Chapter 14: Hidden Sorrows
As Korra came to in the physical world, the odd mansion long vanished, she felt her eyes glow strongly, and much to her surprise, she was actually able to manually tell her body what to do while in the Avatar State and somehow talk at the same time. She said, "The Restoration was a success" in a voice that was loud, but fully her own. She heard multiple surprised yelps around her - even Tenzin was surprised, saying incredulously, "Korra! I've never heard of an Avatar talking in their own voice while in the Avatar State before… what happened?" Korra's body momentarily stiffened, and a deep multi-voice replied, "As Raava has directly acquired more human characteristics, new and unprecedented things have happened. This is not the first, nor is it the last." Korra felt control return once again, and she could feel a raw power coursing through her that she hadn't felt in three years as she remained in the Avatar State. Seeing that everyone but Tenzin was still alarmed by this bizarre development - even Katara - Korra deliberately exited the Avatar State.
Everyone gathered around her began to ask the inevitable questions, and rather than explaining the "Avatar Party", as she thought of it, a novel idea occurred to Korra that she followed through on. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on the newly re-invigorated Great Banyan tree's trunk beneath her, and used the tree to broadcast the events of the "party" to everyone assembled. She made sure to catch Zuko up to speed on everything that had happened in the past 48 hours at the same time. This time, there were no complaints of odd feelings or disorientation - apparently the tree had helped somehow.
Zuko was the first to speak, saying ,"So I guess I'm not the only one frustrated with my daughter, Firelord Izumi - funny Roku should disapprove of her blind adherence to 'non-aggression' in the face of Kuvira when he tried to stop Sozin from enacting his aggressive dream." Zuko shifted uncomfortably, saying, "Speaking of family - I think, after 'hearing' about Korra and Asami's relationship, and what Avatar Garkan had to say, I have something to confess." Toph made a loud, angry grunt, saying, "Zuko? I can't tell if it's about you or someone else on top of this tree - I can't earthsense through roots, and the energy of the tree is all… different now! Why don't we go back to solid ground?"
After everyone arrived at Toph's residence, everyone but Zuko and Korra talking animatedly along the way, the group dismounted from their respective animals - Toph had hitched a ride on Zuko's dragon, Druk, talking animatedly about some "life-changing field trip" all the way. Zuko said, "While I am dying to try my own hand at this blue fire that apparently both Korra and Mako can make, I have a story to tell about someone who is… related." While everyone else stared at Zuko blindly, Katara, Toph, Tenzin and Jinora shouted "Azula? Tell us more!" They seemed to be expecting a laugh out of the former Firelord, but he sighed deeply instead, informing them, "I am afraid this is no funny tale, my friends - Avatar Garkan's story and Wan's words finally convinced me this family secret must be shared."
Zuko, clearly pained to talk of his deceased sister, said, "I believe when I was about 11 years old, Azula was trying to master lightning generation, despite only having just turned ten. She was not proficient enough in it yet to feel comfortable showing anyone in an official sense or to seriously harm someone, as she did my future best friend and Korra's predecessor, Aang. One day, when she was practicing as I watched in secret - I was desperate to become as good a firebender as my sister, but it did not come to pass - she accidentally hit an attractive teenage servant girl, knocking her out." Zuko took a long pause, causing Toph to yell, "Get on with it already! She's dead, Zuko - she isn't going to come and electrocute you or burn you to cinders. May she rest in pieces."
A single tear streaked down Zuko's cheek as he said, "I know she was an evil person, very conflicted, Toph - but this story might change your image of her. She had multiple issues. She always had a strained relationship with my mother, Ursa - but until a short time from now, no one but myself, Azula and Ursa knew one of the biggest reasons why." Zuko gulped, and continued, "I saw Azula walk up to the girl, Azula still thinking she was completely alone, and touch her, as if satisfying a forbidden curiosity. As Azula made to grab the older girl's chest, I yelped, drawing her attention, Azula blushing as she followed through involuntarily. She had a mortified look on her face - Azula realized that for the first time in my life, I had a trump card to play against her with my father. Being only 11, and bitter at my father's favoritism, I threatened her, saying if she ever tried to betray me I would tell her father what she had done - even though I did not fully understand her action's meaning. As she was only ten, I dismissed the idea of it being anything, the threat an impulse. I saw her cry genuinely for the first time in my life, and she ran off to go harass the palace turtle-ducks."
Zuko suddenly looked extremely guilty, and said, "That's when I noticed I had not been alone - my mother, Ursa, had been standing out of both our sights. She whisked me off to her room. That was one of the few times she ever spanked me. My mother explained that girls sometimes matured very rapidly, telling me she thought Azula was one of them. Ursa told me that I shouldn't threaten someone based on their 'sexual orientation' - Fire Nation schools had never taught me about homosexual relationships or attractions before - and that if I ever followed through with my threat, not only would she be very disappointed with me, Ozai might even kill my sister. She said my father would have no use for even a prodigy if she was 'aberrant' and unlikely to produce a successor in the event of my own death." Zuko sniffed deeply, and said, "That was the first time it hit me what an evil man my father was - my mother sounded dead serious, and I sealed my lips seemingly for good after I learned about Azulon's plans for me as punishment for my father's cruel words about Uncle Iroh and his dead son Lu Ten. Before she disappeared, my mother tried to tell me Azula was lying about Azulon's plan, but… given our history before that, I took Azula as seriously as she would have if I threatened to out her. And from what I learned later, after the 100 Year's War… Azula was right about Azulon's plan for me."
Zuko shook his head, and said, "This story isn't about me - it's about Azula. Anyways, when my mother had finished, Azula walked in on us. Before Azula could flee, Ursa grabbed her tightly and cried into my sister's shoulders. My mother told Azula that she would always love her, no matter her choices, and that even if her father wasn't okay with who Azula was, that she would protect her with her life. Azula shocked us both - she bit my mother on her hand, and ran off, screaming 'Father loves me more than Zuko - I don't need your love or acceptance, mother! I'm going to make your life unbearable, Zuko! Just you wait and see - you'll never get the chance to rat me out, I'll keep you so far away from Father!' I was shocked, Azula having just confirmed her little secret, and my mother was devastated. Azula treated her with hostility and suspicion from that day forward, 'knowing' that if Azula ever tried to hurt me, Ursa might just turn her in. Or at least that's what Azula thought, anyways… so sad. With the events of the next four years, Azula became almost like a great spirit in my father's eyes, but she still craved the forbidden - other women. She truly slipped over the edge when Ty Lee and Mai betrayed her, as they were the closest things she had to truly loyal friends. She drank in what power she had like a raging alcoholic drinks sake, and in the end, she shattered like overheated glass plunged into icy waters. I never did see her again after I found my mother." Though Zuko was not crying, Korra could still see he was extremely sad.
As Korra felt a single tear fall down her cheek, knowing just what rejection by the world could do to a person, she realized with a start there was a figure in front of her. She yelled, "Raava, what have I told you about exiting my body without asking!" and then realized with a start that somehow, during the course of the conversation, Aang had apparated out of her body. She added lowly, "Oh great, another entity that leaves my body without asking!" and then noticed that Aang appeared to be crying.
Her past life sniffed, saying, "A prodigy in more than one way… I never knew Azula was so conflicted from such an early age. I just figured her to be crazy and evil - not tormented by anything but her mother's undying love for her, and the schism that caused in her world view." Katara, Tenzin, and Jinora walked to join the projection's side, but Toph remained put, saying, "I don't care if Vaatu possessed her - there's still no excuse for her behavior." Korra found herself torn between Aang's viewpoint and Toph's - but her own experience with Asami helped her form her own. Korra said loudly, scaring some animals out of trees around them, "This, along with other reasons, is why I plan on someday putting a stop to, or at least blunting, people's prejudices and discrimination against those they see as sexually 'deviant'. We may be a small group, but our voices matter too. It's time the world saw homosexual relationships as the Air Nomads did - normal." To her surprise, she heard everyone clapping - even Toph.
Suddenly remembering Toph's earlier offer for some sensitive information, Korra announced, "I think it's time everyone returned to the city. I don't want to be in the Swamp at night. However, myself, Asami, Toph and Zuko will be staying, as I have some private matters to speak about with both Toph and Asami." Lin and Su were giving their mother the stink eye, and both began to rotate rapidly - apparently, Toph didn't want them hearing any of this unknown secret. When Lin and Su were sufficiently dizzy, Toph said, "I'm certainly not spilling my guts to you two - you bug me enough about family matters as is!" Toph suddenly put her hands to her mouth, as though she had revealed something she didn't want anyone but Asami and Korra to know. This just confused Korra - surely, Toph didn't have another kid, just wandering the world?
After both Oogi and Juicy had left with their passengers, Zuko decided to go stand by Druk, talking to the dragon in a low voice. Korra snickered slightly - it almost looked like he was trying to tease the secret to dragon's fire out of his trusty steed. Given Druk's confused look, Korra must have been right. Toph tapped Korra and Asami slightly above the waist, and said, "Come - we have much to discuss. And unless this information becomes relevant to your job as Avatar, no one else is to know but you and Asami. I hope it never becomes relevant…. Let's get started," Toph finished, sitting with her dirty feet in the air.
Toph frowned slightly, saying, "You both know that I have not been the best of mothers to Su and Lin, but I tried. What no one knows is that after resigning as Chief of Police and before leaving to travel the world alone, I had one last fling with one of the city's most skilled metalbending cops - Officer Tong. He was the father of Su, and I wanted one last quickie before seeking enlightenment." Toph sighed deeply, continuing, "Even though I was 54 at the time, I still wanted to take no chances. So, we used protection - I didn't want a baby slowing me down on the road, as unlikely as it was. I thought I was good to go, and would have no issues." Toph paused, a single tear streaking down her face, and she said, "I was wrong."
Korra's jaw dropped - why had she never heard of this third child before? Surely, if Toph could raise Su and her former slight criminal tendencies, she could handle anything? Seemingly anticipating this question, Toph said, still ignoring the tear on her face, "I had thought that raising Su was difficult. Apparently, Officer Tong had some really good inheritable talent, but his second child by me was worse than Su and her brief underworld antics, hanging out with a bad crowd - much worse. I gave birth to him on the road, and I named him Tonga after his father. At first I loved him - he was a perfect physical specimen, and showed exceptional earthbending talent. He claimed the impossible - that he could manipulate miniscule, almost non-existent iron in rocks at the age of three. Given how the rock moved… he was right. Even I had trouble sensing the pieces, and while sometimes cruel to animals, he showed no real problems. Then, when he was four, a day shattered my perception of him forever."
Toph suddenly began sobbing. When Korra made to get up and hug her, she found the floor resisting her. Giving up after a minute of futile running, Korra stood still, and let Toph talk when she was ready. After about four minutes, Toph looked up, with a horrified look in her eyes, as though remembering some atrocity, recounting, "That boy … who I thought was normal… is a monster. The ability he showed me that fateful day, with so much pride in his heart - it made me sick." Toph coughed violently, and wiped the tears from her eyes. Seemingly not wanting to go on, Korra asked, "Just what could he do that was so horrible, Toph? Surely nothing could rival the psychic bloodbending of Yakone and his two accursed sons." When Korra said "bloodbending", Toph straightened and sat up, "staring" at the wall with wide eyes.
Coughing again, seemingly this time to regain her composure, Toph said, "I am afraid his ability is worse, Korra - especially the way he uses it. Those poor animals…" Toph took a deep breath, and said, "I can only thank the spirits that Su did not ever exhibit this ability, as if she had, I believe she could have used it to eclipse Yakone in the criminal underworld, and no amount of parenting could have stopped her. As far as I know, the ability is uniquely his… I only hope Tonga never manages to have kids of his own." She stopped, staring Korra directly in the face, and said, "Korra, my son, Tonga, is what he named a 'blood-iron bender'."
Korra looked at Toph in utter bewilderment, saying, "Toph, I know the theory behind bloodbending - you manipulate the water in the other person's body to gain control of their limbs, etcetera. Normal waterbenders can only perform it under a full moon, and individuals of exceptional 'talent' can do so psychically at any time. How does one manipulate blood by bending iron?"
Toph managed to regain a somewhat normal expression, and said, "Remember how I said he could somehow manipulate the miniscule iron in rocks by the age of three? Apparently, he discovered shortly after his fourth birthday that he could manipulate some unknown deposit of iron in a living organism's blood. When he demonstrated it to me, he told me that he could manipulate tiny iron particles in blood - much as a bloodbender bends water." Korra gasped as Asami said "Wait a minute… I remember from my learning that some people believe that what we need from the air we breathe is carried by small amount of iron in the blood, and cite the red color of blood and rust as evidence for their claims." Asami's face, now uneasy, said, "I think what you just told us confirms this theory."
Korra asked, still in slight disbelief, "Okay - so Tonga can basically use metalbending to bloodbend. What did he do with it that was so horrible?" Toph slammed her hand on the table between them, saying, "Rather than bashing some animal's heads in so I could prepare them to eat, he held them above the ground and suffocated them to death while his heart beat in excitement like a madman, that's what! I didn't know how he suffocated them at the time, but he must have prevented the iron particles from moving in the poor animal's bloodstreams!" Toph looked like she was about to curse, and she did so, saying, "I was 54 years old when that abomination was conceived, for crying out loud! I never thought … If only that blasted rubber had worked properly!"
Hearing the description of how Tonga used his special ability, dark memories raced in Korra's mind - of "Amon", Tarrlok, their horrible bloodbending… Korra only had one question now, asking, "What happened to this son of yours? It doesn't sound like he stuck around for much longer." Toph spat on the floor, saying, "After he became increasingly nasty, violent and even began temporarily bending my 'blood-iron' whenever I tried to get him to stop throwing a tantrum, I decided that I couldn't handle him anymore. I dropped him off at a very strict couple's house, along with some special instructions I got someone else to write for me, and never 'saw' him again. If he hadn't reminded me so much of Azula, I might have tried to make it work - but there was just something fundamentally wrong with him, beyond his awful skill." Top managed a weak smile, and said, "Keep in mind, he should be 32 by now. When you see Lin and Su, tell them I love them very much, and appreciate that they were as cooperative as they were when I was raising them. And as I said before, unless you think Tonga is relevant to your job as the Avatar, mention this to NO ONE. Good luck with your Spirit Civil War, Korra and Asami - I get the feeling you're going to need it."
Korra and Asami walked away from Toph's "house" in stunned silence. Korra could only hope this individual - Tonga - had never joined Kuvira's army. He could very well be the leader of the potential resistance so many different people and spirits had warned might form. Zuko could see that neither were in a mood to talk, and merely led Druk towards the pair. Breaking his silence for a moment, he jokingly asked, "So, when does Toph want her life-changing field trip?" Korra just gave him a blank stare, though she could feel Aang's spirit laughing inside her, thinking to herself, "Not funny."
After a while of mute silence, riding on Druk, Korra remembered that there were two individuals close to her who were most certainly trustworthy who knew nothing of the past 48 hour's events - her mother and father, Senna and Tonraq. As Asami studied Druk's scales, seemingly for inspiration of some kind, Korra focused on her parent's energy, intending to inform them of everything that had happened - old-fashioned style. No information dumps for them.