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attackfish · 11 months

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I know this is a controversial take in this fandom, but I actually don't think Legend of Korra did Katara dirty. Like I see a lot of people who complain about the fact that she didn't have a statue, and she never became Southern Water Tribe chief, and she was just the Avatar's wife, and was just a healer, and like I don't know what show these people were watching.

No, Katara never became chief, nor did she ever express a desire to be chief in any of her appearances. Yes, she was the Avatar's wife. Yes, she was a healer. But like, what do we actually see of Katara's life in the Southern Water Tribe after the war?

We see Katara as a master healer and waterbender, clearly well respected by the Order of the White Lotus, and training the next Avatar. We also see her in an extremely well appointed rehabilitative therapy center, that is implied to be hers, working with Korra. Korra talks about learning healing from Katara, who is one of if not the best waterbending healer in the world, and we see Katara's state of the art rehabilitative medicine center. This is how Katara chose to use her skills, in a way that is completely separate from being Aang's wife. And given how lovely and either new or well taken care of everything looks, I would argue that she probably isn't even retired. We are shown her as a world renowned rehabilitative medicine expert at the top of her game.

And the field of rehabilitative medicine is such an interesting choice for her. Rehabilitative medicine is the field of helping people who have been severely injured not only heal, but gain the skills to have the best lives possible after their injuries. It's something that somebody like Katara who wants to do the most good would absolutely be drawn to as a healer after the war, since both people who had fought in the war, and non-combatants, would have the kinds of grievous injuries that would benefit from rehabilitative medicine. Given the state of healing and technology at the end of the war, Katara might even have been a major pioneer in the field, in fact I think we're meant to read that as the case.

Katara as we see her in the show is not opposed to being a healer. She just doesn't want to be denied the ability to fight when she and her friends are facing conquest, death, and danger, and her people are facing elimination. After the war, Katara would do what she always has done, and look for ways to help. Once the fighting is over, the Katara we see in the show would embrace healing and helping the war wounded rebuild their lives.

Heck, we actually see her with a patient, Korra, who was injured in battle, and she's clearly very practiced at dealing both with the physical parts of recovery and the psychological. Katara has always wanted to help her people, and there were few things her people needed more after the war, than someone willing and able to treat the victims of the war.

I think the reason so many people see Katara's career in healing is because of a fantasy media tradition of healing being the weak, girly magic given to the designated girl of the group, secondary and even silly next to fighting. But that't not what we're shown in the show. That's something brought in from outside, and I think if we ignore this negative connotation that healing has in the fantasy genre, it becomes obvious that a better comparison for katara's career path is that of head of orthopedic medicine at a world class hospital, who volunteers with Doctors Without Borders.

I got a lot of problems with Legend of Korra, but I think they handled Katara pretty dang well.

#legend of korra #katara #posts i created #katara is the answer

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itsyourvalerie · 2 months

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LEGEND OF ZHANG

This story is originaly posted on my wattpad vickybutter if you wish to read it there you are free too <3

summary: After Korra's death, the new avatar came to the world know as Zhang Kaito, born to a not so rich earthbender family. His mother Alia was a very powerful earthbender a great grand daughter of Toph herself. His father Li was a non bender, as well as his younger sister Jing.

Follow a joureny of Zhang and his friends as they climb their highest goals.

PROLOGUE

The gentle patter of rain tapped against the glass windows in the western Earth Kingdom, while outside, the faint mewling of cats could be heard, either frolicking or huddling together for warmth.

Atop a nearby hill nestled a small house, adorned with ivy leaves and moss. Adjacent to it, a tranquil pond provided sanctuary for fish.

From an ajar window, a soft light filtered into the room, signaling the early morning hour of 6 am. Within, a young boy of sixteen lay in bed, just having celebrated his birthday. His sister, a year younger, sat awake in the opposite corner, her patience worn thin by his incessant snores.

Fed up, she hurled her pillow at him, jolting him awake. "Hey!" he exclaimed indignantly, annoyed at being roused at such an early hour. "What's your problem?" he grumbled wearily.

"Brother dear, it's 6 am, and your snoring was keeping me from sleeping peacefully," Jeng retorted calmly, flashing a mischievous grin as she neatly made her bed.

"It's my birthday. Can't I sleep in?" the brunette boy protested, resenting having to share his cramped quarters with his sister, despite the cozy comfort of his bed. She often irked him, leaving him wishing he could find solace in the rain rather than enduring her company.

As he rose from bed and stretched, Jeng observed him curiously. "Did you always have that mark?" she inquired, pointing to a blue line running down his lower chest from his bellybutton.

"No, what the hell—" Zhang began, but his mother's voice interrupted from downstairs, summoning them both.

Hastily donning a shirt, Zhang implored his sister, "Jeng, don't tell Mom and Dad about this. They'll just freak out, okay?" He pleaded with a pleading gaze fixed on the blonde girl.

"Okay," she nodded, following him downstairs at a leisurely pace.

"There he is!" Alia beamed at her son, enveloping him in a warm embrace. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. I've prepared breakfast; your father will join us shortly."

"Thank you, Mom," Zhang expressed his gratitude, taking a seat at the table. Across from him, Jeng watched with curiosity as he devoured his meal.

"Mum, I was thinking," Jeng interjected, catching her mother's attention. "As you know, I'm part of the generation that could potentially meet the Avatar, like Gran Toph did. Do you think I could?"

Suppressing a chuckle, Alia playfully smacked the back of Zhang's head with a spatula. "Well, honey, the odds are slim, but I don't see why not," she reassured her daughter with a warm smile.

"How do they identify the Avatar?" Jeng inquired, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"At the age of 16, the Avatar is revealed, and their duty is to restore balance to the world," Alia explained, casting a knowing glance at her son. "Who knows, perhaps Zhang here—" She trailed off as Zhang shot her a deathly glare. "Or perhaps not," she amended with a chuckle.

Rolling his eyes, Zhang reached for the salt shaker, only for it to be swept off the table by an unseen force, plunging the room into stunned silence. Frozen in shock, Zhang withdrew his hand, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Or perhaps, yes," Alia murmured, rising from her seat and exiting the kitchen.

"How did you do that?" Jeng gasped in astonishment. "That shaker just flew across the room!" she exclaimed.

Terrified, Zhang fled upstairs to the bathroom, where he stared at his reflection in the mirror. Lifting his shirt, he gazed in awe as the blue line he had noticed earlier now emitted a faint glow.

"I'm the Avatar…" he whispered to himself, the realization sinking in.

#avatar the last airbender #avatar aang #atla #Avatar the last airbender x reader #atla x reader #atla sokka #atla aang #atla katara #legend of korra #legend of korra x reader #atla zuko #male reader #male oc #atla x you

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nexstage · 1 year

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Unalaq as a character was a chest of great opportunities that in the end ended up into a copy-paste thing, flat and Saturday-villain-like. I mean, the show at first portrayed him as this wise mentor that valued spirituality and tradition and criticized the lifestyle of the Southern Water Tribe that had forgotten their spiritual rituals and the connection with the spirits. Unfortunately, it was all a facade.

In the end, he was a Water Tribe version of Ozai: usurping the throne of his older brother due to jealousy, trying to kill the Avatar in many chances, trying to conquer the whole world with unlimited power, and even putting his own children in danger for his own gain.

The chances for a nuanced, compelling conflict were there. The clash between a more modern chief, Korra’s father, and the traditionalist Unalaq, the struggles between moving on and embracing new ideas while not letting that erase your cultural and spiritual heritage in post-war times because let's not forget that the Southern Water Tribe was almost eliminated by the Fire Nation. Their waterbenders, their culture, traditions, stories, etc, everything was almost gone. Rebuilding and having a strong sense of identity after being so close to being erased takes time, but there is also how they do it and that's what Unalaq disapproves of, the intense commercialization at the cost of the respect towards culture and connection to the spirits.

Of course, this conflict should align with the one in the North and South comic because I've read the analysis of that and the many flaws in the plot and the characterization of the main characters, and how they handled the issue of the North Pole trying to help the South and being seen as controlling and imposing after staying untouched by the war for a long time while the South was almost destroyed.

Anyways, yes, those changes on Unalaq should've been made instead of making it the new Ozai which is a boring, copy-paste decision. A villain isn't always needed to make a conflict compelling. Sometimes a clash of ideas and opinions, or the complexity of life after a war and how people handle it can serve too.

I think this video from Hello Future Me can explain much better than I: Fixing the worst season of Legend of Korra (https://youtu.be/snVK90G-EiM)

#legend of korra #unalaq critical #season 2 Korra critical #postwar atla #north and south atla #comic atla critical

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nanaminsonyfans · 4 years

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✨🔥Married Life🔥✨

Masterlist ✨ Requesting Rules

Request; Hey can I get a mako imagine, maybe after season three when team avatar is kinda doing their own thing for three years and when they reunite they realize that mako got married to the reader and it’s them reacting to this information. Maybe she is also pregnant and it’s just them being cute and everyone loving it.

A/N; Oh this is so soft; I love it! I think that since the Legend of Korra timeline takes place in a similar time like the 1920s, I feel like a waterbender and firebender dating would be like mixed race dating since they are opposite elements, each could easily destroy the other so that i why i put this in. Anyways, the reader is a waterbender. Let’s rock and roll buckeroo!

Pairing; Mako x Pregnant!Reader

Warnings; fluff, slight cursing

{gif if not mine}

You’ve been married to Mako for a year, already had one baby and now you were pregnant with another. Bolin already met you when you got married, as did Asumi and everyone, but not Korra. She was invited but it always confused you. Was she still in love with Mako?

You always moved with him because he’s the Prince of Ba Sing Se’s bodyguard, but you finally got to settle down in Republic City. Currently, you standing with Mako in the lobby of a hotel, he wanted you there because you would finally see Bolin again. You grinned when you saw the earthbender.

“Bolin!” You yell happily and wave him down. You’ve known these siblings since they started Pro-Bending, you were a medic and always patched them up. You were a waterbender with amazing healing abilities, almost as well as Katara. Many people judge you for dating a firebender, you both were on and off but you finally decided to go steady, resulting in a marriage.

“OHMYGOD!” Bolin yelled as he ran to you, embracing you in a hug. He pulled back when he felt your baby bump. “You-You’re pregnant?!” He gasped and examined your bump, almost crying. “Yeah! You’re gonna be an uncle!” You smile and look down at his hand over your stomach. Bolin almost started to cry.

“Mako! You’re gonna be a dad!’ “Yes, Bolin. I know. I was the second one to know besides, Y/n.” Mako said, almost in a monotone voice, his arm snaking to wrap around your waist. You giggled slightly at that. “How far along are you?” Bolin asked, with stars in his eyes. “Eight months. In a few weeks it’ll be nine and then our little bundle will be were any day.” You looked down at your stomach with the sweetest smile anyone had seen. Mako practically melted at the sight.

“We’re hoping for a girl.” Mako hummed, smiling at Bolin. “I would have a niece?! Aw man I can’t wait! I’ll tell her all about our adventures and that huge Anti-Avatar and how her mom and aunt Korra totally kicked butt!” Bolin rambled before being told to go with Kuvira. “You didn’t write him a letter?” You scolded Mako. “You know I’m too busy to write letters, Y/n.” He answered, kissing your forehead. “Mhm, whatever, Mako.”

As you said, a few weeks passed, and now you were a pregnant woman with the Avatar and the rest of the team as the city was about to be destroyed by Kuvira! Could your day get any worse? Yes it fucking could. Your water broke but you didn’t want to be a burden, I mean Korra was already interrogating Baatar Jr.

Then a sharp pain ran through your body, causing you to scream and hold your stomach. “Y/n!” Your husband and brother in-law rushed to your side, then Mako noticed the puddle between your legs. “It’s coming?” He asked breathlessly. “Ye-Yeah.” You stutter through the pain and grunt while holding your stomach. “This is amazing!” Bolin said happily then you let out another scream, gripping Mako and Bolin’s hands, pretty sure you would’ve broken them if you squeezed any harder. “No it’s not! We all might be dead soon!” You scream and Suyin rushes to your side.

“It’s okay, I can get her out of here. You all stay here.” “No way! I’m not leaving my wife who’s about to give birth!” Mako argued, resulting in a death glare from you. “Mako, we will all be killed. You stay here. You’ll have a surprise when you get out.” “If I get out..” He mumbled. You eyes welled up with tears. “Don’t say that. I’ll see you on the other side.”

Two weeks passed and you had your happy family, and finally you allowed everyone else to meet your daughter. It was also at Varrick and Zhu Li’s wedding. “You know, I always thought they were secretly dating and fucking behind the scenes.” You whispered to Mako while giggling, earning an elbow to the ribs while you held your baby. “Oh, I thought your arm was broken and yet you hit the birth giver of your child.” You teased while laughing slightly while Verrick said his vows.

During the reception, everyone and their grandmother was fawning over your baby. “Okay Miki, that’s your uncle Bolin, aunty Asumi and Korra, and your great aunt Lin Beifong.” You teased while pointing to all the people with your daughters chubby fist. “Oh and that’s grandma Suyin.” You smile and made your daughter wave at everyone.

“She is so cute.” Asumi gushed and lightly pinched the baby’s chubby cheeks. “Why did you choose the name Miki?” Korra asked while caressing the baby’s small tuff of hair. “Because it was similar to Mako and I kinda wanted a small babygirl that was be as adventurous and funny as Ikki.” You smile, as did Mako. “She’s the best baby. She laughs at all of my jokes.” Mako said proudly. “She just doesn’t know good humor.” You laughed as did everyone else. “I’m kidding baby. Your jokes are funny.” You laugh softly and kiss his cheek.

#legend of korra #legend of korra x reader #legend of korra fluff #mako x reader #legend of korra mako #lok mako #mako x reader fluff #bolin x reader #korra x reader #imagine

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low-budget-korra · 3 years

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Lets talk about Korra (again)

i already made this analysis, and it was well received but i dont know, i wanna do it again. Why not right? My english is better now than was when i made that analysis so i think this one will be better written

What a way to introduce a protagonist. This line and this scene tell us everything we need to know about Korra at that time and everything she knew about herself.

In book one Korra is a 17′s old teenager who have no idea how the world, how life is outside the training center she grew up in and had been locked up since ever. So she is not only naive but have lack of social skills

Oh, and not everyone who lack’s social skills will act like Zuko and Azula okay? Korra can be confident, expressive and outgoing and still have problems when it comes to social skills.One thing dont exclude the other.

“I’m the Avatar and you gotta deal with it” did you guys notice that only for that line we can see the entire opposite on how she treat her role as avatar in comparisson with Aang? And im not here to judge because is two very different contexts.

As far as we know, Korra grew up without friends or romantic partners. Of course, she had her training partners but i believe that they are just that.

So her entarely perception of herself was around her duty as Avatar, she didnt have personal life, she barely was Korra...She was The avatar and thats that.

So she came to Republic City, it was a mess.

Its funny to see that she have no touch when it comes to simply talk to people, i guess when you grew up away from society, this happens. And yes, she is cocky and had to learn that people arent there to somewhat please her, and she learned that quicky.

Thats why the Pro Bending was important for her character, not only for training but also as means of socilization.

Now lets talk about the villains: Amon and Tarrlok

The two of them represents two differents threats to Korra. Amon represents a threat to her duty as Avatar while Tarrlok represents a threat to Korra as a person.

In episode 4 we have what i still thinks is the darker episode from TLOK. In this episode Amon ambushes Korra in the final moments... Even knowing that they did their best to make Amon’s power and control be non-sexualized as possible still...He have her down on her knews, totally helpless and he even invades Korra’s personal space by touching in her face forcing her to look at him. He didn't have to sexually touch her to violate her.

And right after, the fear in Tenzin voice when asking what happened after seeing her laying in the ground like that, and how Korra is sobing in his arms teeling him how powerless and helpless she felt. I mean...Oh, and she keeps terryfied by him until he takes her bending.

Tarrlok in the other hand doesnt do much different from his brother and started to harass Korra because he cant take ‘no’ as a answer when Korra didnt wanted to join his task force.

Whats interesting is that if it wasnt for Tarrlok harassement and maniputation, Korra wouldnt have joined his task force and wouldnt have confronted Amon and wouldn't have gone through that terrible encounter.

The thing is that Korra is caught right in the middle of a politcal power dispute over the city, something that she for sure wasnt prepare for it. And both Amon and Tarrlok woud hurt or kill her without think twice about it if that means gain power. And that was exacly what happened

Tarrlok tried to manipulate her and keep her on leash where he could, and when his tatics didnt worked anymore he alreay had a plan B. Yes that whole metal box in that cabin in the middle of nowhere was made especifically for her and maybe Tenzin if he also get in his way.

In the end Korra lost the physical battle against both but won the ethical battle also against both. She was the responsable for expose both of them as corrupted and hypocrites. But at what price? Amon was able to remove the bends of the Avatar. And without them, how could she be the Avatar?

Remember that her entirely conception of herself was built around her duty as Avatar, be the avatar. After all, everything she was, everything she'd trained so hard for, had been destroyed in minutes. Thats why i still strongly believe that she was thinking about killing herself at the end, nobodys goes all sad and crying to in front of a clifft without thinking about jumping from it.

But she, i think given up the idea and just sit and started to crying when Aang appeared and help her, giving her bendings back in one of the best scenes of the show. So after have everything solve and still managed to get the boy she was in love with, things where great and she “move on”

In that first half, Korra is unbearable. Everything she learned in Book 1 how to be more mature, less spoiled and all, was thrown in the trash and she was the same "child" of the book one only worse.

Until I stopped and realized that I was also unbearable and childish like this when I had my bad phases of anxiety and depression, as defense mechanism and keep people away. Returning to Korra, and if this way of acting of her was nothing more than this defense mechanism?

Because guess what, i dont think she “move on” from all that happened in Book One that fast, and for add more drama she discovered that was her father idea of keeping her locked up training in that training center we saw in book one and not traveling like avatars before her. No wonder she felt betrayed. And for adding even more drama, people still keep treating her like child, so she was despered for some validation. Something that she found in her uncles arms but she was betrayed by him after.

In the end, Korra again goes through a traumatic experience when she has her connection with past lives destroyed. We see how it affected her when she apologizes to Tenzin, through tears. And Tenzin, as the excellent master he is, tries to motivate her to face Vaatu again (now merged with Unalaq, her uncle) and again she saves the day even after go throught a traumatic event

In the final moments, we see the innocent decision to reconnect the world of spirits and the world of men. And we also see Korra and Mako permanently end their turbulent relationship.

Book 3 begins in a more mature, we see all the characters being presented in a more mature way and it seems that Korra now has overcome everything that has passed. We have the relationship between Korra and Asami deepening as well

In Book 3, called "Change" we have a great sacrifice from Korra. Her life goes down a notch when she decides to save the new airbenders from Zaheer and the Red Lotus, the only villain until now that really threat her life since their sole goal was to kill the avatar.

Korra won again but this time victory costed way too much. Yes she save the day again but now she was physically and psychologically defeated. It was too much, she broke.

Book 4 begins and we only saw Korra in the final minutes and she is unrecognizable. We see that, once proud and courageous avatar, in someone depressed and cowerd. We never have saw Korra like that, even when she was afraid of Amon she wasnt like that.

Korra is afraid of being the Avatar again and her fight against PTSD is still one of the most sensitive, responsable and honest representation of Mentall Issues that i saw, and it was before this subject gain more space on media. It was before people started to give attention to this

I also think that she was having flashs from her other fights and not only the one against Zaheer.

Another thing I think is worth mention is that Korra took 3 years to feel safer and re-embrace her duties as Avatar. It was not 3 weeks or 3 months, it was 3 years. And anyone who suffers from some mental illness knows very well the stigma that is, the fight that is, because everyone wants you to be well faster as possible when the truth is that many times you spend years fighting against this. And this is a pressure that falls on you.Imagine, seeing all your friends moving forward while you continue "stock in the same place"?

Only after Korra confronts Zaheer, I think that was a way to show her coping with the trauma, she improves to the point of returning to be the great Avatar we know. I personally still struggles with this scene because put the victim in front of her agressor may not be the best idea but i understand that she needed to see that he was just a man and not the invencible monster her mind was telling her

One of the lines that stuck with me the most was in the TLOK version of the ember island players, the one that made a recap of the show before the finale. When Korra said “I was so naive” just before we watch her narration of her journey, we can feel pain, sadness and strenght. Janet was amazing in the way the delivered this line.

And this fucking quote i saw here on tumblr still is the goat: “The Last Airbender is a story of a boy who becomes a god. The Legend of Korra is the story of a goddess who becomes a girl "

And I still get really pissed when someone comes to talk shit about Korra because she is such an incredible heroine and her journey is also so incredible.

The story of how life can be hard and unfair, how it can hurt and paralyze, but there is always a reason to move on. We should always move on.

Korra is definitely not weak, quite the opposite, she is one of the if not the strongest heroine I have ever seen. Korra inspires overcoming

#korrasami #avatar korra #asami sato #mako #tenzin #bolin #lin beifong #su beifong #kuvira #zaheer #amon #unalaq #tarrlok #the legendd of korra #legend of korra #tlok #lets talk about #avatar

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bloodbending222 · 3 years

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Could you maybe do a korra x reader where both of them are super obvious about the fact that they like each other, so literally everyone knows except them, then Bolin (haha that just autocorrected to bologna) convinces Korra to finally ask the reader out and it's very fluff? THANK YOOOOOOOUUUUUU.

B O L O G N A

✰ fandom: The Legend of Korra

✰ pairings: Korra x reader

✰ word count: 2k

✰ warning(s): alcohol consumption, tiny steaminess at the end, language

✰ author’s note: this was a lot of fun to do, i thought writing Korra would be a bit challenging for me, but i had a blast writing this! thank you for the request, anon! i really hope you like it :) ♡

please read my rules!!

The buzzer for your front door rang again as you fixed your hair in the mirror for the third time, your small apartment filling with its shrill sound. He was holding the button down this time. You hated to keep your friend waiting in the cold, but he was the one who opted to wait for you outside rather than coming in.

The same nervous phrase played in your mind again, Korra’s gonna be at the party.

Groaning, you walked over to your callbox and held down the talk button, “I’m getting my boots on!”

When you opened the front door to your apartment, you were greeted with a very cold gust of wind and a grumpy expression from Bolin. He was shivering, cradling the bottle of cactus juice he brought along as a party favor. He watched you walk out in front of him and started after you. Fluffy snowflakes floated around the two of you in the winter air.

“It’s so cold! How long does it take you to get ready for a party?!”

“Oh, don’t act like you don’t take a century to make yourself look good either, Mr. Hero of the South,” you teased as he caught up with you.

Bolin was quick to defend his fictional persona, puffing out his chest dramatically, “Hey, don’t bring Nuktuk into this. He’s only ever fashionably late for everything. You’re just late now because you know that Korra’s gonna be there.”

Bolin’s statement made your face flush bright red. You wound up your open palm and playfully smacked your friend in the arm, which made him laugh.

“Hey! It’s not my fault you make it so obvious, with the way the two of you are always sitting so close together. You think you’re slick when you stare at her while she’s not paying attention, too. It’s kind of adorable,” Bolin snickered, “But Asami, Mako, and I can see right through you, [Y/n].”

You looked down at your boots as they tamped down on the fallen snow with every step. You knew Bolin was right. You were infatuated with Korra from the beginning. You recalled the day that Bolin introduced you to each other. He’d introduced her as the Avatar, and she laughed and said, “Unlike Bolin here, I’m not one for formalities. Just call me Korra.”

Her smile was so warm. You felt enchanted by her presence, hesitating to shake her hand when she held it out to you. You remember looking at her and asking yourself, how could someone be so gorgeous?

“You would make a cute couple.”

Bolin’s remark snapped you back into the moment, “What? No way, she’s not into me.”

There was a pause between you two. Bolin gave you a look that said, You’re so full of shit and you know it.

“Besides,” You stuttered, “even if she did...she’s too busy for a relationship. She has more important things to worry about.”

The two of you rounded the corner and Bolin remarked as you came to a stop at Asami’s apartment building, “[Y/n], my friend, nothing’s more important than looove.”

You rolled your eyes and Bolin pressed the buzzer marked SATO.

“Who is it?” Asami’s voice inquired over the crackling speaker.

“Republic City Police,” Bolin said in a tough-guy voice, “If you don’t let us in, you’re under arrest.”

“Right away, officers,” Asami replied, and you heard Korra’s laughter in the background. You swore your heart skipped a beat.

The door buzzed and you let yourselves in, climbing the stairs up to Asami’s unit. She opened the door and was met with a bear-hug from Bolin. In the living room, you saw Korra turn around and beam at you. Mako waved at the two of you with a pleased, “Hey, guys,” as he sat on the couch.

Before you could take off your coat, Korra walked over and embraced you. You smiled and hugged her back, blushing at your newfound knowledge that your entire friend group somewhat knew about your feelings for her.

“I’m so happy that you’re here, [Y/n]. Asami made snacks, we’ve got games,” she pulled away from the hug and looked at you inquisitively, “How’ve you been? You look great.”

You got a little flustered at Korra’s compliment paired with the physical touch she was giving you so openly. She wasn’t wearing her normal attire; she had on dark jeans and a blue cardigan sweater with a white halter top underneath. When you looked at her eyes, you noticed she had mascara on.

Why do you have to be so pretty? You wanted to say.

“I should be saying that to you, Korra. I like your outfit.”

Not too obvious, [Y/n].

As the two of you finally broke from your hug, Bolin handed Asami the bottle he brought and joined Mako in the living room. Asami offered you a drink, and you accepted. She poured glasses for everyone and soon all five of you were huddled together around the coffee table in the living room, snacking and chatting amongst each other.

Korra sat down next to you on the floor, while Asami, Mako, and Bolin shared the couch. Asami set up a couple of games for you all to play, and Bolin insisted that you all have a Pai Sho tournament. His proposition made you roll your eyes at his predictability, knowing that he had a vendetta against Asami for being so much better than him.

As you watched your friends go back and forth, Korra went to scoot a little closer to you, making your shoulders touch. You felt the skin on your arm vibrate under the soft fabric of her sweater. You could smell the perfume she was wearing; subtle, but so pleasant. You caught yourself stealing glances at her a couple of times and remembered Bolin teasing you about it earlier in the night. You didn’t care if you would hear it from him again, though. You were just happy to be so close to her.

Asami crushed both Bolin and Mako at their rounds of Pai Sho. They had decided midway to make it a drinking game, Asami being closer to sober than anyone else in the room. Mako sunk into the couch and admitted his defeat, empty glass in hand. Bolin was comically shouting about how Asami had cheated in some far-off way. She reveled in her victory.

There was a beat of silence before Mako slowly looked at you and Korra, asking, “You two gonna play at all tonight?”

You and Korra both looked up at the same time, snapped back into the present moment. The both of you stuttered at the same time something to the effect of, “Oh, no, its okay,” and, “We just want to watch you guys play.”

Bolin couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle, and you shot a glare at him. He put his hands up innocently and gave you the same look that he did during your conversation earlier.

Korra suddenly stood up, smiling, “I’m gonna go to the bathroom. Why don’t we find a game to play that we’re all good at while I’m gone, okay?”

As she left, she brushed her hand against your shoulder blade, making you shiver. You wondered if it was on purpose.

Korra could hear the group talking outside of the bathroom. As she opened the door to return to the group, she jumped as Bolin was waiting right outside, leaning against the wall. He stared at her with a smirk across his lips.

“Jeez, you scared me. What’s that look for?”

“Oh, no reason,” Bolin said sarcastically, cracking his knuckles, “It’s just that you were taking such a long time in the bathroom, I wanted to check on my good ‘ole pal Korra.” He threw his arm around her and squeezed, “Hey, so you like [Y/n], right? Like, you wanna be their girlfriend?”

Korra gave him a poorly-faked look of shock, blushing, “What are you talking about?”

Bolin didn’t respond. He just stared blankly at her.

“I mean, I really like hanging out with them, and they’re really nice, and,” She stopped herself, stuttering now, “We’re just really good friends!”

“Yeah, okay, I believe you. Listen, you should ask them out.”

Korra was taken aback, “You really think they’re gonna--”

“Yes, Korra. I do,” Bolin pointed a thumb toward the open guest bedroom door next to him, “Now, I’m gonna call [Y/n] over and you can go confess your undying love for them in there, okay?”

“Bolin, I’m not--”

“[Y/n], Korra needs you for something!”

You perked up at the sound of Bolin calling you from down the hallway. Breaking your conversation with Mako and Asami, you walked over to see Korra standing in the doorway of the bathroom and Bolin wearing the same stupid smirk again. You looked at Korra and smiled.

“Hey, Korra, what’s up? Everything okay?”

Bolin laughed, “It’s about to be!”

You scoffed at him as he marched triumphantly back to the living room, cackling with pride the entire way.

He left you all alone. With Korra.

“What are we gonna do with him?” You asked, and Korra chuckled.

“I’ve been wondering that for years.”

The two of you shared a laugh, and then her eyes met yours. And there that feeling was again. With every look you shared with her, you felt like your heart was going to burst out of your chest.

But this time you realized that Korra was a little flustered too. Her cheeks grew pink and she broke eye contact, but only for a second before looking back at you and taking your hand.

“Um, want to just...sit and talk for a minute?”

Her hand was soft, which you were aware of already. You were obviously used to being a little touchy with each other, but when you got brave, sometimes you’d hold out your hand to her, palm up, and she’d take it in hers. You didn’t know exactly why you did it in the moment, but whenever you did, it just felt right. It felt so right to be holding her hand in yours.

All you could do was nod. She led you to the bedroom and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. The two of you sat down, Korra sitting cross-legged and facing you. She let out a long, deep sigh. You watched her as she searched her mind for the right words to say. She was so cute when she was concentrating.

She finally spoke, “I’m so happy that you came out tonight. There’s something that I really need to tell you.”

“Is everything alright?” You got a little self-conscious, “Was I being too touchy?”

“No, of course not!” Korra shook her head frantically and held both of your hands in hers, “You could never make me uncomfortable like that. I really love being around you, [Y/n].”

You smiled and adjusted yourself to come face-to-face with her, “I love spending time with you, too, Korra.”

She paused to find her words again. There was a beat between you two before she broke the silence.

“I really, really like you, [Y/n]. You make me feel so happy in a way that no one else has made me feel before...” She swallowed her fears and looked at you intently, “Do you want to go out with me?”

You felt fireworks go off in your chest. All of the anxieties you were feeling from earlier felt like they dissipated in that moment. You didn’t know how long you were waiting for this moment to come.

“Yes,” you said, leaving toward her almost on instinct, “Of course I do.”

Korra gave you the biggest smile you’d ever seen on her. She let go of your hands to wrap her arms around you and pull you close to her. You made eye contact again, but only for a moment before she leaned in and kissed you. You were in shock. You had waited for this moment to come for so long, and now it was finally happening. You returned the kiss to her and wrapped your arms around her shoulders. You felt like you could never be close enough to her.

You could really smell her perfume now. You reveled in the feeling of finally being able to kiss her like this, unafraid to conceal your feelings for her any longer. Her lips were soft against yours, and despite the countless times that you imagined this moment to happen, you never could have conceptualized just how euphoric it actually would be.

Eventually, the sound of your friend group’s laughter echoed into the guest bedroom, and you were broken from your trance.

We’re still at the party, you remembered.

Unaware of how much time had passed, you pulled away, realizing that Korra somehow ended up practically on top of you. Brought back to the present, the two of you slowly sat back up and gazed at one another.

“We should, uh, probably get back out there,” said Korra, breathless at the intensity of the moment you just shared.

You nodded in agreement and stood up with her. She took your hand in hers and squeezed as the both of you walked out together. She looked proud, and you felt so happy, so relieved.

As the two of you returned, Bolin threw his hands up and hollered, “Oh-ho, look which lucky couple decided to join us! How polite of you two!”

Asami laughed. You blushed, and Korra replied with gusto, “Oh, pardon me! Did we miss watching you lose another round of Pai Sho?”

“Alright, lovebirds,” said Mako, equally as entertained as his little brother, “Now that that’s taken care of, get your sorry asses over here. We have a tournament to finish.”

#korra #ask #anon #korra x reader #legend of korra x reader #tlok x reader #korra x you #tlok x you #legend of korra x you #tlok #the legend of korra #tlok fanfic #tlok reader insert

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fyasamisato · 4 years

Text

Character Talk: Korra - Choices and Identity

Hi all! Been such a long time since I’ve done this. I had a absolutely wonderful conversation with a friend yesterday about Korra and I wanted to put it into writing. (Warnings, depression)

It’s difficult for me to express the impact Korra had on me as a character. How much I could relate to her journey and her spirit. We both fell upon dark times together, and watching her overcome, helped me to do the same. It’s that journey into darkness I want to shine a light on. Because in my opinion, Korra’s journey is one of the best written arch’s for a protaginist I’ve ever experienced.

Korra was raised in unique circumstances. Understandably so given the recent history with the avatar. But being raised on a compound, prevented her from experiencing the world beyond the horizon, being taught about the role you are expected to fill, the power and expectation in your legacy and the weight of the world that you will be expected to carry is going to have an effect on who you grow into.

For Korra, that shaped her into a fiery, headstrong, reckless, and even sometimes arrogant young woman. She chose to embrace that legacy with both arms. I’m the avatar, you got to deal with it. She didn’t shy away from her destiny, instead her destiny became who she was. The brightest point in life to look forward to.There was no other option, no other dream and no other option only a desire to measure up to that legacy and to prove she was worthy to carry it.

Being the avatar, was her identity.

So it only makes sense that the series tests that resolve and that identity over and over again.

She expects to change the world for the better. She expects to bring balance to the world because that is what she is told she is meant to do, and thousands have done it before her. Anything that falls short of that idea, that legend, any grey area is going to be considered failure in the eyes of someone who being the Avatar is all they ever wanted. The expectations others put on her, don’t hold a candle to the expectations she put on herself. To measure up. To be what the legends told her she should be. In both books 1 and 2, that identity is put to the test. What can the avatar do for the non benders and their oppressors? What can she do when a civil war divides her loyalties? What choices will she make when the world stands poised to be changed forever? She faces these questions, with mixed results. In both the eyes of the world, and herself. She’s ridiculed and even despised. When you alone stand to make the choice to reunite the spirit and human worlds, you’re going to have second thoughts, you’re going to question if you made the right call. Headstrong as she is, Korra asks herself that question constantly. Is she fulfilling her destiny? Is she doing a good job, or is she making things worse? Could someone else have done better? Could Aang have done better? She was raised to think that she would make a difference. That she was the only one who could.

It’s easy to buckle under that weight when the world is at stake.

Book 3 begins, and Korra is left to question if she made the right decision, opening the spirit portal. It hasn’t made life better for everyone. Human or spirit, none of whom were asked if this is something they wanted. She made the choice for them, because she was the only one that could. Right? She was the avatar, this was her responsibility, no one else. To bring harmony between human and spirit was the point right? Wasn’t that balance? Korra is left to ponder this, racked with so many doubts as to her place and her ability to make the right choices. To question herself more deeply than she had before, and she had before, so many times. Every challenge she faced shook her resolve. Losing her bending, Unalaq’s manipulation. Nothing was as simple as she expected.

So it must come as a huge moment of shock and relief, when she discovers her actions had side effects. That air benders are returning, and that was entirely due to the choices she made. For Korra, this is something of a revelation. The equalist conflict wasn’t clean. The water tribe civil war left its marks. Could things have been handled better? Did she do the right thing? Those are the thoughts gnawing away at her, and yet this? The return of a people? Of her predecessors people? That is an absolute good right? No grey, no complicated motivations, no villains with justified causes. Just something good, that she caused. She did the right thing. Finally she brought unquestionably positive change, like an avatar is supposed to.

But then it has consequences you never imagined.

No one. Could have predicted the air nomads return. What’s more, no one could have predicted what that would lead to. The damage it could cause. What happened next, what Zaheer and the red lotus did, is Korra’s fault. She’s sure of it. Intention doesn’t matter to her, nor how unexpected the results. All that matters is these consequences came as a result of a choice she made. You think you’re doing the right thing, but the world always becomes more complicated than you expect. It would be unfair to blame yourself for that, but that’s exactly what Korra does, and the the world changes. All she can do is try to catch up.

For a brief moment, she felt like the avatar’s of legend. Felt like she was living up to the legacy she so tied her identity to. For once in her life, she was worthy to carry on Aang’s story. The Avatar’s story. Bringing back the air nomads was her proudest moment. The best thing she’d ever done.

To have it turn on her so violently...

What is Korra left with? She faced her most challenging battle. She survived, after the most suffering she’d ever experienced. Suffering no one should have ever had to endure. But the balance is broken, and the earth kingdom is in chaos. Once again, the resolution of one conflict gave birth to another. Something worse, around each corner, and for the first time, she’s in no state to fight it.

And this time, she doesn’t have to. Watching Jinora’s ceremony, and seeing her come into her own. One can’t help but see a glimpse of Avatar Aang in Jinora’s shaved head. The legacy Korra is trying to carry. The shadow she’s lived under the whole of her life.

And that’s when Tenzin, her guide, the living legacy of Aang, comforts her with the best, and worst thing she can hear right now.

They’ll take up the cause. They’ll take up the legacy of balance until she can return. She can rest.

The Avatar isn’t needed.

I don’t think it’s by accident that moment of Korra’s reaction is one of the most talked about and praised moment of the series. Is she happy for Jinora? Of course. Is it a relief to know the world will have someone to protect it? That things won’t fall apart because she’s gone? Yes.

But they shouldn’t have to.

Every conflict in the series, is a direct attack on the Avatar. On it’s role. The world has changed since the hundred year war. Leaving one to wonder if heroes even have a place anymore. Amon attacked her abilities. What was she without them? Unalaq presented her with a dark reflection. What lines could she cross before she goes too far? Zaheer meanwhile struck at something deeper. Her cause. Her legacy. The avatar imposes balance. One person, decides the fate of millions, and now, those people she tried to protect, are beginning to protect themselves.

Of course Zaheer was wrong, but the issues he proposed didn’t slink back into the shadows. They’re present for all to see the flaws in the system.

Her whole life, Korra was told she was needed. That the avatar was needed. They are one and the same in her mind. Now she’s faced with a sobering truth. She’s not needed. The world will move on without her. It’ll survive without her.

If she isn’t needed, if someone else can bring balance, then why should she? Why should she suffer again and again when she doesn’t have to? When no one needs her to? Why should this responsibility be solely hers to carry?

What is Korra to do, when all she’s left with is time to ask herself those very questions?

When she’s alone?

A long time ago, I loved the finale of book 1. Because I asked myself, what Korra’s lowest point could be? When someone so physical, so tied to her own ability to affect change, lost that ability? I thought losing her bending, losing the chance at the avatar state was the lowest point. I bet if we could have asked her that, if we could have peered into her fears in book one, she would have had the same answer. And that made me worried. Where could they go from there?

Thankfully, I was wrong. Losing her abilities, wasn’t her lowest point. Even powerless, an Avatar can still do great things. Still promote the balance of the world.

No, the worst thing that could truly happen for her, the darkest hour would be the revelation that she didn’t have to. That the world would balance itself. That she’d failed more profoundly than being beaten down. Than a villain achieving their goal.

That maybe the world didn’t need an avatar anymore.

Her destiny, that legacy, that responsibility wasn’t needed. Someone else could do her job, and they could do it better than she ever could, cause all she’d done is make mistake after mistake. (This is what she tells herself)

What she’d so wrapped up her own identity with was unraveling. If Korra wasn’t going to be the avatar? What would she be?

The scariest answer of all is the only one she’s left with. Nobody.

Korra never had another dream. Her want, her need, was to be a good Avatar. To live up to that calling. Her childhood on that compound had prepared her for nothing else, no other door was presented to her, no other choice. Her life was decided for her the moment she was born. She was going to be the avatar and that was it. So what is one to do when that’s not enough?

Korra had nothing else to fall back on. Nothing to replace that yearning, that drive in her that burned like fire. All she was left with was a hollow where that fire used to be. With nothing else, she begins a downward spiral. A self perpetuating sense of directionless. A depression that began to eat her up from inside, and that grew worse for three years, until she turned away from her legacy, from her friends, and from her family, because all of them were better off without her.

Those are the things we tell ourselves when we struggle with depression. Achievements? The good we do doesn't seem to break through that fog. The love and support from those we care about, doesn’t seem earned. Leaving us only with the worst doubts our minds can conjure.

There are times it feels like no one can hurt us the way we can hurt ourselves

Depression is something I’ve battled myself, and to this day, I have never connected with a character’s struggle as much as I have Korra’s.

Nor has a triumph ever felt so cathartic.

“If you look for the light, you can often find it.But if you look for the dark that is all you will ever see.” -Iroh

Watching Korra find that light again, helped me to find my own.

Korra defined herself as the Avatar for most of her life. When she at last overcomes that struggle, the avatar is still a part of her identity, but that’s just it. Only a part. Moving forward, she learned that her identity could be more. Was already more. That there were so many wonderful things in this world. Friends, family, and all of it leaves a piece of itself to carry on. Even the antagonistic forces in our lives, present us with a chance to learn. To overcome. Every experience builds up who we are, and what we become, more than titles ever could.

She learned the weight of the worlds didn’t have to rest solely on her shoulders, but that even so, she could still do the right thing. She could still make a difference. Maybe it was more complicated than the world needing an avatar or not. Regardless of title, it needed her. It needed Korra.

Korra began as a character forged by expectations. Both in universe and out. If you’re reading this I doubt have to tell you what she had to overcome along her journey and in the eyes of the fandom itself. The bar she had to clear, was immeasurably high. Expectations of whether she could live up to it all hung over her head, as much as it hung over the series itself.

When that was always the wrong question.

For so long she wanted to be the perfect Avatar, to live up to the heroes that came before. She was trying to forge the legend of the avatar, rather than the Legend of Korra.

Her journey, works so well, because it’s tied to the legacy of the series. The question of how to followup something so brilliant as avatar is the question Korra faced every day. How do you follow up a legend?

Instead of allowing herself to be crushed by the legacies of the past, Korra learned a far more valuable lesson. That the choices we make shape us, not the expectations of legends long gone. That we can forge our own identities, and our own futures. That to be something, isn’t the end all be all. We can define ourselves by more than our responsibilities.

That we will make mistakes, and that those mistakes will have consequences. That we will make choices and sometimes things will go dangerously wrong. That sometimes we will break, shatter into pieces and wonder how we can ever be put back together.

Those are the sorts of things destiny doesn’t prepare you for. Things that get left out of the retelling. A legend, doesn’t have blemishes.

So why would we ever compare ourselves to them? Why would we hold ourselves to those mythic ideals no one could ever match? Why run ourselves bloody and ragged trying to be something we’re not? Something no one ever really was?

A person’s story, isn’t beautiful because it’s flawless. Life, is messier than legend. Failures define us just as much as successes. Those flaws help us to build, to reflect on who we really are and the things we really want.

She never had to be the perfect Avatar, because there’s no such thing.

All she had to be was Korra, and being Korra, was enough.

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girlandthedarkness · 4 years

Text

Lin Beifong x Reader

kind of a sequel to this headcanon with Lin Beifong

The advantage to be the Avatar's friend is that you not only travel different places with her, you as well make a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. So it's not a surprise that you joined the search for new airbenders after the Harmonic Convergence. You were glad to find new airbenders with Korra and her friends, you thought that Lin will be against that, but she tells you to do what you please.

- Are you not mad? You ask thoughtful

- You know I never could be mad at you, also, spirits know, this group need someone who can think. She said with a small smile.

The journey was intense, and without any success, only one airbender has joined you. Ba Sing Se was even a bigger mess, the queen holds airbenders hostage for her own army, the blood in your veins was boiling. How dare she hold these people? You thought nothing could calm you down, It was until you saw your girlfriend who notice your anger and sadness. She learns about your situation and warns Korra about Red Lotus, whose members had escaped. Later, when the airbenders were safe, she holds you in her arms while you let all the emotions through tears.

- I saw enough of Ba Sing Se, remind me never to come here. You said while Lin just let a small laugh.

You were so excited when you heard that another airbender was found in a city entire made of metal. But you knew something was wrong the moment you saw Lin's face when she heard about Zaofu. Her frown became even deeper and she looked rather annoyed, insisting to turn back to Republic City. You stayed silent as Korra and Lin had a fight about if they should return to Republic City or collect a new airbender. They decided the last one.

- Something's wrong? You asked when you two retired to yours shared room.

She sighs heavily and gives you a painful glance, instinctive you pulled her closer to your body and give her a bear hug, so she knew that you're here for her.

- It's ok if you don't want to talk about it. You said concerned

- There's someone in Zaofu that I don't want to come face to face with. she said so low that it was almost a whisper

- Who? You question impatiently

- My sister.

When you arrived in Zaofu, Lin chose to remain inside the airship, instructing the group to not tell that she came along with them. You roll your eyes, the last night the only thing she told you was that she doesn’t want to face her sister because of a big conflict they had in the past. You tried to reason her why she should encounter her sibling, but she was way too stubborn to see your point.

Aiwei show you the city, the statue of Toph Beifong, who invented the metal bending. You with Bolin were so thrilled to see the city, their buildings and architecture.

- You are so lucky to date the Toph's daughter. He said, whispering to you.

You giggle at these words

- Well, you lucky enough to try and learn the metal bending, at this word he let a deep sigh

- I hope.

You meet the matriarch of the city at dance rehearsal, you let a surprised sigh, because she looks so much like Lin, perhaps both of them look very much like Toph? Probably you never saw her in real life, only the statues and some portraits in the books.

Suyin named all of your group members, giving you a smile.

- I heard you are a wonderful healer?

- Yes, she is, the answer for you Korra, but also one of the best fighters. You heard a tone of pride in her voice and suddenly you felt shy.

Your discussion was interrupted by Aiwei who leans to Suyin and whispered something in her ear. You frown deeply when you saw that, looking at you Korra smiles, because this face reminds her so much of a certain Police Chief. But you realized they knew there was someone else on the ship, because of the seismic sense, such being the case why you could never give Lin sneak hugs.

- Aiwei says that there is someone on your ship?

- I told you Y/N, its Chief Beifong, for some reason she didn't want to come with us?

- Lin is here?

- Do you know her? Ask Korra dumbfounded

- Didn't she told you about me? Y/N notice the hurt in her voice

- Suyin is her sister, Lin's sister. You offer clarity

After the reveal, everyone suddenly developed the ability to walk fast, you barely could to hold the pace. They rushed so fast, that you were the last one to enter. When you come into the ship the intense atmosphere could be almost touched. Two Beifong's siblings gaze at one another and then the hell gets loose. They accused each other of so many things, such as tearing apart the family, Suyin accused her sister of not making any contacts with her in thirty years. You saw the almost ashamed stare in Lin's eyes at this word, so you moved to her side to bring a little bit of comfort since everybody looked for some reason so betrayed.

- Y/N why don't you tell us? Wonder Bolin

- I thought you didn't have secrets from me? Korra asks a little bit hurt

At first she was shocked when you reveal your relationships with Chief Beifong, after that she enjoyed to tease you about it. But then the reality hit her, you started to spend so much time with Chief Beifong, that she internally always rolls her eyes. Isn't chief very busy woman? It bugs her how you depart from her, she was so happy to spend some time with you at home, but then Unalaq happened. She was relieved when you decided to help them to find the new airbenders, but then Chief joined them and it was once again you and Lin.

- I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, you started to apologize, but that's not my secret to decide to reveal it or not. Also, I thought we came here to meet the airbender? You try to pretend you don't see Su's intense gaze.

- It's my daughter, Opal. Finally said Suyin

You were holding Lin's forearm, while Suyin decided to introduce her family, you wonder if it's for the whole group or only for Lin. She started with her twin sons, Wei and Wing, who were playing power disk, something they invented. She proceeds to introduce to Huan, a metal bending sculptor, to his delight you let go of the Chief hand to take a closer look at his work.

- It's so beautiful and unusual, you smiled when you heard a small noise produced by Lin.

- Finally, said with pride Huan, someone who understands art.

While Suyin takes you to meet her daughter you came closer to Korra.

- Listen, I'm sorry that I didn't say to you anything, but as I said it's not my secret.

- Well of course it's not, it was yours and Beifong's secret, one of the many I guess. She said with a huff

- What do you mean? You looked puzzled

- I'm ok that you two dating, I'm even ok that Chief keeps her secrets, but you are my friend and I met you first, she said, looking at Lin who clearly could hear them, the last one rolled her eyes.

- I'm still your friend and I care about you, I'm sorry that I didn't pay you a lot of attention. You said sadly

- No Y/N, I'm sorry, Korra stoped you while everyone keeps moving, I guess I'm just a little bit jealous, she gazed ashamed to ground.

- I guess we both are guilty. You said, taking Korra in a warm embrace that she returned.

You meet Opal soon after, the young woman expresses so much of delight over meeting her aunt. But still mad at her sister Lin dismissed girl's joy, receiving a disapproving look from you. On the other hand, you are pleasant to encounter with her.

- I like your hairstyle, she said with a smile

- I can try to make you a similar one.

- So we have the airbender, we should turn back to Republic City where I can protect Korra from members of the Red Lotus. Your chatter was interrupted by Lin.

- Zaofu is the safest city in the world, I assure you, Avatar Korra is secure here.

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You admired the Huan's sculptures when you saw a shadow approaching you.

- There's something stunning in metal, you said while turn around to see Suyin, perhaps the way sun reflex on it.

- Bolin said you see my sister. She said with a small smile

- By see you mean dating? You chuckle.

- So it's true, I never thought she would find someone who will bear her.

- She's not how you all portray her, just because she doesn’t show off all of her emotions, don't mean she is evil and have none. You rant, not in the mood to listen how your girlfriend is bad.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything malicious, but sometimes she's so stubborn. She let a long sigh from her lungs.

- Well, I'm pretty sure not only her since you had such a big fight that destroyed your relationships. You said still defensively of Lin

- You right, I guess we didn't just inherit earthbending from our mother. She said with a smile, that you return. After that the silence fell between you two.

- I want to make up for the way we meet today, do you know how?

- I need to know as much embarrassing stories as you can recall about Lin. You said with a sly smile on your face.

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It was early morning, the early fight between two Beifongs still fresh in your head, you were so scared that they will hurt each other. But when Lin lost her consciousness, your heart skipped a beat, you tried to heal her, but except some small scratches, she is physically healthy. It was a deep emotional wound, that sadly your healing can't even touch. You smile slightly at the peaceful face, no frowning, just Lin. You saw her eyes moving underneath her eyelids.

- How many times should I say to not look at me while I'm sleeping, I can feel it. She said without any malice

-You scared me to death, you get closer to her body on the bed

- I'm sorry, she said while she opened fully her eyes and moved her head to your chest

- How do you feel?

- Relieved.

- Do you want to talk about it?

- Maybe other times, did you even get any sleep? She asks with a concern in her voice

- I couldn't, not until I'm sure you're alright.

She lifts her head from your chest and look at your face.

- You look ill, she said with a small smile. I think you need to sleep.

With that word she switches your position and now your head is on her chest. You raise your head to give a kiss on her lips, after you settled down, she kissed you on the cheek

- Goodnight Lin. You said almost falling asleep

- Goodnight Y/n. she put you closer drifting away as well.

A/N: “Kinda cheesy end, but this woman deserves some happiness. It was supposed to be a comfort Lin small fanfic, but it gets out of my hands and become my biggest English work”

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cavehags · 4 years

Note

i realize this will probably bring up old drama so you might not want to answer it. but do you ever regret, however on purpose or on accident, bringing all that unnecesary hate towards Katara? i'm really sad and dissapointed tbh. i'm a woman of color and katara was so important to me growing up. my favorite animated woman ever. and then this resurgence comes and theres so, so much unnecesary hatred for her and everyone ignoring everything that makes her a good character.

(2/3) 2- and you know, i expected this from the male side of the fandom. they were misogynistic to her and the others even back then so i would expect it to be even worse with how internet culture is more mysogistic now that ever. and i wasnt wrong. male atla fans had some truly horrible takes and views that just came across as racism and misogyny. but, i expected these circles to be better. to be a safe space for us woc who love this character. but i found the same weird hatred for her.

(3/3) 3-i just, i cant believe i feel less welcome now that i did even back then. and back then i didnt even paricipate really. but at least i could enjoy fandom content without stumbling into misogyny and racism every other post. also sorry for sending this to your personal blog b i just wanted to let you know you controbuted to that too even if it wasnt your intention. at least you realized that and arent contributing to it anymore right? cause honestly the hate has only gotten worse not less.

hey anon. thanks for asking this question, because i hadn’t addressed this topic previously and this gave me an opportunity to do so.

no, i don’t regret publicly interpreting a character whom i love through a nuanced and human lens. and i don’t regret combating the one-dimensional interpretation of this character, which posits that she’s merely an vaguely defined object of attraction for some boy or another, and a singularly gentle, mature, maternal figure whose sole purpose in life is to nurture others. those interpretations suck. they rob her of the humanity and complexity that make her character unique and they stem from misogynistic tropes that reduce women to the services they can provide to men. the thing in the world that matters most to me is fighting misogyny, and this trend to diminish a proud and powerful and angry teenage girl by exaggerating only her most socially acceptable traits is misogyny.

unlike you, i did not grow up watching avatar: the last airbender. the shows i watched growing up did not have a lot of girls who felt real to me. the girls i saw on tv growing up were simple. they were the main characters’ crushes. they were simple, desirable, usually sweet and loving, and not much else. if they had a flaw, it was that they were, at best, “awkward.” whatever that means. or if they were the protagonists, which was rare, they were nice enough and tried to do the right thing, but they never had strong feelings like resentment and anger. they weren’t allowed to be unfeminine which meant they weren’t allowed to be bitter, angry or in any way flawed. they didn’t look like the version of girlhood i knew to be true for me personally, which included a lot of anger and frustration and powerlessness.

that crappy representation left me with internalized misogyny that chased me for longer than i’d like to admit. i did not learn to think of girls as humans who could be as interesting and flawed and messy as the boys were. i did not value myself as a girl, and later a woman, because i thought the best thing a girl could be was... bland. boring. pretty, but empty. passionless.

it would have meant the world to me to see a character like katara.

because katara is angry. she has every right to be: she’s had so much stolen from her, including her mother, her people, and her childhood. katara has a short fuse. she yells. she snaps. she fucks up. sometimes she makes mean jokes! i never saw a single one of those dreamily perfect cartoon love interests make mean jokes when i was a kid. she is extremely idealistic--it’s her defining character trait--but we see the bad side of that as well as the good. we see that her need to help others leads her to act rashly, to get herself into danger, to put others in danger too.

and she has her very own arc. it’s not about her love for another person, either (what a snooze of a storyline); it’s about growing up and learning to break down some of that stubborn black-and-white thinking that we all indulge in as children. it’s a true coming-of-age arc and it belongs to a fourteen-year-old girl.

when i, to use a phrase i find crass, “entered the fandom,” i quickly realized that other fans’ perceptions of katara did not line up with the things i valued most about her. other fans seemed to valorize her most socially acceptable feminine qualities: her generosity, her kindness, her dedication to helping others. and of course i love those parts of her--i love everything about her--but what is really remarkable about avatar: the last airbender is that katara’s many important virtues are also counterbalanced by equally significant flaws. a good character has flaws. katara is a good character, and a deviation from the characters who made up my formative media landscape, because she has flaws. her temper, her idealism, her stubbornness--these are flaws. flaws make her seem real and human and challenge the mainstream sentiment that girls are not real or human.

it simply did not occur to me that celebrating these aspects of katara that make her a realistic and well-written teenage girl would spark ire from other adult fans. it absolutely did not occur to me that i would then be blamed for somehow causing misogynistic interpretations of this character, particularly given that misogynistic interpretations of this character are the very thing i sought to correct when i began to blog about this television show.

i’m told there are “fans” on instagram and tiktok who think katara is whiny, annoying, and overly preoccupied with her trauma. i do not use instagram or tiktok, so i wouldn’t know, but i’ll take your word for it. respectfully, however, they didn’t get that from me. misogynistic takes on katara have existed since before i came along. i have never, ever called katara whiny. and seeing as i have been treating my own PTSD in therapy for nine years, you can safely conclude that i don’t think anyone, katara included, is overly preoccupied with their trauma. that’s not a thing. do i think she’s annoying? of course not! as a character, she’s a delight. does she sometimes find real joy in aggravating her brother and her friends? yes, because she’s 14. i, an adult, am not annoyed by her. sokka and toph often are, because that is katara’s goal and katara always succeeds in her goals. she’s not “annoying.”

if there are “fans” who are indeed following lesbians4sokka and somehow misreading every single post and interpreting them to mean that we hate katara and they should too, i don’t really know what you want me to do about that. l4s has over ten thousand followers and we have already posted so many essays disavowing katara hate. our feminist and antiracist objectives in running the blog are literally pinned with the headline “please read.”

furthermore, you cannot reasonably expect my co-blogger and me to control the way our words will be received. we should not have to, and are not going to, add a disclaimer to every post saying that when we critique or make jokes about a teenage girl we are doing so through a feminist lens. our url is lesbians4sokka, and we are clearly women. if that alone doesn’t make it obvious, then refer back to that pinned post.

it is indescribably frustrating, and really goddamn depressing as well, that people are so comfortable with the misogynistic binary of Perfect Good Women and Flawed Wicked Bitches that they perceive any discussion of a woman’s flaws to be necessarily relegating her to the latter camp. if that is how you (a generic you) perceive women, then i’m sorry, but you’ve internalized sexism that i cannot cure you of. and it’s unjust to expect my friend and me to write for the lowest common denominator of readers who have not yet had their own feminist awakenings. we do not write picture books for babies. we write for ourselves, and with the expectation that our readers can think critically. reading media through a feminist lens is my primary interest; i have no intention of excising that angle from my writing.

as i go through my life, i am going to embrace the flaws of girls and women because not enough people do. as long as the dominant narratives surrounding women are “good and perfect” and “unlovable wh*re,” you’ll find me highlighting flawed, realistic, righteously angry women in the margins. and for what it’s worth, it’s not just katara. i champion depictions of angry girls in all sorts of media. that’s sort of my whole thing. my favorite movies are part of the angry girl cinematic universe: thoroughbreds, jennifer’s body, hard candy, jojo rabbit, et cetera. on tv, in addition to katara, you’ll find me celebrating tuca and bertie, poppy from mythic quest, tulip and lake from infinity train, korra, and more. i adore all these women and see myself in them. i hope you find this suitably persuasive to establish that i have sufficient Feminist Cred, according to your standards, to observe and write about these very flawed and human fictional women.

what i’m saying is this: i decline to take responsibility for the misogynistic discourse orbiting a children’s cartoon. as someone who writes about that series from a perspective that seeks to add humanity and nuance to the reductive, one-dimensional, overwhelmingly sexist writing that already exists, i am pretty taken aback that i am the one being blamed for the very problem i sought to address. except not that taken aback because i am a woman online, haha! and this is always how it goes for us.

finally, i think it sucks that you’ve chosen to blame me for a problem that begins and ends with the patriarchy. i can’t control the way this response will be perceived, just like how i can’t control the way anything will be perceived because i am just one human woman, but i do hope you choose to be reflective, and consider why you’ve chosen this avenue to assign blame.

#anyway! this answer is too long and it's undignified to answer ''fandom drama'' queries on le blog #but here we are in 2020

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storydays · 3 years

Text

Season 1, ep3, p1

(3rd POV)

Tenzin sighed as he rushed to your room, with your family trailing behind closely. As they approached the room, he couldn't help but wonder what could've happened to you in such a short amount of time. He felt his heart stop seeing your hunched form, hurriedly putting your jacket on. In front of you was a woman with waist long black hair, and a gentle yet stormy gray, but at the moment the woman seemed to have been scolding you.

And he was right, because as they walked in together, they overheard you saying, "I gotta at least try to finish my mission, I promised--" You finish adjusting your gloves, chuckling when you felt two small arms wrap around your waist, hearing Meelo and Ikki cry your name. "(Y/N)! Are you okay?" Ikki asked, as you turned around and knelt to their height, embracing them. "Yeah guys, I'm okay." You smile, as Jinora shyly hugged your arm. Tenzin, Pema, and Lin hung back while Korra came up to you as well. You braced yourself, before standing up, grunting softly as your ribs screamed at you. Catching this, Lin asked, "What happened, (Y/N)?"

Looking at your cousins, you sighed, and carefully crossed your sore arms. "It was Amon..he ambushed me through a secret tunnel I like to hang out in. Other than getting electrocuted, kicked in the ribs, and having my arm numbed, I wasn't injured." You smiled, assuring your family. The woman behind you scoffed, making you huff, and gesture behind you. "And this woman, is Rene. She's my mother's younger but still old, sister." Rene stepped forward and held her hand out to the adults and looked wearily at you. "Actually, I'm your young aunt, you cheeky brat!" Rene cried, acting more like a child than the 35 year old she was. "Yeah, yeah. Anyways,I'm ready to go home, and see Nevermore."

Everyone laughed as your aunt continued to yell at you. "Anyways, don't think this conversation is over, nephew!" Rene kissed your cheek, and left on her Satomobile. "(Y/N), why were you going through a tunnel to get here?" You shrug, your (h/c) bangs falling in your eyes again, turning to look at your uncle. "I didn't want to be followed, restricted and it kept you guys safe." Tenzin sighed; he wasn't happy you felt the need to sneak off, but he was glad you thought about the safety of your family.

Walking outside, you laughed at Oogie headbutting you affectionately. "Hey old boy. I'm okay." You assured, waving to Mako and Bolin, and your Aunt Lin as they headed home. Settling next to Jinora and Pema, Ikki cuddled into you sighing softly, happy you were coming home. Tilting your head back, enjoying a warm breeze. 'I wonder when he'll come home.' you wondered.

*The next day*

Humming in content as you sunk into the warmed springs, you felt your body relax for the first time in forever. "It's been a while since we relaxed like this, huh, girl?" You ask Nevermore as she cooed in agreement. Closing your (e/c) eyes, you settled into a meditation position, inhaled and exhaled.

*in the spirit world*

You stood up, looking at the meadow you were standing in, and gasped softly hearing a happy voice sing. Running towards the sound, you laugh seeing Iroh, Dragon of the West, sing while pouring tea into two cups. "Hello, General Iroh." You bow, with your fist in your palm in respect to him, while he waved you off. "Come now, (Y/N), you don't have to do that. I was never one for formalities anyway. " You sat across from him, and graciously took a sip, sighing happily. "I miss having original Jasmine Dragon tea." Iroh laughed at your blissed out face.

"I'm glad you liked it. I sense you needed to talk, and talk we shall." Iroh's grey eyes sparkled with a knowing gleam. The wind blew a gentle breeze through your hair, as your (e/c) eyes had a battle with the old general. "Yes, I do."

*timeskip*

Iroh watched as you snoozed back in the green grass, listening to the spirits float past. 'That is a lot for someone so young. But you are your parents' child, (Y/N), you'll survive this.' He began humming the Ba Sing Se girls song. 10 minutes later, you woke up, and glanced at the sun. "Aw, man, I gotta go now." You pout, your hair sticking up with leaves. Chuckling, Iroh walked you back to your meadow. "You can come back later, (Y/N), you'll know where to find me." He walked off, just as you left the spirit world.

*in the real world*

You blinked, seeing plate of sweet deliciousness in front of you. Pema laughed as you got dressed and began to scarf down breakfast, Nevermore eating her side of the omelette. "When's the last time you ate before rushing off to take care of someone else?" She asked, sitting on a ice bench you conjured up, so she didn't stress her back. Shrugging, you sighed in satisfaction. "I dunno. Everyone always needs taking care of: Uncle with training Korra and the other airbenders, the city council breathing down my neck, you with the baby on the way, and training the animals, it's just a lot, and I-" "Just can't say no. I know, (Y/N), that's just who you are." Pema followed you into the kitchen and rubbed her belly. "Eh, I like being needed, Auntie. Otherwise, I'd sleep all day." You joke, before rushing off to the training grounds where you'd hoped to find some kind of excitement.

You ran up to Jinora's side, and watched as Korra practiced her airbending. "Good, light on your feet." Jinora encouraged, as you all watched the Avatar pant for breath. Neo grumbled in the direction you'd just came from, making you see the shadow of Mako heading towards you. "Ooh, he's cute." Ikki chirped. "Korra, is that the handsome firebender boy that drives you crazy?"Jinora asked, as Korra stiffened. "Does he drive you crazy in a bad way, or does he drive you crazy, like him?" You, Nevermore and Neo couldn't help but laugh as Korra earthbent the airbender girls away.

Mako raised an eyebrow at your strange behavior. Korra cleared her throat, looking at the firebender. "Oh hey, Mako." "Hey, (Y/N)." Turning to Korra, he asked, "Have you seen Bolin?" "Nice to see you, too. And no, haven't seen him since practice. Think something's wrong?" "I don't know. Bolin has a knack for getting into stupid situations. See ya later." Mako sighed, before turning away.

Frowning, you pushed Korra forward. "Korra and I could help you search. I'll take the sky and you guys take the ground. Neo and Naga can help you guys. Not taking no for an answer, see you guys!" You laughed, using your glider to leave the two love birds in shock.

"Well, let's go, Avatar."

#lok imagine #legend of korra #legend of korra x reader #x male reader #male reader x legend of korra #legend of korra imagine

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riceccakes · 3 years

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all right guys, here’s my contribution to celebrating six years of korrasami. i wrote this way back when it was korrasami week but never finished it. it’s short and sweet and cute and i hope you guys like it. :) heres to korrasami, they have my whole heart <3

Their pinkies interlocked, Korra smiling triumphantly.

A pinky promise to travel to Kyoshi Island and ride the Unagi, a pinky promise to visit the Fire Nation in search of the best, authentic Fire Flakes, a pinky promise to be by each other’s sides for as long as they are alive.

Asami rolled her eyes, keeping her pinky intertwined with Korra’s. She held the position for a few moments, bringing the hand up to her lips, leaving a soft kiss on her knuckle. She returned her attention to her desk, tinkering with her latest prototype: a small, portable device, able to play music wherever you are. Korra couldn’t bring the phonograph with her everywhere, but always enjoyed listening to music in her downtime. The first step for Asami was figuring out how compact the music cylinders in the first place, but she figured, if the radios can be that small, why can’t a music player?

So, after a few months of planning, she finally had a physical one to try. Korra was honored that Asami found inspiration through her, but the months of work left the girls further apart than Korra would’ve liked. She couldn’t exactly hold her girlfriend while she welded pieces of metal together, nor could she hold her hand while she intricately worked on attaching screws and plates together. The closest she could get was sitting in Asami’s workspace in the Sato mansion, she’d brought a couch in for herself and would lay across it, patiently waiting for her girlfriend to finish her work for the day. When Asami was finally done, or too tired to continue, Korra would eagerly open her arms, inviting the girl into her embrace.

Asami always felt incredibly dirty after handling metal for hours and sweating from the heat of her lamp but Korra would insist she come lay down. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was, to get to experience a love that didn’t mind imperfections, but rather welcomed them. So, she would lay down with Korra, resting her head on her chest as Korra would rub her back. Korra would explain her day, training with Tenzin, lunch with Bolin and Opal, helping Lin on a case, mentioning how much she missed her during all of it. Asami would smile into her, relaxing as she felt Korra’s heart beat.

Korra lingered, peering over Asami’s shoulder as she worked, “Almost done?”

Asami peered up at her and chuckled, “Honey, you’re hovering.”

Korra scratched her neck, “I know, but I miss you.”

Asami finished tightening the last screw, letting out another laugh, “I’ve missed you too, I’m sorry I’ve been cooped up in here all day, but,” she set down her screwdriver and held up the device, “I believe, I’m done.” She handed it to Korra and pointed to the center button, “Do the honors?”

Korra took it from her hand and smiled, pressing the circle. It had the Future Industries logo on it, red and black metal plates, with an accent of blue. The sound from one of Korra’s favorite cylinders started to play and they both cheered. Korra set it down gently and quickly picked up her girlfriend, spinning around, cautious not to swing Asami into any of her other projects.

Asami’s laughter filled the room as Korra placed her feet on the ground. Asami locked their lips together, feeling hot for a different reason now. If this was reward for finishing her project, reveling in her girlfriend’s touch, melting like putty but being supported by Korra’s strong grip, being picked up again and placed on her desk, Asami would have to finish more projects. Korra’s hands wrapped around her waist while Asami got lost in her hair. Nothing could feel more satisfying, nothing could fill her heart more.

“How about one more promise?” Korra said against Asami’s neck, breathing heavy.

Asami could only make inaudible sounds, wishing Korra hadn’t stopped what she was doing.

Korra laughed, “Marry me?”

Asami stopped, breath caught in her throat. She found Korra’s eyes, soft and almost scared. The Avatar’s chest pounded, her heart racing a mile a minute. It wasn’t going to be like this, Korra had a whole day planned. She was going to bring Asami flowers and dress up and have a light show with fireworks. She couldn’t help it though, she’d been seeing sparks fly while she was nipping at Asami’s neck and it just felt right.

Asami still couldn’t believe the words, thinking she’d imagined the notion. When she didn’t snap out of it or wake up from a dream, she slowly started to nod her head before taking Korra into another kiss. She wanted to savor every bit, wanted to taste the words on her own tongue, wanted Korra to know the answer was yes, always yes, never anything but yes.

When they pulled apart, their lips were red and swollen. They looked at each other, Korra’s hair a mess, Asami’s face caked in sweat, and they laughed. With one more tender kiss, the girls hugged.

“Fiancée, huh?”

Korra grinned, “Not for long.”

#korrasami #korra #asami sato #six years baby #lok #celebration #short fic #i love them so much #ricewrites

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tuiyla · 4 years

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She-Ra’s like, really good, people

It’s been over a week since She-Ra season 5 came out and I binged it and this is not going to be coherent but I just want to rant about it a bit before writing some more structured metas. I deffo wanna write about Catradora and how I think SPoP is the true spiritual successor to the Avatar.

But first, let me just scream about how good this show is. I already started rewatching it, pretty much straight after finishing it, and I don’t rewatch tv shows often. The exception is Avatar (seen it like 15 times) and sitcoms. But She-Ra is so layered that I felt like I needed to watch it again just to appreciate the dynamics even more.

I already enjoyed the first season but it kept getting better and better. I’m not in love with the art style and it’s definitely for a younger demographic overall than my other favourite animated shows, but like any good kids’ show it balances tone well. It doesn’t talk down to its target demographic but also includes more traditionally mature themes in a digestible and entertaining way. Not all the jokes landed for me but as the series went on I learned to appreciate the tone and the type of humour She-Ra goes for.

It’s funny to me because this is definitely the type of show I would have rejected as a kid, with all the princesses I would have deemed it “too girly” and therefore not for me because screw gender roles. There’s a degree of internalized sexism to that, for sure, a rejection of the feminine because it’s always been seen as less somehow. But there’s also a truth that, at least in my childhood of the late 90s and early 00s, children’s media targeted at girls often had a poor quality to it, at least when compared to “boys’ stuff”.

She-Ra is not only a clever, heartfelt, complex story, it also transcends that binary of having to be either for girls or boys. I know most of modern animation rejects that as well, but She-Ra embraces so many traditionally feminine qualities while also going beyond gender roles and even the gender binary. This show is so queer, man, and I love it. It’s especially impressive when you consider the source material that was literally just the girly version of He-Man. I have no beef with 80s She-Ra, haven’t seen much of it, but this is such an upgrade.

That being said, I would have loved to watch She-Ra as a kid. I’m so incredibly envious of kids, aged around 10, who get to watch this show as they’re growing up. But I am so, so, so happy for them and for the future of animation that shows like She-Ra can be made now, that they’re being made. I’m going to go into spoilers soon, but just before that: She-Ra’s a perfectly enjoyable show in many aspects. I think the worldbuilding’s pretty cool, the story feels coherent and planned out, it’s lighthearted and so genuine. That’s the word that I ultimately choose to describe the series: genuine.

I feel like so much of TV aims to be dark and gritty nowadays, animation included, and though that’s slowly turning to dark comedy or a balance between fun and serious, it’s still the norm. At some point in the last decade, creators became terrified of being judged as cheesy. Even something like the MCU bathes in bathos to avoid being cheesy. But She-Ra proves that creators shouldn’t be afraid of being genuine, of basing characters and storylines on the simple power of love. Like, it’s such a cliché trope but I think that’s mostly because it has become stale.

Noelle Stevenson has talked about the importance of love in her story and I’m so grateful for that. Through, She-Ra, she’s truly proven how powerful love can be in a story and how it doesn’t have to be cheesy. It’s just so unabashedly genuine. The power of love and friendship literally saves the day several times but it’s always so genuine and more importantly it always makes sense that it doesn’t get boring. If the foundation wasn’t there, then I’d say “well this is just super cheesy”. But the show makes a point of building relationships and making them the focal point of the story.

Alright, so, spoilers because I need to talk about character arcs and THAT KISS and just everything. I really need to write more in depth about Adora and Catra and their relationship but for now I feel like it’s so important to appreciate how they’re developed. Everything from their shared childhood to their trauma with Shadow Weaver and the finding their way back to each other, it’s just *chef’s kiss*. It’s so well-written and believable. Ngl, I do have some minor issues with Catra’s redemption arc. Let’s just say that on a scale from Kylo Ren to Zuko, she’s definitely closer to Zuko. I also appreciate Shadow Weaver’s death scene and how it allows them to move on. I didn’t see that one as Death as Redemption and it shouldn’t be. Again and again the show made it clear that she was abuse towards both girls and nothing will negate that.

From what I can tell, the fandom really latched onto Catra, even when it wasn’t clear whether she’d get a redemption arc. I think that’s important, because unlike some characters in animation, Catra’s actions were almost always framed appropriately. There was always an understanding as to where she’s coming from, how she’s acting from a place of hurt, and yet her actions weren’t justified. They weren’t suddenly all okay just because she’s hurt, too. I especially loved in the season 3 finale when Adora was allowed to finally say no, to say that Catra’s actions were not her fault. That season as a whole was beautiful, like, episode three when Adora’s struggling so much and Catra has the opportunity for a better life but she still fails to choose her own happiness because she’s too bitter over SW and Adora? It’s poetic cinema. I love that angst, so well done.

It would be so easy to misfire in Catra’s storyline and either a) write off all the awful things she does because she’s just “misunderstood” or b) irredeemably stuck in her abusive environment with no hope of escape. They balanced quite well there and managed to handle such a complex character with delicacy. I’m quite happy with how Catra was portrayed because on the one hand, she’s painfully relatable to me and I assume to many others. The audience can see their own mistakes reflected in her character because we’ve all been too stubborn, done things out of spite, refused to acknowledge that we were wrong because we were hurting so much. At the same time, I always felt like the show gave me enough space to judge Catra’s actions and acknowledge that she was in the wrong. I honestly think I would have been a better adjusted teenager is if saw this show just before my angsty years, lol.

I’m going to write more about Adora at some other point but I love how vulnerable she’s allowed to be. Protagonists never used to be my favourite characters because they all seemed the same, with two major categories: the stereotypical male hero who can do no wrong or the angsty boi who can be shitty and the text still frames him as awesome. It’s only recently with series like The Legend of Korra and She-Ra that I go “damn, protagonists can be like that, huh.” Adora is a dumb jock who tries so hard and she deserves all the hugs in the world.

Also, Catradora? Breathtaking, amazing, groundbreaking. No doubt She-Ra needed shows like Adventure Time, LoK, Steven Universe and the likes to pave the way but still, it went there. I saw people be anxious about whether they were gonna be queerbaited, but I always, idk, knew? Trusted? That She-Ra would follow through. I didn’t wait six years for Bubbline to happen for Catradora to not get their big damn kiss. The series has been so effortlessly queer from the get-go that it just made sense that they were always heading there. I did see a gif of the kiss before watching s5 and ngl, that spoiler kind of bummed me out in a way that I wanted to be surprised. But even before I saw that I wasn’t worried. And the context of their journey in season 5? That cannot be spoiled by a simple gif. You have to experience that to fully appreciate it and that is the marker of good storytelling.

I understand that, though this should be the norm by now, Noelle Stevenson still had to be smart about how she approached the execs and she wasn’t sure this could happen. I cannot tell you how happy I am about what she said regarding how Catradora was so integral to the story that the execs couldn’t not allow it. That’s so brilliant, and it feels so natural in the story. Queer love saves the day and it’s not ambiguous, it cannot be censored because you lose a part of the story without it. You did it, Noelle, you funky little lesbian, what an icon. I can’t wait to see more stuff from her.

In other news, I appreciated other characters as well, like how all the princesses got to be different and awesome in their own unique way. Season 5 was great for so many characters, Mermista got so much to work with and Spinnerella and Netossa got so much more characterization than in previous seasons. Glimmer continued to be the third most important character in the story and I’m happy about all the relationships that also got to be canon. Good characters and dynamics all around, no wonder since the show is built on that.

Such a satisfying conclusion and one that makes you feel like this is just part one of a much bigger story. Such genuine, heartfelt moments, well-developed characters, complex themes explored in a respectful and digestible way, and such an unapologetically fun show. Melissa Fumero as a side character? Yes please. Catra’s new haircut? Heck yeah! She-Ra’s new design? Oh my.

I’m not even like, super into She-Ra, and I usually don’t write so much about things I only watch casually. But this show is so good and important that I had to rant. And I will write more about it eventually, but for now I needed to get all of this out. I’d give it a better structure but if I really get into I might never end up posting it so for now here, have this ramble of love. She-Ra, of all shows, deserves that.

#she-ra #spop #she-ra and the princesses of power #catradora #spop spoilers #my thoughts #that's pretty much it for now

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dualdaospirits · 4 years

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Do you think if they ever reboot ATLA they would make Zutara canon? Reboots have changed quite a few things(the new She-Ra is vastly different from the original) especially with all the support Zutara got post-series

Hmmm, an interesting question. It depends on many things I think, not the least of which being who the showrunners are and the tone they want to set. We may get to see our reboot soon, actually, since there’s a live action Netflix series in the works (they haven’t started production yet though, so don’t get too excited). As far as I know, Bryke is at the forefront, and while that’s great news since it means another abomination hopefully won't happen, it does mean that a Zutara relationship probably isn’t likely since they’re big fans of the Katara/Aang relationship.

That being said, I think it would be a missed opportunity if they didn’t, and I’ll explain why. (Disclaimer for any non-Zutara fans reading this, being a Zutara shipper is not my main motivation for thinking or wanting it to be canon). First things first, the audience. I don’t know if post-series Zutara support would have much of an effect on Bryke, but it’s possible that the producers or Netflix would notice and try to factor it in. However, I don’t think pandering should be the reason they include Zutara--far from it. The original audience that watched Avatar has grown up at this point. Many of us are in our twenties, give or take. We’ve matured, and it would be foolish of the showrunners for ignoring this fact. If there’s a reboot of Avatar, live action or animation, the majority of the audience will be those that grew up with the show, not kids the same age as the audience of the animation. I think that’s evident enough with the release of Avatar on Netflix (notice how many people are rewatching and falling back into their love for the show?) and the comics. Ah, the comics. Some things they did well, others...not. What they did do well is writing the storytelling more maturely than the show. I don’t mean to bash the original show as it obviously had no problems including the dark effects of a war story in bite size, easy-to-swallow chunks for kids (a good thing). However, they treat the audience more seriously, knowing that not everything needs to be spelled out. You see the same in Korra. And to me, that’s part of what makes the Zutara relationship so captivating and intriguing--it’s mature. It’s not easy, and it has faults. It’s not “hero gets the girl after saving the world”. It’s complex.

I’ll say this now: there’s a difference between a relationship being canon and being endgame, and it’s an important difference. I definitely think Zutara should be canon, if not endgame, in any reboot they do.

Personally, I’m excited for a live action version if they ever get around to it. It brings many new factors to the table, and the majority of them have to do with adaptation. (I’ll mainly be talking about a live action version for a little bit, excuse the art student that shows). Adaptation, especially between mediums, is tricky to execute. You see many book-movie adaptations that succeed, and some that miserably fail, and others in between. This goes for other forms as well, ex: book to comic, book to animation, animation to film, etc. With any medium adaptation, the story will inherently change. You can't hear a character's inner dialogue or prose written in a book in a film, so changes have to be made or the filmmaker must write or use film language to substitute for it. With adaptation, changes must happen, that's a fact. To me, more often than not those adaptations succeed when the creator embraces that fact and uses the medium to their advantage. Sometimes this changes the story, and sometimes that change enhances it for the better. Take Game of Thrones or Harry Potter. The former deals with many characters and worldbuilding that is extremely complex, and they did an excellent job in getting you attached to those characters. However, they did have to change some things from the books, and while some weren’t as successful, others did remarkably. (Before anyone starts raging, I’m specifically talking about the seasons where they still had books to go off of). For Harry Potter, we have eight movies to analyze, which I will not be doing, but I will say that the weakest films storywise were the fifth and seventh, simply because they tried to do both too much and too little, if that makes sense.

How would this apply to a live action ATLA? Well, it wouldn’t be like the animation, most likely. It’s a medium adaptation, meaning that the approach they had in the animation won’t work the same in live action. Think about it--you don’t watch animation, especially 2d, the same way you watch live action, psychologically and subconsciously. There’s a separation there between their world and ours. It lessens with 3d animation, but it’s much much smaller when it’s live action since it looks like our world, more or less. Would GOT beheading and other violence (you know what I mean) have had the same effect if it were 2d animation? No, probably not. Yes, I know that anime has its fair share of gore that can be extremely realistic and gross, but it still doesn’t have the same impact it would if it appeared on your screen with quality vfx. Now, these are extreme examples. I really doubt that they’ll make the violence that intense or realistic in the show, as they’ll more than likely want to keep it family friendly (there’s still kids that watch the original). Another disclaimer (ik there’s a lot of them, but people can misunderstand this kind of critique as bashing, which it’s not): I am not saying that the original animation of ATLA is not impactful, absolutely not. I have no trouble getting attached to animated characters, laughing or crying with them, etc, especially if the writing is good. However, it was a kids show, and it was written with that in mind. This is apparent to me as I’m rewatching the show now. There’s some dark stuff that happens, as is the nature of a war story, and the animation handles it excellently. But think of how different it will be seeing the ruins of the Southern Air Temple, practically a garden of bones, Gyatso’s included, in live action. Show us all the nitty-gritty of the lower rings of Ba Sing Se, and the corruption up top. Let this affect the characters. Bring this moral ambiguity into light, as it was done in the show. I think that if they’re going to tackle a show in this way, not a movie or series of movies, it would be smart of them to lean into these darker themes, not shy away from them. Like I said earlier, the audience has matured, and there’s so much more to explore with these stories and themes. I’ll say with confidence that they’ll definitely do this, and possibly add a story or two. Otherwise, it will just be a rehashing of the original, word for word dialogue. Not that the original is bad (obv not), but I don’t think we should want that. There’s a lot of potential in a live action series, and I think they’ve learned lessons from the abomination that already tripped over itself. It was an example of adaptation done badly. However, you can change a story without destroying it, but it’s a delicate operation. That’s why having the original showrunners on gives me a bit more confidence. To be clear, I don’t think they’ll go full PG-13 or higher. It’s still possible to have family/kid friendly media without shying away from the darker parts. ATLA is a great example of that. If you want a live action example of a show that balances humor, heartache, and violence beautifully, look at Merlin (bbc).

I think you bring up an interesting point with She-Ra and it’s divergence from the original. I haven’t seen the original animation, but I can say that the new one was successful in telling a new and fresh story in the same universe. The act almost as parallel stories in that universe. How To Train Your Dragon is the same way--the book and movie have very very little in common story wise, but it’s a beautiful trilogy nonetheless. Would this work with ATLA? Possibly, though I doubt they’d want to stray away from the original’s core themes. Though, you can fight me on this, Zutara does align with those themes, but that’s another post (this one is long enough). However, it’s such a complicated question because it inherently considers countless possibilities, so there’s no definite answer. It’s a beloved show that’s already been butchered once, so how much would they be willing to change?

Now, how does Zutara factor in? (getting to the point now). For many of the reasons above, I think it should be canon. Their dynamic, their rocky relationship, the journey of trust and acceptance, the connection they have, all of it is ripe for exploration, especially in a revamped, inherently more mature story. Instead of a predictable relationship where there was never any real conflict (Katara was always loyal to Aang, and their fights were never truly consequential), you have a relationship coming from a difficult, seemingly impossible place, one that requires time to establish. Like I said, it’s not an easy relationship. Part of it is strengthened by Zuko’s wonderful redemption arc. He needs to build a foundation of trust before almost any of the Gaang trust him (Aang, the angel, is willing to give him a chance almost immediately in Book 1, and though she didn’t care one way or the other at first, he did accidentally burn Toph’s feet). What would a Book 4 have brought us? Despite what Bryke say about it being a false rumor, Ehasz, a co-producer, said that it was at least discussed, plus Book 3 definitely had more to give, so I take it with several grains of salt. Anyways, even wondering about it hypothetically produces interesting theories. We see at the end of Book 2 in the cave that Katara, once she overcomes her immediate, and warrented, repulsion of Zuko, she’s able to connect and see a bit of his heart underneath the layers and layers of angst and anguish obscuring it. This scene is popular in the Zutara fandom for a reason. However, I think that making changes to characters, especially in Zuko’s case should be done extremely selectively and purposefully. His arc is one of the most fantastic accomplishments of the show, and I think very little should be changed. For example, he should still make that doomed, yet inevitable choice in that cave to join Azula, but perhaps they’ll include his mother as a more forefront character, especially when he goes back to the Fire Nation. By all means, give Ty Lee and Mai more than just a conversation to supply their backstory. Thoroughly explore the swampbenders and the Freedom Fighters. Show more of the original airbenders in Aang’s memories! There’s room for exploration without dismantling the world or characters like the M. Night film did. For Zutara, I think that expanding Book 3 and giving the characters more time with each other would be invaluable. Think of how quickly Katara and Zuko grew close, from Katara threatening to off him first time he even hinted at being a threat, to becoming one of the most instinctual and formidable teams in the Gaang, to saving each other’s lives in the final battle. That’s not even mentioning the Southern Raiders. The conflict over the entire show as the backdrop for a relationship like that, romantic or platonic, is incredibly suitable for a reboot. If it was explored, the outcome would be so powerful.

I said before that there’s a difference between canon and endgame relationships. This just means that a relationship can be confirmed and explored without being the outcome. If Bryke include Zutara at all, that’s most likely how they’ll do it: adding a love triangle that ends up with Katara and Aang getting together. Honestly, it would be a method of making K/A a more interesting relationship and a way to have the characters grow a bit. However, this has the awful potential of just shitting on Zutara and turning it into a toxic relationship, which I’d rather not see.

But if it wasn’t Bryke running it? Absolutely, I think Zutara would, and should, be canon. Adaptation should take risks and be willing to explore, and I think Zutara is the type of dynamic we should see.

#zutara #atla #atla live action #avatar the last airbender #zuko #katara #sorry this got really long i have a lot of feelings

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patrickstargang · 4 years

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Forgotten Past, Hidden Future (Legend of Korra fic)

Chapter 1: Looking In The Wrong Places

Chapter 2: Lucky To Have You

Chapter 3: A Lot To Learn

Chapter 4: Kya’s Story

Chapter 5: A Tale of Miazu

Chapter 6: The Avatar’s Love

Final Chapter: The Mural

The dining hall was alive with chatter, but this time it wasn’t just the Air Nomads. The room was filled to the brim with familiar faces. Friends, family, teachers, all together. A jovial feeling was permeating from every corner of the room. This was all after a very important day and a very important decision. Tenzin stood up, ready to make a speech like he usually does (though his speeches are usually for the other Air Nomads).

“Before we get the night started, I wanted to give my greatest gratitude to Korra. Because today she has helped shape the Earth Kingdom in a way that will affect its people for generations to come. Not only has she helped bring a proper restoration to decades of Earth Kingdom history, but now the Earth Kingdom has abolished its laws against open sexuality. We still have a long way to go before it's whole again, but these changes are getting them on the right track to a society that cares for its people rather than upholding the status quo. To Avatar Korra…… we are all truly thankful.”

The room roared with applause. Korra saw all the smiling faces turn her way, she even noticed Bolin trying his best not to be a blubbering mess. Mako and Opal were trying their best to keep him together. Korra also saw Kya, who she noticed was tearing up. She knew she was proud of her. It dawned on her that all that work she put into what was, at first, a simple curiosity was going to change things for the better.

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The celebration found its way out to the courtyard, it was later in the day and the dusk was coming over the city.

“I can’t believe you were out there changing the world AGAIN and you didn’t bring us along!” Bolin sounded surprised but in reality, he was just disappointed he didn’t get to go on another adventure.

Korra tried to contain her laughter. Asami, right by her side, was trying to do the same. “Believe me, you didn’t miss much,” said Korra through chuckles. “It was just a bunch of meetings and negotiations with Wu.”

“I mean, yeah….but still we could have been there to support you or something!”

“It's ok, I had Asami there with me. Sometimes it feels shes a better diplomat then I am.”

Asami nudged her on the side. “Hey don’t sell yourself short.”

“She's right.” Tenzin brought himself into the group. “After today, I remembered when you first came to Republic City.”

Korra winced at the thought of that first speech she made, it feels like an embarrassing memory from ages ago.

“But now, your helping settle civil issues for an entire nation, that's something worth celebrating.”

“Exactly!” Bolin added.

Korra laughed again, it was hard to comprehend how much she actually has done in such a short amount of time. Even with her three-year absence the reality of her impact on the world was starting to set in.

Kya also joined in on the group conversation. “Yeah, you kids did pretty well out there.”

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without your meditation techniques.”

Kya had a prideful but joking smirk on her face. Tenzin gave Kya a confused look, considering he was the one always trying to get Korra to meditate. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. She was trying not to giggle at Tenzin’s slow realization.

Korra glanced at Kya, darting her eyes to the side. It felt she was giving her a silent signal. Kya gave her a knowing smile. “By the way Tenzin, I think Varrick got his hands on one of the glider suits. Said something about flying off the tower?”

“Again!?” Tenzin raced off, Bolin went with him just in case he needed help. Kya stayed behind, she looked at Korra and gave her an approving nod. Then she followed Tenzin and the others.

Korra took Asami’s hand as they made their way over to a private spot, the balcony overlooking the spirit portal. There were fond memories associated with this spot, like that day they agreed to take a vacation to the Spirit World. It meant something special to both of them.

“Did you just want to get some alone time?” Asami asked.

“Well, yes but there was something I wanted to tell you.” Korra’s face became serious but still affectionate.

“While I was talking to Kyoshi, I learned a lot more than just Earth Kingdom history. She told me a lot, like how Avatars aren’t the only people in the Spirit World. Apparently, everyone goes there after they die.”

“Everyone?”

Korra nodded. This little bit of information had some massive implications. Then Asami began to realize something.

“So, does that mean my mom and dad are in the Spirit World?”

Korra nodded again, she could sense a feeling of surprise and relief come over Asami.

“But that wasn’t the only thing Kyoshi told me. While I was there, she said that it was important to appreciate the ones I cared for, the ones I loved, while they were still with me. She said that while I have a responsibility as the Avatar, I should take the time to be with others. And I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, now that all this Earth Kingdom diplomacy stuff is over.”

“Korra,” Asami said softly. She felt breathless.

Korra looked off to the side. “Gosh, I feel so silly. I haven’t even thought this through. I was only thinking about it this morning….but I know I can’t wait any longer.”

Korra got down on one knee. Asami’s eyes widened. Korra held her hand with a great deal of tenderness.

“I love you Asami, and I want to be a part of your life. I know this is all so sudden but I’ve had this feeling for quite some time now. It's hard to think about what life will be like years from now, but I want to be there with you for every step of the way.”

There was a long pause. Korra began to hear sniffling and laughing.

“Well, I guess it's my turn to cry today.”

Korra slowly got back up, still holding on to Asami’s hand. She waited patiently for a response. “So…...what do you say?”

“Honestly,” Asami reached for something in her left pocket, still trying to wipe away tears. “I was thinking the same thing.”

She pulls out a small black jewelry case. Korra’s eyes widen, it feels like her heart has stopped.

“I’ve had it with me for two weeks now. I just wasn’t sure when the time would be right.”

Korra could feel tears welling up, but they would finally release when she saw what was inside. It wasn’t an ordinary ring. The designs around showed many different Water Tribe symbols, but at the center was a metallic drawing of Naga. It was meticulous, like it was handcrafted. She could feel her tears dripping onto her hands.

“Wow,” Korra was at a loss for words. Korra began to laugh softly, but it was overpowered by her weakening voice. “I guess it's my turn to cry as well.”

They both laughed, trying to keep themselves collected. Korra buried her face in her hands. “Gosh, I feel so stupid. You made me this absolutely beautiful ring and I don’t even have anything to show for-”

Asami moved Korra’s hands away from her face and kissed her deeply. They held onto each other as they simmered in the moment. As their lips parted, they stared into each other's eyes. After a moment, Asami was the first to speak.

“You don’t need to get me anything. Being with you is a great enough gift as it is. Oh, and to answer your question…… my answer is yes. I want to be a part of your life too. And I promise I will always be there for you.”

They held onto each other for a long time, both red in the face and smiling almost non stop. No matter what doubts the future might bring, at that moment it felt like everything was right in the world. The only sounds now were the wind, Korra and Asami’s soft breathing as they embraced, and Bolin weeping tears of joy in the background as he and Tenzin returned in the middle of their proposal.

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The Maizu Memorial Site wasn’t on the grounds of the village since it was still converted into a mining town. But there was still a mostly untouched part of the woods in the Earth Kingdom that became the Memorial Site. It showed the history of Maizu while also promoting the traditions and culture of the original villagers. During this time, many who used to live in Maizu were making their way back, not just to see the site but to celebrate the abolishing of the old laws.

Korra and Asami took a vacation to see the site, along with Kya who felt like going down memory lane. It was early in the day, just the time before the crowds would get bigger. Korra and Asami were taking a trail that leads to a part of the Memorial Site that was dedicated to Avatar Kyoshi. Kya decided to stay behind to meet with old friends from her first visit to Maizu.

They held hands while they traveled down the trail, smiling the same way that they did when they first proposed to one another. When they finally arrived, they found a mural painted onto the smoothed side of a mountain. The left side showed Kyoshi in her iconic Avatar appearance, protecting the villagers of Maizu. It was grandiose, evoking the struggle to keep the village alive during its hardest times. And on the right side, it showed Kyoshi as she was. Without the makeup and headpiece, without the stoic appearance. She was accompanied by Rangi and Koko as a young girl.

Asami and Korra looked at the mural fondly, they felt the warmth of each other but also a relieving sense that this history can finally be known to everyone in the Earth Kingdom. They knew it couldn't be erased anymore. In front of the mural was a wooden board, that read:

“This mural is dedicated to Kyoshi, the Earth Avatar, and the Sacred Protector of Maizu. But this mural is also dedicated to the ones she loved. To her daughter Koko, and to Rangi, her bodyguard, teacher, and wife.”

Korra and Asami kept their grip on to one another. Just like Kyoshi and Rangi, they began to realize that they were inseparable. Korra knew that, no matter what happens next, Asami would always be there. And Asami knew that Korra would be there for her.

“I don’t think I want to go back yet,” Asami said playfully. “Let's stay here for a little bit.”

Korra gave her a little nod. They decided to sit down, in the same way that they did when they were meditating with Kya. But there was one difference. They were still holding onto each other.

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emberbent · 4 years

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Book 2: Air | Chapter 3: The Spirit Room

[Content warning: Death of a child]

“I’m concerned about you.” Jinora lifted her tea cup to her lips and sipped at her tea pragmatically.

Shinza pushed her rice around with her chopsticks. “Why?”

The Elder eyed the Avatar through the steam that came from her tea. “Lo Sang tells me you progressed quickly in the beginning. You even showed a strong aptitude for the foundations, until your accident. Ever since then, you haven’t progressed at all.”

Shinza said nothing. Jinora was spot-on. Since the day she’d learned that her parents had hid her status from her, she hadn’t been able to produce a single gust of wind. She was having trouble meditating, too. Behind her eyelids, thoughts came to the surface that she couldn’t make disappear: visions of the light circling her head, of Amrit’s look of disappointment when she couldn’t produce a flame.

“I don’t know what to do with myself,” Shinza replied after a beat. “I don’t know what to do with this anger.”

Jinora set her tea cup down and gazed sympathetically at Shinza. “You’re being overly hard on yourself,” she soothed. “While it’s true you don’t have all the time in the world, you’re forcing yourself through something that will clearly take more time than you think.”

Shinza’s eyes flashed upward at Jinora for a second. The kindness she saw in her dark brown eyes was too much, and she looked dejectedly back down into her bowl.

“Will you take a walk with me?” Jinora requested.

Shinza felt like walking back to her room and crawling into her bed, despite the fact that the sun wouldn’t set for another hour or so. “Okay.”

Crickets chirped their evening melody as the two of them strolled in silence. Jinora held onto Shinza, who walked slowly so that Jinora could keep her pace, despite the pain in her joints. Eventually, they came to Jinora’s favorite place in the temple. The meditation circle was a patch of packed dirt in a grassy clearing, twenty yards in diameter. Around the perimeter, enormous stone monoliths jutted from the earth, towering over the two women. On each stone, the ancient air nomads had carved the symbol of their element. Stepping over the threshold, Shinza immediately felt the potent spiritual energy that permeated the space. The little hairs on her arms stood on end.

“Have a seat,” Jinora instructed gently. Painstakingly, she settled down on a patch of moss growing in a crescent-shape around the center of the circle. Shinza settled across from her mentor.

Jinora studied her for a moment. Then she said, “You feel overcome by your emotions.”

“I guess I do,” Shinza sighed.

“The true mind can weather all lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed,” Jinora recited. “Avatar Aang, my grandfather, received this advice when struggling to decide how to proceed on his journey. He passed it down to my father, who passed it on to me.”

Shinza scoffed. “So you’re telling me I need to get over it?”

“Not at all,” Jinora replied patiently. “By all means, you should take the time you need to process this new information and the way it makes you feel. What I’m saying is that it’s important to remember that your emotions are pieces of information, just like truths. Just like lies. Study the emotions you feel as if they are not your own, as if they are bottled in little glass jars. Accept them. Catalog them. And then let them go. A fully realized Avatar understands that emotions should inform, but they should never dictate.”

“What you’re saying makes sense,” Shinza replied as calmly as she could, scarcely veiling the frustration in her voice. “I just can’t see past this resentment. This disgust.”

Jinora snorted amicably, surprising Shinza. “You remind me of Korra,” she said. “Perhaps you should speak to her.”

Shinza’s brows furrowed. “How do I do that?”

“Through meditation,” Jinora instructed. “Do you remember the way you reached inward and found my name within you when you first arrived? You can reach Korra the same way.”

Jinora was already hoisting herself up onto her feet, waving away Shinza’s protests. “I’ll give you your privacy,” she said. “I’ll make my own way back.” As she passed by, she put a friendly hand on her shoulder. “I wish you luck, child.”

Shinza sighed heavily, begrudgingly crossing her legs and seeing out of the corner of her eye that Jinora had left a stick of incense and a holder behind. She leaned over and pinched the end of the incense to light it. Fragrant smoke wafted around her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

Korra, she thought. She reached out into the empty space inside her mind. I need to speak to you.

“Dude, lower the volume.”

Shinza startled, opening her eyes and finding herself in a room whose layout was suspiciously similar to the meditation circle. She sat on a comfy cushion facing the middle of the room, smelling the incense that burned beside her on the physical plane. Across from her sat Avatar Korra, and in her arms wriggled a small boy, no older than a year and a half.

“I… what?”

“You’re so loud,” Korra replied. “I can hear you just fine.”

Shinza’s vision slowly adjusted to the dim light, and she settled in the comfortable atmosphere. “Sorry. I didn’t know it’d be so easy to find you.”

Korra snorted. “No trouble. I had the opposite problem when I was the Avatar. Couldn’t meditate to save my life.”

Shinza studied the young woman across from her; sinewy, athletic build, casual Southern Water Tribe clothing, vivid blue eyes. She smirked. “So you’re her. My past life.”

“Well, no,” Korra replied, sticking her hands under the small boy’s armpits to lift him up and set him on her lap. “This guy is. Avatar Yeong.”

At the mention of his name, Yeong looked up at Korra and followed her gaze over to Shinza. Immediately intrigued, he wriggled away from Korra’s grasp and toddled toward her. Shinza held her arms out to him, feeling a complex knot grow in the pit of her stomach. “Hi there,” Shinza whispered. He stared at her, dark eyes glimmering with wonder as he reached out and palmed her dark braid.

“Ah?” he said.

Shinza nodded seriously. “Yes. Hi.”

“Ah.”

Looking at his small hands and the fine, downy tufts of black hair on his little head, Shinza couldn’t bring herself to imagine that he had died so young. He plopped his little bottom into her lap and contented himself with tangling his fingers in the end of her braid.

“It’s tragic, isn’t it?” Korra said soberly.

Shinza replied, “I don’t want to think about it.”

“Had he had a chance to live, he would have been insanely powerful,” Korra said. “His mother had a very hard time with the pregnancy. She was all alone, you know - his dad wasn’t in her life anymore, and she had no money. No family to help her. Once he was born, she started noticing that Yeong wouldn’t look away from the fireplace. He’d stare and stare. And then the bricks around the hearth start to crack. Soon after that, she noticed she was being followed.”

“Lo Sang told me he died of an illness,” Shinza replied. “What was it?”

“It was no illness. It was a biological weapon meant to assassinate the Avatar and his mother.”

Shinza’s heart dropped into her guts. “The Organization?” she whispered.

“You bet your fuckin’ ass it was The Org,” Korra spat. “Check the newspaper articles from the time. They tried to make it out like it was a contagious virus, but there was no outbreak of any kind in Ba Sing Se at the time.”

Yeong had stuck Shinza’s hair in his mouth. She looked down at him, into his eyes, and felt the same connection to him that she’d felt to Aang’s statue in Yue Bay, and the same connection she felt to Korra sitting across from her. She felt her arms circling around Yeong protectively. In Korra’s face, she found a reflection of her own abject disgust.

“I don’t understand how anyone could murder a child.” Shinza struggled to keep her voice even. “In Fire Fountain City, The Org has been spreading rumors that the Avatar eats children to maintain their power. But it’s them. They’re the murderers. I just can’t believe they’d be willing to go that far to end the Avatar cycle.”

“There has always been someone out to get us,” Korra replied. “In Aang’s time, it was Firelord Ozai. In my time, it was Zaheer. And now you have to deal with The Org.”

“Every time I make a little progress,” Shinza started, “Every time I think I start to understand my place in all this, I learn something that sets everything back. Sometimes I think maybe the world doesn’t deserve an Avatar. Not if they kill children.”

Korra looked on. “Maybe some people don’t,” she replied. “I know I encountered my fair share of people who didn’t deserve a damn thing. But most people do. Yeong deserved to stay alive, and so did his mother. You have to find a way to stop them, Shinza. No matter what it takes. If you let them kill you - if you let them kill the Avatar state - their deaths will have been in vain, and there will be no fixing the chaos that will ensue. Those few undeserving will destroy everything.”

Yeong squirmed and grunted as he removed himself from Shinza’s lap, content to trot around in the room they occupied. Korra pinned Shinza with an intense gaze. “Promise me you won’t let them win.”

“I promise,” Shinza hissed with resolution. “I swear on my life. On all our lives.”

Korra launched herself forward and surprised-embraced Shinza in a long, tight hug. “I’m sorry it has to be like this, but I’m so glad to finally meet you,” she gushed.

“You too,” Shinza replied. “You’re the first past life I’ve ever spoken to like this.”

“Yeah, well,” Korra snorted. “Sorry about that. It’s kind of my fault you can’t talk to the others. But I’m always around if you need me. All you have to do is reach out. Quietly.”

Shinza settled back on her pillow.

“One more thing before you go,” Korra said. “Jinora and I have this Pai Sho game going in the Spirit World. It’s been running for decades. Will you tell her it’s her move?”

Shinza promised she would. Then she brought herself slowly back to her body.

The next morning at sunrise, Shinza came to the mountaintop wearing the Fire Nation clothes she brought with her to the temple, with her small pack slung over her shoulder. Lo Sang took one look and knew what was happening. “I think you should stay here,” the young one advised from her cross-legged position.

“I know you do,” Shinza replied, “And I respect your position, Sifu. But I need to find my own way to get past this.”

Lo Sang scanned her pupil’s face. “Did speaking to Korra not help you?”

“I found a letter on my bed last night after I spoke to her,” Shinza replied. “It was from the contract Dai Li agent that suppressed my memories and my bending. She regrets her actions and wants a chance to apologize in person.”

“I see,” Lo Sang sounded. She unfolded herself and stood, looking way up at Shinza. Her teacher-mask dissipated, and concern made her pale eyes glimmer. “I can see how this might help you work past it. I just want you to be careful.”

“I will,” Shinza promised. “I’ll come back as soon as I’m finished.” Then she whistled for Xia, mounted, and rode west.

Gaoling, in the southeastern region of the Earth Kingdom, was a small but thriving town. As Xia brought her to the outskirts, Shinza slid off her back as a misty rain began to fall. “Thank you,” she said to the dragon, pressing her palm affectionately against her scarlet scales. Xia’s whisker brushed Shinza’s cheek. Be careful.

She made her way into town at a brisk pace to outrun the rain, which started pouring down in sheets just as she ducked under the awning of a nearby stretch of shops. Pulling the letter out of her pack, she reread the address, comparing it to the street signs she passed. By the look of it, she was headed toward an inn. What business did this woman have in this town? She wondered. Why weren’t they meeting someplace like a restaurant? Once she found the building, she paused, breathing deeply and preparing herself. For what, she wasn’t sure. The innkeeper scarcely noticed her as she strode past the front desk and down a long hallway, stopping at door three.

She knocked. No one answered.

She knocked again, and when there was still no answer, she tried the doorknob, finding the room unlocked.

“Yanyu?” she called, stepping carefully inside. Something was wrong. The room looked to be empty. Then the door closed behind her with a creak.

“Shinza,” purred a woman’s low voice from the shadows. “You are a good, quiet girl. You are not a bender.”

Her vision faded. Her pupils widened, drowning out the red-brown of her irises. “I am a good, quiet girl,” she repeated, falling to her knees. She felt earthen cuffs gripping her wrists, felt herself being dragged along the wooden floorboards. “I am not a bender.”

___

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