Spacebender
Chapter 4: Tensions at the Poles
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: Legend of Korra or any of the characters involved except for Guardian S. Space
The next morning Space was wandering through the halls of the Southern Tribe palace when he saw something in the courtyard. Korra was speaking with Unaloq, and after a moment the two took up similar bending poses and Unaloq began to instruct Korra on how to perform the spirit purifying technique.
Space's brow furrowed as he watched, and he didn't notice Mako and Bolin approach. The brothers noticed his glare and looked to each other before Mako spoke up.
"Hey… Space, you okay?"
Space snapped out of his glare and looked to the brothers, "What? Oh, yeah, sorry… just… things are becoming more complicated than I wanted them to be," he explained.
"What do you mean?"
Space sighed before putting his hands in his pockets. "We Guardians, we exist for a reason, we're meant to keep the worlds in balance with one another, and to prevent their stories from going awry,"
"Stories?" Mako asked.
"Yes, each world is destined to progress according to a specific timeline, we call this a 'story', but when outside forces prevent these stories from progressing as they should we Guardians step in to intervene,"
"Like that Hollow kid in Republic city?" Bolin asked.
Space nodded, "That is one example,"
"Well… if that's all you have to do what's so complicated?" Bolin asked with a glance to his brother who shrugged.
Space noticed the look and sighed again, "The thing that makes this whole business complicated is that when a Guardian is sent on a mission to a world, we are informed of the events that should take place during our stay there, you could basically say I know the future, this is to help me ensure that things are progressing as they should. The part that makes this complicated is the strife and suffering I know my friends will have to go through, and yet the fact that I'm a Guardian means that I am not allowed to help beyond advising and minor interference to ensure the world's story continues as it's supposed to,"
"What?"
"Take last night's engagement with that evil spirit, I knew you all would be able to handle it, without my assistance, but I knew it would also look strange for everyone but me to rush out to investigate what was attacking the South Pole. I aided in a very minor way, putting pressure on it to help slow the spirit's movements and actions and help prevent additional damage. I knew Unaloq would calm it, and I knew Korra would ask to be his apprentice, but it doesn't mean I have to like it,"
"What's wrong with that? Unaloq seems like a nice guy," Bolin smiled.
Space went to say something then stopped, "Regardless of my feelings toward Unaloq, and his appearances to everyone else. My mission to this world is over. I am no longer needed, but at the same time I cannot bring myself to leave just yet,"
"Why's that?" Mako asked.
"I can't help but feel that my mission, while completed, isn't finished,"
"How can that be?"
"I was sent to this world to stop Hollow, we'd been getting scouting reports that he had been seen here in the last few months, so I was sent to investigate and possibly capture. However, as you saw from our battle that didn't work and he escaped. My mission should've ended there, I should've left the world without a word to you or Korra about who I am or what I'm doing here,"
"But you stayed and offered to teach her Spacebending," Mako finished.
"Like a fool," Space replied, "I should've left when I had the chance, now I'm here and integrated in your lives, your story, and it will be more difficult now to just leave,"
"That doesn't explain why you don't like Unaloq all that much," Bolin stated.
Space looked back to Korra and Unaloq training in the courtyard below, "There are secrets we Guardians protect that are not meant to be told to others. Unaloq has discovered one of those secrets and now holds me hostage until I can find a way to deal with this threat,"
"What kind of secret is it?" Bolin asked. This earned him a scolding look from both Space and Mako.
"Sorry,"
"The secret isn't the important part, the knowledge he has of us is a minor inconvenience at best, or a complete halt on our ability to perform our duty at worst. Regardless of its impact, I need to find a way to ensure that he never tells anybody what he knows, and figure out how he came to know such information,"
"What are you gonna do?" Bolin asked.
"That's the part that makes this all so complicated," Space replied as he watched Korra and Unaloq head into the front doors of the palace.
"Why tell us all this?" Mako asked him, "I feel like knowing that you Guardians are told our future means we're not liabilities to you?"
"No, you are strong enough to protect yourselves, and I trust you not to reveal this information. My position with the Guardians allows me to make such a decision and give you this information,"
"Wel… what else can you tell us?" Bolin asked.
Space smiled at the young man's eager expression, "Not much else unfortunately. What I can tell you is that I'll likely be leaving in the next few days, this world is progressing along its story as it's intended, and the longer I stay the more likely that's to change,"
"Are you going to tell Korra?" Mako asked.
"I think it's best I'm the last thing on Korra's mind these days," Space replied.
"How's she going to finish learning Spacebending without you around?" Bolin asked.
"The Avatar was never meant to wield such a power, it was stupid of me to offer it to her in the first place. It's best that I leave now while her power is weak, and prevent her from gaining a modicum of control over it,"
"So that's it then? You're just going to leave without saying a word to her?" Mako seemed to be getting a little heated now.
"That is my intention,"
"That's selfish! Just because you think she doesn't need you or wants you here you're just going to leave? You're her friend aren't you! You should at least say good bye," Mako shouted.
Space looked him in the eyes as he said, "I never said I was her friend. I am her Guardian and as of this moment, her former mentor. You will back off and calm down, or things will get nasty,"