raavatars | ☾ FIRST [video/action]

☾ FIRST [video/action]

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[ Oh, look! A new video entry. It starts up and it's… upside down. Actually it's more like the picture is twirling, so even though it starts upside down it's slowly turning until it's right-side up for a moment, revealing a teenage girl staring at it suspiciously before the slow spinning starts up again as she turns the journal around in her hands. ]

If this really is a camera it's the smallest one I've ever seen. [ She finally comments, stopping the spinning so that she is sideways on the screen. ] And what good is it even supposed to do, anyway?! Is this some kind of mover thing? Can anyone see me? Can anyone-

[ The video suddenly freezes as if she'd paused it, then starts up again. ] -like I'm talking to a book. Great. I get kidnapped or lost or whatever and I'm talking to a book. This is just- [ It pauses for a few seconds again. ] -I can't believe- [ Pause. ] -who even- [ Pause. Finally after what seems like a longer pause the video finally starts playing again and Korra is finally facing the right way with the camera. She looks pretty panicked. ]

Okay, this book is weird. It started talking to me and there's all sorts of writing but why do I even have this? Who even are you people writing in here? This is ridiculous. I'm leaving. ...As soon as I find the exit.

[action]

[ Korra's managed to find her way to the actual village now, still wearing the white shirt and pants she arrived in but a little more focused and less panicked. This wasn't the weirdest thing that's ever happened to her after all! Well, it probably wasn't anyway, but she wasn't about to sit around comparing them. She'd woken up in a forest with a weird book and nothing else, not even her own clothing let alone an explanation. Flipping through the pages of the book had given her a few details (although not as many as there could have been considering she wasn't exactly patient enough to sit around and read thoroughly at the moment) but really the BEST way to figure something out was to get up and out and see what it was with your own eyes.

Sometimes, anyway.

Seeing buildings had been a huge relief but the closer she got to them the more she found herself pausing. Of course part of her wanted to run right in and start demanding answers. The biggest part, really. But there was another, much smaller part that was telling her to be cautious and patient about the situation to avoid doing anything reckless.

That part sounded an awful lot like Tenzin.

Sure, she wasn't the best at taking his advice back home but in this situation she had to grudgingly admit that maybe she should at least start out cautious. Which is why she's now slowly peeking around a building, one hand against the wall and the other held up as if expecting a fight at any second- ]

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Thanks, Korra. I'm sure we'll get something accomplished working together. And I'll let you know if we have any ideas.

I just know we gotta find a way out. [He tries his own optimistic smile, even if the length of time he's been here makes it a little harder.] After all, we have to get home so that the people in your time can be born!

That's right! I mean, you've got to get out of here so all your childr- [ She stops short, looking alarmed. With no memory of the last time she's been here and just now sort of appreciating that this Aang doesn't know the same things as Spirit Mentor Aang (™), Korra's not really sure if she should broach the subject of his… descendants. ]

You know uh, everyone! Yeah.

[He gives a blank look at that. And blinks a few times.]

Right. For everyone! But... I do know that I'll have kids. Someday. And grandkids! Jinora's here too, by the way.

You know a lot, huh? From people being here and back? [ Korra is clearly the Master of Tact and totally knows when things might be a sore subject. Totally. At the mention of Jinora she smacks a hand to her head. ]

Jinora! Here! Her dad's gonna flip if he ever finds out.

I guess I do know a lot. [It's weird. He still remembers it as if it was yesterday - when he first got here over two years ago, and he was the new one. It seemed like everyone else in the house had been there for so long without him - especially Katara, and Sokka.

But now, Sokka and Zuko had gone home and returned without as fresh newcomers. Only Katara has been here longer than him. And he's seen so many friends come and go, and felt the joy and pain of each time.

He softly smiles.]

He probably would. He- he kind of was here for a little while...! But that was a long time ago. I... I'm doing my best to take care of her, like he would.

He was here? That's… so hard to imagine. Wings sticking out of his Air Nomad robes. [ Aaaand she's totally trying to picture it right now. Sure, Aang had them too but for some reason it just seemed ten times funnier to imagine Tenzin like that. She shakes her head to try and clear it, and the slight grin fades. ]

I'm sure you're doing a great job! Tenzin would be over the moon if he knew you were taking care of his kids. [ Well the fact that they were kidnapped and all might put a damper on that, but she decided not to mention that part. ]

Thanks! I sure hope so. When he first came here, both Ikki and Jinora were here already, and he didn't have anything bad to say about how we were taking care of them. So - so I think you might be right!

[He does miss him dearly. And he misses Ikki dearly. But he also can't help but chuckle.]

He did look kind of silly with wings.

I'm definitely right. In fact, that may be one of the only things I'm absolutely sure about right now. [ CONFIDENT NOD. ]

And I'm sure the kids love getting to see you, too!

[He laughs a little at that.]

If an Avatar's that sure, than I just know I have to believe her!

I- I'm sure, too. I never imagined kids as great as them. Getting to know any of them, even for just a little amount of time... it's a blessing I never could have seen coming. [There's a mix of fondness and sadness in his tone. He does know he won't be alive when they're born, after all. Their time here is - in Ikki's case was - all the time they'd ever have.]

That's right! Avatar's honor! [ And she salutes him, much as Mako had done to her and Asami not too long ago. ]

They are great kids. They're smart and funny, and they've been really helpful. I guess… even as awful as being brought here has been, at least you've gotten to see them. [ She nods eagerly. ] Maybe we can even find a way for you all to remember each other when we get out of here.

[clearly this salute must be some futuristic greeting he never heard of before, so he repeats it to her.]

You're right. They're - they're the best kids I know. I really hope there's a way to hold onto these memories without messing up the past. I know there's just gotta be a way!

[ Perfect! Now the area is full of saluting Avatars. What more did Luceti need? Energized by the thought of figuring out how to make the whole memory thing work, Korra continues on. ]

We'll figure it out for sure. I just wish you could see them back home with all the new airbenders, too. I've heard they're pretty good teachers. [ She's sure Jinora's told him all about that, though, since it hasn't occurred to Korra yet that Jinora might also not be from her exact time. ]

[And now Aang blinks at that.]

Wait... what? [That doesn't sound right.] Oh- you mean, new air acolytes. Right?

What? No, why would they train the acolytes in airbending- [ She stops. Looks at him for a moment. ]

You... don't know about the airbenders? But Ikki and Jinora were here! [ Unless... they got here before the airbenders started showing up. That wasn't that long ago for her, after all. A look of understanding hits her face suddenly and a smile starts growing. ]

Oh, man. Have I got some new from the future for you.

I don't know what you mean. I already know that Ikki and Jinora and their siblings and dad are airbenders and- and that's it. Right?

[ She shakes her head, her face an odd mix of excitement and nervousness. ] That's all there were until just a little bit ago. See, some... things happened with the spirit world. I decided to keep the portals connecting our world and theirs open and as a side effect some nonbenders all over the world suddenly started bending.

[ A deep breath. ] Aang, there are airbenders again. We're rebuilding the Air Nation.

[Aang stares at her, his eyes widening as he tries to take this all in. He knows it's true. It has to be true. He has a warm, nostalgic feeling in his heart that confirms.]

I... I heard about the portals opening, but nothing - nothing about this. [His eyes shimmer. It made him feel so uplifted just to know about his grandchildren alone, that he'd be bringing more airbenders into the world. He was resigned to the fact that it would take ages before the air nation could truly be rebuilt. But now...]

Korra, I... That's incredible!

[ Her smile's growing by the second. ] It… it really is incredible! I'm so glad I got to tell you, that you know about them. [ She just can't believe she's having this conversation. For just this moment Korra can't help but think that all this kidnapping and whatever it was going to entail is worth it, at least for this. ]

Tenzin thinks there might be enough to fill the temples again! They're all in training right now, back home.

Really? [He mutters in astonished disbelief. It's so much to take in, and now he's starting to tear up. He runs in to hug Korra again.]

I'm so glad...

[ She returns the hug, feeling happier than she thought capable after waking up in the middle of the woods of a strange world. Tenzin told her that keeping the portals open and bringing the airbenders back was a good thing, and this was only helping with her believing that. It was just... she wished Aang could have seen them. She knows it's something Tenzin wanted, too. But if everything still happened the same way... he never would. ]

Don't worry, [ She announces suddenly. ] We're doing everything we can to help them. I'll take care of them. [ A nod, and a little laugh. ] They're gonna be the best revived nation ever.

[Aang knows that he wishes he could see them too, with all his heart. For now, he'll channel that feeling into hugging his next life, probably as tightly as the relatively scrawny airbender could manage, before he pulls back to wipe some tears from his face with his sleeve, then he beams warmly at Korra.]

I'm not gonna worry, Korra. I have faith in you. And in them. It really sounds like... like you're a greater Avatar than I could ever imagine. A whole nation, all over again.

[ And at first she's returning the tight hug and smiling and speechless. Because it's something she's wanted to hear for so long, and from one of the people she wished she could have heard it from most. And it's actually happening. ]

Thank you. I… really appreciate that. So, so much. I've tried so hard to live up to your legacy and be a good Avatar.

[ Even if he hasn't lived all of that legacy, yet. But… he's not getting the whole story. She messed up, ruined the Avatar Cycle and changed the world. As great as it was to have airbenders the rest of the world wasn't too happy with her right now. But she can't say any of that- Aang was so happy to hear about the airbenders and… if she's honest with herself, she's too ashamed to bring it up right now. But the smiles fades. ]

I keep worrying about them and everyone back home. [ Let him think that's the reason for the drop in mood. ] I know you said when I get back it'll be like I was never gone, but I still keep worrying. Silly, huh?

[His smile remains fond, and if anything becomes more radiant with warmth as she addresses him.]

No, it's not silly at all. Actually... that means that you really are a good Avatar. Because being a good Avatar isn't supposed to be just about legacies. It's supposed to be about caring for people and trying to help them. Even when you can't. [It's the kind of words he wished he'd been told as the Avatar. Then his expression turns more serious as he regards her.]

I know it must be hard. I think about a lot of the people who're left back home, too. But the way I get through it is... I try to focus on here. It gets easier as time gets on. Because if we manage to survive her and do what we can to help this world? Not only will we get to go back home... but we'll be able to stop all kinds of people back home from getting caught in this, too. S-so... It's not hopeless.

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