Winding Legacies: A 'The Legend of Korra' Rewrite

Episode 2: A Leaf in the Wind Part 1

Earth

Fire

Air

Water

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

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Republic City welcomes a new citizen into its arms: Avatar Korra! After years of seclusion in the South with only her best friend, Lemaya, and family, this master of water, earth, and fire seeks to add airbending to her list of skills. Under the tutelage of Tenzin, Avatar Aang's son, she should go far, but will this cool, calm, and collected master of air be able to tame this hotheaded teen?

Oogi, Tenzin's flying air bison, began his descent towards the ground of Air Temple Island. His paws landed softly on the Yin and Yang symbol in the center of the courtyard, the Air Acolytes that slid off of Oogi's back smiling at the mountains in front of them.

In the main building of the island, Korra and Tenzin sat on opposite sides of each other as Korra excitedly grasped at the pages of the day's newspaper.

"And, in the final round, the Buzzard Wasps won with a decisive knockout! What do you say we go to the arena tonight, and catch a few pro-bending matches?" Korra smiled, shoving the newspaper far into Tenzin's face. He slowly pushed the paper away from his eyes and rubbed the sides of his head from the volume of the murmuring coming from the acolytes who were also eating in the hall.

"That sport is a mockery of the noble tradition of bending," He took a sip from his cup, Korra rolling her eyes as she folded the newspaper back up.

"Come on, Tenzin! I've dreamed about seeing a pro-bending match since I was a kid, and now I'm just a ferry ride away from the arena," Korra's lips downturned into a pout as she stared intensely at Tenzin.

"Korra, you're not here to watch that drivel; you're here to finish your Avatar training, so for the time being, I want you to remain on the island," Tenzin explained.

"Is that why you're keeping the White Lotus sentries around to watch my every move?"

"Yes; in order to learn airbending I believe you require a calm, quiet environment free from any distractions," Tenzin waved his hands around a bit, gesturing to the room as an example of his good environment, but retracted his hands as he heard the volume of the dining hall began to rise.

"All right," Korra said sadly. "You are the master." She turned longingly to the window behind her and tried to imagine what the pro-bending matches were like in person.

A while later, Korra and Tenzin were walking side by side underneath a wooden shed as a flying lemur flew near them. Korra sported the typical yellow and red attire of the Air nomads as she twirled the ends of her hair repeatedly.

"So my mother informed me that you've never been able to airbend before," Sighing, Korra stopped dead in her tracks, Tenzin not noticing and continuing on. Korra rubbed her arms softly, her fingers gracing her bare skin where she had ripped the sleeves off of her Air Acolyte uniform.

"Yeah, but I don't know why; the other elements came so easily to me, but every single time I've tried airbending nothing happens," She blew a raspberry at the end of her sentence and placed an annoyed hand on her hip. The ends of Tenzin's lips turned up into a small smile as he placed a hand gently onto Korra's shoulder.

"That's perfectly all right; you just need to be patient. Often the element that's the most difficult for the Avatar to master is the one most opposite to the Avatar's personality; For Aang, it was earthbending," Tenzin assured with a reassuring squeeze. He gently pushed Korra forwards, and the Avatar fell back into step with her teacher.