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]
The Legend of Korra
The Schism
Chapter 9. The Avatar's Despair
They took a roundabout way—a much longer way—backtracking to avoid the full brunt of the University's security force. They passed through hallways and rooms so secret that neither Asami nor Opal knew they existed. And even though they found it strange that a school would have such secrets, their minds and bodies were too weary to pursue the thought any further. All they cared about, at that moment, was escaping those who wished to do them harm, and figure out what it was that was ailing their Avatar friend.
It was a silent journey, their guide choosing not to speak despite the myriad of questions they knew he wanted to ask them. The girls, likewise, kept their own questions to themselves. None of them wanted to make any noise, even when it seemed like they were the only living and sentient beings around.
After an innumerable number of twists and turns that made it hard for them to retrace their path, they found themselves at an older part of the University. Gone were the lustrous tiles, and bright electrical lights. In their place were old, dry stone walls that looked as though they had seen better days, and dirt, dust, and cobwebs that could give anyone an asthma attack. There was an absence of florescent lights and electric bulbs as well; the sole source of illumination was from the small, rectangular slits on the walls where light from the University's more modern areas streamed in.
"Where are we?" Opal asked in a shouted whisper before Asami could pose the question herself. She looked warily at the Guard whom they had bribed, and in a suspicious tone questioned him, "You're not planning on doing anything to us here, are you? Because you're going to regret it if you try any funny business, buster!"
"What?" Mako asked. Of all the things the short-haired girl could have said, that was definitely not on his list. "Don't be stupid. Of course not. How am I supposed to get the payment you promised me if I do something like that? I'm not even that kind of guy."
"Well, you can't expect us not to be suspicious after being brought here—wherever 'here' is." Asami admitted, voiced breathy with labor.
"Think what you will then." The Guard shrugged. "This used to be a part of the main building, back when the Great Republic University was first built after the Hundred Year War. When the renovations started thirty years ago, they destroyed a part of this building and replaced it with a new one. This section remained intact, however, as it is being used to transport, err, special supplies. There are only a handful of people who know of it, though, most of them are the suppliers."
"Smugglers, you mean." Opal rolled her eyes. "No need to sugarcoat it."
Though the revelation was quite shocking, after what they had witnessed, it was not at all impossible to see the Great Republic University making use of illegal means to get some of the supplies needed for experiments and inventions—especially for those who worked in the Garage and for projects that were so secretive in nature, like Councilman Tarrlok's Spirit Bastille.
Still, it was disappointing to know and be informed of the truth. Especially for Asami.
Mako then motioned to an opening that led to a downward flight of stone staircase. "That leads to the underground docks. There should be a small motorboat we can take to port. I have a safe house there you can stay in while this whole thing blows over. We can also use the underground tunnels, but I don't suppose either of you can take that trek especially with that sick girl."
Korra did look sick. Her skin was cold and clammy, her breathing still ragged and shallow. And though she weighed heavily on Asami, the Prodigy did not wish to ask Mako for help in carrying the girl even when he had initially offered to do so. His allegiance to them was bought, after all. She didn't want to take any chance that he might betray them and was under orders to take the Avatar away. Asami, after all, was certain Councilman Tarrlok noticed what Korra was capable of doing and would want to learn more about her, maybe even experiment on her. The very thought sent a cold shiver running down the brilliant, young inventor's spine.
"A safe house?" Opal asked as Mako took a hidden gas lamp from a loose brick on the staircase's entryway and lit it up. "How safe is it exactly? Your people are still looking for us, unless you forgot."
"Pretty safe. No one knows about the place. It's sort of my home away from home. Besides, I doubt Councilman Tarrlok would have sent word to the RCPD about what happened tonight. And even if he did, Chief Bei Fong may sit on it for a while before she acts, after how the Councilman embarrassed her."
At the mention of the Chief's name, Opal cringed. She prayed to whomever was listening that her Aunt would not believe a word Tarrlok said.
Soon they descended the stone staircase, their footsteps echoing in the damp darkness that surrounded them. The light from the gas lamp Mako carried as he led their descent could only reach so far. Eventually, they heard the soft crashing of waves.
The underground docks was just small and haphazardly-constructed, made of planks of wood that extended the dry-stone ground's reach. Barrels and crates littered the area, their contents a mystery. A couple of ropes could also be seen hanging and coiled around posts. At the farthest edge of the wooden dock was an old, rusty, washed-out-colored speedboat that looked as though it had seen better days.
"That's our ticket out of here?" Opal had hoped their escape vehicle would be a little less flimsy-looking. "That thing looks just about ready to sink!"
"Looks can be deceiving, miss," the Guard said sagely as he jogged to the speedboat.
Asami had to stifle a laugh when her friend blanched at being addressed 'miss'. Opal hated formalities and protocol. She had grown up in a house full of those and the young Bei Fong often went through great lengths just to escape them.
They followed after Mako, joining him in the speedboat just as he had turned on the ignition. As soon as everyone was settled in and everything was in order, Mako gunned the speedboat forward, lurching it into motion. Water sprayed around them as the speedboat cut through the waters of the underground docks at such a speed that they had to firmly grab hold on to the boat's railings to keep themselves from toppling overboard.
As they emerged from the underground canal, the whirring sound of the speedboat noisily pierced through the darkness. Asami was certain the guards would take notice and start shooting at them again. But no alarm sounded. No bullets came their way.
Before long, the bright lights of the Great Republic University—the sole beacon of light in the entire darkened capital of the United Republic of Nations—lay distant. The crazy uproar they had caused was replaced by the silence that was only broken by the waves crashing on the boats, ships, and yachts that were on the pier, as well as the hum of the speedboat motor as they began to dock. Their journey aboard the water vessel ended with a gentle bump to the quay.
It was difficult to traverse the port and its surrounding area. Everyone in Republic City knew it was dangerous to linger there at night, doubly more so during a blackout. It was a well-known, open secret that the Red Monsoon Triads operated in the area, much to the chagrin of the Republic City Police Department. Thus Mako hurriedly led them past shipping containers and cargo holds of various state of occupation, then through even more dark alleyways towards the sanctuary he spoke of.
Asami and Opal had worked together in carrying the unconscious Avatar, each had one of Korra's arms slung over their shoulder. Despite the shared load, they could barely jog to catch up with Mako. Several times they had to stop and rest, leaning to the side of a wall, a post, a container, or another.
After what felt like hours and hours of creeping around the shadows, they finally arrived.
Mako's idea of a "safe house" was not the same as what Asami nor Opal had imagined. It was not even a house. Rather, the haven they found themselves in was an abandoned cargo hold near the edge of Republic City's port area. Dirty and decrepit, a quick look of the place made it impossible to believe anyone would even consider staying there.
The windows were broken, the panels holding on for dear life. Those that remained intact were foggy and had moss and lichen stuck on them. The large entrance was jammed on its hinges and proved impossible to roll to a close. The doors on the side of the building hung uselessly, devoid of its purpose. The floor was cracked and dented in several places, the ceiling in danger of collapse. Overturned containers, wooden crates and boxes eaten by termites, office tables and chairs upturned, tarps blown off from where they were originally placed, and remains of dead animals who inhabited the building littered the ground.
Asami could not help but cringe. Despite people's preconceived notions about her after seeing her room and work spaces, she didn't like a chaotic environment. The Prodigy could only take a certain kind of mess: the organized kind. Seeing the cargo hold in such a sorry state had her thinking about ways to fix, renovate, and improve it.
Stop it, Asami, she mentally berated herself as they continued following Mako up a rusty staircase and past a door-less doorframe. Focus. This is not the time.
Another set of doors—this time a completely intact one—led the group to an office that had been renovated into a makeshift bedroom or hideout of sorts.
It was a room and there was a bed—the frame of which looked wobbly—with frayed covers and blankets on it, that much was true. The pillows were a shade of brown, with questionable dark splotches on them. There was a small table where an electric fan sat.
On another side of the room was a medium-sized, beige refrigerator beside a small counter and sink. Hanging on the wall at the top of the counter was an empty drawer.
Beside a faded, green door (which Mako informed them led to the bathroom) was a generator and a couple of gallons of bottled gasoline to power it.
There were two windows as well. One near the bed, the other near the sink. A single light bulb hung at the center of the room's ceiling. Cardboard boxes, stacked dangerously high, took half of the remaining free space making the room more cramped than it should be.
Not having a wider range of options, Asami carefully maneuver through the maze of cardboard boxes to get Korra to the bed. Once there, she slowly lowered the unconscious girl, breathing a sigh of relief when she finally managed to do so, before slumping exhausted on the floor next to the Avatar.
There was silence as Opal began rummaging through some of the boxes, looking for nourishment and finding none; Asami was fighting off sleep that came to take her, the adrenaline of the chase and escape leaving her; and Mako observed them, contemplating on what to do next.
The Guard could not help but wonder why these women—particularly Asami Sato—would go through such lengths to ensure the safety of the unconscious girl. Surely they were more important than the strange girl in a tribal outfit. Several times during their escape, they could have left the girl and made their flight from the University easier. But they persevered, the Sato heiress most of all.
But perhaps the biggest mystery for Mako was the reason why the two would put themselves in danger the way that they did. It was the enigma that gnawed at him, forced him to speak, to ask. And ask he did, surprising the two girls, one of whom almost instigated an avalanche of cardboard boxes on them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise either of you." He apologized. "I just don't understand. You're an heiress, and you—" Mako turned to Opal and paused. He didn't know who and what the other girl was. "—you're probably somebody important too."
"Hey!" Opal didn't like being lumped and dismissed at the same time. "I'll have you know that I'm the daughter of Suyin Bei Fong and the niece of Lin Bei Fong, Chief of Police of the Republic City Police Department, thank you very much."
"My point exactly, somebody important. So, why risk such a felony? Surely you knew you would get caught."
Opal looked at Asami for answers. She didn't want to say something that should not be so casually shared. The Prodigy sighed, pausing enough to gather her thoughts and concoct the sufficient response.
Seconds later, she answered, "We didn't think we would be caught, to be honest. Nor did we even consider that we would end up requiring your assistance. Korra—" she looked at the unconscious girl, "We didn't need to worry about those things because we had her. As for the risk, it was one worth taking."
The answer gave no satisfaction to the person who asked it. It just brought more questions, none of which neither Asami nor Opal were willing to share.
A while later, it was Opal's turn to voice out her thoughts. She did it with an exasperated whine, saying, "There's nothing to eat here! What kind of safe house is this?"
"The kind where no one can find either of you." Mako was equally infuriated, though in the end he volunteered to buy some food for them. The act, however, did not earn him anything other than suspicion from Opal Bei Fong.
"How will we know you're not just going to run off and tell your bosses where we are?" she asked, arms crossed, brows furrowed, standing between the only exit route and the Guard.
"Now why would I do something like that and risk not getting the money I was promised, Miss Bei Fong?" he replied, as if it was even stupid to consider that he would betray them at that point and flush all that money down the drain.
"So if someone offers you an even bigger amount, that's the only time you'll sell us out?" It was Asami who asked the question. "Just how corrupt are you?"
"Now, now, don't go calling me 'corrupt'. You're the ones who bribed me. Besides, I'm a mercenary, what do you expect?"
"A mercenary?" Opal laughed at what she believed was a pathetic attempt of Mako's to reason taking the money he was offered.
Puzzled for a brief moment, Mako frowned at the short-haired girl. And then he realized the misconception as he slowly remembered the circumstances that surrounded their meeting. He chuckled as he told them, "Do I look like a security guard to you? I'm a mercenary. All of us working the nightshift are. Councilman Tarrlok hired us months ago."
It took more than a few seconds to process what Mako had said, to understand the implications of his words. And the two young women were still thinking about it as the Guard was allowed to leave to fetch them food.
"Is it strange for me to think that there can only be one reason why Tarrlok would hire mercenaries and have them posing as security guards?" Opal asked once they were alone.
Asami shook her head, a dark look crossing her face as she replied, "No. I can only think of one reason as well."
It was a strange sensation, to wake up. The heaviness she felt as her eyes blinked away the darkness of sleep was new, as was the empty and quiet feeling within her.
For as long as she could remember, there was always a wonderful music that accompanied her. The cool breath of the air that was Vayu, the strong rumble of the earth that was Bai Hu, the passionate crackling of the flames that was Suzaku, and the sweet ebb of water that was Alignak had created a cacophony of music that resonated deep within her soul, making her feel she was never alone even when the lonely life of the Avatar could have crushed her.
It did not help that she had never fallen asleep before. Or felt the weariness in her heart and bones. Everything felt different. No, it was different. Without the Four Elemental Spirits at her side, Korra felt weak and powerless. Without Bai Hu, Suzaku, Vayu, and Alignak she would be unable to fulfill her purpose as the Avatar.
She felt afraid at that moment—the first time she did so. And as always when it came to fear, it bubbled and tuned into anger. Anger at herself, and then at those that had caused her such pain.
Though already awake, Korra laid silently on the bed, unmoving. Willing herself not to let the tears of anger and frustration fall. She focused at the ceiling, glaring at it as though she was willing it to burst into flames. Nothing happened.
Pushing herself off the bed, the Avatar realized belatedly that she was not anywhere she was familiar with. Though that should not have come as a surprise. She navigated herself out of the shambolic room, down the rusty staircase, and out of the dilapidated cargo hold. Every step Korra took was heavy. The weight caused her to stumble quite a few times, not used as she was to the feel of gravity. Vayu and Bai Hu often worked together to make her feel as though gravity had no claim on her.
She had not walked very far, though the weariness she felt made it feel like she had. It was strange to feel exhausted. Strange and curious. Her feet had carried her to the edge of the docks, one more step and they would touch the water, though she doubted she would be able to float atop it or command it to do her bidding any longer.
A deep intake of breath—a second to hold it in—then another to expel it, the salty smell of the ocean and the sharp smell of fish assaulted her senses. She knew their odor, of course, but it smelled different now and made her feel as though it was the first time she had a whiff of them. Perhaps it was.
Ever since she could remember, her senses had always been tied with the Elemental Spirits. She saw things through their eyes, heard it through their ears, felt things from their perspective. Her own view was but a fraction that mingled with theirs. Her thoughts weren't always just her thoughts; her words not only her own.
She was so deep in thought of what she had lost that she did not notice she was no longer alone.
Asami was awoken by a faint movement on the bed. She tried to stifle a gasp, or showed any signs of consciousness when she caught glimpse of the look that had crossed the Avatar's face. Instead, she kept silent, vigilant, and observant.
Korra had stayed immobile, angrily staring at the ceiling for quite some time. The Prodigy wondered what was going through her mind, what sort of words played in her thoughts, and whom she was blaming for the turn of events—events that Asami, herself, was unsure of.
Before long, the Avatar had shuffled out of bed and left. Where she was going and what she intended to do, Asami didn't know. All she was certain of was that she couldn't just leave the girl be. And so the aspiring engineer followed Korra and noted how the Avatar's movements were heavy and lacking the grace and presence that had made Asami speechless (among other things) when they first met.
When Korra stumbled, Asami had to suppress the urge to run to her and help. The look on the Avatar's eyes caused her pause. When Korra moved so close to the edge of the docks, Asami had feared what the other girl might do. Would she summon a large wave in retaliation to what had happened the night before? Would she walk on water and just leave? It was such a relief when all the Avatar did was stand there, hands balled, back rigid.
The Prodigy watched her for a couple of minutes more, the sun slowly rose in front, creating a melancholic view with the dark-skinned, young woman at the center.
Asami took a deep breath. They had stayed in the open long enough, it was time to get back inside. She walked towards Korra, speaking to her as she did so, saying, "It's time to get back inside, Korra."
She didn't expect to surprise the Avatar, but she did. It was enough to alarm Asami that something was seriously wrong with Korra. She had never managed to surprise the Avatar before. She didn't think it possible until now.
"Oh, Asami. Don't creep up on me like that, if you would." Korra was ruffled, though she tried her best to not let it show as she kept her eyes trained on the horizon. Her best was not good enough, however.
"I wasn't creeping up on you," Asami said with a frown. "Didn't you notice me following you?"
"I didn't." The answer was short and clipped. It came so sudden that it caused a break in their conversation.
Asami let the silence stretch much longer. She didn't know why, but felt as though the Avatar needed the silence.
Finally, Korra opened up to ask, "Is it always like this?"
"Like what?" the question made no sense. It was too broad for the Prodigy to answer.
"The sounds...so subdued, like someone is holding their hands over my ears. And everything, even the colors and the smell, are washed out, muted…dull. There is no melody in them. No song. No…vibrancy." Sadness and agitation seeped through every word that was uttered.
There was a painful longing, as though this was not the norm for the Avatar. It made Asami ask her own question, rather than answer what she thought was Korra's hypothetical one. "Korra, is something wrong? You're speaking stranger than you had been…and that's saying something."
"I lost them," Korra's words have become a tremored whisper, lower than the sound of the crashing waves. Her shoulders shook lightly, her fists balled up even tighter, Asami did not know what to fear for most: that the Avatar might be crying or that she might hurt herself—both were not cheery thoughts. "I can still feel them, somewhat. I can feel their agony, but our connection is slowly dissolving, painfully being ripped away. Soon I will not be able to feel anything from them."
"Korra, I don't understand…"
"The Elemental Spirits. They have been taken from me by that man and his machine." Korra spat, hurt turning to anger once more. "He has been converting them into fuel, using their energy as though he is entitled to it. They're calling out to me, and I can't even understand what they are saying. They're hurting and I can't do a thing about it. I'm powerless to save them and the other spirits now."
"You're not powerless, Korra. Councilman Tarrlok may have forced us to flee and may have taken your Elemental Spirits captive, but that doesn't mean there's nothing else we can do." Asami tried to reason with the despairing girl.
"But I am powerless," Avatar Korra laughed bitterly. She turned to face Asami, and the Prodigy saw the tear tracks on her face. "I can no longer hear the whispers of the wind bearing news and answers to my questions. I can no longer command the wind to carry me aloft. I am no longer capable of punching a hole through the earth as though it was made of paper, nor could I topple mountains over and create new ones with just a command. Flames will no longer bend to my will. Even the oceans will not part for me when I ask. All of that I had been able to do because of the four at my command." She sighed wearily and added, "You wouldn't understand what it is that I have lost. You are only human."
"I am a mortal, there is no denying that. And it is true that I can barely understand how you must be feeling right now. But there's no need to belittle me for it." The Prodigy chose her words carefully. "I may not have lost the Elemental Spirits, like you did, but I have lost someone very important to me as well. Unlike you, I no longer have a chance to save her. Not only that but I may have just lost the only chance to a very promising career, I might even be disowned by my father if word had reached him of my involvement with all of this. So, yes, I do know about loss…and those things might not sound all that important to you, Avatar, but the thing is, it's not about who has suffered the most, but what one has done with it."
"And what would you have me do in this situation then, Asami Sato?" Korra asked, the challenge evident in her voice.
"Be the person Opal believes and worships you to be. The Avatar that you are," was the Prodigy's reply. Asami looked Korra at the eye, throwing the challenge right back at her.
Korra searched the eyes of the girl before her—feeling as though she was really seeing for the first time, without the noise and the brightness that had plagued her since she arrived at Republic City.
"What you are asking for is difficult, Asami." Korra admitted. "That machine—the Spirit Bastille—it needs to be destroyed, and I don't know how to do that without the Elemental Spirits' help."
"I already knew that, and that has been our priority before. Nothing has changed, Korra." The look the Avatar gave her had Asami amending her statement. "Apart from you losing your magical powers. Isn't there a way for you to get that back? Surely as the Avatar you have some sort of contingency for something like this."
"Bending." Korra corrected her with a shake of her head, wondering how many times she needed to correct the raven-haired young woman. "And nothing like this has happened before for me to even think about having a back-up plan. I am the Avatar, after all, I'm supposed to be infallible and omnipotent. Unless it's a knowledge the Elemental Spirits and the people of Nia Bayou decided not to share with me, like a dark history of some sort."
Asami nodded, fingers tapping on her chin as she contemplated on the Avatar's answer. "Perhaps we should ask Opal. She might know something."
"That would be a waste of time. What could she possibly know that the people of Nia Bayou would not?" the words came with an amused laughter.
"I think she has surprised you enough, Avatar, for you to at least have a little bit of confidence in her." Asami smirked. She was positive Opal would deliver, and if not… "And if she doesn't, then we can just go to this Nia Bayou of yours."
Korra's smiled faltered. She was confused, "Why would we go there?"
"You said so yourself, didn't you? There might be a possibility that something like this had happened before and your people are just keeping you in the dark about it."
The Avatar thought for a moment about it. Asami was right, yet she felt hesitant to admit that the possibility existed. She was likewise at a lost as to why this human would even want to keep helping her after all that has happened.
"Why do you still wish to help me, Asami Sato? For all we know there might not be a way. For all we know I might just drag you further down and away from the things you dream and aspire of. I really dono't understand your motivations. You are not at all like all the other humans I have come across."
The Prodigy was taken aback by the question and the statement that followed, as well as the earnestness in the way Korra had asked and spoken. She hadn't stopped and wondered why she was going through such lengths to help the strange, young woman before her even when her hopes and plans for her own future were in jeopardy.
But then again, maybe that in itself is the reason…
"I wish I could say something inspiring that will make you change the way you perceive humanity. I wish I could tell you some profound reasoning behind my action. But in all honesty, I don't know why." Asami shrugged, it was her turn to look past the person she was speaking to and towards the seemingly unending ocean that lay before her. The sun had yet to rise fully. There was still time before she knew the dock workers would be coming for work and the silence of the docks would soon be replaced. And so she allowed a few moments more out of hiding. "It's just something I feel like I must do—and want to—and not just because I had something to do with the Spirit Bastille's creation. I know it's not the reason you expect, but it's all I have."
Korra closed her eyes once more, and gently smiled. "No. That reason is a perfect one for you."
The Avatar didn't know why she said that. She barely knew the human, and yet, those words felt right and true.
The Agent stayed as close as he dared allow, hidden behind the shadows of the metallic crates, surrounded by the atmosphere he detested most. He listened carefully to the conversation of the two women whilst making sure to keep himself unnoticeable.
He made note of all the things they said with the device he had been given to communicate with his employer without the fear of the message being traced or intercepted.
The message was short and held only two lines of text:
In search of answers. Possibly heading to Nia Bayou.
As soon as that information was sent and the two, young women began to make their way back to the place they were staying in, the Agent melted into the darkness as if he was never there to begin with.