Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Prologues, Pasts and Present
Once upon a time, there were people who were called Benders, individuals who were capable of controlling one of the four main elements of the world. Earth, Fire, Air and Water. There was one, however, who had complete dominion of it all, a being called the Avatar . Blessed by the Goddess of Light, Raava, The Avatar was the keeper of balance and protector of the world.
But a long time passed. Each day, the world modernized, little by little, the art of bending was neglected and the true role of the Avatar was forgotten.
Thousands of years have passed, Avatars were now merely creatures of myth, the power of bending was nothing more than a mystical story. A lasting, forgotten history.
However, with the recent development of technology, there are those who yearned to have that power once more. Corporations created a device capable of harnessing a person’s dormant ability to bend.
Elemental Summoning Tools (EST)
With this invention, Benders have now made a comeback to the present society. To paint a brand new picture for a better tomorrow.
[...]
-Year 2124-
“Mommy! Mommy! Read me a story!” A girl no older than six or seven had said, excitedly beckoning her mother to her room. It was storytime and she wasn’t about to miss it! Her emerald eyes sparkled in delight as she ran for her bed, black wavy curls bouncing at each step.
“Honey, aren’t you sleepy yet?” The mother asked in amusement, it seemed like it was just yesterday that her girl was crying out loud as she was welcomed to the world. Time was passing by so fast. The mother’s smile never left her face as she walked towards the shelf on the far side of the little girl’s room, there were many books on it but her daughter was only ever interested in one.
“Nuh uh! Story time! I want to hear about Avatar first!” The little girl grinned, jumping up and down her bed.
The mother could only chuckle at her daughter’s eagerness, “Okay, okay, but listen carefully alright? Even though you’d probably be able to tell this story better than I could,” She gave her daughter a peck on the cheek before tucking her in bed and proceeded to recount their favorite story.
“A hundred years ago, there was terrible conflict within the four great nations. They all fought each other and through this the world was shaken to its very core. This was dubbed the Great War,”
The young girl’s eyes were serious, she nodded and urged her mother to continue.
“Nations tore each other apart, death and destruction plagued the lands until one person single handedly ended it,”
“The Avatar!” her emerald orbs twinkled in palpable excitement.
Her mother couldn’t help but giggle every time, “Yes, that’s right. The Avatar, a being of pure power, appearing out of nowhere and those who held the ability to suppress the weak. Liberating the people and once again giving peace,” At this point, it was futile to tuck her daughter again, she’d sat up, fists gripping her favorite blanket in excitement, “The Avatar who could summon powerful gusts of gales, searing blazes of flames, trembling earth and roaring waters with a flick of a wrist,”
“It was said that the Avatar only appeared when the world needed a protector, a keeper of balance and once the task was completed, when the war was over, they disappeared without a trace,”
The girl’s eyes were wide with amazement; she was always the one to finish the story every time, “And the Avatar would once again show themselves when the world needs them the most,” She knew those words by heart.
Her mother gave a smile, “The end?”
“The end…” it was fine for awhile but her daughter had been extremely quiet once the story was over. Silent contemplation? She really did take over her father.
“Is something wrong honey?”
Her daughter’s lips were set in a frown when she’d looked up, “Mommy, do you think the Avatar had friends? People they could count on?”
“I should think so,” This was new, she wondered what brought on this line of questioning.
“It’s just that, if that was my life, I’d be pretty sad! Having so much power but being alone? I can’t take that,” The little girl’s tone was filled with raw emotion.
“I think the Avatar had people they could return to,” The mother reassured her child, “It would be a pretty sad way to live otherwise,”
Her daughter had always been very empathetic, her heart swelled knowing she’d grow up to be a wonderful, caring person.
“I’ve decided!” the little girl removed the blanket that covered her and jumped up so fast it startled her mother, “If I ever meet the Avatar I’d be their best friend! We’d join forces and fight for the greater good and be the best friends ever!” she said, absolute determination set on her tone.
The mother could only gaze at her so lovingly, she gave her a tight embrace and a kiss to the forehead, “I’m sure you can make friends with the Avatar, you’re amazing my love,”
The girl giggled as she was bombed by a barrage of kisses on her cheeks. A few minutes of rough housing and she was once again tucked into bed, her mother singing an easing lullaby, it took only a few minutes before her daughter fell into an easy slumber.
A final kiss to her forehead, “Rest well, my sweetest Asami,”
[...]
-Year 2126-
Her parents were in a hurry, their house in absolute disarray as the adults shoved valuables into their bags in panic. Various items thrown haphazardly all over the place. The reason? She didn’t know.
And she hated not knowing.
“Why are we leaving?” the girl asked, cerulean eyes currently very confused.
“We have to get you out of here, my sweet,” the girl’s mother had said. In hindsight, she did wonder what the deal was with her parents the past few days. They were consistently on edge. All the girl saw in their eyes were… exhaustion and fear .
Fear of what? She was also clueless.
“But why,” she urged, carefully watching her parents rush about and her father grabbing their duffel bags before chucking them inside their car, “What about my classes? School? Our life here?”
Her father bent down on one knee, his eyes weren’t the same ones she was used to. Dad’s eyes were akin to steel. Hard and serious, “Listen to me Korra, we have to take you somewhere safe, you’ll understand in time, right now I’m sorry but we have to hurry,” and that was that.
She knew well enough that she wasn’t getting more than that.
They were leaving Republic City?
Hurrying off, her mother held her hand as she was taken to their car, securing her to the seat. The drive to the airport was… tense. She didn’t like it.
Once upon a time, she imagined what it would be to leave Republic City, mostly for a vacation or a road trip or something but one look at her parent’s shaken expressions, it didn’t take a genius to figure out, Korra had an inkling they won’t be coming back.
The entire plane ride was quiet on their end. The occasional crying baby on board, the attendants voices and the captain speaking. The whole time all she did was push down the plethora of feelings that ran rampant in her head.
She didn’t know when she’d fallen asleep, unaware of how much time had passed. A dreamless slumber was all that awaited her. When the plane landed, her hand was held by her mother once more, tightly, she winced but didn’t say a word. A nagging feeling settling in her stomach.
They got out and were met by a jeep that had a sign stuck to its door, “Kunuk Family”
Her father was driving at a frightening speed which only made things colder. The place that had welcomed them wasn’t welcoming that’s for sure. Temperatures were in the negatives. The car shook, howling winds and the thrumming engine was all she heard. Korra hugged herself tightly as blistering cold seemed to wrap on their car.
For hours on end, all she was the vast whiteness of the tundra.
The south, she knew her parents were from here but not once had she ever visited. Korra did manage to read up on the place months ago, still, books did no justice at the frost that threatened to penetrate her skin.
Not a single one of them said a word. Boredom and weariness clung to her bones, the humming of the engine lulling her to doze off. Mind as well, her parents didn’t seem interested in sharing any information.
A quick nap wouldn’t hurt anyone, right?
[...]
Of all the things she’d wake up to, not once did she ever thought an explosion would be one of those. Their car was thrown up and skidded along the ice ridden roads. Her ears rang and the impact of the blow made everything in Korra’s body howl in pain.
She was fighting for consciousness when she’d seen her father kick the doors open, his arms holding her protectively and grabbed her mother to safety.
Snow was piling on their heads and the pain made her tear up, she clenched her teeth as tears fell down her face. She can’t pass out now!
Why was this happening!?
“Oh wonderful, the whole family’s here!” It was a man that stood quite a few meters from them. Wild, gray locks, a slit on his left eyebrow and a hauntingly sinister smile.
“Leave my family alone!” Her dad placed her on her mother’s arms as he stood in front protectively, his body set in a familiar stance. A waterbender’s stance.
“Oh Tonraq, Tonraq,” the man tutted, “We warned you, no matter where you hid, we’d find your no matter where you go,” she didn’t think it would be possible to look more evil than he did before but his smile… was terrifying, diabolical .
From behind him, three more figures appeared from behind, the cold winds picked up but Korra saw them. A tall woman with an eye tattoo on her giant forehead. A man with a long moustache and longer black hair, sneering at everything, lastly another woman, small, hair so long it reached the snowed pavement. Her face was gaunt and she had no arms.
“We need to hurry, they’re on our trail!” the tall woman had said to the others. Body in a readied stance.
“Well you heard her! I’m a merciful person Tonraq,” the gray haired man exclaimed, “Hand over the Avatar and you just might live!”
“Over my dead body!” Her dad raised arms, the snow that littered the road started rising up and surrounded them before turning into sharp icicles that floated above their heads. With a swift punch, her father hurled an endless bombardment of icicles at their attackers.
As impressive as it was, one was not a match for four. The tall woman dodged the incoming hail and in a split second, their eyes met. The only thing that registered in her head was her mother forming a block of ice that shielded them from the blast.
Not entirely protected, the second explosion had sent her and her mother flying.
In that instant, the girl had lost consciousness.
It was dark for a long, long time.
[...]
Pain
Confusion
Fear
She was stuck in this dim place for a lengthy time. Wherever this was. It was dark, bleak and she’d never admit it outloud but… it was scary.
It was the same each time, she’d see herself. Not like looking through a mirror. She’d see another.... Her. Eyes glowing, floating around the empty space. Followed by hundreds… maybe thousands of people, eyes all illuminating the dark area.
“Avatar,” they would chant in unison. Overlapping voices that made her head hurt.
A white light would envelop her to signify the end of the vision only to begin anew.
[...]
-Year [?]-
It was so bright, like a super powered flashlight was pointed on her eyelids. Her eyes burned at the effort, desperately opening them. It stung so much but she was desperate. It seemed like forever before she’d caught a glimpse of pure white walls.
Everything felt… numb. Her tired eyes quickly darted around the room.
… Where was she? Where was Mom? Dad? Did she even have a Mom and Dad?
Why did she feel so empty?
There were so many gaps in her thoughts, why couldn’t she remember?
Who was she again?
Eyes half opened, her body screamed, she felt pain all over but at the same time she couldn’t feel anything. Desperately trying to move but her body seemed to deny the command. She couldn’t feel the tug of her fingertips nor the movement of her toes.
She felt like she was floating. It was unpleasant, almost suffocating.
She didn’t notice the tears that started falling on the side of her face. It just felt cold as it dripped down.
Numb… oh so numb .
There was a quiet creak of a door and from her peripherals, she saw three people enter.
An old woman, a younger woman and a tall man.
“Welcome back, Avatar,”