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:
So, this chapter was finished over a month ago. I had every intention of updating this story then, all I had to do was wait for my Beta to send the chapter back. The problem was, his Office license expired and it took him a while to get a replacement for it. Hence the delay.
To put it in perspective, the chapter following this has been written on the 30th of May. So, yeah, you can see how long it took my Beta to get back to me with the chapters.
Anyways, I hope you guys are enjoying the story thus far. And, once you get to the end of this chapter, I hope you'd all take time to settle something for me regarding the next update. But that can wait, first, enjoy this chapter! :)
The Legend of Korra:
The Schism
Chapter 51: On Shaky Ground
She had to get out.
She needed to leave.
She needed air.
It was the only things on Korra's mind as she pushed herself up, and without saying another word, marched out of the room. Asami's protests remained unheard as she did so. The Avatar knew it was dangerous, but she had to. She could not remain cooped up in that room with that frustrating old man any longer, lest she ended up doing something she might later regret (or maybe not, Korra wasn't entirely certain which she preferred).
When Asami rose to follow the Avatar—after much internal deliberations and a quick glance to Lord Zuko—she expected Korra to be nowhere in sight; to have runoff somewhere to cool off her head. It came a surprise to her then that the Nia Bayou native decided to simply leaning on the railings of the waist-high fence that surrounded the room.
The Prodigy could tell Korra knew she had come to join her, if only with the way she seemed to relax a little bit. As Asami stood beside Korra, mimicking her posture, the Avatar didn't look at her nor did she acknowledge the other girl's presence. Her eyes remained transfixed on a bush by the distance as if she could see something in it that nobody else could. Asami wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, however.
They stayed in relative silence for a while. For Korra, it wasn't the lack of words that kept her from speaking, but the fact that there was just so much going through her head. So many questions that needed answers—answers which tend to be given to her through riddles, and she was so sick of it. It wasn't just Zuko that had provided her with little to no answer, even the spirits and Jinora had done the same. It was as though there was a rule in the universe that prevented them from not speaking in a roundabout way.
Asami, on the other hand, let the silence envelope them while she patiently held off her questions. She didn't want to overwhelm Korra much more than she could imagine the Avatar already was feeling.
After a while, the human incarnation of Raava finally spoke slowly. "I cannot find sense in it all. I fear as though everything I had been taught and led to believe is keeping me from acknowledging the truth—if there is any—in that old man's words…"
Asami shrugged. "I have stopped making sense of everything that has been happening ever since I met you, Korra. I don't think ordinary logic works, especially when dealing with—" she looked and gestured at Korra, "—well, everything surrounding you."
Korra snorted at the insinuation. "The feeling is mutual, then. I find you rather puzzling as well. A huge conundrum I cannot wrap my head around."
The Prodigy raised an elegant eyebrow, though she didn't know if Korra could see her expression in her periphery. "Now you're just making that up. There's nothing mystifying about me. I'm about as normal as humans come. You on the other hand…" she let herself trail off.
Smooth skin creased as the Avatar frowned and slowly turned to her companion. She didn't speak at once, instead, she regarded Asami for a short while before saying in a soft voice, "You really don't see it, do you?"
It wasn't really a question. At least, the young heiress thought it was uttered more in the rhetoric. She was being honest, though. Asami couldn't fathom what it was that made Korra speak about her in such a way. She wanted to ask, but the shorter girl had moved on from whatever that was, turning sober and quiet all over again.
"Why is it so hard for you to accept, Korra?" the young heiress asked, truly curious. She could remember the other girl talking to her about Aang—remembered how Korra had spoken about him with such contempt that gave Asami the impression Korra saw the previous Avatar beneath even humans.
Korra growled her answer, hands balling into fists, "Because it's Aang."
It was said as though those words were enough. That it was a sufficient explanation. But Asami didn't think it was and she told her just as much.
Korra gave her companion a withering look. "How is it not much of an explanation? He is taboo."
"I know. You keep saying that." She rolled her eyes. "I also know that you don't really know why that is the case. And now…now Lord Zuko is giving you a fraction of the truth that was being kept hidden from you. I would have thought you'd be curious about it."
The Avatar turned away.
"Korra," she placed a hand on the darker-skinned girl's forearm, squeezing it. "Come on. You know you can speak to me, right? Let's get through whatever it is that's keeping you stubborn."
"I am not stubborn," Korra grumbled, to which Asami only gave a light chuckle as a reply. Of course, that only made Korra insist, "I really am not!"
Asami laughed and Korra found it infectious, even when she was the one being laughed at. It was…freeing, even when she had no idea why she was laughing.
I think I am losing my sanity. It was the only justification Korra could think of at the moment. And as dire as that might be, she also couldn't help but not mind it. At least, not in the moment.
When their laughter died down, Korra allowed a couple of heartbeats of silence to regain her breath before she found herself opening up to Asami. It started unexpectedly, as their conversations regarding such matters usually began.
"I am curious," she admitted, again eyes transfixed on anything other than Asami. "But I feel…frightened…even more."
"Frightened? What do you have to be afraid of?"
"The…implications of the old man's story." It took a lot from Korra just to be able to say that; to admit to something so…human. She glanced at Asami and saw the puzzled look on her face. It was what prompted her to expound. "Before, back when I was in Nia Bayou, I would often regale myself with daydreams." A soft smile escaped Korra's lips then as the memory of those times flooded her mind. "It would drive Alignak and the others to their wits end whenever I end up so distracted we would have to put a stop to my training."
"I don't think they particularly found it amusing, too. Especially when all I keep visualizing was of going on some grand adventure—one that would allow me to stand at par with Roku's and all the other Great Ones." She shrugged before a bitter laughter escaped her. "What has happened to me thus far was nothing like how I had thought my own journey was going to be."
"I still don't understand…" Asami shook her head. This wasn't the first time she had heard Korra speak of having her own tale told. It was no secret to her. But Korra had yet to get to the gist of what her whole spiel was about.
Another sigh before Korra turned to face her. "Suppose this Lord Zuko is speaking the truth? Supposed that whatever the Elders did, they did to keep silent what it was Avatar Aang had done? Supposed that they all did it to keep the next incarnation of Raava—me—safe? What would all of that mean for me? He hinted of some great danger…and much as I wanted an adventure worthy of being called the Avatar, thinking of what all that could mean terrifies me. I can't help but think that what had happened to Alignak and the others—and all my failures since then—had turned into some sort of antecedent that would unravel everything everyone before me had worked hard to achieve…Thinking of all that, I find it easier to just dismiss everything the old man had said."
The Prodigy mulled over a response in her head. She knew exactly what she needed to say to get Korra out of her stump. The question, then, wasn't what to say but whether it was the perfect time to do so.
In the end, Asami decided it was best to get Korra to face whatever 'truth' there was in Lord Zuko's words.
"I understand," Asami nodded. "It is easier to run away than to face that which frightens us the most. It's a logical choice…"
Korra frowned. It was an expression Asami knew the Avatar would wear.
But the Prodigy was not done yet. She added, thoughtfully, "Still, I didn't think there would be something that would let you choose the cowardly way out…"
Korra's eyes widened and still Asami pushed through. "And, again, that's fine. It's okay to feel frightened. It humanizes you."
The Avatar growled then, glaring at Asami whilst the young, aspiring inventor feigned ignorance.
"Did I say something wrong?" the young Sato asked.
The question frustrated Korra further. "That," she spat, "is a stupid question. You said a lot of things wrong!"
Asami tilted her head to the side, her pointer finger tapped on her chin in thought. "Really? I don't think I did. I am pretty sure I understood what's going on perfectly."
"I am no coward, Asami Sato," Korra wanted to shout those words but thought better of it. They were lucky the servants milling about were paying them little to no mind, causing a scene would definitely change that. Still, the Avatar wanted to drive her point across. Which was why the words came out venomously. "I am no ordinary human either. Never say such stupid things about me ever again if you value your life."
"Really? You're going to harm me for stating what is rather obvious? You are willing to do that to a friend?" A raised eyebrow punctuated the words uttered as a challenge. "Because you cannot fool anyone right now. Turning your eyes from the truth is an act of cowardice. And even if we aren't certain what Lord Zuko said is the truth, not giving him a chance to prove that his words are true just because it is easier? That's a coward's way."
They looked daggers at each other then, both out of stubbornness and pride—the Avatar having much more of both than the Prodigy.
Korra was the first to look away. She huffed in infuriation, sending tongues of flame from her mouth—a sure-sign that the level of aggravation she was feeling had reached new heights. Asami quickly looked around their surroundings, hoping no one had seen the strange (and, truthfully, terrifying display).
"I really hate you right now," Korra muttered, though—apart from the frown she was supporting—there was nothing to show that her words rung true.
"That's fine," Asami shrugged. "As long as you don't end up regretting that you didn't listen, with an open mind, to what Lord Zuko has to say and that you don't end up hating yourself later because of it."
Of all the things Asami had said to her since their meeting, that was what stunned Korra the most.
Zuko stared at the parchment he had asked one of his servants to bring to him. It was the letter sent by the United Republic asking for assistance in the rescue of two prominent members of its society who were kidnapped. They had made the culprit out to be someone heartless, dangerous, and fearsome—like a monster concocted to scare of children.
In a way, they were not wrong. The Avatar could be as frightening a foe as even the most fearsome of creatures in times past. But whomever had made the report to the authorities had made a grave mistake. Asami Sato was not kidnapped. There was no doubt about that now. She had accompanied the Avatar on her own, and he could only guess that there was no truth in the other young woman said to have been kidnapped as well.
As confounding as the situation was, the old man couldn't help chuckling at the thought of the trouble that had attached itself on young Korra. It didn't take much to see how out of her depth the Avatar was; how little she knew of the world around her.
What, in spirits' name, did you and your Elders end up teaching her, Sokka? He wanted to ask his friend that in person. He knew how Korra was raised. He knew of the solitude she had been placed in while under the care of the Elders and the Four Great Spirits. It shouldn't have surprised him as it did that her knowledge was lacking, but they all had made an agreement to raise Aang's successor in the best possible way, to prepare her for what was to come.
It was clear upon seeing Korra and learning of who she was that they had failed in that regard. There was much to teach her still.
But first, he looked at the parchment once more. There are things that need to be fixed. And quickly.
He was trying to come up with the perfect correspondence to tell President Raiko of Korra and how mistaken they were of the situation when one of his servants came into his room after a series of knocks.
"Lord Zuko," the servant bowed, the light from the chandelier catching the symbol of a small, white lotus, inconspicuously placed on the side of her headdress as it gave off a faint glint. "I came bearing urgent news."
The old man raised his eyes from the parchment that had preoccupied him to look at the servant woman. "Urgent news?"
"Yes," she nodded curtly. "Lord Iroh has returned…and he has brought with him prisoners. He said they were behind the explosions."
Both of Zuko's eyebrows—including the one that had been singed from his childhood—shot up. "Prisoners responsible for the explosions? That's—" He wanted to say 'impossible', but the presence of the Avatar was something he would like to keep silent about from the group the servant belonged to. Still, if his grandson had returned with such a claim—and had, undoubtedly, paraded those whom he had apprehended and had showed them to his mother—that, certainly, was something that piqued his interest.
"Do you know who they are?" Zuko asked.
Again she nodded with an affirmative. "One of our own, the Avatar's Steward, Master Kai…" there was a pause. "…and, this may come as a surprise, but the Avatar's Polar Bear Dog has been captured alongside him as well."
If Zuko's eyebrows could shoot up any higher, it would have. He knew Korra had others with her apart from Asami Sato and Opal Bei Fong, Korra had hinted as much when they had spoken back in Shu Jing, he didn't think the two others in her entourage were ones who would hinder the Avatar from moving about unnoticeably.
A young man under the employ of the White Lotus and her Polar Bear dog? The wizened old man rubbed the bridge of his nose as he shook his head in complete befuddlement. How can she expect not to be noticed with such a group as that?
Of course, Zuko knew he couldn't tell young Korra not to bring the others along. She had already developed a strong sense of protectiveness over the young heiress, it would be impossible the same could not be said of the others.
"Lord Iroh has also brought back Miss Opal Bei Fong and had locked her up in one of the guest rooms in the palace." There was a noticeable pause that made her superior look at her and what Zuko saw was uncertainty in the guard's eyes before she pushed on. "Lord Zuko, it is troubling to see Master Kai and the Avatar's Animal Guide being accused of a crime as heavy as this. If the Avatar gets dragged into this as well…"
She let the words hang between them. Both knew what the repercussions would be, but only one of them were already aware that the situation had turned dire indeed.
"Where are Izumi and Iroh now?"
"They are still at the audience chamber, along with Master Kai, the Polar Bear Dog, and the members of the platoon that had managed to apprehend them."
He nodded then and she knew her time was up. The servant bowed her head before leaving the room and in it Lord Zuko began to concoct a plan. A bold plan; one that would solve some of the Avatar's woes.
His predicament was dire, there was no question about that. Numerous as far as plans and ideas went, there was none in his mind that would do well under his particular situation. Despite how hopeless it was, however, Kai was grinning broadly thanks to his fellow captive, Naga.
The Polar Bear Dog had been acting strangely. That was the reason why they had been captured in the first place when she had viciously bucked and threw them off her back and right at the middle of a throng of Royal Guards.
The Avatar's Steward couldn't find it in his heart to blame the large, furry animal, though. Something had spooked Naga. He didn't know what it was, but he hoped it was not connected to his liege. He knew, however, that it was more probable that it was.
"Get that thing in its place!" The woman on the throne—the one they referred to as 'the Fire Lord'—spat. The calm and stoic expression she had worn prior had given way to irritation.
Naturally, hearing the Fire Lord refer to Naga as 'that thing' irked the young man very much and had him saying, "She is not a thing. She is the Avatar's Animal Guide and you will do well to show her respect!"
As soon as those words escaped him, pain flared in his calf as he was hit by the flat of Lord Iroh's sword, sending him to his knees.
"You should be the one showing our Fire Lord respect, you knave!" Iroh barked, furiously eyeing the young man with great contempt.
The prince, nonetheless, quickly backed off with a rather embarrassing yelp when Naga lounged at him, snarling and making it a point to show that she greatly disliked him as well, even when muzzled.
That gave Kai a good chuckle despite the pain he felt.
"Put that monstrosity in its place!" Iroh repeated his mother's earlier orders. It was really easier said than done and all his order was capable of doing was getting his men grunting with effort and agitating Naga even more.
And then it happened. One of the guards trying to reign the Polar Bear Dog lost his grip on one of the ropes that bound Naga. This gave the large creature the freedom—small as it was—to yank another of her bindings free.
It caused a domino effect after that. And in less than a minute, Naga had freed herself and, in a flash, ran to Kai's side. Her large frame encircled the young Steward, shielding him from those that would seek to harm him.
Naga growled. Her eyes—those orbs that showed kindness and understanding that should not have been possible for an ordinary animal—turned feral, warning anyone who would dare cross the line to harm her and the human she was protecting that she was not going to take it kindly.
As if to drive that point further across, the Avatar's beloved animal companion howled.
Korra's head jerked and, if it was possible (though Asami could have sworn that she saw it), her ears twitched. Her posture went rigid and the now ever-familiar frown returned to her face.
It didn't really need a genius (even if she was one) for Asami to know what had gotten the Avatar to act that way.
A howl, loud and piercing, cut through the otherwise peaceful night.
"Naga," Korra muttered before she turned her attention to the old man who had called them back into his room not too long ago. "You're people have her."
It wasn't a question, but Lord Zuko gave her an answer anyway.
"Yes," he replied. "Iroh apprehended your Animal Guide as well as your Steward. He also has Miss Bei Fong under custody and I am certain he intends to hand her over to her family as soon as he can."
The Avatar growled, crossed her arms, and looked away. Asami was glad Korra seemed to be keeping her promise when it came to dealing with the famed hero. Though she didn't know how long that would last, especially now that she has learned of Kai and the others' predicament.
"What do you intend to do?" Lord Zuko found his turn to ask. "Are you going to go and rescue them now?"
Korra didn't miss a heartbeat in giving her reply. "Yes, of course!"
"I see..." The old, scarred man clasped his hands together and used it to support his chin, his gaze never left Korra's as amber eyes probed sapphire ones. "And, I suppose, you are going to go down to the Audience Chamber guns a-blazing and challenge my daughter and my grandson in hopes of freeing your friends?"
The darker-skinned girl's frown turned to one of confusion as she, much to Asami and Zuko's amusement, corrected him. "I don't have those gun-things you humans enjoy using so much. They're so...obtuse."
"Korra, that wasn't the point," Asami's hand rested on the other girl's forearm. "That was just another form of expression—another idiom. Lord Zuko was inquiring if you would be barging in the Audience Chamber wielding all of your Avatar powers."
"Ah," Korra ducked her head, cheeks reddening in embarrassment. She really hated not having a firm grasp on the nuances of vernacularism. "I-I see..." she cleared her throat, shook her head, and met Zuko's eyes once more. "I will do everything I can to help my friends."
Really, how far had Korra come to be able to confidently and without a hint of uncertainty call them that? Asami felt such an affection for the young Avatar then.
"That is very noble of you," the aged Fire Lord nodded. "You and Aang certainly have that in common, I am glad. Had he not been that way, I could only imagine how much different things would have been for us all."
Asami squeezed Korra's forearm, noticing the twitch of irritation in the Avatar's eyes at the mention of Aang's name.
"Should we really be discussing this right now?" Asami asked. She has been confused why they were still talking about these things when the old man had just admitted to their friends being in trouble. She asked him that much.
"Because I still haven't determined if I will help you with this or not," Zuko shrugged nonchalantly.
"Why does it matter if you help or not? We can surely save them by ourselves if you decide not to, anyway." The Avatar's stubbornness and pride flared into life. "I am the Avatar, after all!"
That's to be expected, Asami thought. She really was surprised it took Korra this long to pull that sentence back out and wave it at someone.
Unfazed by what he had just heard, Lord Zuko raised an eyebrow. "You would willingly risk endangering the lives of a country's head of state—the Royal Family of the Fire Nation—to get to your friends?" The question was asked with so little emotion that the Prodigy was quick to note how much of a trick question it was.
"I bow to no one," was Korra's reply.
Zuko sighed. "I am uncertain whether I should commend you for your loyalty and care of your friends, be appalled by your lack of respect to an authoritative figure, or both."
"I feel the same way, Lord Zuko." Asami admitted. "You shouldn't be so candid about these sort of things. It will only bring us even more trouble."
"Would you rather I abandon Kai, Opal, and Naga?"
"Of course not!" The Prodigy scoffed with an eye roll. "I am just reminding you that not every problem can be solved with force. And this is the Fire Lord we're talking about, she would not be standing on her own. We could benefit more from Lord Zuko's aid than without it."
Korra stared at her. Asami couldn't read the emotion behind those blue orbs, but she held her look. Their locked gaze was only broken when Zuko cleared his throat.
"You should listen to Miss Sato's good counsel, Lady Korra." He said, his eyes held no judgment in them. It was like he had an understanding to how Korra's mind worked, and if Asami knew any better, she would believe that was the case. "But I now see how you intend to save Master Kai and Naga. Now, I am left pondering how you would deal with Miss Bei Fong's predicament."
The young inventor mirrored the furrow of the deity-turned-human's brow on her own.
"What do you mean by that, Lord Zuko?"
"What are you talking about, old man?"
Both young women asked in unison.
"As I have earlier stated, my grandson, Iroh, has your friend locked up in one of our palace's guest rooms. It is my understanding that he intends to hand her back to her family who believes—as your father does, Miss Sato—that she had been abducted." His words were now directed at both Korra and Asami. "I am, quite honestly, curious as to what you intend to do—both of you. Will you let Iroh take Miss Bei Fong back, or will you 'rescue' her from the Fire Nation Prince?"
The two shared a look once more, a silent conversation passing between them—at least, Asami hoped Korra understood what she was trying to convey as much as she hoped that she managed to translate what Korra was trying to say accurately.
She wanted to believe they had come to a point where they could understand each other perfectly.
Well, maybe not perfectly. Just 'well-enough' is fine. It would be akin to an affirmation of their bond.
It was the reason why she had nodded and let Korra speak on both of their behalf.
"I intend to get her out of whatever prison confines her by whatever means necessary," the Avatar's conviction showed in the way she spoke resolutely. "And then, I will let Opal decide."
Asami couldn't hide the smile on her face, not that she bothered to. She was glad Korra answered as thus.
But the Avatar wasn't done speaking just yet. Her eyes were downcast when she began again, her words painted with regret.
"I had made that mistake before, imposing my will on others without thought of consequence." Korra sighed, glancing at Asami before continuing on. "Had I made that mistake on another, I do not think I would have gotten this far." She smirked, "Granted, the majority of trouble I came across with was because of you and your...standards. But still, I had made a promise and the Avatar is only as good as the vow she keeps." She turned her attention back to Lord Zuko, "That is why I am going to break her out. To let her choose. Much like how I gave Asami that choice...belated as it was."
Korra punctuated her short speech with a rueful smile on her face. By the time she was finished talking, both of Asami and Lord Zuko were looking at her with renewed admiration (in Asami's case) and a smile of satisfaction (on Zuko's).
"Very well said, Lady Korra." Zuko commended. "I am glad the Elders of Nia Bayou and the Four managed to teach you anything other than making use of your powers and abilities."
The Avatar shook her head. "They didn't teach me that. Asami did."
At those words, the old man was taken aback. He looked at Asami in a way that made the young woman feel like she was truly being scrutinized. It was very much unlike how Lord Zuko had been looking at her—which was something close to fondness for reason she couldn't fathom—before. She didn't know the reason behind the sudden change, but it made her sweat under such examination; it made her look down at her hands that she had begun—without her knowing—wringing.
"You really are Yasuko's daughter," the old man said slowly. "To be able to teach someone as hard-headed as the Avatar? That really is quite something."
The Prodigy looked back at Zuko so fast she felt whiplash. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, her jaw hung in surprise. She couldn't believe what she had just heard; she couldn't believe someone like him would know her mother's name and would speak of her with such tender familiarity.
Surprised as she was, Asami still found her wits about her enough to ask, "Why do you know my mother's name?"
To which Lord Zuko gave an apologetic look as he stood, and Asami knew then she was not going to get her answers. Much like how he did with Korra, Lord Zuko was going to leave that discussion for another time.
True enough, Zuko did tell her those very same words, adding, "Izumi and Iroh will not hold this particular audience for long, especially under these circumstances. My daughter already knows both of you are here as well. She will try to take advantage of the situation in order to get the upper hand unless we make a move swiftly."
"We?" Korra asked. "So, you are going to help us?"
The old man nodded with a smile on his face. "Aang would not like it if I do not. Not after hearing your answers to my question."
Asami shook her head. She was going to follow Korra's example for now. It would be hypocritical of her otherwise.
"Then let us go now and show them that they have picked the wrong person to go against!" Korra stood up so quickly her knees almost hit the edge of the table.
"I said swiftly, not recklessly." Zuko tutted. "Besides which, haven't we just discussed the folly of using force?"
"Then what would you have us do, old man?" Again, Korra crossed her arms and tapped her foot in impatience.
"Something with much more...finesse." The wizened leader replied.
Those words had the effect the old ruler had intended on the darker-skinned girl. Her avidness to head out—and Asami guessed—and wreak havoc upon those who dared to lay a hand on her friends, was quickly replaced with curiosity.
With a raised eyebrow, it was Asami who managed to ask first, "What do you have in mind, Lord Zuko?"
He motioned for Korra to return to her seat, which she readily obliged to. When the Avatar had returned to her comfortable seat on the tatami mat, Zuko told them his plan.
"As you are here, Lady Avatar, I can confidently surmise the reason why: the Elemental Cores, am I correct?" They nodded in reply. He knew what they were going to ask him next, and so he raised a hand to stop them and to answer their unasked question. "I am one of the Four Elemental Core Guardians tasked to protect the Elemental Core of Fire. The only reason why the Avatar would leave the safety of the Hallowmount would be for the cores. And considering what had just happened earlier this evening with the Dark Spirits, and the strange aura I've been feeling, one can come to that realization quickly."
There was relief within Avatar Korra upon hearing that they had—albeit accidentally—found that which they were tasked by Jinora to find. Well, one of the Elemental Cores' Guardians, at least.
"What does Korra's mission have to do with what we are trying to accomplish now?" Asami was the one to ask the question yet again, proving just how inquisitive her mind was.
"The place where the Elemental Core of Fire is being kept is protected—very well so—by a seal only the Avatar together with the Avatar's Chosen can break. As it happens, the seal is on the Fire Lord's throne. Izumi might think the Legend of the Avatar is just that: a myth, but I know my daughter. I know, deep down, if she is given proof so irrevocable, she will come to believe. All you need to do then, Lady Korra, is break the seal and all of your troubles with my nation with cease." He said it as though it was the easiest thing in the world to do.
It was as though Zuko failed to see one important detail.
"Pardon me, Lord Zuko," Asami didn't want to burst the old hero's bubble and be ruder than she had been already, but she thought it best to let the old man know before he plans any further. "But you said the seal can only be broken by the Avatar and the Avatar's Chosen, together." She looked at said Avatar before pointing out, "I know Korra is the Avatar, but who is the Avatar's Chosen?"
Korra, sensing the question was directed at her, shrugged. "I know nothing of this 'Chosen' business. Spirits, I didn't even know about the Elemental Spirit Cores until Jinora told me about them."
It was—strangely—a relief for Asami to hear Korra ignorant of the Avatar's Chosen. She didn't know why, but the thought that someone could have such an honor bestowed upon them to be called that—to be chosen by Korra—made her feel a heavy sense of...something inside her. Something she didn't want to acknowledge, because once she did, Asami didn't know what will happen next. How that would turn out.
And she didn't want to sour what she had with Korra. A wound from the past was still just too fresh for that. It was laughable...but not in a funny way.
But instead of dissuading the plan the wizened royal had, the old man gave them a knowing smile.
"There is no need to worry about that," Zuko said. "I have a feeling all the pieces are already in place."
Post Author's Notes:
Okay, so here's the thing.
As I have mentioned in the beginning of this update, I have already written the next chapters since the 30th of May. The chapter following this one is a whopping 9,500+ worded one. It's long. Really long.
Now, I have an option with how I wrote the chapter. I can give you guys that long one as is, or I could separate it into two. Here is where I would like to get your input. Would you guys rather have that long chapter? It doesn't really change anything except for which cliffhanger you guys end up with. But I would really like to know.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And if you loved the Korrasami moments here, you are all definitely going to want to look forward to the next one. :)
Until then, dream on; fly on!