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:
To all those celebrating the holiday: Happy Thanksgiving!
To everyone else who aren't: Happy Friday and the start of the weekend!
Enjoy this brand new chapter. :D
The Legend of Korra:
The Schism
Chapter 58: The Flight of the Asabirakimaru
There was a certain kind of peace Asami never thought she would find in the Royal Capital. It wasn't really the peace brought about by finally being able to rest without worry of the next attack—whether by strangely-dressed men under the employ of a powerful politician, creatures that she didn't think existed but went far beyond what her nightmares may conjure, or a nation's protective body believing she needed saving. Of course, that didn't mean she could let her guard down. She knew how…volatile and moody her companions could be. Even Opal who was still keen on not letting bygones simply be bygones when it came to the Fire Nation Prince. She was certain, especially with the added variables that had suddenly been thrown into the mix, that something—or, more specifically, someone—was going to snap sooner or later.
Still, no matter how tumultuous things may seem, there was something about the capital—or maybe even her room, or the bed she had been given to rest—that gave her a sense of tranquility that enabled her to sleep despite it all. Whatever it was that allowed her such privilege, she was thankful for it. It helped keep her revitalized and energized for whatever lay ahead of her day…and the gods know, with the way she seemed to always be sucked into mishaps and misadventures with the motley group she was a part of, she—no, they—needed all the rest they could get.
The fact that, after the events of the previous night, the Prodigy had an inkling that they would be leaving the confines of the palace and would be continuing their globetrotting in search of the other Elemental Cores soon had Asami pushing for longer sleep. Though she had been used to (and had made a habit of) waking up as early as she could—especially soon after her adventure with the Avatar began—in order to do her morning rituals, the lull of sleep under whatever spell she was under whilst in that opulent room was just too hard to resist and break a hold of, so much so that she had been waking up late and not feeling the least bit regretful about it.
Always, however, she would be awoken by the gentle rays of the sun seeping into the slightly opened window of her room, the soft burbling of the pond with the activities of the numerous Koi inhabiting it, and the melodious morning songs of the Veery and the Wood Thrush perched on the branches of the Yellow Blossom trees in the Zen garden adjacent their rooms. And waking up in such a way, surrounded by such atmosphere, was another perk she didn't want to let go of just yet but knew she had to. It was so unlike the ambiance of Republic City and so much like that of the home she once knew as a child that a deeper, more sentimental feeling would often well up within her once sleep had been chased away.
The day after the High Elder of Nia Bayou had made himself known as another guest of the Royal Family, however, Asami was awoken not with the gentle caress of the morning sun and the sweet music of exotic birds, but by the sound of clanging and scraping metal; of grunts and shouts. Instead of the lazy movements and the 'five-more-minutes' of curling up cocooned by silken sheets, the young inventor bolted upright in a panic, her mind immediately connecting the sounds to that of clashing swords and battle.
Fear and worry gripped her and whatever remnants of sleep had remained flitted away like dust in the wind. Quickly, Asami threw the blanket off and ran out of her room, making sure to grab the Shock Glove she had buried underneath her pillows.
The lack of people in the hall with only the sound of swords clanging escalated her trepidation. With much haste she rounded the corners that led to the gardens, pushing forward the glass doors with her shoulders as she put the weaponized glove on.
The sudden and forceful action caused those in the lawn to stop what they were doing and turn their collective heads around to look at her.
"Asami, what's wrong?" Korra was quick to her side, asking her with a frown that overshadowed the confusion and surprised that marred her face.
Asami blinked at the sight before her, though. She turned from Korra, foregoing the notion of answering the Avatar's anxious query to focus at what she had rushed into.
Apart from Avatar Korra, Kai and the High Elder of Nia Bayou were also present. They were all—save for the deity-turned-human—covered in perspiration. In both of the men's hands were practice swords—dulled, flat-edged blades that looked worse for wear. Gone were the furs in both of their clothing, and instead of the long-sleeved, puffy shirts she had seen Kai and High Elder Sokka wearing, they now donned sleeveless ones that stuck to their toned chests with sweat.
"Is everything alright, Asami?" Kai repeated the question in the same worried manner as his charge, though the words escaped him in-between breaths. Whatever activity they were having, it was apparent they had been at it even before the Prodigy had been roused by the noises they were making.
"What's going on here?" Asami found her voice, and choose that moment to ask Korra that question instead of alleviating the other girl's worry by answering hers. "Are Kai and Elder Sokka…fighting?"
"Training. I found them doing so." Korra corrected her. To be fair, the young inventor guessed as much but in her state she couldn't shake the thought of being awakened by a fight breaking out. She crossed her arms and leaned on the trellis behind them, scoffing she said, "Apparently, Kai asked the High Elder to train him to use swords properly in battle."
"We need all the edge we can get!" Kai declared as he and the High Elder resumed their previous stance, holding the sword in a way that Asami had never seen before with their sword arm curved in a bow above their heads and their other arms stretched in-front of them, opened palms facing their opponent. Whether the young man realized the pun, or had intended to say it thusly, the Prodigy wasn't certain.
"And how is a single sword going to tip the scales of battle?" Korra challenged. "It may be able to defeat a couple of human soldiers and bandits, but I doubt it would be capable of standing up against deadlier foes. My bending is enough."
"And yet," High Elder Sokka retorted as he sidestepped around the flurry of stabbing motions Kai chose as his attack before tapping with quite a bit of force the young steward's sword wrist. "I cannot remember a time when you had managed to best me in combat, My Lady."
Korra's earlier lazy and annoyed countenance turned deadly. Her nostrils flared as her eyes glared daggers at the old man who seemed not at all perturbed that he might once again feel the Avatar's wrath.
Heat burst forth from Korra's skin like undulated waves, her emotion causing her to unknowingly bend the energy around her into fire—or something akin to it. Asami could feel Korra tense up, could see her jaw work as she gritted her teeth.
The Avatar was in the process of opening her mouth to say something scathing to the High Elder when Asami placed a hand on her arm and squeezed at it gently. Surprised by the gesture, Korra turned to look at the young heiress in confusion, the heat dissipating from the air around them as Asami gave her a reproving look.
With a huff the shorter girl looked away, though she did not drop the matter immediately—not until she had the last say.
"That is because you always cheat," she grumbled. Having Asami stop her added to her displeasure. Though she was, truthfully, relieved neither Kai nor Sokka witnessed how easily she caved to the look the other girl had given her.
Hearing those words piqued the Prodigy's curiosity. "Cheat?"
"The old man's ridiculous sword." Was Korra's reply, flourishing her hand over the said object which, at that moment, was left leaning on one of the bamboo benches encircling the make-shift training pit. She heaved a sigh and added, "It has been the bane of my existence ever since I can remember."
Asami examined the sword from afar. From her keen eyes—though she could not boast of being knowledgeable about swords and weapons in general—she could see nothing special about it. It simply looked like the average blade, though the pommel was intricately designed and made from iron. Had she not witnessed the swords capability to transcend the Avatar's attack, she would probably deign the weapon inconsequential.
Still, it was difficult to grasp that such a weapon exist in the world. The 'why' surrounding it far out-weighted the 'what' and the 'how'. Even Opal, whom Asami was able to exchange a few words with soon after the event, had never read of an item that could render the Avatar's power useless, dispelling it as though it was nothing but a nuisance.
She glanced at Korra, who had returned to watching the two men spar, a bored look on her face. It gave her pause, remembering how Korra had been the night before: how distant, angry, and (at times) dejected she was throughout the whole evening, culminating to a fight against an elder of her own hidden village that could have ended badly.
There wasn't anything particular that the chocolate-skinned girl had done, Asami could simply sense that Korra had been avoiding her. For what reason?
Was there really any?
She had hoped to catch Korra and speak with her before retiring that night, but the Avatar had been elusive and had not stayed cooped up in her room for long, disappearing once again when Asami tried to speak with her hours later.
But now, she was given a chance. Much as she would have liked to have stayed in bed a while longer and had not been woken up the way she had been, the promising, young inventor knew not to let the chance presented to her slip by. Similarly, she also knew that she shouldn't pry too much into the Avatar's affairs…and she had pried quite enough, or so she believed. After all, she had been made privy to several things pertaining to the shorter girl that others knew nothing about.
"Was it not you who said staring was rude?"
Asami didn't know for how long she had been looking at Korra. She wasn't even aware she still had been—nor was she conscious of what her expression was—but for the Avatar to have said something like that, the Sato Heiress figured it must have been for quite a bit.
Her face heated up, embarrassed to have been caught doing so, and she immediately looked away mumbling an apology.
"I'm not offended," Korra cleared up with a shrug, eyes still forward as Kai zigzagged his way towards Sokka who simply stood his ground and waited for the young man to come at him. "I am used to people doing so. It is just strange to see you do it. I have never seen you gawk at someone before."
The Prodigy wanted to correct the Avatar, she wasn't gawking. She wanted to say that there was nothing strange about it; that she had done her share of staring at people before, it was just done rarely and discretely. But saying those things was going to invite trouble for her, not to mention it was embarrassing to admit—not because she was doing something she, herself, didn't want done unto her, but because she would be admitting it to the person she was doing it to. Then she would have to explain why. She couldn't deal with something like that so early in the morning when there were other things to talk about.
"I'm sorry," Asami quickly apologized, following Korra's gaze and seeing the moment when High Elder Sokka used the flat side of the dulled blade to slap Kai's behind. "I was just…thinking."
An undignified snort accompanied by a roll of her eyes came as the Avatar's response. This, in turn, made the young heiress look at her companion suspiciously and ask, "What?".
"I deduced as much," Korra admitted with another shrug. "You had that expression on your face, like you were trying to solve some ridiculously complex riddle."
Well, you are one, giant enigma. Asami wanted to say. But, again, that would imply Korra had taken much residence in the Prodigy's mind and would, probably, end up being a hint on what to look out for in her expression.
Korra sighed when the porcelain-skinned girl failed to give a response a couple of heartbeats later. Lowering her voice, Raava's human incarnate said, "I know you have a lot of things to ask me. I can practically hear your questions screaming in your head." The Avatar closed her eyes and took a breath before saying, "You are free to ask, you know."
It wasn't a question of having the freedom to ask. Asami knew she had such a privilege with Korra. The real question was…
"Would you answer if I did?"
There was silence, too heavy for Asami's liking. Glancing at Korra, she saw an uncertain and troubled look in her eyes. The hand that rested on her bicep hardened its grip, fingers digging a little bit deeper on skin. The movement was so miniscule it could easily be missed, but with how they both were to each other, elbows touching, Asami felt the movement more than actually seeing it.
It could have been nothing, but the Prodigy felt it was something. It wasn't merely coincidental, nor was it a mannerism of Korra's even though she did like to cross her arms.
"You wouldn't." She concluded, not able to hide the hurt in her voice.
"I can't. I'm sorry." There was something in Korra's voice Asami couldn't place; an emotion she couldn't pinpoint, more so when the Avatar added, "I also apologize for ruining your night. You looked like you were having fun with the prince. If it wasn't for the whole business you have with me, you could have remained at the party."
The Prodigy frowned. "That's…" She couldn't really say that it wasn't true. She did have fun in the party, short-lived as it was. But, at the same time, the undertone of Korra's words bugged her.
Before she could tell Korra her assumptions were wrong—that she didn't ruin the night (though she did made it difficult for all of them prior to the party)—and that it would have been much more enjoyable had the Avatar not decided to avoid her (at least, that was how she perceived what Korra had done) the entire night, Prince Iroh came into the garden.
Seeing the prince sauntering in completely erased whatever remained of Avatar Korra's calm and ease. She stiffened and gritted her teeth, like it was some kind of reflex borne from the animosity the shorter girl still carried against the Royal Prince.
She didn't wait for him to come anywhere near her proximity, though. As soon as she saw him, Korra mumbled another apology at Asami before she turned her heels and exited using the other door that was on the other side of the man-made pond, using her air-bending to make a giant leap that covered the distance. If Kai and High Elder Sokka had noticed Korra's behavior, they did not comment on it.
"Master Sokka, I have been looking all over for you." the Prince called at the old man, after giving Kai the stink-eye. "Mother and Grandfather wish to have breakfast with you."
The High Elder stood upright, digging the sword into the ground and leaning on its hilt as took a breather. He laughed at the Prince and said, "You've turned into quite the royal messenger, haven't you, young Iroh?"
Prince Iroh huffed. "Yes, despite it unbecoming for the heir of the throne to be asked to do these mundane errands best suited to plebeians."
"Perhaps," the old man smiled. "But it helps build character…no matter how ordinary the task may seem to you." He stretched then, pulled the sword off the ground and took up another stance, motioning for Kai to do the same. His pupil complied by the time High Elder Sokka had said, "I will join them shortly. Kai and I will just finish one more sparing session before we call it off for the morning."
It was a dismissal and all Prince Iroh could do was take a bow at the respectable elder. It was as he turned around that he noticed, for the first time, that Asami was there. The surprise on his face—with how his eyes widened and his mouth parted—quickly came and went, but was still caught by the Prodigy.
"A-Asami," Prince Iroh cleared his throat. He opened his mouth to say more, but quickly shut it as he took her all in. His eyes widened even more, almost bulging from his quickly reddening face. He then began to look at anywhere but her.
Such a reaction baffled the young inventor. She looked over at Elder Sokka and Kai, but found them both unhelpful their focus solely on their training. When she turned her attention back at Prince Iroh once more, he was even redder than mere seconds ago.
"Is there something wrong, your highness?" She asked, feeling nervous with how he was acting.
"N-No!" was said too quickly for there not to be anything wrong. A raised eyebrow nudged the blushing, young man into saying, "I apologize for my manners. It is rude of me to…I just…Um…I may have caught you in a bad time?"
"What are you—?"
She was unable to finish the question, as Iroh continued to excuse himself with such haste his words blurred together and Asami couldn't fathom what he had said.
Shaking her head, the raven-haired, young woman gave one final look at the sword training pair before she marched back to her room, hoping to squeeze in a couple more minutes in her bed.
It was only when she had entered her room and had passed by the full-length mirror hanging by the entrance did she stop and managed to piece together what had gotten Prince Iroh all tongue-tied, seeing her reflection in its smooth surface.
She hadn't noticed it before, but should have. After all, she was aware of it the night before. But the way she had snapped wide awake, and how she had hurried to what she believed was a scene of a fight, she had forgotten what she had been wearing.
Her nightwear wasn't anything scandalous, but its hem barely reached her thigh. Twin straps supported the black, satin nightdress, leaving the length of her arms exposed. And, really, there was nothing wrong about what she was wearing. It wasn't too revealing or inappropriate. But the fact that she had left the room with nothing but something so…flimsy, and recalling who saw her, had Asami blushing as fiercely as Prince Iroh had.
That wasn't the end of it, though. Her hair was also in a messy pony-tail, strands curtaining her face in a disheveled way. She wasn't even wearing any make-up on. It was so embarrassing she had to consciously and whole-heartedly keep herself from letting out a scream of irritation at how the early morning had played out.
Accompanying the "Why didn't I notice sooner?" that had surfaced as she stumbled back into bed, hiding herself under the covers, was also the question of why Korra hadn't said a word about how inappropriately dressed she was.
It was too early for doing anything serious. In any case, that was how Duo Xing felt as she waited by the large doors that led to the dining hall. But her frustration could not be reined in, as well as the nagging fear that kept slithering its way into her mind.
Last night's impromptu meeting with the Fire Lord and the Avatar's group had shaken her somewhat, especially when Fire Lord Izumi had leaned in and whispered those five words into her ear.
"I know who you are."
Her mind warred between believing what had been whispered and doubting the woman's words. She was certain she had left no trail thus far, to learn that someone had uncovered whom she was and who she was working for…it was preposterous.
It was dangerous.
But then she remembered something about White Lotuses. About how they knew things others would rather leave hidden and locked in their closets. And it would leave her feeling angry and questioning herself, wondering if she had slipped up somewhere along the line.
It wasn't like she had thoroughly thought things through. It was on impulse that she waited for the Fire Nation's leader after overhearing that she was going to dine with her family and that guest of theirs, Sokka. There were so many things she had not bothered thinking about as well, like the possibility that the Fire Lord was going to be escorted by her guards or by some handmaiden or another. Not that she needed her to be alone, it would just make things easier for her.
The clicking of the Fire Lord's heels as it hit the linoleum floor jarred the Secretary from her thinking. She pushed herself from the wall that had helped keep her upright, quickly checked herself and ensuring that her suit was impeccable.
Dress for success. That was what her father had always told her.
It was what she tried to do in everything she accomplished: succeed.
Seeing her standing there in-front of the door leading to the dining hall gave the Fire Lord a surprise once she had rounded the corner. The surprise—much like the emotions that crossed her face—quickly disappeared and turned into a look of disinterest. A look that was directed at Duo Xing and one that the Secretary evenly matched.
Fire Lord Izumi stopped walking and so did the escorts—a couple of Royal Guards and handmaidens—that accompanied her.
"Miss Duo Xing," for the leader of the Fire Nation, Duo Xing couldn't help but note how cold and unfeeling Fire Lord Izumi could be when she spoke. "What business do you have here?"
"I was hoping I would bump into you, Your Majesty."
A raised an eyebrow was the reaction she received for her honesty. And when it became obvious that the older woman wasn't going to say anything more to complement it, Duo Xing was forced to expound without saying too much.
"There is something I would like to discuss with you." She looked at those that were with the monarch and added, "It concerns last night."
"My father's proposition, you mean."
Duo Xing would really rather not speak about it in-front of others, but it was clear Fire Lord Izumi had other ideas. Whether it was because of her outright distrust of the Secretary (and rightly so, Duo Xing believed, she was still a spy) or because it was simply how she was used to and what was expected of her, the Fire Lord did not send her entourage away. They just stood there as sentries with emotionless faces.
They were not fooling her, though. They might look disinterested, but Duo Xing knew they were listening in to the exchange.
"Yes," the Secretary responded, keeping herself from gritting and gnashing at her teeth. Nothing was going as she had envisioned this conversation to go. And it had only just begun!
"Speak, then." It sounded like an order and was uttered with a flourish of a hand. "And I suggest you do it quickly."
Again, Duo Xing looked at the people that surrounded the Fire Nation leader. She shook her head, there really was no getting out of speaking in-front of them all.
"It is a mistake." She was not going to go beat around the bush now. "Asking us to go along with them."
Fire Lord Izumi stared at her with a bored look on her face as she drawled, "Is that all you wish to say?"
That wasn't what Duo Xing expected to hear. She anticipated something along the lines of being told she hadn't a choice on the matter; of being further blackmailed into doing what the Royal Family wanted her to do.
It should be understandable then why, stunned as she was, all she could say was: "What?"
"It may come as a surprise to you, Miss Duo Xing," Again with calling her by her full name. "But you are not the only one who thinks that way. I, in truth, was against the whole thing."
"Then who—?"
"It was my father." Fire Lord Izumi didn't even let her finish. Surprisingly, she spoke the words loaded with exasperation. It made Duo Xing wonder if there was something—some form of animosity—between Lord Zuko and her daughter borne from countless disagreements. "He was the one who came up with it. And I should tell you that there is no changing his mind. For whatever reason, he had seen it fit to include you and that young man in your care...despite your…allegiances."
"I still see no reason why we have to go through with what your father wants." Duo Xing crossed her arms. She still had that ace up her sleeves. As far as she knew, they weren't being held prisoners and barring the things Fire Lord Izumi seem to have found out about her, they had nothing to lose in opposing the old hero's desire. "Bolin might not want to disappoint his fans, but I'm sure they would understand if we were to cancel our Earth Kingdom tour. We will lose nothing."
"Perhaps." Izumi conceded with a nod. "While it is true that we cannot force you and Bolin to agree to this—though we need not for the young man, he had already agreed—" That gave the Secretary a shock, but the head of state was not yet done. "—the information we have regarding your person can cause problems for you. Problems that you may not want to have to deal with."
"Ah," she grinned, eyes twinkling. So they were playing that game. "I see…you really are going to resort to blackmail. How unexpectedly…dishonorable."
"That may be so, but dealing with people of your…profession requires unconventional means." Fire Lord Izumi shrugged. "Still, you may have your own means of dealing with being found so my father decided to extend the deal with you."
"A rather one-sided deal it is bordering on non-existent."
"That's because we didn't get to finish what we were about to say thanks to the Avatar."
A quirk of an eyebrow was sufficient enough a reply this time from Duo Xing.
"We were going to proposition an exchange with you." The noblewoman responded. "One that would end with us purchasing your employment."
"I think you mistake me for a mercenary." She chuckled. "Money does not concern me."
"Oh, I know. That was why I am offering what is of great value to your people." It was uttered so nonchalantly they might as well have simply been talking about mundane things.
It also intrigued her.
"Information. One you have been craving for." Fire Lord Izumi finally explicated. "Also, safety. After what has happened in Republic City, I can imagine how much that means to you."
The Secretary frowned. If she had been skeptical of having been found, those doubts were slowly being chased away. Though Fire Lord Izumi spoke vaguely, she could tell that the woman knew—truly knew—what was going on; that she had what she claimed to have.
Before she was given a chance to speak up, one of the Fire Lord's handmaidens took a step forward and whispered to Izumi's ear. Whatever it was, was—as always—difficult to discern with how blank the monarch kept her expression.
As soon as the handmaid returned to her position in the group, the Fire Lord walked forward then, once again eating much of the Secretary's personal space before she spoke, saying, "I will let you think it through, though I suspect what your decision is going to be. We shall be awaiting your response until tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" she took a step back before she spoke. "Why? What is going to happen then?"
But Fire Lord Izumi acted as though she didn't hear her query. She moved past Duo Xing and entered the door to the dining room her retainers held open for her and then closed it as soon as their benevolent leader had stepped inside, leaving the Secretary to ponder on the exchange she had with the Fire Lord.
An exchange that blew the script she had already prepared for the argument up.
Opal sighed as she tapped the tip of her pen on the wooden surface of her table. She had been loitering in the Royal Capital's Archives, their massive library, ever since she had been given Lord Zuko's permission to make use of it, reading all she could. She wondered if she could borrow some of the books, take them with her as she journeyed around the world with the Avatar.
With how rare and difficult to find most of these are, they probably wouldn't let me. She huffed as she gazed longingly at the shelves upon shelves of books that encircled her.
There wasn't anything in particular she was trying to find in those books she had plucked from the shelves and had stacked beside her, though what they have to say intrigued and fed her never-ending thirst for knowledge. She simply wanted to read—an exercise and a hobby she had developed that combated stress whenever it tried to drown her.
Because that was what she had been feeling ever since she had been reminded that the Earth Kingdom was going to be their next destination. She had known, of course, that that was where they would go next, but she had been pushing the thought of returning home as far back into her mind as she could, burying it in a childish attempt of hoping to change the path they were to take.
She didn't know what she was more apprehensive of: seeing her family again and having to explain where she had been, what she had been up to, and everything else in between, or the actual act of returning to the Earth Kingdom where her family had once been prominent but had now turned infamous? Or could it simply be that they both weighed heavily on her; that there was no actual distinction between the two anymore?
There was also the fact that she hadn't exactly told anyone how dangerous it was going to be for her to go back. Asami only knew that her mother was a critic of the current ruler of the Earth Kingdom, she didn't know anything beyond that…nor the truth about their family and the rebellion that was (as far as she knew) taking place there. And it wasn't like she was keeping it an actual secret. She simply did not know how to broach that topic.
Certainly she couldn't just go to her and simply say, "We're going to the Earth Kingdom? By the way, I might not be able to be much of a help there since my family leads the rebellion and all." With how much Asami was already trying to juggle, adding that to the mix certainly wasn't going to be pleasant for anyone involved.
Still, she knew it was vital to tell them rather than for the whole thing to surprise everyone at the most crucial of moments. They had made far too many blunders from not communicating well with each other that she didn't want to add to that. And though she couldn't tell them everything—it was, after all, not just her secret to tell but something that concerned her whole family—she could tell them her share of the story.
With a sigh Opal committed to do just that. She didn't feel confident about the whole thing, her shoulders slumping and ruining her posture, but it was something she had resolved to do.
Still, the young Historian's forehead touched the table as she let out an audible groan, thinking about doing something and actually doing it are two very different things.
The dining hall was silent as the Royal Family—along with High Chief Sokka—partook the breakfast that was prepared for them. The clinking of the utensils were the only sounds in the otherwise quiet room. It was strange to experience such noiselessness, especially whenever the High Chieftain visited them. More often than not, he would regale them with stories of the adventures he had—adventures that were so farfetched and unbelievable, but were too entertaining and amazing to simply pay no attention to.
As a child, whenever he heard these tales being told, he would always be entranced by them. Often he would dream of having adventures just as wild and fantastical as his grandfather's close friend. As he grew up into the young man that he had become, however, he had learn to accept that those stories were just tales told for amusement; that even if such adventures were possible, not everyone could experience them…not even a crowned prince of one of the most powerful nations in the world.
Though, he also wondered if the title given to him at birth acted as a hindrance to them.
From his place at the table, the young Fire Nation Prince observed his grandfather—the only man who seemed to not be confined by whatever rules the universe had placed. Even he was being uncharacteristically silent.
Perhaps it is the fault of that Avatar, he thought to himself, daintily sipping on the soup that was still halfway full. She had, yet again, managed to worry Grandfather Zuko…
It annoyed the young man, even when he had no actual evidence that that was what the old Fire Lord's mind had been preoccupied with, and fueled his own grievances against that strange, young woman.
"Is everything alright, Iroh?" his mother's question made him jump, dropping the spoon he had been careful with on the soup bowl and making its contents splash about. This, of course, earned him a frown from his mother and a raised eyebrow from his Grandfather as Master Sokka looked at him grinning.
"W-What?" He stammered before clearing his throat and trying again. "I'm sorry, mother. You gave me a surprise. I didn't quite catch what you said."
"I asked if you were alright," Fire Lord Izumi repeated, turning away from her son and busying herself with breakfast once more. "You were making an unpleasant face. In retrospect, that seemed like a senseless question to ask. There is obviously something that is bothering you."
His face was tinged with red, not only at being caught looking, as his mother had said, 'unpleasant', but at being asked that question as well. It was a question he would rather not give an answer to since he was absolutely certain his grandfather would simply wave off his concern about that girl Korra and would, undoubtedly, side with her.
He didn't really want all that drama, and so he opted to respond by lying—which wasn't even his strong-point. He could lie, not just that well when face-to-face with his mother.
"I-It's nothing, mother." Iroh said, returning to his food as his mother had done prior. "I just…remembered about the reshuffling I would need to do with our men and the new stations that need filling."
A hum was all his mother gave as a response, though he could tell that his answer did not please her at all.
"You need not bother about that, Iroh." His grandfather said casually it made him stop midway through a bite of his breakfast to look at him.
"I'm sorry, grandfather, but…what?"
"The detailing of your men, you need not worry too much about it." Lord Zuko reiterated.
"I don't understand." And he really didn't. "Why should I not worry about that? It's part of my responsibility."
His grandfather exchanged looks with his mother as Master Sokka deigned it a better idea to resume his breakfast. It was a look that mostly spelt trouble. And it gave Iroh a cause for alarm.
"What is it?" He asked, foregoing breakfast; his appetite leaving him so quickly. "What is going on?"
"We," Fire Lord Izumi paused as she gestured between all three of them—herself, Lord Zuko, and Master Sokka, "have come to a decision."
He didn't know what that decision was, but the way his mother had said it gave him pause for great concern.
"It concerns the Avatar and her journey."
Had Iroh been at liberty to cuss, he would have. It was, after all, a phrase he had come to loathe.
The remaining days they had in the Fire Nation Capital came as normal and nondescript as they could. Nothing worthwhile, nor earthshattering happened—not if one were to discount the fact that the day before Korra had joined them for breakfast. Of course, that came as a surprise to everyone who had thought that she was never going to join them for as long as they were in the Fire Nation.
If Asami was being honest, she would have said that it was the best meal she had in a while.
When Opal had playfully teased Korra why she had decided to grace them with her presence for breakfast, the Avatar merely shrugged. And though she engaged with them whenever they spoke to her, and joined in with their discussions, the Prodigy could tell that she was still so reserved.
Whatever questions Asami had, though, had to wait. They had so many things to prepare for their departure, and though she wanted to speak with Korra sooner rather than later, she knew what responsibilities she had to deal with first.
And so that was what the majority of time she had left at the Capital revolved around: preparing for their journey to the Earth Kingdom. It was a job she and Opal had taken upon themselves, and it wasn't just because they were the only ones available what with Korra missing half of the time, choosing to seclude herself, and Kai busy with his training. Another reason why they decided to just do it themselves was that they didn't trust the Avatar and her Steward's judgment when it came to those things.
By the time they were done—and they were glad they managed to obtain the supplies they needed, going all out with the money they had left, knowing that they need not worry about how they were going to bring it all—it was already their final night in the Capital.
The morning of their departure, the Prodigy was certain were going to be a non-event like the past two days had been. If the Royal Family were to make a fuss about it, they would probably just see them off on the airship they would be lending them. Perhaps tell them to be careful and provide them words of wisdom which Korra would scoff at.
Of course, Asami also prepared herself for whatever Lord Zuko may have under his sleeves this time. She was almost positive he would not let the opportunity pass without bringing one more surprise into the mix. Perhaps he had prepared some kind of ceremony. Perhaps he had prepared some kind of fanfare for the occasion. Whatever it was—and no matter how ludicrous it may be—it didn't seem so out-of-character for the famed hero.
In truth, she expected the event to be blown out of proportion.
Which was why she was stunned—just as she would have if Lord Zuko had arranged for a parade around the capital with a marching band and costumed animals to prepare the way for the new leg of their adventure—when there was barely a gathering there at the makeshift port.
It should not be something that bothered her, but after everything she had put up with in the Royal Capital and how the Royal Family handled things, seeing Fire Lord Izumi, Lord Zuko, Prince Iroh, and High Chief Sokka, along with six guards (three from the Royal Regiment and 3 from, Asami guessed was from the White Lotus based on their outfits) was far too normal that it put her guard up rather than ease her mind.
"This is a surprise," she could hear Kai mutter somewhere behind her. "I thought they would put too much fuss to this whole thing."
Korra hummed, hearing Kai speak. She did not look the least bit unguarded, however. Her eyes darted to each direction, her jaw setting even more as she did, as though she could see something the others could not. Asami would not be surprised if that was the case, though she prayed to whatever gods there may be that there would be nothing to keep them from leaving or cause them any more problems getting to their destination.
"Don't be fooled," the Avatar said as they neared the small gathering. She caught Kai's eyes and Asami could have sworn they spoke to each other non-verbally with the way the Avatar's Steward's demeanor changed.
She caught Opal looking at her questioningly. She could only shrug, not knowing what had suddenly gotten into their two companions.
When they were finally within close proximity to the other group, Lord Zuko stepped up, moving towards them with a smile plastered on his face. His eyes were as kind as they had been, and the smile was the same one he had given them when they first crossed paths, but the young Prodigy could sense there was something different there too. She couldn't pinpoint what that was, exactly, and any attempts to peruse it vanished as whatever emotion that was disappeared in a blink of an eye.
"The time for us to part ways has come," he stated the obvious. "For now, at least." His eyes lingered on Korra as he spoke what came next. "Be well, Korra. Though I suspect, the next we meet, things will be…different."
It was such a normal thing to say to someone going off on a journey that could—and would—truly change the world.
Then he looked at each of them and gestured at the medium-sized airship that was docked behind them and said, "It isn't much. Certainly not our most luxurious ride, but the Asabirakimaru is one of the fastest in our fleet."
Even as the old hero had said it, it was hard for Asami (as she was certain it was for the others) to view the airship as anything but lavish even when they had yet to actually set foot within it. The exterior alone left no one to wonder whom it was affiliated to. Painted with the Fire Nation's colors, supporting the flag of the proud state; trimmed and lined with mahogany and gold, it would be a wonder if the skies would not part for them, if ports would not open up to accommodate them.
Looking at Opal, it was easy to tell she did not approve of what they were being given. Chewing her bottom lip, the Historian muttered, "Well, there goes being inconspicuous. It's not like anyone is going to shoot us down if they see that."
"We have also taken liberty in providing you with supplies," Fire Lord Izumi joined in. "Everything you might need, it has already been loaded into the cargo bay."
She then turned around and beckoned them to follow her inside. They all did.
Stepping inside, Asami couldn't help but be amazed. Even in the entryway, there was an incredible amount of detail placed on it. Everything was built seamlessly, as though extreme care was done by its creator. Even the electronic and steam-enabled locks weren't bulky as she was used to seeing in how her father built things. She felt an itch to go explore everything the ship had to offer, especially its wirings, inner frames, and internal designs.
That feeling transformed itself as they all went deeper inside the airship with the Fire Lord giving them a tour. The more she saw of it, the more she felt in awe and wanted to meet with whomever had built the thing, for she knew it was nothing like Future Industries'. And yet, she felt as though she had seen some of the designs and concepts used in building it; just the little details that her keen eyesight didn't fail to notice.
When they were introduced to the crew who would be boarding and managing the airship with them, the young inventor hoped that the person responsible for the Asabirakimaru would be among them. Alas, they were not. The only ones that would be accompanying them would be Sayaka the Navigator, Hajime the Cook, and the Captain of the airship, Dojima.
Soon, she was no longer listening to the Fire Lord giving instructions. Her mind was elsewhere, having traveled off along with her attention. She didn't even notice they had returned to the entrance of their ship until the moment Korra let out a cry of indignation, snapping her from the murky haze of thoughts that had clouded her.
"If this is some kind of jest, it is in poor form!" she caught Korra saying angrily.
"Believe me," Prince Iroh retorted, crossing his arms and looking over at his mother and grandfather, "if there is anything we can agree on, it is that. I wouldn't volunteer to be on this ship if I had any say on the matter!"
"What's going on?" Asami asked Opal who was surprised at the question, quirking an eyebrow.
The Historian shook her head. "Had you not been listening?" she answered despite knowing where Asami's mind might have run off to. "The Prince is coming with us."
"What's next?" Korra turned on High Elder Sokka, who up until that point had been like them—a part of the tour—listening and observing silently. "Have you ordered your White Lotus to come with us as well?"
"Ah, that would be something wouldn't it?" the High Elder replied. "But you know as well as I that the White Lotus do not work like that. The need to have them onboard this ship is non-existent. After all, we do not need them tagging along with you to know what is going on, especially now that things are moving along as they have."
Even though there were so many things about what High Elder Sokka had just said that bothered Asami; things that she was sure warranted an explanation, Korra didn't bat an eye nor did she made vocal her disapproval. Not even on the remark of how it would be easy for these White Lotus people to spy on them.
Looking at Kai, Asami saw no sign of disquiet in him.
They know. There was no other explanation about it. What the White Lotus does, what they are capable of…Korra and Kai know.
"I feel as though I should be afraid of those White Lotus they mentioning," Opal's brow was furrowed. "But I'm more intrigued by them than afraid."
"Don't let them hear you say that, Opal," Kai hissed, eyes darting around. "There may be some that would take that as a challenge."
Instead of making her fearful, however, those words sparked the curiosity within the aspiring, young Historian. Asami could see it in her eyes. It wasn't she that was offering up a challenge to the White Lotus as Kai had interpreted the other girl's words, it was the opposite. She couldn't keep the small smile from gracing her lips as she imagined what would be another all-nighter for the two.
"Iroh will be accompanying you and your friends, Avatar Korra," there was a finality in the way Fire Lord Izumi spoke that made all heads turn towards her. Asami prayed that she would choose her words carefully, for looking at the Avatar she could tell it was taking all of Korra's will and patience not to let her emotions run rampant. The fuse was running shorter and shorter, and they didn't need the start of their journey to the Earth Kingdom to be one with their airship being destroyed even before it could take its first flight. "My son will make things easier for you in a diplomatic level as the representative of the Fire Nation and the Royal Family."
"Consider it as an act of good will from our family," Lord Zuko added. "You will need all the help you can get, Korra. Iroh is a capable fighter and strategist. He will be useful in your journey."
"I will do the best I can," Iroh stood tall and proud as he spoke, a fisted hand placed atop his chest in salute, his words not directed at the Avatar but at his mother and grandfather.
Korra, for her part, squared her shoulders, eyes flaring with utmost displeasure at the situation they now found themselves in. It was not difficult to imagine how long a climb it would be for Iroh to gain the kind of trust, friendship, and camaraderie Korra shared with the rest of them, not when there was lingering animosity between the two. How Korra could still be angry with the Prince for the misunderstanding that had long past was something Asami couldn't wrap her head around. She supposed it was due to the two's prideful personalities. If there was one thing the Prodigy could be thankful, at least, it was the fact that both were acting civil enough.
The young heiress shook her head. This is going to be a long voyage.
They watched as the Asabirakimaru took flight in its maiden voyage, the airship becoming more and more of a speck the farther it got. They remained on the port's platform even when the airship was no longer in view.
"I am still at a surprise that you let them have the Asabirakimaru." Sokka broke the silence, briefly glancing at his friend's precious daughter. "You valued that airship far too much for me to even think you would be willing to give it away."
Izumi didn't speak for a while Sokka thought she had chosen not to comment about the whole thing. He was ready to let it end at that when the Fire Lord finally did.
"I thought it would be more fitting to give them that airship rather than one of our spares," she said, her tone was softer than any would think she was capable of. "Call it sentimentality, but it felt right to hand the Asabirakimaru over to them."
"Them?" the High Elder chuckled, his eyes twinkled as he turned fully to face the woman beside him. "I did not think you'd grow that fond of everyone on board that airship so quickly that you would do the unthinkable."
"Please do not make it sound like a bigger deal than it is, Master Sokka," a well-practiced glare accompanied her retort.
"You are the one who spoke of 'sentimentality', Fire Lord Izumi," he laughed still.
The Fire Lord tsked and looked away. "You know what I mean."
Sokka let his laughter die down before he nodded in acknowledgement. "That, I do. The person who needs to know, however, is now far from here. Do you really think it wise to not have told her; To keep things hidden as they are?"
"Based from what you and my father had told me, Master Sokka, Asami already has far too much on her plate." The way her eyes danced, the golden pools shining brighter as the light of the early morning sun bounced on them making the emotions she had been masking show, told the High Elder of how conflicted she truly felt. "I wanted to speak with her some more…"
"There is far too much to tell," he nodded sagely, understanding.
"Yes, far too much."
Sokka knew how she felt. Even they were caught between wanting to share more but not being able to. He sighed, "Maybe next time, then."
But even as he said those words, he knew that 'next time' it would not be any easier. After all, Korra and her friends needed to overcome the trials that awaited them in the Earth Kingdom first.
Post Author's Notes:
So, the Asabirakimaru...does anyone know what that word means?
Well, if not, then let me explain in this section of End Notes. :D
The japanese word Asa means "morning", biraki means "opening". Therefore, the word Asabiraki translates to "Daybreak". As for Maru, it is a general suffix for ship names used in Japan and its culture. So, if we were to translate the actual name of the ship the Fire Lord gave Korra and her friends, it would be "Daybreak" (we don't actually need to add the word 'ship' in this case).
I hope I have managed to impart something new to you guys and I also hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter. :D
Once again, thank you to all those who support this story, those who reviewed, commented, left a kudos, bookmarked, favorited, liked, and shared this story. You guys are the best!
Until the next chapter, dream on; fly on!