A Legend of Korra Fanfic
by Sakura Martinez (SMTsukishiro)
Author's Note:
Hey, guuuuys~ What's up?
Really, it's been a while, hasn't it?
Anyways, I won't prolong the wait. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. :)
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 31. Flight
"You know I can walk by myself," Asami had to stifle a yawn—not for the first time—in order to get her point across as Korra all but carried the girl back to the inn and the room they had rented.
"I do not wish to take any chances," Korra replied. "I know you are a capable woman, Asami. But in the state you are in, I fear that you may end up toppling down this staircase."
Asami rolled her eyes but said nothing as she watched Korra's face contort in effort, a little bit of her tongue sticking out to the side as she took one careful step after another, gauging each movement and ensuring that her footing was sure and balanced before taking each step. It was kind of funny, and definitely un-Avatar-like (though equally endearing in a way—but Asami was never going to tell Korra or Opal that). It was also, Asami thought, just as risky as being allowed to walk on her own.
They walked—well, Korra walked while she half-carried Asami—down the metal staircase that led back to Taku in relative silence. It wasn't until they had landed at the final step of the staircase did they notice that the silence was as complete as they come. There was not a sound to be heard, not even the rustling of the leaves nor the sound of dogs barking, crickets chirping, or any other sound of nocturnal animals that should have provided an ambiance to the town.
The unnatural silence drove Asami's sleepiness away and she pushed off of Korra to stand on her own two feet, her hand immediately digging inside her pouch for the Shock Glove. Korra, likewise, readied herself for battle, the markings on her arms and forearms—hidden by the clothes she was wearing—lighting up.
What happened next was something Asami could not explain, other than to say that it was in the realm of the paranormal, for a giant wave—dark and foreboding—suddenly came barreling towards them. Everything it touched lost color and ended up as something akin to a photograph's negatives.
Completely in the dark as to what was going on, Korra chose caution and quickly wrapped an arm around Asami's waist before using her other hand to summon a powerful blast of wind that jettisoned them upwards. As soon as she did, Korra felt pain shot through her limbs and Asami saw blood blossom from several cuts on the Avatar's skin.
"Korra!" Asami had to shout to be heard amidst the roar of the wind. "You're bleeding!"
"I know," Korra answered back in the same manner. "Do not worry, though. This was bound to happen."
"What are you talking about?" the Prodigy felt her ears pop from the altitude and she tried very hard not to notice how high up they were. "Is this because of…whatever that dark wave was?"
The Avatar shook her head. "Have I not told you before? Vayu's powers—taking flight like this—it's something is only granted to those who have made a pact with him. As I am the only one who had done so, I am free to use it as I see fit without any repercussions. But, since you are with me…" Korra shook her head, which only served to cause the cut on her forehead that appeared out of nowhere to start spewing blood—which, of course, got Asami even more worried. "Let's just say I made a trade."
Asami had a feeling she already knew the answer even before she asked, "What kind of trade?"
Instead of giving an outright answer, however, Korra grinned and said, "I couldn't let you get hurt. This is a small price to pay for that."
That grin, however, vanished as Korra looked down at the town. Asami—though she really would rather not—took a glance as well, but not before making sure she was holding on to Korra as tightly as she could without hurting the Avatar. They were already as high up as the airship docks and they both could see Taku, down below, completely covered in that unnatural darkness that pulsated every so often.
"What is that?" Asami asked, voice shaking (and Korra had to wonder if it was because of the altitude they were in or because of that darkness, though she didn't voice that question out as to not embarrass Asami should the reason be because she was afraid of heights).
The Avatar was just about to open her mouth to say that she didn't know when she heard Jinora calling to her. Quickly, Korra whipped around—which only served to give her another cut, this time on her arm—and saw Jinora standing on one of the platforms of the dock. Without any delay or hesitation, Korra maneuvered both herself and Asami using Vayu's power to where Jinora was, landing roughly beside her.
"Avatar Korra, are you alright?" Jinora felt it worth asking, even though it was already apparent that the Avatar wasn't.
"Well," Avatar Korra laughed humorlessly as she stumbled, taking care not to give Asami any bruises and taking the full brunt of their ungraceful landing, "that could use some work. I suppose I need to practice this kind of landing for next time."
"I don't think I would want a next time, if you end up being hurt like this." Asami said as she helped Korra up.
Korra had to pause, whatever she had been ready to say forgotten, when she heard Jinora instruct Asami to use the Spirit Water that was in her pouch to mend the cuts and bruises Korra had. Asami, of course, immediately did so.
While Asami was gently applying the Spirit Water, she asked the question that was plaguing the Avatar's mind as well hoping Jinora would know the answer to it. "What is going on in Taku? What was that?"
"It's the Spirit World—a part of its distorted nature—seeping into our world." The young Air Nomad explained, eyes scanning the town below. "It happens every night, like clockwork. That wave of darkness sweeps through the town, covering it in that film and spirits a random person away."
"Spirit them away? Why?" Asami had to stop her ministrations.
"I'm afraid I don't have any answers to that," came JInora's reply. "And I do not have any solutions to this problem as well. For now, we should leave this phenomena alone."
"But, wait, what about Kai and Opal? They had gone back to the inn already, had they not?" Korra remembered, doubting her two companions would have stayed behind after such a long time. Plus, she didn't see either of them while she and Asami were making their way back to the town.
"Avatar Korra! Asami!" As if on cue, Kai and Opal came bounding atop Naga, all of their belongings already slung on the Polar Bear Dog's back. Naga skidded to a halt right next to Korra and then proceeded to lick her mistress' face as the passengers on her back disembarked. Asami couldn't say that she appreciated what Naga was doing, however, as she had yet to clean the cuts on Korra's face with the Spirit Water and the Polar Bear Dog might infect the said wounds.
"Well, that was close," Opal laughed. Asami could tell it was just to cover up how nervous her friend was. "That was like running against a tsunami wave. I thought we wouldn't make it."
"It's not over yet, though." Kai informed them, which came as a surprise for everybody. They didn't think the young man would know anything about what was going on. "It's only a matter of time before that darkness reaches up here."
"How do you know that, Kai?" Korra asked, wincing a little as Asami accidentally touched—a little bit harder than she intended—one of the cuts on the Avatar's cheek. The Prodigy quickly apologized for it, of course.
"I heard about it—well, it was more like I investigated about it—while I was going around town earlier in the day." Kai replied, brows furrowed as he watched Asami taking care of Korra. "What happened to you, Avatar Korra? Please tell me you didn't try fighting against that…whatever that is."
Korra laughed, as though the thought was funny (which, for the record, Asami did not think was funny at all). "No. Of course not. I had to fly Asami and I up here to escape."
"Ah," Kai was quick to comprehend then the cause of those injuries. Even Opal understood what had happened, remembering what Korra had said before about having anyone tag along when she was using the Elemental Spirits' powers.
"So, what are we supposed to do?" Opal asked when given the chance. "We can't just stay here, and we don't have any way out of here short of jumping off the platforms and having Korra use Vayu's power to carry all of us along." When Asami shot her a somewhat-venomous glare for her suggestion, Opal smirked and added, "Not that we would want you to, Korra. No one wants you to get hurt and injured after all."
"This is nothing," said the Avatar, trying to sound tough and waving off her injuries. "All I need to do is fly all of us to out of the town's border, right? It is not that difficult. It's not even that far."
Asami and Kai were both ready to protest. Distance aside, they both know Korra shouldn't push herself. But they were saved from arguing with the stubborn Avatar when Jinora gave them a way out. The suggestion was welcomed. Until Jinora further expounded on what she had in mind.
"You don't need to risk it, Avatar Korra. Did you forget, you are at an airship dock." Jinora flourished her hand, gesturing to the dozens of small airships moored around them. Asami's gut clenched. She had a bad feeling about what the Air Nomad was about to say. And the reason behind such feeling made itself known when Jinora added, "And one of you already knows how to handle an airship. Don't you, Asami?"
All eyes turned to the raven-haired prodigy. Everyone, except Opal, did not know that little tidbit about Asami.
"Y-You…You know how to steer an airship?" Kai all but shouted, eyes wide with awe that Asami had never seen directed at her.
"Y-Yes, but…" Asami turned to Jinora. She didn't bother to wonder how the young girl knew about that. "You're not suggesting we go steal one of these airships, are you? Because we're already in trouble with the law—what with everyone believing us to be some kind of terrorist group. Stealing would do nothing to change the people's view about us."
"You don't need to worry about that," Jinora said, as she pointed to one particular airship—smaller than the others, but which looked more maintained and well-taken care of than the rest—with a familiar half-gear emblem emblazoned on the side. "I doubt anyone who brought that airship would be against Asami Sato making use of it…especially given the situation at hand."
For a moment, Asami didn't know what to say. She was worried that Kai would figure out who she was and tell Korra about her relation with Future Industries. But the moment passed and Kai didn't say anything—nor did he do anything apart from gawking from her to the small airship.
"I don't get it," said Korra, scratching her head. "Why would they think any differently if we were to commandeer that particular airship?"
Jinora and Opal both looked at Asami for an explanation. Instead of providing an immediate answer to the understandably-confused Korra, the Prodigy merely helped the Avatar up and said, "I'll tell you later." To Opal and the rest, she added, "Let's hurry and get to that airship."
"Are you sure, Asami?" Opal had to ask. She could imagine how big a trouble stealing one of Future Industries' airships would be for her friend.
"I would rather not, but given we really do not have any other option I am going to have to." Asami nodded. She then looked at Jinora and whispered enough for the young girl to hear, "I hope you realize the weight of what you are asking me to do, Jinora."
And with that she, along with Korra, Opal, Kai, Naga, and Jinora made their way to the docked Future Industries airship. Each step felt heavy for Asami who still had no answers with regards to her father's involvement with the masked assailants they had faced thus far and the Shock Glove she, herself, had been using. She didn't even knew why there was a Future Industries airship in Pohuai's docks. As far as she knew, this was not part of the usual route taken by her father's couriers.
When they got to the airship, Asami had Kai take care of Korra while she fiddled with the side locks that controlled the docking mechanism as well as the locks that controlled the side doors. It should not have been that difficult. After all, next to Sato Mobiles, Asami knew the Future Industries airships (well, the smallest models, at least) like the back of her hand. And yet, it took quite longer than usual for her to override the systems and disengage the locks. Her hands—try as she might to hide and stop it—were shaking. If anyone noticed, they did not say anything.
The Prodigy let out a sigh when the doors finally did open and then urged her companions to board. Opal was the first to enter the airship, guiding Naga inside. She was soon followed by Korra and Kai. Asami watched them, making sure they were all cozy inside before she turned her attention to Jinora who had not moved an inch.
"Jinora, come on, we have got to go." Asami said, taking a step to the side to allow passage.
Instead of hurrying off like one would expect given the situation, Jinora stood her ground and shook her head, clinging and leaning onto her strangely-shaped staff. "I'm not going with you, Asami. Not this time."
The raven-haired, young woman shook her head thinking she had mistakenly heard what the Oracle had said.
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked. "You can't be serious."
"I am." Jinora smiled, unperturbed by the danger that was closing in on them. "There is no need to worry, Asami. I have my own means to escape. And though our path may diverge today, we will see each other again."
"But—"
"Your first destination should be the Fire Nation." Jinora went on, cutting off whatever protests Asami had in mind. "As the Elemental Spirit Lords have told the Avatar, and as I have reminded her, you should all follow the cycle. Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Seek the Guardians of the Cores."
Jinora then turned around, sensing the impending arrival of the wave of darkness. Asami followed the young Air Nomad's gaze.
Without taking a look back, Jinora went on to say, "You are running out of time. Leave this place now. And, Asami, it would be best to come clean with Korra and your friends sooner rather than later."
And with that, Jinora pushed the older girl inside the airship and—surprising Asami—locked the doors from the outside. With no other choice, Asami hurriedly moved to the cockpit, ignoring the questions the others were asking, drowning their words by focusing on getting the airship up and running, and getting all of them to safety.
Jinora watched as the airship steadily rose up in the air. She watched calmly, smiling softly as the flying aircraft vanished behind the clouds. She did not worry about the dark wave that had swallowed Taku and would soon devour Pohuai—as it always did during that time of day. She was not in any sort of danger after all. What she said to Asami was no lie. She had her own means of escape.
The young Air Nomad twirled her staff, before hitting the end of it on the ground. The impact put to life the small mechanism in the otherwise common-looking item from whence three appendages erupted: two on its flat sides and another one by the butt-end of the staff. These appendages on the sides stretched forth into wings made of elastic leather, while the southernmost appendage turned into a tail similar to that of a swallow's.
Jinora took a quick glance at the staff that had now transformed itself into a glider, making sure that it was in order, before she ran forward towards the edge of the platform she was standing on and, with practiced ease, threw herself over.
With a quick twist of her wrist, she righted herself, and summoning a gust of wind, flew away from Pohuai and towards the direction of her family's camp.
Her work, for the time being, was done.
The next time we meet, she thought to herself as she flew on her glider. It will be when you come for the Air Elemental Core, Avatar Korra.
Post Author's Notes:
So there you have it: the 31st chapter.
What do you guys think? And yes, surprise! Jinora can fly~! :D
Anyways, there is an explanation for that (which I guess you all have an idea of already). Also, the next chapter will deviate a bit from Korra and her companions and would focus a bit on what's happening back in Nia Bayou. I will, hopefully, be able to post that chapter next week (provided my Beta Reader could finish soon).
So...yeah.
Comments? Suggestions? Thoughts? They're always welcomed!
Until the next update, dream on; fly on!