Spacebender
Chapter 3: South Pole

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Legend of Korra or any of the characters involved except Guardian S. Space

It was a few weeks later when Korra's ship pulled into the dock at the south pole. The group disembarked with new attires consisting of fur coats and pants, except Space who didn't seem to mind the cold.

"Aren't you freezing?" Bolin asked him as he rubbed his covered arms with his gloved hands.

"Like I said, we Guardians aren't human. We don't feel temperature differences, it's a blessing and a curse," He explained.

Korra ran ahead of the group toward the top of a hill. The group followed behind and as they crested the peak they were met with the sight of a valley of light. Water Tribe members were walking through streets of snow as lights from booths and vendors lit the whole valley up like a small sun.

"Whoa…" Mako and Bolin said together.

Space nodded, it was an impressive sight.

"Guys, down here!" Korra called to them

The group looked down to see Korra was standing next to an older man. They approached and Korra introduced them.

"Guys, this is my uncle Unalaq, he's the leader the Northern Water Tribe,"

"Hello, you must be Korra's friends from Republic City," He looked over the group and his gaze seemed to hold on Space.

"I see… you have a Guardian," Unalaq said.

"Yeah, that's Space, he's teaching me Spacebending,"

"Spacebending? Really?" Unalaq asked as he looked the Guardian over.

Space teleported behind him and toward the city.

"If we're here for a festival, we should participate right?" Space asked the group turning halfway to look at them.

"Yes, that's true," Unalaq nodded as he tucked his hands into his sleeves.

The group took that as a signal to run into the city of light and booths. Space and Unalaq however remained behind.

"So, another Guardian has appeared in our world," Unalaq said calmly as he looked at Space.

Space completely turned around now so he was facing Unalaq. "Yes, my mission is to protect Avatar Korra," He said with a slightly hostile tone.

"My niece doesn't need to be protected like some innocent child," Unalaq told him, "What she needs is a teacher,"

"Oh really, and what might your subject be?" Space asked him.

Unalaq sighed, "Korra is an excellent bender, and while her airbending still needs work with Tenzin, her spirituality is severely lacking,"

"So you want to be her spiritual teacher,"

Unalaq nodded, "You of all people should understand the need for spirituality in one's life, being a Guardian is proof of that,"

Space seemed taken aback, "You know what we are?"

"Oh yes, I've known since I was a child, studying the spirits has a way of giving insights into things like your people, but I won't tell Korra or the others, just let me teach her,"

Space's hands clenched into fists and his body trembled slightly, "You're the first world-bound individual to figure out what we are,"

"I can see that upsets you," Unalaq told him, "Come now, it can't be all bad right? There are some perks, like not being able to feel anything,"

Space's whole body tensed as he said this, "You're wrong,"

"Well, come teach me sometime, I'd love to get the facts straight," Unalaq said as he walked past him, "But, you should probably save it for after the festival. You wouldn't want to spoil everyone's fun,"

Space stood there in the snow, his fists clenched and his body trembling.

"This is bad, if he knows what we are and tells everyone… no, as much as I hate to admit it I need to play his game for now,"

Space relaxed and breathed in deeply, releasing his fists he turned to the lights and made his way through the street to find Korra and the others. He eventually found his student and her friends at a booth eating some frozen foods.

"Space, you have to try this," Korra said as she saw him approach.

Space looked up and took one of the frozen confectionaries from her as she offered it. He bit into it and smiled.

"Thish is really good," he said as he swallowed it, "What is it?"

"It's fish," She said, "But they prepare it with some sweeteners to make it taste better," Korra explained.

Space nodded as he quickly finished the piece. The rest of the evening was spent examining one booth and another, ending the evening in a banquet. Korra, Space, and everyone else including Unalaq and Korra's father were sitting around a large table enjoying each other's company and the unending supply of food.

"So, Korra, I wanted to speak with you about something," Unalaq said inbetween servings.

Korra looked at him with confusion, "What did you want to talk about uncle?"

Space overheard the conversation and tuned his ears in to listen in.

"I heard about your exploits in Republic City, and while I admit your bending is impressive, I feel your connection to the spirits is lacking,"

"What brought this on?" Korra asked.

Unalaq smiled, "You see, centuries ago, when this festival was founded, it was so that chiefs of the tribe could commune with the spirits and ask for their advice and protection. Now it is nothing more than a spectacle,"

Korra's father looked over from Korra's other side, "It's alright if some traditions fade Unalaq,"

"But not these traditions, especially if they have reasons for them," Unalaq replied.

"Those reasons aren't necessary any-" He was cut off by a scream outside.

The whole table was on their feet in seconds as they ran out. A large, shadowy creature was awaiting them as it knocked over a handful of booths and sent them flying into the air.

"What is that thing?" Korra asked.

"No idea, but we need to stop it before it hurts anyone else," Korra's father replied.

Mako and Bolin went into action immediately throwing fire and earth at it. The creature's body opened and the two attacks flew through it harmlessly.

Korra and her father slid across the icy ground as they caused water to form up around the creature's legs and freeze into ice, binding it in place.

The creature lifted its legs, initially struggling before shattering the ice and taking a massive step toward the group. Space ran to the front as he brought his now glowing hand down. The creature seemed to duck a little bit before it swung its arm at the group, knocking Space off his feet and slamming him into a building.

"Space!" Korra shouted as she ran over to him.

The creature lifted its arm again to bring it down on the two, but then it was suddenly surrounded in small streams of water that began to glow with a golden-white color.

"What is that?" Korra asked.

Unalaq stepped forward from the back of the group as he wove his hands in a water bending technique, causing the golden light to flow up the shadow's body, changing it from a dark black and purple to a golden-white. Once it had completely changed it began to deteriorate and eventually disappeared. Unalaq lowered his hands down in front of his chest and breathed out slowly.

"What was that?" Korra asked him as she approached. Space was a few feet behind her.

"That was a technique I learned in my studies of spirits, it can help a spirit find peace and not go on a rampage,"

"That was a spirit?" Space asked.

"Yes, and an angry one at that,"

"Why would it be so angry?" Korra asked.

"Likely because of the disrespect of the southern water tribe," Unalaq explained.

"Disrespect?"

"Yes, as I said at dinner this festival was originally meant to be a means for chiefs to communicate with the spirits, not only for advice and protection, but to help ease their anger,"

Korra looked from Unalaq to the destroyed portion of the city behind him and then back to her uncle. "This can't happen again, people could be hurt,"

"I'd like to offer again what I said at dinner; allow me to teach you how to help the spirits,"

Korra nodded, "Please, teach me uncle," she said as she put her fists together over her chest and bowed from the waist.

Space's body tensed again as he looked at Unalaq who was still smiling.