A Legend of Korra Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez (aka SMTsukishiro)
Summary:
A promising engineering student. A mysterious woman capable of controlling the four elements. When their paths cross, the resulting collision not only changes their lives and themselves, but the fate of the entire world as well. [Korrasami AU]
Author's Notes:
So, I know how greatly delayed this chapter is and, truth be told, this is all on me.
I was so focused on getting my YouTube channel to 1000 subscribers before July that I took that as a priority. The reason being, I needed a fall back when it comes to monetary matters and YouTube would have provided me with such (compared to writing these stories which are essentially for free and without any monetary compensation). The reason for that is I am in danger of losing my job (due to our country's elections), so I had to focus on that (seeing as the whole Ko-Fi thing didn't quite work out as I would have liked).
Anyways, I'm not even sure if you guys are reading this post-chapter note, or if you're bypassing this in favor of reading this much-delayed chapter. But anyways, if you are reading this, perhaps I can ask you to check out my YouTube channel and subscribe if you can? Also, I'm currently doing a giveaway in there, just in case you guys are interested.
But anyways, enjoy the chapter. Let me know what you guys think!
Dream on; Fly on!
Legend of Korra
The Schism
Chapter 71: A Race Against Death
Asami gnawed at her lip and forced herself not to intervene even though she badly wanted to do so. Korra had been at it for what seemed like hours and yet nothing had changed with the dauntingly large tear in space that was before them.
It shocked the Avatar's Chosen at first. She had seen the Rift before, after all, through the eyes of Mnemosyne. It was nothing as gargantuan as the one that she was faced-to-faced with now. Her fight or flight instincts were kicking in with such intensity at the sight, that it took so much not to cower before the malevolent air that emanated from it. The only thing keeping her from taking one step after another further back and out of that cavernous pit was Korra and the Avatar's hold on her hand.
"Gah!" Korra screamed blue murder as she let go of Asami's hand and fell, knees and palms hitting the ground.
Quickly Asami checked up on her, disregarding the displeased look Lady Toph was giving her and the "tut" that came after. She bent down to ask about the Avatar's well-being, noting how Korra's muscles were contracting and shaking from extreme exertion.
"Again, Korra!" the old woman instructed, her voice echoing and keeping the deity-turned-human from answering her friend's query.
"Lady Toph, can't you see how tired Korra is already?" Asami asked, trying to keep herself from sounding disrespectful. "Can't you give her enough time to rest?"
"I'm blind, dear, I can't see anything," Toph quipped. She chuckled to herself as though it was a funny joke. Neither Korra nor Asami laughed, however. The former felt too tired to care about what the old woman was saying, while the latter didn't see the witticism of making fun of one's own disability.
Noting how her joke was not a hit with either of her two companions and neither young women were laughing with her, the Guardian of the Elemental Core of the Earth sighed. She walked over to the two of them and bent just low enough so that her eyes were levelled with Korra's and said, "You're holding back, Korra."
Korra glared at Lady Toph—which was something she had been doing quite frequently ever since they returned from their trip to the In-Between. "I am not…" the Avatar panted, "…holding back. I never…hold back."
"So you say," the old woman shrugged as she stood back up. "But I can sense that you are, Korra. You may have lost the Four, but that shouldn't have made you this…weak." She paused, tapping a finger on her chin in thought before adding, "If I were to gauge your strength even now, you would not even be as strong as Aang was when he started his journey. And he was pretty strong then, even when he had not yet mastered the use of the Four Elements."
"Well, I am not him. I am not Aang." Korra huffed as she closed her eyes and balled her fists.
Toph hummed in response, her unseeing eyes gazed at the Avatar who had yet to rise up. "Clearly you still have much to learn, so much more to accept. I suppose it can't be helped."
The old woman then stepped right in-front of Korra and Asami, between them and the menacing Rift. With her back turned towards them, she asked the Avatar, "I wonder, do you think you are stronger than I am, Avatar Korra? Or do you see myself a feeble, old woman?"
It was—Asami could tell—a rhetorical question, one that needn't be answered. And she could similarly tell the darker-skinned girl in her arms sensing that as well, though Korra worked her jaw into forcing herself not to blurt out an answer she felt was an obvious one to the question.
Even without looking at them, the hum that came from the little, old woman made it seem like Lady Toph also knew what Korra thought and there was really no need for her to ask that question—rhetorical or otherwise.
"Well then, perhaps this will give you something new to think about, Lady Avatar." Again, there was that note to how Korra's title was uttered. As though there was something more to it than what Asami knew of the shorter girl's responsibilities and what the title she bore meant.
That line of thought that had constantly flitted in and out of her mind every time she heard of Toph address Korra by her title, however, was put on hold as the old woman moved her right leg in a circular motion, dragging the dirt with her bare foot as she changed her stance.
Korra stiffened beside her and it took a moment for Asami to realize why.
The stance the Lady of the Swamp had taken was not something new to the Prodigy's eyes. She had seen it once before, back at the Fire Nation when they first stumbled upon the old Fire Lord, Zuko.
"No way," the Avatar muttered under her breath as Toph moved her outstretched arms in a circular manner with her left palm facing upwards and her right facing the ground.
The old woman paused for a moment, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath through her nose, expelling it from her mouth. Another intake of breath and her arms were moving once more only stopping when they had made their way in front of her chest with both hands balled into a fist, each touching the other.
Toph opened her eyes then, before whirling around, her feet never leaving the ground and creating trails of dirt in her wake. She moved closer to the giant Rift before she stopped and pushed both her fists forward, opening them with their palms facing outward towards the Rift.
There was a sound that followed, as though a monstrous beast had groaned and the earth rumbled. The old woman stayed in the stance she ended up with, undeterred by the sudden quaking of the earth. Asami couldn't say the same as she almost toppled over, it was only Korra's grip on her that kept her from falling face-first on the ground, though she did end almost sprawling all over the Avatar instead.
The two of them watched in silent awe as the rift began to contract and shrink, little by little. The strength of the abomination in the Human Realm apparent by its unwillingness to vanish quickly and without a trace, unlike how it had been with Zuko and the portal that spewed the Dark Spirits that he was able to banish. And yet, the magnitude of what had to be done didn't deter the old woman. She remained steadfast, her posture never wavering. She was like an unmovable object.
When Toph finally saw her job done—a job that wasn't lost on Asami as being Korra's responsibility—the Rift was reduced to nothing more but the size of a pebble. It wasn't completely sealed, but darkness no longer emanated in waves from it.
The old woman straightened not soon afterwards and walked towards the shrunken rift. In a swift movement that the aspiring, young Inventor could not follow, she plucked something from the floating tear.
"It's not a question of mind over matter, Korra," Toph spoke, still not looking at either of them as she did. There was a hint of weariness in her voice. "It is a matter of will. Perhaps when you have regained that will, then you can come back here and finish the job."
And with that she threw the item she had plucked from the center of the Rift towards Korra who fumbled but managed to catch it. Opening her palms, the Avatar saw what it was she had been given: a jewel, as long as her little finger and as wide as her thumb, and the color of Opal's eyes.
Asami ran a hand on the jewel and, instantly, she knew—though she had no idea how—what it was.
"They went to the Swamp," her son reported to her, still wearing the mask reserved for when they were out on a mission—a mask meant to frighten those who beheld it.
She had asked her twins to observe their visitors—the people Opal had claimed were her friends. Wei had gone to keep an eye on Korra and Asami while Wan shadowed the others with the help of the other operatives they had in the vicinity. She made it clear to everyone involved that they were to be as discreet as possible, knowing how Opal would react the moment she found out what she had asked her brothers to do.
"The Swamp?" Suyin frowned and she found herself shivering at the thought of the place she had dared not venture into after the events that had transpired there that night all those years ago. A memory flashed in her mind, reminding her of the woman she had lost there.
They had returned to that place after they ensured the Dai Li had retreated, hoping to rescue Kuvira. But when they had returned, she was nowhere to be seen. Her body was not amongst the carcases that lay on the ground, soaking the earth with crimson. The only thing left of the woman she had considered a close confidant and even closer friend was her mask and her armor, pierced with so many arrows that there was no way the Hero of Zaofu would still be alive.
She shook her head, not willing to acknowledge that memory even more than she already had. There was another time to think about that fateful day, a day she had regretted ever since. "What reason could they possibly have for going there?"
"This is just a guess, Mother," Wei crossed his arms and leaned by the windowsill overlooking the swamp. Though he was asked to follow Korra and Asami, he was unable to keep up with them. Not when they were astride the beast they called 'Naga'. And so he had went up a watchtower and followed them with his eyes there. "But the fog may have sparked their curiosity. If what we had come to learn about Opal's friends, it seems they are interested in these oddities. It doesn't help that the entire region is talking about it now."
Suyin sighed, then rubbed her temples. "Are you certain that is their reason?"
Wei shrugged. "I find no other purpose for them to venture into the Swamp." He paused, gauging his mother's reaction, before adding, "I don't think we have anything to worry about with those two, Mother. If anything, their actions coincide with what we know of them. I can't say the same with the others in their group, however."
"They've been snooping around," Wan nodded, as Wei turned his attention to the window overlooking Zaofu's borders. Unlike his twin, his mask sat atop his head and not on his face. "At least, the Fire Nation Prince is. I have no idea what Bolin is doing, but he has been worrying the rug near Opal's room. The boy, Kai, was it? I think he's just exploring the place. Last we saw he was with Opal."
"What of the woman? Bolin's secretary?"
"She hasn't left the room she shares with Korra and Asami." Wan replied dismissively.
Suyin hummed as she weighed in on her options. She saw no threat with the others that Opal had brought to their home. Her only concern were the woman called 'the Avatar' and Prince Iroh. And, right at that moment, the Prince was the one she was most worried about. She knew she couldn't let the Fire Nation Prince continue with what he was doing but, at the same time, she couldn't risk having him apprehended…not when she was hoping to make an alliance with the Fire Nation.
The twins awaited their mother to give the word on what must be done; what action they should take. Just then, Wei saw in the distance the tell-tale signs of an explosion before the force of the blast finally travelled the space between and rocked the window panes from the impact.
"What the—!" was all Wei could say before someone burst into the room.
It was one of their forward scouts that they had designated to stand as lookout near the center of Zaofu. Her auburn hair was dishevelled and her face marred with grime and sweat and what appeared to be blood. Her uniform was singed in some places while torn on others. But, most of all, the fear in her eyes was what had everyone in the room focus on her.
"Lady Suyin!" the scout's voice trembled and hitched. "A-Attack! We're being attacked!"
As if to punctuate the scout's words, another explosion rocked the city, the proximity was closer than the last that sent the window panes shaking and books from a nearby shelf to topple.
"Hou-Ting?" Suyin asked, climbing to her feet, her face showing not a sign of worry but of anger at having been at the receiving end of a surprise attack. We're better than this, she thought to herself.
The Auburn-haired scout shook her head before wincing from the pain of her wounds, "No, ma'am. It's not them. It's…something else. Something…not human."
"Not human?" Wan looked at his twin, his brow creased, before turning his attention back to the scout. "What do you mean?"
Lady Suyin could not get the mental image of the unbridled fear that their scout had in her eyes as she spoke in a shaky voice and told them what was going on in the Zoafu's city proper.
"This is one of the stones," Korra stared at the gem in her hands, confusion marring her features, before she dared to look at the old woman. "Why was it in that Rift? Should it not be in the hands of the one meant to be protecting it?"
"It was," Toph nodded, stretching her back and allowing it to pop with a sigh. "It was left in Suyin's care. Though I believe she was sceptical about the whole Avatar-business and the importance of her role—and that stone—with it."
"She must have lost it during that battle," Asami surmised, remembering the battle they had witnessed through Mnemosyne's help.
The Avatar scoffed, holding the olive-green stone firmly in her hand as she balled them into a fist. "To bring it with her in battle…what a careless, dim-witted human."
"Korra!" Asami admonished, pushing the shorter girl's shoulders enough that it made her wobble.
"What?" the Avatar raised an eyebrow. "Would you have brought this with you if you were in her shoes? She might be indifferent about it, but I had assumed these stones would be some kind of heirloom passed down for generations or something similar. Even if it is not, I thought humans find value in these things? This stone is shiny it is not improbable bandits would try to pilfer it."
"Still, that's no way to talk about Opal's mother."
The Lady of the Swamp chuckled, "Well, Korra has a point. It would have been quite problematic for all of us if it had been stolen by unscrupulous folks."
"And for the supposed Guardian of the Elemental Core of the Earth, you seem quite indifferent about this being swallowed up by that rift as well." Korra pointed out, glaring at the old woman.
"Eh," Toph waved her hand in dismissal, "It proved to be a perfect place to keep it hidden and secure. No one knew where it was except for me. It would have also been a good test for you. And though you have failed miserably at that—" That got Korra to growl at the old woman. "—time is short and it grows shorter still, we can't really stay longer than we have already here."
The Guardian of the Elemental Core of the Earth looked at them. Her face darkened, and in the most somber and serious look she had given them said, "Zoafu is under attack."
Opal had never been more appreciative with Kai and his reflexes as much as she was at that moment. Had it not been for the Avatar's Steward, she would probably—no, most definitely—have face-planted herself to the ground. As it was, he had managed to steady her, and himself, after that explosion.
Two sets of eyes quickly glanced at the direction where a dark smoke had started to billow; where the darkness of the night was marred by the hot, orange glow of fire.
It was then that bells started clanging and the emergency sirens wailed. Heavy footsteps thudded as waves of soldiers she didn't know were being housed anywhere near their vicinity suddenly ran towards the source of the explosion and the flames.
In the distance she could hear people screaming and wailing; their sounds so animalistic and guttural that it made her shiver.
"Is Zaofu being attacked?" It was a stupid question to ask, and one she found herself asking nonetheless.
She felt Kai shrug rather than see him do so. Their eyes were still fixated on the billowing smoke and the roaring flames in the distance. Glancing at the young man who was still lending her his support, she could see him work his jaw and the intense gaze he had.
It took a heartbeat later before Kai even looked at her and said, "I have a bad feeling about this…"
And she couldn't fault him. She had a bad feeling about it, too.
They were dumbfounded, to say the least. They weren't even sure if they heard her right the first time around. Even if they did, they thought nothing of it except for Lady Toph's weird sense of humor.
"I'm sorry, Lady Toph," Asami found herself chuckling mirthlessly, almost awkwardly. "For a moment I thought I heard you say Zaofu is being attacked."
"Oh, you heard me right, Asami." Toph assured her, though it was an assurance Asami would rather not have been given. "Don't worry, though. It has nothing to do with either of you."
To say that the dismissal that followed after Lady Toph's words were jarring would be an understatement. The Prodigy could only gape at the old woman as she struggled to find the words that she felt needed saying.
"Nothing to—! Avatar Korra's nostrils flared. She let go of Asami for a moment, taking a step forward towards the Lady of the Swamp. "—You just told us Opal's home is under attack! How is that none of our concern?"
"What's this?" The sudden shift in demeanor from the old woman was strange, but Asami couldn't wrap her head around it and try to get behind it at the moment. "Is the Avatar worried about a bunch of humans? That's a little bit out of character for you, wouldn't you say, Korra?"
"You are really testing my patience!" Korra bellowed as flames burst forth from her arms, covering the entirety of them up to the tips of her fingers.
The suddenness of the action snapped Asami from her stupor and brought back her wits. She quickly intervened before Korra could do anything she would regret.
"Korra, stop!"
"But— !"
Asami shook her head, "We don't have time for this. If Zaofu is really under attack, Opal and the others will need our—" again she shook her head, "—no, your—help. We can't waste time here."
The vein in Korra's forehead throbbed and she huffed, extinguishing the flames she had summoned forth. The Avatar's frustration oozed in waves, accompanied by the heat of her Fire-Bending she seemed to be struggling to control. Silently, the raven-haired, young woman pleaded to whatever gods may be listening that Lady Toph would stop trying to bait Korra into…whatever it was she was baiting her to.
"It is true you can't waste time here," Toph told them. "But it isn't Zaofu you should be setting your sights towards." The old woman then pointed towards the north east. "That is where you should be heading."
Asami followed the direction Lady Toph was pointing to. She wasn't all that familiar with the geography of the Earth Kingdom, so she couldn't really tell where—exactly—the Lady of the Swamp wanted them to go. Korra, for her part, kept her eyes on the old woman, not hiding the fact of how distrustful she had grown of her.
It became even more apparent when the shorter girl asked, "And why should we?"
Lady Toph paid no mind to the tone Korra used on her. "Well, if you really want to save all those people from those things that are attacking them, then you will, quite frankly, need the additional fire power. And with the gem in your possession, there should be nothing stopping you from attaining just that."
It clicked then, what it was Toph wanted them to do. And looking over at Korra, even she had understood what the Guardian of the Elemental Core of the Earth was implying.
The old woman stomped her foot, and the ground trembled once more. Behind them, on the side of the cliff close to where the earthen staircase leading out of the cavernous pit was, a giant hole started forming and with it a pathway to who-knows-where.
Surprisingly as well, Naga suddenly came bounding down those staircase with such haste that Asami couldn't help wonder how the Polar Bear Dog knew where they were and how she knew speed was of the essence. She wondered as well, not for the first time, how deeply connected Korra and Naga were.
"The choice is yours, of course." Lady Toph added as the groaning of the earth stopped and Naga stood by the mouth of the newly-made tunnel. "You could attempt to save them just as you are…or you could follow my advice."
Korra balled her fist. If Asami didn't know any better, she would have thought Korra was trembling slightly, but the Prodigy merely shook that away thinking nothing of it. She simply chucked it off as Korra being her prideful self, not wanting to admit that the old woman could be right and that her suggestion does have merit. That, or Korra was still pretty much exhausted from her earlier ordeal and was just doing everything she could to keep herself standing.
Sensing that Korra was not going to say anything, Asami decided to ask, "How long do we have?"
"That depends, my dear." Lady Toph once again shrugged. "But this will be a race against death, there is no doubt about that."