Book 2: Earth

Chapter 22- Taking Command

Korra sighed with relief as she stood at the bow of the Fire Nation warship. With the Earth Kingdom forces blocking the land passage to the colony, it took an extra few days before the Fire Nation Force had set off from Gaoling, securing a warship of the Southern Raiders to transport them northwards to Yu Dao.

It had been maybe a few weeks since they had set off on their journey to the Earth Kingdom but in Korra's mind, it felt like a lifetime. She had seen so much, met so many people, and learned so much about the world outside the dark, cold prison she had been raised in. It was both liberating, and exciting, but just as dangerous as well. The choices and consequences of all that she had seen weighed heavily on her mind, and for the moment she didn't even want to think about it.

Instead, Korra focused herself on the calming blue waves, crashing against the steel hull of the ship and spraying upwards in a dazzling cooling mist. For as long as she could remember, the smell of the salt air and the sound of the ocean waves excited her, representing a world outside the prison walls she had known all her life; A world that was huge and vibrant, teeming with life and people, with mountains, and stretches of desert and forests just waiting to be explored.

She felt a small moment of pride and fulfillment knowing that she had partially achieved her dream, the Earth Kingdom, the town of Gaoling, the Mines and underground complexes; what she had seen was beyond her wildest dreams, and even more amazing, there were even bigger cities out there, just waiting to be explored!

That feeling of excitement however, was chased by a small sting of shame as she remembered that her own family was still locked up in a cage, while she was free, exploring the outside world.

Korra lean quietly over the railing and gazing southwards. Somewhere in the distance, was the icy tundra that she had called both her home and prison; where her parents were rotting away in their cells.

I have to get them out. I can't let them down. She gripped the railings tight as she remembered the Warden's last words to her. Failure was not an option.

But that brought her mind to another subject altogether. How could she capture the two Water Tribe brothers now? Not after all that has happened, not after their discovery- her discovery of being the Avatar.

That changed everything. It was great being back in her Fire Nation armor and all, but she felt like a completely different person from a week ago. She was a Firebender...and an Earthbender at the same time.

She was the Avatar, who in Asami's own words, was the greatest enemy of the Fire nation. That revelation was confusing for Korra, who had lived her life thinking and acting like she was a Firebender. She was one still, but now, it felt like she was also something else as well.

It was almost like another part of her had been born that day. She was still Korra, the fiery, and energetic seventeen year old fire bender who was driven to achieve all her goals. But now, there was another part of her that she never knew existed- like moving a muscle that had never been used before- It was a more stubborn, persistent side; one that was rough and jagged around the edges that came with its own set of motivations and perspectives.

It was almost like learning about a new person altogether, only that person was also her, and reconciling the two halves felt so conflicting and frustrating at the same time.

It complicated everything she did, even the simple task of setting up camp felt wrong, as Korra had to purposely had to resist the urge to Earthbend a seat for herself in front of her comrades. On another occasion, she almost blasted through a cooking pot with her firebending, having focused too much chi on suppressing her earthbending, the chi simply rebounded back, exploding in front of her face, and everyone else's to her embarrassment.