LEGEND OF KORRA DOJINSHI SCRIPT
Journey through the Spirit World
By FirstEdition
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Really hope to hear some feedback on these chapters, good or bad.
CHAPTER 5
BY THE CAMPFIRE
Asami is sweating profusely. Panting from the horrific dream. Korra lies curled next to her on the blanket. Asami looks down at her, but the words from the dream make her fearful. Make her wonder if that might REALLY be how her Dad would've reacted if he knew how she felt about her.
She breathes a moment. She looks out over at the pool, which still reflects the starlight. Then she looks at the embers of their fire. And on the far side of the campfire, she sees Rynari.
She's sleeping peacefully...
Then an EYE opens up at pit of Rynari's neck! A large, horrifying one. Then ANOTHER. Then ANOTHER!
The forest goes black!
"WE SEE WHAT YOU ARE!"
Asami shrieks!
IT WAS JUST A DREAM
Asami's eyes open again. She's on the ground, laying on her blanket with Korra. It's nearly daylight, so the forest is lighter than just a moment ago in the dream.
She lifts her head up and sees Korra there, sleeping next to her. She looks even more beautiful at rest. Demure, even. Calm.
Asami shivers. She wraps her arms around herself for comfort, her dreams so intense, so frightening that she doesn't want to consider going back to sleep. Those eyes... all of them staring at her. Seeing her. Peeling away her layers and exposing her. It was all intensely terrifying.
She can't go back to sleep. There's too much going on in her head. She wants to shake the feeling. It was just a dream. She gets up. Korra tenses a bit, feeling that she's moved.
Asami slips away from Korra and goes over to the edge of the pool and cups some water in her hand before splashing it on her face. She takes a deep breath.
"Relax Asami... it's just a dream..." she murmurs.
Her head droops and she looks down at her reflection in the water.
She sees herself in her reflection. Daddy's little girl. But everything's twisted. It's not simple, unlike her reflection. To all outwards appearances, she's the same Asami she's ever been. But on the inside... it's like... things are different.
"Asami..." she sigh. She gives herself a long hard look.
"What would Dad say if he knew...? If... he knew you liked a girl..."
She sighs, looking down, away from her reflection.
"It hurt so bad when I found out you were with the Equalists... I... wouldn't want to hurt that way again."
She sighs. Her brows furrow. She runs her hands through her hair, reality hitting her.
"NNgh...! What will Korra say..." she whimpers. "I don't want to hurt our friendship... I don't want to be hurt... I... just can't help how I feel!"
There's a gentle noise as Korra begins to wake. Her eyes open tiredly and she looks up, over at Asami.
"Nnhh... Asami? W-who are you talking to...?" she says in a tired whisper.
Asami looks over her shoulder, tense and terrified! How MUCH had she heard?!
Korra looks at her bleary eyed, not even fully awake. She looks cute when she's tired.
"N-nobody, Korra-!" she says quickly. "Just... uh... g-go back to sleep!"
A pause.
"Mm'okay," Korra says.
She slumps over and falls right back to sleep.
Asami breathes a sigh of relief. Korra would be too tired to remember anything. Asami gets up and goes back over to her, settling down on her blanket again.
She looks at Korra's restful features and feels a pain deep within herself. Guilt. Self-loathing. She gently caresses Korra's cheek, stroking her hair out of the way. Maybe this is her punishment for being deviant. To be so close to the thing she loves but... unable to get any closer.
Korra takes a deep breath.
"Asami..." she says in her sleep.
Her own name. It's sounds so beautiful the way Korra says it that it's almost painful. She WANTS Korra to like her so, SO badly, but... it's just... so uncertain. Will Korra feel the same way? Could two girls suddenly find out that they're attracted to their own gender, AND attracted to their best friend? Probably not. It seems hopeless.
Asami turns away, curling on the little sliver of blanket. She ducks her head in, conflicted. Worried. Doubtful.
Korra's arm reflexively moves around her and pulls her in. Asami whimpers at how comforting it is, almost... wishing it weren't so. That she was normal. That her affection wouldn't somehow cause pain.
She lies awake for a while, feeling guilty. But with Korra next to her, she soon passes back into sleep.
THE NEXT DAY (FOR REAL)
"Good morning!" says Rynari!
Both Asami and Korra are still waking up as Rynari is by the fire. She's got a couple sticks and is cooking some lobster-fish.
Both women smile to see their new friend in a good mood.
"Breakfast will be ready soon," Rynari announces.
"Well... how about that?" says Korra, rubbing her eyes.
Asami props herself up on one arm. She's still not recovered from her dream, but its refreshing to see someone smiling in the morning.
Korra gets up and stumbles over towards the pool where she strips off her shirt and pants before jumping into the water.
"Wooh! Cold!"
Asami laughs under her breath. Korra was Korra.
Rynari gasps. "Wow! Isn't it early for that?"
"I didn't get a chance last night," says Korra, splashing around in an impromptu bath.
Korra comes out of the water. She crosses to the fire and plops down and begins to dry off.
Asami, who had been sitting by the fire looks at Korra, then at the pool, then at Korra. She blushes, but her smile is stifled by a pang of guilt.
"You should go in!" says Korra. "It's a great way to start the day."
Asami bites her lip...
Korra reads her perfectly. "Go take the dive, Asami. You'll feel better after," she grins.
There's a momentary pause, then in a flash, Asami is heading towards the pool, her clothes flying off of her.
"So, Rynari, you're feeling better, huh?" says Korra.
"Yes," she states firmly. "I'm with the Avatar, so... things are going to be alright!" she beams.
Korra grins awkwardly. "Yeah... no pressure."
SPLOOOSH!
"It's cold!" yelps Asami.
"Told ya'!" says Korra, over her shoulder.
"Here," says Rynari, who passes her a lobster-fish on a stick.
Korra takes it. "Thanks."
She takes a bite out of it. It's delicious.
"Mmmh!" she sighs. "This is great. A cold bath and a hot meal... Thanks for cooking!"
"It's the least I could do," smiles Rynari.
Asami comes over, and sits down, soaking wet, near Korra.
"Woah! That IS refreshing..." she says, panting a little. "And BRISK."
She smiles and is handed a lobster-fish.
"Thank you."
She takes a bite. Rynari takes hers and they all eat.
"So... Rynari," says Korra, "Why don't you tell us about yourself?"
"Huh...?" says Rynari, puzzled.
"Well, we met you yesterday when you found out you were in the Spirit World. Where did you say you were before that?" asks Korra.
"Oh. I'm from Shu Jing, in the Fire Nation."
Korra nods. "Do you have family there? Parents? Brothers or sisters?"
Rynari's eating slows. She droops her head.
"N-no... I don't."
A pause.
"Any... friends?" Korra asks.
Rynari nips her lip in thought. "N-nn... well... there was SOMEONE... I... I can't... I can't remember who but... I had someone..."
Korra and Asami exchange glances.
"You can't remember?" asks Korra.
"N-no..." says Rynari quietly. "I... nnghh... it... it feels like I should know but... I... I can't remember."
Korra purses her lips. "Well... maybe how the spirits brought you here might have effected your memory."
"Maybe once we get out of the Spirit World you'll have better luck remembering!" says Korra.
Rynari feels unsure.
"You know," offers Asami, quietly, "it's not far to the portal to Republic City, and from there we can take a boat straight to Shu Jing."
"Right," adds Korra. "Things will get better, you'll see."
Rynari looks up at the two. "Republic City... what are you talking about? Aren't the portals to the spirit world only on the poles?"
Asami and Korra exchange confused glances.
"Well, yes, up until a few weeks ago. Didn't you hear about it? About how Kuvira's army attacked Republic City? And how the Avatar defeated her superweapon and in so doing created a new portal to the Spirit World?"
Rynari seems to be drawing a blank.
"You didn't hear about that?" says Asami, who looks towards Korra.
Rynari cringes. "N-no...? Is... that bad?"
Korra makes a face, but then smiles.
"Well, what matters is that we can get you back home. And we will!" says Korra.
Rynari nods, feeling hopeful again.
IN THE FOREST
The trio is again walking through the trees. Rynari is balking at everything, caught up fully in the wonders of the Spirit World.
"Wow... is that... a fruit?" she asks. "Is it... supposed to be that big?"
Korra giggles and Asami smiles.
"The Spirit World is a pretty amazing place," says Korra. "It's a shame that those spirits yesterday weren't more understanding..."
"Nyyaahhh. SPIRITS..." jokes Rynari.
Asami smiles at their good humor, but on the whole seems mopey and down.
Korra looks at her. She nudges her and smiles.
"You okay?" she asks.
Asami sighs. "Uuhh... I dunno... bad dreams."
Korra frowns at her.
"Ewww! What is that?!" comes Rynari's voice from up ahead.
Korra keeps looking at Asami, expecting her to talk.
"Oh, it's just mud..." says Rynari.
Asami sighs. "You remember those... doubts?"
Korra nods, looking more serious.
"Well... those," says Asami.
Korra nods slowly.
"Remember what I said, Asami. I meant it. I will always be your friend. There's nothing about you that will change that."
Asami smiles at her. The words pick her up. She's left with the doubts of what her father might think of her... but those seem lessened by the certainty that Korra will be there for her.
"Thank you, Korra."
Rynari pops up from down the path ahead. "I think we're almost out of here!" She darts forward, back out of view. "Uup! Nope! More forest..."
Asami rolls her eyes. She looks over at Korra who is looking over her shoulder, glancing in between the tree-trunks.
"What is it?"
"Spirits," says Korra. "I haven't seen any..."
"Still?" says Asami, confused.
"Oh wow. LOOK at the vines on this tree!" says Rynari off-screen.
"Yeah..." says Korra. "I think... I think they're avoiding us."
"Avoiding us... but why?"
Rynari gets up on top of a root she looks around. She sees Korra and Asami. "I see what you mean! This place is so cool!" She hops off and dashes further down the path.
Korra glances at Rynari, then at Asami, then at Rynari again, leading Asami with her eyes.
"Her...?" Asami says softly.
Korra nods slowly.
"But... WHY?"
"I don't know," says Korra, who is looking off into the distance, searching for answers.
Asami is disconcerted.
"Another thing..." Korra says, going on, "...the lobster-fish."
"What about them?"
"There weren't any in that pool. We were there the night before. It was an empty pool... remember?"
"But... there couldn't be any in the bottom of the pool...? Under the... muck?"
"It's not the kind of place you'd find lobster-fish," says Korra.
"But..." says Asami, looking confused. "W-wait... maybe she just... had some with her?"
Korra shrugs. "I guess."
Asami looks up the path, and her growing concern is evident.
Korra notices and turns to look at her.
"Hey, remember, keep a positive, open mind."
She takes Asami's hand in hers.
Asami's brows furrow at the heartfelt gesture. She feels a touch guilty for being so moved. She smiles at Korra in thanks.
Up ahead, they hear Rynari calling.
"I think we're really out of the forest!"
They see the trees part and the wide open meadows that the two had flown over the day before.
Rynari waves them along grinning widely. But when she sees the two... and their hands clasped together... she stop.
"I remember something!" Rynari gasps!
Korra and Asami look up at her.
"What is it?" asks Asami.
"The person... the person I have—err, that I know! I've held hands with them like that. JUST like that," she says, pointing towards Korra and Asami.
"Y-you have?" asks Korra.
"Yeah!" smiles Rynari. "I remember walking with them feeling..." she closes her eyes, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, "...feeling really good. Happy."
Asami looks at Korra smiling awkwardly.
Korra squeezes Asami's hand.
"Sounds like you have a friend back in Shu Jing," smiles Korra.
Rynari heaves a large sigh. "Awwww... that's SUCH a relief. I was really down yesterday... all I knew was that I didn't have any family... but... it's like I can TELL I have someone who'll look after me, you know?"
She closes her eyes and wanders down the road, her hands clasped over her heart.
Asami and Korra glance at each other.
Asami looks down at their held hands. Korra smiles tentatively.
"I wonder where I live in Shu Jing...?" puzzles Rynari, up ahead.
LATER IN THE DAY
The trio are moving out of the plains towards the meadow of the Spirit Portal. As they reach the top of an embankment, they can see the shaft of light, spiraling into the sky.
"Looks like we're almost there..." smiles Korra.
"Hurray!" cheers Rynari. She rushes down the side of the embankment towards the light.
Asami looks at her, then at Korra.
"Still no spirits?"
"Not unless you've seen any..." says Korra. She sighs "something... something's wrong. I can tell."
Asami frowns.
"We're almost to Republic City. Maybe we can find Jinora and she can help us figure it out?" Asami offers.
Korra smiles at her. "Yeah... that sounds like..." Korra begins, but trails off as she looks towards the portal.
"Asami-! LOOK-!" she whispers, nodding towards Rynari.
She's in a field of tall grasses, stroking them with her hands. But in the light of the portal, Rynari is TRANSLUCENT.
"Come on, Korra! Come on Asami!" Rynari calls.
"What the...?" blinks Asami.
"She's... not human..." whispers Korra.
Just then, a shape appears nearby at the edge of the meadow. A tall woman, carrying a backpack. She looks like a traveler. Weary from the long road. Her skin is dark. Her hair is red and swept to one side, and her features are sharp, angular and beautiful. This is NATSU.
The woman looks up at them.
Asami and Korra look at her skeptically.
She gazes out over through the meadow and sees Rynari.
A pause. The wind blows.
Her eyes go wide. She drops her backpack and rushes towards Rynari!
"What is going on...?" boggles Asami, but Korra is CHARGING off the embankment, hoping to get to Rynari first.
The other woman is rushing towards Rynari.
"Rynari!"
Rynari sees her, but she's suddenly caught between the two chargers. She ducks down and curls up defensively. "Yiieeeaahh!"
Korra sweeps forwards, her arms behind her, boosting forward with her Airbending and beats the woman to her, blocking the path to the girl behind her outstretched arms.
"STOP!" she shouts. "WHO are you?!"
The woman slows and stops. She grins widely, glancing at Korra and then at Rynari.
"It's okay. I'm a friend."
Rynari peeks out, seeing the larger woman.
"Rynari..." the woman calls. "It's me. It's Natsu..."
"N-Natsu...?" she says, still hiding behind Korra. "Natsu..."
Natsu's lips purse, she looks worried.
"Sweetie... don't you want to go home...?" says the tall woman.
Rynari's lips part in realization. "Natsu!" she says in elation!
She ducks past Korra and RUNS to her!
"NATSU!" she squeals.
She leaps and Natsu catches her in her arms, cradling her. Hugging her tightly. Holding her as her eyes clench, fighting the tears.
Asami manages to catch up to Korra. She looks at the two, still puzzled. She and Korra exchange glances.
"Oh, Rynari..." she coos, looking down at her.
Natsu gently holds her. She strokes her cheek, then lifts her chin up towards hers. She leans in...
And they kiss.
Korra and Asami's eyes go WIDE as they see the flagrant display of affection.
"Uuhhhhh..." stammers Asami.
"Oh, Rynari... I knew I'd find you. No matter how far you go, I'll always find you..."
"Natsu..." whimpers Rynari. "I was so lost. I was scared and alone and... Oh I'm SO glad to see you...!"
They hug tenderly.
Korra smiles awkwardly at Asami and shrugs at her. "Well... I guess... they... like each other."
Asami offers a smile. "I guess they do."
They approach the couple.
"So... looks like this is the person you told us about," says Asami.
Rynari detangles herself from Natsu and she turns around, keeping her back pressed to the larger woman.
"Yes..." she beams. "This is my Natsu."
Natsu smirks at Korra and Asami.
"Hi. I see you've already met my wife."
"WIFE?!" stammer Korra and Asami!
"Y-your WIFE?"
Natsu smirks and Rynari just turns and snuggles against her.
"Don't get all freaked out..." Natsu says, too happy to stop grinning. "I know it's not... 'conventional'. But we love each other... so, yeah, we married." she shrugs and giggles.
Natsu strokes Rynari's cheek. Then gives her another little kiss.
Korra and Asami glance at each other, very... very awkwardly.
"Uhhh... but... wait... uh... you're married to... a...?" says Korra. "But... wait, I mean... isn't... Rynari actually a... spirit?"
Natsu and Rynari look confused.
"What...?" says Natsu, as if she misheard.
"Your wi—R-Rynari..." Korra begins, then looks down at Rynari. "You're a spirit, aren't you...?"
Rynari shrinks back, looking scared.
"N-No..." she says quietly. "W-why would you say...?"
Natsu interrupts.
"I assure you, Rynari is as human as you or I. We've been living together in Shu Jing up until six months ago when she disappeared."
Korra blinks.
"No..." Korra corrects. "When we found her the other day she said she'd JUST come to the Spirit World from a dream she had..."
Rynari curls over hiding her face. Natsu holds her and keeps her ground against Korra.
"No," Natsu corrects back, "She went missing six months ago... because that's how long I've been searching for her."
Asami and Korra both look confused. Asami steps forwards trying to be diplomatic.
"Look, we don't know what's going on but—"
"That's right," says Natsu, interrupting. "You don't know what's going on."
"Well, look!" Asami huffs, affronted by Natsu's rudeness. "Some WEIRD things have been going on and JUST now, Korra and I SAW Rynari glow in the light of the portal, JUST like a spirit!"
The sky... CRACKS.
A huge GASH of blackness covers the heavens.
"No!" yelps Rynari. "I'm NOT a spirit!"
Natsu bears her teeth, she turns and looks down at the girl, gripping her shoulders.
"You're NOT a spirit, sweetheart. You're my love. You're my everything..."
Korra and Asami look upwards in shock.
"Korra...?" says Asami nervously, backing away, suddenly terrified that she's back in the dream.
Korra keeps her senses. Looking at the sky, then looking at Natsu and Rynari.
Rynari is clutching her head, curling over. The sky is darkening, the crack spreading outwards. Natsu is trying to hold her.
"Sweetheart, please... PLEASE, LISTEN to me. It doesn't matter what THEY say... we LOVE each other..."
"NO!" wails Rynari. "I CAN'T be a spirit! I'm NOT!"
"Rynari...!" cries Natsu, GRABBING her tightly.
The sky goes BLACK and the EYES begin to appear. Opening in the pitch void. LOOKING down at them. The light of the portal dimming and even IT cannot escape the dome of black that encircles them all.
Asami looks up at it all. Her jaw dropping. Her face going white with terror. This CAN'T BE REAL. None of this is REAL!
Korra remains determined, facing the situation. Her teeth gritted. Ready to act.
"Rynari! PLEASE! Please, I LOVE YOU..." begs Natsu. "Don't let us be separated again... please!"
But the girl is beginning to rise off the ground, tugged skywards as if by an invisible thread, slipping straight through Natsu's grasp. The horrible eyes continue to open, looking DOWN on them all.
Korra sees them, unblinking, looking from all sides.
Asami drops to her knees, clutching her head, fighting for her sanity. "NNnghghhhhh-!"
Ryanri looks around, terrified. Seeing everything around her. The insanity of it all. She looks down and sees her love, and CALLS to her!
"NATSUUUUuuuuuu...!"
But she is SNATCHED INTO THE VOID.
Natsu looks up at her, pain, horror and sadness all over her face.
"RYNNAAARRRRIIIII!"
The eyes SHUT all in unison. And then are GONE...
