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:
*sigh* I know it is getting repetitive, but apologies for the long wait with this chapter. My Beta has been taken over by that darn Monster Hunter World game that had caused the chapters to go on a backlog.
Anyways, this chapter is quite long (compared to the usual 4k-something words per chapter), so there's that.
Before going on ahead with the main attraction, I would like to give a shout-out to Lion01, "MastserPro17", loring638, jacsmaster, Velvet95, FeMorgenstern11, Wulffhardt, ANeonChicken, lalalalee, Kitsune-Burst674, milagglad, BlackEmber007, elle122u, "LinKun", Scourge From BloodClan, Reza Novaria, Jydr, , azilegrail, "C. C", holmesdoyle, Malinka, SpiritMonkey, Bill Gopher, bigtedd, faystay, Mort Dans La Nuit, "alex 988", "Dreamer", GLaDOS-SFC, MicSham, thank you for the reviews you have left on this story, from the very first one to the last! You guys made me happy with them and are the muses to keep me going!
Also, big thanks to everyone who is still sticking around for this. You guys are the best!
I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D
The Legend of Korra:
The Schism
Chapter 60: Omashu
The Asabirakimaku slowly eased its way through the congested dock, the Captain, Dojima, ensured that none of the scaffolding, beams, or other protruding metallic structures that rose from different parts of the dock nicked the airship.
Unlike the open airship docks of the Fire Nation Capital, the ones that housed the flying vehicles in Omashu were enclosed spaces, like giant warehouses made entirely of iron and metal, lacking any sort of decorations putting much thought on practicality and sensibility than anything.
Omashu, like most of the places within the Earth Kingdom which they had visited, had interesting architectural work that had the young Prodigy marveling at it with wide, awe-struck eyes.
Tall towers, spiraling to the heavens, made of bricks molded into the earth, dotted the mountain on which the city was built upon. Other buildings—residential and commercial one, perhaps—of varying heights but mimicking the same, boxy designs as far as Asami could see, dotted the mountain in a similar whirlpool-like manner.
It seemed chaotic to look at, as though the only things those who planned the city had in mind was that everything must be connected to the mountain. And yet, as juxtaposing as it was, it worked. Aesthetically, of course. Asami didn't know, in actuality, if it had merit beyond that.
That wasn't the only thing that boggled the young Inventor's mind. Prior to the airship being swallowed up by the high-concrete walls of the port, she had also noticed strange chutes made from cement that winded—like a snake—high around the mountain city. Looking so much like slides kids rode on parks and playgrounds around Republic City, Asami doubted they were used in the same fashion. After all, no parent in a stable and sound mind would let their children play on such things at such steep and dangerous heights.
"It looks the same as always," Opal said, breathing out the words in a way that confused her friend if it was said in awe or melancholy. "Nothing seemed to have changed here."
Asami glanced at the young Historian, a question already forming on her lips.
It was never vocalized, however, as Captain Dojima broke the small, little bubble the two friends built around themselves, saying, "It would take a while before we are allowed to step on land. Best make your preparations now, Miss Sato, Miss Bei Fong."
"Right, of course." Asami nodded. "Thank you, Captain."
The Captain tipped his hat in response.
Asami then motioned the other girl to follow her and heed the older man's suggestion, to which Opal complied. It would be prudent, after all, to get ready while they had ample time than to rush later on.
They walked through the hallways in relative silence, up until they got to their rooms. It dawned on them then that, perhaps, their friends and companions didn't know they would be disembarking soon. The Captain, after all, had yet to make use of the airships PA System to notify everyone else.
"I guess we should let everyone know." Opal mused, hand already on the doorknob. "It would be much more time efficient for everyone that way."
"Let's take care of our own things first." Asami chuckled. "That way, if Captain Dojima does remember to inform everyone, we wouldn't have lost and wasted our own time."
Opal gave her a strange look then, one she couldn't completely understand the reasoning behind.
"If you say so..." the Earth Kingdom native intoned.
It was only when Asami had finished separating and packing the things she would need while they were on the Earth Kingdom—and freshening up—did she truly wonder what that look was for.
They watched from the corner of the room when the doors burst open and Hiroshi Sato came rushing in, beads of sweat at the rate by which he had practically run past buildings after buildings, through halls and interconnected rooms, in search of the "New" Republic's leader, dotted his forehead and dripped down his neck.
They couldn't help but mentally scoff at the name the man leading the Equalists had come up with. And though they didn't particularly care about names, there was something about it that sounded lacking, uninspired, inelegant.
They could have given the Masked One a better-suited name for the city. Yet, they did not. Though their roles were numerous and their ability to clothe themselves with it as fluid, for the moment, they had taken on the role of an...Observer.
The pieces were already in place. They—through the use of another—had pushed things into the direction that would give them that which they most craved. It was, therefore, time to just observe the events as they unfolded, knowing in the end everything will have moved according to plan.
The sudden appearance of one of his rich benefactors gave Amon pause from his perusal of the city. Turning his back from the large windows that gave him perfect view of the most opulent part of the New Republic, he gave the bespectacled man his full attention.
"This is a surprise," the masked leader of the Equalists drawled. "I did not think you would come speak to me soon, Hiroshi. The last we spoke, you said the Automatas were not yet ready."
"They aren't," Hiroshi affirmed. "There are still some kinks that need need fixing. But that is not the reason why I came."
"Oh?" Amon flourished his hand towards the unoccupied chair. It was the same one they had been invited to sit in several minutes prior. "Is there something troubling you, my friend?"
Like themselves, the CEO didn't take the seat he was offered, opting to stand despite the fatigue seeping through his muscles and bones. He didn't beat around the bush either, jumping to the point as he said, "Roku. I came to ask about him."
Silence was Amon's reply. They could almost imagine the cogs in his mind turning, trying to predict the most lucrative outcome from this discussion. In that regard, Hiroshi Sato and Noatak had much in common. It was the reason why they sought them out when they put this plan into motion...
The Masked One began to walk around the table that once belonged to the President of the Fallen Nation, his movements slow—almost predatory—as he questioned, "Roku? I am tempted to ask what reason lie behind you asking, but I can only assume you have a good reason for such a question...?"
They listened attentively then, curious what the other man would say. Would he speak the truth, or play on Amon's hubris?
If one expected Hiroshi to pause for a while, gather his thoughts to give the most pleasing of answers, they would have been wrong. The stalwart of Future Industries spoke in a way that left no room for doubts behind his action.
"You know very well the reason why, Noatak." his eyes blazed with fury as he spoke those words with gritted teeth. "I have been patient enough. I deserve to finally have a chance to talk to the man I hold responsible for the death of my wife."
Amon's eyes, from where they could see—and they could see quite a lot—had turned to mere slits upon the way the Sato Patriarch had thrown his birth name. Though in private they may be, they knew the taller man did not appreciate being called by that name. Not when he had hidden his identity behind a mask.
The two men eyed each other. Neither seemed willing to back down from whatever it was they believed themselves to be champions of.
After a while, Amon finally relented. Turning away from Hiroshi and back towards the cityscape, he spoke to the man with a note of dismissal.
"The failed President is being held in the Lower Blocks. Block 15. Speak to him as you wish, but only just. I do not want the man keeling over just yet. I still have use of him."
Hiroshi did not dignify Amon's words with a reply of his own. With simply a small, almost imperceptible bow, he turned on his heels and left very much in the same way he had arrived.
They stared at the door even after it had closed and long after their pawn had left, seeing something more that the Masked One had failed to notice: the lie Hiroshi had cloaked himself in.
Kai took the steps two at a time, hurrying as he moved along in search of his liege. It was baffling, and amazing at the same time, how the Avatar could hide herself in a place where there was nowhere left to go. The airship might have many rooms, nooks, and crannies, but it was still a place no one should effectively be able to hide in. It wasn't that big an airship, even!
The Avatar's Steward groaned as he finally reached the bottom rung of the stairs. He glared upwards, at the numerous other steps he had taken to get to the hold's main hallway. Though the descent wasn't long and the steps not nearly numbering as many as the temple he used to train in, the fact that he had been scouring the ship in search of Avatar Korra for a while now, instead of watching the docking procedures and amazing himself with the stern-side view of Omashu, had him feeling disgruntled.
It wasn't as though he wouldn't be able to take the view in much later, or that he would not see another instance of an airship docking (normally, not in the process of crashing), but this would be the only time—in his life—when it would be the first time he arrived, via an airborne vehicle, to the fortress-like city. That counted for something!
Spirits, Avatar Korra! The young man grumbled as he began checking the doors that led to the different sections of the cargo bay.
He had just peaked through one of the cargo hold's door-less entryways and had assumed the room beyond was empty, when he heard a familiar whining sound coming from the one next to it.
Kai stopped dead on his tracks, then whirled around and practically ran towards the room Naga's voice was coming from. When he passed through the opening of the room, he came to an even more abrupt halt.
He stood, frozen in place, and watched as a strange sort of light came erupting at bursts behind a mountain of crates where he caught a glimpse of Naga's backside and hear the Polar Bear Dog once more. This time, however, he also heard Korra's voice, shushing the agitated animal.
He was about to call on his mistress, the words of jubilation at having found the person he was searching for already at the tip of his tongue, when he caught on what the Avatar was saying loudly enough despite Korra hissing.
"Will you calm down, Naga! I am fine." Korra was saying. "This is normal...somewhat."
The Polar Bear Dog gave several, short barks, a snort, and a motion that Kai could only assume was her gently nipping a part of the Avatar's clothing, in what he had come to know was the large beast's way of adamantly arguing about something.
Spirits know he had been at the end of that sort of argument many times before...and more commonly so recently.
"I will do no such thing!" Korra sounded outraged. "I only need to keep the bindings intact and much more secured."
This, along with the continuous bursts of ethereal, blue light piqued the young man's curiosity. Slowly, and with much silence in his steps as he could make possible, Kai crept towards the tower of crates. The closer he got to Korra and Naga, the lesser he took his breaths until he finally got close enough to feel the pulsating warmth that came from the lights and he had to hold his breath entirely, taking slow, shallow breaths when he had to.
Kai knew it was wrong. What he was doing was snooping. He was invading the Lady Korra's privacy. Friend or not, he was certain the Elders of Nia Bayou could (and would) have his head for it, if they knew, regardless if the High Elder himself had asked that he "looked after" Korra in his stead.
Still, Kai was curious. And worried.
As he peered behind the crates, however, those emotions quickly turned into one of bewilderment. So much so that he forgot, entirely, that he was supposed to keep quiet.
His very audible gasp was accompanied by a "What the—!?" which made it impossible for anyone not to notice him.
Both Korra and Naga's heads quickly swiveled at his direction. Two pairs of eyes—one showing surprise, the other bore relief—looked at him.
Naga barked.
Korra let out a surprised, "Kai! What are you doing here?" that gave the young man the idea that what he was seeing was not something he should be seeing.
One of the Avatar's hand held a long strip of bandage, likely it was that which his liege had commented had loosened from. He noticed how clean it was, devoid of blood or any stains that would come from wrapping it around a wound. Of course, he scarcely paid any attention to the thing. Not when there was something far more pressing...
"Lady Korra," he reverted back to calling her, "Your arm! It's—"
"It is fine," the Avatar quickly spat, flaring fiercely at the young man and then towards her animal companion. She then turned her attention at the bandages in her hand and began to quickly, but efficiently, wrap and cover her arm around with it again.
"But—!"
"Enough, Kai!" Avatar Korra barked. She glowered at him for a couple of heartbeats more before returning back to her bandage-wrapping. "This has nothing to do with you. You should just forget what you saw."
Naga whined, which earned her a glare from Korra as well. "And you," she told the Polar Bear Dog. "You were supposed to be keeping watch so nothing like this would happen!"
The said animal lowered her head and covered it with her paws as she gave another whine, one Korra seemed to disregard completely. If Naga had been hoping it would defuse the young Avatar's anger and annoyance with her, she was wrong.
Kai, for his part, continued to stare (not gawk. He would never do something like that to the Avatar) at the Avatar's arm. He didn't understand how this could have happened or how it was able to. Saying he wasn't at all frightened by what he saw, would be a lie. He was afraid. Not just at the unknown he faced, but for the Avatar's sake, foremost.
With that in mind, Kai gritted his teeth, balled his fists, and decided to tackle the bull by the horns...no matter how much trouble he would end up in.
"How did that happen? How did your arm...turn out the way it did, Avatar Korra?" Mercifully, his voice didn't tremble nor cracked. Rather, it sounded willfully strong enough for Korra to stop what she was doing and face him. She was about to admonish him, no doubt to tell him it had nothing to do with him, when he beat her to the punch and added, "And this concerns me, Lady Avatar, so you might as well stop trying to tell me otherwise. I will not buy it."
He punctuated his words by crossing his arms over his chests, which he also puffed out.
The deity-turned-human scoffed. "I fail to see why it does or why you think you deserve your questions answered, Steward. Or, perhaps, you have forgotten your place?"
How he didn't end up wincing with the bite which laced Avatar Korra's words was a conundrum, and a surprise, even for him. It was, likewise, sort of a victory for Kai as well.
"Rest assured, I haven't forgotten," he shook his head. "It is true that our standings are worlds apart and that I may be speaking out of place...even still, that means so little to me right now. What matters more to me is that my friend seems to be in trouble. Even though she tries to hide it with her strength."
Korra's eyes, when he looked at them, were stormier than they normally would be. Her voice, when she spoke, sounded thicker with emotion so unlike the Avatar that Kai was taken aback. Even when what she had uttered was a single word delivered as a question.
"Friend?"
One word asked in a way as though the concept was, once again, foreign to Korra despite Kai feeling assured that she hadn't just heard him say it to her again now.
Kai nodded. "Asami and Opal awakened my eyes and my heart to that. While it is true that I am merely a lowly steward task to serve you, my lady—tasked to do your every whim—I am also your friend. And whether you like it or not, you have gotten me involved—as you have Asami and Opal both—just by being our friend. We will worry about you and see everything about you as our business. Especially once we see something like...that."
The Avatar looked away, then grumbled, "That is such a weak argument. It is still none of your concern."
When Kai didn't budge on his stance and continued to pester Korra, asking her how her arm came to be the way it was and for how long it had been since it...changed, the Avatar, chafed, crossed her arms, sighed, and asked, "Why do you humans always insist on sticking your noses where it doesn't belong?"
She did, however, despite being cantankerous about it, ended up telling Kai what he wanted to know. And that included the things even Lord Zuko had shared to her regarding her "condition".
"Where is that Avatar and that servant of hers?" Prince Iroh asked, foot tapping in impatience. It wasn't the first time the question had been asked in the short span of time since he had joined them by the bulkhead that led to the gangway.
"They have names, you know." Opal rolled her eyes. "The least you can do is call them by their names, your highness."
When the young prince grumbled, Bolin sidled next to the aspiring historian. "You wouldn't need to worry about me not getting along, Miss Opal. I, for one, know how to play well with others."
"That's good to know, Bolin." Opal deadpanned. The look on his face was equal parts bewilderment and amusement. "Can you please drop the formalities, though. You weren't like that at the party. Besides, I'm not really comfortable—especially right now—with where we are and what's going on."
Whether the Mover Star actually heard the entirety of what was said, Asami didn't really know. He simply looked too far gone—too elated—at being able to speak with Opal and being spoken to, by her, in return. To be honest, however, Asami also didn't know if Opal was being acting all coy to the blatantly obvious attraction Bolin has for her, or if she truly was dense of it.
That line of thought and the continued dislike Prince Iroh still harbored for Korra was not of great importance to the young heiress at that particular moment, however. Like Iroh, she, too, wondered where Korra was and why Kai was taking such a long time to find her. Had the PA System not been out-of-commission, like she and the others had learned upon returning to the Bridge in hopes of getting their everyone to hurry up with their preparations, they would have made use of it already to contact Korra and Kai and let them know everyone was waiting. She knew the Avatar was still in the Asabirakimaku. For some reason, ever since they had returned to that in-between plane of existence, among the many things she had noticed was her new-found ability to sense Korra's presence. She could tell—though vaguely—if the deity-turned-human was close, though not always. It wasn't some passive ability she found herself awakened to. But if she focused enough—
The temptation from using it—for she didn't want to invade Korra's privacy, not when the Avatar didn't yet know she had found herself being able to do so—was, thankfully, chased away when the pair, along with Naga, finally appeared.
"Finally, you both graced us with your presence!" The Prince did not reign in his tone of impatience. "Any longer and we would have left you both here."
"Don't listen to him," Opal glared at Prince Iroh, which made Asami sigh. The promise of a headache before the day even comes to an end loomed inevitable at the rate the bickering was going. The Historian turned to Iroh, hands over her hips, and added, "Are you truly that thick? What's the point in leaving Korra behind when she is the reason why we even need to be here?"
The Heir to the Fire Nation Throne looked incredulously at the young Bei Fong. "Surely you jest. She is not the only reason we have journeyed here. We—" he pointed at himself, then at Opal, "—have it, in our utmost priority, to ensure that your family knows you are safe and what you had been up to ever since word spread of your disappearance...or rather, your kidnapping."
Opal huffed and looked away. Asami could tell she wanted to argue, but both she and Opal knew there was nothing she could say that wouldn't come across as rude and uncaring. After all, the Prodigy knew how Opal felt. She felt the same way, and she was certain the same thoughts would be running in her own head had she been in her friend's shoes.
"Let's not forget I also have a social event in less than twenty-four hours!" Bolin piped up. He, perhaps, was the only one in the group who was filled with fervor.
"If this was what you have all been doing in my absence," Korra finally spoke, "Then I am glad I wasn't around for it."
Before the bickering could intensify, Asami decided it best to intervene, saying, "Alright. We're all here now." She looked at Korra, noticing that she looked a bit more rested than she was in the past, and then at Kai, who looked (strangely enough, haggard), and asked, "Are you both ready?"
Kai patted the harness Naga was supporting, which had a draw-string bag hanging by its side. "I'm all set."
"As am I." Korra nodded, not saying anything more.
"Well, if everyone is ready and accounted for, let's get this show on the road, yeah?" Like a child, giddy with excitement, the only thing that was missing was for him to go bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. "We don't have a moment to lose! Too much to do, too little time and all that!"
"Bolin is right," Duo Xing agreed. "If we want to accomplish much, we need to get going now."
Glad for the voice of reason that the Secretary brought, Asami nodded. The others did the same, but not as enthusiastic as her Mover Star friend. She was certain he was going to hurt himself. Picking their own packs (in Bolin's case, his suitcases), the group—one by one—disembarked.
The Lower Blocks smelled foul. It smelled of urine and vomit; of something rotten and tangy. It was enough for anyone to gag. Despite believing he had a stronger constitution than most, even Hiroshi felt the odor was too much. He couldn't help but feel jealous of the guards that kept watch over the cells, wearing masks he assumed had something akin to an air purifier that kept them from smelling what he could.
It was either that or that they had grown accustomed to it already.
So far, he had only been obstructed by one guard—a greenhorn, at that—who didn't seem to know who he was and had not heard of their leader granting him permission to be in that area. He had tried to explain, as patiently as he could, of his reason for being there, but the Equalist Guard, perhaps wanting to get merit at stopping an "intruder", didn't want to listen.
Thankfully, before Hiroshi could let his temper get the best of him, another guard had passed by and had chastised the newbie for not knowing to whom he had been speaking with. With profuse apologies, the Inventor had been let free to go about his business again.
After many twists and turns, a detour of sorts, and of a handful of times getting turned around and lost, he finally arrived at Cell Block 15.
That particular part of the Lower Block was even more decrepit and dreary than all the others. The lights, few as they were, gave so little light they might as well have been non-existent. The sound of dripping water, wherever it was coming from, was loud to the ears and could drive a man insane if forced to listen to. The smell, as one could imagine, was even worst.
As he got closer to the iron bars that separated the prisoner from freedom, Hiroshi began to scan Block 15 for signs of the man he was looking for. Dark as it was, he could see an outline of Raiko, hunched over, sitting on the poor-excuse of a cot.
"Good," Hiroshi's voice carried loudly, despite him trying otherwise. Surprisingly, despite much hatred for the man, he found himself calm. Not hysterically screaming, banging his fists at the bars that kept his enemy on the other side, hoping that his fists would be hitting Raiko instead. "You're still alive. It would be such a shame if you had died so easily."
Light-blue eyes, looking much more brighter than it had any right to be, stared dully at him. It took a while for Victor Raiko to realize whom had spoken. But, when it finally clicked, he straightened up, though he remained sited.
"Hiroshi Sato." He said. "This is such a surprise."
"I bet it is." Hiroshi countered. He placed his hands on his back while he stood up straighter, lifted his chin just a bit higher in a show of dominance and pomp. "Still, it is fitting, don't you think? That you find yourself in such a predicament after the atrocities that you and your compatriots committed."
The ex-President's eyes clouded over, confusion marred his features. "What are you talking about? If there is anyone who should be blamed for what has happened it would be those Equalists scoundrels! They are the ones who had plunged our fine city into chaos and darkness!"
"Or so you would say." Hiroshi shrugged. "The Equalists may have chosen a militaristic approach, but despite this, none had suffered death by their hands so far. The same could not be said about you and your bid for power."
"What are you talking about?" Those light-blue eyes narrowed.
The Inventor took a step forward, grasped the iron bars in his hand, holding onto it with such ferocity that his knuckles turned white. When he spoke, it was no longer in a mild manner, though it was still far from a vicious outcry that he felt was warranted, given the situation.
"I know what you and the past administration did, Victor." His words came out slow and menacing. "I know the truth behind the accident that occurred at the Power Plant years ago. And though I didn't come here for retribution, I will make sure that I get the justice that I and Yasuko deserve."
"I see." It irked Hiroshi how calm the politician continued to be. How his threat and the knowledge that he had been found out, did not seem to bother Victor Raiko at all. "Tell me, then. If you didn't come here for revenge, and it doesn't seem like you came here just to threaten me, what is the purpose of you 'visit'?"
Hiroshi pushed himself away from the iron bars, but only just. "Councilman Tarrlok. I know he usurped your power even before the Equalists came. I also know that when they did arrive, you and Tarrlok were carried away at the same time."
"Where is this going, Sato?"
"The Councilman's location. I want to know where it is. I want to know where he has been taken."
Victor frowned. "And what makes you think I would know, or that I would share this information with you? Better yet, perhaps the question I should be asking is why you have come here to ask me that when the answer would have most easily come from your Equalist friends."
"Because I know you will tell me." Hiroshi was confident of this. "Even if you do not wish to, you will. And, even if you didn't know, you will find a way to and will give that information to me."
"The Equalists have tried to break me, as you can see, I am not like the others. I haven't been broken. What makes you think you can do any better? What makes you think I will follow your whimsy?" Victor laughed bitterly, finding the situation funnier than Hiroshi did.
It was then that Hiroshi took something out of his pocket. It was a small, black rectangular-shaped item. And though Victor Raiko did not pride himself as someone who was 'technologically savvy'— something that was well-known to his constituents—the Future Industries CEO was confident the man knew what he had in his grasp.
The thing did belong to the ex-President, himself, after all. It was something his wife had gifted him with.
Sure enough, the jailed man's eyes grew as big as saucers upon seeing the recorder. His initials, emblazoned in gold, glinted weakly under the dim light.
"You—! Where did you get that?" He asked, standing up on wobbling legs.
"I will leave that up to your imagination." Hiroshi replied before hitting the button on the device which played the recording he had, meticulously, prepared for the occasion—as impromptu as it was.
At first, there was nothing to be heard but static. And then, without preamble, Buttercup Raiko's voice blasted through the recorder's speaker.
"Victor? Victor!" She called out, sounding desperate and frightened.
Hearing his wife's voice propelled the ex-President forward. His body hit the bars that kept him locked and caged. It was his turn to grip them tightly when trying to claw at Hiroshi to get the recorder proved an act of futility.
"Buttercup!" He shouted, as though his voice could transcend the boundaries that kept him and his beloved apart. For the first time since the two men saw each other face-to-face, an emotion—other than indifference—gripped Victor.
The First Lady's recorded voice repeatedly called for her husband's name. Her voice getting more desperate with each plea. As she was about to say something more, the recording stopped.
Fear, agonizing and potent, gripped Victor's heart as Hiroshi knew it would. His eyes, which had looked at him dully before, was filled to the brim with perturbation and dread. The detour Hiroshi had made proved useful, the outcome of it proved effective.
"What have you done with her?" The question was asked in a hushed manner once, before being repeated loudly. Victor shook the bars, as though in an attempt to break through it, eyes going wild as his imagination took life of its own at the possibilities of what had happened to Buttercup. Like a feral animal, he growled, "If you did anything to her, if you hurt her—!"
Before his threats could spill out, the Sato Patriarch cut him off.
"How poorly you think of me, Mister President." He said, mockingly. Then, in a much more serious note, added, "Unlike you, I do not take pleasure in killing hard-working women. At least, I'm not up on that point yet. Tarrlok. Find out where he is and maybe I will be merciful enough and aid you with your wife." He turned around and began walking away as he continued speaking, "You have three days, Victor. Make them count."
Omashu was even more incredible up close. What seemed chaotic in the air was not so much so on the ground. The buildings, which Asami had assumed were made of bricks and mortar, were actually built of stone carved from the Kolau Mountain Range. Whatever architectural and engineering technology were used to build something so impressive had been lost, if only proven by how rare such sights were.
It was such a shame, however (despite the tranquility currently present due to the result of it) that Opal, Iroh, Bolin, and Duo Xing were not with them. Surely each of those individuals could have provided them a tour of Omashu; could have given answers to the questions regarding the city which had found itself lodged in their heads ever since the four of them: Korra, Kai, Naga, and herself, had been given freedom to explore the mountain city.
It couldn't be helped, however. Had Opal not (begrudgingly) introduced herself, they would not have been given permission to stay. Of course, the Fire Nation Prince, believing it a part of his duty as a representative of the country from where Opal was 'found', had volunteered to stay behind as well, in order to ensure the Historian's safety and to make certain noting foul happened that would put his nation in risk.
Opal had adamantly refused the Prince's companionship. But Iroh could not be deterred. And so, both of them had to wait behind the city's Embassy Office to await the Bei Fong's representative who would (supposedly) vouch for Opal's identity.
Bolin and his secretary, on the other hand, had to hurry along as well and "couldn't afford to be a part of the sight-seeing" as Duo Xing had put it. They had to prepare for Bolin's show, which they only had a few hours to do so.
It was disappointing, but Asami understood. Likewise, she was also grateful not to be around the Mover Star, knowing how popular he was, and how very likely it would be that fans would flank them if they realized who he was at the get go.
And so, their large group had been reduced to just the four of them, which wasn't at all bad if not for the fact that Korra was still acting distant with her and the other human around—Kai—was so lost in thought it didn't seem like he was enjoying their sightseeing. The only one who seemed willing to keep her company was Naga, who had taken to walking next to her ever since they disembarked.
The Polar Bear Dog was, surprisingly, sweet. Even more so than the previous occasions she had been with Naga. Whenever the large, furry animal found something interesting, she would nudge Asami's arm or tug at the hem of her clothing to get her attention before using her snout to point it out. And, although Asami would not have planned (or even be caught with) having a conversation with the Avatar's animal companion, she ended up doing so along the way. Her words, however, didn't seem lost on Naga, who looked at her with that wisdom-filled eyes making her certain her words were understood.
Crowded as the streets were, however, no one batted an eyelid upon seeing Naga. At first, it made Asami paranoid, especially when neither Korra nor Kai seemed to care that that was the case. But gradually, when nothing bad has happened, she too began to put her guard down and simply enjoy the new place they had traveled to.
It was hours later, when it seemed like they had walked the entirety of the city, did the group decide to take sustenance and rest. Opting to go to an open-aired restaurant at the middle tier of the city, for Naga's sake, they took outside, thankful that no one had taken that spot yet.
As they were eating their meals in silence, the group overheard a conversation in the table next to theirs.
"Have you heard?" One of the restaurant's patrons—a tourist, from the looks of his clothes—asked his companion as soon as he finished slurping the soup that came along with his noodles. "Supposedly, there's this famous cave near here that tells of the history of the city."
"Oh?" His female companion asked, sounding intrigued. "I never heard of that. I don't remember reading about it in the guidebook."
"Well," Asami tried her best not to be annoyed with how loudly the guy chewed as he spoke, "I heard it from one of the locals, so it must be true. I also heard you need to be able to pass some sort of 'Test of Courage' if you want to know the truth behind Omashu."
"Ooh, now I'm really interested." Was the last thing Asami heard from the pair before she drowned their voices out after they started talking about their plans for the rest of their vacation.
Like the woman on the other table, Asami's curiosity, too, was aroused. She wanted to go ask around for that cave they spoke of, wanted to see what it was like, but gauging her two other companions' current temperament, they don't seem to be willing to go on a side-trip like she was.
A few minutes later, Korra was first to finish her meal.
Surprising Kai and herself, the Avatar stood and excused herself, saying, "I need to use the bathroom."
Taking the time to be alone with the Avatar's Steward, the Prodigy decided to get to the bottom of their dour demeanor, with the question: "Is everything alright, Kai?"
Kai was startled, to say the least, almost jumping in his seat as he looked up, with eyes like a deer's caught in a headlight, towards Asami.
"Huh? O-Of course," he replied, not at all convincing.
"Are you sure?" Asami pressed. "You looked like you have been out of it, even before we left the Asabirakimaku."
The young man sighed. "I'm sorry. I just have much on my mind right now."
When it seemed like Kai did not want to say anything more, Asami had no other choice but to drop it. She wondered if Kai's troubles stemmed from Korra. After all, he wasn't acting strangely prior to volunteering to search for the Avatar hours earlier.
A snort from the Polar Bear Dog, followed by a series of soft barks that had Kai's head swiveling in Naga's direction. He eyed Naga as though trying to telepathically send a message (which was what it looked like, but which Asami shot down as something which is impossible. Naga can't converse telepathically, she had scoffed inside her head and rolled her eyes). The large beast simply rolled her eyes, before returning back to her previous posture—which was lying on the pavement, resting with her head over her paws.
When Asami's focus returned to the young steward, he looked as though he was even more uncomfortable than when she first broached the topic of his strange behavior. Kai only relaxed (a little bit, but change in his demeanor was obvious even to Asami) when Korra rejoined them.
Seeing as everyone had their plates emptied and the drinks finished, Korra didn't bother to sit back down. Instead, she asked, "Shall we go?"
Asami and Kai nodded and let Korra lead them along this time around, thinking that they would be returning to the embassy as they believed Prince Iroh and Opal had sorted things out and that the Bei Fong family representative would have finally arrived.
They were surprised when the Avatar led them back to the lower tier of Omashu, past the busy shopping district and the theater they assumed would be the place where Bolin would be holding his show (if the large crowd that had started to gather was any indication), and towards one of the main gates of the city.
"Korra, where are we going?" Asami finally asked when they didn't even stop and instead continued walking past the thirty-foot tall city gates, and trekking through the steep and narrow road that led away from Omashu. "We're not going to ditch the others, are we?"
Korra gave her a side-glance, and a smirk. "That would be a viable option if Opal was with us. Though, I haven't made a decision fully about that yet. Perhaps Opal would be better off returning to her family."
"Korra," Asami's tone held a note of warning. She didn't like to hear something like that from the Avatar, not when she was in similar footing as Opal.
The darker-skinned girl shook her head and gave a short laugh. "I jest. I am certain if we leave Opal behind, she would just track me down and then I would have the two of you to contend with. Just one of you is already a handful. I wouldn't want that kind of trouble."
Korra mumbled something else under her breath. Something that sounded like, 'Not with the time I have left', but Asami was certain she had misheard her. There was no way Korra would say something ominous like that, after all.
Kai, jumped into the conversation, though, which didn't leave Asami time to have Korra repeat just what she had said. "If we are not leaving the others behind, then why are we leaving Omashu?"
"I asked the connoisseur of the establishment we had dined in," Avatar Korra began to explain. "She told me the cave those people were talking about was somewhere near that mountain," she pointed at the large, steep hill not far from the city.
"Why are we going there?" The Prodigy asked, though she was happy at the chance to explore and maybe share something to Opal that the other didn't know about.
"You were curious about it, were you not?" Korra asked, not looking at Asami but focusing on the path they were taking. "I thought you would like to go and take a look. It certainly would be a much better use of our time to explore that cave than to wander aimlessly in Omashu and a lot less boresome."
Again, Asami was caught in surprise. She didn't think Korra had been paying attention.
There must have been something in the way she looked—in her expression—that caused confusion to the Avatar, for Korra stopped and turned to face her fully, a frown marring her face.
"Had I been mistaken?" She asked. "Would you rather we do something else?"
"N-No," she fervently shook her head. "I was just surprised you were actually being attentive back there."
"Me, too." Kai agreed, similarly surprised by Korra's decision and initiative. "I thought you were just brooding."
"I know, right?" Asami turned towards Kai, glad that she really wasn't imagining things. "You could almost see dark, stormy clouds hovering above her head."
"That is an apt description," Kai nodded, fingers tapping on his chin as though they were discussing something scientific or equally just as complicated. "I wouldn't have been surprised if the Lady Avatar accidentally caused rain to pour."
"Korra can do that?" the Prodigy asked, amazed to hear that for the first time.
"No," Kai laughed. "But it would have fitted perfectly with your mind's portrait, wouldn't it?"
"Will both of you stop," the topic of the conversation grumbled. "I am right here."
"Sorry," Asami giggled—another first since the feeling of awkwardness surfaced after everything that had happened in the Fire Nation Capital. It felt nice to fool around with Korra and Kai once again, though it still felt as though the Avatar was holding back. "So, where exactly is this cave's entrance?"
Korra's shoulders rose and fall in a shrug. "I wasn't told. What I was told that finding the cave's entrance is supposed to be a part of the 'adventure'."
"But if the tourists know about it and the people of Omashu are talking about it, then wouldn't it make sense to just find a place where there are lots of people?" The Avatar's Steward asked.
Both women blinked owlishly at him. Though always capable of coming up with a plan, his plans were not always the most sound—nor the least damaging in properties—and would usually end them up in even more trouble. This time, however, even Asami found logic and reason behind it.
"That...sounds good, actually." The aspiring inventor nodded.
Still, they were far enough to actually see anyone by the foot of the mountain. They were uncertain if it was because of the time of day, or if they were simply too far from this mysterious cave's entrance.
"Perhaps I could get a bird's eye view of our surroundings?" Korra offered.
She was quickly shut down by Kai, with an outburst of a "No!" that made Asami's own "That would be problematic if someone were to see you," pale in comparison. It made the porcelain-skinned girl's eyebrow quirk upwards and made Korra look daggers at Kai.
It was strange for Asami, to say the least.
Kai cleared his throat then. "Naga and I will scout around the mountains. We will be back in a flash."
The young man didn't even bother to wait for a reply. For as soon as he said those words, he climbed on Naga's back and nudged the beast into a gallop leaving dust in his wake and a pair of speechless, young woman behind.
"That...was strange," the Prodigy couldn't help commenting.
Korra hummed. "I always found Kai strange. Then again I always found humans strange, in general."
"You do know you are still talking to one, right?" Asami wondered how many times Korra was going to infer humans 'strange'.
Another side-glance. "I am aware." And a shake of her head. "Well, shall we continue on? It would seem suspicious if we keep standing in one place for long, would it not?"
"It would," the Sato Heiress conceded and let Korra continue leading the way, even when neither of them actually knew if they were going the right way.
They walked in silence, despite the myriad of questions Asami wanted to ask and the accusations that threatened to spill her lips. It was only then, when they had reached the foot of the mountain, did the Prodigy loose her internal battle with herself.
"I know you said you weren't acting all aloof with me, but I still feel that you are." The words were blurted out much louder than intended. As though a dam of words broke and out flowed that string of words.
Korra turned slowly, and when Asami saw the confused expression she had on her face, she almost felt bad for bringing it up. Almost.
"What are you talking about?" Feigning ignorance—that was how it seemed like to Asami. "I am the same as I always had been."
"Not recently," there really was no turning back from the words that was coming out of her mouth. "I feel you're closing yourself up, hiding things for yourself. Like you've forgotten that promise we made. And I know you said you couldn't tell me before, but it's just..."
Another sigh. "I haven't forgotten. But, as the Avatar, there are just some things...I would rather not discuss. Even when there are people who seem to think otherwise."
Asami searched Korra's face—her expression—for something. When she was unable to find what she was looking for, it was the taller girl's turn to sigh.
"So, it is Avatar-business and has nothing to do—whatsoever—with Prince Iroh?"
Even before Korra could give her response ("What does that human have to do with anything?"), the quick change in her demeanor already gave Asami the answer she needed. And it was the way Korra moved and how her face had been painted with disdain which the Prodigy took more into consideration than the words the other girl has uttered.
"You are such a bad liar."
"I am not lying," for some reason—perhaps at being called a 'liar'?—the Avatar fumed. "I meant what I said. Why does that human matter to me? He is merely a progeny that hailed from someone who walked along the same path as my predecessor. If you like him, or enjoy his company, that is your choice. It has nothing to do with me."
"This really is about him, isn't it?" Asami couldn't keep the incredulity from her voice. "The reason why you are acting distant with me for the past days? Is Iroh?"
"I just said that he doesn't matter to me in the slightest. How could you even come to such a conclusion?" Korra had all but thrown her hands up in the air in agitation.
"Your words aren't the only basis of truth, Korra," the Prodigy pointed out. "Your actions—and your reactions—speak volumes. Besides, you are being awfully defensive about this issue."
Korra opened and closed her mouth, like she wanted to say something but didn't know the most efficient way to vocalize it. In the end, what she could come up was, "You—! You're incorrigible!" Which, really, didn't do much for her.
With a smug look on her face, Asami was about to call Korra out on it, but was interrupted when an old woman, wearing rags came ambling towards them.
"You young 'uns are being awfully loud!" she squawked at them.
The appearance of the old woman, as well as her admonishment, astounded the two, young woman, who quickly turned to face the direction she was coming from.
The old woman was short. Korra was far taller than her, though much of her features were hidden behind her worn-out and dirty cloak. Half of her face was also covered by her long, messy, ashen-white hair, making the lower half of her nose and her lips the only visible facial features. Still, as vertically challenged as the old woman was, her voice was strong.
"Have you both been raised in a barn?" the old woman went on. "Shoutin' your argument like the whole world can't hear you. Kids these days..."
"This has nothing to do with you," Korra said, and was about to say more before Asami elbowed her to shut her up.
"W-We're sorry," the Prodigy apologized on their behalf. "We didn't mean to cause a ruckus. We were just looking for the cave we had heard about from the city."
"The cave you've heard about?" the old dame repeated. "Bumi's behind, what are they teaching kids these days? Not only do you the brains to not argue in public so loudly, you two don't even know the name of the place you are searching for?"
"Umm..."
"Why are you even searching for it?" her head moved up and down, as if looking (and seeing) them from behind her hood. "
"We are just—" Even Korra couldn't get a word in edgewise as the old woman also shut her down quickly.
"If you think that simply going to the Cave of Two Lovers is going to fix therelationship problems you tow love birds are having, like those idiotic tourists believe, think again." She blabbered on, scoffing at the two as she began to (much to Asami and Korra's disgust) pick her nose.
"We're not—!"
"That is just some made-up Flying Bison dung ignorant travelers came up with." Whether the old woman did not truly hear them speaking, or was simply ignoring them, Asami didn't know. But she was worried about how Korra might feel at being mistaken as such. Though Korra didn't seem to mind, it was difficult to tell what the other girl was truly thinking, or if she had heard what they were called. "Those in Omashu don't even care, though. And that makes them a part of the problem! But, if you think you're any diff'rent than those people, the entrance to the Cave is over thataway."
Bony fingers pointed at the outcropping of rocks that hid, upon closer inspection, a path, close to the edge of the ravine, leading downwards.
"Now, git lost. And stop arguing so loudly!" the old woman waved them away, then continued to walk away from them, grumbling to herself saying, "What does it take for an old woman to have some peace and quiet over here!" with her hands raised up into the sky as though the heavens could provide the answer she sought.
The two watched the strange old woman walked away, before they turned their attention at the path that was shown to them. They walked halfway through it, before they had to stop. From there, it looked, from Asami's perspective, treacherous. Not only did it look slippery, there wasn't even a rope fence to keep curious visitors from toppling over. Still, both of them could see the entrance to the cave from where they stood. The longer Asami stared at the cave's maw, the more she felt there was something there.
Taking a stance, Korra looked as though she was about to do some bending, when Kai, riding Naga, suddenly came rushing at them from the direction he had disappeared from earlier. He called out them as loudly as his voice could carry.
"Lady Korra, Asami!" his voice was shaky as Naga navigated the rocky inclines and the uneven terrain. "The representative from Opal's family has arrived! They want us to go back to the embassy!"
The two, young women turned their attention to the young man and noticed he was not the only one atop Naga. Behind them, an official from Omashu was holding on for dear life. He looked close to puking and passing out, his eyes had lolled to the back of his head.
When Naga stopped, the Official fell to the side, quickly got up, and then heaved all the contents of his stomach out on the edge of the cliff. The trio watched and waited patiently for the man to get his act together.
After a while, the Official finally stood, wiped his mouth, and dusted himself. After he deemed himself presentable, he turned towards Asami and the others, looking at the two young women.
"Miss Sato, Miss Korra, I presume?" the Official asked, and after getting a nod from the two of them, went on, "Miss Opal has requested that you and Sir Kai return back to the embassy at the soonest possible time. Her credentials have been confirmed, you see, and she has been requested to return to her family."
Asami and Korra exchanged looks, the Prodigy torn between being glad that that was taken care of but at the same time fearing how Opal was taking it.
"Let's go," Asami said, willing to forget about the Cave of Two Lovers for now. "Opal needs us."
"Of course," Korra agreed. She turned to Kai and said, "Take this man on Naga and head back to Omashu. Asami and I will follow."
"Oh, no. It's alright, I can walk." The Official waved Korra's offer away. Clearly not wanting another round of barfing to ensue afterwards. But Korra, foregoing keeping her powers a secret, air-bended the man back onto the saddle on Naga's back.
Sensing the urgency, Kai didn't ask Korra how she and Asami were going to go back to the city with haste. He already knew, and he didn't like it. Yet, he bit his tongue and said nothing other than, "I'll see you guys back at the embassy," before nudging Naga along.
Asami sighed when Korra offered a hand to her. "We're going to do that again, are we?"
She dreaded the answer, despite knowing what it was going to be.
"That human did say 'with haste'." Korra grinned devilishly (whether Korra did, in fact, do so or it was just Asami's imagination is something the Avatar alone could confirm), Asami was certain she was going to use this opportunity to get back to her for the words that had been exchanged before.
Having left with no choice, unless she wanted to leave Opal to her devices, Asami accepted Korra's hand. Quickly, the Avatar pulled her close, before sending both of them up in the air.
Asami screamed at the sudden way by which they took flight. Though if she were to be asked about it, she would adamantly refuse that such a thing happened and blame the sound on the wind messing with anyone's—Korra's, in particular—ear.
A powerful gust of wind blew. A lesser human would have been blown away by its ferocity, but she merely stood, back bent over with age, with her hands behind her back.
The wind whipped her hair about, the fringe, which had hidden her eyes, parted as she looked upwards, at the direction where the Avatar and her Chosen had taken flight. Unseeing eyes stared, and though her blindness prevented her from perceiving the physical, she could see what many could not.
She frowned and tsked, having hoped that her performance would have hurried things along. She had wanted to go along with a 'short cut', to get the ball rolling in a much quicker pace. Alas, it was not to be.
As the wind turned into a gentle caress, the old woman cocked her head to the side. Somewhere, in the wind, she could feel the words of an old friend gently chastising her.
"Oh, all right. Fine!" She rolled her eyes and huffed. With a sigh, she turned around, intent on going back to the hollow she had been calling a home for the past, few decades. "Have it your way, Twinkle Toes."
Post-Author's Notes:
Did this chapter got you guys thinking? I sure hope it did. There are some parts of this story that I am not entirely happy with, but needed to be done for the benefit of making the story better in the long run.
I know Hiroshi seems a bit darker in this story than he was in the show, but, I think it is rather believable he would go through so much just to find out what happened to his daughter. That is, right along with his revenge, Hiroshi Sato's motivation for his actions (if that wasn't clear enough). Remember, in the previous chapter(s) we have tackled that he was given information about the real cause of the accident that killed his wife. Although I haven't tackled that to a tee, it is safe to assume that Republic City has something to do with it...which was why he joined up with Amon in the first place.
Also, the old lady Korra and Asami ran into. Three guesses as to who that could be? ;)
As for the Cave of Two Lovers...well, that was just a bit of a teaser. Don't worry though, our heroes will go there...eventually. :D
Anyways, thank you for reading this brand new chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Like always, comments and reviews are greatly appreciated. Here's to me hoping all of you will always find happiness! Until the next update, dream on; fly on!