We're back, ladies and gentlemen, on the second chapter of the Avatar of the Balance.
REMINDER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF KORRA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
At the Glacier Spirits festival. A dark spirit appears on a nearby cliff, and looks out over the festival. At the camel yak stables, as Korra rides in on Naga, with Unalaq was waiting for her. Korra dismounts Naga and approaches her uncle.
"You're early." said Unalaq.
"What can I say? I'm pumped up to learn that Unalaq spirit fighting." Korra said.
Unalaq places his arm on her shoulder. "I'm not here to teach you to fight spirits, I'm here to help you begin your spiritual training. We're going to one of the most remote places in the world, the long neglected spiritual center of your tribe, the South Pole." Unalaq said.
"You're going to train me at the South Pole?" Korra asked.
"We will do more than just train. By neglecting the spirits, the people of the South have brought darkness upon themselves, and now it threatens to destroy our tribe. We must set things right. The Southern Water Tribe depends on you." Unalaq continued.
"A dangerous trip to the South Pole? Count me in!" Korra said enthusiastically.
Later, at Southern Air Temple, which comes into focus through the clouds. Oogi flies into shot heading for the temple, with Tenzin and his family riding on him.
Tenzin smiled. "There it is, the Southern Air Temple. Isn't it magnificent?"
There were two Air Acolytes, one of whom was sweeping, while the other feeds three ring-tailed lemurs. They turn in surprise as Oogi flies in, and as he lands, three Acolytes walk toward the bison, two of them carrying a large case. "Master Tenzin, welcome." said Shung.
"Good to see you again, Abbot Shung." Tenzin said. He and Pema bow toward the abbot.
"Is there anything you need? Water? Dandelion greens? Ahh, perhaps you'd like to recenter yourself by meditating in the gardens?"
"No, thank you, I'm fine." said Tenzin.
"And you must be the honourable Pema! Please, accept these gifts." Shung reaches into the case, and pulls out an odd contraption, which he hands to Tenzin. "This is an ancient airbender head shaver we've refurbished just for you."
"Oh," Tenzin gets unsure of how to respond. "Okay?"
"And Pema!" Shung hands Pema a massive bouquet of flowers. "These flowers once filled the mountainside! Now, they can brighten up your room."
"That's... sweet? Y-you didn't have to." Pema said in a similar manner as Tenzin's response.
"Nonsense! Whatever you need is yours. Anything for the mother of the next generation of airbenders." Shung continued.
As a female Acolyte hands a book to Jinora as a gift, Ikki snatches away the book. "No! That gift is mine!"
"You don't even like to read!" Jinora said.
Ikki sticks her tongue out. "Eeeh!"
Pema was lightly embarrassed, but wearing a smile. "Yep, those are the world's next generation of airbenders."
Meelo appears from behind the three Acolytes and jumps on the abbot's back, a lemur held in his hands. "Mommy, Daddy, look! I finally got a lemur! I'm gonna name him... Poki!" he shouts.
The lemur flies away, and Meelo jumps down from the abbot and forms an air scooter to chase after the creature. "Poki! Come back!"
Kya and Bumi were still by Oogi, unloading supplies from his saddle. Kya tosses some bags down, which hit Bumi, and he grunts. Kya drops down from on top of the sky bison, and Bumi sighs.
Bumi was somewhat frustratedly at a nearby Air Acolyte. "Um, s'cuse me, a little help here, please?"
The acolyte was just noticing the two siblings, she turns around and stops sweeping. "Sorry, I thought you were the servants." she said.
Bumi and Kya make angry faces. "We're Tenzin's brother and sister, damn it!"
"Avatar Aang had other children? The world is filled with more airbenders?" the acolyte asked excitedly.
Kya was calm, but upset. "We're not airbenders."
"Oh... I'm so sorry." the acolyte said before she bows.
Bumi and Kya looks a little confused, before pouting and glancing at each other.
Later, Korra was saddling up Naga, as Mako helps her pack supplies.
"Hey, I thought you said Bolin was coming." Korra said confused.
"Well, he said he'd be here, but I can't worry about it. I have to make sure you have everything you need for a safe trip." Mako said.
"Thanks, Captain Expedition, but I'll be fine." Korra said sarcastically, but with a smile.
Korra hears a sound and turns her head around to see Tonraq pulling up on a snowmobile. Unalaq, who has been packing, notices Tonraq and scowls, before approaching his brother.
"Tonraq, what do you want?" Unalaq asked bluntly.
"I heard you're taking Korra to the South Pole. I'm coming." Tonraq said.
"Absolutely not. You're a distraction to Korra and a hindrance to what needs to be done." said Unalaq angrily.
"My daughter is not going without me! She needs someone to watch after her." Tonraq continued.
Korra rides up to them on Naga, Mako sitting behind her. "God, Dad, why do you always think you know what's best for me?"
"Because he's misguided. The sad truth is, it's men like your father who have put the Spirit World out of balance. He's ignored my warnings in the past and hasn't learned since." Unalaq said.
"What happened in the past?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is the Everstorm." Tonraq said.
Mako got confused. "The Everstorm?"
"It's a massive blizzard that's battered the South Pole for decades. I'm coming, unless you think you can stop me." Tonraq said.
Then, Unalaq, followed by Tonraq, as they glare at each other. Tonraq looks to his left.
However, when Bolin shouts at them from a distance. Guys! Hey, wait for me!
Bolin zooms in on a snowmobile with an attached sidecar, wearing a new snowsuit. A confused Mako and Korra as they trail Bolin's arrival with their eyes before turning completely to face him as he pulls up next to them.
"Check it out, I'm traveling in style!" He accidentally turns the throttle causing the vehicle to jerk forward, but promptly stops the vehicle. "Okay, uh, sorry, still getting used to that throttle."
"Uh, where'd you get the ride?" Mako asked.
"Varrick! He's awesome! He also gave me this fancy snowsuit! It's inflatable, with an internal heater, emergency beacon, and food ration pouches! I mean, if I get lost, I can survive in this thing for like, like a month!" Bolin said as he reaches into his snowsuit.
"Who wants some freeze dried cucumberquats?" He pulls out several cucumberquat slices and offers them to the crowd. "Nobody?..."
"Did I interrupt a conversation?" Bolin asked before Pabu pops out of Bolin's suit and eats some of the cucumberquats.
"No, the conversation is over. Dad, come if you want, just don't interfere with my training." Korra said before she rides away from the group.
Eska gets off of her camel yak and approaches Bolin. "Does this sidecar have the capacity for two passengers?" she asked.
Bolin was flirting. "Sure does. But, uh... who's gonna drive?"
Later that night. Bolin was driving the snowmobile while Desna and Eska sit together in the sidecar. Bolin looks upset with the circumstances, and Mako rides toward the trio on a camel yak.
"Well, what do you know? Looks like…" Mako teasing.
Bolin was annoyed. "Go away, Mako."
Unknown to the group, Kaori was following them without being spotted. She looked on her binoculars, watching them.
"So once we get to the South Pole, then what happens?" Korra asked.
"You will open an ancient spirit portal." Unalaq said.
"I'm sorry, what now?" Korra got confused.
"At the South Pole, there is a portal that connects our world to the Spirit World, but it has long been closed."
"And that's why the evil spirits are attacking?" she asked.
"There are no evil spirits, there is light and dark in them all. But when they're unbalanced, the darkness takes over." Unalaq said. "The Everstorm appears in the distance, and thunder from it is heard. If you can open the portal in time, balance will be restored."
"What do you mean... in time?"
"There's a reason the Glacier Spirits Festival ends on the winter solstice. That's when the Spirit World and the physical world are close together. Only then can the Avatar open the portal." Unalaq continued.
"The winter solstice is tomorrow." Korra said.
"Exactly, and we can't afford to wait another year," Unalaq said.
A dark spirit appears in the distance, watching the group.
Naga was sensing the creature, turns toward it and starts growling. "Easy, Naga." said Korra.
The fog begins to clear, and the dark spirit, now joined by two others, comes into view.
"What are those?" Bolin said fearfully.
"Dark spirits." Korra said.
The fog picks up again, hiding the spirits from view once more.
"Let's keep moving. We have to find a safe place to set up camp." Tonraq said before he drives away.
Later, the group huddled around a roaring fire for warmth.
"Uncle, why do you think the dark spirits are following us?" Korra asked.
"Can we not talk about dark spirits, please?" Bolin asked as he scoots next to Eska and grabs her arm.
"My brother doesn't like ghost stories."
"Don't worry. I will protect you, my feeble turtle duck." said Eska dryly.
"Thank you," Bolin said.
"Sadly, this isn't a ghost story. This is real." Unalaq said before Bolin gasps and closes his hood. "The spirits are angry because he's here. Haven't you ever wondered how your father ended up in the South Pole? Why he's never taken you to visit his homeland in the North?"
"Unalaq, this is not the time." Tonraq argued.
"You're right. You should have told her a long time ago." Unalaq argued as well.
"Told me what, goddamn it!?" Korra yelled, making Tonraq sigh.
"I left the North Pole because... I was banished." Tonraq said, shocking Korra and the others.
"WHAT?! You were banished from the North? Why?" Korra asked, being shocked.
"Because, I almost destroyed the entire tribe. Twenty years ago, I was a general in the Northern Water Tribe, sworn to protect my people. Barbarians attacked the Tribe. But I drove them out of the city and deep into the frozen tundra. We tracked them deep into an ancient forest. Many believed this forest was the home to spirits, and the barbarians retreated there because they thought we wouldn't attack them on such hallow grounds. They thought wrong. We captured the barbarians, but in the process, we destroyed the forest. I didn't realize the consequences of what I had done. By destroying the forest, I unknowingly let loose angry spirits. They threatened to destroy everything, the entire city. The dark spirit prepares to attack me once more, but stops as water surrounds it before glowing. Unalaq was able to guide the spirits back to the forest. But by then, the damage had been done. For being the cause of so much devastation, my father banished me from the Northern Water Tribe in shame."
"That's when I came to the South and started a new life." Tonraq said as he bows his head in shame. He turns around, and faces the rest of the group.
"Whoa, so you were supposed to be chief, then became chief. No wonder you guys don't like each other." Bolin said before Mako elbows him. "Ow! What? Isn't that what happened?"
"Jesus, Bo." Mako said annoyed.
Korra was standing in anger. "I can't believe you kept this from me."
"I was protecting you from the shame I brought on the family." Tonraq said.
"Why did you keep hiding things from me and then telling me it's for my own protection? I'm tired of you protecting me!" said Korra angrily before she turns away.
"Korra, wait!" Tonraq said, being worried.
Later, at the Southern Air Temple. Jinora and Tenzin were entering the inner sanctuary, which was filled with Avatar statues.
"Wow, the statue room." Jinora said.
"That's right, Jinora, the most sacred place in the entire Southern Air Temple. Here, you will find statues of every Avatar who ever lived." Tenzin said, then he suddenly looks around the statue room. "Where are your brother and sister?"
Meelo and Ikki appeared behind Tenzin, racing each other on air scooters. The wake from their bending causes Tenzin's robes to blow up and cover his head.
"You can't catch me! I've the greatest air scooter-er of all time!" Meelo said before he trips over and crashes into a statue.
Tenzin gets shocked. "Meelo!"
Tenzin runs to tend to his son. Jinora walks forward to the statue of her grandfather, Avatar Aang, and looks at it in awe. As the two airbenders lock gazes. Jinora's eye dilates suddenly. She looks behind, but there is no one there.
At the Southern tundra, a small group of travellers just visible in the white snow. Korra was riding on Naga, an angry look on her face. Tonraq pulls up next to his daughter on his snowmobile.
"Korra, you have every right to be mad at me. But I don't want you to make the same mistake I made. I should never have gone into that forest, and we shouldn't be going to the South Pole now. Spirits and the physical world should remain separate." Tonraq said.
Korra moves forward and turns around, intercepting her father. "Dad, it's my job to be the bridge between the spirits and the physical world, and I finally have a chance to live up to my potential."
"You don't even know if what Unalaq says is true." Tonraq said sternly.
Unalaq stopped his camel between the two of them; defensively. "You want proof? Look to the sky. Where I'm from, the spirits are at peace and they light up the dark."
"The Northern Lights." Korra said.
"Yes. There used to be lights at the South as well, but during the Hundred Year War, the South was thrown out of balance and the lights disappeared. When the War ended, the North helped to rebuild you physically, as a nation, but we have not rebuilt you spiritually. Now the spirits no longer dance in your skies. Instead, they rampage in the Everstorm." Unalaq said.
"I think we're here." Mako shouts to the rest of the group.
Korra and Unalaq approaches to the edge of the cliff Mako has stopped at. A worried Korra, who gazes at the Everstorm raging in the distance. The team in the Everstorm, their hoods up to protect their faces against the icy wind. Korra stops and looks back, a roaring in the distance just audible over the wind. Then the team, as another, louder roar was heard.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bolin asked fearfully.
"We must keep moving." Unalaq said as he looks up as the angry spirits continue to roar.
Bolin clutches his head. "Oh man, I really don't like this."
"Bolin, just stay calm, there's no reason to…" A dark spirit emerges from beneath his camel yak and grabs the supplies. "PANIC!" Mako shouts.
Another dark spirit emerges beneath Naga and lands on her face. A dark spirit grabs Unalaq's supplies and another which grabs Korra's supplies. Naga stands on her hind legs, causing Korra to fall from her seat, and chases after the spirit.
Korra looks turns and sees a flying spirit emerge. Tonraq forms an ice wall to fend off the spirit but it flies above the wall. A larger spirit was running directly at Korra.
"Korra, look out!" Tonraq shouts as he waterbends Korra away and attacks the spirit, but misses and was knocked aside. Another dark spirit enters Bolin's snow mobile.
"Oh, it's in the engine!" Bolin said terrified as the engine explodes in greyy smoke as the spirit leaves. Bolin loses control of his snowmobile and speeds into the tundra with Desna and Eska. "Aaaahhhhh!"
Korra and Mako were fighting spirits with firebending. Korra somersaults out of the way and employs Unalaq's purifying move on one of the spirits. The spirit stops in a daze, but it manages to fight it, and pins Korra down. Before the spirit can continue its attack, was purified by Unalaq and leaves.
Mako walks over to Korra and helps her up. "Is everyone okay?" he asked.
"Aaaahhhhh!" Bolin's snowmobile was hurtling away from the group. Bolin was holding onto the handle bars, a terrified look on his face, with Desna and Eska sat next to him, showing no emotion.
"I can't stop it!" Bolin shouts. Eska and Desna jumped off their seat and onto Bolin's back.
"I'll save you." said Eska.
The trio were leaping off the snowmobile, which crashes into the cliff and explodes. Desna and Eska dropped Bolin onto the snow, causing his snowsuit to inflate, revealing Pabu.
"I'm a raft!" Bolin said.
Desna and Eska covers their feet in ice and gracefully slide down the slope back to the team. An inflated Bolin was following the twins, before he was stopped by Mako.
"Uhhh, can someone please deflate me?" Eska deflates Bolin with three ice spikes. "Thank you."
Mako was looking at their destroyed supplies. "Oh, great. There goes our equipment. Now what are we supposed to do?"
"There's only one thing to do. We have to turn back." Tonraq said.
"No! The solstice is tonight. And we're so close." Unalaq said.
"This mission is too dangerous. We're leaving." Toneaq continued.
"No, Dad, you're leaving. Right now." Korra said sternly.
Later in the tundra. Mako and Tonraq was standing besides Tonraq's snowmobile.
"Don't worry sir, I'll keep an eye on Korra for you." Mako said.
"Thank you, Mako." said Tonraq as they shake hands. Korra was irritated, as Tonraq speeds off on his snowmobile.
"Let's open this portal and lead your father and the entire Southern Water Tribe in the right direction. We don't have much time." Unalaq said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." Korra said.
Korra moves forward. Bolin sat in the remains of his damaged snowmobile, which was being pulled by a camel yak ridden on by Eska and Desna. The entire team, Korra and Mako, who sit atop Naga.
"So, what exactly were you and my dad talking about?" Korra said irritated.
"Nothing, he was just worried about you, that's all." Mako said.
Korra was still irritated. "Y'know, sometimes I wonder whose side you're on."
"There aren't any sides. We all just want to help however we can. You have to trust that we're here for you." said Mako before Korra looks on to the South Pole.
"We've arrived." Unalaq said.
The South Pole, where there are a number of trees, their trunks covered in frozen ice.
"Trees frozen in the ice." Korra said.
"It's just like the sacred forest Tonraq destroyed in the North." said Unalaq.
"So, what do I do?" she asked.
"You must find your way to the heart of the forest where the dormant spirit portal lies. From here, you're on your own."
"Wait a second, there's no way she's going alone." Mako said.
"Yeah! If she goes, we go, too!" Bolin said.
"The Avatar must go alone." Unalaq said.
"But I don't have any connection with the spirits. In fact, it seems like they hate me." Korra said.
"You have to believe in yourself, like I believe in you." Unalaq said. Korra turns away. "What is it, Korra?"
"I guess I'm just so used to people telling me how to do things that I forgot what it was like to have someone trust in me." Korra smiles at her uncle.
"Korra, all the past Avatars live on inside of you. Let them guide you. Let them help you find the light in the dark." Unalaq said before looking as to the South Pole, a gaze which Korra follows.
"Wait here, I'll be okay." Korra said to Mako and Bolin.
"Good luck." Mako said.
Korra was walking into the South Pole, while the rest of the team looks on. Kaori, still hidden was watching her.
"This is what the Doctor said it would." she thinks in her mind.
Korra starts trudging deeper into the frozen forest with a look of uncertainty and fear. A snake-like dark spirit nears Korra and screeches, causing her to turn around. In the distance, two dark spirits charge toward Korra, causing her to gasp.
She turns and starts to run from them, but they manage to catch her and begin to wrap themselves around her body and legs. One of the spirits attempts to attack Korra, but she defends herself with a blast of fire, and frees herself from the spirit wrapped around her with airbending.
The spirits charge back at Korra, but she stops them with an ice wall. Korra turns from the spirits, and finds herself in a large cave, a glowing dome positioned in the center.
Korra approaches to the glowing dome. "The spirit portal. Amazing."
Later in a room in the Southern Air Temple where Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo were asleep. Jinora awakens and walks through the hall of statues in a daze. She breaks free from her daze in shock and surprise, finding herself in front of the statue of an unknown Avatar.
"Whoa. What Avatar is this?" she wondered.
Later, back to the spirit portal, as Korra stands over the dome, staring into it.
"The light in the dark."
As she readies her stance, and subsequently punches the frozen portal with airbending, but to no effect. Korra tries to firebend at the portal, but still with no results.
"Why isn't it opening?" she wondered.
Numerous dark spirits appear outside the hub and start attacking the roof, shocking Korra.
Korra was continuously striking the portal with airbending. "Come on portal, open, damn you!"
The spirits manage to break through the roof. They charge toward Korra and grab her around the waist. A scared look on Korra's face, as the spirits continue to tangle themselves around her.
They start pulling Korra up toward the roof of the cave as she repeatedly firebends at the spirit portal, but again her attacks have no effect. Korra was dragged further upward, as more spirits wrap themselves around her arms, preventing her from continuing her attacks.
She enters the Avatar State, allowing her to momentarily break free and drop toward the portal, but the spirits still manage to keep a hold of her. Korra struggles to reach the portal, reaching desperately with her hand, and finally manages to touch it with her finger.
An orange ring forms from where she touched the portal, and the ground cracks beneath her, creating a blast that tosses Korra aside and dispels the spirits.
Outside the South Pole, a green beam of light rises and causes the southern lights to appear in the sky, while the Everstorm dissipates.
Korra was looking at the lights. "The spirits, dancing in the sky." she said.
Later, back at the Southern Air Temple, Jinora stares in surprise as the statue she found herself in front begins to glow.
Back to the South Pole, as the team stare at the bright light that had emerged from the portal.
"I can't believe it." Mako said as he stares at the light.
"It's beautiful." Bolin said as he rubs his eyes.
Unalaq looking ahead with a grin.
Tonraq, speeding away from the spirit forest. He stops his snowmobile and looks back at the lights.
"She did it." Tonraq said proudly.
Korra walks out of the forest, then Bolin runs to Korra.
"Hey, Korra, you're back. Hey, Korra's back!" He hugs Korra, but an ice wall separates them and brings Bolin back to face Eska.
"Why are you initiating physical contact with another woman?" she asked.
Bolin looks at Eska with a weak fearful laugh, before Eska melts the ice wall.
"Everything you said was true." Korra said to Unalaq.
"Avatar Korra, you have taken the first step in bringing balance back to the South, and soon the whole world."
Mako starts hugging Korra. "You never cease to amaze me."
"Thanks. By the way, I'm really sorry for being a total pain. Things were really stressful and pretty confusing. It's hard being the Avatar."
"Well, it's harder being the Avatar's boyfriend." Mako said jokingly. Then he nudges Korra before they hug.
The team returns back to the Southern Water Tribe. Korra, Mako, and Unalaq look out to see a number of large battleships entering the harbour. Troops were marching in. The sea, where there are more battleships approaching the city.
"What are all your Northern troops doing here, Uncle?"
"Opening the spirit portal was only the first step in getting the Southern Water Tribe back on its righteous path. There's more difficult work to be done before our two tribes are truly united." Unalaq said.
The look on Korra's unsure face, as she looks ahead at the troops.
"Well, that's not good." she said.
What's Unalaq up to? Chapter 3 coming soon.