Chapter 22 The Southern Lights
Korra was heading to the stables to meet up with Unalaq after unsuccessfully finding her husband which saddened her seeing she had put a strain on their marriage now.
Arriving early she saw her uncle who looked pleased.
"Your early." Unalaq said.
"I just wanna get whatever I need to get done and find my husband. I need make things right." Korra said.
"I understand I wish no ill will towards you or your husband. In order to calm the spirits I will train you in a long dormant spirit site. The South Pole." Unalaq said.
"How is going there going to help?" Korra asked.
"By neglecting the spirits the Southern water tribe have brought darkness upon themselves, and now it threatens to destroy our tribe. We must set things right." Unalaq said.
"Hmph!" Reznov said walking to his camel before Korra walked to him.
"Any sign of him?" Korra asked making him sigh.
"I already know where he is. He's in Asgard. He always goes there to calm down. But he wouldn't have to be there if someone had just listened to him." Reznov said making her sigh.
"Look I get it I screwed up and I'm gonna make this right with him when we're done. But if Unalaq is right..." Korra tried to say.
"You really are naive. I don't believe things like what happened yesterday happen by chance. All of a sudden dark spirits just suddenly appear out of nowhere. Where were they during the hundred year war? And he shows up and then one attacks you and he knows how to control it. Coincidence I think not!" Reznov said getting his gear making her frown as she listened to what he said and couldn't deny something was amiss.
"Don't listen to him. He respects Sean's judgment all the time. Always paid off in dangerous situations." Julia said comforting her.
"I know. When we get this done I'll make things right." Korra said.
"I'm sure you will. But for now we might as well get this done." Julia said getting on Naga with Korra.
Meanwhile
Tenzin and the others on Oogi arrived at the Southern Air temple.
"There it is, The southern Air temple." Tenzin said.
"Nice. It kinda reminds me of one of the old Temples of Athena when I was growing up." Turok said before they landed before they got off.
"Master Tenzin, Welcome." An acolyte said.
"Good to see you again, Abbot Shung." Tenzin said.
Turok however just walked off before arriving in the room of past Avatars before looking at Aang's statue.
"Hmph. The sad thing is now Korra will be the last Avatar with her immortality. Now she won't get a statue." Turok said chuckling before sensing something in the room. "What was that?" Turok asked.
"Hello." Jinora said appearing making him smile.
"So these are all the past Avatars. Theres a lot. Though I feel like there should be more." Turok said.
"Some of them lived a lot longer than the natural human lifespan. Kyoshi lived for over 230 years before she died." Jinora said.
"You know everything don't you?" Turok asked making her grin.
Meanwhile
Korra and the others were getting everything ready before Korra approached Reznov.
"Reznov? Are...We gonna be ok?" Korra asked making him sigh.
"Yeah we'll be fine. Sorry about before. But I trust Kruger's judgment. If he says theres something off about Unalaq theres a reason for that. His instincts have always proven solid. I don't need to tell you what happened the one time he didn't listen to his instincts." Reznov said.
"I know. The temple." Korra said looking down.
Thats when Tonraq arrived on a snowmobile.
Unalaq noticed this and frowned before approaching him.
"Tonraq, what do you want?" Unalaq questioned.
"I heard your taking Korra to the South Pole. I'm coming." Tonraq said.
"Absolutely not! You're a distraction to Korra and a hindrance to what needs to be done." Unalaq said.
"Your lucky I'm even letting you near her after making things difficult in her marriage!" Tonraq said glaring at him.
"That was not my intention." Unalaq said.
"I don't believe you especially after you tried to stop the wedding." Tonraq said.
"Dad, It's okay. I'm just gonna get this done and make things right with him." Korra said.
"Even after all these years your still misguided. It's people like him that have put the Spirit world out of balance. He's ignored my warnings in the past and hasn't learned since." Unalaq said.
"What happened in the past?" Korra asked.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is the Everstorm." Tonraq said.
"The hell is that?" Reznov asked.
"A massive blizzard that has battered the south pole for decades. I'm coming, unless you think you can stop me." Tonraq challenged his brother who frowned.
"HEY! GUYS! WAIT FOR ME!" Bolin yelled driving to them on a high tech snowmobile.
"What the fuck?" Reznov asked amused.
"Check it out. I'm traveling in style." Bolin said before turning the throttle on before stopping. "Sorry, still getting used to that throttle." Bolin said.
"Where the hell you'd get that?" Korra asked.
"From Varrick. You know the guy Asami went to ask for help saving her company. He also gave me this fancy snowsuit. It's inflatable with an internal heater, emergency beacon, and foot ration pouch. I mean, if I get lost, I can survive in this thing for like a month." Bolin said.
"I'm pretty Sure Sean would say there is such a thing as too much." Korra said amused before looking depressed still thinking about her husband. "Lets just get this over with." Korra said wanting to get this done and make things right.
Eska however approached Bolin. Does this Sidecar have capacity for two passengers?" Eska asked.
"Sure does." Bolin said placing a hand on the side passenger seat. "But, uh, who's gonna drive?" Bolin asked.
Later
Bolin had an annoyed look on his face as he drove both Desna and Eska. (HAHAHAHA! What the fuck did he see in her!)
"Oh my good lord. Looks like..." Reznov tried to say.
"Go away, Reznov." Bolin said making him burst out laughing.
"Oh my uncle Loki would be enjoying this greatly." Reznov said laughing so hard.
Up ahead were Korra and Unalaq.
"So once we get to the South Pole, then what happens?" Korra asked
"You will open an ancient spirit portal." Unalaq said.
"I'm sorry. What now?" Korra asked confused.
"At the South Pole, there is a portal that connects our world to the spirit world. But it has long been closed." Unalaq said.
"And thats why evil spirits are attacking?" Korra asked.
"There are no evil spirits. There is light and dark in all of them. But when they're unbalanced, the darkness takes over. If you can open the portal in time, balance will be restored.
"What do you mean in time?" Korra asked.
"Theres a reason the glacier spirits festival ends on the winter solstice. Thats when the spirit world and the physical world are close together. Only the Avatar can open the portal." Unalaq said.
"But thats tomorrow." Korra said.
"Exactly. And we can't afford to wait another year." Unalaq said.
Suddenly however Naga started growling.
"Easy, Naga." Korra said calming her down before looking out seeing what was making her act up.
"What are those?" Bolin asked terrified.
"Dark spirits." Korra said before they vanished.
"Lets keep moving. We have to find a safe place to set up camp.
Soon enough they set up camp and were around a fire.
"Uncle, why do you think dark spirits are following us?" Korra asked.
"The Spirits are angry because he's here." Unalaq said pointing at his brother shocking her. "Haven't you ever wondered how your father ended up in the South Pole? Why he's never taken you to visit his homeland in the North?" Unalaq questioned.
"Unalaq, this is not the time." Tonraq said.
"You're right. You should have told her a long time ago." Unalaq said.
"Told me what?" Korra asked making him sigh.
"I left the North Pole because I was banished." Tonraq said shocking her and the others.
"You were banished from the North? Why?" Korra asked.
"Because I almost destroyed the entire tribe. 20 years ago, I was a general in the northern water tribe, Sworn to protect my people. Then one day a group of barbarians attacked the tribe. We fought back and forced them out. We tracked them down to a sacred forest thinking we would never dare to attack on sacred ground. They thought wrong." Tonraq said.
"Sounds more like you were just doing your job." Reznov said.
"I was. We took them down and captured them but in the process we destroyed the forest. The next night angry spirits came at the tribe. Unalaq was able to calm them down and returned them to the forest. But the damage had been done and my father banished me from the Northern water tribe and I made my way here...Where shortly after I met Korra's mother than we had her." Tonraq said making Korra look down.
"Now you see? People like him cause nothing but trouble. Do you understand?" Unalaq asked making her grin.
"Yeah...And I have something to say to that." Korra said making him curious.
"And that is?" Unalaq asked before she glared at him.
"Fuck off!" Korra said shocking both him and her father before she stood up. "I should have listened to Sean when I had the chance before you put a strain on my marriage. You literally just proved everything he said about you. Your manipulative and use people's mistakes to turn them to your side!" Korra said pissed off making him frown.
"You cannot truly believe that..." Unalaq tried to say.
"That WHAT? Say it!" Korra said.
"Korra calm down." Tonraq said.
"No. I wanna hear exactly what he was gonna say." Korra said glaring at him.
"Fine. You truly want my opinion? That thing you married is a Demon in human flesh." Unalaq said making her glare even more. "He was drunk with power as Spartan Captain and craved even more. And instead of accepting his death like he should he made a blood oath with the God of War who gave him even more power. How many people died by his hands alone? Men, Women and Children by those blades he carries. Entire villages were wiped out by his hands alone." Unalaq said making her tighten her fists so hard you could hear bones popping.
"Unalaq thats enough." Tonraq said.
"And the men who followed him were just as cruel as he was. No one was safe from him or his army. An entire country was brought to its knees because of him. And then theres his greatest crime of all. Murdering his entire family in cold blood." Unalaq said.
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! Ares tricked him into doing that by covering the inside with a mist I would know I saw his memories! It broke him." Korra said sadly remembering the image of him breaking down crying as he held his dead sister.
"That was no accident. He can say that all he wants. But I know differently. He killed his family willingly for the greatest power. No restraint and nothing to hold him back." Unalaq said making her glare even more. "He should have died with them." Unalaq said.
"ARGH!" Korra roared before airbending him into a wall before firebending but he quickly dodged.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Korra roared before Tonraq held her back.
"Korra! Calm down!" Tonraq said as he and Reznov held her back.
"Nice going!" Reznov said as they restrained her.
"I only said the truth. Why do you think he's called the Demon of Sparta." Unalaq said making Korra roar as she tried to get free.
"Knock it off!" Reznov said before she calmed down and walked away.
"Welp...Don't be surprised if she decides to head back now because of your big mouth." Julia said making Unalaq frown seeing that was a possibility.
Tonraq went to follow his daughter when he heard her crying.
Walking around a corner he saw her laying down with her back against the wall holding her knees.
"Korra?" Tonraq said concerned as she rubbed her eyes.
"I should have listened to him when I had the chance. Now I messed up my marriage because of him." Korra said still crying before he sat down and held her.
"Do you want to turn back?" Tonraq asked making her shake her head.
"If I don't finish this now I did all this for nothing." Korra said.
Later
Soon enough the group arrived at the Spirit portal.
"We've arrived." Unalaq said.
"Trees frozen in ice." Korra said.
"It's just like the sacred forest Tonraq destroyed in the north." Unalaq said.
"Just shut up!" Korra said glaring at him. "How do I open this portal?" Korra asked wanting to get this done and find her husband.
"You must find your way to the center where the dormant portal lies. From here, you're on your own." Unalaq said before she glared at him.
"Just to be clear once we're done your leaving and never coming back." Korra said before she rushed inside.
"The thing has twisted her mind." Unalaq said.
"No. Sean's done nothing but make her happy since the day he became part of her life. Thats why I gave him my blessing to marry her. You see only his darker past. I see someone else who's learned from his mistakes." Tonraq said.
Korra walked inside where the spirit portal was before she tried to firebend it out of the ice but nothing worked.
"ARGH! Why isn't this..." Korra tried to say before more Dark Spirits came at her making her widen her eyes as they neared her only for her necklace to glow forcing them back before she held it and smiled.
"Even when your not here your still protecting me." Korra said holding her former engagement necklace before she went into the Avatar State and touched the portal before the ice broke apart before a bright light flew to the skies. "The Spirits dancing in the skies." Korra said smiling.
"She did it." Tonraq said proud of her.
Just as Korra was about to head back she heard herself scream in horror before looking at the portal before widening her eyes.
She saw herself sobbing as she held a dying Sean in her arms.
"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault." Korra cried.
Korra widened her eyes before she suddenly felt weak and fainted.
Minutes later
"Korra!" Tonraq yelled as she woke up in her father's arms.
"Dad? What happened?" Korra asked.
"When you didn't come out we rushed in to find you and found you passed out. What happened?"
"I...I don't know. I saw Sean dying in my arms. Then I just...Collapsed." Korra said.
"What you saw was what you fear. These portals have a tendency to show us what we desire as well as what we fear. None of it was real." Unalaq said.
"We're done." Korra said standing up. "We opened the portal. Your leaving." Korra said before walking out.
"Where are you going?" Unalaq asked.
"To find my husband." Korra said.
Later
After arriving back home Korra and the others saw the Northern forces arriving.
"What the hell is going on? I said we're done!" Korra said glaring at Unalaq.
"Opening the Spirit portal was only the first step in getting the southern water tribe back on its righteous path. Theres just a few more things left to do and if you wish when we are done I will never bother you or your husband ever again." Unalaq said making her frown.
Authors Note: And with that Korra is left with a possible prediction of her actions. Or is it Kronos's prediction come true. Find out in later Chapters. To My Loyal Guest (Dude you seriously need to pick a name so no one gets confused) I'm asking you to stop giving out so many requests and suggestions and just let me do what I do best which is surprise people. And of course there are sad moments in this it adds to the plot! Now Read, Review, Fav and Follow. REVIEW MY LOYAL FANS! See ya!