Hey guys! I wanted to put this chapter in before Korra ends.

Hope you like it and review! After this, I am officially in a complete writer's block.

Book 2:Bonds

Chapter 2: Waking Up

Cheryl's POV:

I woke up feeling really sore and pain in every part of my body. The area around me was pitch black,must be midnight or something. I made a flame in my hand to light up the place around me. The small glow of fire lit the place a bit, but not enough to see what was all around. However, I could make out that I was in a small white room. Surprising I felt a warm feeling, similar to home. Wait a minute. Where am I? What had happened? All I could remember before blacking out was talking to the Red Lotus after something like pure fear or anger took over me. I raised my other hand to the fire, noticing that it was bandaged up.

I studied the rest of my body, finding myself in soft white cotton pajamas with pink bunnys imprinted on them. Someone must have taken care of me, but who? If I'm this hurt, what about the others?! Where are they anyway? Panic filled my head causing my heart to beat like crazy.

I struggled to get myself out of the bed. My muscles crying out to me, telling me to rest. However, my worry was stronger than the physical pain of my limbs. I made my flame bigger as I opened the door. The action itself taking away half of my energy. I felt like part of me was walking without thought, just moving.

My body turned right, reaching a stairway and going down it. The stairs groaned at each heavy step I took down it. I fingered the carved railing, finding the wood somewhat comforting like something I had felt in the past. A strong, firm grip, that sense of familiarity. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, probably the first floor by the looks of it, I felt my mind will my feet to go in a certain direction.

Part of me was tired, so I just went by instinct and continued getting pulled to that unknown location. Turns out, it was the pool. Moonlight had shone through the glass ceiling, making the water sparkle a bit. I groggily sat down on the edge of it, only my feet dipped in the cool water. Unconsciously, I created water-bended part of the pool, continuously making ripples.

Suddenly, the spirit that had showed me to Korra appeared in my lap along with some green ones. I felt the urge to hug them, tears streaming down my face, not knowing why. I was surprised that they didn't back way, but instead hugged me back. I cried my heart out, there was just this feeling of pain and helplessness that overwhelmed me at that moment. And the worst part was that I didn't know why I was sniffling or feeling that way.

The spirits didn't say anything even though my salty tears dropped on them like heavy rain. I didn't know long I was in there, but it was enough time for my tears to dry up.

"Ahem." I heard a strong yet old feline voice say. I turned around finding an old lady staring at me with a flashlight, I was relieved that my tears were already gone . We stared at each other for some time. She seemed somewhat familiar.

"Oh. Sorry for bothering you Asami." I blurted out suddenly. Confusion instantly hit me. I didn't know her, yet I kinda knew her at the same time. What?

Asami's POV:

I had heard the creaking up the stair somewhere in the night. I looked at my alarm clock, it was 1 AM in the morning. Who could be up this late? I first I didn't want to get up. After all I was getting old, and things like this had happened to me in the past. Which ended in me getting up for nothing since I apparently misheard things. However, I had this urging feeling to check out whatever it was. I sighed and got the battery powered flashlight from on top of my nightstand.

When I got out of my room I listened carefully to the area around me. At first, there was nothing. But once I got to the stairs area I though I heard the soft crying of a girl. I walked around trying to find the source of the noise, even turning on some lights in the hallway. The echoing of the halls didn't help me at all. Finally, I managed to center the sound from the pool. When I got there, I saw a girl hugging something.

"Ahem." I said to get her attention. She turned around, her eyes a bit red. It was Cheryl! What was she doing at this hour? I stared at her emerald eyes that seemed to sparkle even though they looked tired. It reminded me of Korra's piercing blue eyes that showed of determination. The girl had similar ones.

"Oh. Sorry for bothering you Asami." She said, breaking the silence. Then her face changes to a puzzled expression.

"It's okay." I sit down next to her. She looks like she's trying to figure out something.

"Um...have we met before?" I laugh good naturally. Which just seems to make her more confused.

"Cheryl, right?"

"Right..."

"The others told me about you." Her eyes widen.

"Are they ok?"

"Yeah." There is this pause that hangs in the air.

"How...come I know you?"

"Let's say I was a friend of your previous life." I look at the spirits that she are gripping.

"You know?"

"Well, I kinda want to make sure it's true." She nods and bends fire, then creates a tiny air tornado in her palm. Finally, she extinguishes them and looks to me for a response.

My heart aches, it reminds me of when Korra used to play with the elements all the time. I shake the thought out of my head, focusing my attention back on Cheryl. She seemed to have found out that my mind was wandering. Suddenly she smiles and looks out in the pool.

"I remember when I first met you, and you invited the bros here," She chuckles "Your butler had a lot of fun re-drying Bolin over and over again." I blinked a couple of times. That was such a long time ago, she still had memories about that? Cheryl gives me a sheepish grin.

"Sorry, that just kinda spurted out of me."

"It's fine. I'm surprised you remember such an event as it seemed to be one of those times where we didn't go off fighting people." She frowns.

"What's wrong?" I asked. She looks down at the spirits in her lap.

"I don't know. It's just this uneasy feeling. Avatar instinct I guess?" I gulp nervously, knowing that instinct was true. But she was this hurt and just started recovering from a Red Lotus battle. It was like Korra's situation all over away. I fake a smile and give her a reassuring hug.

"It's nothing. You should rest right now, that's what matters. Is that why you been crying?" She gives me a shocked expression. I let out a big sigh.

"You know, I just want you to know that if you need anything, I'll be there for you." She smiles a bit.

"You told me that at Air Temple Island after that battle with Zaheer." Yup, this is definitely Korra's reincarnation.

"Now, let's catch some ZZZs. It's one something in the morning." Guilt flashes on her face.

"Sorry for disturbing you."

"It's okay." I guide her back to her room, the spirits still in her arms. I carefully tuck her into her bed, the spirits stay by her side and lay next to her. They cuddle up to her, but don't go under the blanket for some reason. I'm about to close the leave when Cheryl's voice perks up.

"Asami?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, for everything." She says in a sincere voice.

"You're welcome."

Cheryl's POV:

The next morning I wake up feeling a bit more refreshed. When I open my eyes, I find the sun already out. It's shining light going through the blinds to my right. I yawn and stretch my arms. Could be mid-day. When I turn left, I see Bryant staring at me deeply. I feel my cheeks instantly flush pink and my heart beating faster. I look at my lap as it suddenly became very interesting.

"How are you feeling?" He asks me.

"Fine." I say back softly. None of us talk for quite some time. When had it become this hard to speak to each other?

"What had happened back there?"I say.

"Back where?"

"Back with Oka."

"Oh. You did fine." Fine? What's that suppose to mean?

"What did you see?"

"..."

"Bryant" I urge him. I hear the bed squeak next to me, and then a hand strongly grips mine. Suddenly I feel exhausted, I feel my head falls to the left. It ends up resting on his shoulder. Then, he hugs me tightly and doesn't let go.

"You didn't wake up..." He simply states.

"But there was always be another Avatar to take over..."

"But it's not you..."

"Me? But I'm just the destined savior of the world..."

"No, you're not!" He replies angrily. I let him argue as I honestly didn't have the energy to retort like our usual fights, both when we were kids and on the way to the South Pole.

"You're an amazing, strong, determined girl that always strives to help others in the best way." He really thinks of me that way? I think about the others. Wait, what about the others?

"What about the others? Are they okay?"

"Stupid, you're in a worse condition then them, yet you still worry." He says softly and chuckles. I just lay my head on his chest, letting sleep envelop me.

Akina's POV:

I went to check up on Cheryl and found her sleeping peacefully on Bryant. He made a 'Shh' sound with his fingers. I face-palmed myself, I managed to drag him away from Cheryl yesterday, but it looks like he appeared by her side today.

Putting down the bucket of water on the ground, I signaled for Bryant to leave so I could do a healing session on her. He nodded reluctantly, carefully setting Cheryl's head onto the pillow. Remembering that I forgot to get towels to put on Cheryl's forehead, I went out to the medical room to get it.

When I came back, what I saw made me drop them. Cheryl was bending a stream of water and using it to heal herself with ease! She dropped the liquid, startled from the noise. I rushed to her side, she was a healer! She gives me a confused look while I clutched her hand.

"You have an amazing ability, you know? You're a healer! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Did you just find out or something? Do that again, and I can show you how to properly heal yourself." She blinks a couple of times, trying to comprehend the situation.

"I actually found out when I sprained my ankle from running away back at the South Pole. I forgot that I even had that ability until just now. You kinda broke myself out of a trance I was in, that wasn't really me healing myself. It was kinda like someone guiding me to perform the action." She replied. It wasn't her? But I saw her do it with so much ease. Perhaps … it was Korra unconsciously helping Cheryl heal herself?

"You have an incredible skill you know? Not many water benders are able to heal." Cheryl nods her head slowly. I pull up her Pajamas so that they are up to their knees. Then, I pick up a small blob of water by bending it and place it on her knee.

I make sure she watches carefully so that she can learn the technique properly. We were at it for quite some time as water seemed to be her most difficult element. She could create ripples in the bucket and heal herself if there was already a situated ball of water on the injury, but found it rather hard to move water itself. It was weird considering that healing was in a way more advance than regular water bending.

Eventually when the healing session and lesson was over, I cleaned up the room. When I came back, I saw her getting up and putting on her slippers.

"Where you u going?" I asked.

"For some fresh air." I quickly blocked the doorway. She gave me a confused look and tried to get past me.

"You can't!" I said a little too loudly.

"Why?" She said back, her voice showing some anger.

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Umm.." I try looking for an excuse. "You're too hurt." She raises a brow.

"You just gave me a healing session."

"But...umm...you still need to rest." I protested.

"Fine. Get me a cup of water then." She goes back to the bed. I smile and walk downstairs, at least I'll be able to keep the truth from her for some time.

When I go down to the kitchen, I hear someone go down the stairs, happy voices. Then, commotion. When I rushed to the front door, I find Lily trying to block Cheryl from exiting the door and the two arguing. I listen in on their conversation by standing from afar.

"You're in Pajamas, you can't go like that!" Lily retorts.

"I honestly don't care anymore."

"But it's the public! You'll embarrass us!" Cheryl puts her hands on her hips, titling in one direction.

"It's Asami's mansion. There are guards protecting the gates and we are quite far from Republic City."

"How do you know?"

"Cause I been here before."

"What if your memory is fuzzy?"

"Lily, please. What is with you guys today? It is that bad going outside? Even if it is raining there's a roof covering the stairs."

"But what if the wind blows it toward you?"

"Then I'll go take a shower."

"You'll catch a cold."

"Lily!"

"What's going on?!" Asami appears from a hallway. I step out from the shadows.

"I want to get some air, but both Lily and Akina won't let me." Asami gives me a worried look. She sighs and pulls Cheryl to sit on a step with her.

"Cheryl, things may get out of hand while you're gone at points."

"And?"

"I just want you to be prepared for this."

"For what?" Asami takes a deep breath and leads her outside with Lily and me. I hear Cheryl gasp loudly at the scene. The whole area had Earth Kingdom war planes and airships hovering around. Most of them centered around the city.

"Wh-What happened?"

"The Earth Queen."

"Turns out she did make a move while we were gone." I say.

"So...?"

"The United Republic is no more. It's part of the Earth Kingdom now. Apparently when the Red Lotus took down the government, the Earth Queen took it as an opportunity to bring down Republic City. She succeeded. " Cheryl collapses onto her knees and buries her head into her hands. Asami, Lily, and me kneel down to her level. Asami rubs her back.

"It's okay. You'll be able to get it back."

"No. It's not okay. Korra specifically told me to watch out for the Earth Queen. I failed."

"Everyone makes mistakes."

"Yeah. And it costed a whole nation to go down."

"What about Avatar Aang? He disappeared for a 100 years causing the Southern Water Tribe and part of the Earth Kingdom to fall under Fire Nation rule. Even Korra went A.W.O.L., but for only 3 years. Making, the Earth Kingdom fall to Kuriva's tyranny. Both of them ended up fixing their mistakes and brought peace to the world. You'll do the same." Cheryl looks up.

"I guess you're right."

"Besides," I say causing her to turn to me "You had to deal with the Red Lotus at that moment, you can't know what is happening everywhere." She nods back and a determined look take over.

"I'll do whatever it takes to bring balance again."

"We know you will." Asami replies back.

So...yeah. Who knows when I will update again. Korra ending in 4 days just makes me lose inspiration. Hope you guys liked it and review!