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Memoirs[]
From still abyss sprouted a tree, and so time began.
Time split Light from Dark, Raava and Vaatu so named.
The spark of life, now free ran.
Dream and Shadow, born to mark the rend.
The Dream Eater, jealous of the awake, ate of the forbidden Tree.
Shattered by his parents for all eternity.
Tens of tens of thousand-years passed.
Now time has come, Light and Dark both vanished.
Shadow Weaver bent to his will.
But saved by the humans he would have her slay.
Reunited, at last, enter northern wastes.
Spirits remain to bar the way.
The board is set, but there is one more tile to play.
Should the spirit swallower come to pass...
Nightmares' fragments gather too...
And when war comes...
Sparks will fade.
~Poem presented to Wan Shi Tong's library, human date of late autumn 171 AG, rediscovered by S.R.
Act 1[]
Northern Guards stood attentive atop the wall and canals ringing the icy capital as a Fire Nation airship slowly drifted above the palace. More importantly, robed dignitaries with a mix of traditional and overseas jewelry guided the silver-haired woman and her retinue of soldiers down the plank.
"May I take your—" a soft male voice spoke up and she shed her sleek, modernized winter robe onto him, revealing that over her heavy crimson clothes she wore blue silk, tapering into coattails with dark borders suggesting flames.
"I see you took the liberty of wearing our nation's color," another male voice spoke, nearly as haughty as Keter's own, as she was ushered to a conference table.
"I dressed for the occasion," she replied, glancing at the speaker, a tall, prim man with a sheet of dark hair, bangs styled by a pearl headpiece. His placard identified him as Tarkik.
The guards joined troops from other nations along the wall; spearmen armed in Northern and Southern armor, a handful of United Forces, even a few Earth Soldiers with battle-worn uniforms. Keter took her seat, sneering at the man next to her.
"I see you're still alive, Yánjī. The late Queen must be short on loyalists if they called you back from the fields."
The man, now with a prematurely graying beard and simple robes, growled at her, "Don't think I'm not investigating the fact that this 'Red Lotus' came from one of your nation's allies before they slew Her Majesty."
"Don't worry," she answered coolly, "Any survivors won't be coming for you." Turning back ahead, she hissed out the corner of her mouth, "They only target leaders."
Before he could reply, Buttercup Raiko drew up, pulling her boa close around her shoulders. "I resent that remark! If you have any complaints about the United Republic, you should address them to me directly!"
A tan fist banged on the table, Varrick leaning forward as he picked his mustache. "Yeah, they've got great service! Why, Kuvira just said the word, and KAPOW!" He punched thin air, explaining, "Raiko gave me a full pardon!"
Buttercup shirked away, glaring as he tried to put his arm around her. Leaning back and propping up his feet, he added, "C'mon, you're not still mad at that whole allegedly-trying-to-kidnap-you thing, are you? I thought we were PAST all of that!"
"The First Lady is here as a show of good faith," the Northern Delegate chimed in again, "Seeing as the Air Nation couldn't afford to send a proper airbender."
All eyes were drawn to a pale, rail-thin acolyte who coughed nervously as he waved at them with the hand not clutching a ceremonial glider staff. Hei Yu, according to his placard.
The northerner's eyes narrowed at Varrick as he added, "Now, please seat yourself properly. I wouldn't want you to slip on the icy floor."
"Ah, that's okay, I'm a real wiz at balaaah!" He teetered as the representative stamped his foot, finally smashing his face on the table. He glared at his brother tribesman, at least to the extent he could while rubbing his swelling eye.
"Now that we've dispensed with the tomfoolery, I believe the most important item of business related to the crisis in the Earth Kingdom is—"
"Hold on, don't you think I should decide that?!" Yánjī cut him off, but it was plain that Tarkik wasn't looking at him. The furious earth representative twisted in his chair, seeing that one of the attendants had reentered the room, armed with a document bearing the United Forces seal.
"Apologies, Sirs and Madams," he prostrated with several bows as he crossed to the table, "But we've intercepted a group in the tundra that claims to be a United Forces Task Force." As Buttercup took the paper, he added, "They claim to know you personally, Ms. Keter."
"How is any of that possible?" she demanded. "For them to have arrived from the tundra—"
"They would have to have entered through the Spirit Portal," Tarkik smirked. "Your most trusted advisors, I take it?"
Keter did not see the humor in his remark, so he briskly clasped his hands in a gesture of apology but paid her no more attention as he regarded the First Lady.
"Everything here is in order," she confirmed. "But I don't know what a task force investigating the Red Lotus would be doing out here."
"Maybe they were captured by imposters trying to enter the city?" Varrick suggested, sounding more bored than concerned.
"I suggest taking them into custody," Tarkik said. "We can interrogate them when the meeting ends."
Keter seized the document with a practiced stroke—too gentle to say she forced it, but too quick for Buttercup to deny her permission—and her eyes sped over it, brows shooting up in recognition.
"I have in fact dealt with them in the past," she said, not caring when Buttercup snatched the form back from her, "If they have urgent news pertaining to the Red Lotus, perhaps it's worth taking a brief recess to confirm their identities over radio?"
"For a common platoon on a backwater swangoose chase?" Yánjī balked. "Absurd!"
Varrick shrugged doubtfully. "I dunno, I mean these guys killed the Queen, do you really wanna be known as the guy who let them kill the Northern Chiefs the second he got his job back?"
He shrank in his seat, looking helplessly at Tarkik, who ignored him to say, "I agree with Keter's and Varrick's proposals. Are there any dissenters?" No one raised their hand, instead following him and the attendant to the communications tower.
Act 2[]
"I appreciate the concern," Tarkik said as he led the representatives and task force along the wall, overlooking the canal where their spirit ship was moored. He pointed to the horizon, where immense swells blocked fireballs before crashing down on enemy ships. "As you can see, we've known about the invasion force for well over a month, and the blockade is perfectly capable of handling it."
"That's good," Noah sighed in relief, prompting Tarkik to fix him with his first genuine smile.
Euryale and Aroma looked between them, quirking their brows.
"In any case," the noble added, "My wife will be able to arrange quarters for you."
"We won't take up too much space?" Ven spoke up, astonished.
Tarkik and Noah fidgeted uncomfortably, the former explaining, "Truth be told, we don't tend to share living quarters when not producing heirs."
"Well, since you put it so romantically," Euryale laughed, and suddenly every Water Tribe eye was glaring at her.
"We don't openly discuss private matters here," Luna hissed in her ear.
With the detective sufficiently cowed, Roatha stepped forward. "Look, I don't want to tell you how to run your city, but Sekhmet should have a lot more firepower than that. I don't even see any dark spirits."
"That's because this spirit army talk is a bunch of malarkey," Yánjī grumbled.
"Better hope so," Varrick remarked, "Hate to have Unalaq 2.0 on our hands."
"Even if they have more forces," Tarkik cut in, "Behind the blockade are the most skilled waterbenders in the world." He gestured to the soldiers manning the canals. "Furthermore, we can raise tundra and mecha tanks to back them up at a moment's notice. Not to mention the infantry that intercepted you, even if they did somehow find a way behind our lines. There is no route in this world they can reach us through."
"So they won't go through this world!" Thiera concluded suddenly. "They'll be coming—"
"The same way we did!" Euryale finished. "Through the Spirit Portal!"
"Is that even possible?" Ven asked.
"With enough spirit power enhancing his bending, maybe. That would explain why this force is so pitiful: It's a decoy."
Tarkik folded his arms adamantly. "I can't request an alteration to the battle plan based on the 'maybes' of spirit magic."
"My airship can observe the portal," Keter suggested. "If anything resembling an army passes through, we should have a couple days' warning before the attack."
"We can have plans made ready for the instant we have permission to enact them," Noah assured.
"I just wish I could help," Euryale lamented. "I doubt my lavabending would be very useful out here."
"Your what now?" asked the officers, Aroma, and Ven.
"That would be a very useful weapon," Tarkik conceded, trying not to sound impressed. "If it helps, there are volcanoes you could siphon from out in the tundra. I can present you with a map before...I'm sorry, when did you say these reinforcements would arrive?"
"I don't know," Euryale answered gravely, "But it could be any day now."
Act 3[]
Awbri took to the deck of the aircraft carrier, making dim note of the wave blotting the sky behind the fleet of mixed-nation ships, before walking to the figure standing at the bow. Now in a black, fur-lined coat, Senthose brought his arms down, the tidal force propelling them at unnatural speed.
"The main fleet is in a stalemate," she reported. "It can no more attack Ba Sing Se than the Uniter can approach them. They have received news that the northern raiding party has been spotted as far as the air temple."
"Good. That means they won't expect us," he reflected, gazing at an icy shore far away from the monument of the Southern Tribe's capital city. He sliced his hand down, digging a deep crack into the ice, which the ships widened as they plowed through. "Scramble the tundra tanks, we'll need them to pull the ships when I melt the glacier."
No sooner had the tanks hooked their chains onto the ships than he noticed the smoke permeating the clouds, falling thick as black smoke. He turned, closing the crack behind them with a wave of his hand.
"We won't want the Southern Army to be able to track us."
"What about that military base?" Awbri asked, pointing to a wall on the southeast horizon.
Senthose flicked a telescope out of his sleeve to inspect it closer. "That's not a military base. There aren't enough machines."
"Really? But who else would need a compound that large?"
"It could only be the White Lotus," he answered with a poisonous smile, "And it seems they've opted to send a greeting party. They should meet us just outside the portal."
"You aren't going to attack them?" Awbri asked, shocked.
"There aren't enough to be a threat. Besides, we're out of range."
They continued ashore, Senthose bringing down the glacier in a great torrent of water, birthing a shallow sea to help ferry them along. A few canoe-sized shards bobbed within, tombstones for the millennial-old ice sheet.
Come morning, it was immediately clear the White Lotus was woefully ill-equipped to fight a war, having sent only a handful of sentries on snowmobiles and a few arctic camels for supplies. Rather, they served as an escort for the Southern Chief, who dismounted to confront the fleet as it slowed.
"I know you're up there, Senthose! Please come down, so we can talk!"
Awbri swiped a hand over her face, which seemed to contort in an instant, an untrained eye unable to follow the sand-based paint she used to disguise herself under her thick parka. Her brow, now pale and thick in hair and bone alike, arched in shock as her commander leaped right off the deck, landing mere feet away.
"I thought that would take more persuasion," Tonraq admitted.
"Look around you," he replied, spreading his arms over the fleet. "What trap could you possibly set that would pose a threat to me?"
"Yes," he acknowledged, holding out a hand, "I can see that you've gained the power and authority you always wanted. But why come back here? Isn't it enough for you?"
Instead of answering, Senthose's eyes swept behind the warrior, where his wife looked unsure of herself in the passenger car. She also looked so much like the Avatar's photos....
"Are you sure it was wise to bring her?" he asked, watching Tonraq's fist tense at his side. "If things go wrong out here, little Korra will be all alone, won't she?"
"I insisted on coming!" Senna barked at him, rising to her feet. "If you won't listen to my husband...maybe you'll listen to me! Your...your mother's gone, you know...."
He laughed, tossing back his head. "Is this the part where I'm supposed to break down in tears because she vomited her soul into an empty bottle?"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry you didn't have the childhood you deserved. That's why we always tried to be there for you. But we made a lot of mistakes with Korra and...well, maybe with you too."
"I never meant to drive you from the tribe," Tonraq added. "I only wanted you to realize the importance of trust. That's why I had you earn that mark when I took you ice dodging—do you remember? You already had more wisdom and courage at that age than most I've ever met."
Senthose answered by kicking him square in the chest, sending him sprawling in the snow. The White Lotus moved into flanking position, but he made no further attack, only sneered down at them.
"Then and now, you're both fools to think I can't see through your pathetic attempts at emotional manipulation. If I could've sank that ship without dragging myself down in the process, I would've done it in a heartbeat! I never needed your...," he swished his wrist as if searching for a phrase, "Conditional charity, that was only ever to make yourselves feel better for doing the bare minimum. Besides, I moved on decades ago, so why can't you?"
"But you can't just 'move on' from losing your family!" Senna protested.
"Is that why you cling so tightly to your invalid daughter?"
"You leave Korra out of this!" Tonraq shouted, finally losing his temper.
"SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED, YOU SQUARE-SKULLED, DEGENERATE OAF!" he roared with an unearthly echo, flecks of spit flying from his mouth. Pointing at him, he added, "From the day YOU revealed her as the Avatar, she's ALWAYS had a target on her back, and she always WILL! The only reason I haven't killed you all for DARING to challenge me is because I want you to be there to see it when I break the rest of your daughter's body and hang it from—!"
He was the next one knocked into the snow, barely raising his arms in time to protect his head. He spun to his feet, a wide waterspout swirling to push back any pursuers. When he regained composure, he realized it wasn't Tonraq or even the White Lotus Sentries who attacked him—instead, Senna leaned forward, ice spikes orbiting her outstretched arm, her face more furious and shocked than his own.
Eventually, he chuckled, then gripped his stomach for a deep, joyful laugh. "Finally, a member of this family I can respect!"
Senna choked down her disgust at his remarks, and asked, "Does this mean you'll call off your attack?" her tone desperately clinging to diplomacy.
"Of course not," he replied, snapping back to seriousness. "But don't worry, I'm not coming for your little compound just yet. So call for backup, bring the army to surround the portal, whatever makes you feel secure—I won't be coming back this way anyhow."
As he spoke, Tonraq pulled himself from the snow, dusting off. Senthose considered knocking him down one more time, just for fun. Instead, he said, "I hope you aren't crazy enough to try following us."
He closed his eyes, breathing out a frozen sigh. "...No. I hate to say this, but you're right: Korra needs us now. Stopping you is someone else's destiny." Looking him in the eye, he added, "I truly am sorry it had to come to this. Nothing you say can change that. But it also doesn't excuse your actions. If we ever meet again, it will be as enemies."
"You shouldn't talk so tough when you can't even stay on your feet," he mocked, turning to march the army into the portal. Over his shoulder, he shouted, "You're a fine mother, Senna! I'm sorry your daughter had to be cursed with the Spirit of Stagnation!"
"OOOOAAAAAAUUUUGH!" a shaking sentry finally screamed and, in his incoherent burst of emotion, hurled a wave of ice shards at the retreating rebel leader despite everyone else's pleas to stop. Just before it would have struck, it dispersed into a gentle flurry all around them. He collapsed to his knees as he saw the outstretched arm disappear into another world.
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