Winding Legacies: A 'The Legend of Korra' Rewrite

Episode 4: The Voice in the Night Part 1

Earth

Fire

Air

Water

Only the Avatar can master all four elements and bring balance to the world

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Benders be on alert. After coming face to face with Amon, leader of the Equalists, Avatar Korra discovers a terrifying truth: this masked madman has the ability to take away a person's bending permanently. Benders of Republic City are counting on their young Avatar. But is she prepared to face such a frightening foe?

Raspy snores escaped from Korra's mouth, the fuzziness of her limbs preventing her from moving past the brink of sleep. Every creak and patter attacked her senses, sending her into a panic with every instantaneous jolt. Since the escapade to find Bolin, Korra hadn't been as steady and collected as she would like herself to be. This left her weary, unfocused, and unfortunately tonight it left her wide awake. The window above her head darkened from a shadow before shattering, an Equalist soldier rolling into the room. Korra shot up in her bed, the crack of her door being busted down alerting her to two more Equalist soldiers storming in. She jumped out of bed, kicking a downward fire arc at the intruders who weaved around her and ran forward. Keeping them at bay with fire shots, she had to quickly throw her arm up to block an Equalist soldier who lept up into the air to kick her head. With two of the soldiers distracting her, the third somersaulted over the remnants of her fire blasts to the others, landing behind her and punching between the muscles in her back with rough swings. Korra's eyes nearly popped out of her skull as she was kicked to her knees, a shout of pain crawling up her throat. Tired, Korra lifted her head a bit, her mind going blank with dread as she saw the familiar boots that she never wanted to see again.

Muffled words rolled off a tongue from above, Korra not even needing to look up to know that a mask is what was clouding their voice. "After I take your bending away, you will be nothing." A hand reached out of the shadows for her, gripping tightly on her chin as they raised her to meet their eyes. Korra's breath picked up, her mind straining as it tried to fight the work that the Equalist's chi-blocking had done on her. Her eyes wobbled around as the masked man reached their hand out towards Korra's face. They stepped forward completely, the unobstructed light of the moon from the window casting a stark glow on the harsh creases in their mask. All Korra could think of was one name as his thumb connected to her forehead.

A frightful scream left Korra's lips as she bolted up, beads of sweat running down her face in line with her irregular breaths. Naga instantly perked up, licking her right hand with soft whines. As Korra moved to rub Naga's head in thanks, the polar bear-dog moved over to rest her head in Korra's lap.

"It's...It's all right, Naga. I just had a bad dream." She stroked Naga's ears silently for a moment, combing through the events of the night with a shudder. Maybe it was true, or maybe it was a lie she was telling herself to make her feel better, but Korra landed on the idea that the letter she was reading from Lemaya before she drifted off was the cause of her nightmare. Realizing that the letter was nowhere to be seen on her bed, she went into a slight panic as she rustled around for it. She found it right next to Naga on the floor, Korra giving her a kiss of thanks for keeping it safe. With a sigh she read through Lemaya's words, her heart calming as she let the warm thoughts Lemaya poured into the letter wash over her.

Korra had only gotten through the beginning of the letter before she passed out, the limited chi-blocking knowledge that Lemaya had being the first thing that she discussed. Lemaya had promised that as she learned more she would share it with her, but considering that she was currently on an extra training trip in the Fire Nation with the newest graduated Kyoshi Warriors, it would be a while before Korra had anything substantial to defend herself with. She finished the letter with a smile, happy that Lemaya knew not to save the bad stuff for last. Thinking with a soft giggle on all the fun things Lemaya was doing to keep herself busy, Korra rested her arms on top of Naga's head, setting her face in the bend of her elbow as she gently stroked Naga's ear.