Here we are chapter 7. where many questions will be answered, more questions will be raised, and some saved for next chapter. once again I own nothing but the ocs. Now without further delay I present as .r has dubbed it: the revelation.
Chapter: 7
"Tenzin what happened to you?" Korra asked quietly. She could see now why he seemed so familier. His beard was white, and his face was creased with age, but despite all of this it really was Tenzin. The first naturally born air bender after over a hundred years of extinction, and the man who helped her become a fully realized Avatar. Korra stared disbelievingly into his grey eyes that now held wisdom that only time could give.
"What happened to me is what obviously hasn't happened to you. All this time, and you haven't aged a day." Tenzin said in astonishment.
"All this time, what are you talking about Tenzin? What is going on?" Korra asked again as she grabbed his shoulders. She was beginning to panic now.
"Korra where have you been, and for how long" Tenzin asked calmly.
Korra took a step back in confusion. "Asami, and were on vacation in the spirit world. We've been gone for a week." Korra answered. The three power benders behind her were watching closely. Tenzin closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Then he opened his eyes, took a step forward, and placed his hands on her shoulders as he looked her in the eyes.
"You two have been missing for the last twenty years." Tenzin said.
Korra was stunned. She didn't want to believe it, but the proof was staring her right in the eyes.
"So it really is you." Katala said.
"What are you talking about Katala? Who is she?" Aang asked.
"This, children is Avatar Korra." Tenzin answered.
"Woah" Aang said in astonishment..
"Damn it I owe Sokka twenty yuans." Toph said crossing her arms.
"Twenty years." Korra muttered to herself. "How is that even possible?" she asked.
"I don't know, but we will figure this out. Until then however there are some people who'd like to see you." Tenzin said as he stepped to the side. As he did Korra could now see the small group behind him. The first two to approach were an older man, and woman. They were dressed in lighter water tribe clothing due to the warm weather.
"Mom, dad" Korra whispered as their blue eyes met hers, and before she knew it, she was caught in a massive hug.
"Oh Korra it's a miracle.' Senna said as tears of joy fell down her face.
"Thank Raava your safe." Tonraq said as he shed tears of his own
Katala watched patiently as Toph, and Aang made their way around the family reunion to the rest of the group. The group consisted of two air bender woman, and a muscular man of earth kingdom descent. Before either Toph, or Aand could say a word, both woman had them in tight hugs. As Korra glanced over to the other three, she recognized them as well.
"Bolin, Opal, Jinora? Is that you?" Korra asked as she disentangled herself from her parents.
"It's great to see you again korra." Bolin said as he gave her a brief, but tight hug. From the pictures that korra had seen she knew that Bolin had always resembled his father the most. Time it seems has only made the similarities stronger; especially now that Bolin had a mustache of his own.
Jinora had grown into a beautiful air nomad woman. She was wearing the newer flight suit that most air benders wore; along with a beaded necklace with the air symbol on it, and the red cape her father once wore.
Opal now had her own air bender tattoos, but unlike Jinora she was wearing more traditional air nomad robes like what Pema would wear. Korra suspected this had something to do with the fact that Opal was roughly six months pregnant. Opal released her hold on Toph, and turned her attention to the avatar.
"Korra you are finally back. That's good, because I've been waiting for this." Opal said coolly as she walked towards Korra.
"Waiting for what?" Korra asked.
"Uh Korra" Bolin began to say, but he was cut off by Opal.
"For this" Opal said as she threw a right hook, that knocked Korra flat on her back. Toph, and Aang stared gob smacked, while everyone else flinched at the blow.
"Toph your mom just sucker punched the Avatar." Aang whispered.
"I know I can't believe it either." She whispered back.
"That's enough Opal." Jinora said as Bolin helped Korra to her feet.
"What the hell was that for?" Korra asked as she rubbed her aching jaw.
"Twenty years worth of grievances" Opal replied as she shook her now sore hand.
"Okay okay" Bolin said as he slid himself between korra, and his wife. "Now that Opal has that out of her system why don't we introduce you to the kids."
Hearing this Toph stood next to her mother, and removed her mask.
"Korra this is our daughter, Toph Beifong the 2nd." Bolin announced with pride.
She looked to be about sixteen, and was as tall as her mother. Also like her mother she had black hair cut to shoulder length, and lightly tanned skin. Korra would actually think she was looking Opal if not for three things. The first thing was her brilliant emerald eyes. The second was the red Kioshi warrior markings beneath her eyes. The third, and final thing was the perpetual smirk on her face that screamed Beifong.
"So you're the great Avatar that we've heard so much about." Toph said as she sized Korra up, and looked unimpressed.
"This me, and Kai's son Aang." Jinora said as she presented the orange power bender. She smiled gently as Aang removed his mask.
"It's nice to meet you." Aang said as he shook out the tangled brown mop he called hair. He looked to be about fifteen years old , and Korra could see the tip of a blue arrow peaking out of his hairline. Aang had grey eyes, and a smile that was as innocent as it was mischievous.
"It's nice to meet you too." Korra replied as she was starting to freak out inside. She was meeting the teenage children of three of her closest friends, after missing twenty years of her life. There is no way things can get any weirder.
"And this is Katala." Tonraq introduced the blue power bender. As Korra turned around; anything she was about to say was instantly caught in her throat.
Katala had a water tribe complexion, and stood a few inches taller than herself with a slightly bigger bust; Korra noticed with a twinge of envy. Most of her chocolate brown hair was pulled back into a long wolfs tail, with the rest flowing down to the middle of her back. Katala's Eyes were a stunning ice blue rather than her own ocean blue. What shocked Korra into silence though was the young women's face. It was so much like the face she saw in the mirror, or when she looked at her mother.
"Korra meet your little sister." Senna said with a smile.
Sokka was racing through the palace at top speed. He dodged left, and right; just barely missing servants, and visitors.
"Have you seen my dad?" Sokka asked quickly as he checked in each room. Every response was no. He finished his search of the east wing, and he began making his way to search the west. As Sokka was about to make a sharp turn; he suddenly lost all traction, and he found himself flying face first into a decorative suit of armor, a wall, and the floor in that exact order. As Sokka groaned in pain on the floor, a young girl no older than eight walked up to him.
"Mom said I'm not allowed to run in the halls Sokka. So if I'm not allowed to, then neither are you." She said as she put her small fists on her hips.
"Ugh. I don't have time for this Megan. I need to find dad, have you seen him?" Sokka asked as he lifted the heavy armor off of his legs.
"Yeah" She answered.
They stared at each other for six seconds before Sokka asked "Well?"
"Well what?" Megan asked as she began to play with one of her two long braids.
"Where is dad?" He asked again, quickly losing his patience.
"I can't tell you." Megan replied.
"Why not?" Sokka nearly yelled.
"Because he's playing hide, and seek." Megan said as if that explained.
"What, with who?" Sokka asked in confusion.
"With Azulon, and Ty Lin's mom. I just saw her ten minutes ago. She was muttering something about gutting elephant koi. I think we are having fish for dinner." She said with a smile.
"Oh boy that's not good." Sokka said as he stood up, and took off again, redoubling his search.
"Hey no running!" megan yelled out as she turned the ice patch into water, and returned it to her pouch, as she ran after him.
Azulon walked into the infirmary with Asami in his arms, and Ty Lin on his heels. The infirmary was empty except for an old water tribe woman, who was making her way over to the trio.
"Are you two alright? What happened?" the old woman asked as she began to look them over.
"We are fine Nora." Azulon said as he laid the still unconscious Asami on the nearest bed. "She was attacked by dark spirits, and she hit her head pretty good." He answered the healers other question.
"Goodness the poor dear is lucky to be alive." Nora said as she began to look over Asami.
"Yeah we got there just in time" Ty Lin said.
"By the look of her I take it that Katala has already taken care of everything already?" Nora asked as she took a step back. At Ty Lin's nod the old woman smiled. "Katala is the most talented girl I've ever trained. What did she say?" the healer asked.
"Katala said that she just needs some rest. Can you watch her, and let us know when she wakes up?" Azulon asked.
"Of course your highness." She said with a smile.
"By the way do you know where our parents are?" Azulon asked.
"I think your father is in a meeting, and your mother has been looking for you children all day." She answered.
"Is mom still looking for us?" Ty Lin asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry sweetie, but I believe she is hunting by this point." Nora answered with a sad smile.
"In that case we should get moving. Thank you for everything Nora." Azulon said as he bowed politely, and turned to leave. Ty Lin bowed as well, and followed after him.
"Who do you think dad is meeting with?" Ty Lin asked as they made their way towards the throne room.
"There isn't a council meeting today, and there aren't any dignitaries visiting. He is probably meeting with the fire sages." Azulon answered as they rounded a corner.
"Awe man I hate those stuffy old gorilla goats." Ty Lin said with a huff.
"With how often they complain about you I believe the feeling is mutual." Azulon said dryly.
"Hey it's not my fault. They are the ones with a problem with me, mom, uncle, and a large chunk of our family tree in general." Ty Lin defended.
"It would probably help if you didn't antagonize them every chance you get." Azulon said as he grinned beneath his mask.
"Hey that's not my fault either." Ty Lin protested as they came to stand before the closed doors of the throne room. Imperial fire benders standing on either side of the door nodded to them, signifying that they could enter. With that Ty Lin viciously kicked the doors open.
"They make it so fun." She said happily as she entered. Azulon just shook his head, and followed after.
The Fire Lord sat upon a raised platform behind a wall of fire. Before him stood five older men wearing the traditional crimson robes of the fire sages.
"Why have you called this meeting?" The fire lord asked. His voice was calm, and controlled. The eldest fire sage stepped forward. He was tall, and lean with white hair, and a long white beard.
"My lord we are here to discuss your son crown prince Azulon." The old sage said.
"That's new, normally you're here to discuss Ty Lin." The fire lord chuckled. While the lead sage managed to keep his face blank, the rest of them frowned at the mention of the princess.
"Not at the moment my lord." The head sage said.
"Then what is it about Azulon that you wish to discuss shen?" The fire lord asked curiously. Aside from his heritage the fire sages never had any complaints about his eldest child.
"As the prince has turned eighteen he is now of legal age to marry, and secure the royal line. We wish to discuss his betrothal my lord." Shen explained.
"Azulon is more than capable of finding a wife of his own, and I see no reason to force marriage on him. As for the royal line I have two strong heirs, and I have no intention of dying anytime soon." The fire lord said coldly.
"With all due respect your highness neither did your predecessor." said a sage with long white whiskers. The unseen fire lord narrowed his amber eyes.
"I beg your pardon my lord" Shen spoke, drawing the fire lord's attention back to himself. "Our concern is not so much for the security of the line, as it is the purity of it. We feel the prince should wed a woman of pure fire nation lineage, rather than dilute the royal line any further." Shen explained calmly. The wall of flames suddenly burned brighter, and hotter. The sages behind Shen took several startled steps back.
"The knowledge of the fire nation's history, laws, customs, and culture that the fire sages hold is invaluable. Your wisdom, opinions, and insight are always welcome to my council. Your concerns are both noted, and appreciated." The fire lord spoke calmly.
"That being said Azulon's life is his to live. I will not allow his own personal decisions be dictated by others. Whether he weds a noble, or a peasant of any nation is his decision to make. Do I make myself clear?" the fire lord said coldly, challenging any of them to question his authority.
"Perfectly my lord" Shen said as he, and the rest of the sages bowed deeply. As the fire sages stood up, and the fire wall returned to normal, the doors to the throne room were kicked open. Everyone turned to see the prince, and princess enter the throne room, still fully dressed in their power bender uniforms.
While Azulon walked tall, and strong; Ty Lin immediately began walking on her hands right beside him. While the sages scowled at the odd princess; the fire lord watched them approach with the smile of a proud father. They came to a stop in front of the platform, and Ty Lin stood right side up. "We are your loyal children." They said in unison as they bowed lowly.
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss?" The fire lord asked the fire sages.
"No my lord" Shen answered.
"Then leave us" the fire lord dismissed. As the fire sages turned to leave, they failed to notice Ty Lin holding her thumbs to the sides of her head, and wiggling her fingers at their backs. Had she not been wearing her mask, her tongue would have probably been stuck out as well. No one spoke until the sages had left, and the doors were once again secured.
"Ty Lin as entertaining as it is for you to mess with them, I am the one who has to listen to them complain afterwards." The fire lord said' his voice laced with amusement.
"Sorry daddy." Ty Lin said with a smile in her voice.
"Where have you two been? Your mother has been worried sick." The fire lord said.
"I'm sorry father, but that question would be better answered by the grand lotus." Azulon said.
"I have a sister. I have a little sister. I have a nineteen year old little sister. Bolin, and opal have a daughter named Toph. Jinora, and Kai have a son named Aang. I have been gone for twenty years." Korra was saying as she sat on a stone bench that Bolin had quickly bent beneath her when she got the latest piece of news.
"Are there any other world flipping revelations you guys care to share?" Korra asked shakily.
"Believe me Korra there is a lot for you to catch up on, but there are some things you need to see rather than be told about." Tenzin said; as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Korra looked at the people around her. They had all changed so much, and yet hardly at all. Then she caught sight of the old man in the red, and grey robes standing off to the side.
"I'm sorry have we met before?" Korra asked the hooded man. The adults suddenly went quiet at her question.
"Actually we have. Although not always under the best circumstances." He answered.
Korra froze instantly when she heard his voice. She had heard it before on one of the darkest days of her life, and for three years after in her nightmares. He removed his hood to reveal long white hair to match his beard. His face was wrinkled with age, but the scar on his eyebrow, and his cold brown eyes remained the same.
"Zaheer" Korra whispered. Suddenly she unleashed a massive blast of air launching Zaheer back. Then before anyone could stop her, she launched herself after him. Zaheer caught himself, and he began levitating two feet of the ground. Korra began launching blast after blast of fire at him. While she came close, she only managed to scorch his robes.
Twenty years may have passed, but Zaheer was just as slippery as ever. Korra launched blasts of fire, and air, as well as boulders, but nothing was connecting. Zaheer skillfully dodged everything she threw at him yet he wasn't trying to counter attack, or escape. She could vaguely hear her friends, and family yelling for her to stop, but she couldn't. She had to stop Zaheer, before he hurt someone.
All of a sudden Korra was knocked to the side by a powerful gust of air. Korra quickly shook of the blow, and looked up in surprise. That blow hadn't come from Zaheer.
"What are you doing?" Korra yelled as Aang came to stand before her, and Zaheer. Suddenly she was encased in earth up to her waist.
"What are we doing? What the hell are you doing?" Toph yelled back as she came up behind her. Instead of answering, Korra bent the stone away from her, and launched it in all directions.
Toph defended herself with a wall of stone, while Aang, and Zaheer dodged easily. Before Korra could launch another attack, she felt several quick jabs to her side, and one to her neck. She swiftly fell to the ground unable to move. She was quickly rolled over to see Katala kneeling over her.
"I'm sorry Korra, but you are attacking someone who hasn't been your enemy for a long time." She said.
By now everyone had caught up to them, and gathered around as Senna helped Korra sit up.
"I'm sorry Korra. That may have been a revelation better told, than shown." He apologized.
"You think" Toph dead panned, as she, Aang, and Zaheer approached the group.
"Actually that went a lot better than I expected." Zaheer said lightly. "Katala could you." He said gesturing to Korra.
"Of course sifu" She replied as she jabbed Korra in the neck again. As she was about to unblock the rest of her sister's chi paths; Tenzin stopped her.
"You should probably let her bending come back on it's own. We still have a long day ahead." Tenzin whispered. Korra stood up, and dusted herself off as she looked to her friends, and family.
"Alright I trust you guys." She said before she turned to glare at Zaheer. "But I will be watching you Zaheer, and if you make one wrong move, I will end you right then, and there." She said threateningly.
"I would expect nothing less from you Avatar Korra." He replied.
They all stood in a tense silence for several moments before they heard the footsteps of someone approaching. They all turned to see a brown haired woman with glasses walking towards them.
"There you kids are. Where is Sokka?"
"I believe he is looking for his dad Mrs. Varrick" Toph answered.
"Zhu li is that you/" Korra asked as she recognized the woman. Zhu li stared at Korra in surprise.
"Well that would explain why the kids all disappeared on such short notice." She said as she glared at Tenzin, and Zaheer, who actually looked sheepish under the women's gaze.
"Time was of the essence, and Korra's return would be best kept on a need to know basis." Tenzin explained.
"Why is me being back on a need to know basis?" Korra asked.
"We'll explain later Korra. Right now you need to see the fire lord." Zhu li said.
"She's right. As far as a need to know basis goes; he needs to know." Bolin spoke up.
"Bolin is right. We can continue this reunion in the throne room." Zaheer agreed.
"Damn it where is he?" Sokka asked himself as he was bent over in the hall, out of breath. He had checked the lab, the library, the kitchen, the dinning room, the training room, the east wing, and the west wing. There was still no sign of his father. "Maybe he's in the throne room." Sokka said to himself, as he caught his breath. As he turned to continue his search, Sokka was hit square in the face by a torrent of water. The sneak attack knocked him back into a pillar where he was swiftly frozen in place.
"Damn it Megan I don't have time for this!" Sokka explained.
"Mom said no running in the halls!" Megan yelled as she stomped her foot. "And I'm telling that you said a bad word."
"Megan I don't have time for this." Sokka said again. "And Damn it isn't a bad word." He added.
"Sokka Nuktuk Varrick!" Zhuli yelled from down the hall.
"Ha ha you're in trouble." Megan taunted with a triumphant smirk.
"Megan Yue Varrick!"
Megan's smirk disappeared as their mother, and a group of people came to a stop before the siblings.
"What have I told you two about water bending in the halls?" Zhu li asked with her hands on her hips.
"Sorry mom." They answered in unison.
"Wait a minute, these are your kids?" Korra asked as she looked over Zhu li's shoulder.
"Yes they are." She answered, giving Korra a happy smile.
Megan unfroze Sokka, and returned the water too her pouch. She had a lighter complexion like her mother, and brown hair with two braids. She also wore a purple dress.
Now free Sokka removed his mask. He had his father's darker complexion, along with blue eyes, and brown hair pulled back into a warrior's wolf tail.
"Wait a minute. Your name is Korra, are you the Avatar?" Sokka asked.
"Yes." Korra nodded.
"Oh yeah" Sokka exclaimed as he pointed at Toph. "You owe me twenty yuans." He said with a triumphant smile.
"Yeah yeah yeah we'll settle this later. Right now we are off to see the fire lord, and with any luck keep your dad from getting flayed." Toph said as she grabbed Sokka's arm, and pulled him along towards the throne room.
When they reached the throne room, the guards nodded, and opened the door for them to pass. Korra was awed as they entered the large chamber. The room was well lit, with torches around the edge. Crimson banners bearing the fire nation crest hung along the walls. Eight large pillars were stationed from the front of the room to the back, with four pillars on either side of them. At the back of the room was a raised platform with a wall of fire in front of it. Only the silhouette could be seen of the person seated upon the platform.
Standing before the flames was the red, and pink power benders. The whole group bowed lowly in traditional fire nation style. After a moment of surprise Korra followed suit. She never thought she would see Zaheer bow to a world leader.
"It's good to see you all." The fire lord said. The voice sounded masculine, whoever seated on the throne was not Izumi. That must be Iroh; Korra thought.
"Tenzin, Zaheer could one of you explain to me why our children were sent outside the fire nation without council approval, or notifying us of their whereabouts?" The fire lord asked.
"Our apologies, but this mission was spur of the moment, and needed to be completed quickly, and by the very best." Zaheer answered.
"As well the focus, and results of the mission should only be known to a select few." Tenzin added.
"And what exactly would be the focus of this mission?" the fire lord asked.
At this Korra stepped forward. "That would be me. From what they tell me it has been a long time Iroh." She said with a smile.
"Korra" the fire lord said in disbelief. The two power benders seemed to glance at each other in confusion.
The fire lord stood, and began walking down the steps; the wall of fire lowering before him. As the fire lord became visible, Korra's smile turned to a look of confusion. This man was not Iroh.
He was taller than her, and well muscled though not as much as Bolin. He wore red, black, and yellow colored clothing, with black, and gold boots, and a bracer on his right forearm. The man also wore a black, and red cape connected to a black, and gold pointed shoulder covers, with a golden fire symbol on the center of his chest. He appeared to be wearing a metal gauntlet on his left hand.
He had a short gotee, and his black hair was pulled back into a traditional topknot to hold the golden fire shaped crown. Beneath his pointed black eye brows rested two amber eyes that looked as though they were seeing a ghost.
"Mako" Korra whispered his name in surprise.
"Actually it's fire lord Mako now." He said with a small smile. "Korra where have you been all this time, is Asami with you?" Mako asked quickly.
"Where have I been? Where is Iroh, and how are you the fire lord?" Korra asked just as quickly.
"If Asami is the name of the other girl, then she is currently in the infirmary father." Azulon said as he stepped forward.
"Dad who is she?" Ty Lin asked as she stood next to her brother.
"Dad? Father? These two are your kids?" Korra asked in surprise.
"Yes this is my son Azulon, and my daughter Ty Lin." Mako answered as the two removed their masks.
Azulon looked just like Mako when she had first met him. He even had the same spiky hair. The only difference was his eyebrows lacked the signature spike that Mako had.
Ty Lin had light skin, and jade green eyes. She had two bangs framing her face, and the rest of her black hair styled back into a long braid that fell down to the middle of her back. The spiked eye brows that her big brother lacked, she had.
"By the look of things you've already met my niece, is it really that hard for you to believe that I have kids?" Mako asked at the stunned look on Korra's face.
"No no not at all." Korra stammered as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Kids this is Avatar Korra." Mako introduced her with a gesture of his right hand.
"Wow really?" Ty Lin asked with a bright smile. Azulon looked at her calmly, but he didn't say anything.
"So um who is the lucky lady?" Korra asked awkwardly.
"Oh that is interesting, because you already know her." Mako said as he rubbed the back of his head with his right hand.
"Varrick!" A woman yelled loudly from the hall.
Everyone in the room turned to see said industrialist barge into the throne room, slam the doors, and brace himself against them.
"Oh thank Raava there you kids are!" Varrick yelled in relief. He was wearing his usual blue outfit like when she had first met the CEO. Varrick hadn't changed much aside from his hair being greyer.
"Varrick!" The woman yelled again as a massive force hit the door. The woman hit the door twice more, nearly dislodging Varrick.
"Kids you got to help me." Varrick said desperately. Suddenly a metal blade pierced through the door two inches from his head.
"Woah!" Varrick yelled as he ran forward, and pulled Ty Lin, and Azulon in front of him.
For the second time that day the throne room doors were viciously kicked open. The opened doors revealed two terrified imperial fire benders , and a very angry fire lady. She wore black robes with silver trim, and two metal bracers on her wrists. One of which had a blade extended. She also wore an old red scarf around her neck. Korra was once again left speechless as she recognized the woman before her.
"Kuvira?"
Well there it is. chapter 7. please leave a comment, or review. I really want to know what you guys think so far, and constructive criticism is more than welcome. Also just to give you a better idea for mako's outfit just look up zukos fire lord outfit from the comics. its mostly based on that.
