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 cross, the resulting collision not only changes their lives and themselves, but the fate of the entire world as well. [Korrasami AU]

Author's Notes:

Welp, it's that time again: time for a new chapter update.

I am really glad that people are enjoying this fanfic. So before you guys sink your teeth in this new chapter, let me just say thank you to everyone who had left a comment, spread the word about this story, liked, faved, and read this story. Notifications and emails regarding this story always makes my day. You guys are my muses.

Anyways, enjoy this chapter!

Allons-y~!

The Legend of Korra:

The Schism

Chapter 28. Opal's Dream

Pohuai Stronghold. Asami vaguely remembered visiting it once, at the behest of her mother.

"It will expand your horizon," Yasuko had told her when she showed a lack of enthusiasm the first time her mother told her about the excursion. "There is more to the world than just blueprints and machines, Asami."

"I know that, mom." She had rolled her eyes along with the response. "But there are a lot more interesting places to visit than the stronghold, architecturally impressive as it may be."

Her mother had chuckled at her then, as she sat down beside Asami who was on the floor, lying on her stomach while she doodled and sketched, tongue sticking out and brow all furrowed.

"You're still a child and already you're sounding more and more like your father," the mother combed her daughter's hair as she spoke. "It is true that Pohuai doesn't have anything that may interest your father, but I assure you, Asami, that place is far more interesting than you give it credit for."

"How so?" the little prodigy had asked, genuinely curious.

Asami could remember her mother giving her a secretive smile that bordered on the mischievous as she replied, "You'll see". Whether or not she had been impressed, however, she could not, sadly, recall. Her memory of that time was foggy, at best. A faded photograph would have been clearer compared to her recollection. All she got were snippets—flashes of images: her mother pointing at something displayed in one of the many glass cases, her first taste of fire flakes, people giving her mother a respectful bow upon recognizing who she was.

Impressed or not, the Prodigy could confidently say that she did have fun back then.

Though now that she was back at the stronghold, it seemed like it was now the other way around. She couldn't say she was having fun (and neither did she have any hopes that their stay would be fun), but she did found herself immensely impressed with how everything in Pohuai had been preserved.

The fortress that had once served the Fire Nation during the ruthless reign of Fire Lord Ozai still retained its inhospitable aura, its high stone walls—coated with black iron—the very epitome of its adversarial reputation. The large pagoda tower that stood in the very heart of the stronghold was just as threatening and imposing, regardless of the fact that it was now presented in a way meant to educate its visitors of its past. No matter how festive the people in charge of the fortress-turned-museum made the place to be, there was just something in the air—perhaps the very souls of those who lived and died within its walls during the prolonged war—that kept it from relinquishing its dark image.

There was, Asami noted, a bit of tension in the air—though she wondered if it was because of the same reason as those she observed regarding Pohuai, or if the anxiousness of being in the same place (finally!) as the child they were hoping to meet was causing everyone to feel jittery. Regardless, the raven-haired prodigy did not welcome the feeling.

She did find one amusement in that dreary place, courtesy of the Avatar and her sheltered upbringing.

Korra had kept on asking about all the new things she saw as they entered the stronghold, from the commonplace things such as the airship that was docked at the port to the very reason the stronghold stoods. Had anyone else been accompanying the dark-skinned, young woman, they would have grown weary of her many questions and—Avatar or not—had asked her to pipe down. But Opal, who had taken to educating their young, deity-turned-human friend, was more than happy to oblige Korra's curiosity—strange questions and all.

"I feel really embarrassed that My Lady is benighted in things such as these." Kai, who had been walking side-by-side with Asami, broke the silence of their search, watching his mistress and Opal have an animated, intellectual exchange. "As her steward, it was my responsibility to help her learn of these things, and keep her from missing her studies, but…"

"Let me guess," Asami was practically certain of what she was to say. "Korra had other plans."

The Avatar's Steward nodded. "It didn't seem like a big deal back then. I mean, even the steward before me didn't think much of her lack of interest with these things. Plus, she had the Four Elemental Spirits with her to explain things to her or keep her from acting like a complete country bumpkin. I see now that I should have taken that aspect of my job seriously."

"Well, hindsight—as they say—is twenty-twenty. I don't think she would have taken her studies seriously either way, had things turned out differently than they did." Asami couldn't help thinking and sharing just loud enough for Kai to hear.

The young man frowned, the statement not sitting well with him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, when Korra and I first met, she seemed far less enthused about being away from Nia Bayou. Republic City—which many have been impressed by—didn't enamor her as it had others. If anything, she didn't particularly care about anything else except the whole business of hers with the spirits' pain and suffering. She didn't even bother to know the names of things…or people, for that matter."

They kept their pace with their two other companions who seemed to have forgotten their purpose for coming there. Asami shook her head whilst Kai sighed.

"So, what did you do to get the Lady Avatar interested?" Kai was curious. Perhaps, whatever trick the porcelain-skinned, young woman had used, he could too.

Asami shrugged. "I didn't do anything. Opal and I just kept on explaining things to her whenever we could. She picked those things up quite easily, although…she is rather quick to lose attention and get bored. Why she suddenly became curious of the world outside of your homeland, well…only Korra, herself, can tell you."

Silence befell those two after that. Kai mulled over the revelation about the Avatar and pocketed that knowledge, adding it to the list of things that had changed with his charge. He also, begrudgingly as it had started, was impressed by both outsiders for their doggedness to teach Korra about their world and way of life. It was mightily impressive how persistent they must have been.

The Avatar was reeling from what Opal had told her of Pohuai Stronghold's history. Though she did not know of the place beforehand, she was familiar with the Hundred Year War. It was one of the things she had heard the story of as a child—both from the Elders who had tutored her and from Bai Hu, who simply enjoyed telling these things…and retelling them. Regardless of who was telling the story, however, it was all the same…

The Fire Nation had grown powerful, and with its Fire Lord at the time, dreamt of expansion. They conquered their neighboring lands and extended their borders, turning their nation into an empire that could rival those of the olden days. Their expansion left wanton destruction in their wake. Those they subjugated found themselves slaves to a new master: Fire Lord Ozai.

Fire Lord Ozai's tyrannical rule gained him many adversaries, especially from those he had oppressed. They banded together, forming a rebel army. Though they were called as such, they were divided—not just by their creed and race, but by the various ideologies of those that led them. And because of the factions that divided the rebels, they were unable to do much to the point where the empire did not acknowledge them as threat and pushed on with conquering more lands and enslaving more people.

The disunited rebel army was given a rude awakening, however, when the ruthlessness of the Fire Lord's elite army clashed with the bravery and courage of the otherwise peaceful Air Nation.

Without provocation, the Fire Nation launched against the Air Nation—a nation of monks and philanthropists—an attack without impunity. The unexpected attack killed innumerable people. Those who could, stood against the invaders, only to fall in battle. The others—mostly women and children—fled their homes and became the first of the Air Nomads, who fleeted from one place to another, looking for a new settlement.

The Sacrifice of the Air Nation—for that was what history deemed to call it—spurred the rebels into action, uniting them with a common feeling of hatred for their enemy and sympathy for all of those lives lost. Yet, as much as they had found unity, they still lacked one thing: a suitable soul to lead them; someone they could rally upon, who wasn't blindly after glory, fame, or fortune—things any hero would be showered with.

As Bai Hu and the Elders who told Korra of this tale narrated it, it took more than a century for the hero of this story to appear. And, as fate would have it, the hero was a descendant of the Air Nomads: a strong and fearless warrior of undeniable prowess. He led the rebels and fought against Fire Lord Ozai, emerging victorious after countless of hardships and sacrifice, before disappearing—taking to the shadows of his triumph, instead of basking in its golden glow.

The story of the Hundred Year War had always been one that was all about self-sacrifice and—as Korra would often see it—a story of the Air Nomads avenging their fallen nation.

Opal's—as well as, it seems, everyone outside of Nia Bayou's—version of the story was different.

The premise of the story was the same: a despotic ruler dreaming of world domination, the rebels miserably squabbling amongst themselves and without any leader, the Air Nation Holocaust, and the century it took to end the war. The difference lay on the story of the hero who brought an end to the war.

Instead of the descendant of the Air Nomads, it was an exiled prince who—as Opal narrated it—"put a kibosh on the Fire Lord's evil reign of terror" (Korra, of course, asked what a 'kibosh' was, only for Opal to wave the question of in favor of finishing her version of the story). This exiled prince also happened to be Fire Lord Ozai's son, the Fire Prince Zuko.

"That's preposterous!" The Avatar had exclaimed loud enough to catch everyone's attention, and not just Opal, Asami, and Kai. Embarrassed by her outburst and the way she suddenly became the center of attention, she hurriedly ushered her companions elsewhere. Speaking in a lower voice, she added, "Your version of this tale is completely ridiculous!"

Opal was taken aback, of course. She knew her history like the back of her hand and there was no way she could be mistaken. And what the heck does she mean by my 'version'? "Ridiculous? Now that's completely uncalled for, Avatar Korra. I don't even understand why you would think that way."

"That is not how the story goes," Korra replied, crossing her arms. She looked peeved, as though she was personally affronted. After which, the Avatar began to recount the story the way she knew it.

"An unnamed, Air Nomad as the Hero of the Hundred Year War?" Asami shook her head. "That's the first I have heard of that. Opal?"

Opal nodded, sharing Asami's sentiment. "Same here. Lord Zuko has always been credited for putting an end to his father's reign. All known accounts of the Hundred Year War are in accord with that." To Korra, she asked, "Who told you this version of the story, Korra?"

It was Kai who beat Korra to an answer. "The Elders and Chieftains. Even all written records in our village archive speak of the Air Nomad as the hero."

"Bai Hu also enjoyed telling me that story. He is the reason why I know it by heart." added Korra.

Opal had a thoughtful expression on her face, tapping her forefinger to her chin, eyes glazed over. "Interesting…" she muttered. "Two versions of a defining moment in history. It's hard to dismiss Nia Bayou's account of it, especially considering the Elemental Spirit of Earth agrees with it."

"As…fascinating as this discussion may be, if not confounding, I suggest we put it a halt for now and focus on the task at hand, first." Kai finally couldn't contain his impatience, especially since he had a sense they were beginning to attract attention still. "We didn't come here just to try and figure out history—as enlightening as it may be to La—err, Korra. We're here for that girl, right? So…let's focus on that."

"Yes, of course. Kai is right. I apologize...it's just…This is all so strange for me." The darker-skinned girl looked around, gesturing to everything around them before she spoke. "My people value their culture and history. They remember and honor the past, but not like this. Not that there is anything wrong with how you outsiders do it…I am actually in awe, barring the mistake you have in your retelling of history."

"There is no need to apologize, Korra," said Asami, keeping Opal from arguing that there was no mistake on their part and that, perhaps, it was just a misunderstanding and forcing her to drop the subject for now. "We understand. It can be quite a lot to take in—seeing more and more of the world. You're not the only one who feels that way either. Once we are done with the business we have here, then maybe we can continue from where we have left our discussion. I'm sure there must be an explanation as to why there are two conflicting stories regarding the war."

"Of course," Korra nodded. She then looked at her companions and asked, "So, how do we go about finding her?"

An audible, collective groan was the answer they had for her.

"What? B-But you looked and sounded so confident we thought you had a plan for that already, Korra!" the Avatar's Steward looked just about ready to cry.

"I am confident that we would find this child…I just don't know how." Korra reiterated. "I can ask the spirits for help—or try to, at least—but I don't think it wise, not with so many people around."

"Then we can stay in Taku while we wait for them to thin out," Opal suggested in a heartbeat. She wanted to see the spectacle Asami had once described to her when Korra had summoned the spirits to lead the way to the Spirit Bastille. "I doubt any of them would stick around when night falls. I mean, this place is creepy as heck in broad daylight. I'm pretty sure touring at night isn't a popular thing to do."

Dainty hands touched the glass pane that separated and kept safe the relics and the various other displays. Hazel eyes, brimming with wisdom that surpassed her years, curiously read the small plaques underneath the displays that told of its history and importance. Each item she passed by was scrutinized as though it was the first she saw of them.

It wasn't, of course. She and her family had passed through these walls every time they went on their pilgrimage—which was every two years or so, or when her father deemed it fit to remind them of their heritage and their sacred duty.

Yet, no matter how many times she had seen the same thing over and over again, she never grew tired of it. Though she could not say her siblings felt the same way. Unlike her, they weren't exactly interested in—what her younger brother always said was—"the boring stuff". Much as she enjoyed touring around the Pohuai Stronghold and reviewing the knowledge she had accumulated from reading the displays, she was well-aware that this visit to the stronghold was special. It was different than her previous visits. It was more important. Very much so.

She was going to meet with a couple of very important people—the ones on whose shoulders the fate of the world rested upon.

"Korra is here," the familiar voice of the Light Spirit she had befriended and had asked a favor from echoed in her mind as she saw a faint glimmer—the silhouette of the friendly spirit—settle by the edge of the table where weapons used by both the Fire Nation Army and the rebels were displayed. "She arrived just now."

"Thank you," she barely moved her mouth, though the words were clearly spoken to the one who was meant to hear it. She was, after all, used to having to speak with spirits, even in public places such as this.

"Aren't you going to meet with her now? She seems at a loss on how to find you." The Light Spirit inquired, tilting its head to the side.

The young Air Nomad allowed the spirit to hop onto her shoulders before she started looking around the rest of the museum once more. "I will, but not yet. We will require privacy when we speak and I fear that my father will be calling for my attention before long. It is almost time for our training, after all."

He was grinning from ear-to-ear as he turned off the welding torch and pulled the goggles off his eyes, letting them hang around his neck. His face was marred with sweat, oil, and dirt from working on the project forced upon him, making his teeth whiter than they actually were. One gloved hand hurriedly returned the welding torch back on top of the table, the other gently traced the item that had kept him up for days.

He hadn't tested it, but he was confident the specialized glove that had just completed would work. After all, anything made by the one-and-only Iknik Blackstone Varrick does, one-hundred-percent! He didn't need to actually test the darn thing to know that it would do as it was supposed to. Product testing was, as it always had been for him, optional. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was scared to try it on any living creature.

After carefully examining the glove Councilman Tarrlok had commissioned him for, Varrick tugged off the ones he was wearing, threw them unceremoniously on his worktable, and rubbed his hands together, gleefully cackling at his accomplishment like a madman. Even if he wasn't actually the one who came up with the accursed thing, he was still the one to actually build it—and that, in itself, was an accomplishment, indeed.

"Now, what?" Zhu Li Moon asked as she pulled the goggles off her own eyes as well. "You have built what Tarrlok wants—which I still think is not one of your most brilliant ideas, Varrick. You know he is only going to use it for one thing, right?"

"That hasn't slip my mind, my dear." Varrick picked up the glove and turned it around in his hands, inspecting it further, and nodding to himself in approval. "I have only met the man once and already I wouldn't trust him with this ultra-special-thingamajig. But…"

The Assistant sighed, "—But we don't have any choice," she finished.

The Mogul nodded. He was solemn for a moment, before he wiped the look off his face and grinned. "Thankfully," he said, much too cheerfully and rhapsodic. "I am a very brilliant man."

Zhu Li rolled her eyes as Varrick continued singing praises to himself. This wasn't anything new to her, as the entrepreneur had been known to give himself self-appointed titles that made him bigger than life itself.

"And for someone of such an intellectual capacity as myself, keeping my invention as harmless as possible is a peace of sweetly baked cake."

"I don't think anything that was meant to be a weapon can be made 'harmless'." It was such a glaring contradiction Zhu Li couldn't help but point it out, lest her fiancé missed the obvious (it wouldn't be the first).

In true Varrick fashion, the moustached man waved her statement off. "There's always an exception to that rule: my inventions!" He whirled around, got right into Zhu Li's face, showing her very closely the fruit of their countless nights of labor (well, Varrick said it was 'countless', but in actuality it was just three days and they even had rests in between).

"You see there?" He pointed out a small dial, hidden underneath all the fancy welding and platting he had made. Zhu Li was cross-eyed by the time she saw what he was referring to. "That there is a Limiter. So long as it's turned on, this thing will not be able to kill anyone. Sure, it can still siphon someone's life energy, but only to a certain degree."

"And how much of a degree is it?" It was the question amongst questions, at least, Varrick thought so. He didn't have a concrete answer for that, however, and so he merely shrugged. "Iknik…"

"I can't provide you a definite answer for that, effulgent as I may be. The only way to tell for certain is to test it, and I, for one, am not too keen in doing just that. This kind of technology is dangerous to play with and this is as far as I am willing to go for science."

Zhu Li kept it to herself, but she thought—not for the first time—that Varrick had already gone far than he, himself, realized. She couldn't help but think, as belatedly as it was, that this would not bode well for them.

Korra stared at the thing Asami had called a 'clock'—something she sad was used to tell time—that hung in the room they had rented; a room the three young women would share for the duration of their search for the child the Light Spirit spoke of. The Prodigy had taught her how to use this particular kind of clock and so, she waited for her two roommates to return. She stared, and stared, and stared at the clock, willing it to move faster. She wanted to begin their search as soon as possible and was tempted to throw caution to the wind once more to do so.

The Avatar was certain she had surprised her companions when they had told her they were going to go sightsee and she chose, instead, to stay in their room. She certainly hadn't missed the look of concern that passed Asami's face. But even though she wanted to look around and have Opal educate her on the things she knew little-to-nothing about, Korra had to prepare herself for what is to come…whatever that may be.

She had a lot of questions—things she hoped the young girl they were searching for would be able to enlighten her in. She felt impatient, anxious, and uncertain, all at the same time.

Would she know a way to revive Alignak and the others? Would she know how to save the Spirit World? What if we fail to find her here and then learn that she had gone elsewhere? I doubt Asami and the others would be pleased with that. Kai would definitely not be. I don't think they would welcome the thought of this child being an enemy either and this whole thing an elaborate ruse, or a trap. Light Spirit or no Light Spirit. Although, Kai already thinks that way as bothersome as this whole goose-chase had been.

She glared even more at the clock, as if it was a source of offence and wondered if time really did flow as slowly as was depicted on it; if the Spirits were merely vexing her by actually slowing time down to what felt like a crawl.

Korra heaved a sigh before finally averting her gaze from the clock and flopping on the bed, eyes boring into the ceiling.

Perhaps I should rest while I can and stop worrying about these things for the time being, the young Avatar thought to herself. Spirit knows this peace won't last for very long…I seem be a magnet for trouble. It is such a wonder neither Asami nor Opal had left Kai and I by ourselves…

Really, Korra could think of no other reason for them to still be traveling with her, other than their sense of duty and—perhaps—Opal's curiosity about her and Nia Bayou. And though she was questioning it, Avatar Korra welcomed their company and was grateful for it.

Opal couldn't stop thinking about the two versions of the story of the Hundred Year War and their divergence, even as she and Asami were finally allowed a moment of respite and were given a chance to sightsee without worrying about creepy stalkers and being spied on. It was just a fascinating as it was strange. She didn't want to think it impossible. She had to keep an open mind. History, after all, was written by those who won the war and were shaped by them as well. Though why Lord Zuko would support rewriting history—if tolerating it—and not decry the practice, she didn't know.

"This isn't as fun as I remember our outings to be." Asami's words were like razors that sliced through the aspiring historian's thoughts. "Not that I expected anything fun to actually happen. But you are way too quiet, Opal. It makes me wonder if Korra is not the only one who isn't acting like her usual self."

Opal almost jumped in surprise. She laughed, embarrassed, and then shook her head as if it would physically dispel whatever thoughts plagued her at that moment. "Sorry, Asami. I didn't mean to zone out. I was just thinking about what Korra and Kai said about the Hundred Year War."

"You're still hung up on that?" Asami was surprised to hear it.

"Aren't you?" Opal threw the question right back at her.

"I am…curious," Asami admitted as she took note of the restaurants they passed by—believing Korra would enjoy tasting their delicacies—and then stopping and wondering why she was even doing that. "Just a little bit."

Opal gave a look of shock. "'Just a little bit'?" she repeated. "Asami, you do realize what this could mean, right? This is the Hundred Year War we are talking about; a focal point in the history of the free world. If something as important a branch in history as this has been told and recorded differently than how it truly transpired, then who is to say the rest of history hasn't received the same kind of treatment?"

Asami frowned, stopping just to take a good, long look at her friend. "So…you're doubting history now?"

"I'm just saying…" the youngest Bei Fong shrugged. "I mean, first it was just the Avatar, you know? That's kind of understandable, considering Nia Bayou did purposely hid her existence and just turned her into a legend and a fairytale. How much truth is there to what we know? That's something to think about, at least."

They continued walking then, but Opal's words did cause Asami to wonder. It also caused the Prodigy to ask, "If our history has been changed—as you are suspecting—and it isn't what it is, then the real question is: why has the truth of it been hidden?"

"You're right. And I want to find the truth." Opal declared, her eyes sparkling with a look of pure, unadulterated curiosity and passion, lighting—not just her face—but her entire demeanor as well. "I want to search for the real history of our world…no matter where it may lead me."

Her friend's conviction was awe-inspiring, almost like Korra's—though the Avatar was more bullheaded. But as intriguing and worthwhile as this newfound crusade of Opal's might be, Asami dreaded where it would take her friend and whose toes she would be stepping on.

"It will be dangerous, though."

"I know."

"More dangerous, perhaps, than this road we're already on."

"It probably will. But it not only be equally satisfying, but worth it as well." There was no dissuading Opal now that she had seen what her purpose in life could be. "First thing's first, though. I'll need to find out more about the history as our Avatar friend had been told, not to mention that there's still this girl we need to find."

"Well, that's a relief. I thought you were about to tell me you're going on your own, separate way now." Asami cringed as soon as she said it, and felt ashamed at how selfish she might have sounded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound—"

Opal cut whatever she was going to say off. "Oh, don't worry your pretty, little head about it, Asami." She looped her arm around the taller girl's, disregarding the look she was being given. "It was my fault for making it sound like I'm just about ready to run off. I can most definitely assure you I'm not going to leave just yet. Traveling with you and Korra is proving to be much more interesting and enjoyable than I thought it would be…regardless of the life-threatening situations we seem to find ourselves in."

Asami cocked her head to the side as she realized something. "Korra is like a magnet for that sort of thing, isn't she?"

Opal snorted. "I'd say you both are. After all, you were the one who brought her to our doorstep because you just had to stick your nose out."

Kai kept his eyes peeled, his ears to the ground. Even though the Makapu Village Sentry hadn't pursued them thus far, it would be quite irresponsible of him to let his guard down. He didn't want to put too much stock on the sentries having found some sort of gratitude to let them go so easily.

But Taku was much too peaceful, it was eerie. Even when there were people milling about, it seemed as though everyone was keen on making as little noise as possible. It was almost as if there was something reverent about them, if not something heavy and cautious.

The Steward shook his head. Whatever it was, they had nothing to do with it. They were there solely for the girl his Lady Avatar had obsessed about. They were not going to be roped into anything else.

He sighed, shoulders slumped. "Who am I kidding? With the luck we've been having, Lady Korra would end up stumbling in some sort of village crisis again."

He really hoped it would not be so. He wouldn't mind being wrong about how trouble seem to enjoy the Avatar's company.

It was only when the afternoon sun had begun to set did he hear the whispers of frightened villagers and found that whatever hopes he had of this being a simple stop-over had been thoroughly dashed.

Post Author's Note:

And there you guys have it, Chapter 28 is done!

What do you guys think? Love it? Hate it? Looking forward to the next one?

Well, the next chapter will be up on Tuesday next week again. So, until then, dream on; fly on!