The Dragon Of The West
As he pours his favorite Jasmine tea in the cups of his visitors, Iroh wears an unfaltering smile holding that precious teapot–it once carried Raava, the Spirit of Light, ten thousand years ago. The guest on his right, sitting in the middle between him and his opponent, is Avatar Korra. Exactly the 300th demigod of the never-ending cycle. Contrary to popular belief, the number of Avatars have never reached the thousands, far from it evidently. All of the statues in the sacred tombs of all four Air Temples around the world, are duplicates or just the same Avatar in different stages of life, thus why they seem to stretch on upwards forever. As freespirited as Air Nomads seem, even they can't escape the very human inclination for "bigger means better".
When Iroh's opponent outsmarts him, he still keeps on that good-natured expression. Asami Sato doesn't look smug. Not like all those other people he has played against in his lifetime. Then again, not many have ever come out on top of the firebreathing tea-maker, and so when he slides a tile expertly between three of her pieces, his grin does not increase. Much like the red-clad woman in front of him doesn't trouble her smooth forehead by wrinkling it in frustration. Instead, she maneuvers around the board with expert precision, almost wiping out the general's lotus tile. The elderly man has never enjoyed himself so much.
"It's been a while since I enjoyed such wonderful company and excellent competition."
"Thank you, I agree," Asami says.
Korra is still intruiged with their little game of acquaintance-making. Apparently, Pai Sho is a great way to make friends while learning about the other person. Through some secret board game language, Iroh and Asami communicate their intentions and motivations in life. Well, for Iroh, what used to be his ideals.
"How is my nephew?" he asks in his gravelly and wise voice.
"Great," Korra answers. "Last time I saw Zuko was when he left to protect Fire Lord Izumi, and General Iroh helped us against Kuvira along with the United Forces."
"Is Izumi okay?"
"Yeah, she's good too. She promised to help rebuild Republic City and aid the New Earth Democracy before we left."
"Oh that's what they're calling it now?" he chuckles.
"Prince Wu's Idea."
"You mean King Wu?"
"No," Korra blinks. "Suprisingly, he decided to remove the monarchy and allow the people to have more power." Korra leans back in her lotus position, palms digging into the grass. "I guess Zaheer finally got what he wanted," she says, completely neutral.
"Not quite, but it's acceptable."
The spirits surrounding the tea table flee the scene as Korra and Asami jolt in their seats. The old fire native remains still, sipping his tea and not bothering to turn around.
"I was wondering when you would show up."
"It takes time and a lot of effort to meditate into the Spirit World from miles underground in a prison," Zaheer spoke.
"What are you doing here?" Korra mutters, disturbed.
"Thought I'd enquire about that new Spirit Portal you decided to spontaneously spawn." Zaheer stands a few feet away (or whatever unit of measure is used in the Spirit World). His gray beard and hair flow eerily in the non-existent breeze.
"I didn't do it on purpose."
"Of course not. But it may cause some complications for the world."
"I realize that. But me and a lot of other people can help fix those problems, and since when did you care about the world anyways?"
"Did you already forget that I fought for freedom of the people?"
"And that involved killing me?"
"Not you. You were just in they way of us ending the Avatar cycle. Sacrifices have to be made. Things would have been much easier and better if we had succeeded in capturing you the first time," he says evenly.
"I may have forgiven you for attempting to murder me, but I won't ever forget that you were the reason I was locked up in that compound," Korra snarls.
Asami looks on as their once quiet, peaceful setting goes dark and awry. Iroh sits in his space, neither Avatar nor revolutionary paying attention to his unnaturally calm demeanor. None of them noticing her perturbed expression behind Korra's back. They were completely and mysteriously lost in their conflict. Skies once cloudless above turn exactly not that, instead filling to the brim with grayness. Grass and spirits in the vicinity start rapidly decaying.
"They used me so I could one day fix all their problems," Korra continues, "and I wanted it too. I wanted to be the best Avatar ever... How could things be have been better if the Red Lotus took me away instead of the White Lotus? You would've both used me! What kind of freedom is that!"
The ground cracks around Korra as she thrusts her arms about, but she pays no attention to that. Zaheer in contrast looks thoughtful, as if something just hit him. Asami knows as an inventor that the look the airbender was giving was one of sudden realization. He found a solution.
"You're right Korra," he says. "I'm disbanding the Red Lotus."
The sudden decision causes the Avatar's eyebrows to rise. "Wait, wh-"
"And I want you to remove the White Lotus as servants to the Avatar."
For the first time since the fight broke out, Korra turns to look at Asami, silently questioning this unexpected turn; asking what she thinks. Asami just returns a shy, anxious glance, signaling that this was not her place. She didn't know, or at least not enough. The master of all elements returns her gaze to confront the man who once poisoned her and hurt her and traumatized her for years after that near-death experience.
"Alright I will," she says. "Tell your people to stop harassing the Fire Lord."
"You have my word, Avatar Korra."
And just as suddenly as he had appeared, the ragged and goal-driven man disappears. Korra sighs. "I thought I had seen him for the last time. Iroh, you said–did you know Zaheer was coming?"
"Yes, but it was only because I could sense him. I haven't spoken to him too many times, but now I know more than enough," he explains.
Korra collapses on the grass which is slowly returning to its normal verdant green. "I wonder what Aang would've done."
"I don't know," Iroh says, "but you have changed the world so much, Korra. There is no point in looking back. What happened before cannot help you now, and as bad as that sounds, it's not. Be grateful for what led you to the place you are in now, and also where it can take you. Do not be afraid to follow wherever life leads you."
"Thank you Iroh," she says, sitting up again. The sky has retaken its vibrant blue.
The engineer has not moved from her position that she claimed when jumping away from the table in shock. That voice, how much more scarier it must be (or should be) to Korra, still frightened her even though it was not her that was injured all those years ago. The image of Korra in her father's arms will never leave her. So she tries to fill it with new, better images of Korra. Like the one now. She looks peaceful. Unlike Korra, Asami enjoys the feeling of not having any control. Here in the Spirit World, she doesn't have a plan, nothing is familiar. It would've been terrifying, but she was with Korra. So the heiress can let her mind be free, and what it instantly does is think up new inventions while watching spirits frolic. Her genius constanly conceiving new inventions, specifically new ways to use spirit energy in a better, non-destructive, not harmful to spirits, way. Clean energy. There was no limit to the amount of good finding a renewable energy source could do. That's when it occurs to Asami, while thinking of goodness, that Korra can't turn off like Asami can. Where the CEO finally stops worrying about her company, Korra's duties still follow her into this world. Because Korra is not only the Avatar of the material world, but also the Spirit World, maybe even more so. There is literally no place in the universe where Korra can escape, and with that depressing revelation comes another less heartbreaking one. This vacation is for Asami.
"I'm tired. How do you feel Sami?"
She flashes her best smile. "We did leave the wedding in the middle of the night. I think it's about time we got some rest." Asami surveys the area and realizes someone's missing. "Where's Iroh?"
"He went into his cabin again, did you not notice?"
"No, I guess not," Asami says thoughtfully. "Well, where do you wanna sleep?"
"I think here is just fine honestly. I'm too spent to move."
Asami giggles. "Alright, you're not gonna take out your bedroll?"
"I didn't bring one, mainly because I don't have one."
Asami thinks for a while. "You want to share?"
Korra looks up at the heiress's slightly bashful face. "Sure."
The two snuggle up on the way too thin bedroll, it was obviously not made for two people. Maybe just one very muscular person or one very tall person. Korra realizes about the same time as Asami that this is the first time they've shared a bed ever since Korra was poisoned.
They had left Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding so fast simply because they knew there was probably no other way they'd be allowed a vacation. No rest when you hold such important positions as they do. Asami would be thrown into rebuilding the city and Korra would perhaps be sent to help Wu in the New Earth Democracy, and once again they would not have had time to explore their long overdue feelings for each other. But here they were.
"You know, I ran away. Again," Korra says. "I'm glad I'm not alone this time to face the scoldings we'll get when we go back. It was bad enough seeing my parents after lying to them for six months. It seems I'm great at escaping my responsibilities." The last sentence was said with a disappointed pout.
"No, you deserve this break, we both do, Korra." Asami bites her lip which does not go unnoticed by the Avatar, even under the light which was now inexplicably fading as if sensing the pair's need for tranquility. "I was reminded of you after your fight with Zaheer."
"Oh," Korra says.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to bring up bad memories, but I just-"
"It's okay, say what you have to."
Asami, thankful that Korra understood, began to retell the events. "A-After the poison was removed... I don't know if you remember but, there was a lot of blood."
Korra just looks on with concern as Asami can feel tears at the corners of her eyes. Suddenly Korra begins to remove her boots and roll up her pants leg while Asami stares fixedly at the emerging calves.
"This is the only place I have any scars. Was it from here?"
"Y-yes. You broke a lot of bones." Asami realizes just how much pain Korra must have endured on that day.
"I can't feel much anymore from there. Katara says the poison destroyed most of the nerve endings there. I can't feel as much pain anymore in general."
Asami can't help but cover her mouth at this point. She cowers in Korra's chest and asks: "Do you remember when you first began to like me, as in more than a friend?"
There it was. The unspoken question was out in the open now. "Yes."
"When you laid dying in Tonraq's arms, that's when I knew the pain was more than just feeling worried for my friend's life. I knew that if I lost you then, I would not have cared whatever happened afterwards..." Asami confesses. "I love you Korra."
Finally the repressed tears fall unhindered, but Korra lifts Asami's chin gently and kisses her.
Author's Note:
Don't worry, this story isn't over yet. Key word: yet. I don't see it ever ending in fact. And I know that's one hell of a promise to make, but I intend to keep it. I've been thinking about it a lot. I once read someone say that once you've joined the fandom there's no way out; you've earned yourself a lifetime membership to the Avatar-verse, it's a one way trip. I believe that to be true. As a kid, I watched this show rerun on TV in Sweden (dubbed in Swedish too, but I later watched it in English). I loved it. Years later, I find out about The Legend of Korra through a commercial on Nick in 2012. I forget about it. Fast forward to June/July 2014, I find Korra again and am elated, then realize it's been going on for like two years and binge the first two seasons plus the first five episodes of Book 3. I was hooked. I cried like I hadn't done since the end of ATLA all those years ago, especially during the finale. I jumped in glee when Book 4 was announced a month later, then I cried when our two favorite ladies cemented the sequel of "Avatar" as a show that was "as good" or "better" (I'm leaning more towards the latter). We finally got our representation, and that image along with Zuckerman's score will never fail to bring a tear to my eyes.
Sorry, anyway, back to my original point: This fic isn't going to end anytime soon. Not in like a year, or more. I plan on always coming back to our wonderful community. I won't leave and I hope you don't either, I'm hoping for comics in the future so that's another thing keeping me here. Nevertheless I have so much planned for this story, even after Korra and Asami leave the Spirit World. Unlike the hundred new fics that have popped up, each one telling of what happens after the ending in their own ways and where very many are very fluffy (mine will be too), this fic will have more substance and story and eventually plot. Much like Avatar keeps coming back and never really ends, this story won't/will(?) If you know there's something you want to see happen, don't hesitate to shoot me a PM.
TL;DR:
I'm not going to stop writing for this story anytime soon, even though updates can come few and far between, but they will come, I assure you (I'm basically a perpetual rule breaker of the "don't just write when you are inspired"). We all own a lifetime pass to this franchise and it will never leave our hearts.
Thank you for reading.