Hello readers =) Hope you're reading for the exciting Chapter 6! Enjoy!
Korra stood in awe as she examined this mysterious figure before her. He eerily resembled the concept of fire itself. His glow was iridescent, and empowering. Korra felt his presence surge through her veins, but she fought the inclination to harm anyone. She knew that she was better than that.
"Bow before me, Avatar!" he bellowed once again.
Korra scowled at him, "Why should I?"
"Because I am Zheng-Fu, you impudent fool!"
Korra crossed her arms, slightly shifted her hips, and smiled at him mockingly, "Zheng-Fu eh? Never heard of you…what are you some little spirit trying to make a name for yourself in the Spirit World? How cute…"
"Why you!" Zheng-Fu lifted his sword and swung at her.
Korra screamed in pain. There was no physical damage, but Korra felt her insides being torn. He then raised his hands and pushed them down. Korra's body lifted with his hands, and then her body plummeted to ground. Her body hit the grass with a loud thud.
The sound of marching became increasingly louder, the sound of unison boomed along the mountainside. Korra and Katara were about to be extremely outnumbered and could not defend themselves.
Tears ran down Korra's eyes. She felt so helpless. She knew that her time in this world was shortening. Her death was imminent. "What did you do to the moon spirit?" Korra whimpered.
Zheng-Fu boomed with laughter, "That failure of a spirit? She's right here." He waved his arm, and wisps of glowing light formed into a limp body on the grass.
Katara looked over at the spirit body, and her eyes widened. She ran over as fast as she could to the wounded woman, "Yue!" Katara cried.
Korra looked at Katara with a dumbfounded look. "Yue?" she asked, quite confused, "How do you know the moon spirit? And how does she have a first name. I thought it was Tui."
Katara couldn't touch Yue's body, but she looked at the many dark spots and blood wounds scattered across her body, "When I first came to the North Pole, it was with Aang," Katara started, "A Fire Nation Admiral named Zhao killed the moon spirit, and Yue was the Princess at the time, with some essence of the moon spirit living within her breathing body. She transferred her life to the fish Tui, who is the physical form of the moon. Yue became the moon."
"Ah the glorious Admiral Zhao," Zheng-Fu roared. Every time he spoke, the ground rumbled. "He was almost victorious until the ocean spirit took his life. I mourned for him that day. He inspired me to become who I am today."
"What do you want with her?" Korra cried, tears still running down her face.
"I want to kill her, obviously, get rid of her permanently. Take her position as the new moon, and create a new world full of waterbenders that will follow my every command."
The bloodbenders marched into the Spirit Oasis. They circled the entire area. Korra examined each of their faces. They were the seemingly normal citizens of the Northern Water Tribe that she had seen bustling about the city on her first day. Their eyes were not the inviting blue that was typical for waterbenders. It was deep red, they looked bloodshot, and they look possessed.
"What did you do to them?" Korra cried once again.
"They're my minions. Now that the moon spirit is just minutes away from death, her influences over waterbenders are under my control. I'm sure you heard of bloodbending young Avatar. Well, waterbenders can only do it on the night of the full moon, when I am at my strongest. I've been beating away at the moon spirit for months, and taking her place in the physical world. I am making the world just a bit more evil every month."
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"It's in my nature. I am Zheng-Fu the conqueror after all. Now experience the wrath of my power."
The army of bloodbenders raised their hands. Korra let out the loudest scream she could as she felt her body twisting internally and externally. Her screams echoed through the oasis, and extended to the ocean. Katara was unmoved. She sat along Yue's side, unaffected by the bloodbenders.
Zheng-Fu looked at her curiously. "Why are you not under the control of my bloodbenders, elderly one?" He asked Katara.
Katara slowly stood up, looked at him and retorted, "Because my bloodbending is stronger than all of your…minions. I've known the art for years, and have learned how to control it. I would never use it for evil, as your intentions show. I'm better than that. I'm better than you."
Katara began waving her hands. One by one, each of Zheng-Fu's bloodbenders dropped to the ground in an unconscious state. Katara concentrated and focused all of her strength in relieving the threat.
Korra watched in fearful awe. She was completely stunned by the ability shown by Katara. As each body fell to the ground, more tears dripped down Katara's cheeks.
She had never wanted to use that evil technique again. She was forced to learn it, and was unable to forget it.
All the bloodbenders laid on the ground in an unconscious slumber.
Katara's arms were raised high above her head, trembling. Her breathing was heavy, and then she just collapsed. Korra tried to get up and run to catch her, but Korra's body was thrown to the ground. Korra looked around the oasis. So many bodies lay on the floor, and Korra felt that she had ultimately failed as an Avatar at this very moment. She was helpless.
This makes no sense, Korra thought, He's a spirit. How is he doing this to me?
Then she heard soft footsteps. Korra looked up towards the maleficent spirit. A woman stepped out from behind him. Korra eyes shot open. "Kaya…" Korra whispered.
Kaya's body was limp and her skin was paler than usual. Her eyes had even rolled to the back of her head. She was a complete zombie.
Zheng-Fu waved his hand as if he were leading an orchestra, and with his hand movements, Kaya would wave her arms in extended motions, bending the water in Korra's blood.
Korra grunted as her body flailed around the oasis. She was a useless puppet. Her insides were being torn and twisted and every second she was under the control of someone else.
After a couple of minutes of seemingly endless torture, Zheng-Fu released his prey. "I have a better idea Avatar. I'm going to kill you myself." He seethed.
Korra was nearly out of breath. She was panting heavily, the blood seeping through her parka. "H-h-how are you going to do that Zheng-Fu?"
"Just wait and see." He raised both his arms above his head, and as a wispy mist, his spirit placed itself in the body of Kaya. Kaya deeply inhaled. Maniacal laughter echoed through the oasis. When she spoke, there were two audible voices; her own and Zheng-Fu's.
"So you're plan is to become the moon…why?" Korra sobbed.
"Because there is power in it. I've been hacking my way through a spiritual hierarchy trying to become the most powerful spirit in the world. The moon has such great influence on the physical world, and I'm known as Zheng-Fu the Conqueror for a reason. With you out of the way, oh almighty peacekeeping bridge between the two worlds, I'll be free to rule without your limiting presence."
"But the Avatar will just be reincarnated into the Earth Kingdom."
Zheng-Fu laughed, "Do you think an infant can stop me? Don't be so naïve."
Then something clicked in Korra's distressed mind. "You used Tahno…to get me here!" she exclaimed.
"Oh you're so smart. Yes, I did. Although my bloodbending reach has not extended past the North Pole, I was able to reach out to him, and subliminally influence you to come here. I made Tahno think that he invited you to the North Pole, but it was really me drawing you closer to your demise. It's all part of my flawlessly executed plan. It's a shame the boys' bending was taken by that Amon fellow. I would've used him to kill you. But his mother will do. This boy, Tahno, his grandmother Sirah helped spread bloodbending through the world. She learned from this woman Hama, who I believe is most magnificent. It's a shame she's passed. But her learner has kept her legacy alive. I watched Hama, and this Katara woman who lays right there fail her miserably. I couldn't let Hama's discovery go unnoticed, for without it, I wouldn't have become the powerful force I am today. So I manipulated a woman named Sirah to break Hama out of prison. Hama taught Sirah bloodbending, Sirah taught the world bloodbending." Zheng-Fu spat all of his words with great emphasis. Every little detail was important in his anecdote. He wanted Korra to know exactly how he came to power, and why she was going to die.
Korra attentively took in all the information spewing from the evil spirit's mouth. So many questions she wanted to ask, but she was too frightened to ask them, but her curiosity peaked on one. "Why can't you reach past the North Pole?"
"The good moon spirit still lives," he scowled. "While she still exists my reach is limited. These poor souls of the Northern Water Tribe are victimized by me because they're so close to their prized Spirit Oasis. Now Avatar…prepare to die."
Kaya's life essence was now replaced by Zheng-Fu. He charged at Korra and started throwing punches and kicks at the brutally injured Avatar. Korra could not react quick enough to deflect his jabs. Her body was limp on the grass.
She felt her body being raised off the ground. She looked in shock to see Zheng-Fu lifting her body. She flailed her arms and legs trying to break free from his hold. Then he flung her flying into the icy wall.
Korra heard her bones snapping. Her eyes slowly sealed shut. Don't die Korra, she thought, you have so much to do still… you have to beat Amon, get a boyfriend…Mako would be nice, get married, have kids, make your own new legacy. Just like Aang.
Korra…whispered a soft male voice…hold on Korra. I will help you beat Zheng-Fu.
"Who-who are you?" she barely said.
I am La. Zheng-Fu will pay for what he has done to my partner. Please try and get to the pond.
Korra's eyes slightly opened, and she slowly began to crawl towards the pond. Zheng-Fu had walked away from the Avatar to examine the broken body of Princess Yue.
It hurt to move, but Korra was a fighter. She struggled her way to the pond. She fainted right along the edge, her right arm splashed into the water.
Well done Korra, we're going to win. Don't worry, La had whispered.
The pond began to shine white light.
Korra's eyes shot open, glowing bright blue. La had absorbed himself into Korra's body, triggering the Avatar State. She had the power of the strong spirit of the ocean. Like Avatar Aang before her, she and La were now one spiritual being.
She stood up powerfully. "Hey Zheng-Fu…" Korra bellowed.
He turned around fiercely, and eyes darted open, "Impossible!" he sputtered.
Korra sprinted to Zheng-Fu in Kaya's body at full speed. With swiftness, Korra landed multiple jabs on the physical body. With each blow, Zheng-Fu grunted.
He growled, and circled his arms and pulled water out of the ice creating a large wave. Korra followed. Water splashed and crashed in the midst of the oasis. The ocean spirit within Korra was strong and empowering. Zheng-Fu was clearly outmatched.
She sent wave after wave of water at him, her strength increasing, powered by the anger of the ocean spirit. For a second time in the century, La had sought for revenge upon those who had harmed Tui; regardless to whether the perpetrator was human or spirit.
Zheng-Fu had been knocked down onto his knees, weakened by the Avatar. Korra approached him intensely. She placed her left thumb on his forehead and her right on his heart. His body began to glow a deep red, while Korra glowed a shimmering blue. The red slowly receded, until both bodies glowed blue. A wispy mist escaped from Kaya and settled on the grass below Korra's feet. Kaya collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The mist formed into the shape of Zheng-Fu's body. He was bloodied, and bruised, just like the spirit body of Princess Yue. He struggled to lift his head to face up towards the Avatar. "You're going to kill me aren't you?" he asked in defeat.
"Karma sucks doesn't it Zheng-Fu," Korra hissed. She held up her left hand and a stream of gleaming light shot out from her palm.
Zheng-Fu screamed and his body disappeared into thin air.
She walked over to the body of Princess Yue and she pulled water out of the oasis to heal her wounded body. With the spiritual help of La, the wounds decorating Yue's body slowly disappeared, and a stream of light flowed back into the pond.
Korra then walked over to the pond, stuck her hands back into the water, La had left her body and returned to his fish form. Thank you Avatar Korra he said to her, you are destined for greatness. This was merely a small step down the great road that is your fate. Good luck Korra, I'll always be here for you, and so will Tui.
Korra, now alone in her body, smiled at the black fish and nodded. She looked to see the two fish swimming in a single circle, as it should be.
Korra became filled with the sense of accomplishment. She couldn't stand, her strength had been exhausted. Korra fainted.
This chapter was intense right? I hope you enjoyed this chapter! As a little fun trivia note, Zheng Fu actually means conquer in Chinese. Accuracy is always nice. Reviews are delightful, you should leave some ;) - Fire Bender