A Legend of Korra Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez (aka SMTsukishiro)

Author's Notes:

First off, apologies for the lack of updates last week. Our ISP was acting all shitty and I couldn't upload anything, much less view any website for a length of time. Even now we're still having problems (which is why I think myself pretty fortunate to have been able to schedule the videos being posted on my YouTube Channel...too bad, AO3 and FFN don't have that feature yet) with our internet connection and our ISP is doing nothing about it, thus, you guys here at FFN are getting this chapter first before our friends over at AO3 (because the page for updating a story over there wouldn't load properly for me).

Anyways, be sure to read the End Notes for some things I forgot to mention in the previous chapter. I won't bore you guys with, the details here as I know this chapter has been delayed enough.

Allons-y~!

Summary:

A promising engineering student. A mysterious woman capable of controlling the four elements. When their paths cross, 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 26. Friend

Korra's legs buckled underneath her and she found herself gasping for breath and clutching her chest. Pain—one that caused her muscles to spasm—gripped her. Without the support, Asami and Kai fell down as well, the rumbling of the earth unceasing.

"What's wrong with the Avatar?" Kai didn't think the day would come when he would ask such a question and turn to outsiders for an answer.

Asami and Opal exchanged worried glances before both shook their heads in reply to the young man's question. They didn't know what was going on either. Neither thought that the episode Korra was having was reminiscent to the one they had witnessed before.

It had been a while since Korra felt this kind of pain—the pain that was connected with the spirits. There was nothing she, nor anyone else, could do but ride out the pain.

Naga, sensing the Avatar's pain, whimpered and moved to her friend's side, taking Opal (who had been clutching at the Polar Bear Dog's fur for dear life) along. She nuzzled Korra, eyes filled with concern.

Crawling towards the Avatar in agony, Kai and Asami helped Korra up her unsteady feet and out of the confines of their hiding spot, disregarding the dangers of being seen by the townspeople. All they cared about, at that moment, was getting Korra somewhere safe where she could recover, all the while Mount Makapu raged in all of its furious might.

Hefting Korra to allow her onto Naga's back was quite a challenge, even when the Polar Bear Dog had stooped low enough to make it easier for the Avatar to mount, thanks to Korra herself adamantly refusing to make use of the animal.

"I can…I can walk…by myself," she had said through gritted teeth and labored breath. "Just…just give me a minute. Or two."

"Now's really not the time to be stubborn, Avatar Korra." Opal didn't bother to hide her fear of being caught in the lava flow which would soon claim the poor village.

Korra tried to glare at the young historian. It was a miserable attempt that didn't faze the youngest Bei Fong.

Another upward burst of lava from the mouth of the volcano caused everyone to look at its direction. It was then followed by the sound of a stampede and screaming. Lots of it. People could see the danger of staying in the village for too long, and all had the same brilliant idea as the next person: to go to the docks, ride a boat out to the sea, and wait out Mount Makapu's tantrum. That, of course, meant that every villager who had thought of that headed straight for the Avatar and her companions. And though they were a little bit certain that none would care of them, or take notice that they were the people the Town Guards have tried to apprehend not too long ago, they still didn't relish the thought of being out in the open.

There was also the chance that one of the Town Guards who had been very passionate about capturing them would be among the throngs of people heading their way. It was something Kai voiced out, hoping to get his mistress moving. Still, Korra remained as stubborn as a mule.

Shaking her head at how childish Korra was acting, Asami (though against her better judgement) prayed her impulsive plan would not backfire on her as she mounted Naga. The Polar Bear Dog had been tame around her, and didn't seem to have any desire to harm her, which gave her enough courage to do so. Once atop the large, white dog, she turned to Opal and Kai and said, "Help me get her up here.".

Picking up their jaws from the ground, the two nodded. Both could see that this was the only way they could get the Avatar to ride Naga. It wasn't without much protestations, however, and by the time Korra was finally on Naga's back and sitting right in front of Asami (who kept her from falling off Naga by having a firm grip around her waist) Kai's worries finally came true.

A group of the younger town sentries spotted them. They were amongst the very vocal ones that had come to apprehend Korra earlier that day. And when they saw the Avatar and those that were with her, they seem to forget what was happening around them—as though some kind of spell had been cast upon them. The danger caused by Mount Makapu's eruption meant little to them, or the thought of helping the villagers reach safety—as was one of their responsibilities. Instead, they found themselves focused on getting the task they had initially set out to accomplish that day, done.

"It's the terrorist!" one of them cried out, eyes ablaze with righteous fury.

"Get her!" his companions all said in unison.

All Kai could say with how things were turning out was a groaning, "You have got to be kidding me? Really?"

"That's two-for-two, Kai," Opal found a bit of humor in their predicament. "If you keep jinxing us like this, we really won't get anywhere close to accomplishing things."

"It's not my fault!" Kai needn't have said it, but he did. Really, it wasn't his fault the universe decided to keep taking his words as some sort of twisted suggestion.

With a sigh, he begrudgingly glared at Opal, and then at Asami. He saw no other course of action at the moment, and seeing as the Prodigy was already atop Naga, it was the most logical thing to do—barring having Naga carry all of their weight, which was something he wouldn't want to put the Polar Bear Dog through.

"You!" he said to Asami, pointing a finger at her. "Keep the Avatar safe. Opal and I will handle these mongrels who keep insisting on getting in Lady Korra's way."

"We will?" Opal was surprised Kai would want to fight alongside her. Asami would've been a much better choice.

"Both of you will not do such a thing," groggily Korra supplied. "Naga can carry us all."

"She can, that's true. But putting such a toll on her so early on might not be a good idea, My Lady." Kai explained as quickly as he could. The group of guards were already close. "Besides, we have to lose them somehow and there's no way we could do that if we stick together. Don't worry, I know you care for Opal as much as Asami. I will make sure she's safe. We'll meet up with you at the entrance to the stronghold."

"I told you to call me by my name," Korra, who was still very much out of it, pouted. Her face turned somber, however, as she corrected something the young man had said. "You're wrong, though. Asami and Opal aren't the only ones I care about."

Kai smiled, and bowed his head, before giving Naga's rear a slap and ordering the Polar Bear Dog to run for it. Naga obliged, sensing the danger that was heading down their way, and sped away.

"Be careful, Opal!" was all Asami could say as she steadied her grip around Korra and on the saddle tied around Naga.

"This really isn't something I would normally volunteer for, you know," Opal said as she and Kai were encircled by the young men all too eager to capture at least one of the terrorist's accomplices—which was what they viewed the Avatar's companions as. "I'm not really a very good fighter."

"You're good enough for this," Kai sounded confident despite having only witnessed Opal fight once. He twirled the staff he had as a weapon, eyeing their opponents. "Besides, your friend was already aboard Naga. It would have taken too long if I had asked her to fight with me instead."

"I suppose you're right." Opal relented as she too readied herself. "Though I am quite surprised you would even want to work with us to begin with."

A look passed on the young man's face—one Opal couldn't quite tell—before he spoke as he whacked an incoming sentry right in the gut, jumping sideways to meet another incoming guard. "It's not a matter of wants but of needs. That, and the fact that it seems the best way to keep that friend of yours from taking over my job is to do it even better."

"Asami?" It wasn't really a question. There was no other person whom Kai could be referring to, after all. It was more like an incredulous reaction that ended up sounding like a question.

Opal feigned left, then right, showing impressive footwork as she made her way behind the town sentry that had decided she was an easier target. Once behind him, the literary major quickly dealt a blow that incapacitated her attacker.

Their conversation was put to a halt after that, as both focused on the mob that had gotten even more riled up and furious at having their compatriots taken out so easily.

Though those men were trained to fight in order to do their jobs well, they were (much to their surprise and dismay) easily bested by what they saw as mere children. If one were to ask Opal, it wasn't that easy.

Wiping sweat from her brow, she inspected their handiwork. She wasn't happy that they had to fight these people. Fighting was not something she wanted to do, after all. That was the reason why she chose a path that was far different from the rest of her family. Kai, on the other hand, had no such qualms. He actually enjoyed beating people to a pulp.

"Come on, let's get out of here." The Avatar's Steward said after making sure all of their enemies were unconscious and would not cause them any more trouble. "Naga probably has already reached the outskirts of the village by now."

"What about these people?"

"What about them?"

Really? Do I really have to spell it out? Opal wondered even as she vocalized her thoughts. "We can't just leave them here."

"Why not?" Kai was honestly perplexed.

"They'll die, Kai." Exasperation. That was what Opal felt conversing with the young steward.

Kai turned around and walked away as he replied, "Not my problem. They tried to harm, not just us, but Lady Korra as well. People like that deserve no mercy."

"Those who show no mercy will be given none in return," Opal recited the words shared to her by her mother, standing firmly, unmoving, in the middle of the unconscious bodies of the young men they had just defeated. "Korra wouldn't desire their death, Kai. She wouldn't want us to leave them just lying here."

The young man seethed when he heard Opal utter those words. He whirled around, eyes burning with fury as he marched right back to where the Historian was standing. "I think I would know perfectly well what My Lady wants. I've known and served her far longer than you or Asami have. I am her steward."

"I think that statement alone rests my case," Opal replied, her nerves intact even when Kai was all over her face.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Opal said, before stopping to ask for help from a couple of townspeople—who had been too frightened by the fighting to move, up until that point—to move the unconscious guards to safety. "You only know her as the Avatar. You don't know her simply as Korra."

"Asami, stop." The pain had subsided, but it still wasn't enough to allow the Avatar to move as she wanted or to speak as loudly as she could, but she knew Asami could hear her perfectly. How could she not when she was in such close proximity? So close, in fact, that the Prodigy's breath tickled her. Then to her Polar Bear Dog, Korra also ordered the very same thing.

Naga didn't stop, but she did slow down. Asami, on the other hand, was not going to allow Korra to have her way.

"We're not stopping, Korra." she told the Avatar, stiffly. "Opal and Kai can handle themselves. We have to trust them."

There was an emotion behind Asami's words, one she tried to hide. But Korra had been training herself to be much more observant. To understand the nuances hidden behind her companions—as well as other humans'—words and actions. She heard the pain in the Prodigy's words.

Glancing at Asami—whose eyes were trained forward—Korra discerned that she was not under any physical kind of pain. It was a pain borne from empathy towards the people whose lives and livelihoods would be destroyed by Mount Makapu's eruption.

A flash of memory from the fall of the Burroughs crossed the Avatar's mind. She remembered the horrified look that was not just on Asami's face, but on the others as well; the hopeful way she had looked at Korra, believing she would be able to do something; the anger and frustration that came afterwards when the darker-skinned girl turned her back, unable to do anything; and the cold spell that followed afterwards.

Though Korra knew that Asami would no longer hold it against her for not being able to help people in their time of need, she still felt guilty about it. And then she felt curious.

Guilt had never really crossed her mind up until recently. It was amongst the many changes she noticed of herself. Sympathy and empathy were some things she was starting to learn as well, and she found herself caring more and more about what the other young woman thought about her.

Alignak and the others… Korra thought to herself. They would certainly find this turn of events amusing.

"Asami, I trust Kai and Opal. I know they can handle themselves well. But," Avatar Korra said, pushing through the pain that throbbed within her temples now. "But is this really what you want? Are you really okay with just running away and leaving these innocent people to fend for themselves?"

The question came as a surprise. It was also one that the raven-haired girl took the wrong way. She shook as one would when trying their best to keep their temper in check as she venomously replied, "Of course not! I want to help them. But there is nothing I can do. And right now, it is far more important to get ourselves out of here—to get you out of here."

Korra closed her eyes and took a calming breath hoping it would ease the pain. It helped, but only just. She wondered how much of Asami's words the other girl truly believed to be true. She had thought the Prodigy was not a person who viewed a singule life as far more important than a multitude—something Korra herself had been brought up to believe, especially when she was that singular life—and wondered if traveling with her had caused Asami's view to shift. She hoped not.

When Korra opened her eyes again, her mind has been made up. She didn't know how strong she was, at that point. She didn't even think her decision was a sound one. But it meant something. The moment Asami's grip on her slackened, Korra summoned the remnants of Vayu's power and blasted air from her foot that allowed her to quickly unmount Naga. It happened so fast that Asami was unable to react, nor Naga unable to stop and turn around, until Korra was so far out of reach, floating high up.

"Korra, what are you doing?" Asami was equal parts distressed, in awe, and annoyed. "Get back down here! We have to get moving."

The chocolate-haired young woman shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said. "But I want to try."

Confused, the Prodigy asked, "Try? What are you talking about? Try, what?"

"I want to try to help these people." Korra found that she couldn't say these things without looking away from Asami. She felt embarrassed by the admission, though she didn't know why.

Asami, naturally, was surprised to hear Korra say such a thing—to volunteer to do something, especially something that would have an impact, not just on a single person, but an entire village. As such, the only word that articulately expressed her thoughts was: "What?"

"I know this is going against everything Nia Bayou has taught me. I know I'm going to be doing something that Kai would not like; something that would reveal who I am to these people," explained Korra. "And maybe it wouldn't do much, but…But I want to try to help them, Asami, as you would want me to. I think that would also help keep them from coming after us, if they see I am no threat." She paused for a minute, thinking, then added, "Besides, as crazy as it may sound, I think this is the reason why that girl the Light Spirit spoke of asked me to wait before setting out after her."

Korra winced a little as pain shot through her again, causing her to momentarily lose control of Vayu's power. She managed to catch herself before she plunged to the ground, but not before almost giving Asami a heart attack. It wasn't really how she envisioned to end that little spiel of hers.

"Korra!"

"I'm okay," the Avatar gave a smile, as though that would prove her words to be true. It didn't really do anything to ward off whatever worry Asami might have been feeling. "Anyways, Naga—" Korra turned to her trusted animal companion, "—take Asami to the outskirts of the village, just in case this whole thing goes sour. Keep her safe, alright?"

The Polar Bear Dog barked, understanding every word the Avatar had said. The wolf-tailed young woman nodded, glad that Naga was willing to do that for someone else other than herself and Kai.

"Korra, don't you dare!" Asami managed to squeeze a word in.

The other girl smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Asami." She said, before turning to Naga and, once again, giving her orders to the Polar Bear Dog, "Go, Naga! Run!"

Naga howled before galloping into a run, a very peeved Asami on her back. Korra watched as her Polar Bear Dog left dust at her wake, and once she was certain they were far enough, turned to face the direction of Mount Makapu.

"Let's do this, Korra," she muttered to herself—psyching herself up—before controlling the air around her, maneuvering her way using Suzaku's power, to fly towards the volcano's base.

This cannot be happening. What else was the Captain of the Town Guard supposed to think when faced with the misfortune that they were facing? First, that terrorist, and now this!

They had their hands full, keeping the evacuation as orderly as possible. But the Captain also knew that not everyone would be able to get to safety in time. They could see the lava flowing quickly towards the northern edge of town, getting nearer and nearer with each passing second. People were already clamoring to the remaining ships, boats, and barges. Arguments and fights had broken out on more than one occasion.

Why did anyone think it a good idea to build a village somewhere close to a volcano anyway? It wasn't the first time the Captain wondered about it.

The old man's train of thought was derailed, however, when one of his subordinates called for his attention, sputtering out as he pointed to the sky, "C-Captain! Look!"

As is always the case, whenever someone exclaims and points to the sky, no matter how important it is, it has been ingrained in the nature of humans to drop whatever it is they are doing and look up. Fueled by curiosity, the Captain of the Town Guards—and everyone else in close proximity—collectively turned their heads to where the overexcited guard pointed his shaky finger at.

Their jaws slackened. Their eyes went wide. Even when they saw what it was they were seeing, their minds had trouble processing and accepting what it was. For there, up in the sky, was the terrorist they had been seeking and hoping to apprehend. She was floating, flames burst forth from her open palms and her feet; the wind whipped around her, keeping her aloft.

The young woman seemed not to care about them. Instead, her eyes were focused on the volcano—on Mount Makapu—as she was heading for the volcano's direction.

Even when she had vanished from their sights, everyone's eyes were still glued to the sky. Slowly, the town guard that was next to the Captain turned to his superior and asked, "S-Sir? That girl—" he shook his head. "I think we're not equipped to deal with her. I don't even think bigger guns would cut it."

Silence met the town guard's statement as everyone wondered the same thing: Who—no, what—is she?

Kai couldn't understand what Opal had meant. What else was there to know about his mistress? She was the Avatar. That was all there was to it. That was all he needed to know; all anybody needed to know.

But Opal was not yet done with speaking her mind. And before he could tell her exactly that, the young woman added, "Your fears are unfounded as well. Asami isn't out to wrestle your precious job away from you. She doesn't care about being Korra's steward, or whatever."

"That doesn't seem that way to me," Kai argued, remembering all the times Korra seem to listen to the Prodigy's counsel, or the way Asami seem much too eager to look after his Ladyship.

"That's because you're looking at it through a different set of lenses. You think Asami and I are doing the things we do because Korra is the Avatar." Opal heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the townspeople who had come to help when all of the unconscious guards had been taken care off, wheeled away aboard carts and hopefully to someplace relatively safe. "And though we do base some of our decisions to that fact, it isn't what is important to us. At least, I believe Asami and I are in agreement with this."

Kai frowned. He couldn't fathom what Opal was going on about. How could the Avatar's being what she was not be that big of a deal to them? How could Korra being the human incarnation of the Lord of the Spirits not be what was most important?

Seeing the confusion her words caused, Opal shared with Kai the meaning behind them, hoping that it would help, not just the young man, but Korra as well in the long run.

"I don't really know what kind of life Korra had living with your people in Nia Bayou. I don't know how you and your people lived with her as well. But I can guess from how the two of you interact, and how both of you interact with others." Though it was not really the best place to share her thoughts, it felt as though it was the best time. Opal wondered when, if not now, Kai would allow himself to be talked to; be lectured that way without going ballistic again. "I can guess Korra lived with none but the Elemental Spirits to interact with. I can also surmise that all your interactions with her are from so far away and from viewing her at such a high pedestal, and only when you need something from her."

"It's not really that hard to imagine it. The way Korra knows so little of the world; the way she sees herself and acts around others…all of that was not just from the teachings the Elemental Spirits may have imparted to her, but from the way your people have treated her as well."

There was a pause as Opal allowed her words to sink in. Korra hadn't told her a little of her life in Nia Bayou, nor of how she was treated there, and it was only through observation that she was able to piece together the information she had of life at Nia Bayou as the Avatar would have lived it.

"Did you know Asami and I had a hard time with her when we first met?" Opal went on. The people who passed them by were confounded to see them just standing there talking while all around them things were going to hell. "Asami told me Korra was very forceful with her, and that she only went with Korra because she was afraid your Avatar was going to destroy the University. Of course, that isn't to say I didn't get my fair share of trouble with her. She did try to set me on fire…"

"What?" that surprised Kai. He had thought the Lady Avatar was impressed with these outsiders from the start, which was why she held them in such high regard.

Opal disregarded the young man's outburst, and pressed on with what she was saying, "Of course, that may have been, in part, my fault. Though, as it was, it still didn't excuse burning someone alive. But that's beside the point, and that's all water under the bridge now."

If Kai had thought Opal wasn't strange before, he did so now. How can she just wave that off as nothing? "That doesn't explain, after going through—what I could only imagine—so much trouble, why you and Asami would still be here if My Lady's status is of little import."

"That's the crux of the matter to you, isn't it? What drives us?" Opal couldn't help giggling, even though Kai saw there was nothing to giggle about. "It's not a difficult a question to answer though. The answer, after all, is a simple on. It's because we've come to see her as a friend."

"A friend?" Friendship with the Avatar was unheard of.

Opal nodded. "I can imagine, as the Avatar, Korra being worshipped and admired from a distance—especially with the way she deals with others. She probably had a hard time communicating with your people. Even with the Elemental Spirits always around, it must've been quite lonely for her."

"That couldn't be helped," Kai defended their treatment of Korra. "She's the Avatar. She's Raava's human incarnation!"

"That's just it, isn't it? Raava's human incarnation. She's human, too. Or a part-human. I doubt the Lord of Spirits decided to mingle with us lowly humans just for the heck of it. If anything, I believe what the legends say about Raava—that the Lord of the Spirits decidedly came because there was something in us that sparked her interest; that she wanted to live with us. She didn't choose to leave the Spirit World because she wanted to be worshipped and ogled, or be seen from a distance." The Historian shook her head. "If I were Raava, I would've come here to learn what it means to be human—to interact, build bonds—and judging from what the texts say about the Avatar, I'm guessing that's exactly what Raava wanted. To be a bridge. And you can't be a bridge if you don't have some kind of a bond. And, well, you know how bonds are formed, right?"

Opal watched Kai process everything that she had just said, before she shrugged and finished off with, "Of course, that's just me. What do I know, right?"

As Kai thought about what the young Bei Fong had just shared with him, his eyes looked at anywhere but his companion. It was not such a wonder then that he saw the very same person they were talking about, making her way towards the violent volcano.

He gaped and stuttered, which didn't really help Opal understand what was going on. And so, she did what was the logical thing to do: she looked at the direction Kai's eyes were affixed at.

The young Earth Kingdom native couldn't help but let out a groan as her sentiments mirrored that of Kai's at the sight of Korra doing…whatever it was she planned to do, heading straight to the base of the volcano, the lava only a few minutes away from where she had landed.

Asami struggled to get Naga to listen to her and finally turn around to head back to the direction of Makapu. She didn't know whether it was just the Polar Bear Dog listening to Korra's wishes, or if it was the animal's instinct to move away from danger that made such a feat difficult. It was, however, a good thing Naga was not as bullheaded as her owner.

It was also a good thing, at that moment, that Naga was a large animal. It made the evacuating townspeople part and make way even when Naga bared no teeth nor showed any signs of ferocity. Then again, if a large, eight hundred pound (possibly more) dog was barreling down your way, you would have cleared the path as well.

As Asami followed the road, she heard gossip of the flying, young woman and knew, without a shred of doubt, Korra's story was going to be blown up to epic proportions. Already they were throwing theories and wild guesses around as to who she was. As interesting and amusing as some of the things she'd heard was, the Prodigy knew she couldn't be distracted by them.

When she got to the place where they had split into two groups, the Sato Heiress was surprised to see both Kai and Opal still there. They were speaking, and whatever they were talking about looked somber and severe that they seemed to have forgotten where they were and what was happening around them.

Has everyone completely lost their common sense? She wondered as Naga, upon seeing the two as well, trotted towards them.

"Asami!" Opal looked relieved to see her when she took notice of the Prodigy and the Polar Bear Dog. "I thought something had happened to you. I mean, we just saw—"

Kai didn't let the Historian finish what she was saying. He pointed an accusatory finger at her (which was nothing new, and which Asami found she was used to by now) and asked, "You, what idea have you planted into Lady Korra's head this time around? We just saw her flying towards the volcano. Towards it!"

"Kai…" there was a warning tone and a knowing look that passed from Opal to Kai, which got the Avatar's Steward to drop his hand and take a deep breath. Asami quirked an eyebrow and made a mental note to ask her friend about it later.

"I didn't suggest anything to her. Whatever Korra plans to do, it's all her," Asami replied, dismounting from Naga's saddle. "Whatever she is planning, Korra intends to save the village and its people. She said she wanted to try."

"W-What? She can't do that!" Kai blurted out. He didn't like the look the two women were giving him, but he let his side be told despite that. "Saving a village from this…that would require a great deal of power—one that Avatar Korra would not be able to hide herself from using. When she succeeds, everyone would know she's not like everybody else."

"I think it's too late for that." Asami then proceeded to tell them of the villagers had seen, which only made Kai's shoulders slump some more and elicited a groan from the young man.

"This is a disaster," Seeing Asami and Opal give him another withering look made Kai sigh. "Okay, even more of a disaster. What will the Chieftains and Elders think?"

"I think there are more pressing matters to attend to before we try to fix this whole 'secret' thing," Opal steered them back into the present. "Kai, how much power do you think would be required to keep this village safe?"

It was a strange question to ask, though Kai thought Opal was asking from a scholarly standpoint. "I don't know. It depends on what Lady Korra intends to do. I can think of a number of things she might try."

"Like what?"

"Summon a gigantic wave to cool off the lava? Blow another hole in the volcano that would cause the lava to flow elsewhere?" Kai began ticking off one solution after another, each one being more incredulously conceived than the next; each one showcasing just how imaginative the messy-haired youth could be. "It could be anything really. Regardless, she would have to go into the Avatar State to accomplish most of them…which would be good for the town but not for the Avatar's secrecy."

"So, basically, she would need to go into full power? Or something to close to it?" Opal clarified.

"Something like that. The Avatar State is a condition by which My Lady taps into the part of her soul that is Raava," Kai explained. "It allows her to use the full capabilities of the Four Elemental Spirits."

Asami and Opal exchanged looks. Both were thinking of the same thing: that it would be problematic, under the state Korra was in.

"We have to get to her," Asami said—a suggestion which Kai didn't fail to note was stupid.

"Are you kidding? Do you guys have a death wish, or something? She's probably surrounded by lava by now." He said. "The Lady Avatar could withstand that. We, on the other hand, will die even before we get close enough for Lady Korra to notice us. There is nothing for us to do but to await Lady Korra's success. Here. Where it's safe."

Avatar Korra's plan was a half-baked one.

She knew what she wanted to do—which was to save the village from the Mount Makapu's lava that threatened to burn and run it down. How she would accomplish it, however, was a conundrum.

The lava's heat was scalding, though the remnant of Suzaku's power kept Korra from being burnt. It was fast moving as well. She thought of trying to blow a hole at the side of the volcano to divert the flow of lava, but found that it was a non-solution. Not only would it fail to save Makapu Village, it would also destroy whatever lay on the other side of the volcano.

Likewise, the Avatar had thought of making use of the sea. She had even tried to do so, but she was not strong enough to summon a big wave. Not that it was a great solution—which she later realized it wasn't, it was actually terrible, considering she would have ended up flooding the village and drowning its people.

She also thought of bending a large, chunk of the earth and just bottling up the mouth of the volcano. And though she felt the remnants of Baihu's power would allow her to accomplish something like that, Korra didn't know how effective a solution that would be, though she knew it still wouldn't account for the lava that had already flowed (and was continuing to flow) towards her and the Makapu Village.

For a moment, Korra allowed herself—however briefly—to berate herself for not asking Asami what the most optimal solution would be for this. She couldn't help thinking the brilliant, young engineer would have some innovative way out. But alas, there was no time to ask the raven-haired, young woman. And there was definitely no time to try to find her either. She had asked Naga to take Asami away, after all.

Boosting herself up in the air once more, Korra surveyed her surroundings. She searched in the natural formation of the earth for a solution—one that nature would be willing to share with her. She refused to believe that there was no way to help the people of Makapu. She had promised herself—and even told Asami—that she would try.

It was not the first time she noticed the towering, jagged, protrusions on the ground, and it was not the first time she wondered how they came to be. As her line of sight followed the seemingly straight line they made, Korra noticed that, on the farthest end where the lava was descending, the towering earthen jaws of the earth were diverting the flow of lava elsewhere. She watched, fascinated, as the lava parted and took a different route, albeit still heading towards the village at the foot of Mount Makapu.

At that moment, the Avatar's ingenuity kicked in. Korra grinned as an idea formed in her mind—one that would require speed to accomplish. Pushing through the pain she was still feeling, Korra summoned all of Baihu, Suzaku, and Vayu's power, the markings etched on her body glowing as brightly as it could in a long time.

Using the speed granted by Vayu's power, Korra made her way to the middle of the waves of rocks as quickly as she could. Once there, she began Earthbending, digging a deep trench with a powerful downward push of an arm. The carving she was making of the earth snaked around Makapu Village's perimeter as she kept pressing herself to the limit. Several times Korra had to return to a spot that wasn't deep enough to her liking and had to add an extra bit of 'oomph' to her Earthbending just to make right.

A hot, tingling sensation on her skin alerted the Avatar that the lava was getting nearer, her time was running short and she was still halfway done. It didn't help that she was starting to feel weak once more.

Not yet. Korra thought to herself. I'm not done yet. I've still got more in me…

The trenches were still far from the surf—which was another part of Korra's plan to save the village. She needed to connect them together to make it easier to bend water over the flowing lava that would've been trapped in it.

Damn it, the Avatar cursed. If only I could go into the Avatar State, this would be so easy.

Exerting herself more, she hurried to complete the trenches. She was certain what she was doing was no longer hidden from those people may still be trying to get out of the village. She hoped they wouldn't mind the landscaping she was doing. Then again, who were they to complain? She was doing all of these to save their lives, after all.

Another explosion caused the young Avatar to turn her head towards Mount Makapu. It was undergoing another eruption, spewing more lava. Korra winced.

So, this pain is related to the volcano's eruption… she deduced, shaking the discomfort away. But what is causing the eruption? I have to…I have to ask the spirits about this later.

The Avatar then turned her focus back to the task at hand as the lava's flow hastened.

Asami, Opal, and Kai were almost at Makapu Village's border when the ground they had just passed by suddenly plunged and where there was a rough road before now lay a cavernous ditch. It appearance surprised the trio, almost knocking them off of Naga, though they need not ask amongst themselves how it came to be.

"I guess we now know what Korra's solution is," Opal said, glad that they had not been a second too late when they crossed.

"A channel this deep would not be enough." Asami pointed out, frowning. "She would only delay the inevitable. The lava would still flow through it once it's full."

"Maybe that's why she's carving it towards the sea?" Kai guessed, indicating at the direction the trench was taking—which was something Asami hadn't notice. "I think My Lady is going to bend the water to the trenches to cool off the lava."

"That's brilliant," Asami muttered under her breath. She didn't think Korra would come up with that kind of a solution. She didn't even think the amount of power the Avatar currently possessed would allow her to do such a thing, especially when it had looked like she was still in pain.

Having heard what the Prodigy had said and how she said it, Opal smirked, though she would have had to admit she was as surprised by the Avatar's cunning.

The trio watched as the trench continued to snake its way around the village as Naga continued to carry them away. It was only when they were so far from the village border—and the trenches—to be deemed safe enough did Naga stop moving and Asami, Opal, and Kai dismounted the Polar Bear Dog to await the return of their companion.

They watched from afar as the lava flowed into the trenches and Korra bended the water from the sea into it. They watched as steam rose from the hot, flowing, molten rocks as the water cooled and solidified the lava. This went on for quite some time, and all three were glad (and they were certain the townspeople were too) that the channel the Avatar had dug was deep enough that, when the lava finally stopped flowing, there was only a couple of inches left from its tip.

Still, even after what she had done, Korra was still not finished. Pulling at whatever reservoir of power and energy she had left, the Avatar took an extra mile, taking into account the future. With all that she was worth, Korra raised her arms up and created an earthen barrier that separated the village and the Mount Makapu.

It was only when she was finally making her descent, making her way towards them, did the Avatar's companions heaved a sigh of relief.

They had been ready to congratulate the Avatar for a job well done as she was descending towards them. Only, when she was a foot from the ground, did the Avatar lose consciousness, the toll of her feat finally catching up to her.

Luckily, Naga was quick enough and the Polar Bear Dog's thick fur cushioned the Avatar's fall.

Quickly, the trio rushed to Korra's side. Asami, who had been much nearer at the time, was the first to touch the Avatar. She yelped before taking her hand away from the other girl's shoulder.

"Asami, what's wrong? Opal asked, looking from the Prodigy who was wincing as she shook her hand to the unconscious Korra.

"Korra," replied Asami, who had started blowing at her hand as though she had been burnt. "She's hot."

The Historian blinked. Once. Twice. Kai—who was still reeling from the surprise of seeing the Avatar fall unconscious, not understand why something that didn't even require her to go into the Avatar State would fatigue his mistress so. Not that anything should. He was worried. Extremely worried. It looked as if he was just about ready to blow a gasket.

"Really, Asami?" Opal was smirking.

"My mistress has been knocked out and that is what you have to say?" Kai added. "I don't care about your preferences, Asami, but now's really not the time to go saying something like that."

Asami was confused at her companions' reaction, up until she realized what she had said and how it could have been taken the wrong way.

"N-No! I didn't mean it like that." She was flustered and despite what she was about to say, Asami knew she would not hear the end of it from Opal. "I meant literally. Her skin is literally blistering."

Kai frowned, then checked if Asami's words were true. When his skin touched the Avatar's he hissed and immediately pulled them back.

"She's right," he nodded. "I don't get it. Why?"

"Should we really be concerned that Korra's burning up?" Opal asked and before she could get told by Kai, she added, "Korra was in the thick of the volcano's wrath, she dealt with the lava at close proximity. It would only be natural that she would be—" she turned to Asami and grinned, "—hot."

Asami wanted to groan and smack the back of Opal's head, but she did neither.

"No. Avatar Korra has Suzaku with her. He wouldn't have allowed this to happen." Kai replied.

There was a moment of silence. For Kai, it was one filled with thought and consideration for what all of this might mean. Asami and Opal, on the other hand, was caught between telling Kai the truth and keeping their mouths shut. In the end, the two chose the latter option believing it was Korra's secret and one she should be the one to tell.

After a while, Kai shook his head. "We can think about that later. Right now, we have to get as far away from here as possible. After what they have witnessed, I wouldn't be surprised if the Town Sentry decides to search for Avatar Korra for a different reason."

"Then we should make our way to the Pohuai Stronghold now." Asami agreed.

Together, the three of them strapped Korra atop Naga, pushing past the uncomfortable sting contact to her skin caused, and they began to head away from Makapu. Each agreeing to take turns riding Naga and keeping the unconscious Avatar in place now that they were three Ostrich Horses short.

Post Author's Notes:

As I have mentioned before, here are some fascinating (at least, they are for me) trivia regarding the previous chapter:

The volcanoes that erupted and that have been mentioned in the chapter "Vesuvius" are actual real-world volcanoes. First off, Mount Erebus. Mount Erebus is a volcano found in Antarctica. It is the second highest volcano in Antarctica and the southernmost active volcano on our planet. This volcano has been observed to be continuously active since 1972!

Mount Norikura (or, as the locals would call it "Norikura-dake") is a potentially active volcano located on the borders of the Gifu and Nagano prefectures in Japan. Part of the Hida Mountains, it is listed as one of Japan's 100 most famous mountains.

So, there you have it: real-life, world trivia. I try, as always, to add a little bit of those whenever I could (as long as it fits with the story and the world I am making). I find learning about these things as fun, which I hope is the same for some of you as well.

Anyways, I will try to upload another chapter to make up for the missed deadline last week (provided my internet connection doesn't inexplicably die out on me...again) before this week ends. But, if I am unable to do so, I hope that this somewhat longer chapter would be good enough for you guys. As always, comments/reviews, favorites, and spreading word of this fanfic is always welcomed.

Until the next update, dream on; fly on!