Longest chapter yet! I broke away from the canon storyline A LOT this chapter so let me know if you like it or not. Thank you all for reading and reviewing and enjoy the chapter! :)
The trial later that day was a disaster. Even Korra's statement, meant to help her parents, was warped to incriminate. It didn't look good for anyone, which left Korra visibly upset. She wasn't the only one, however.
The courtroom benches were filled with angry, hard faced southerners. As Judge Hotah left to consider his ruling, murmurs broke out. Dark looks were shared. If the trial didn't end well, Asami wouldn't be surprised if the crowd started yelling…or worse.
The pressure increased around Asami's hand as Korra sighed. She'd been clutching it all throughout the trial. Asami squeezed back. Korra looked at her with tired eyes. With her free hand, Asami reached up, pushed Korra's loose bangs out of the way, and rested her palm on the side of Korra's face. "If things turn out bad, we'll fight this. Your parents are innocent." And so kind. Tonraq and Senna didn't belong in jail. "I know some good lawyers in Republic City." How Asami would pay for them…well she'd cross that bridge if it came to it.
"Maybe we should get some fresh air," Mako said beside Korra.
"I don't want to be around people right now," Korra said. Another crowd of antsy southerners were outside of the palace, waiting for the ruling.
Bolin perked up, pointed a finger in the air. "Varrick's office is in the palace. Since he's in hiding, it'll be empty."
After some convincing, Asami pulled Korra up to Varrick's office. Bolin and Mako followed. Asami settled on the couch by the window, stroking the back of Korra's head while Korra buried her face in Asami's neck, whispering how she felt her account was going to get her parents thrown in jail. Mako paced the room, saying justice had to prevail while Bolin shifted on his feet, glancing at everyone.
A sneeze made all of their heads snap up. Korra peeled away from Asami and got to her feet. "Who's there?" Mako barked, tensing.
"Darn it, Zhu Li!" came a muffled voice from the corner of the room. All that was there was a stuffed platypus-bear.
"Sorry, sir. It's dusty in here."
The platypus-bear trembled. Then, the beak snapped open, revealing Varrick's face. He looked irritated, which pleased Asami. After everything he'd done, he deserved discomfort.
"Varrick!" Korra charged across the room. "You should be on trial right now, not my parents!" She stopped in front of the platypus-bear.
Varrick's eyes widened and he smiled. "Well hello, Avatar Korra. What brings you to my humble—"
"Cut it out, Varrick. I should drag you downstairs right now. You're the one who's trying to start a war." Korra glared up at him, hands on her hips.
"So what if I gave a little shove?" he scoffed, stroking his thin mustache. There was a clinking and suddenly Varrick had a teacup at his lips. He sipped and the cup vanished. "Thanks, Zhu Li. Anyways, tensions between the north and south have existed long before you were born. War was inevitable! So I threw the first kidnapping punch. If I hadn't, someone else would. There's nothing you could've done."
Korra gritted her teeth. "You don't know that. I'm the Avatar—"
Varrick rolled his eyes. "Protector, Balancer, all that spirit jazz, I know. But listen, kid. If you think handing me over to Unalaq and his men will get your parents off the hook, you're dead wrong." He sighed. "The trial's rigged."
It wasn't much of a surprise to Asami, but it was to Korra. "Judge Hotah's presiding. He's supposed to be fair."
Varrick snorted. "Yeah, fair if you're Unalaq. Hotah's been in his pocket for years! I should know; I've tried to bribe his honorableness on more than one occasion."
"But why would uncle…that's his brother. He'd throw his own brother in jail for no reason?" Korra frowned. Because he wants power, Asami realized.
"Oh there's a reason," Varrick said, waving his index finger out of the platypus-bear's mouth. "Tonraq's always commanded respect around here. People look up to him more than your uncle. Who better to rally the resistance? You could see how that would be a problem for our esteemed chief."
Korra looked to Asami. Too many emotions passed for Asami to get a read on what she was feeling. Korra mashed her eyes shut. "But he knows my dad's innocent. Dad wasn't even there that night."
"Now you're getting it," Varrick said. "That's not even the half of it. He let my rebels take him. My men walked past a whole room of guards on the way to Unalaq's chamber and you know what? They just sat there and let it happen. What I don't understand is why. He must've known you were coming to save him."
If that was true, then Unalaq must've also known what kind of trouble this would stir up. Unless of course he honestly thought he could crush the rebellion by tossing potential leaders in jail. Countless historical figures had done so in the past but it didn't sit right with Asami. There was more to this, but she couldn't tie it all together.
"I wondered why the guards weren't all over, too," Korra said, pursing her lips. She crossed her arms, dropped her gaze. "They showed up after Asami and I took care of everything. It was all a show to get me on his side, wasn't it? To make the rebels look insane and him reasonable." And it worked until now.
"That's my best guess," Varrick said, looking serious. "Look, I'm getting out of here before the trial is over, but I could use a little help. Are you with me or against me?"
Korra looked at the floor and was silent for a moment. Her shoulders went rigid and she snapped up, her blue eyes hard. "I appreciate the information you've given me, so I won't turn you in, but that's as far as I'll go. Unalaq needs to take a step back." She silenced Varrick with a look. "I'm not taking him out but I won't let him put my par—innocent people in jail and I won't listen to him try to justify his actions as a means of balance. He's creating more harm than good." Asami noticed it was the first time Korra hadn't referred to Unalaq as her uncle.
"Then why not do that by fighting for independence?" Varrick asked, spittle flying from his mouth.
"We're not going to start a civil war!" Korra yelled. Everyone in the room flinched. "I won't get in the way if the south seeks independence peacefully. I'll even join in the effort. But I won't sit by and let you spill blood. We're all Water Tribe! Not to mention what all the fighting would do to the spirits." She frowned.
"There have only been a handful of spirit sightings since you got back from the pole and no reported attacks," Zhu Li said, though stifled through the platypus-bear's stomach. That was news to Asami; she hadn't seen any since their return. "What we need to worry about are Unalaq's men."
Varrick agreed and continued to talk. Asami glanced out the window and was surprised to see three pale blue spirits perched on rooftops on the buildings across from the palace. They flickered to darker shades the longer Asami watched. That probably wasn't good. "Um, Korra," she started to say but a knock on the door made everyone freeze.
The bill to the platypus-bear snapped shut an instant before a guard in northern tribe garb pushed inside the office. He gave his attention to Korra. "Avatar Korra, Judge Hotah will be returning to the courtroom shortly. If you wish to hear the verdict, please return at once." The guard bowed and left, his boots clicking down the hall floors.
When the sound of footsteps receded, Varrick emerged. "Fine, if you help me get to my battleship so I can return to Republic City, I'll do it your way. Peacefully." He looked like he'd eaten something sour. "Money goes a long way when it comes to making treaties."
Korra walked over to Asami and dropped her voice. "What do you think?"
Asami was flattered Korra sought her opinion exclusively. She was nineteen, yet here she was, advising the Avatar. Despite the sluggishness of her sleep-deprived brain, Asami did her best to be cognizant of her words.
"Varrick's money can help. He's got several political connections, including President Raiko." Asami had done some research before she made a deal with Varrick. Maybe not enough, but at the time…no, business later. Korra needed her help with a bigger problem now. "He's a cutthroat business man underneath all of his eccentricities, though. There's a good chance he won't act in the most honorable way but Varrick will open a lot of doors for you."
Korra nodded, then turned back to Mako, Bolin, and the platypus-bear. "Okay. We'll help you get out."
"I can do that!" Everyone looked at Bolin, who shrank a little from the sudden attention. "I really don't want to go back to the courtroom. Eska's in there."
"Great!" Varrick shouted. He waved the platypus-bear hand, beckoning Bolin to come closer. "Running from a girl who thinks she's your soul mate, eh? Don't blame ya. So here's my plan…"
"We've got to get back down to the courtroom," Mako said sharply.
Korra took Asami's hand as they left the room. Bolin stayed behind to help smuggle the platypus-bear out while they made their way back downstairs. They walked in at the same time as Judge Hotah took his seat. Korra's breath hitched and Asami felt something flutter in her lower lip. Korra was biting hers hard.
As soon as Hotah was seated, his eyes ran down the line of the accused. He sat up straight and without further delay, addressed Korra's mother. Senna was proven innocent and released. She ran to Korra and hugged her daughter tightly as Judge Hotah raised his hand to draw attention back to himself. He cleared his throat. "As for the rest of you, on the charge of treason, you are all found guilty." The men in chains, including Tonraq, hung their heads. The crowd started talking in raised voices but the judge called for silence. "The punishment for this crime is death."
No. As her own stomach bottomed out, Asami looked around the room. The guilty men exchanged panicked glances while the audience morphed into a mob, shouting and shaking raised fists. Asami looked to Korra, who was shaking.
"Death?!" She whirled on her uncle, standing not too far away. "What kind of sick game are you playing?"
Feigned shock passed over Unalaq's face. "Don't worry, Korra, I'll fix this."
Unalaq stepped forward, holding a hand out to hush the shouts of the southern citizens. No one heeded the gesture, even as Unalaq waved troops forward to circle them. He tried shouting above the ruckus, something about a leaner sentence out of mercy. Some of the men and women quieted, but Korra released Asami's hand, shrugged out of her mother's reach and stomped up onto the raised platform beside Unalaq. "You can't fool me anymore, uncle."
Unalaq looked surprised, but Asami knew better. "Korra, I'm trying to spare—"
"No, you're making this a spectacle by calling for mercy. I know you've got the judge in your pocket!" She pointed at Hotah and the rest of the crowd responded to the news with profanities. "I bet you told him exactly what to say."
Unalaq's surprise fled. "Varrick got to you, didn't he? Korra, listen. I'm doing what's best for the tribe. These rebels tried to assassinate me."
"They kidnapped you. There was no attempt made on your life! And you were never in any danger. You knew I'd save you! You're a liar and you're grabbing for more power by getting your only competition out of the way. I won't allow it." Water flew out of the flask at Korra's hip and floated beside her hand.
Unalaq glowered at Korra, his eyes looking black from Asami's angle. "If you attack me, I'll take it as an act of war and I'll have no choice but to lockdown the city until the insurrection has been quelled."
"You can't do that!" More than a few people cried out from the audience, along with chants for freedom that echoed off the ceiling. Asami couldn't hear herself think, it was so loud.
Then, the ground rumbled. The wall opposite of Asami cracked and buckled. It crumbled to the floor and unearthly screams rent the air as three large black and green spirits pushed through the hole in the wall. The pillars toppled forward, too. Thankfully southerners and northerners alike sprang out of the way in time and ran, exiting the room as fast as possible. Senna grabbed Asami's arm, dragging her and Mako away from the set of pillars beside them, which wavered now. The structural integrity of the room was compromised.
Two of the spirits with webbed hands and fishlike spines running down their backs lumbered around, ripping up benches and blasting holes in the palace ceiling with strange green and magenta beams from their mouths. Chunks of ceiling crashed to the floor, splintering remaining benches. Senna released Asami and Mako, stepped forward, and swept her arms up, drawing water the ice surrounding her to create an ice shield to protect them from falling debris.
Asami peeked around Mako's shoulder to see the third spirit stalking towards Korra and Unalaq. It looked more like a boar-q-pine with exaggerated tusks. It pawed at the ground and charged at Unalaq. But mid-stride, it seemed to change its mind and it halted just shy of Unalaq. A beat passed, then it turned and charged Korra. Unalaq ran across the platform and through the nearest intact archway. Korra dove off the platform, the spirit's tusks narrowly missing her.
"She'll be okay. We have to free the prisoners," Senna said, pointing towards the still shackled men, all of whom were crouched down, out of sight from the spirits, behind a fallen, fragmented pillar.
A golden light flickered behind Asami; Korra had captured the spirit and was sending it in peace. She was getting really good at that. At least Unalaq's training wasn't for nothing. As Asami, Mako, and Senna knelt in front of the men, Korra called out, "I'm going after Unalaq!"
"Wait!" Tonraq shouted back as his wife froze, then broke the restraints on his hands. He chased after his daughter while Senna moved to the next man.
Heavy footfalls grew closer. Beside Asami, Mako peered over the pillar, then threw himself over it. "I'll distract the spirits," he called, out of sight. Orange flashes lit up the room, accompanied by screeches.
Asami slid a hairpin from her hair, bent it out of shape, and began picking the lock of the man's cuffs nearest her. When the metal fell away, he offered her gruff thanks before leaping over the pillar, hopefully to aid Mako. It took her and Senna a minute more to free the remaining men, then Senna's hand touched her shoulder. Asami looked into her blue eyes, eyes exactly like Korra's. "Go after her, we can handle the spirits here."
Asami hoped the hug she gave Senna showed how thankful she was. She got to her feet, traversed the debris of the room, and ran through the archway she'd seen Unalaq run through. The hall it emptied into was cooler than the chamber. All of the torches were snuffed out, making it hard to see. There was, however, an easily discernable trail of char marks, puddles, and ripped wall hangings to guide Asami. Korra and Unalaq must've been fighting.
Voices drifted to her from the end of the hall. Asami ran faster, her boots slapping against the floors nearly drowning out the words. She strained to hear and barely made out, "You knew how sensitive the spirits were! Why…"
The hall led around a corner and ended abruptly. Asami stumbled into an empty chamber. At the far end, Korra stood in front of an archway leading outside. Unalaq crouched, his hands lifted for a waterbending form.
A grunt to her left drew her attention. Tonraq was frozen to the wall, everything but his head encased in ice. He was unconscious. Asami rushed to him, stretched up, and tapped his face. "Um, sir? Tonraq?" Future father-in-law? Asami didn't know what to call him. Thankfully, he stirred under Asami's hand before she could embarrass herself.
"Asami? Where's Korra?" he groaned, blinking rapidly.
"Fighting Unalaq." She stepped back as he melted the ice around him.
They'd barely moved to find Korra when she spoke, her voice filling the room. "You need to stop. Withdraw from the south now!" Flames flickered over her open palms.
Unalaq shook his head. "I can't do that. Now that the southern portal is open and the spirits have returned to your tribe, there's more spiritual energy in the physical world. I need to protect it at all costs from dangerous mortals who'd only misuse the power of the spirits."
"So this is all about power," Korra said. "You don't care about unifying our tribes at all. You just wanted me to open the spirit portal so you can harness the power of the spirits!"
"Yes," Unalaq drawled. "Thanks to you, I should have no problem opening the portal in the north by myself." He sank further into his stance.
"The other portal? What're you going to do?" Korra jerked back. Asami was surprised, too. What kind of power would he get from the portals?
"That no longer concerns you. Goodbye, Avatar Korra." The ice walls shivered around her. Points grew, protruded. Unalaq clapped his hands together and the dozen sharp icicles honed in on Korra.
Korra's eyes pulsed white as she raised her hands, halting the danger midair. Then, her she rotated the ice in the air before sending them straight at Unalaq. The chief of the water tribes barely scattered them in time. One grazed his left arm, causing him to hiss in pain. Before he could act further, Korra wound up her fist and punched the floor, cracking the ice and knocking Unalaq to his knees.
When she spoke, Asami barely recognized Korra's voice. So many others overlapped it, her past reincarnations Asami guessed. She crossed the room slowly, steam coiling off her body, her eyes glowing white hot. "Unalaq, you've upset the balance between our tribes. You will withdraw your troops from the south, return to the Northern Water Tribe, and give up your plans to use the spirits for harmful purposes or I will do it for you."
Unalaq glanced at the floor and grinned. "I have plans that will make me far greater than you, Avatar." He slammed his hands down on the ground.
A second later, a bug-like spirit with black, tattered wings slipped up through the floor and, with a crooked, segmented arm, smacked Korra across the room. Tonraq slid across the icy floor and caught her before she could hit a wall but Asami's chest throbbed enough for her to clutch at her ribs.
"You can control dark spirits without water?" Tonraq asked as Korra came back to herself slowly in his arms.
"I've been able to for a long time. I first discovered it back home, before your banishment. I found the skill to be quite useful." Unalaq said, rising to his feet. Wait, did that mean he got Tonraq banished?
"You traitor! You led those spirits right back to our city and you let them attack our home, didn't you!" Tonraq roared, sending a barrage of icicles at Unalaq.
Korra, beside him, threw blast after blast of air. Unalaq dodged the projectiles but Korra landed a solid hit to his chest that sent him tumbling across the floor. He had a hard time rising. His arms trembled with effort. Then, his head snapped up. Fury twisted his face. He reached out and the spirit slithered to his side. He threw himself over the creature's back and it rose, wings beating hard, and smashed through the roof above them with a shriek.
No matter how much fire Korra shot upward, the spirit dodged and soon Unalaq was a speck in the sky above. Korra swore but quieted as the sounds of weapons clashing and shouting filtered in from outside. They sprinted out of the palace and Asami gasped. The dazzling sun overhead shone down on dozens of scuffles. Southern tribesmen and women fought northern soldiers. Small, dark spirits scampered about the streets, upending carts, ripping off roofing.
A sob to her left made Asami turn. "I couldn't stop it. The tribes really are at war," Korra said.
"You did everything you could," Asami said, though the look she received showed Korra didn't believe her.
Korra scratched the back of her head. "At least I know my tribe isn't in the wrong. I've got to help defend them. From the north and spirits."
"No," Tonraq said. "Korra, you need to return to Republic City."
Asami watched his anger fade into a more serious expression. Korra gaped at her father. "What? You can't be serious. This is my home, dad! I can't just leave you and mom behind with this mess."
Tonraq put a hand on Korra's shoulder. "We can handle it on our own for a while. The northern troops might have us three to one, but they don't seem to be any more immune to the spirits than the rest of us." A northern soldier with a spirit clinging to his back ran by, proving his point. "Plus, if you really want to end this peacefully, we'll need other nations backing our cause. When Unalaq returns, he'll have to step down if the eyes of the world are on him."
"But—"
Tonraq cut Korra off. "You're the Avatar, Korra. You're the best one suited for this job." He was finally treating his daughter like Korra wanted.
"We'll go together," Asami said, trying to convince Korra this was for the best. "We'll go with Varrick. He'll get you a meeting with the President. We'll all be there for you. We'll make him listen and we'll be back here to fix everything." Asami hoped she wasn't being too optimistic.
Tonraq looked at Asami as if seeing her for the first time. He smiled grimly. "Asami's right. Raiko's a blowhard but even he can't ignore the threat my brother poses, especially if he's planning to do something with the spirit portals." He stared at Asami again. "Look after my daughter, will you?"
Asami's mouth went dry. He didn't know her but he trusted her with the life of his only daughter. "Always," she finally said.
Tonraq seemed satisfied. "Then go. Catch Varrick's ship before it leaves. I'll find Mako and send him along after you."
Asami surveyed Korra and was relieved when she saw the logic of their plan sinking in. "Fine," Korra said, eyes on the ground. "Let's go."
Korra gripped the railing of Varrick's battleship, tears blurring the already fading harbor of her home. Smoke drifted up from the royal palace. Even from this distance, she could see holes in the once pristine dome. People clashed in the streets while dark spirits darted about.
Mako leaned against the railing beside her. "I know it feels like you're running, but remember when Aang first met Katara? They ended up fleeing the southern water tribe, too."
"He didn't leave behind a civil war or rampaging spirits," Korra said, her stomach churning. She was leaving behind her people, her family.
"That's because the war was already happening. And do you honestly think the Fire Nation left Katara and Sokka's home alone once they flew away with Aang?"
Korra shook her head. "You're right. I know you're right. And we've got a plan but it still feels wrong." I'm the Avatar. I should've been able to do more, to stop this, she thought.
"I don't think you could've fixed everything alone." Korra shot a glare at him and he raised his hands defensively. "What I mean is, things have been bad for a while. I could tell even back in Republic City. When Bolin and I did small jobs for the triad, we saw a lot of stuff. Northern water tribe gang members never got a long with southern water tribe gang members. Always on opposing sides. So I wasn't surprised to find the same tension here. I think Varrick's right. You couldn't have stopped this. But you can end it."
"Thanks, Mako." The churning in her stomach eased. "That actually really helped."
"Wow, thanks for the high the praise," he grumbled.
"I mean it." Korra laughed bitterly, then paused. "How do you know so much about Aang?"
Mako's cheeks flushed pink as he started out at the waves. "I like to read. Jinora's been lending me her history books. She fills in a lot of the gaps. Benefits of being the previous Avatar's grandkid, I guess." He looked back at Korra to say something more when something metallic banged above them.
"Korra!" Bolin appeared on the upper deck, waving his arms. "We've got a problem!" He darted back inside the captain's cabin.
Wordlessly, Korra and Mako ran up to join their friends. The first thing Korra's eyes fell on were Asami's face. She looked worried but she offered a small smile when their eyes met.
"What's the problem?" Mako asked.
"We're not going to make it out of here, that's what!" Varrick raved, still inside the platypus-bear, though it had a captain's hat on its head now. "Look!" He pointed a claw straight ahead.
Through the front window, Korra immediately saw why the cause for alarm. The northern fleet formed up ahead of them, blocking their path to the open sea.
Bolin seized the front of Mako's jacket and shook his brother. "Not only that, but I think Eska's coming up behind us to drag me back to a wedding ceremony!"
Mako shoved him away. "Bo, come on."
Bolin glanced at everyone before edging towards the back of the room. "Right. Bigger picture. Get to Republic City. Save the water tribes," he muttered.
Without the distracting yelling, Korra was able to think. Mako's words still percolated in her head. It gave her an idea. "I'll go out there, pop into the Avatar state, and move the ships out of the way." She glanced at Mako. "Just like Aang did in the Northern Water Tribe with Admiral Zhao's fleet."
Mako smiled at her and held out a hand. Korra went to shake it but he pulled her in for a hug. "Good luck."
She nodded, then faced Asami, who all but tackled her. "Please be careful," she said, her lips brushing Korra's ear.
Korra nodded and hugged her back, inhaling the floral scent of Asami's perfume. She sighed and pulled away. "I'll be okay."
Asami didn't look convinced. More than anything, she looked exhausted. Her green eyes darted back and forth between Korra's eyes. Searching, Korra realized. Suddenly, hands framed her face and Asami's head dipped down. Their foreheads met, their noses bumped, and then Asami's lips brushed against Korra's.
It was barely a kiss, only a second long—anything longer would be inappropriate, given the circumstances—but it was enough to set every inch of Korra's body tingling. When she pulled away, Asami sported a blush and a small smile. "For luck," she said, though she sounded winded.
Korra touched her lips with her fingertips, face heating up. Asami just kiss—
"Hey lovebirds, there won't be any more kissing if we can't get through those boats!" Varrick said, swatting at Korra's shoulder with a paw, effectively separating her and Asami. "Get a move on or all our arctic hens are cooked!"
Korra grumbled, even considered punching Varrick for butting in, but he wasn't wrong. They were closing in on the line of ships. "Right, I'm going." She gave Asami one last look before she left the room. Once out of sight, her stomach fluttered. Later, Korra thought. Move the ships. Come back. Then you can think about Asami's soft lips all you want.
Korra breathed deeply as she pitched over the side of the ship and bent the water up to catch her. She had a job to do. After she froze a chunk of ice underneath her feet, Korra propelled it forward, faster than Varrick's battleship. It only took a few seconds to reach the midpoint between the ships and Varrick's vessel. Without hesitation, Korra called upon the power of the Avatar state.
The rush was familiar, freeing. She twisted where she stood, then jettisoned up on a vortex of air until she was looking down on the entire fleet. It was almost too easy, urging the water to roll against the tidal forces, to push the ships harmlessly out of the way. Varrick's blue and white battleship sailed through the clear path she created.
The battleship was almost a safe distance away when a dark shadow spread out underneath her. Something was rising to the surface. Korra couldn't focus on that though. She had to make sure the waves didn't smash any of the northern ships. She wasn't going to hurt anyone if she could avoid it.
The instant before she let go of the water, the sea beneath her exploded. Waves crashed as a massive, dark blue spirit shot out of the water. Half a dozen tentacles surfaced with it. Its aura pulsed with a pale blue light while the markings on its triangular head glowed searing chartreuse. The roar it let loose rattled the bones in Korra's body. She released the water and clapped her hands over her ears. Then, a tentacle swiped through her vortex, disbanding it. She started to fall when another tentacle lashed as her back, sending her flying downwards.
Her body hit the water, knocking all the wind out of her. The momentum carried her on though and she skipped like a stone across the sea three more times before completely submerging. The Avatar state made her rocket to the surface and high above the waves on a waterspout. Her head snapped back and forth, looking for the spirit but it was nowhere to be seen. It must've—
A navy tentacle shot out of the waves and wrapped around her legs, tugging her downward. As Korra careened back towards the sea, the spirit's head broke the surface, opening its toothy maw. It was going to eat her if she didn't act fast. The power in her limbs doubled as she desperately clawed at the waters below her. It responded in kind, forming up into tendrils longer and thicker than the spirit's appendages. She swung her arms around rapidly, encircling the creature in water.
The water started to glow gold. She could do this. The spirit's harsh movements slowed, no longer dragging Korra down. Even the hold it had loosened: not enough to get away, but Korra's ribs were no longer in danger of snapping. Slowly, yellow-white light inched up the spirit's body, climbing higher and higher until it reached the neck.
Korra's technique didn't waver and neither did her will, but the spirit must've sensed danger and lashed out in a last-ditch effort. It opened its mouth, where a vibrant green light pooled and then, without warning, the light shot upwards in a harsh beam. Korra released the water, raised her hands to deflect the blast with her palms, but the energy fractured around her fingers. Smaller slivers of light shot through her shoulders, her chest, her abdomen, burning more on the inside than out.
Korra screamed, curled in on herself, clawed at her head as her vision was overcome with flashes of faces she didn't recognize. Vaguely familiar voices echoed in her skull. Faces of friends and family mixed in with the unfamiliar. Then, she saw Aang and Fire Lord Zuko sparring, Kuruk cradling a woman's face, Kyoshi snuffing out flames with her fans, Roku riding his dragon. Several past Avatars she'd only read about surfaced, out of order, until Korra couldn't name them, only feel their connection. She was aware she was falling—she felt the air tearing at her clothes, could smell the salt water growing closer but all she could see were blurry images in her head.
The images flashed by her too quickly now, more broken than before. Half formed faces, clipped words. Then, everything stopped. Korra saw a young man with disheveled black hair. His clothes, hanging off his thin frame, looked ancient. He smiled at her, as if he could see her. His lips parted just as Korra hit the water.
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped, struggling against the brutal chill of the water. She blinked and was nearly overwhelmed by a dozen more flashes of people, of unfamiliar places. What was happening? What did the spirit do to her?
The sound of a motor rumbling drew nearer. Between the flashes, Korra made out a small speedboat heading towards her. At the wheel was a girl with flowing black hair. A girl she'd seen countless times in the flashes. She knew her. Her soul mate. "Asami," Korra croaked. Treading water was becoming too difficult so Korra summoned all of her energy and shoved the water away from her until she was closer to the boat.
The boat slowed, but the wake crashed over Korra's head. She felt herself sinking. Her eyes closed as her head dipped under the numbing water. The Avatar state stirred in her belly but it didn't flood her body like she was used to. Instead the images came again, all spiraling around the face of the young man. Korra tried to speak to him but her mouth stayed shut. Maybe the Avatar state was working and keeping her from inhaling water.
Something latched onto Korra's left bicep and dragged her up. Her face broke the surface of the water. She could hear a rumbling of a motor, gasping breath. "Korra."
Korra opened her eyes and saw a beautiful face staring back at her. The girl hauled her up into the boat and cradled Korra against her chest. She was so warm. "Asami," Korra wheezed, remembering her best friend's name among the millions dancing through her head.
Korra shivered and wiped her wet face against Asami's jacket. Rivulets of seawater ran down her back. The soaked clothes clinging to her body made her shiver harder. Cold seeped into her bones. If only she could find the energy to bend the water away, warm her body. As it was, she felt like she was slipping into sleep. "Korra, what happened?" The voice rumbled through Asami's chest and rattled against Korra's cheekbone. "I saw that spirit's beam. Parts of it went through your body but I don't see any entry points on your coat. It felt weird though. Korra?"
Asami was above her now, looking down. The bottom of the boat pressed hard against Korra's back. Hands framed her face. Thumbs brushed her cheeks. Korra tried to speak but her tongue felt too thick, her lips sluggish, like she was stretching her jaw instead of speaking. Asami was saying more things but an incessant buzzing filled Korra's ears. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep. Her eyelids grew heavy, started to close.
Asami frowned and her eyes, glazed with tears, made Korra's chest hurt, so she reached up to smooth away the creases at the corners of Asami's mouth. Asami looked scared. Just as Korra's fingers brushed painted lips, the buzzing faded and darkness started to ring her vision. Asami got swallowed up by the black, but not before Korra caught what she was saying. It reached her ears as if Asami was shouting it down a long tunnel.
"Korra? Who's Wan? Who's Raava? Korra? Korra!"