The Lost Spirit

The Lost Spirit, Introduction

Prologue:

Before this tale unfolds, there are some things you should understand.

Long after the era of Korra, which brought many technological and political advances to modern day society, the United Republic (now rebranded as the Republic Dominion) has slowly taken advantage of the economical success. Silently dictating over the collective earth kingdoms, both North and South Water Tribes, and all four Air Districts, the Republic Dominion in its humble entirety gained the control of over five billion lives.

Following the end of Avatar Korra, the Republic Dominion achieved additional power, and began the steady removal of certain policies from the United Bill of Rights. Free speech, protest, safety, and privacy were all cut from the bill, leaving millions silently questioning the government's motives. By the year 200 A.G. (the year of the Rat), the Republic Dominion rule was spread to the far reaches of the earth, dominating over every citizen, animal, and spirit. It was not long before The Avatar, master of all four elements, bringer of peace and mankind's only hope, fell under control of this tyrannical government.

The Avatar: connection between humans and spirits. This individual hero was the centerpiece for thousands of ancient stories, but for this one, you must learn not only of the Avatar, but of the second form of equal power created in Korra's lifetime. Many names follow this spirit and its human counterpart. Sure, you can use the controversial titles if you must. Feel free to call it the Dark Avatar, or the Black Spirit. However, as legend grew to history and more people learned about the way of the spirits, a proper title had been declared. "Vaatuan," born from the spirit Vaatu itself.

How such a creature was able to take form in the first place was never fully understood by anyone even in our modern age. The true facts, despite some speculation, are printed as as follows in the Republic City History Chapters, The Vaatuan:

"The force that the spirit uses to choose a physical, human body to fuse with, follows a rule of balance. The spirit of Raava chooses a human counterpart that best suits their needs, and the state of the world. Around 170 A.G, Chief Unalaq of the Southern and Northern Water tribes had fused unnaturally with the spirit Vaatu. Unfortunately for both parties, the spirit of Vaatu did not match with Unalaq resulting in a distorted, overpowered version of the Avatar (this state, in every case we've come across, results in the death of the human vessel.)

"During the Ancient era of Raava, if one of the two spirits was to be destroyed, the span of time that would pass before reincarnation was roughly around a thousand years. However, when Vaatuan Unalaq was defeated during the spirit rebellion, Vaatu was still inside of a "human" counterpart, and the proportions of time were altered for human mortality."

"It is confirmed that Avatar Korra neglected to return Vaatu to the Tree of Time, leaving the spirit in the mortal world before opening the portals for good."

Disclaimer: All of these findings were researched, recorded, and reviewed by past Avatars and the Republic Dominion. There had been countless other claims regarding these events, but due to physical and forensic findings, the Republic Dominion has posted the above to be fact. Any denial or avoidance to these findings is punishable by death according to section 12.4 of the Republic Dominion: Rules.

On a foggy, winter day around 280 years A.G, a young boy was speculated to be the next Avatar. He met the criteria; he had spiritual presence, and the ability to bend all four elements at once. Sadly, there was something this boy did not have in common with his previous lives. When pressured into the Avatar state, he showed the greatest display of power ever performed by a bender of his age, and most importantly, his eyes radiated with the colour of a violet sun.

The original Avatar was discovered around 4 years later. He took the title with him and left the boy and his dark spirit to the responsibility of the Republic Dominion. It is important to know that the Avatar and the Vaatuan have never met in any of their previous lives, despite being so close in the spiritual circle. This is most necessary to point out that both the Avatar and the Vaatuan are spiritually connected, even until death. They were never able to fully understand that connection being so far apart, and this separation also created emotional and physical stress for both children.

The Vaatuan boy (following the destruction caused by the tyrant Unalaq and his role with the Spirit Vaatu) was villainized in the media's spotlight, his face was to be plastered on every building and screen set in the Republic Dominion. The government, berated by the public's outcry, had to make a decision regarding the boy and his dark counterpart. So, a child no older than seven was confined in the specialized VATTU facility until his death 10 years later. Dominion Governor Chen Li released a statement a day after, stating that the death of the Vaatuan boy was necessary to protect the citizens from the reign of the so called, Dark Spirit.

Since then, there have been three more cycles and each one was exactly the same. Government officials scouted for both the Avatar and the Vaatuan. The Avatar proceeded to live a life of luxury and fame (be it under the thumb of the Dominion), and the Vaatuan was identified, confined, and given a serum at the age of sixteen that would painlessly end the cycle in its tracks before restarting, ending the life of both the Avatar and the Vaatuan. The young age was a necessity for the Republic Dominion, as they believed that the older the Vaatuan got, the more powerful it became.

Finally, the cycle had reached the earth element once more, but this time it was different.

With this knowledge, I hope you will listen well; to the story of the lost spirit.