Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Korra or Avatar the Last Airbender. I only own my own characters and ideas
Book four Peace Chapter Seven: Azula's Return
The next morning Ren heard a knock at the door. She pulled the blankets closer to her face, ignoring whoever was at the door. Whoever was at the door knocker harder, making Sky groaned before he covered his head with his pillow. The person continued to knock even harder. Ren finally got out of bed and slowly made her way for the door. She opened the door to see Lin standing there with a displeased look on her face. Ren raised an eyebrow at Lin, but Lin still stood there. When Lin didn't say anything, Ren started to close the door but Lin stopped her. Ren looked at her waiting for her to say or do something. Ren sighed, rolling her eyes at Lin. Lin punched Ren in the face, making blood pour from her nose. Ren stuck her hand under her nose as the blood continued to come out of her nose. She soon tasted the blood in her mouth and spit. Sky sat up when he heard Ren to see her spitting blood at Lin. He got up but before he could reach the two Lin used her cables to throw him against the wall. Ren looked back at him as he laid on the ground. When she turned around she saw a decent portion of her shirt was covered in blood. She glared at Lin as the blood continued to flow out of her nose. Ren clenched her jaw as she stared Lin down. She grabbed Lin's arm, twisting it. Ren heard a crack right before Lin hit the ground. Lee, Link, Min, and Takumi rounded the corner to see Lin on the ground and Ren covered in blood. The four stood in their spots, knowing they should stay out of the fight. Ren kicked sending a blast of air at Lin, sending her into the wall. Ren used her cables to throw Lin down the hall. Everyone looked from the dining room to see Lin sliding across the ground.
When Lin got up she pulled her arm close to her body. She sent her cables for Ren but Ren weaved through them. Ren ran towards Lin before she tackled her. Lin tried to flip Ren but Ren grabbed Lin with her leg, throwing her. Ren sent an air blast as both women fell. Ren stood and slowly walked over to Lin. She could see Lin holding her arm close to her body. Ren clenched her jaw, but walked away. She grabbed the towel out of Haru's hand and held it to her nose. She blinked a little as the pain started to set in. Sky finally ran out from their room to see Lin on the ground. He tried to run over to Lin but Ren stopped him. Ren watched as Lin got up still holding her arm. Ren looked at Lin as she stood in front of her. Ren was trying to think of what to say to Lin. Ren did nothing to provoke Lin and she got punched in the face anyway.
"Screw it. What the flameo is your problem? You woke me up just to assault me. Real classy Lin. I'm sure Toph and Grandpa Tenzin would be proud of you," Ren said
"You and Sky better do your damn jobs. Everyone here wants Aki caught and you two are our best bet but you are too busy sleeping in or having sex or whatever you were doing. Yesterday you were yelling about not getting anything done and were grieving now today you are all smiles. Go play someone else kid," Lin said.
Everyone looked at Lin for a moment, then Ren. Ren dropped the towel before she ran her tongue across her teeth. Ren soon walked over to Lin. She quickly grabbed Lin's bad arm, bending it behind Lin as far as it would go. Lin started to yell out in pain as she fell to her knees. Ren stood there for a few minutes as if nothing was going on. Ren eventually heard something pop and a crack. She let go and pushed Lin to the ground. Everyone looked at Ren as she walked back to her room. Ren change her outfit and grabbed her glider. She opened the door, making her way to the courtyard. She saw Kya and Suyin trying to help Lin with her arm and shoulder. Ren gave Lin a smug look before she walked past her. Ren opened her glider and took off. Sky pinched his nose as he walked back to his room to get his uniform on. Once he was done he walked towards the ferry. On the ferry ride to Republic City he thought about this morning's events. Ren landed in front of the Police Headquarters and walked in. Ren walked past Lieutenant Kalli, and nodded as she continued to walk. She knocked on Mako's desk, giving him a small smile as she walked by. She walked into Sky's office and closed the door behind her. She looked for a map and a marker. When she found both she started to circle every place Aki had attacked her, and dots every place the traids had attacked. She saw that some of the dots got very close to the circles. She looked up when she heard the door open. Sky walked in and looked at the map. Ren pushed on her face a bit near her nose as she tried to concentrate. Ren continued to push on her nose until she saw a drop of blood hit the map. She cursed under her breath as she grabbed a rag Sky had lying around. Sky pushed Ren to his cot and made her sit. Ren sat there for a while until her nose stopped bleeding. When it finally stopped she laid back. She could feel the swelling in her face and the pain started to finally to kick in. She started to drift off as she held her face.
Ren felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back to see her great Grandpa Aang who soon guided her into memories. She saw Azula attacking her great grandfather in the catacombs and great Gran-Gran Katara. She saw her blue flames and watched as the fight unfold. She flashed into a small village. She saw a younger version of Lord Zuko and a younger version of her great grandfather. She saw the three fight briefly before she flashed to a drill drilling into a large wall. She saw Azula fighting her great grandfather. She turned to her great Grandpa Aang in confusion.
"You know what to do," he said as he vanished.
Ren groaned and rolled over as she laid in the cot. She tried to go back to sleep, but there was a knock at the door. She put the pillow over her head as the knocking continued. She groaned again, hoping whoever was knocking would eventually stop.
"Chief, umm can you open up," Mako said.
"Mako, it is going to have to wait until later," Sky said.
"Chief, I think you should open the door. It is kinda something that needs your attention," Mako said.
Sky looked at Ren trying to sleep in the cot and wondered what was so important that Mako had to disturb him. He started to walk over to the door, but Ren grabbed his hand. He looked at her with a small smile before he started to walk towards the door. Sky unlocked the door and slowly opened the door. He saw the world leaders standing behind Mako. Sky looked at them as he shifted his weight. Sky moved aside, letting the world leaders into his office. Sesi looked at Sky's cot then Sky. Sky shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Ren. He walked over to her and gentle nudged her. Ren looked at him and he motioned to the world leaders. Ren looked over to see Sesi with her eyebrows raised a bit. Ren started to rub her nose but quickly stopped as her nose shot pain throughout parts of her face. She got up and grabbed her glider, making her way for the door. She heard Lee clear his throat. He was about to talk but Ren metalbent Sky's name plaque over Lee's mouth. Lee tried to pull it off as Ren walked out of Sky's office. Sky sighed as he tried to help Lee get the plaque off his mouth. Kuvira bent the plaque away from Lee's face and back into shape. Everyone watched Ren walk out of the building. Ren tightened her grip on her glider as she thought about her dream. She had no clue what she was supposed to do, but apparently her great Grandpa Aang thought she did. She was so confused. Azula was an extremely skilled firebender. She had vanished years ago. Even if she hadn't vanished she had to be dead by now. Ren knew that there was no way the advice she was given was to look for Azula. She had to find somewhere to meditate. She airbended her way to the top of a building. She sat down and tried to concentrate, but the traffic and noise below made it very difficult. Ren started to grind her teeth as she continued to try to concentrate. When she knew she wasn't going to be able to concentrate she opened her glider and made her way for the Spirit Portal. Once she was in the Spirit World she closed her glider, spinning it before place it on the ground. She sat down, and sat in the lotus position. She took a deep breath and felt a presence. She opened her eyes to see a spirit in front of her. She quickly shooed the spirit and tried to meditate again. She soon felt another presence.
"Raava, what does an avatar have to do to be left alone to meditate around here?" Ren asked as she got up and turned around, reveling Tenzin. "Grandpa Tenzin."
Ren ran to Tenzin with tears in her eyes. Tenzin stood there with a smile on his face. Ren finally reached Tenzin and clung to him as she cried. Tenzin hugged her, and thought about the last time he had seen her. He kissed the top of her head and listened to her try to tell him about the fight with Lin. He tried to ease the pain as much as he could, but he knew that the sad truth was no matter what she was still going to hurt because he was still gone. He wished he had some kind of advice for her to help her with the pain she was feeling. He wished he could help her with Aki. He wanted so badly to give her advice but he had none. He moved Ren back and wiped the tears out of her eyes. He started to walk away. Ren started to follow Tenzin, but she saw him motion for her to stay where she was. Ren felt her eyes start to water again. She didn't understand. How could he do that to her? He came and just left like that. She sat down and pulled her knees close to her chest. She sniffed as she got up. She grabbed her glider and started to walk around the Spirit World. She knew that there had to be answers somewhere in the Spirit World that weren't in the material world. She saw a spirit fox and reached out for it. It slowly guided her to a ledge. She looked at the fox who gently nudge her forward. She looked down to see fog everywhere. She looked back at the fox again. The fox tilted its head at her before it nudged her again. Ren dropped her glider on the ground and jumped off the ledge. She used her airbending to cushion her landing. She looked around, trying to see through the fog. She used her firebending to see if that would help her at all. She soon started to hear voices. She knew where she was now. The Fog of Lost Souls. Ren started to look around and panic. She didn't understand why the spirit fox wanted her to come here.
"He is ashamed of you," a voice said.
"You'll never live up to their expectations," another said.
"No. No. That isn't true. I will be the avatar they want me to be. No one is ashamed of me..." Ren trailed off. "I am not Korra or Aang and no one expects me to be. I am Ren and I will make my own choices as the avatar. I will save the world."
"The avatar," a voice said.
Ren turned around with a smile. "You're coming with me," She said as she grabbed her new partner.
Ren used her earthbending to jump up to the top of the ledge. Ren grabbed her gilder before she grabbed her new counterpart and taking off. Ren hoped that that she would be able to take the person out of the Spirit World. When the two exited Ren made her way for Air Temple Island. Ren landed on the beach, hoping she could delay everyone's the two walked up the temple stairs she paused for a moment. Why of all people did this group have to be in the courtyard Ren thought to herself. Ren saw the Beifong sisters, Honora, Izumi, her Gran-Gran Pema, her great Uncle Bumi, and her great Aunt Kya. She put her hand over mouth as the two continued to walk towards the courtyard. Everyone looked up when they heard footsteps. The group got into their fighting stances and Pema backed away cautiously. Ren stepped in the middle of everyone and held her hands up. Everyone looked at Ren with a confused look.
"Ren, you do know who that is, right? Have you lost the last of whatever sanity you had left?" Suyin said as she stayed in her fighting stance.
"You're Azula, right? Yea pretty sure she is Azula. I've acquired an education over my lifetime. Yes, this does look really bad, but think of the potential that could come from it. Azula could help us take down Aki," Ren said.
"What do my parents think about this? Wait they don't know do they?" Kya asked.
"No, they don't know, but I'm sure they eventually will know and you know what like I said she might be able to help with Aki," Ren said.
"Did you ever take into consideration that she could also betray you too? She easily took down my mother and all our parents for a long time," Lin said.
"I don't see any of you doing anything at all to help take Aki down. At least I came up with an idea. Sure, it may suck in the end. Sure, it could back fire, but you know what I tried. You're the Beifong sisters and you just sit there instead of helping me with any input or with my earthbending. You're Zuko and Mai's children and while your father would give be advice and help with my firebending you two sit there and judge. You're great Grandpa Aang and great Gran-Gran Katara's children and I still suck at airbending in my opinion and Aunt Kya you don't do what Gran-Gran would do with me. Gran-Gran Pema your mother was one of the most amazing chi blockers but you coward behind Grandpa Tenzin for years. Look even now you are cowering instead of standing your ground against her," Ren said.
"So Zuzu had children with Mai. Tylee had a child? I figured she would she was always a flirt. I always knew the avatar would get with the water tribe girl. You could always tell they loved each other. Can't believe the blind one had children though. You all look fairly pathetic compared to your parents though, especially Tylee's daughter," Azula said.
"Oh, Raava kill me now," Ren said looking up at the sky.
Pema glared at Azula as Azula grinned. Everyone cautiously left their fighting stances, but still continued to watch Azula. Pema walked over to Ren and slapped her across the face before she walked into the temple. Ren nodded a bit before she felt her face. She knew she deserved it. She looked at everyone to see what they would do but they all walked away from her. She tried to call out for them but no one looked back. Azula laughed at her which frustrated Ren. Her great Grandpa Aang showed her fights with Azula so she pulled Azula out of the Spirit World only to be criticized. She groaned as she pinched her nose. Haru walked out into the courtyard to find out what everyone's problem was but stopped. He stopped after he saw Azula. He pressed his lips together as he looked at Ren. Ren grabbed Azula and pulled her into the temple. Ren ran into Jinora and her eyes went wide. Jinora tried to pull Ren aside, but Ren held onto Azula. When Ren couldn't find Hakoda she pulled Azula into the courtyard and sat her on the bench. She grabbed her face, making her look at her.
"Now listen to me. You are going to train me to take Aki down. We are going to start right now. You are even going to help me take her down. I don't want none of this switching side shit. If you do, you'll find yourself right back where I found you," Ren said letting go.
Ren turned her back to Azula as she walked to the center of the courtyard. Azula grinned as she got up, following the young avatar. Azula pulled her arm up with fire shooting out. Ren tried to stick a barrier up, but she was knocked back. Ren used her airbending to get up quickly. Ren pulled water out of the fountain and tried to pin Azula against the wall, but Azula quickly avoided it. Azula pulled her arms together with flames on both sides. Ren put a hole in the ground and dropped in. She watched as the blue flames collide. She airbended herself out of the hole. She was breathing heavily but Azula looked like she hadn't even gotten started. Ren sent her metal cables for Azula, grabbing one of her arms. Ren twisted and flipped Azula to the ground. Ren heard an air acolyte call her name. She looked up to see them holding a piece of paper. Ren ran over to the acolyte to see that Aki was causing problems in Republic City again. Ren sighed as she thanked the acolyte. She grabbed Azula and she made her way for the city. When they were in the city Ren ran as fast as she could to the last place Aki had been spotted. Ren hoped that her plan worked as she drug Azula with her. When the two finally found Aki, Ren yelled her name. Aki turned around with a smile on her face. Aki made the first move by making two quick jabs and a fire whip. She sent the fire whip at Ren as soon as the fire left her hand from the jabs. Ren circled the fire around making it disappear. Ren made a water whip, hoping it would work. Aki slid her foot across the ground as she kicked fire across the ground, still holding the fire whip. Ren used her airbending to launch herself in the air. Ren was knocked down and slid across the ground. She looked back to see Azula with her fist out. She cursed under her breath. She got up and looked at the two. She pulled water out of the air, sending it at Aki. She then sent two chunks of earth at Azula. Both attacks had missed her opponents. Ren felt a burning in her wrist and was pulled in the air. Ren spun around in time to see Azula shoot fire from her fingertips. Ren swung her arm making the flame vanish. Ren hit the ground with a thud and she was knocked back. She looked up to see Aki walking towards her. She propped herself up and smashed her other hand against the ground. The earth under Aki started to shake and she fell in after it split open. Ren got up and grabbed her glider, taking off. She had forgotten about Azula until Azula shot her out of the sky. Ren closed her glider as she fell. She started to crash into buildings as she continued to fall to the ground.
When Ren finally hit the ground she laid there holding onto her glider. Ren tried to get up but she was knocked down by Aki. Ren started to feel her breathing start to slow a bit. She gripped her glider tighter before she swung it at both Aki and Azula. A gust of air flew back at Aki. Ren opened the glider trying to take off again. She saw Azula running after her. Ren punched the ground making a wave form before she took off. Ren had managed to make it over Yue Bay when she saw more fire balls coming at her. She tried to weave through them, but one hit her. She started to head towards the water. She closed the glider, diving into the water. When Ren came out she was on a column of water with tentacles. Aki and Azula watched as Ren slowly made her way back to the island. When Ren got to the island she stumbled up the stairs before she collapsed in the courtyard. Hakoda walked out to see Ren on the ground. He ran over and started to yell. Sky ran out into the courtyard to see Ren on the ground and his son next to her with tears in his eyes. Sky ran over to Ren and placed her head in his lap. He saw that she was still able to talk.
"Ren, what happened?" Sky asked.
"Everyone was right. Azula betrayed me. She and Aki attacked me at the same time. I think they teamed up," Ren said before she passed out.
"Kya, I need help out here!" Sky yelled.
Everyone ran out into the courtyard to see Ren's condition. Kya walked over to Ren and looked up at Sky. Lin and Su looked at each other before they looked at Ren. Pema reached out for Ren before she sat down. Hakoda ran over to Pema with tears still in his eyes. Pema started to run her hand through his hair as Kya looked at Ren.
"Sky what did she tell you? Did she say what happened? "Kya asked.
"Aki and Azula happened," Sky said looking around at everyone.