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:

A bit of a delay in update (not as long as the hiatus I ended up taking a while back though, lol) considering my MSWord eff up. But, the important thing is that we have a new chapter up, yay! Anyways, I do hope you guys enjoy this one. It (as well as the next couple of chapters) is going to be a doozy! :)

The Legend of Korra:

The Schism

Chapter 48: The Avatar's Purpose, Part One

Luck.

It seemed, no matter how hard they tried, the concept of luck eluded them. Badly. It was as though the Four Great Spirits had cursed her when they were forcefully taken from her. Certainly, no other explanation could possibly be given nor taken from what had been happening to her and those that were with her. If Avatar Korra were to be honest, she could count on one hand the number of times when favor smiled upon them…

She really couldn't fathom how it had happened. There was no way they could have been found－and cornered－in the midst of the chaos around them. But that was exactly what had happened.

But being cornered really wasn't anything new. She could have grumbled all she wanted, but that occurrence was not a rare one in their journey thus far. It was the other things－other variables (as Asami would later tell her)—that made the moment that much more frustrating.

They had been running, ducking and weaving through alleyways that were littered with forgotten crates and barrels as well as the occasional chunks of debris from the explosion on the hangar. The few people that they passed by paid them no mind. Too busy were they of escaping the chaos themselves to notice the pair. Neither Korra nor Asami knew where they were going, however. All they cared about at that point was to get as far away from where they had fell as possible. At times, Korra led, other times, it was Asami. How they didn't get turned around was a mystery, though that did not mean they never found themselves facing a dead end.

It was in one of those dead ends that trouble found them.

At first, they didn't notice those that had followed them. They didn't even realize they were followed. It was only when someone fired a gun as they were talking about where to go from there—the bullet drilling on the wall behind them—did both Korra and Asami turned around and saw a group of well-armed men and women.

How they did not notice when they had taken point was another mystery they found themselves speculating.

They did not look like the other humans the pair had passed in the city as they ran. They didn't looked panicked. If anything else, their eyes bore in them a conviction the Avatar rarely saw.

Their clothing suggested they were not thugs who had taken advantage of the chaos either. No thug—none that Korra knew of, anyway—could possibly be dressed in an all-fitting golden armor, gleaming with care, from head to toe. Their clothes of crimson, black, and gold underneath showed no sign of wear or tear, or even a hint that they made use of their time on the road looking for a mark. And no matter how organized thugs could be, there was no way thugs could position themselves as strategically as these people had. One look and Korra knew an ordinary person had no hope of escaping their barricade.

Of course, the Avatar thought smugly to herself as she prepared herself. I am no ordinary human. Glancing at the porcelain-skinned girl beside her, Korra added, And neither is Asami.

It was armed with that confidence that Korra did not think twice about facing them. The same could not be said of Asami, however, as she looked at those that surrounded them, something in the back of her mind telling her to be extremely careful and wary of them.

She whispered the same words to Korra, who looked baffled by the warning but nodded nonetheless.

As they both readied themselves to fight, one of their pursuers stepped forward and spoke.

"You are surrounded," he stated what Korra thought was rather obvious. "Do not think that you can do to us what you did to our peers."

The words confused the Avatar and the Prodigy. Both wondered what they meant. Certainly, they would have known if they ran across and fought with members of this armored group of people. They stood out as much as the Avatar's group did, after all.

"Now," the man went on. He spoke as if reciting a practiced line. "Surrender and hand over Asami Sato, and we may give you a lighter sentence."

Korra scoffed upon hearing those words. She turned slightly towards Asami, angling her body in a way that allowed her to look at the taller girl while keeping those that wanted to take her away in her periphery.

"I really do not understand," Korra muttered under her breath, loud enough for Asami to hear. "Why do they keep saying that? Was it not clear enough that I didn't force you to accompany me?"

"That could be up for debate, you know." Korra frowned at the reply, but Asami only gave her a playful smirk that made the young inventor's eyes sparkle. How she could tease Korra at a time like this, Asami attributed to being distracted at the moment. She was still trying to coax the memory of why she felt the need to warn Korra about these people. "But, I suppose, unless we clear the mess up and explain ourselves properly, their assumptions will remain as they are."

Avatar Korra grumbled. Her full attention fell back to the barricade of people with riffles trained at them. Her brow creased further at the sight of their weapons. Not only did they have guns, they had spears strapped to a holster on their back as well as swords sheathed on their side as well.

She wondered how brave these humans really were though, and she thought of testing their courage for herself. She took on an earth-bending stance, her movement deliberate. After all, she had so far seen the look of confusion passing across people's faces and the uncertainty the movement had caused others in her previous skirmishes. Loathe as she was to admit, however, the ones she faced now did not even bat an eyelash.

"Korra…" Asami's tone held a warning. The Prodigy knew what the chocolate-skinned girl was planning to do next, and though she now know Korra would not do anything that would kill them, it didn't sit well with her that the Avatar would show off her powers to these people.

Korra, however, grinned. She straightened up, pulled one leg up, and a second later, slammed the heels of her foot down on the ground.

The impact of it shook the ground, the tremors emanating from the sole of her feet and vibrating towards those who dared to aim a gun at her and Asami.

They might have thought it a coincidence, but whatever it was that passed through their minds, the armored legion's eyes widened in surprise. Yet, even when the ground attempted to get them off their feet and unbalance them, they still did their best to maintain formation.

It was impressive.

But it was not enough to keep Korra from doing what she did next…or try to do, at least.

For as Korra moved her arms, ready to punch her first to the ground and summon a wall to separate them from their enemies, the mark on her ankle burned.

And though her fist did hit the ground and a wall did shot up between them, it was not high enough to keep them safe for long. It only got twice as high as a full grown person before the pain broke whatever concentration Korra had left and she tumbled to the ground, a hand immediately gripping the offending appendage.

"Korra!" Asami was quickly by her side, a hand on the Avatar's back.

Korra gritted her teeth. Beads of sweat formed on her skin as the burning pain intensified. She closed her eyes, willing the pain to go away. But it didn't. Still, she would not cry out. She would not show any sign of weakness any more than she was showing at that moment.

Asami didn't know what to do, however, even when she realized what was causing Korra so much pain. Pushing the deity-turned-human's hand away from the ankle it was gripping, Asami's breath hitched by what she saw.

The burnt mark on Korra's ankle was glowing. It pulsed in a strange and eerie otherworldly color, like a heartbeat.

It frightened Asami. It made her want to get as far away from Korra as she could. But the Prodigy forced the flight response away, biting the insides of her cheeks to make her focus on anywhere except that feeling.

Korra needs me. She steeled herself. I am not going anywhere.

"Go," it took all of Korra's willpower to get the words out of her mouth, and even then, it barely came out.

"What?" Asami didn't understand what Korra had said that she had to bend so that her face was close to the Avatar.

"Go," Korra repeated. The word was strained when spoken. "Find…Find Opal and Kai."

"What are you saying, Korra?" Much as she was worried about the other girl, Asami couldn't help the annoyance that seeped in her voice. "You want me to leave you here?"

"Yes," the reply came out as a hiss.

Not far from where they were, the armored group that had surrounded them had gotten over their initial surprise and was trying to destroy the earthen wall.

"You're incogitant!" Asami wanted to strangle her. She truly did. If Korra wasn't in so much pain already, she probably would have.

"W-What?" Korra had one eye open, her vision swimming and blury, as she looked at Asami through it.

"Why would you ask me to do that? I'm the one they want. You're the one who should flee in this scenario."

The noise was getting louder. Bits and pieces of rock and soil falling from the wall as though something was being rammed at it. Whatever it was, it seemed effective.

"Because," came Korra's reply as she tried to push herself through the pain, standing wobblingly up with Asami to support her. "You…do not wish to return to your father yet, correct? If they take you…you won't be given that choice. I, on the other hand…they would still need to interrogate me. I know…I can count on you and the others to free me, should the need arise…when I can't free myself."

The explanation that was given was long, and Korra had to pause several times to get it across. But it was clear. And it was sound. It flattered Asami and caught her unawares.

As good an explanation as it was, the young heiress was even more stubborn. The words only serving to fuel her desire to stay.

Besides, she had an argument of her own.

"As much as I appreciate the offer, Avatar Korra," Asami's voice was business-like, and the use of her title along with her name made Korra wince. "You seem to forget one, crucial thing. We're boxed in. There's nowhere to go."

The way Korra looked at her made her feel like she was missing something important. Asami figured it was the same kind of look she had given the Avatar a few seconds ago.

The pair braced themselves as a hole slowly appeared in the middle of Korra's earth-bended wall. Both watched in a mixture of fascination and alarm that something could break through one of the Avatar's created defenses.

"Will you…really not run away from here?" Korra asked. The pain hasn't passed but she forced herself to bear it.

"Again, we're trapped. There really is no place to run away to." The words were accompanied by an eyeroll.

"And if I make a way for you?"

"Even then, I won't save myself and leave you behind. What kind of friend would I be if I did that?"

The Avatar growled, like what she had just said was the most exasperating thing she could have possibly said at that moment. And maybe, to Korra, it was. It still didn't change the fact that Asami was not the kind of person who would abandon a friend in order to achieve some selfish desire of freedom. She just wasn't that kind of person.

"You are incorrigible." The Avatar said as she once again took an earth-bending stance, but instead of facing the direction of their pursuers, she faced the wall behind them.

"That should be my line!" Asami crossed her arms over her chest. Raising an elegant eyebrow, she added, pointing at the still-crumbling wall, "The people trying to get to us are over there, Korra."

"Do you want them to fight me or not?" In a much softer tone, she added, "Make up your mind, woman."

Before Asami could answer, Korra thrusted her arm forward—towards the wall. It was like watching the wall turn into liquid—though it didn't necessarily did so—as it rippled right where Korra's fist touched it. A small hole then began to appear right in the middle of the rippling wall, growing larger and larger, deeper and deeper, with each passing second until it was big enough for them to enter. What once was a sturdy and impenetrable wall now had a human-sized tunnel drilled through it when the rippling stopped.

No matter how many times Avatar Korra displayed her powers, Asami Sato believed she would never get used to it…or stop being amazed by it.

Of course, whatever feelings might have blossomed at the sight, it was soon overshadowed by another entirely when the shorter girl completely toppled forward once more.

Again the Prodigy couldn't help exclaiming, "Korra!"

The Avatar pushed herself to sit, shaking her head with a groan.

"I'm alright," she insisted, giving a small smile to placate her companion. From Asami's point of view, it was more like a grimace. "I'm fine. I just overcompensated on my step."

Asami didn't believe her, but now was not the time to argue. A path had been made for their escape and she knew that every moment counted. They needed to get away now.

Extending a hand to the Avatar—which Korra took—the two ducked inside the newly-created tunnel that led them inside a warehouse the wall apparently belonged to. It wasn't much of an escape, but it did allow them to leave those trying to pursue them…even for a little while.

Of course, leaving the tunnel open would be unwise, and so Korra—despite Asami's protestations—returned the wall back to how it was, leaving no sign that a passage had been made from it.

The warehouse was quiet as they took stock of their surroundings. It was an industrial one, filled with metallic beams, hollow blocks, planks of wood, sacks of cement as well as other building materials stacked one against the other. On the other side of the warehouse, far from where they had emerged, Asami could see machines meant to churn cement as well as a buckhoe, a small crane, and a medium-sized bulldozer. They all had the same crest as those she had noticed on the shoulders of the men and women they had just encountered.

It was then that it hit her and she remembered where the warning she had given Korra had come from.

"The Imperial Guards." Asami whispered, a shudder running through her. Fear and reverence was the tone she used it and it was enough to pique the Avatar's curiosity even more.

"What?" Korra asked, glancing at Asami. "What are you gasping about?"

"Those people…they're part of the Imperial Guard Regiment. My mother used to tell me stories about them, back when we used to live here. They're the strongest line of defense the Fire Nation has, and they don't normally show themselves in public unless the Fire Lord is with them."

"The Fire Lord? You mean Zuko?" There was a look of excitement in Korra's eyes, which Asami thought was unexpected.

"No," she replied, wondering why there was a need to explain it again. Or point it out. "Fire Lord Zuko is dead, Korra. At least, the Zuko I have a feeling you want to meet. And no, it's not him. He's no longer the ruler of the Fire Nation. It's Fire Lord Izumi now."

Korra didn't know who that was, but it was apparent she wasn't interested in this new Fire Lord.

"I don't see why you seem to be panicking about this, though." Korra admitted. "I'm sure I can deal with them once the pain is gone. Have a little faith in me, will you?"

It wasn't faith on the Avatar she was lacking. She was more worried about the Avatar not being able to use her powers again and how long it would take for the pain she was feeling to disappear. She wanted to ask Korra about that, but thought better of it. She didn't think her friend would appreciate that line of questioning.

They could hear muffled shouting from beyond the wall they had emerged from and took it as a sign that they should keep moving.

As they were about to leave the warehouse through the front door, a voice spoke so suddenly both whipped around quickly.

"I suggest you do not take that way out," the one who spoke wore a hood that hid his face, though did nothing for the long, white beard that reached past his waist.

Something about the man tickled the Avatar's memory.

I feel like I know this man, she thought to herself, but the painful throbbing of her ankle kept her from focusing on why that was.

Her inability to speak with her mind wandering gave Asami the opportunity to be the one who asked, "Who are you?" in a way that demanded an answer. It was enough to snap Korra from her thoughts.

"A friend. Here to help." The hooded man replied. He nodded towards Korra who had leaned half of her weight on Asami, eyes closed once again in concentration. "You need it."

When Korra opened her eyes, she noticed Asami had already donned her Shock Glove. She wondered if it would still work after the unexpected swim they had taken, but if that bothered Asami, she did not show it.

"I find that hard to believe at the moment," Asami admitted. "You could just be saying that to put our guard down."

Suddenly, Korra gasped. The pain in her ankle flaring even more so than it had done before. So much so that the gasp turned into a cry of pain. What's more, the pulsing light grew brighter that it became impossible to hide.

It was all so frustrating.

The hooded man stiffened. Asami wondered what might be going through the stranger's mind. Would his offer still stand now that he had witnessed something that was obviously unnatural? Or would he run and tell the Imperial Guards nearby of what he had seen?

"We do not have the luxury of dawdling here. The Fire Lord's Imperial Guards aren't the only things you should be worried about." The man spoke. "A danger much greater than they are coming unless we act fast."

There was something with the way the stranger talked that made the decision for Asami to trust him for the moment. It wasn't just because he sounded like he knew more than they did. It was something more.

Still, it didn't stop the threat that spilt from Asami's mouth, "I don't care if you're an old man, if this is some kind of ruse, I will make sure you pay for it."

Had Korra not been in so much pain, she would have laughed. What happened to the girl who didn't want me harming other humans? It was amusing.

Even the old man seemed to think so as he chuckled. "I would not dream of harming either of you. Now, come, before—"

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by a loud screeching sound. It was so loud that Asami had to press her Shock Gloved hand over an ear and Korra to do the same with both her hands on her own ears. It was so loud that it felt as though the sound itself could split their heads open.

"—It's too late," the old man sounded tired all of a sudden.

"What's going on?" Asami had to shout to be heard.

Looking down at Korra, she saw the light on the other girl's ankle growing stronger, becoming more a steady hum than a throbbing. It was troubling, and she wasn't the only one who thought so as the Avatar, still with her eyes firmly closed, seemed to struggle with something.

It was seeing that struggle that the stranger seemed to have come to another decision.

He walked purposefully towards them, and once he stood in front of the pair, he bent close to Korra so that he could whisper, "Hold it in. Don't let it out. Keep them at bay."

It was a curious thing to say, but Korra understood—for whatever reason—the words shared to her. What the old man had asked of her was difficult, however, if the way her face scrunched up even more, and with the way she gritted her teeth.

As the hooded stranger straightened up, the whole of the warehouse seemed to visibly shake. It was as if there was a powerful vibration in the air—so powerful it was visible enough.

And then, it happened.

Shadows coalesced in the middle of the warehouse, creating a hole from out of nothing and out of nowhere. The sight frightened Asami, so much so that she clung to Korra tightly.

Then, from that otherworldly hole, a handful of slithering figures made of various sizes and shapes of shadows emerged. The sight made Asami whimper, which in turn made Korra growl in frustration amidst the agony. Their hooded companion, on the other hand, merely sighed as though this was a nuisance, an irritation.

He then confidently strode to stand between the shadowy beings, unsurprised and unafraid of their presence. Where Korra had did her best to keep them safe by running away from those things when they had rampaged through Shu Jing, the old man stood his ground, confident.

Asami waited, curious to see what he would do. How would he intend to stand up against these things when the Avatar, herself, was at a lost on what to do?

She didn't have to wait long, however. For no sooner had that question floated in her mind, did the hooded man make his unexpected move. It was unexpected, because Asami never thought she would see anyone take up a bending stance. Bending, after all, was something only Avatar Korra could do…at least, that was Asami's assumption and Korra had never said anything about anyone else being able to do what she could.

So, when the old man took a stance that was decidedly one of the Fire Bending ones, it stunned the aspiring, young inventor. She expected flame to bloom, for fire to erupt and consume the strange creatures that had taken interest in them. When nothing of the sort happened—not even a spark—she became confused.

But then, something completely different happened—something she had never seen before—as the creatures from who-knows-where began to shimmer, giving off sparkling, multi-colored light. And then, as quickly as it had happened—how quickly they had appeared—did they vanish, along with the gateway that had brought them to the mortal realm.

Asami expelled the breath she didn't know she was holding. There was silence then. Even the surreal light coming from Korra's ankles had disappeared. Time, for the moment, seemed to have stopped.

And then the old man sighed, turned around to face the two young women. His mouth opened, ready to say something—perhaps to explain himself.

And then Korra's consciousness left her. Asami struggled to keep herself from falling to the ground with the Avatar. Small as she might be, Korra was definitely heavier than she looked.

Without goading, the old man walked towards them once more, then took one of Korra's arms and placed it around his neck. With a grunt, he helped support the shorter girl's weight, allowing Asami to regain her bearings.

"Let us go," the old man said. Then, glancing at Asami and seeing the expression on her face, he added, "I will explain everything later. For now, we must go. The Imperial Guards will be here any second."

All Asami Sato could do at that point was nod.

They needed answers as much as they needed help, and this old man was willing to provide them with it.

She was fuming, though if one were to look at her now, it would be very difficult to tell that she was. She was certain she had them; certain that her people cut off all of their escape and had ensured the only thing they could do was surrender.

She was, obviously, mistaken. Similarly to how she had thought her son must have been when he recounted what had happened to him. She had thought his story was something the young man had made up—something wrought by the knowledge he had faced a stinging defeat.

Iroh never liked failure. It was something she had in common with her son. It was easy to see him come up with something utterly ridiculous and bizarre—even something unbelievable.

She was wrong in that assumption. What he had shared with her and his grandfather was not a lie. She had seen it, after all.

That girl wasn't human. She was certain of it. But then she stumbled into another question in her mind. What is she?

That question became bigger and bigger. It became the center of her thought when they had finally broken through the wall that suddenly shot up from the ground. It became a nagging question in her mind when she and her Imperial Guards searched the surrounding area and found the girl and Asami Sato gone. Vanished.

It baffled her as much as it frightened her. It also had her asking so many other questions—questions she knew not how to answer, or how to make sense of.

Fire Lord Izumi, however, knew someone who might.

And it was him whom she immediately sought out upon returning to the Royal Palace.

Post Author's Notes:

I know, it could have been longer. But I needed to cut it short here for pacing's sake. So sorry about that.

I do hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thoughts? I would like to hear what you guys have to say. It always makes me happy to hear from you guys! :)