I'm getting so much positive feedback on the story which I love! Here is the next chapter. Korra deals with the calm after the storm. Enjoy!
Korra awoke several hours later in a daze. Her surroundings were blurry and she had a massive headache. She swished her fingers in the pool playfully, enjoying the water sliding between her fingers. She slowly sat up and examined her body. All her bruises and cuts seemed to have been magically healed. She rubbed her head and tried to remember what had happened last night. It felt like a dream, but it was so real it couldn't have been.
The memories of the past twelve hours whizzed around Korra's head, playing back multiple times, explaining so much but Korra understood so little. She pieced the information into a seemingly sensible series of events, but even with continuity, it was so confusing.
She looked around the oasis, and everyone was gone, except for herself, Katara, and Kaya. Both women were still unconscious lying on the grass. Korra stood up quickly and darted to Katara. Her body was unscathed, and she was still unconscious. "Please don't be dead" Korra pleaded softly. She checked the elder's pulse to make sure she was alive. Katara's heartbeat was slight; it was there, but just barely. She couldn't do anything for the time being.
She then looked over to Kaya, the woman she had been forced to fight last night. Korra slowly approached Tahno's mother cautiously, being wary of Zheng-Fu's possible existence. She looked at the woman, who lay on her stomach, face planted into the grass, mouth dripping blood. Korra gently flipped her over and saw all the cuts and bruises on her face.
Something particular caught Korra's eye; Kaya had a strange red circle on her forehead. Then it clicked. Korra had pulled an Amon. She had to take away Kaya's bending in order to remove Zheng-Fu from her body, and remove him from the world.
She curled up into a ball and tightly hugged her knees, ashamed of what she had done to someone. How could I have done that to someone! She thought, I'm just as bad as Amon. I mean…it was for the greater good of the world. Zheng-Fu had to be dealt with properly, and the ocean spirit helped me get rid of him. If that meant I had to take away Kaya's bending, then I guess that's the way it had to be. She tried to reason with herself, but as her thoughts raced, tears rolled down her cheek and she sank herself into a deeper sense of denial.
Korra heard groaning sounds, she looked over to see Katara struggling to open her eyes and stand. Korra stood up at knelt by the elder. "Katara are you alright?" Korra asked nervously.
Katara adjusted her voice and coughed a couple of times. "I think I'll be alright Korra, I'm just old is all." Katara grunted as she sat up slowly, placed her hand on her chest and felt her heart softly beating in her chest.
Korra looked deep into Katara's eyes, "Why did you lie about bloodbending before?"
Katara looked away from the Avatar, "I never wanted to learn it, and I wanted to keep you away from it for as long as I could. I realized though that as terrible of a technique it is, it may be important for your survival."
"But you said that it wouldn't help me defeat the Equalists."
"I know. It would more than likely fuel their cause and increases their support, but the way that they're shifting the playing field, you may need all the help you can get. Korra, I will teach you how to bloodbend."
Korra looked at her in disbelief and she tried to defer the offer, but deep down, Korra knew that bloodbending may be the silver lining between life and death if she were captured by Amon. She nodded with chagrin.
"Not here though. Not today," Katara added, "I'll teach you on Air Temple Island, when I have my strength back."
Korra nodded again, and then turned back to the wounded Kaya. She hurried over, pulling some water to heal the wounds across her body. The water glowed, the splashed down Kaya's sides.
Kaya squeezed her eyes, clenched her teeth, and wrapped her arms around her stomach in pain. "What happened?" she whispered.
Korra sighed. She knew that she would have to explain everything. "You-you-you were possessed."
"Possessed? What do you mean?" Kaya retorted softly.
"There was this spirit, Zheng-Fu, and he was slowly killing the moon spirit to take her place in the physical world as the moon. He wanted to create a world full of bloodbenders whom he could control. He wanted to kill me, and placed his spiritual essence in your body. You were forced to fight me, and I had to fight you back. Zheng-Fu told me that your mother Sirah, she was the one who showed everyone what bloodbending was. You knew that, didn't you?"
Kaya sighed disappointed in her mother; "Yes my mother brought bloodbending into my life, and into the world. It seemed so terrible, but every time the full moon came upon the North Pole, I felt so empowered, I couldn't help myself. The first time I felt that way was about a year ago. All the waterbenders in the North Pole destroyed a piece of the city."
"Zheng-Fu did that to you. He was an evil spirit. Oh! That's where I saw the debris yesterday. Why wasn't it fixed?"
"It was supposed to be a reminder as to the dangers of bloodbending, so we never fixed it. It was our memorial, our gravestone. But it didn't stop. Many people were hurt. Some died, and it's all because the bloodbending we learned made us lose control."
"I'm so sorry about that Kaya. But Zheng-Fu is gone. He's been…taken care of."
"How did you manage that?"
"Well…the ocean spirit and I bonded, and by bonded I mean we became one powerful spirit attacking machine. With his help, we removed Zheng-Fu from your body, and the world. But…"
"But what…?"
"But I had to take away your bending in the process." Tears poured down Korra's eyes as she was sobbing into Kaya's chest, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. It was the only way. Please can you forgive me!"
Kaya gently rubbed Korra's back, "it's okay Korra. You did what you had to do. I'm not mad at you. I'm thankful that you've saved us all. Come on; let's head back to the apartment."
Korra wiped the tears dripping down her face and tried to smile at the two women before her. Kaya warmly smiled at her, but Korra could see her eyes holding back a river of tears. Katara had attentively listened to Korra's story.
They stood up and began to leave the oasis. Korra quickly ran back to pond and kneeled down, almost dunking her face in the water. "Thanks you two! For everything!" she whispered to the spirits.
'Korra it's me who should be thanking you. You've helped me and you've helped the world, Tui said to her.
Tui added, 'Just remember that if you are ever feeling alone, just remember that even though you're the Avatar, you're a waterbender at heart. And we can be a waterbender's greatest ally, if you would let us.'
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
'Good luck Avatar Korra'
Korra stood back up and caught up to her companions. They walked down the mountainside. Korra gasped and smacked her forehead, "I feel awful…I completely forgot to visit Naga yesterday!"
"Well isn't she still in the stables by the harbor?" Katara asked.
"Yeah…but I didn't show her the city. I just left her with some guy who had animals that she could play with. I hope she forgives me.
"Korra she wasn't allowed in the city. The city was too urbanized for a polar bear dog to be roaming around. I'm sure she will be delighted to see you."
They continued down the glacier, and the sun had risen and its light reflected by the white snow. The blood had been washed away, and those who were injured were healed. It seemed that peace had restored itself in the North Pole.
The town was quiet; everyone seemed to still be asleep, as if nothing had happened last night. Today was a clean slate. They walked up the stairs of the apartment building and opened the door to Kaya's home.
Korra stood in the doorway, nervous to confront her friend knowing that he hadn't really invited her on this trip of his own decent nature. She took a deep breath, and stepped inside. There she saw Tahno talking to his father and mother like a happily functioning family.
He glanced over to her and smiled. Slowly he approached Korra. "Hey Korra, how are you?" Tahno asked giddily.
Confused by his odd optimism, Korra replied. "I'm fine…thanks…how are you?"
"Well, I've been better. I'm still trying to get over the fact that my mother almost killed me last night. But it's no big deal."
"No big deal! Tahno…if you are Tahno and not some freakishly chipper boy who magically appeared overnight…that's a big deal!"
"She wasn't herself, I can't be mad at her for anything. I'm just happy to be home with my family. Everything is going to be alright. I know it. We'll be alright."
"You still know that I'm not into you like that." Korra was still mildly freaked out by his strange chipper attitude.
"I know, and I will respect your boundaries, but it most certainly won't stop me from being your friend."
Korra widely smiled, "I wouldn't want it any other way. Oh! I forgot to do something." Korra trotted to Katara, who had been conversing with Zhang over small-talk. She whispered into Katara's ears. Katara mumbled something to Korra, and Korra jumped in excitement. She then trotted back to Tahno.
"What was that all about?" he asked curiously.
"Oh you'll see. But we're planning on leaving tonight, so it may be time to say our goodbyes sooner than we had hoped. I need to get back to Republic City and take care of…some things."
They spent the last few hours at the apartment saying goodbyes and thanks to Tahno's parents. Once the sun had begun to set, it was time to leave.
Before heading back to the harbor to get Naga and catch the next ship to Republic City, Korra pulled Tahno towards the Spirit Oasis. "Before we leave, we have to try something back up on the top of the mountain." Korra said eagerly.
"What's that?" Tahno asked.
"You'll see! Come on!"
They proceeded to run up the façade, with Katara slowly following. Both teens ran to the top at full speed. Upon arrival, Korra threw herself onto the ground, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Tahno stood in awe of the beauty that was the Spirit Oasis. "I can't believe I've never been here before!" he chimed.
"It's pretty nice here isn't it," Korra panted, still lying on the ground.
"I've lived here for years, and haven't even dreamed of coming here." He walked over to Korra, and pulled her off the ground. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Because we're going to try to give you back your bending."
Tahno's eyes darted away from Korra and shot straight to the ground, "Korra I've tried that. It won't work. What Amon did was permanent."
"Look, Master Katara is the best healer I know, and we haven't tried this water. The water here has special properties. It may work. It can't hurt to try Tahno."
Katara walked in to the oasis, breathing weakly. "Korra, I'm getting too old for these constant trips up here. I may keel over any minute," she said sarcastically.
Korra giggled, "I'm sorry Katara, but this is the last one. I promise."
Katara walked over to the teens, and escorted Tahno to the pond where the koi fish swam. He knelt down at the edge and watched them swim in their circle. They looked happy and at peace. Katara walked over to the fountain and pulled a small orb of crystal clear water into her palm. She shuffled towards Tahno, tending carefully to the water. "Turn around please," she commanded sweetly.
He turned around and Katara placed the water on his forehead, in the exact spot where Amon had placed his vile thumb. The water glowed and Katara held her hand steady for a couple of minutes. She let the water drip down his face.
Tahno shook the water off his head and asked, "Did it work?"
"I don't know," Katara answered, "Try it out."
Tahno stood up and took a deep breath and slowly waved his arms trying to form a small whip of water. Nothing happened.
Tahno fell to his knees and buried his face in his hand, "I'll never waterbend again!" he cried. Korra walked over to him and placed her hand on his back to comfort him.
"I'm so sorry Tahno, I thought it would work, I really did…" Korra apologized.
Tahno sighed deeply, "It's okay Korra. It didn't hurt to try, but I'll be okay. It really is…no big deal."
Korra's hope to help her friend had failed. They walked back down the façade in disappointment. Korra kept looking back at Tahno, who looked ultimately depressed, his chipper attitude completely gone. They headed back to the harbor, but first had to stop at a stable to go get Naga. Korra had felt so bad not visiting her friend at the stable where Naga had been left upon arrival.
Unfortunately, Naga was not allowed to walk in the city due to her size, but she was welcome at a stable that housed large animals that Naga could play with.
They arrived at the stable and Korra approached the manager at the front desk and said to him, "I'm here to pick up my polar bear dog."
The manager nodded and answered, "Not a problem. I'll be right back." He turned around and walked through a large door. He came back leading Naga by the reins. "You'll be happy to know that she had a great time playing with the other animals, and I could tell she missed you dearly."
Korra ran up to Naga, and wrapped her arms around her friend's neck. "I missed you girl," she said while burying her face into her thick fur. Naga nuzzled her head onto Korra's shoulder. "I'm so sorry you couldn't come into the city. That's just ridiculous, but we're going home now. Come on."
Korra handed the manager some money and as she held out her hand to give him the money, he shook his hand. "Don't worry about it, for the Avatar, it's free." He said.
She bowed in respect and thanked him. The group headed to the harbor, and boarded the next boat to their destination. Once again sitting in the cargo hold with Naga, Katara and Tahno, Korra was anxious to get home. She wanted to tell her friends her story but she was nervous to learn bloodbending.
I hope I don't go power hungry, she began to think, Katara wouldn't teach it to me if she didn't know I was mature enough to handle the technique. I hope it can save my life.
As the boat set sail, Korra passed out on Naga's warm belly. Though she was asleep, her mind was still racing. She had so much to tell her friends, and then she still had to deal with the Equalist threat that was growing in the midst of Republic City.
So I realized yesterday that I hadn't written about Naga...at all, and I smacked myself on the forehead...so Korra doing that, is actually me doing that. Awkward turtle -_-. And this is the longest chapter yet, despite the intensity being rather mellow. Either way I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reviews are just so nice to get, and so easy, so please leave them! - Fire Bender