Here is the Desna and Eska chapter based on a Christmas Carol. I introduce to you A Raavaday Carol.
Disclaimer: I don't own LoK.
If there was one thing the chief twins of the Northern Water Tribe hated, it was Raavaday. They didn't understand how anyone could enjoy just a primitive holiday, celebrated for the sole purpose of commercial retail. They detested how people went around, being happy and pretending they enjoyed the company of people they hadn't seen for months. So, when they received an invitation to Varrick's Raavaday party, they were less than thrilled. Eska had a servant burn the note, and the two went on with their lives, all but forgetting about the most irritating time of the year coming.
Their anti-holiday bliss was interrupted, however, when a certain Republic City duo came to visit, decked out in holiday themed clothing. "Desna!" Kalika giggled, waving from across the room. Bolin was jumping up and down, waving to Eska, who smiled at the antics of her turtle-duck.
"What do we owe the pleasure?" Desna asked as he and his sister made their way to the ecstatic pair.
"Varrick never got a reply from you for his Raavaday party," Kalika explained, smiling. "So we volunteered to come down here to make sure you were coming."
"No," Eska replied shortly, her eyes narrowed.
"What?" Kika replied, taken aback by the force in the single word.
"We refuse to take part in this senseless holiday frivolity," she explained impatiently.
"Wait, but why?" Bolin asked, his eyes wide with shock. "You guys can't possibly…not…like… Raavaday?"
"We weren't raised to participate in pointless activities such as celebrating fabricated holidays," Desna stated.
"Come on, guys!" Kalika exclaimed. "You're just being downers because your dad hated Raava. Come to the party; it'll be fun."
"I doubt that," Desna replied, subtle sass seeping into his voice (A/N: Try saying that five times fast!)
"You guys are such spoilsports," Kika whined, pouting. After a few moments of silence, she asked "Hey, do you mind if we stay the night? I don't feel like trekking back to Republic City at night."
"Of course, you two are always welcome," Eska stated, turning around. "I'll show you to your quarters."
Kika's room was the one the twins usually put her in when she came to visit and was right in between Desna and Eska's rooms. Bolin's was on the other side of Eska's and was closest to the bathroom.
… … …
That night something strange happened. Eska entered her brother's room, waking him quietly. She seemed troubled as she plopped down on Desna's bed. "What is troubling you, sister?" Desna asked, sitting up under his comforter.
"I simply couldn't sleep," she replied in her usual monotone. "I figured you shouldn't get to slumber fitfully if I couldn't."
Desna inwardly rolled his eyes at his sister. "What would you like to do now that we are both unable to sleep?" he asked. "Reading always pleases you."
"Very well," she stated and watched as her brother grabbed a book from his end table.
It was a good hour later when the twins' reading was disturbed. There was a flash of lights illuminating the room and temporarily blinding the Water Tribe chiefs. When the light dimmed, Desna and Eska simultaneously looked up from the pages of their book. As Desna furrowed his brow, Eska tilted her head to the side, slightly irritated. "Kalika, what is the meaning of this?" she asked.
Kika grinned, looking down at herself. "Dorks, I'm not Kika! I'm the Spirit of Raavaday Past!" she giggled, spreading her arms out. "I'm taking the form of someone close to you so that you'll be more open to what I have to show you."
"It's too late in the night for this, Kalika," Desna stated. "Go back to bed."
Kika pouted, the lights surrounding her dimmed significantly. "Stop being such butttrumpets," she whined, walking over to the twins and taking their hands in hers. She tugged on their arms, trying to get them to stand up. "Come on~! We're going on an adventure!"
"Perhaps if we go along with it, she will eventually depart," Desna told his sister who nodded in agreement. "Alright, Kalika. Where are you going to take us?"
"Well, isn't that obvious?" she giggled, waving her arm in the air, opening a shimmering portal. "To Raavadays of the past."
The two watched as she hopped through the portal. Eska turned to her brother. "Since when could she accomplish that?" she asked. Her brother was just as confused and only shrugged before following after the girl. Eska followed not long after.
"Great! You came," Kika laughed, looking around. "I should've taken us a little closer. Now we have to walk through the cold!" she began to trudge through the snow as the twins stared after her. When she noticed they weren't following her, she turned to face them, waving them over. "Well, come on, come on! We haven't got all night! We have much stuff to see and…significantly less time to do it in!"
The twins caught up with her in no time, and, after what felt like ten minutes of walking, they came to a building that looked like Korra's home in the Southern Water Tribe. "What's our purpose in cousin Korra's house?" Eska asked, more than a little confused.
"Don't talk," Kika snapped. "Only listen and understand. Come on." She entered the tent with the twins at her heels. Inside, there was an eight year old Eska, trying to put together a 3D puzzle and getting increasingly frustrated. "They can't see or hear us," Kika told the twins as she looked around, spotting a pouting Desna in the corner. "Aw~ aren't you just the cutest~" she squealed.
"What's the meaning of this-" Desna began.
"Hush," the girl interrupted. Her eyes fell onto a six year old Korra who was being scolded by her mother. Korra rolled her eyes and made her way over to younger Desna, handing him a stuffed polar bear dog. Younger Desna's eyes lit up as he hesitantly took the toy from his cousin, thanking her quietly. Korra smiled widely and skipped off to play with a different toy. "If you haven't pieced it together yet, this is your favorite Raavaday memory."
"Kalika, what are you trying to-"
"No talking~" she reminded Eska. "My job is to show you that Raavaday isn't as terrible as you perceive it to be. Look at you, surrounded by your family and people who love you and getting gifts from the heart. No ulterior motives, no being used as puppets for your father's dreams. Just you two, love and Raavaday."
"This was before our father hatched his plan," Eska replied, slightly angry. "Before everything changed."
"The only thing that's changed is your attitudes," Kika snapped. "And it's partly your father's fault, but you allowed him to control you-"
"We were nine; we couldn't do anything about it," Eska retorted sharply. "You don't know anything about it so don't speak as though you do!"
"Sister," Desna said, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"It's fine," Kika replied quietly. "She needs this. So do you, Desna. It's the first step in your journey."
"This is ridiculous," Desna stated, starting to get frustrated. "Aren't you taking this Raavaday spirit gimmick too far? Now you're demanding we take out all our pent up anger on you?"
"Of course!" she grinned. "That is my job." she opened another portal and motioned for them to stay close to her. "Now as you've already seen, once upon a time, the Northern Water Tribe heirs lived in happiness, content with their lives." she jumped through the portal, the twins following after her. "But then everything changed when Unalaq attacked."
Ten year old Desna and Eska followed after their father quickly. "But, Father, aren't we going to Uncle Tonraq's for the holiday?" Eska asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
"Yes, we always visit cousin Korra on Raavaday," Desna added, equally confused.
"We're not going," Unalaq snapped. "You are never to associate with them again. And stop going on about Raavaday; it's a foolish holiday made for foolish people."
"But, Father, Raavaday is-"
"Silence!" Unalaq shouted, turning to glare at his children. "You will not disrespect me this way. You two will learn to see my word as law."
"Father," Desna began but broke off as his father grabbed his arm and dragged him across the hall. Eska chased after them, crying and trying to pry her brother away from their father's grip.
Unalaq stopped in front of the closet and pushed Eska away from Desna. He opened the closet door, exposing the pitch black darkness of the small room. Throwing Desna in, he began to close the door only to be stopped by Eska.
"Father, stop," she cried, tears streaming down her face. "You know Desna is afraid of the dark! Stop, please!"
Unalaq pushed his daughter out of way and closed the door, locking Desna in the closet. He turned to Eska, a slight smirk on his face.
"I suppose you're wondering how you'll be punished," he mused. "Desna is alone in the dark, his greatest fear. And what's yours, Eska?"
Her eyes went wide, and a new stream of tears began falling. "No, father, please don't-"
"You'll be separated from your brother," Unalaq finalized. "Until you two learn to respect me."
"Father…" Eska sniffled.
"Now get out of my face!" Unalaq roared, shooing the girl away from him. Eska scurried off quickly, sobbing loudly.
The scene dissolved into nothing, leaving only Kika, Eska and Desna. "And that's when your dislike of family and, subsequently, the holidays began to form. Every year, you started missing your family in the South less and less until you barely recognized them as family, regarding them with cold indifference."
"I'm done with this," Eska snapped, clenching her teeth. "Take us home. Now."
Kika recoiled for a moment before her grin reappeared. "Alright then," she shrugged. "That's all I was supposed to show you anyway. Come on." she opened another portal and waved them in. "You'll have two more visitors before the night is out. Goodbye."
"Kalika, aren't you coming?" Desna asked, ushering his sister in the portal first.
"Like I said before, I'm not Kika. I only took her form. Now, go."
Desna nodded and followed after his sister, the portal closing behind him.
When they returned to Desna's room, the twins called for their most trusted guard and advised him not to let anyone into the room. Eska laid down on her brother's bed, and Desna made his way to the couch. They fell asleep quickly.
It felt like only seconds had passed before they were startled away by the appearance of another brilliant light. Eska hissed as she sat up in bed while Desna narrowed his eyes at the new figure. "Wow, hey, guys!" Bolin greeted, waving. "I hope Raavaday Past told you about my coming. I hate coming in unannounced; it's so rude!"
"Go away, Bolin," Eska demanded, plopping back down into bed and throwing the comforter over her head.
"Whoa, that's not the reaction I was expecting," Bolin laughed nervously. "Well, let's get this show on the road then, so you can get back to sleep. I'm the Spirit of Raavaday Present," he explained, taking a blanket from off the floor. He brought Desna over to his sister and covered the two of them in the blanket. They felt the sensation of falling before landing in a white and gold auditorium, filled with people. There was a band playing jazz over on the stage. A glum-looking Kalika sat at a table, alone, with her head in her hands. Bolin was trying to entertain a girl the twins had never seen before, but he kept getting side tracked and sneaking glances at Kika, obviously worried.
"Alright, I'll pose the question," Desna stated after looking around for a minute. "Where are we?"
Bolin popped up behind the twins, throwing an arm over each of their shoulders. "We are at Varrick's party tomorrow—er—today. The party you two decided not to go to. With the exception of Kika and Bolin, it's a pretty lively party. Oh, look! They're playing Guess Who!" Bolin cried, dragging the twins over to a gathering of people. "It's the personal edition where you chose a person you know and the other person has to guess by asking questions. Let's watch!"
"Is your person scary?" Zuko asked Korra.
"Yup," she replied. "Is your person sociable?"
"Definitely not," Zuko laughed as Korra flipped a few people down. "Is your person a stick in the mud?"
"Yes," Korra sang good-naturedly. "Is your person cruel?"
"Yes. Is yours?"
"Oh, yeah. Are you scared of your person?"
"Very. Is your person here?"
"No. Yours?"
"No," he shook his head. "Is your person one of the twins—Desna or Eska?"
"Yes. Is your person one of the twins?" Korra refuted.
"Yes!" Zuko laughed loudly (and it almost reminded Korra of Iroh's laugh).
"This is precisely why we refuse to come to such parties," Eska hissed, turning away from the game. She began to stomp towards the door but was stopped when Desna spoke.
"Wait, who is that speaking with Kalika?" he asked, staring at the table where the girl sat, laughing with some metal bender from the looks of his outfit.
"Oh, right!" Bolin exclaimed, coming up next to the twins. "Every decision you make has an impact on your futures, but that's not my job to show you. Because you didn't come to this Raavaday celebration, Kalika meets Hong Li, a young metal bender from Zaofu. Ask the Spirit of Raavaday Yet to Come about it. Stuff like this confuses me…" but the twins didn't hear a word after "Zaofu" because they were marching over to the table. "Kalika, stand up; we're leaving," Desna snapped, but she ignored him and continued to talk with the male, not even acknowledging the twins' presence. "Kalika?"
"Oh~, right! I forgot to mention that they can't really see us," Bolin muttered, offering an awkward smile. "Well, this is where I leave you. The next Spirit should be here soon…" and right before their eyes, Bolin disappeared into thin air. Taking his place was Korra, clad in a dark hood that covered her eyes. She stared at the twins for a long moment, making them fidget in their places. She pointed to Kalika who was still talking to Hong Li. When Desna and Eska turned to follow her focus, the floor disappeared from under them, but the sensation of falling never came. Instead they were peacefully seated in a temple, surrounded by well-dressed people. Eska turned her gaze towards Korra next to her. "Let me guess; you are the Spirit of Raavadays Yet to Come?"
Korra stared at the girl in response, not saying anything, before turning to face the altar. There stood a significantly older Kalika, clad in traditional wedding wear. Bolin stood beside her, sobbing. "Y-you're growing up so fast!" he cried. The girl they saw Bolin talking to at the party stood next to him, rubbing his back soothingly.
On the other side of Kika was Hong Li who had also aged significantly. He was staring at the woman next to him with bright eyes, a radiant grin etched on his face. Tahno began playing his trombone, and everyone turned to face the door at the back of the temple. Suyin Beifong walked through the door in traditional garb and made her way down the aisle. Stopping only to kiss the foreheads of both Kika and Hong Li.
"This is not what it seems," Desna stated in confusion. "Kalika and I are betrothed. She would not marry another."
"I'd pity you, brother, if my turtle duck was not married to that girl," Eska hissed, glaring at Opal and Bolin.
"We gather here on this Raavaday with the wondrous marriage of two lovely people," Su started.
"Korra, we wish to leave," Eska demanded, standing up. "I refuse to watch my brother's heart be broken." Korra stood as well and pointed to the altar where Hong Li was saying his vows. "Don't look, brother. She will take us away from here." A furious wind began howling, whipping Korra's hood back and forth as she gripped Eska's face and turned her gaze to the altar.
The scene around them uprooted and began swirling through the air. The scene changed to a cemetery late at night. Korra pointed to a double headstone near where they were standing. There were flowers in front of it, withered and obviously hadn't been replaced since the person was buried. "Who's buried there?" Eska asked slowly, already knowing the answer.
"It's us," Desna replied, not even needing to look at the names on the tombstone.
After a long moment of complete silence, Eska questioned no one in particular. "If we never got married, who was next in line for chief?" Her brow furrowed as she turned to Korra.
Korra waved her hand through the air, opening not a portal but a window into the Northern Water Tribe, where chaos had broken out. The Northern Palace had been ransacked; fistfights were abundant in the streets; the police force couldn't do anything to stop the turmoil. "The Northern Water Tribe fell into turmoil when the two of you passed two years ago, but on this Raavaday, it falls and is no more," Kika informed them sadly, appearing next to Desna.
"Five years from now, no one will speak your names," Bolin added, suddenly next to Eska. "Except to curse you and make cruel jokes."
"You fall from the memory of history in less than twenty years," Kika said. "And everyone moves on with their lives."
"Except for you two, of course. Because you…well, you know, you died and everything…"
The twins stood still, frozen in shock. Hooded Korra shooed the two Spirits away silently before snapping her fingers. The ground disappeared from under the twins once again.
… … …
The twins woke up in Desna's bedroom as the sun started rising. Eska peeked out from under the blankets while her brother rolled off the couch. "What day is it, Desna?" Eska muttered, basking in the warmth of the bed.
"I'm unsure," he replied, shuffling over to the door. He opened it and motioned for their guard to come to him. "What's the day?" he asked.
"It's, uh, Raavaday, sir," the guard replied nervously, knowing what the consequences of speaking that name could be.
The male twin's eyes widened, and he called his sister over, telling her the date. "Have Kalika and Bolin departed yet?" she demanded.
"N-not yet! But they are getting ready to make the journey home as we speak-" the guard broke off as the twins pushed past him and made their way down the hallway. They found their guests in the dining room, eating a hardy breakfast. As the door slammed open, Kalika and Bolin looked up, unfried dough hanging out of their mouths. They simultaneously slurped up the food and greeted the twins with wide grins on their faces.
"Happy Raa-" Kika broke off frowning for a moment before continuing. "Friday. Happy Friday is what I was trying to say." she rambled as the twins made their way over to the two.
"Happy Raavaday, Kalika," Desna said, kissing the top of her head.
Kika and Bolin shared shocked glances with wide eyes. "How…how'd you guys sleep?" Bolin asked, confusion leaking into his voice.
"We experienced a series of strange dreams," Eska replied simply. "However, we were hoping that the invitation to Varrick's Raavaday party was still available to us."
"O-of course!" Kika choked out over a mouthful of pancakes.
"Good," Desna smiled. "We'd like to acquire presents to hand out before we depart for Republic City."
"Then we'd better head out now," Bolin announced, pushing back his chair. "Come on! Into town, we go!"
"Wait! I need my coat!" Kika shouted as the other three began making their way to the door. She began running around, trying to find where she put her jacket the day before. Losing his patience, Desna waved over one of the guards and told him to bring Kika one of Eska's robes. The guard soon returned and handed the robe to Kika. "Oh! Thank you! Now, uh…how do I put this on…?" she asked, putting her arms in the sleeves. She tried to find a zipper or a tie or something to close the robe with
Desna made his way over to her, easily finding the hidden zipper. "Thanks, Dessy Bear~" she laughed.
… … …
The four of them arrived to the party late and weighed down by presents that Kika and Bolin had wrapped on the airship. "Is your person here?" Lord Zuko asked Korra across the room.
"N…" Korra trailed off, her eyes falling on the late arrivals. She stood up quickly, approaching the twins. (Lord Zuko leaned over the table, peaking at his opponent's card). "Desna, Eska, I didn't think you'd come…?"
"Hello, cousin Korra," Eska greeted, a slight smile on her face, digging in the bag by her side. "We have brought a peace offering."
She handed her cousin the gift. Korra smiled softly and thanked the twins. "Kalika and Bolin assisted in the wrapping," Desna informed her.
"Thanks," she grinned, unwrapping it. "Oh, a magic meatball," she announced, forcing a confused smile. "Just what I always wanted. Thank you."
"Whoa! Korra has a magic meatball!" Bolin announced, snatching it from the avatar. He asked "What did the twins get me?" and shook the meatball. "'My sources say yes.' What the heck?"
"You're supposed to ask it a yes or no question," Kika rolled her eyes, snatching the meatball from Bolin's incompetent hands. "Did Desna get a haircut last week?" she asked and shook the toy. "'Absolutely!' I knew it!" she announced, turning to her boyfriend. "Your hair looks so great, by the way."
"Wait, give me that back!" Korra demanded, holding out her hand. Kika handed it to her. "Will we ever know who Su's father is?" she shook the meatball. "'No.' Wow, that's a letdown. Thanks, you guys! Enjoy the party!"
Later on that night, while Eska and Bolin were dancing and Desna was getting his date some juice, a young metal bender approached the table where Kika sat. He introduced himself as Hong Li. Before Kika could even form a response, Desna was standing in front of him, glaring daggers. The waterbender hissed, and the young man sweatdropped before apologizing and backing away quickly.
A similar incident occurred when Opal attempted to talk to Bolin.
After the twins arrived at Kika's apartment when the party died down (they were staying the night and going back home in the morning), they settled into the guest room. That night, while they slept, the Spirit of Raavadays Yet to Come visited once again and showed them how their futures had been altered by going to that one celebration. Desna and Eska were both married and had children with their spouses. Their children inherited the throne after the twins died, and their double-grave was frequently visited by family and friends.
And all was well.
So, there you have it! It was kind of long!
Lots of love, minions! Feel free to R&R.
Yours psychotically,
Vee