Chapter 10 : In Transit
Even though Jinora had already heard most of what Raava had to say, she still listened to the spirit with rapt attention as the two airbison went towards the Swamp - one of the first things Raava said was where they all needed to go. When Raava described Vaatu's behavior in the spirit world, Jinora giggled lightly, glad to hear that nasty thing put in its place, and was surprised to see Raava turn to face her. The spirit's "human-y" form, as Raava called it, gave Jinora a smile and said, interrupting the story to address Jinora, "I thought you might find that entertaining and 'ironic'. Just keep listening - it gets better." The spirit closed its eyes and smiled in pleasure, before turning back around to better address everyone else. While Raava's description of the exchange between Long Yumao the Opportunist and Vaatu produced plenty of surprised gasps - herself included - Jinora did find it hilarious that such a formidable former foe had been laid so low. However, the spirit's increase in size and power since he had interrupted her earlier meditation disturbed Jinora, as did knowing that Koh the Face-Stealer was in on the action.
As soon as the spirit had finished after what must have been at least an hour and a half of straight talking, possibly even two, Jinora laughed when she saw Lin and Su collapse onto Juicy's back out of listening fatigue. Lin said weakly, "Thank goodness. And I thought Tenzin was long-winded." Jinora heard a low grumbling sound from her father and a lighthearted laugh from Raava's human-y form. The spirit put its hand on Jinora's shoulder and said, "Now, granddaughter of Avatar Aang, and rescuer of my butt during Harmonic Convergence," tapping her shoulder with some force three times, "I have something I want to talk to you about." Jinora, with eyes gleaming, turned to face Raava - she couldn't wait to hear what such a powerful spirit wanted with her. Raava, who had apparently read Jinora's face quite well - Korra really was teaching the spirit human-y things - said, "What I will need from you, Jinora, is to serve as a hopefully temporary secondary bridge between the two worlds. Whenever the Avatar - Korra and I - encounters a spirit that is put off by my presence, but still seems sympathetic to humans, you will try and win them over. Long Yumao is right to an extent - my little trick with Korra and Asami has upset plenty of 'sensible' spirits. These spirits are likely to be hostile, or neutral - but some, only towards me, Korra and Asami. It will be your job to find those spirits that have distaste for my actions and try to convince them that while they may not agree with what I did, humans are not bad and do not deserve to be ruled with an iron beak by Long Yumao. It is my hope that you will be able to turn hostile spirits neutral and neutral spirits friendly."
Jinora could hardly believe what she was hearing - Raava basically wanted her to be a temporary secondary Avatar! The spirit continued, "I know what you're thinking, Jinora, due to Avatar Aang's blood running in your veins and your exceptional spirituality. You aren't going to be a secondary Avatar, really - more an ambassador for humanity. If - no, when - the restoration of the Avatar's past lives is completed, you will enjoy enough protection as Avatar Aang's granddaughter to avoid harm from any minor or major spirits you encounter. You should be able to resist letting Koh provoke you into losing your face - you are Avatar Aang's granddaughter, and he successfully dealt with the spirit. I also know of two Northern Water Tribe rulers who would be well suited to getting information from Koh the Face-Stealer : Chief Eska and Desna." Jinora snickered slightly - those two would make good "ambassadors" to Koh. Raava took on a more serious tone, frowning slightly, "However, if you sense, see, or hear Long Yumao at all, you will need to break the connection. You heard what he did to my bubble in the Spirit World - it may not have been my best effort, but I was still surprised he managed to crack it. No one but a fully realized Avatar - a combination of myself and Korra - can really stand a chance against him now. I really wish Vaatu hadn't avoided his gaze like that, as we cannot afford for him to keep growing unchecked." The frown vanished from Raava's face, and her small mouth turned upwards in a smile. She continued, "One good thing about Long Yumao the Opportunist is that he was not a major spirit such as myself or Vaatu." Jinora laughed when she saw the metal-clasp teapot around Raava's neck begin to shake visibly, and Raava smacked the container, making it still once more.
"As I was saying," Raava continued, "Long Yumao's size is dependent on how much support he enjoys with other spirits. After his success in making Vaatu avert his gaze, many more spirits flocked to him that were formerly neutral, given his increase in size. I would guess that about 40% of spirits are currently neutral or have limited sympathy for him - all that sympathy caused by my little stunt with Korra and Asami, I am afraid. Not to mention the tuber-vines - I guess they really were giving Korra what she wanted after Long Yumao said 'No spirits for war'. At least they can be used for peace too… unlike him." The spirit looked vaguely dejected, but that didn't make any sense - she was Raava, the spirit of order and light! Jinora had a hard time believing Raava could feel down. This made the tear that began to form in Raava's right eye even more alarming. Jinora hadn't really believed Raava when she told everyone about that outburst in the Spirit World until now. Seemingly not wanting a repeat of earlier, the smaller girl sniffed, playing with her hair seemingly to comfort herself. Raava finished messing with her snow-white hair after some time, and said "I guess that he currently has about 40% of the spirits whipped up into a fanatical frenzy, with the remainder not really caring either way and unlikely to ever do so, unless something catastrophic happens. I haven't told anyone else this yet, but so far Bumju is my only 'fanatical' convert. You can see why your mission is so important now."
At first, Jinora's heart sank, but then something inside her caused her heart to seemingly swell and ache - but in a good way. Remembering some spirits from her grandfather's youth - including the extremely powerful moon and ocean spirits, Tui and La, one of which was partially human - she confidently told Raava, "I think I know some spirits who would be sympathetic to humanity's defense, though a couple would probably need to see my grandfather's spirit again to join our side. I know at least one who would be very sympathetic - she is part human, after all." Raava slapped her forehead, and cursed - something Jinora thought most improper for such a noble, powerful entity. Raava gave her a look that would only have found a better place on Lin's face, and asked curtly, "You got a problem with strong language, or something? Aren't you supposed to be a teenager?" Jinora's head frantically shook side to side, and Raava laughed deeply, saying, "It's all good - I was merely angry at myself for not thinking of Tui and Yue before, and 'her' counterpart, La. Good thinking, kid." Raava patted Jinora on the back, and what she now recognized as pride and steely determination appeared in her chest again. Raava said, pointing at Jinora's chest, "You may be a pacifist most of the time, Jinora, but you've got your father's and grandfather's fighting spirit. Don't be afraid to let it out - you could stand to learn a few things about how the world really works from Opal and Korra. Remember - past Avatars have killed in the name of peace." Jinora didn't really know what to make of that last comment, so she made her way away from the spirit towards her father. As she did so, she saw Raava stare out at the vast expanse of land and forest around them.
Jinora wiggled in next to her father and asked him, "Dad, is what Raava said about this feeling I have true?" She didn't like the idea of taking anything's life - unlike Opal, apparently. Her father sighed, and said, "Yes, it is sweetie - you remember when Zaheer had captured you, Ikki, Meelo, and the rest of the airbenders? I fought like a man possessed by a great spirit against Zaheer, and was starting to get the upper hand - then his three followers joined the fight." Her father sighed deeply, and continued, "Even after they had bested me, and Zaheer told me 'Give up. It's over.' I told Zaheer 'As long as I'm breathing, it's not over.' I meant it with every fiber of my being - I was willing to die to protect my family, and the new Air Nation. I was also willing to kill, I later realized - though, as an airbender, only as a last resort. The world is a much more complicated place than you think, Jinora. After all, look what the original Air Nomad's pacifism got them. Had every single Air Nomad stole the breath of even two Fire Nation soldiers apiece, Aang might have had something to come back to - Sozin's Comet or not. Based on my father's first-hand accounts of the temple where he grew up, even the great Air Nomad Monk Gyatso was willing to kill - your grandfather found a lot of Fire Nation soldier's skeletons around that great soul's mortal remains."
Now Jinora sighed - while she would never be as aggressive an airbender as Opal was, she did suppose her father made rather good points. She stared at her father's intense face, and said, "I suppose you're right. Though, from what Raava tells me, I won't have to deal with this quandary anytime soon - I can't kill a spirit." Her father laughed lightly, and said, "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Jinora - life has a funny way of throwing unexpected obstacles in your path. Just look at Korra - I could tell she felt on top of the world after defeating Kuvira, in her own way, and less than a few hours later, the universe throws something else in her lap, demanding her immediate attention. I think I am beginning to understand where that blue flame came from, Jinora - Korra seems to be sick and tired of fighting. She's been almost constantly battling something ever since she came out into the world's view as a more mature Avatar, be it Equalists, Vaatu and Unalaq, the Red Lotus, her own physical and mental disabilities, or Kuvira. I think you might want to talk to Korra about your conversations with Raava and I once she awakens again - she might be able to help you better parse their meaning as well, and she might find your defiance in the face of unsure odds inspiring."
Jinora left her father's side, and made to wake Korra, but Raava gave her a slight glare. Jinora heard Raava say, "Just give Korra a little more rest - we still have a long way to go to the Swamp. And Zuko even longer - poor Druk… If she isn't up in 15 minutes, feel free to wake her." Jinora followed the spirit's gaze as she took in the world seemingly for the first time. She heard a deep, content sigh, and heard Raava say "I've always been able to see the world - but as though through a filter, and not directly. Now that I can see it directly, I can see why Wan wanted to fight, and risk his life when I did not quite understand mortals, who seemed willing to throw away a one-time precious gift. At times, over the thousands of years that followed, I found myself in awe of the Avatar's mortal allies - here were humans with no hope of direct reincarnation or continuity between lives, risking their own to help ensure balance while the Avatar had access to things they could never dream of getting themselves, and I was… just sort of there. I never contacted any Avatars directly other than Wan and Korra, instead operating behind a shield - the nebulous concept of the 'Avatar Spirit'. I did not want anyone to know what the sorry state of affairs the world had been in before Wan, and only really came back for my 'part' of the show - the showdown with Vaatu that occurs every ten thousand years." Raava sighed, and said, "After seeing all that Korra went through, and Kuvira abuse spirit power to attack other humans and harm one of the greatest wonders in the world in the process - the Swamp - I felt as though I could no longer sit idly by. I was not content with merely providing the Avatar with a source of power and, until recently, a sense of continuity. I did not act on what I did not recognize as 'feelings'. It took the initial events in the Spirit World yesterday to push me over the line - Long Yumao managed to get on my last nerve." Raava looked like she had another reason, but Jinora could tell she would part with it when the Universe ended.
Both Raava and Jinora turned to face a stirring figure behind them. Korra, now slightly more awake, asked them both, "W-what are you guys talking about…?" Jinora saw Raava smile out of the corner of her eye at the same time she did.
Korra woke up to the sounds of voices - she heard two young girls talking, one much younger than the other. Opening her eyes, she asked, "W-what are you guys talking about…?" The smallest, which she remembered with a start was Raava, began to say, "Jinora and I were just discussing…" and then stopped short, thinking for a moment. After a considerable pause that Korra had no clue on what it meant, Raava said with a smile, "Constantly telling people things that you just said is tiring, Korra - I didn't really appreciate all your repetitive yammering to other humans on recent events until I had to explain everything to Su and Lin. That was an interesting two hours." Korra looked over to the sisters on Juicy's back, who were both asleep. Lin moaned, "No more talky, Tenzin - only touchy. Mffgh…" Jinora had a thoroughly horrified look on her face - apparently the young airbender had forgotten her father and Lin once were lovers. Raava ran over to Korra, as if Lin's inappropriate outburst had given her an idea. Raava explained, "I think I might be able to impart all the information you need to know about what Tenzin, Jinora and I said while you were asleep. It could even work on other individuals as well." Raava touched Korra's shoulder, their minds re-uniting fully for a brief moment. Raava withdrew her hand, and the feeling passed - but the information Raava had conveyed remained. Both Korra and Raava sighed at the same time, Korra exclaiming, "Finally, no more long talks to catch people up!" Raava held up a finger, and corrected Korra, saying, "Not just yet, I'm afraid - we don't know if you will be able to share information with others in this manner, even if I am inside you. Mako might be a good test subject once he wakes up. For now, let's talk briefly about Jinora's conversations." Raava made an odd attempt at a courtesy bow, and pointed to Jinora, saying, "I believe this young woman has something to tell you."
Jinora began to open her mouth to speak, but Korra caught her off guard with a big hug instead. Korra told Jinora, "I already know about what you discussed with your father - Raava heard that conversation as well." Jinora began to fuss slightly, stating, "A cursing, eaves-dropping spirit of light and order. Seems rather odd to me…" Raava put her hands on her small hips, and said, "I don't have to worry about disapproving fathers, re-election or approval ratings, so I'll do as I please, Mrs. Goody-Two-Shoes." Korra rolled her eyes and pushed the obnoxious spirit away from herself and Jinora, who began laughing. Korra looked at Jinora in a serious manner and said, "What your father was saying about being willing to take a life - I believe he is correct. Of course, I have a reputation for being a rather violent Avatar, so you should take my words with a grain of salt. That being said, I did spare Kuvira and have matured as an individual over the years, so I see your concerns," noticing Raava fidget oddly when Korra said "spare Kuvira." Thinking nothing of it, Korra continued, "My best answer to you? Don't take away someone's life unless you believe it is the last resort and you or someone you love is in mortal danger from that person." Seeing that Jinora was not quite satisfied with this answer, Korra continued, "Think of it this way - if you had seen your father fighting Zaheer and his disciples, and it looked like Zaheer was about to remove the air from your father's lungs when he lay prone and helpless on the ground, and you were alone, what would you have done?" Though it obviously pained her to say it, Jinora said weakly, "I would have summoned all my strength, and taken their breath away. I wouldn't want to lose my father, after all." Jinora looked crushed, but Korra could tell she got the message. Jinora started to laugh lightly, and said through a smile, "Though if Opal were with me, there wouldn't be any quandary for me - all four Red Lotus members would be lying dead on the ground, with metal projectiles sticking out of their foreheads." Korra laughed, remembering Opal's request for the new "equipment".
Korra heard some mumbling behind her - apparently all this laughter had woken Bolin and Mako at the same time. Raava said "Quick! I'm going to go back inside you, Korra, and you can try to convey all three conversations to them both. I need a challenge once in a while." Mako stared at Korra for a second in sleepy confusion, waking up fully once Raava was back inside Korra. She had noticed she felt rather lonely and weak whenever Raava was not within her. She heard the spirit whisper Quick, before Bolin asks what's goin o- oh, nevermind. Too late. Korra whispered in Mako's ear, "I'm going to try a new technique on you and your brother - just get him to hold still." Mako said, "Bolin, Korra needs us for something, but you have to stay really still. Just pretend you're trying to hide from Opal when she's mad." Glancing over at Juicy's driver, Korra could see this was no hypothetical situation - Opal was sending angry glances at Mako and Bolin right now, possibly annoyed by Jinora's earlier quip. Korra planted her hands on the brother's shoulders, and felt as though something had temporarily left her and then returned. While Mako did not seem phased by this odd new technique, Bolin was squinting his eyes and rubbing his head, protesting, "Why did you just project a symphony of voices into my head, Korra? Is regular talking too good for you?" Korra laughed lightly and said with a smirk, "I just needed to test out a time-saving technique on you two, and it appears to have worked. Did you get the image of your girlfriend's wrath for the Red Lotus, Bolin?" Opal looked back to Oogi's passengers, this time to Korra, and asked, "What was that?" Bolin looked relieved that she was no longer giving him the stink-eye, but he still said "Yes I did!" rather nervously. Maybe Jinora did have a point about Opal - but that was something for another time. Korra told Opal, "Jinora can tell you about it later!" and to her surprise, she heard a relieved sigh from Jinora, who said "I never thought I'd be bonding with anyone over violence, but it's better than another catfight." Opal's suspicious look did not entirely rule that last possibility out.
After quite some time passed, Korra heard a loud roar, and turned to see its source - Druk, Zuko's dragon. I hope Druk's okay - that was a long ways to go over sea, so fast… now we can start the Restoration - if you can convince Toph, that is. Korra looked around for the telltale Great Banyan tree to guide her to where Toph might be, but to her horror, she had a hard time finding it. When she did, her eyes flickered in and out of the Avatar State momentarily, in a combination of both her own fury and Raava's anger. Korra pointed to what should have been a lush, gargantuan tree, and yelled, "THAT'S what Kuvira did to that poor thing?! Maybe I should have let her die after all!" With both of the airbison's passengers now wide awake and staring on in mute horror, Korra took in the horrible scene. Even Druk hung motionless in the air, flapping his wings and occasionally shooting bursts of flame skyward in anger, and she heard a distinctive sobbing from the beast's rider.