned out, mention of the sewage system's grated entrance—something that she had made out of jest—and the decision to show this girl—this Avatar—its location had greatly backfired on Asami Sato.
She led the way to the grated railings hidden behind mossy vines, certain the grate would put a stop to whatever this crazy girl had planned. Of course, she should have guessed that if this person could jump several feet up into the sky and fly, float on water and turn it into ice, then she might also be capable of bending metal to her will—which was precisely what the azure-eyed, dark-skinned, wolf-tailed, young woman did.
"What are you doing now?" Asami had asked right before the so-called 'Avatar' stretched out her arms in front of her, palms wide open and fingers taut as if grasping at something tangible. She stood with her feet apart, as though bracing for something.
Slowly, the strange girl began pushing her arms out, like she was trying to open a set of heavy doors. The tribal marking on her right shoulder began to glow with a golden-brown light. As it did, Asami's eyes widen with surprise, a gasp escaping her lips as she stumbled backwards, watching the metallic railings bend as though they were made of tinfoil.
The small movements were subtle and rigid, but there was a sense of grace and fluidity in it too…as contrasting at that may be. Finally, the Avatar dropped her arms to her side and relaxed her shoulders, the golden-brown light gradually fading. She looked at the now-large gap—big enough for a person to pass through—on the railings with a satisfied look on her face, nodding at her handiwork.
"So…what were you saying?" the Avatar asked, mouth quirking into smile as she saw the expression painted all over Asami's face.
"W-What—? How did you even—?" the young prodigy had never found herself so tongue-tied before. She looked from the girl who could do impossible things to the metal grate that no longer resembled a grate. "That was steel foam! That was metal! And you just…!" a step back, followed by the question: "What on earth are you?"
"I already told you, I'm the Avatar." The girl answered testily. "Really, you humans certainly hear things but you don't like to listen." She then cocked her head to the side, as though listening for something, and then added, "Well, I suppose this is where we part ways, human. You have done me a great service. Farewell."
Before Asami could say anything, the mysterious Avatar had turned and ducked inside the newly opened passageway.
For a while, Asami just stood there staring at the hole and the darkness that lay beyond it. Her mind trying to make sense of what has happened—and what was about to happen—as she juggled with a decision she knows she has to make.
A person can never truly know about their own fate. Do we meet people simply because they have a part to play in our destiny; or perhaps we exist just to play a role in theirs? Asami Sato had wondered about the answer to that question whenever her mind took a philosophical turn. And during that particular time when her mind was full of disbelief, she wondered the exact same thing.
Asami had once come across a book about multiverses. It spoke of a hypothetical set of matching infinite and finite possible universes that were born from decisions made and unmade. That for every choice a person makes, it creates a parallel universe where that choice creates the corresponding consequences. Likewise could be said for those things left unresolved. And that this multiverse just keeps building up. Ever expanding, ever fracturing.
The promising engineer and inventor did not know if there was such a thing as a 'multiverse'. Perhaps there is a world—a different universe altogether—where she didn't call out to the girl who seem to be able to control metal, wind, and water, asking he to stop, to wait up. Perhaps in that world a different kind of history unfolded. Perhaps in that world Asami Sato played a different role, lived a different life.
Asami wouldn't know what became of that girl, or how different things would have been if she had turned around, gone back to her dorm room, and told Opal all that she saw. Asami Sato would also not know what became of the Avatar in that other universe (or universes, if there is such a thing as alternate dimensions) because Asami Sato chose to chase after the Avatar. Though her reason for doing so was not simply out of curiosity, but with the intention of stopping the stranger from causing problems to her university.
The Prodigy didn't know what the other girl's intentions were for breaking and entering into the Great Republic University. One thing Asami was certain of, however, was that she couldn't leave the Avatar to her own devices. Especially if there was a chance the girl could end up destroying all the hard work that had been done by the scientists, engineers, and inventors working in The Garage.
"Wait!" Asami shouted again, her voice carrying off louder than she would have liked. She was worried that the other girl had already made her way farther in, and was glad when she saw her about to take a step around the bend. "You! Avatar! Hold on!"
The Avatar didn't expect for the human to follow her. She had been certain the raven-haired girl would have hightailed it to wherever it was she was supposed to be the moment she had said goodbye. So when she heard her calling, Avatar Korra stopped in her tracks and turned to face the jogging girl.
"Is there something you need?" the Avatar had asked. "Or perhaps you are hoping for a reward for your assistance?"
"A reward? What? No!" Asami was offended yet again. She didn't even understand why the other girl would think that. She didn't help her because she wanted to. If anything the Avatar had forced her to do her bidding.
"Huh…that's a first, coming from a human." The Avatar then gave Asami a curious look. "So, what is it then?"
"I don't really understand what it is you plan to do here, but I just…I can't let you go wandering around and end up destroying things."
The Avatar regarded her for a moment, staring at her intently. What she was looking for, Asami didn't know. And then, in a flash and without warning, the Avatar had crossed the distance between them. She hovered on her face, and in a show of force yanked her arm, adding yet another possible injury to Asami whose wrist was still aching.
There was something dangerous, challenging, and playful in her eyes—something that kept Asami from trying to tug herself free—as she asked, "Tell me, what can you possibly do to stop me? You're just a prissy human while I am the Avatar."
"I don't know," Asami had no idea how she had found the voice to answer, or even how she kept herself from losing composure. But as she spoke, she held the Avatar's gaze, meeting the challenge head on. "But I can't, in good conscience, let you do as you please in our university knowing that I was the one who help gain you access."
"So, if need be, you're going to stand against me? Even after all the things you've seen me do? Why? What do you gain from it?" The azure orbs were once again searching the emerald ones.
"Because there are things here that people have worked hard to make and perfect. Things that can help ease the burdens of many and make the world a better place. I wish to protect that."
The Avatar took a deep breath before letting go of Asami's arm and stepping back. The sincerity and the resolve she had felt from the words the human had spoken resonated with her. She couldn't help chuckling at the way things had unfolded.
"I didn't think a day would come when a human would surprise me," Avatar Korra said, eyes closed and mouth quirked into a small smile. In her sixteen years of existence as Korra, there was one question the Avatar never bothered asking any other human. It was a question, nonetheless, that she found herself asking this human. "Tell me, human, what is your name?"
At that point, Asami had resigned herself to being called 'human' by the girl who called herself 'The Avatar'. So when that question—that familiar, simple question—was finally asked, she all but blurted out, "Asami Sato. My name is Asami Sato."
"Asami." The Avatar tested the name out, before nodding. "Alright, Asami, let's go."
As the Avatar began walking again, Asami was forced to ask, "Do you even know where it is you are looking for? Do you even know where you're going, Avatar?"
"Korra." Absentmindedly, the Avatar said as she flicked her fingers, causing the mark on her right forearm to glow in a fiery-red color. A ball of fire then blazed to life on the palm of her right hand. The flame acted as a torch, illuminating the darkened path that lay before them.
Asami, who had matched the Avatar's steps, stopped. Not only because of the sudden burst of fire in the other girl's hand, but because she was not quite sure what, exactly, she had heard.
"Um, what?"
"My name. It's Korra." The Avatar glanced at her and grinned. "You gave me your name, so it is only fitting that I give you mine."
"Okay…" The young Prodigy didn't really know what else to say.
"And to answer your question," Avatar Korra closed her eyes as she spoke, "I have the means to pinpoint the exact location of the disturbance."
"A means?" Asami asked, but Korra didn't answer. Nor did she open her eyes. She just stood there, seemingly in deep concentration.
Awkwardly, the young inventor watched and waited. The smell of the sewer wasn't all that bad—thanks to the improvements made in the city's sewage treatment—but it was starting to get cold. She was also worried that one of the guards will pass by the now-opened grate and investigate. They weren't exactly too far inside not to be noticed.
As the seconds ticked by, Asami saw Korra's markings glow faintly. There was the golden-brown glow on her right shoulder and the crimson one on her right forearm. There was also the ocean-blue on her left shoulder, and the jade glow on her left forearm. Small, balls of glowing light then began to rise up from those markings, surrounding the Avatar in an ethereal glow. A pulse, thrumming with power emanating from the Korra, vibrated though the air.
Asami Sato had never seen anything so beautiful. So magnificent. It was enough to make her forget her aggravation.
Before long, the wonderful light display disappeared and Korra opened her eyes once more. Asami had to quickly compose herself, lest she be caught staring, openmouthed, once more.
"It's this way," the Avatar said, before hurrying off.
Asami quickly followed behind her, unable to voice out her question regarding that otherworldly display even though she was dying to find out.
For a couple of minutes—perhaps even longer—they silently followed the winding path, guided by something only the Avatar could see and the Prodigy had given up making heads or tails of. Soon, Asami didn't just have to contend with the cold wind and the murky waters, but with the dusts, cobwebs, and rather frequent encounters with rapidly moving Spider Rats and Elephant Rats.
Several times, the Spider Rats and the Elephant Rats skittered around Asami's feet causing her to jump back and flinch in disgust. She even ended yelping and grabbing the Avatar's arm (which the prodigy noted were as firm as they looked) at one point when a large, fat Spider Rat suddenly jumped from an alcove, merely inches from her face. Asami's face had heated up in embarrassment and she couldn't look at Korra (who was entertained with how twitchy Asami had been) after that episode.
Apart from that incident, their journey through the underground sewers was uneventful. That was, until they started to walk up an incline and the sound of sewage water flowing was slowly being mixed with a loud humming noise. At the far end of the steep incline was an iron ladder. Atop the ladder was a small, metallic platform with a door.
Korra turned her gaze from the door to Asami, asking, "That door, where does it lead to?"
"How would I know?" Asami asked back, quirking an elegant eyebrow. "Contrary to what you might think, I don't really spend my time plodding through the city's underground sewer systems, mapping out locations found therein. If I were to guess, though, I suppose that could lead to the Garage's sub-level basement where they keep the generators up and running."
"The Garage?"
"Oh, sorry," Asami quickly apologized. She quickly explained in a wistful tone, "It's what we call the factory where we built up new technologies and enhance old ones." Then in a much more uncertain one asked, "Why are you asking?"
"Because that's where I need to go." Korra never left her eyes on the door.
Asami groaned.
Though the possibility of being led to the Garage was something she had thought of, the aspiring engineer had hoped Korra would not be led there. Breaking in through the underground sewers was bad enough, breaking in to the Garage would be even worse.
If Professor Noatak or the University Council ever finds out about this...ugh, I don't even want to think about what they would do to me.
The emerald-eyed inventor quickly racked her brain for some way to persuade the Avatar not to go breaking in to the factory, causing trouble, and costing her that job Professor Noatak had promised.
With Korra looking intently at the door atop the iron ladder and Asami so deep in thought, neither of them noticed another door hidden in a nook, covered in darkness that the light from the ball of flame did not reach. And so neither of them noticed when someone stepped through it, until they heard someone exclaim, "Hey! What are you doing here?!" followed by, "We've got two trespassers here!"
The two young women immediately turned their attention towards the incoming figure, who was quickly followed behind by four others.
Asami knew that there would be guards. She had warned the Avatar about it. Hence she wasn't surprised by the appearance of the five, well-armed men. What did surprise her was their getup. They did not look like your average security guards—heavily armed or not.
These men wore full-masks made of dark metal with visors that glowed eerily in the flame's light. Little slits, where their mouths would be, allowed for them to breathe. Underneath the red-and-black Hanfu they wore, Asami could see their neck, arms, and legs covered with metallic plates. Three of the five men were armed with batons that cackled with electricity. The two others didn't seem armed, except for a thick, metal-plated, rust-colored gloves that reached past their forearms.
For a moment, the five men regarded her, then turned to look at Korra. Asami couldn't see what their expression was behind their masks, but she was certain they were dumbfounded by the girl holding a ball of flame in their hands.
The words: "What the hell?" was all the Avatar had allowed these men to say before she snuffed out the flame, covering everything in darkness and proceeded to knock out their would-be assailants.
Asami, who would have preferred a different course of action than violence, didn't have a choice but to fight after Korra's offensive, especially when one of the men carrying the batons headed for her direction, weapon held high, ready to strike. The Prodigy was able to see the attack and dodge it, disarming her aggressor with a well-timed kick to the wrist holding the electric baton—thanks to the electricity that ran through the weapon—before using the man's strength against him and knocking him down to the ground, stomping her heels at his throat with just enough force to knock him out.
She wasn't able to catch her breath, however, as another guard came for her. This time, it was one of the two men armed with metal gloves. Luckily for her, there was still ample light from one of the guard holding an electric baton and still fighting.
It wasn't as quick and easy as before. The guard was fleet-footed. His punches and jabs were lightning fast; his kicks were like a whip. It was only thanks to Asami's high-end training in hand-to-hand combat that she managed to dodge and weave through the attacks. The young inventor didn't fight carelessly as well. She was patient, waiting for an opening from her adversary before striking with both power and precision one would not had guessed she possessed, causing the masked guard to stumble backwards.
Meanwhile, Avatar Korra was enjoying herself. She didn't think dealing with the three guards that had surrounded her would be much of a challenge. She proved it by quickly disposing one of the baton-wielding ones with nothing more than the speed Vayu supplied her and a punch with her fist covered with rocks (courtesy of Bai Hu) on the guard's gut. She left the last of the guards with the baton alone, knowing Asami was using his weapon as source of light.
Though the Avatar could easily call forth another source of light, she didn't think it was a good idea. She had a feeling Asami Sato would want her identity to be kept a secret. And though it was obvious the guards could see through the darkness, Korra would like to believe that they weren't able to see the other girl's face clearly enough.
She couldn't help but grin. Once again, the human had pleasantly surprised her. Korra had thought the other girl was just another helpless and defenseless human. She didn't think Asami would be able to hold her own in a fight. She kept an eye out, however, just in case Asami needed help.
"That human certainly is bringing out a lot of firsts from you, Avatar Korra," Vayu's teasing remark echoed in Korra's mind as she avoided an attack aimed at her head from the gloved guard. "Who would have thought you would actually tell your name to a human—and not just any human, but one who is not from Nia Bayou? Or that you would be interested to know a person's name?"
"Shut up, Vayu," Korra muttered under her breath, though she needn't really vocalize it as she can converse with the Elemental Spirits telepathically.
"I told you that human was special." It was Alignak who spoke next. Korra could sense the smile in her voice. "The Avatar merely perceived the same things I did. Isn't that right, Avatar Korra?"
Korra slammed the gloved attacker to the wall, this time opting to vocalize her thoughts through their psychic link, "Now really isn't the time for this sort of discussion. I am in a middle of a fight, lest you all forget."
"Alright then, let us quickly dispose of these louts posthaste." Suzaku chimed in. "I am quite curious as to how the Avatar is going to explain her recent actions."
"You have got to be kidding me. Not you too, Suzaku!" Korra frowned. She ducked low, arms stretched upwards and legs bent in a crouch, before spinning in place causing the sewage water to rise up. It slammed against her baton-wielding adversary, before slowly turning to ice, effectively trapping the guard and only leaving the hand holding the baton unfrozen.
"Well, your actions tonight have been rather interesting," the Elemental Spirit of Fire said in his defense. "Wouldn't you say so, Bai Hu?"
Bai Hu's reply came quick, though he still spoke in a drawl. "Indeed. Although I do not condone hurting the human. You could have asked her nicely instead of threatening her like you did."
"The four of you have always been like bickering in-laws—and I know I wished for all of you to find something you can all agree on—and this is what common ground you can all find? I think I would prefer it better if you all went back to arguing with each other." Korra huffed as she slammed her foot on the ground, causing a wall of earth to rise up over Asami who had fallen on her back from her opponent's low sweep—an attack she had missed seeing when the light from the electric baton flickered and died. The earthen wall guarded her from her opponent's next assault. Before they could comment on her action, she added, "Not another word. From any of you."
Asami was surprised by the protective wall that spared her from the guard's attack, though she knew it was Korra's doing. The guards, however, were more than surprised. Both took a step back from their respective opponents. Both also thought that the barrier of earth was Asami's doing.
"Enough screwing around!" One of the guards—the one closest to Korra—shouted to the other. "Let's show these punks what we're really capable of!"
In all her life, Asami Sato had never been called a 'punk'. After all, no one can really associate Asami with violence. Instead of being affronted by it, however, the young, engineering prodigy found herself amused.
Her amusement, however, was short-lived as from out of nowhere, flames shot towards her. At first, Asami thought, as she rolled away to evade the incoming attack, it was Korra trying to incapacitate—though more like fatally burn—the guard she was supposed to be fighting. When Asami turned to look at Korra's direction, however, she didn't see the glow on her left forearm that signified whatever magic it was she did. Another barrage of flame balls aimed at her direction told her that it was, rather, the guard near the Avatar who were summoning them.
Similarly, the other guard had switched fighting styles. He was no longer solely relying on his subpar martial arts, but rather his gloves whose palms had suddenly begun emitting powerful, electric currents.
Korra's features changed after that. With a loud, angry battle-cry—one Asami was certain would've roused all the other guards and told them of their presence—the Avatar charged at the flame-wielding guard with such fury, making use of all the elements she had under her command to push the guard further and further into submission. And even when the guard had lost consciousness from the bombardment of attacks, Avatar Korra did not let up. So consumed was she of her emotions that it appeared to Asami the other girl didn't care if she ended up killing her foe.
Not wishing to witness the death of another human being, Asami quickly debilitated the other guard who had let his defenses down in shock of what he was witnessing. As soon as he was unconscious, the young engineer, curious by the inner workings of the weapon, took the glove off her attacker and placed it in her bag. She then hastily ran to Korra, intent on stopping her.
"Korra, stop!" Asami shouted at the Avatar. "That's enough!"
"No, it isn't!" the Avatar shouted back, drawing her fist—which was covered up to her forearm in ice, with the tip of her knuckles shaped in a claw—back, ready to deal the finishing blow to the badly beaten guard.
Though it was probably the most imbecilic thing to do at the time, Asami grabbed hold of Avatar Korra's arm, hoping that it would detract Korra's assault. The biting cold from the ice seeped through Asami's clothes so quickly that her teeth began to chatter. But the Prodigy did not care. She still retained her hold on the other girl's arm.
"Yes it is. You have beaten him. You may have even paralyzed him for good." Asami forced the words out, which would have been easier if she wasn't freezing. "You have won. You don't have to kill him. He was only doing his job."
"Why would you spare his life when he was so readily willing to end yours?" Korra turned her attention to Asami, her eyes burning through her as the cold began to eat at the other girl's strength, slowly but surely releasing the Avatar from her hold. "Better yet, why should I spare his life when he did not care about what he was doing to the spirits?"
"Because I am not him," Asami looked Korra in the eyes as she said those words and all the others that followed. "I cannot say I understand what made you so angry, Avatar, but I cannot stand idly by while you murder someone. And if you are determined to kill him, then you will have to go through me first."
It took a while before Korra released an exasperated sigh and closed her eyes, and for the ice to return to its liquid state. By then, they could hear footsteps coming to their direction, both from the other side of the door atop the ladder and beyond the door in the hidden alcove.
"That kindness of yours will someday be your undoing." Korra muttered as she lowered her arm, looking away from the emerald eyes that held so much relief at her decision.
Asami could have uttered a retort. She could have told Korra that kindness was not a weakness. Asami could have told the Avatar the same words her mother used to remind her with. But instead she said nothing and just shook her head before the two of them made their way out of the sewers, back from where they came.
Post Chapter Notes:
Alright, for those of you who don't know, a Hanfu is a traditional Chinese clothing. Though commonly worn (in its traditional sense) during festivals and coming of age ceremonies, the one used in the Avatar Universe is a "modernized" (I use that term loosely in this) version of this.
I also tackled a bit of the Multi-verse (Multiple Universe) theory here. I have always been fascinated by it, and of diverging timelines, what-if scenarios, and stuff like that. Do multiple universes exist? Who knows. But it is interesting to think that maybe it does.
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you can, do leave a review. And as always, dream on; fly on!