Winding Legacies: A 'The Legend of Korra' Rewrite

Episode 9: The Stakeout Part 2

Lemaya bit her lip as she watched Zhu Li nearly drop out of Bolin's arms and to the ground. They hadn't been in the stone for long, otherwise they would not be breathing.

Could you even call Zai's state breathing?

She turned her head to Korra and tried to pry her mind off of Zai. Asami would take care of her, she would be alright.

She squeezed Korra's hand gently and watched her chest intently for its slight rise and fall. Each time Korra breathed, Lemaya let herself breathe too. "Be careful," she whispered.

Korra had not been in the Spirit World since she had her Avatar Spirit ripped from her and then returned. As she leaned out from behind a tree and watched Aiwei wait atop of a nearby hill, her chest ached as if Raava and Vaatu were still a part.

Maybe that was why she had such difficulty reaching them. Despite being together again, they had not healed from what happened.

But how does one go about healing Avatar Spirits?

"What happened back in Zaofu?"

Korra's eyes narrowed as Zaheer materialized on the hill. Unlike Aiwei who had his back to her, Korra could see Zaheer. He seemed tired, worn from the fight, but Korra could still see Amon's right hand in him.

It was something he would never be able to escape.

"Ghazan told me that you had a talent for ensuring success. You told me at the Crypt that we would not have to worry about any other threats because you could get us the Avatar. Because of your lies, we have all been compromised."

Aiwei bowed his head. "Perhaps, but we can still salvage things. I found two girls who were onto my connection with the Red Lotus. They knew because of the spirit vines that Unalaq brought onto the world. It seems that his ideas of reconnecting our world to the spiritual realm were not crazy after all."

Korra pressed herself closer to the tree. Were they saying that Unalaq had been a part of the Red Lotus?

"I used to think him mad for wanting to deviate from the main organization and go off on his own. It was not until I lived through it myself that I understood what change it could accomplish." Zaheer paused. "You mentioned the spirit vines."

"Yes, I guess they found a way to use them as we have."

Zaheer chuckled. "So you found my mystery girl after all." Aiwei shifted.

"Neither of the girls seem very spiritually inclined, I highly doubt they were who you were seeing."

"I was not seeing anything." Standing, Zaheer grabbed hold of Aiwei's neck roughly and said through gritted teeth, "She was there just as I am here now."

For a moment, Aiwei and Zaheer disappeared. Korra worried that they were gone, having left the Spirit World completely. Then Zaheer returned, alone, and returned to his sitting position in front of the tree.

"Hello, Korra."

His voice was chilling. Korra took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the trees. There was no need for her to hide anymore if Zaheer knew she was there.

She had not even intended on staying back, but once she heard them talking, she figured she might as well. Maybe she would glean some information on their connection. But besides the mention of something called the Crypt and a girl Zaheer was looking for, she did not learn anything she did not already know.

"What did you do with Aiwei?" Korra kept her voice level and even so that Zaheer would not have time to prepare for her to strike. He was a formidable fighter, and it would be best to catch him off guard.