Chapter 1: Avatar Korra


"It's not fair! Mom and dad said it would come naturally!" Korra shouted in frustration as the water before her lay still. At four years old, Korra had relatively short dark-brown hair, cyan eyes, and brownish skin, typical for the people of the northern or southern water tribes.

She stood with a dozen or so other children. All dressed in blue fur coats to keep them warm in the south pole's harsh environment. The children each carefully moved their hands and bodies around small water urns. These motions carried the liquid around them in an elegant matter, and it infuriated Korra, who furiously tried to repeat the moves she'd learned. Yet, it only slightly disturbed the water, nothing more.

"Aww, what's the matter, Korra? Still can't accept you aren't a water bender!" Korra's anger grew steadily as she turned to three giggling girls nearby. They bent the water well for their age, making it dance around them.

The little-girl tried to look away, but the girl who mocked her splashed Korra in the back.

"Oops, sorry!" She chuckled.

"That's it, Nunataq!" Korra roared as she came over, fists raised.

"No, please, don't sit on me!" Nunataq pretended to be scared while emphasizing Korra's chubby belly, making her go red in the face from rage and shame.

"Enough!" A stern voice silenced all four girls, and they turned to see an older woman approaching. Her skin tone matched the others, and she had light-blue eyes in contrast to gray hair.

Despite the woman's elderly appearance, she carried a powerful presence to her. The nearby girls and boys who'd been practicing now looked frightened.

"We weren't doing anything, master Katara!" Nunataq tried to sound innocent, though the water bending master easily saw through it.

"Since you're so confident in your waterbending abilities, you three can stay after to clean up the urns."

Nunataq now turned angry and scowled at Korra, though she didn't look any better hearing this. Katara's demeanor instantly changed as she took Korra by the shoulders and brought her back to the urn.

"Try again, take your time." Katara now spoke in a warm and motherly tone that soothed Korra a bit. Taking a deep breath, she began to practice what the Master taught her, yet the water still only moved slightly.

Nunataq smirked with her friends as Korra's rage boiled over, and she looked ready to scream. The little girl pushed herself harder and harder with her motions, but to no avail.

"Korra, you need to calm down. You can't force waterbending like that."

"I just need to try harder, is all!" Katara knelt down and placed both hands on Korra's shoulders, giving more motherly devotion to her.

"Korra, you'll get there in time. You just need patience."

An hour later, Korra buried her head into the fur of her father's coat. Tonraq carried his daughter through the vibrant streets of the southern water tribe, greeting a few tribesmen as they passed.

"Evening Tonraq!"

"Evening Tipvigut, how's your fishing boat coming along?"

"Wonderful, it'll be ready this weekend! My business will finally kick-off! You're still welcome to join!"

"No thanks, good luck though."

"Ahhh, Tonraq. There you are, and Korra too."

"Korra, say hello." She slowly looked up at a middle-aged woman smiling at them in a far too friendly manner.

"Hello, Putyuk." She said quietly.

"So how's the waterbending going! Still struggling?" Tonraq's expression changed slightly, and he quickly looked down at Korra.

"I-"

"Strange, I grew up with your mother, and she was a natural."

"We need to get going. Senna will have dinner ready soon."

"Yes, I need to get back to the hospital too. I'd also talk with Senna. I think she might be feeding Korra too much."

Tonraq shook his head and saw the pain in Korra's face.

"Don't listen to her, Korra." His voice carried a deep warmth to it, similar to Katara's, but she didn't feel much better.

They didn't go to one of the large houses or apartment buildings but a humble wooden igloo outside the city. Tonraq set Korra down just as a polar bear dog pup ran out and leaped into Korra's arms, knocking her to the snow.

"Naga!" Korra's anger and sadness instantly faded as she felt her beloved pet lick her face while panting with a wagging tail.

Tonraq slowly smiled while watching her hug Naga and exhaled in relief. Once inside, they knelt down before a small table, bowls of seal meat, fried eggs, and fish placed before them by a woman slightly younger than Tonraq and greatly resembled Korra.

"I made your favorite." Senna said, giving Korra some of the seal meat and kissing her cheek. Despite this, she only stared at her food, or rather the glass of water beside it.

"I'm not really hungry." She muttered.

"Korra, don't listen to what Putyuk said. You need to eat." Tonraq said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Naga similarly nudged her head against Korra, whining a little as she did so. However, Korra noticed her mother bending water from the jug into her cup.

"Senna!" Tonraq spoke sharply, and she quickly under stopped with a sheepish look.

Korra clenched her eyes shut, but Senna quickly knelt down and hugged her.

"It's alright, Korra. You'll be able to water bend properly in time. It wasn't easy for me either-"

"Yes, it was!" Korra shouted, tears filling her eyes even as anger swelled.

"You told me it came naturally to you! Putyuk said the same! You can water bend, and dad can water bend but not me!" Korra knocked her plate over in a fit of rage, and Naga quickly took advantage of this to eat it.

"Korra, enough!" Tonraq rose up and spoke sternly while Korra half pouted, half cried.

After dinner, Korra sat on her bed holding Naga in her arms, and stared out at the night sky through the window.

"Tonraq, you don't think there could really be something wrong with her, do you?" Korra heard the sincere fear in her mother's voice as she paced around the kitchen.

"No, she's just struggling. I've seen it before back in the North Pole. She'll get there eventually, Senna. She could even become a Master one day if she dedicates herself."

"But even Master Katara isn't reaching her, and she's the greatest water bender in the world."

"Korra's only four years old, Senna! Calm down!"

"... I'm sorry, Tonraq. I just know the toll it's taking on her. Every other water bender Korra's age is advancing. They're giving her such a hard time."

Tonraq sighed.

"Then we help her through it. Who knows, one day, the struggle could hone her skills."

"Tonraq, you know that's not the problem." Her father went silent.

"... She's only four, Senna." He repeated, though without the same conviction as before.

Korra tightened her grip on Naga and felt her rage subside back into sadness.


That night, she struggled to fall asleep, but after finally doing so, Korra saw herself drowning in the ocean, trying desperately to bend herself free but kept sinking no matter how hard she tried.

"Mama, papa!" She cried, seeing them just out of reach.

"I'm not surprised you can't swim, fatty!" Nunataq's sneers weighed Korra down like a rock, and she felt unable to move, crippled by anger and hopelessness.

She was helpless, alone.

"You are not alone." Korra's eyes opened as she saw something swimming in the water around her.

"Who's there!?"

"You are not alone, Korra." A strange creature now gently circled Korra, illuminating the water around them. She'd never seen anything like this before. The figure looked almost like a great kite of glowing white light.

Korra felt a warm sensation and wasn't afraid despite the figure's strange appearance.

"Who, who are you?" She muttered.

"It's not who I am, Korra. It's who you are." Korra's eyes swelled with tears.

"I'm no one! I'm the worst water bender in the world! Everyone knows it! I am alone!"

"No, you're not." The creature's voice changed into that of a woman. Korra looked up to see a very tall and muscular woman with white face paint looming over her.

"You're not alone, Korra."

The woman transformed into a man who looked like someone from her tribe with a goatee and a beatskin over his head.

"You will always be part of us, and we a part of you." He said in a warm tone like her father's."

"I, I don't understand." She whispered, frightened and confused.

The man transformed into another paler man with long white hair while in a red robe, who similarly smiled at Korra.

"Don't be frightened, Korra. We are here for you, and we will always be."

"Who, who are you?"

The man transformed again, this time into a middle-aged man, with a thin beard, pale skin, grey eyes, and a bald head tattooed with a blue arrow.

He knelt down and put both hands on Korra's shoulders.

"Kyoshi, Kuruk, Roku, Aang, Korra. We are you, and you are us. You are not alone."

Korra's eyes opened, and she almost sprung out of bed, breathily heavily. Naga tilted her head slightly in confusion and concern.

"Korra!" Tonraq and Senna came rushing in.

"Baby, are you ok?" Her mother said quickly, wrapping her arms around Korra.

"I, I just had a dream."

"A nightmare, it's ok Korra, it wasn't-" Tonraq started.

"No." She said, not happily, nor sadly, just intrigued. Still very confused by the dream.


The next day, she returned to water bending training but found similar results. The water barely moved, and Korra tried harder and harder, gritting her teeth until finally, the water lifted up.

Her eyes lit up in glee.

"I'm doing it! I'm water-" The water splashed into her face, followed by fierce laughter.

"Aww, you thought you had it, chubby." Nunataq's distinct laughter reached Korra, and she realized what happened.

Nunataq and her friends began bending their water into snow, making a snowman look like a fat little girl.

"Look, we made Korra a twin!"

Korra shook with so much rage she felt ready to explode! It was as if her blood boiled within her!

"Nunataq!" Katara's stern expression returned as she began walking over.

Yet Korra couldn't contain herself anymore. Almost as if by instinct, she threw her right fist out as if to punch the snowman.

"You are not alone." At that moment, Katara froze in place, and the children yelped in terror, none more so than Nunataq and her friends. A burst of fire flew from Korra's fist and burned through the snowman's upper half.

Korra now shook in awe at what she'd just done. Fire flew from her fist, but how?

The little girl threw out her other first, and just like before, a fireball burned through the rest of the snowman.

"She's a monster!" Nunataq cried in fear, now hiding behind Katara.

"She's, she's firebending." Katara muttered in disbelief.

Korra now felt an overwhelming sense of pride and strength, for she could do something one else in the South Pole could. She could fire bend and was good at it!

"Ha!" Korra threw out more punches and kicks, fire shooting out each time while Katara continued to stare in awe.

"It couldn't be." She said with wide eyes.

Later that night, Tonraq and Senna both trembled in horror as they watched Korra blast more snowmen to pieces, laughing in pure glee as she did so.

"Mom! Dad! Look, I can firebend!"

Naga barked in excitement as she raced beside Korra.

"I don't, I, how is this possible!?" Senna muttered, not knowing what to think.

"Katara, what does this mean?" Tonraq looked at Katara and four others who'd arrived earlier. The three men and one woman wore the White Lotus' attire and gazed at Korra with immense interest.

"You don't think?" One asked.

"It could very well be!"

Katara took a deep breath and very carefully took a wooden staff from her chest.

"Korra, come here for a moment."

"Yes, master!" Korra ran over, all anger and sadness vanishing from her.

"Korra, I'd like you to hold this for a moment."

"Ok." She took the staff, not thinking much of it, yet the instant she did so, Korra almost felt mesmerized. Her body trembled for a moment but then went calm. The sensation was identical to the one from her dream.

Korra breathed heavily, and she saw him again, the bald man with an arrow tatoo.

"See, you're not alone, Korra."

"Aang!"

The four White Lotus members jumped, and Katara went still.

"What did you say?"

"Didn't anyone else see him? Aang, the man from my dream, the man with the arrow tatoo."

Tears filled Karata's eyes, and she knelt down in front of Korra with the warmest expression she'd given in years.

"Master?" Korra saw looks of disbelief on her parents' faces and the others.

"Korra, you're not just a water bender."

"I know, I can fire bend too!"

Katara smiled while shaking her head.

"You can bend all four elements, Korra. You're the Avatar."

"...I, I'm the Avatar..."

Katara sat with Tonraq, and the four White Lotus Members sat around a table while Senna watched Korra practice her new Firebending skills outside.

"We finally found her, and only four years since-" The youngest White Lotus member went silent as his mentors looked sternly at him. He soon glanced at Katara and gave a guilty expression.

"Master, Katara, I-"

"It's alright. I'm happy we found her. This is wonderful." Katara still had tears in her eyes as she watched Korra.

"Indeed! She must begin training immediately." The oldest member said.

"Hold on, Korra's only four years old. What exactly do you plan on doing with my daughter?!" Tonraq narrowed his eyes at the White Lotus members in suspicion.

"She is the Avatar, Tonraq. She is the guardian of this world and its people, the link between us and the spirits. One day she will help keep the world in balace-"

"She's just a little girl! She needs to stay here where her parents can watch over her!" Tonraq almost roared as he shot up, water from their cups now circling him.

"Well, we could arrange for masters from around the world to come here and train Korra." The woman White Lotus member suggested. This seemed to ease Tonraq for a moment, but Katara shook her head and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Tonraq, I know you love your daughter. But she is the Avatar, and hiding her away in the North Pole won't help her in the long run. She is destined to watch over this world. The Avatar must do more than just learn the elements, but understand the cultures and spiritual meaning behind each. For that, she will need to travel."

Tonraq felt his eyes swell with tears as he looked out at Korra.

"Of course, she's going to need her parents with her." His expression changed drastically.

"We can come with her!?"

Katara nodded.

"Well, that just begs the question of what she'll learn first." The lead Lotus member asked.

"Perhaps it's best she takes a break from waterbending and gains some confidence with the other elements." Katara said before a fireball flew over their heads, making a few jump.

"Sorry!" Korra shouted, full of glee.

"Perhaps fire bending." Tonraq chuckled.

Katara nodded with a growing smile.

"I know just the one to teach her, and she'll be able to learn Airbending there as well."


Six years passed, and Korra, now ten and with a much more trimmed down body, danced in a palace courtyard with an older man. Both seemed to mirror the movements of a red dragon that flew above them. With each motion, fire flew from their hands or feet magnificently. By now, Korra's fire was blue.

Finally, they completed the dance by bringing their fists together and unleashing a combined blast of red and blue fire into a spinning display of light. The dragon joined in, breathing fire that completed the show.

Korra and the man both took a deep breath before respectfully bowing to each other.

"You have mastered the Dancing Dragon, Korra, well done." The man before Korra had a horrible scar over his left eye, which once frightened her years ago, but now as if it wasn't even there.

"Thank you, Master Zuko." Moments later, the ground shook as Zuko's dragon landed beside them.

"And you, Master Druk." The dragon huffed in appreciation.

"Well done, Avatar Korra." A Firesage added. Four observed Korra as she training. Since arriving in the Fire Nation, they became her tutors in the spiritual portion of being the Avatar. More than once, they took her on trips across the Fire Nation, though Korra enjoyed her lessons with Master Zuko and Druk more.

"Hmm, not bad, I suppose." A cocky but charming voice reached them.

All three looked over to see two young adults near the corner. They looked like brother and sister from their appearance, and both had Zuko's eyes, or rather his good eye.

The young woman looked to be in her late twenties with long black hair and a beautiful face while wearing elegant fire-nation robes of red. The young man hair short and tidy black hair with broad shoulders and a firm demeanor. Unlike his sister, he wore a red military uniform with silver epaulets on the shoulders.

"Iroh, you're back."

"It's good to be home, grandfather." He said, coming over and hugging Zuko.

"I suppose it's Major Iroh now."

"Don't feed his ego, Grandpa! He gets worse with every one of those medals!" The woman continued to laugh.

Iroh narrowed his eyes back at her while Zuko chuckled.

"It's hard work but rewarding. I'm just doing my best for my men." Iroh said humbly.

"Congratulations!" Korra almost shouted. Prince/Major Iroh smiled down at her.

"Avatar Korra, I see your fire bending is going well."

"It is! Master Zuko and Druk are the best fire benders in the world!"

"I don't know about that." Zuko said.

"Well, do you mind if I see what you've learned?"

"Oh yeah!" Korra threw up her arms in a cocky manner.

"Be careful, Iroh. She is the Avatar!"

"I appreciate your concern, Koyasu."

"Just looking out for my little brother." She snickered.

Iroh removed his jacket and undershirt, revealing a muscular body as he took a deep breath and got into a fighting stance.

A few tense moments passed, and Korra began fire bending in the dancing dragon style while Iroh did the same. Iroh's fire also came out blue like Korra's but was more refined from greater experience. Still, Korra's abilities impressed him.

After a few minutes, they bowed to each other respectfully.

"Impressive Avatar, who would have thought someone from the Water Tribes would take to Fire Bending so naturally."

"What would you know, Koyasu? You're not a fire bender." Iroh retorted.

"No, I'm not!" Koyasu proclaimed with a mischievous look as she spun around and threw her hands out, a gust of wind flying out. The whirlwind cooled Korra off but messed up Iroh's neat hair.

"Oops, sorry."

Iroh glared at his sister while putting his jacket back on.

"The Fire Nation is in big trouble with you as their future leader."

"Well, you'll find out one day if you ever decide to really come home from the United Republic."

"I'll be back for your wedding anyway."

"Good, you and Nomura need to get to know each other better."

Korra heard that Princess Koyasu was recently engaged to a high-ranking noble from the Fire Nation, a relatively young and newly promoted General.

According to Koyasu, he was nice enough, and she thought he'd make a good Firelord Consort one day when she took the throne.

Moments later, the air shifted around them as a massive sky bison landed before them.

"Ren!" Korra laughed as the female sky bison licked her across the face.

"You two get along so well. She might actually be a better air bending teacher than me." A spirited voice chuckled from the sky bison's back. Standing on her was a man with long graying brown hair, pale blue eyes, and a somewhat slender body.

"Firelord Bumi." Korra said as she respectfully bowed.

"Please, don't call me that, Korra." Bumi's voice almost cracked as he jumped down, air bending a bit to soften his fall.

"It's still strange having you call me Master. After all, you're the spiritual reincarnation of my father."

"That's right, Grandpa Aang." Koyasu chuckled towards Korra.

"Besides father, she's not wrong. Since Grandpa abdicated, that makes you mom's Firelord Consort."

Bumi looked quite uncomfortable with this notion and sighed.

"I didn't marry Izmui so I could be a Fire Lord. I did it because I love her."

"Well, you did a good job raising my grandchildren." Zuko said, smiling at Bumi.

"I just followed my father's example. Speaking of which, I think you're ready for some real air bending training." Bumi said with a growing smile as he offered Korra a wooden staff.

"Really!?" She almost jumped out of her skin in glee as her Master nodded.

Koyasu similarly took out her own staff and came over.

"I think I'll join you both."

Korra screamed in pure joy and enthusiasm as she flew on her glider staff beside Bumi and Koyasu, occasionally using air bending to help keep herself up and moving in the right direction.

The three flew with Ren over the Fire Nation capital's bustling streets, occasionally passing flying airships carrying passengers or cargo across the lands. They then turned towards the countryside, where small towns and villages went about their days. Sometimes they'd fly close enough for the average person to recognize them.

"Look, it's the Avatar with Fire Lord Bumi and Princess Koyasu!" Someone shouted while pointing to Korra. This was followed by a few cheers, elating Korra to no end. The young Avatar felt as if she could fly even without her glider.

Eventually, the three landed to a growing crowd.

"Greetings, good people of the Fire Nation. How can the Avatar help you this day!" She proclaimed with a proud demeanor.

"We are simply honored to have you here, Avatar Korra, let alone our crowned Princess and Fire Lord consort." The village elder said, bowing his head with the others.

Bumi looked slightly uncomfortable, while Koyasu beamed. She appreciated how well the people of the Fire nation took the fact that not only was the husband of their current Fire Lord an air bender but that their future ruler was too.

"Come on. There must be something I can help you with! The Avatar lives to serve!" Korra shouted in a less than humble manner.

"Well, our windmills have been struggling lately, and-" The elder started.

"No problem! I've got this!" Korra performed the techniques Bumi taught her and unleashed a powerful burst of wind that hit both windmills so fast their propellers nearly broke off.

Bumi and Koyasu saw this and quickly slowed them down to a more stable level, though the villagers or Korra didn't notice this.

"Incredible! Thank you, Avatar!" The village bowed again as Korra's eyes lit up, not in an arrogant manner, but like a child receiving a wonderful birthday present, mainly because Korra was a child. Koyasu and Bumi noticed this with slight concern.

A few minutes later, they resumed their flight and arrived at a fishing village a few miles from the capital. There, she saw her parents using their waterbending and Southern Water tribe techniques to help the locals.

Before Korra could fully land, a powerful bark rang through her ears as Naga, now the size of a fully-grown wolf, jumped from the river and pounced Korra to the ground, licking her face.

"Naga, come on, you're all wet!" Korra laughed while stroking the polar bear dog's head.

When she got off, Korra used air bending to force the water off.

"Well, look who's here." Senna came over with Tonraq, and Korra's proud demeanor returned.

"Mom, dad, did you see me? I was flying! I'll bet no one back home has ever done that!"

"I don't think so either." Tonraq said in a warm tone as he put his hand on her shoulder in a supportive manner.

"I see her training is going well." Senna smiled towards Bumi, who nodded.

"Air is the element of freedom, and she's a natural at it. Though not as good as Koyasu." Bumi chuckled while looking at his daughter.

"Oh, dad, you're embarrassing me." Korra didn't mind Bumi's comment, and she agreed that Koyasu was an incredible air bender and got many lessons from her too.

"The Avatar is here!"

"Come quick!"

Just like in the last village, a crowd of excited people soon formed around Korra.

"Lady Avatar, we're honored. Your parents have already doubled our usual take of fish with their techniques and water bending! We'd be honored to see your skills!" Korra's excitement and glee instantly vanished as she struggled to maintain her demeanor.

Her parents and teachers quickly noticed this before stepping in.

"The Avatar would rather honor the Fire Nation by her mastery of Fire Bending!" Koyasu proclaimed.

"Well, there aren't any fire benders in our village." The village elder said as she glanced back at their town furnaces. Not every settlement in the Fire Nation had fire benders in them, though this wasn't unique to the Fire Nation.

"We haven't received our latest shipment of coal for the furnaces-"

"I've got it!" Korra's enthusiasm returned immediately, and she began demonstrating her fire bending skills from Zuko and Druk. Mighty blasts of blue fire hit the furnaces just in time for a few villages to open them, making the three jump back.

Korra's parents glanced at each other with worried looks at her haste, not to mention the fact that her flames slightly damaged the furnaces from sheer power. However, the villagers didn't seem to care, as she succeeded in restoring their infernos for what would be a considerable amount of time.

"Korra, take it easy, you almost-" Tonraq started.

"Incredible! You honor us, Avatar Korra!" The elder shouted as her villagers echoed with cheers that drowned out Korra's father. It certainly didn't help that the three Korra almost burned joined in with the others in appreciation, seeming to forget nearly being hit.

That night, Korra and her parents ate with the Fire Nation's Royal family as they ate roast pork chicken, salted fish, and rice prepared masterfully by the palace chefs. Had it not been for her strenuous training, Korra likely would have become even chubbier than when she was a little girl from how much she loved the palace meals. Yet her dedication to hard work in mastering the elements kept her body fit with more and more muscle each year.

She sat between her parents and across from Master Zuko, who knelt beside his wife, lady Mai. Koyasu and Iroh sat near their parents, Bumi and Firelord Izumi, Zuko and Mai's daughter. Izumi looked roughly Bumi's age and looked like a perfect mix of her parents. Yet, the most interesting thing Korra noticed about Izumi was her lack of bending abilities, which she inherited from Mai.

Occasionally she saw the Fire Lord practice with throwing knives in her free time but couldn't firebend. This made her the first non-bender Fire Lord in the Fire Nation's history after Zuko abdicated earlier that year.

Despite this, her skilled leadership and diplomatic skills earned Izumi high praise from the Fire Nation nobility and common people alike.

"The new electric railway system is already proving more efficient than steam-powered engines. I think by year's end, we can start exporting them across the world." Izumi said with a hint of enthusiasm in her voice.

"I'm assuming Queen Hou-Ting will be demanding them for free just like the last model of ships as part of our 'reparations' to the Earth Kingdom." Koyasu jested. Despite her mocking tone, Zuko, Izumi, and Bumi looked a bit unsettled.

Korra didn't fully understand the situation, but apparently, decades before her birth, the world was at war for a hundred years after Zuko's great grandfather tried to conquer all the other nations. It ended when he and Avatar Aang deposed his father, Fire Lord Ozai, and placed Zuko on the throne.

The legendary duel between Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Ozai enticed people worldwide, even the Fire Nation, who enjoyed decades of prosperity ever since Zuko took the throne. Yet Korra heard many were still angry at the Fire Nation for how badly they hurt the world over a hundred years.

Korra spent the last six years of her life living in the Fire Nation, and everyone seemed nice enough. Even if they used to be bad, Korra could never hate her Master Zuko or his people.

"She shouldn't be mad at you for things you didn't do, your majesty! You should bring her out here to see how wonderful the Fire Nation is!" Korra nearly stood on the table while shouting with a raised fist.

"Easy, Korra." Senna said though Izumi and the others appreciated her sentiment.

"Thank you, Korra. That means a lot." Izumi said.

"It's funny, you've done exactly what your Great Great Grandfather claimed he was doing, but the right way." Bumi said, putting his arm around Izumi's shoulder as she gave him a playfully suspicious look.

"And what is that exactly?"

"Spreading the Fire Nation's prosperity across the world." Izumi smirked and then kissed Bumi's cheek. The Fire Nation's masterful industries still exceeded that of every other nation, yet now, they sold their technology rather than impose it through war. The governments from the water tribes to the United Republic often bought their warships, cargo vessels, and machines from the Fire Nation.

"Indeed, Iroh, is it true the Republic's Council is considering expanding your military?" Izumi asked her son.

"There have been talks, right now, they're more concerned about modernizing the police force. The Triads are causing more trouble than usual lately, and non-benders are getting angrier about it. Some are claiming the council is showing benders leniency." Iroh sighed with growing concern.

"What!? That's insane. There are non-benders on the council!" Bumi cried.

"Not as many lately." Iroh added.

Korra didn't fully understand the situation but always liked hearing about the United Republic. Particularly its capital, the legendary Republic City.

"Is it true Republic City is the biggest in the world!?" Korra asked.

"No, Ba Sing Se is, but it is the fastest-growing city." Iroh said. Even hearing this, Korra's intrigue didn't dim. The United Republic was founded by Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko from former Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom and took in people from all nations, mixing their cultures into something unique.

"Master, what was it like building Republic City!?" She almost shouted, turning to Zuko.

"Well, it wasn't easy and started out quite rocky."

"You mean the Battle of Yu Dao." Koyasu joked, earning chuckles from her father.

"Yes, that. In many ways, the Republic was the Fire Nation's way of giving back to the world, building something new instead of taking away as we had for a century." Mai smiled warmly while placing her hand on Zuko's as she thought back to those fond memories.

"Sokka was quite invaluable at times during the nation's building and maintaining."

"Ahh, uncle Sokka. I miss him." Bumi sighed as Izumi placed a comforting hand on his.

"I want to visit Republic City one day! It sounds amazing! Can I go back with Iroh!?" Korra asked Zuko and her parents.

"I'm sorry, Korra. But you need to keep training here." Iroh started.

"Actually, we've been talking." Zuko said, his face turning slightly more serious while Bumi's did the same. Iroh, Koyasu, and Korra were taken aback by this, as they rarely saw him in such a manner.

"Korra, you've learned fire and air bending with exceptional proficiency. But you also need to master the other elements and cultures behind them." Korra felt her stomach tighten as she feared going home, still not being able to water bend.

Senna and Tonraq placed their hands on Korra's shoulders to calm her, but smiles returned on her masters' faces.

"You will learn Earth bending and Metal bending next."

"I will!" Excitement returning to her voice.

"Indeed, by the same earth bending master who taught Avatar Aang and invented metal bending." Zuko said.

"Master Toph!"

"Yes, you're going to the free city of Zaofu. Now we'll still be making occasional visits to ensure you don't get rusty with fire and air bending. Plus, tutors from the White Lotus will be there to do the same."

"Thank you, masters, Fire Lord Izumi, for everything." Korra said, giving a respectful bow.

"It was an honor to have you as our guest."


Over seven years passed, and Korra stood in a garden-like training yard, smashing apart incoming boulders unleashed upon her. Now on the cusp of adulthood, Korra stood five-foot-seven with a muscular body and did her long hair up in a ponytail and two side tails.

Korra's cocky demeanor had become forged into her like the steel she now halted inches from her chest and contorted it into a fist before launching it at her teacher.

A blind old woman stood across from Korra and effortlessly bent the metal apart harmlessly.

"A fist!? Ha! You're much more imaginative than twinkle toes!" Toph laughed.

"I'm going to beat you this time Sifu!" Korra furiously kicked up more boulders and punched them at Toph, who first shifted the ground to move them aside, then reached out and melted a strange statue on a pedestal to slice apart the rest.

"You dream! Even in another life, you're still Twinkle Toes!" Toph laughed.

"Ahhh! Grandma, what have you done!?" A teenage boy ran out in expensive attire. He was slightly skinny with olive-green eyes and black hair, though with a green streak dyed in the front and shaved on the left side.

"My abstract art!" He screamed while holding his head in pure terror.

"Sorry, Huan." Toph put the metal back exactly as it was, but Huan's expression didn't change.

"Ahhh, it's not the same. Its meaning is lost. I spent four hours on it!"

"Huan, I love you, but sometimes I wish I could reform you like metal."

Korra chuckled, but not before sensing a ground vibration and throwing up both fists to bend earth around her like a shield against two pillars that would've hit her.

"Well done, Twinkle Toes! You really do listen!"

"Well, you made sure of that." Korra half-grumbled while rubbing her side, remembering times she hadn't blocked Toph's sneak attacks in time.

"I think that's enough for today. Suyin wants me to try acupuncture again, and I need to find a good place to hide until all the shops are closed. You didn't see me, either of you." She said sternly to Korra and Huan.

Korra took a moment to gaze out at Zaofu, the great city of metal rising up out of multiple domes like glittering flowers of steel. The city had everything one could ask for and more. Some of the brightest minds and finest metal benders came from around the world to the beautiful metropolis.

"Korra, are you done training with Grandma!?" Two jubilant voices reached Korra, and she turned to see a pair of teenagers younger than Huan with the same hair and eye color rush forward. The boys looked identical with muscular arms and messy hairstyles.

"Oh hey, Wei, Wing, yeah, we're finished."

"Perfect! Are you up for a game of power disk!?"

"I'd love to, but I promised Opal I'd give her some air bending lessons before Tenzin arrives."

"Ok, Huan, how about you!?"

"Leave me alone!"

Korra rode a now fully grown Naga almost like a horse through the estate, passing servants and guests alike.

"Afternoon Korra!"

"Good day, Avatar!"

Korra greeted them back until reaching a more open garden gazebo. Another teenager waited for her, younger than Huan but older than Wei and Wing.

She had slightly tanned skin with olive, green eyes and short black hair with a very innocent look about her.

"Sorry I'm late. Your grandma kept me a bit late for earth bending lessons."

"It's fine. Thank you for giving me these lessons." She said in a very sweet and almost shy tone.

"No problem. Master Zuko always told me that teaching helps hone one's skills in something, and if I'm honest, I'm still nowhere near the air bender master Bumi is."

"I'm sure you'll be a great teacher." Korra took a stance with Opal and began demonstrating some of the basic air bending forms Bumi taught her years earlier.

Opal tried to follow Korra's example and made some wind from her movements but struggled. No one quite knew why, but since the passing of Avatar Aang, cases began popping up of people from around the world developing the ability to air bend.

Some spiritual masters believed it was the work of the spirits restoring balance to the world, others the last gift of Avatar Aang, as before his two sons, he'd been the Last Airbender.

Yet this news brought joy to Bumi and his brother Tenzin. The latter searching tirelessly to find them and rebuild the Air Nation. A few weeks ago, Opal, who'd previously been unable to bend, discovered she too was among them. Despite fierce disapproval from her mother, Suyin, Toph, and Opal's father Baatar convinced his wife to let her go with Tenzin to learn air bending proper.

Korra grew a bit frustrated with Opal's inability to follow her movements and felt a slow rage grow inside her.

"No, like this. Slower, relax yourself." Korra tried hard to keep her frustration hidden, but Opal saw it and trembled, looking ready to cry.

"I'm sorry I-"

"No! I'm not mad, I promise!" Korra almost frantically took Opal by the shoulders, feeling immensely guilty as she remembered her own inability to water bend.

"Ok, let's try again." Their lesson continued to similar results. Korra felt her rage grow steadily, but more so with her failure to teach Opal. Still, the young air bender was showing more capability with air than Korra was with water. Perhaps that too frustrated her.

"Alright, I think that's enough for now."

"Ok, thanks again. I'll see you for dinner."

Opal left, still a bit anxious. Korra looked back out at Zaofu until feeling Naga's tongue against her face.

The polar bear dog wagged her tail while nudging a ball towards Korra. The young Avatar smiled a little before picking it up and using air bending to guide it away exceptionally far. Despite this, Naga happily chased after it across the city, knocking over many passerbys and a few of Huan's art pieces.

"Ahhh! No!" She heard the metal bender shriek.

Korra smiled, seeing the happy and carefree expression on Naga's face as she came back.

"Good girl." She said, petting Naga's head as she panted.

Korra sent the ball even father and Naga eagerly went after it. Once Naga got far enough away, Korra heard something else, the sound of birds chirping.

She looked over at two birdbaths resting near the edge.

Narrowing her eyes at the water, Korra reached out and tried desperately to bend it as Katara taught years ago. Even after years of mastering the other elements, all her hard work, and dedication, yet still, the water moved no more than it had when she was a little girl.

Water, what was supposed to be her primary element, that of her culture, her heritage. Yet she couldn't do it, even as the Avatar.

An uncontrollable rage overtook Korra, and she felt her entire body heat up like an erupting volcano. Anger, pain, and sorrow all at once. Unable to contain it, Korra roared just like master Druk did, and blue fire erupted from her mouth so hot that it actually melted the birdbaths rather than destroy them.

Korra panted heavily and looked over at the destruction she'd just caused. Naga whimpered in fear, her owner giving a guilty expression as she held the polar bear dog's head.

"I'm sorry."

Korra took a deep breath and looked up at the open sky, carefully observing for any airships. Narrowing her eyes, Korra began moving her middle and pointer fingers in circular motions the same way master Zuko did during their advanced lessons.

Korra worked hard but managed to separate the positive and negative emotions within her, causing both sets of fingers to surge with electricity before moving her right hand forward and unleashed a bolt of lightning through the air.

Korra exhaled. Only select-fire benders could manage lightning bending, and the fact that she's learned to do it once gave her pride. Yet now, even that sensation began to fade.

"Korra." A warm voice reached her. She looked back and saw her parents standing there.

"Korra, Suyin says dinner is ready." Senna said.

"Honey, are you ok?" Tonraq noticed his daughter's troubled look as she stood with Naga.

"Huh! Oh, I'm fine, I. I just realized I'm not the best teacher, is all. I think Tenzin will do a better job teaching Opal."

Neither were convinced, but Korra rushed off to the dining room. There she and her parents sat with Toph, Suyin, Baatar, and their children, including the oldest Baatar Jr.

"And there you have it! Magnetic power, it's the future!" A booming and almost excentric voice cried.

At the far end of their table sat two more individuals, a man and a woman in rich attire. The man was clearly of the Southern Water Tribe like Korra's family and had a thin mustache while his female companion wore glasses.

"Zhu Li, dear, activate the magnet!" She flipped a switch, and all nearby silverware flew into the black box the man had.

"Incredible! Varrick, you're a genius!" Suyin almost shouted.

"Eh, it's not that impressive. I can do that too." Toph retorted as she metal bent some forks to her hand.

"Mother." Suyin sighed.

"Fear not, Suyin. I shall endeavor to create a magnet powerful enough to impress the legendary Toph Beifong!"

"Good luck. She doesn't impress easily." Korra chuckled with a few of Suyin's children.

Varrick was a business tycoon and a hometown hero of the Southern Water Tribe. His Varrick Global Industries was among the largest and most powerful corporations in the world, owning companies in every nation, including the United Republic.

Relatively recently, he made a deal with Suyin to collaborate. He was eccentric, to say the least, but Korra grew to like him.

"Avatar Korra, are you sure you don't want to take up my offer to become a TV actor. My new televisions are selling out across the Republic, and I'm considering new scripts."

"She's fine." Senna answered for Korra in a slightly stern tone, much to Korra's frustration. For such a job would finally bring her to Republic City.

"Ashamed. We'll be heading back for a bit soon. We could take Opal with us."

"Master Tenzin will be here tomorrow. Thank you, though." Bataar said.

"I don't see why she needs to go. Things in Republic City are getting worse. If Tenzin were smart, he'd have his air benders live here." Suyin countered.

"Eh, Zaofu is hardly a place for traditional air bending culture. Maybe if Bumi was in charge, but you know Tenzin." Toph chuckled.

"I hope I'm ready." Opal said nervously.

"You will be! You'll learn faster than I have under Sifu Toph." Korra insisted.

"Speaking of which, I'm afraid our formal training has come to an end." Toph said, placing her feet on the table and eating a fish with her hands.

"Sifu?" Korra started.

"Korra, I've taught you everything I can about earth and metal bending. You've got all the skills you need. It's all about refining them now. There's little more I can honestly teach you."

"That means you've mastered three elements!" Senna said with growing enthusiasm.

"Incredible, well done Korra!" Suyin commended.

Korra felt excited for a moment, but soon the feeling of dread returned. For this meant she'd have no choice but to confront her failure with water bending again. Tonraq and Senna saw this in their daughter's eyes with concern.

The next day, she joined the others in the garden as a sky bison landed before them. Three individuals stepped down, two adults, and a girl no older than ten. She and the adult man wore similar yellow and red robes and looked to be father and daughter.

Korra recognized the bald mand as Tenzin. He resembled his father immensely with a bald head, arrow tatoo, and brownish beard. Like his older brother Bumi, Tenzin was an Airbender, but unlike Bumi, he was almost obsessed with seeing the old Air nomad culture restored, which was now possible due to his three children and the newly discovered air benders.

Tenzin had a look of business on his face, and the girl beside him didn't look much better. However, the woman who disembarked with them intrigued Korra.

She wore a green battle kimono and white face paint identical to Avatar Kyoshi but carried the same waterskins a water bender typically would.

"Tenzin, Kyoshi, and you must be Jinora." Suyin said as Jinora bowed.

"It's an honor to meet you and to see you again Master Toph-" Jinora started in a very respectful tone before Toph took a step forward and brought her face within an inch of Jinora's, nearly making her jump.

"Hmmm, you feel like a bit Twinkle Toes did, but less reckless."

"Thank you, I-"

"And less fun. I can sense your energy. You should learn to have more fun."

"Mother." Suyin sighed as Tenzin looked slightly frustrated, much to Korra and Kyoshi's amusement.

"I appreciate your counsel, but my father taught me to commit myself to rebuild our culture. That's a lot of hard work and dedication."

"That's right, Jinora. I can tell you're going to make a wise air bending master one day." Tenzin spoke in a firm and academic tone as he came forward and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Toph."

"Tenzin."

"Tenzin, so good to see you again." Suyin said as she approached.

"And you as well, Suyin. I understand the spirits have bestowed a gift upon your daughter."

Suyin took a deep breath and moved for Opal to step forward. Korra saw an overwhelming sense of anxiety and dread as she approached Tenzin.

"I promise to do my best, master." She said, shaking a little while bowing.

"I'm sure you will, Opal. We'll be glad to have you as part of the family."

"So you're back to Republic City then?" Korra interrupted.

"Ahh, Avatar Korra." He said, slightly annoyed at her interjection.

"Yes, though, to be honest, I'm considering moving my family and students to one of the other Air temples. Things in the city are getting worse. The Red Lotus and Equalists have all but turned Republic City into a Warzone!" Tenzin tried to sound calm, but a growing unsettledness in his voice intrigued Korra.

She'd tried to keep up with news on Republic City over the last few years. From what she'd learned, the Equalists were a growing movement trying to overthrow what they considered the oppression of bending against non-benders in Republic city, while the Red Lotus was a radical group of benders who fought against growing industrialization that displaced many from their former places in society.

"Why do you stay then? Especially with so many well-preserved Air Temples?" Tonraq asked. Tenzin sighed as Jinora held his arm.

"I'm a member of the Republic Council. I have duties. Aside from my brother, I'm the only air-bending master left in the world, and I have no choice but to keep my acolytes close." Korra couldn't help but notice a slight hint of resentment in Tenzin's voice as he mentioned Bumi.

"If you don't think Opal will be safe there!"

"She'll be fine, Suyin. Relax." Toph said, grabbing her daughter's arm.

"She's right. My cousin here is more than capable of keeping her safe." Kyoshi said, coming forward to place her hand on Tenzin's shoulder.

"Thank you." He said.

Kyoshi turned her eyes onto Korra and came forward, respectfully bowing.

"Avatar Korra. It's an honor to meet you."

"Hi! Nice to met you, Kyoshi. As in Avatar Kyoshi?"

The woman smiled wider and nodded.

"Indeed. I understand you need to learn water bending, and my aunt Katara thought maybe I could help." She said confidently while opening her waterskin and drawing two fans.

Korra and the others felt dazzled as they saw Kyoshi perform a masterful dance and bend water nearly as well as Katara did. For a brief moment, Korra found hope restored to her soul.

"I'm ready to try again!" Senna and Tonraq smiled, yet it didn't last.

Korra nearly fumed from three hours of little to no progress while Kyoshi patiently put out a few embers in the courtyard.

"...Well, you're fire, and earth bending are clearly strong enough." She said, also cleaning some dust from her kimono.

"Look, I'm sorry, I just... I get frustrated, is all."

Kyoshi came forward and took Korra's shoulder.

"Korra, you need to stop trying to force this. Water bending is about change, being in control of yourself and your energy. My son Hakoda had trouble with this too, but once he let go and allowed himself too-"

"I just need to try harder, is all! I'm the Avatar, and I'm from the water tribes! I'm supposed to be a natural waterbending!"

Kyoshi struggled to contain her frustration at Korra's lack of listening.

"I think we've done enough for tonight. Go get some rest. Have you ever meditated before?"

"Yes." Korra growled, remembering Bumi teaching her many techniques, though she was never much good at them.

"Try easing your mind tonight. We'll try again in the morning."

Korra slowly left but didn't return to her chambers. Instead, she hid behind the corner and listened as more footsteps entered the courtyard.

"Well?" She recognized the voice as her father.

"I can see where my aunt had trouble. I'd hoped it was just her being young, but Korra's struggles to water bend are something more profound."

"What does that mean?" Senna asked very nervously.

"I'm not sure. I can try my best, but Korra's problem is within herself. She needs to figure it out on her own before anyone else can help."

Korra tightened her fist and felt tears swell in her eyes. Back in her chambers, she hugged Naga tightly as the polar bear dog whined and licked her face.

Korra breathed heavily before she heard something, a voice she hadn't heard in a long time.

"You are not alone."

Korra sat up tall with a determined expression.

"I'm not alone!" Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and got into a meditation stance.

"Avatar Kuruk, I need your wisdom."

The spirit of her past life appeared before Korra, giving a comforting expression.

"We are always here for you, Korra."

"Kuruk, I still can't water bend. I've mastered every element except the one that should've come easiest to me. Why is this happening?!" Korra held her head before feeling Kuruk's warm hand touch her spirit.

"Korra, we may all be one spirit and life. But each Avatar is unique in our own right. We all have our struggles and trials which define us. This is yours. It doesn't make you weak or a failure. It means you must take a different path."

Korra slowly steadied herself.

"What is my path?"

"What do you think it is?"

Korra thought long and hard when Republic City came to her mind again.

"I'm the Avatar. I'm supposed to protect the world, maintain balance. I've helped people where I could since I started my training, but I haven't accomplished anything meaningful. I want a chance to really prove myself, to make a real difference. But I can't do that here. I need to go where the world is out of balance."

Kuruk nodded.

"You aren't a child anymore, Korra. This decision is yours to make and yours alone. Patience and clear thoughts are important, but so is action." A look of deep pain and guilt overcame Kuruk's face.

"I was not attentive enough during my life, Korra. I paid little mind to the world's troubles and paid the price." Korra's eyes went wide as she saw a beautiful woman lose her face to a strange monster.

"Do not make the same mistake as me."

"Thank you, Avatar Kuruk." Korra took another deep breath.

"Avatar Kyoshi, I need your wisdom." Kyoshi ended up giving Korra similar counsel, as did Yangchen and Roku, until finally, she came to Aang.

"Aang, I know where I feel the world is pulling me. Where I feel I can do the most good. But what if I'm not ready?"

"None of us are ever truly ready, Korra. I'd have rather spent years, if not decades, prepared for my duel with Ozai. But I did what I had to for the world. If you feel this is your path, you must take it and learn from it."

Korra hardened her expression and nodded.

"Naga, we're leaving."

The polar bear dog wagged her tail and jumped up, grabbing Korra's back as she began writing a sad note to her parents.

The next day, Suyin hugged Opal tightly before kissing her cheek.

"Be sure to come back whenever you can, don't do anything dangerous, and make sure to write."

"I will, mom." Baatar similarly hugged his daughter before Jinora led Opal to the sky bison.

"I promise to take good care of her, Suyin. You have my word." Tenzin said as she almost glared at him with tears in her eyes.

"I'll hold you to that, Tenzin."

"She'll be fine, Suyin." Toph tried to assure her daughter.

"Until we meet again." Tenzin climbed onto the bison and took her reigns, guiding them into the air.

"Farewell, Suyin, we're off to Republic City!" Varrick cried as he and Zhu Li entered his personal airship, which similarly departed.

Suyin took a deep breath and had to be held by Baatar.

"I can't believe Korra didn't come to say goodbye." Wei said, looking around for her.

"She must have done it earlier. Probably training with Kyoshi." Haun said.

"Has anyone seen Korra?" Kyoshi asked as she approached.

"What, she's not with you?" Wing asked.

"No, I've been looking for her all morning."

"Korra!" Senna shrieked. The water bender came stumbling from the estate, shaking with a horrified expression, while Tonraq similarly trembled while holding a letter.

"She's gone."

In the cargo hold of Varrick's airship, Korra against Naga's side as they ate breakfast collected from the kitchen. Optimism and hope filled every bit of Korra's spirit. This was it, her chance to prove herself as the Avatar. Her chance to find a path forward and unlock her potential as a water bender, all of it would be in Republic City.


Author's note

Greetings, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. As I said, this is a complete reimagining of the first season, so expect longer chapters than a typical fanfiction as each chapter is intended to be an episode's worth of material

Before I get too far I want to give a shout out to The Mysterious Mr. Enter from Youtube, as during his review of Legend of Korra, he came up with the idea of Korra not being able to water bend instead of air bend and that was the primary inspiration for this story.

Please let me know what you guys thought, likes dislikes, things you might want to see, or questions you have. I love feedback, it helps keep me motivated.

So until next time,

Please review, comment, suggest, or ask(VIA PM)