LEGEND OF KORRA DOJINSHI SCRIPT
Journey through the Spirit World
By FirstEdition
CHAPTER 04
RUSHING THROUGH THE WOODS
"What do you think it is?" yells Asami.
"Maybe that doubt spirit found somebody?" says Korra, who leaps through the tangle of roots.
"I don't care what you say," says Asami, turning on her electrified gauntlet, "I'm going to put some negativity into that thing!"
"I'm not going to argue!" Korra shouts back.
They move deeper into the woods. Another scream for help coming out from a tangle of roots in a dark vale.
"Be ready for anything," says Korra. "But remember, try to stay POSITIVE. Keep an open mind!"
"I'll do my best!"
They slide down an embankment of leaves and finally land in the middle of a throng of roots which is a circular patch of dirt. In the middle of which is... a girl or young woman, in her late teens, dressed in robes.
"SOMEBODY! HELP!" She screams!
"W-woah!" Calls out Korra. "Relax!"
The woman STARTS and whips around, flinging her arms in front of her face.
"Don't hurt me!"
They feel a light pressure wave pass over them... but it RIPPLES through the roots of the trees.
Korra and Asami give each other a LOOK.
"It's okay. We're not going to hurt you," says Korra. "We're friends..."
Asami straightens and powers off her gauntlet. "Yeah. Nothing's going to hurt you while we're around."
The girl trembles, trepidatiously looking through the gap between her arms.
"W-who are you?" she asks, frightened.
Korra takes a few steps forward. "I'm Korra, and this is my friend, Asami."
"Hi," says Asami.
"Y-you're human...?" asks the girl nervously.
"Yup!" says Korra. "Well, technically I'm the Avatar."
"Avatar...?" says the girl, lowering her arms a bit. Her eyes are large, and glitter brilliant green.
"Korra...?" comes Asami's voice nervously.
"That's right, I'm the Avatar," says Korra to the girl. "Are you lost?" she asks.
"Korra," Asami interrupts.
"What?" she says, turning around.
Asami points UP.
Above them, along the roots that encircle this patch of dirt are a NUMBER of ANGRY spirits. Their dark, glowing forms leaning over the ring. Looking menacing and frightening.
"Eeeyaaah!" squeals the girl, who hides behind her arms again.
"Stay calm," says Korra. "These spirits are just reacting to this girl's fear."
Asami takes a step backwards, cautiously. "A-are you sure?"
Korra nods. "I'm sure." She steps forward to address the spirits.
"Spirits of the Woods. I'm sorry that we've disturbed you. But this girl is lost and frightened. Would you please help us return her home?"
Asami looks from Korra to the spirits. She walks next to her, looking up at them with an open mind.
The spirits remains harsh and menacing.
Korra isn't sure now. She checks over her shoulder for the girl, who is shrinking back. Behind Korra, the spirits begin to move in.
Korra approaches the girl. "Hey... listen... I know they LOOK scary, but these spirits are reacting to the energy you're carrying. They're only as scary as you believe them to be."
The girl cringes, trying her best to put on a smile.
"So... if—if I... think they're nice... they'll be nice?"
Korra nods and smiles.
Meanwhile, the spirits continue to move inwards. Asami, who has been watching the two, now moves closer in.
"Korra...? The situation doesn't seem to be getting better..." says Asami.
"Come on," says Korra, helping the girl. "You need to face them and let them know that you're a friend.
The girl looks beyond Korra at the field of spirits now on the dirt ground as they form a circle around them. She puts on a full smile and moves towards them and, though still shaking, she bows low and smiles.
"H-hello, spirits. I'm Rynari. It's nice to meet you."
She beams.
The spirits halt and look down at her.
They are unmoved.
A SPLIT SECOND before claws SWIPE at the girl, Korra YANKS her backwards and EARTHBENDS a slab of rock up at the attacker.
"EEyyyaaaahh!" squeals the girl.
"Asami!" yells Korra.
"On it!"
Asami tumbles backwards, ducking under the reach of a spirit coming in from the rear and giving it a dose from her gauntlet.
Korra whips left and then right, sending up pillars of earth to BLOCK the spirits as they surge forwards. The girl is screaming again, her hands clasped to her chest.
"EEEIIIIAAAAHHH!"
"I thought you said this would WORK!" says Asami, dodging one assailant, about to deliver her countermove when another SWIPES at her head and she DUCKS underneath it and rolls away.
"I was sure that it would!" Korra yells back.
She sees another couple of spirits rushing forward and does a skipping side kick, sending out a BURST of flames which knock them backwards!
Asami ZAPS a third one as it comes near, but only a few moments later it's already moving again.
"Korra...?" says Asami worriedly. "My gauntlet isn't very effective on these things!"
Korra whips around doing a jumping crescent kick. She sends a cyclone at the ones near Asami, side-swiping them and knocking them away!
The girl clutches her head and SCREAMS!
"Please... PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!"
"We're TRYING!" shouts Korra in exasperation!
She whips around. They're going to keep coming. She doesn't have the advantage of being able to knock them ALL down as to spiritually guide them away. Nor does forcing the spirits to comply with the Avatar state seem like the solution. She looks at Asami and the girl.
"Grab her!" Korra shouts to Asami. "Stay close!"
Asami whirls around. She nods and runs over, grabbing the girl and lifting her. Holding her close.
"Please...!" squeals the girl, who clutches Asami tightly.
Korra rushes towards them, waving her arms out in a circle before bringing them in... and then SHARPLY UP!
As the spirits descend, the EARTH beneath the trio SHOOTS upwards, propelling the three out of the shadowed vale and through the air.
"AAaaiiiieeeee!" screams the girl.
"KooorrrRRRAAAA?" yells Asami.
Korra stays focused, already waving her arms in the circular motions of Airbending. She makes a wide sweeping motion with her arms and a disc of air hovers under the three as they descend into the forest.
Korra wraps her hands around Asami's waist as they descend, ready to pull back and steady them.
They're coming in fast, but Asami hits the ground well and Korra acts as the anchor to keep them from tipping over.
The girl sinks down. Asami grips her.
"Come on. You need to stay on your feet. They'll be after us..."
Korra is already looking behind them for the spirits.
"I... I don't see any yet."
She turns back to Asami and the girl.
"But that doesn't mean they aren't coming. We need to get out of here so I can figure out what has made the spirits so angry."
The girl's hands grip Asami's coat hard. Asami looks down at her.
"Come on. You need to be brave."
The girl looks at her and nods.
A HALF-HOUR LATER
A half-hour later the three are running up towards the pool that Korra and Asami camped at the other day. The girl is winded but Asami appears to be holding up well.
"S-should we keep going...?" Asami pants.
Korra stands atop some of the large roots and checks around.
"I... don't see anything behind us... that's odd though. Usually spirits are pretty quick... This all seems... odd..." she says.
She hops down off of the root and walks over towards the other two.
The girl, Rynari, is moving over towards the pool. She dips her hand in the water and takes a gulp. Then she splashes her face.
"Bwwaa..." she gasps.
Asami goes over to her.
"Are you okay?"
She nods.
"Yeah... I guess so," the girl says nervously. "Are those things still after us?"
Korra looks over her shoulder yet again.
"Doesn't look like it. We should be safe here."
The girl breathes in relief.
"Thank you..."
Korra goes over to Asami and the girl. The girl looks up at the two of them. She smiles nervously.
"I'm Rynari. ... Uh... I'm sorry, I, uh... forgot your names..."
"I'm Asami."
"And I'm Korra. The Avatar."
"The Avatar?" gasps Rynari. "The Avatar came to rescue me?"
Korra and Asami look at each other.
"Not exactly... but we're here now and we're going to help you," answers Korra.
Rynari smiles up at her. She seems less nervous. Even... hopeful.
"So... how did you get all the way out here?" asks Korra. "Were you in Republic City?"
Rynari blinks. "What... me? No. I was at my home in... in Shu Jing. I... I think I fell asleep. I thought I was dreaming but... then I was here."
The girl looks around.
"I'm not even sure where 'here' is... Is... this the Earth Kingdom?"
"You're in the Spirit World," says Asami.
Rynari's eyes go WIDE.
Asami kneels down to her and puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Relax. It's okay. It's fine here. The Spirit World is actually an amazing place. And Korra knows about it better than anyone, right Korra?"
Korra nods. "Well... I know it pretty well."
Asami looks back at Rynari. "Do you remember anything about how you got here? Any... spirits or... people or anything...?"
Rynari lowers her head. "I just... I thought I was dreaming. I went to sleep... and... I dreamed that something was after me... I was all alone, so... I ran and hid... and... and then I called for help. So... I think that's when you heard me..."
Asami looks at Korra. "What do you think?"
Korra is thinking. Her fingers curled under her chin. "Well... it's possible a spirit might have abducted her. It's not the first time something like that would've happened... but..."
"But what?" says Asami.
"Well... usually the spirit that does it sticks around. They don't just... leave you in a grove..."
Korra checks over her shoulder. "And usually they chase you."
Rynari nervously wrings her hands.
"Maybe she managed to get away?" says Asami, who turns to smile back at Rynari. "She did say she was trying to get away from something. Maybe she succeeded."
Korra feels unconvinced, but nods at Asami.
"What am I going to do...? What if... something bad is after me?" whimpers Rynari, curling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
Asami lays a hand on Rynari's shoulder.
"Don't worry. Korra and I are going to help you, isn't that right Korra?"
Korra smirks.
"It's kind of what I do."
Rynari leans towards Asami, who comforts her. Asami holds her and looks over at Korra.
"Do you want to keep moving?"
Korra looks at her, then out over the pool as she thinks.
"No... I think... it's been a long day... and we all should try to get some rest. If there WERE spirits chasing us, they'd be here by now. Maybe they've lost interest... whatever the reason. I say we get some rest, then head for the Republic City portal in the morning."
Asami nods. She turns to address Rynari.
"You see? We're going to get you out of here. Why don't you get some rest and when you wake up, we'll take you home?"
Rynari nods at her tiredly. She sighs and puts her head on Asami's shoulder. Asami holds her. Korra looks from Asami to Rynari. She smiles.
"I'll make us a fire," says Korra.
THAT EVENING
Korra is leaning back by the root of a tree. Rynari is sleeping peacefully on Korra's blanket, next to the fire.
Asami is similarly setting down her bedroll. She looks at the girl. Rynari's eyes clench as she murmurs. A nightmare unfolding in her sleep.
Asami places her hand on the girl and she relaxes.
Korra smiles at her.
Asami returns to her bedroll. She looks at the fire... then at Korra.
Korra keeps gazing out over the pool, her mind on something else...
It takes a few tries for Asami to get her attention.
"Korra... Korra. Korra?"
"Hmm?" snaps Korra.
"Something on your mind? You seem distracted."
"Mmmhh... oh," says Korra in mild distress. "I've been thinking about what happened today..."
Asami nods at her.
"Yeah..." she sighs. "Were we really cliff-jumping at the horizon this morning?"
Korra nods, smiling at the memory. "Yeah..." but her smile fades. "But... something's weird."
"Well..." jokes Asami, "this IS the Spirit World. I think everything here is weird." says Asami. "But...! Like... a good weird," she adds.
"Yeah, but... I mean... haven't you noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
"There aren't any spirits here."
Asami pauses to look around.
The pool – which is the exact same campsite they used a few days ago – looks different, but in an unassuming way, because it looks ORDINARY. No unusual glowing things, no frolicking spirits. Just... looks like a forest pool by night.
"You know... you're right. This place looks... so different."
She glances back at Korra.
"Honestly, I almost thought we were at a different pool."
Korra nods slowly. Her lips shut. Asami notices and digs at Korra to talk.
"What?"
"Hmm?" says Korra.
"What's that look for?"
Korra frowns. She sits up and looks over at Asami.
"I... just... I was SURE I knew how to handle those spirits Asami. Those were angry spirits... and approaching them with positivity is THE best way to deal with them. I... My gut is telling me that it should've worked. There wasn't any other reason for the spirits to be so hostile! ...was there?"
Asami looks at her.
Korra thinks.
"Korra..." says Asami softly.
Korra gives her a frownie face
"Korra, I've learned to trust your Avatar instincts. If you think something's amiss, then you're probably picking up on something that the rest of us aren't aware of. Whatever it is? We should investigate it."
Korra nods... but she smiles. She glances up at Asami, as if seeing her for the first time.
"Thanks Asami."
Asami smiles.
"I'm here for you, Korra."
A pause.
The woods without the spirits are very still by night. The stars shine through the gaps in the trees, illuminating the pool, which is almost as flat as a mirror. The trees seem darker, desaturated, and very quiet.
Asami moves over to her bedroll and begins to get comfortable. She looks over her shoulder at Korra, who appears to be intending to spend the night curled up with the roots of a tree.
"Korra...?" says Asami.
"Hmm?"
"Well... Rynari has your blanket but... if... you want you can share mine..."
Korra looks over at her. Asami's blush is well hidden in the firelight.
Korra smiles softly.
"Alright... you talked me into it."
She gets up and comes over to Asami, and the two women lie down together. Asami's back to Korra. Korra's arms around her.
They sleep there the night.
THE NEXT DAY
Asami is looking up at the sky. It's bright and beautiful. Two sky-eels twirl near each other. She looks over... and sees Korra.
"Asami...!" she says, bounding over.
"Korra..." Asami says, turning and holding her hands as she gets close.
"Korra... there's something I've been wanting to tell you..."
Korra smiles.
"Oh, Asami... don't be so nervous. I know it already."
"Y-you do?" says Asami, looking tense.
Korra grips her hands tighter.
"Yes, Asami. And I want you to know... I like you too. I want to be with you..." she says, leaning forward.
"Korra..." breathes Asami as her heart skips a beat.
But SOMEBODY is there, suddenly, standing near them.
It is HIROSHI SATO.
"Asami," he says ominously.
Both turn, tensing in SHOCK.
"D-Dad?!" says Asami in surprise. "W-what are... h-how are you HERE?"
He doesn't answer, his narrowed eyes speaking ALL of his disappointment.
"What are you and Korra doing, Asami?" he says brusquely.
"N-nothing... w-we were just—"
"You're LYING Asami," he states. "I'll have you know my Daughter ISN'T in love with another girl!"
Asami gasps at him. "B-but..."
Asami and Korra look at each other, realization and fright all over their faces. Korra shrinks back. "A-Asami..?"
"No. Wait! D-Dad! You don't understand! I... I can't help how I feel!"
"You're a GIRL, Asami," says Hiroshi. "And GIRLS are supposed to like BOYS. NOT OTHER GIRLS!"
Hiroshi tugs on an electrified gauntlet and GRASPS Korra. She SHRIEKS AND WRITHES and drops as two Equalist thugs grab her!
"Korra!" shouts Asami! She whirls around. "Dad, PLEASE STOP! You don't have to do this! PLEASE! After all we've been through..."
Suddenly, Hiroshi's face is LARGE, LOOMING over her as if coming up from over the horizon. "I'm WATCHING you Asami! I can SEE how WRONG you are!"
Hiroshi's eyes BORE into her... but then... a THIRD eye opens off center on his forehead.
Asami goes pale.
ANOTHER eye opens, this one near the middle of Hiroshi's cheek. Then one floating in mid-air. More and more start to appear as Hiroshi's form starts to shrink backwards. The sky starts to darken with them all. All these eyes looking down at her.
"WE SEE WHAT YOU ARE...!" they BOOM in a hideous whisper!
ASAMI BOLTS AWAKE!
