tushanshu | [Video]

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[To say things had been weird since Wan arrived would be a massive, massive, massive understatement. Several hours of just plain weird. He was finally at the house he'd apparently been assigned and it was nice.

...really nice. Nicest place he'd ever had a chance to sleep in.

But that wasn't why he was at the terminal, using it for the first time. No. He had weird things to ask about.]

H-hello.

[Wan gave an awkward wave.]

I'm new here and I was told I could use this to find out information if I had any questions. I have a few. They're about the turtle that found me and this strange feeling I've been having since I woke up. They're unrelated. The turtle was giving me a strange feeling, but I got that one sorted out.

Anyway, first about the turtle. Her name is Rio'era. She wanted to come home with me, but the home I was given was not the home she wanted to go back to. I mean, I can find her anywhere with the spiritual connection she's given me, but I- I'm not getting to the point. I just wanted to know if that was normal?

A turtle the size of a small house calling out to you when you get here and all that. The people that introduced me to the computers didn't mention anything about smaller turtle spirits doing that. They only mentioned the giant turtle spirit we're all living on right now.

The other question I have is about this strange feeling of... well, I'm not sure. It's like I can feel myself in two other places, but I can't pinpoint those places. I can just feel them. Out there.

Floating around.

...Somewhere.

[Wan quieted, trying to remember if there was anything else.]

Oh! I'm supposed to find a job! I've never had one in a human city before! So that's pretty exciting. If I can get one. How do I get one? Is there a place I can volunteer to go hunting outside the city or something? Cause I've done that before... sort of.

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The house I was given to live in is in the Wood Sector! If I can't find it I'll ask around. You want to meet right now, right?

[How is it all the firebenders somehow wind up in the Wood Sector? A question Korra can ponder later.]

Yeah, it'll be better to explain that sooner rather than later. [Incoming confusion disaster, but at least Korra's prepared for it this time.]

Then I'll leave right now. Goodbye.

[Wan stood and bowed to the video, hands over his heart and one fist covering the other. Then he leaned in to turn off the feed.

About a half hour later Wan managed to find the Jade School of Kung Fu and headed inside to find the woman he'd been talking to. Calling out as he did so.]

Hello? I'm Wan. I talked to a dark skinned woman on the computer thing earlier. I forgot to ask her name, but we're supposed to meet here.

[It was so strange, too, because he almost felt like he was close to that other echo of himself. It didn't seem as distant anymore.]

[Fully prepared to full that familiar spiritual tug she felt when Aang was around, Korra was surprised to find that it somehow felt different. As soon as she heard the door open, Korra poked her head out of the office in the back.]

Over here! [Seeing Wan walking and talking was surreal, but Korra tried to act as normal as she could as she waved him in. She held out her hand for a shake.] I'm Korra.

[Wan's smile remained right up until he got close to her. Then it faded as he realized she was the source of the feeling. His eyes widened as he stopped just outside the office door and reached out, not quite sure she was real anymore.]

You... you're... Are you real?

[Well she was going to say something, but instead she gave a sudden laugh and nodded.]

Yeah, I'm really real. [She clasped his hand and gave a firm few shakes. That familiar feeling flowed from her hand the instant she made contact, something she would have to get used to all over again, and Korra smiled when she looked at him.]

There's a lot of things I need to tell you, Avatar Wan.

[Wan was stuck staring at her hand. Their hands. It was like being held up to a mirror of himself and not recognizing his own face except that he knew she was a part of him. It was almost enough to distract him from her words. Almost.

He looked back up at her face, still beyond confused at all this, but now mentally latching onto the term she'd used.]

Avatar? Why do call me that?

[Korra forgot to let go of his hand, and she tilted her head while looking at him.]

Because, the Avatar keeps balance in the world and you did that. Well, you and Raava. [She scratched her head and tried to give a consoling look, but she was a little too excited to make it as sincere as she wanted it to be.]

We come from the same world, and you're from ten thousand years in the past. My past.

[It's a good thing she forgot to let go of his hand because Wan's legs shook and he needed all the support he could get just to stay standing.]

Then... we won. We beat Vaatu.

[Wait. She'd said ten thousand years.]

Harmonic Convergence. Has it come again? Is there someone who can fight Vaatu? The world can't fall to chaos!

Easy. [She said it with a smile, though it wasn't out of amusement. More from that he was just as compassionate as Korra remembered seeing him and she gripped his hand when she felt him slip ever so slightly.]

It's okay, I managed to defeat Vaatu. You see, I'm the current Avatar. When the Avatar dies, they become reincarnated and Raava bonds with them when they're born into the next nation.

[May as well do proper introductions now.]

I'm Avatar Korra of the Southern Water Tribe. That's why you have that feeling...

[That was a lot to take in. Wan steadied himself in the doorway with his other hand, then used it to help as he lowered himself to the floor. His breathing was heavy, his mind racing.

He'd only just bonded permanently with Raava earlier that day - from his perspective. They'd been ripped away from the fight with Vaatu before they could finish it. He hadn't given any thought to how being 'bonded forever' would work. He hadn't had the time. And for ten thousand years to have passed...]

I'm sorry, Raava. I didn't mean to trap you.

[He shut his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

Do not be sorry, Wan. I am not.

Wan opened his eyes and stared up at Korra.]

Ten thousand years...

[She messed up. Korra had no idea how she did it, but she messed up telling Wan how things worked and she had a briefest instant of panic as he lowered onto the floor. There was no getting around the amount of time that passed, so Korra could only nod down.]

Wan, you didn't trap Raava. [Folding her knees, Korra got into seiza so she was able to look at him evenly.] She chose to stay with me- I mean, with the Avatar. Keeping peace and balance in the world is what she's been doing all those years. If it weren't for you, our world would have been utter chaos.

[Wan stared at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers, trying to make sense of it all. Raava's own words of consolation didn't help much only because of the enormity of the new knowledge. He trusted her and if she said she was not sorry, then he didn't need to be sorry either. It was just hard to accept. With all they'd been through he hadn't wanted to hurt Raava more. Giving up his own life was fine, but hers...

I will live on in you, Wan. My life is as I have chosen it to be.]

But it only just happened... What if you regret it?

[He was speaking to Raava, inside his head. Korra couldn't know that, of course.

She is proof that I will not.

Wan reached his hand out to touch Korra's cheek, still searching her eyes.]

I don't know what to think right now.

[It was just so much to take in at once.]

[Korra's only spoken to Raava once, so she instantly assumed he was talking to her. And she opened her mouth, only to close it again. What did she regret? Even though it hadn't happened yet, Korra already felt fear and regret at losing all of her past lives.

No wisdom to guide her, no past Avatar to help her when she needed it the most.

And she felt guilty for it when she felt his hand on her cheek. Wan had no past lives, only Raava. Just like she would be.]

I know. It's- not easy. [Bringing her hand up to his, Korra looked down sadly. This turned out to be another failure.] I shouldn't have told you until later.

I'm not sure that would have made it any easier.

[He rubbed a thumb over her cheek, taking comfort in the touch. It was unusual for him to seek it out. Touching others didn't happen much unless it was a Catdeer named Mula. Or Raava.

Wan took a deep breath and sighed.]

It's just a lot. And Raava...

[His hand twisted to take Korra's and then dropped so he was holding it between them. He smiled, unsure if he was feeling more rueful or more sad.]

She says she's not mad.

[Consoling others had become a valuable learned lesson since she arrived on Tu Vishan, and she was already becoming accustomed to the tug that Wan had on her spirit; which made things easier. His smile was a lot like hers and Aang's, down to the point where she could see right through it. But she offered her own comforting smile and covered his hand with both of hers.]

No, she's not. I've never really tried talking to her before, but I know. Avatars have to trust they're doing the right thing. It's what you did, and every one after you did that. World's still standing, so that's something, right?

[That legitimately made him feel a little better. But it was followed by a self-depreciating laugh.]

Trusting that I was doing the right thing was what got Raava into this mess. Or didn't you hear about that?

[Wan's eyes drifted to their hands. It felt so natural. She felt natural. Just another part of him. It would have scared him if not for all the times he'd had Raava merge with him. Korra felt the same as Raava without the soul-rending pain. It was a pleasant experience now that he was letting himself relax and get used to it.]

If I hadn't separated Raava and Vaatu, she wouldn't have needed me to help her fight at Harmonic Convergence.

[Korra would have felt more awkward were she not trying to make him feel better; that and he was familiar to her. And not just because he had shown her his life.]

I know, but you were only trying to help. You didn't know what Vaatu was, firebending them apart isn't something anyone should hold against you.

[She started to stand up, offering her other hand to his help him up.]

I hold it against myself.

[Wan let her help him up only because she looked ready to get standing again. He would have been content to stay against the doorframe for a good few hours just thinking about things. But she wanted up, so he stood.]

I know I didn't know better, but it's still my responsibility. That's why fighting Vaatu is- was- so important. With Raava as a part of me now...

[Wan hadn't quite registered that Korra had already said he'd done this, but the decision was quickly made all the same.]

Then it becomes my responsibility to help her perform her duties to the world. To maintain the balance and guide the world toward peace.

[He put his free hand over Korra's, adding to the pile as he smiled fully. Acceptance of his own actions, his own responsibility, came very easily to Wan. This was something he could do. If he could not give Raava her autonomy back, then he would act on her behalf instead. He would not allow her to give all of herself without giving something back.]

You said you defeated Vaatu at the next Harmonic Convergence. What role have you chosen to take after that as the bearer of Raava's Light Spirit?

[Korra couldn't help but smile at that statement, and it was somewhat nervous because she wasn't expecting him to end up holding her hand in turn. But it only lasted until he asked his question, then Korra's smile faded and her hands went a little limp.]

Well, I can tell you what role the Emperor let me see in my future. It hasn't happened yet, not for me anyway. [Korra took in a deep breath and let her hands slide out from underneath his, her tone lowering as she looked down.]

After I vanquished Vaatu, I chose to leave the spirit portals opened. [And she immediately looked back up at him, her voice taking an upswing.] I'm sorry! I know it's not what you wanted; but I just felt it was the right thing to do I guess. I could only see my future, not actually live it.

What are you talking about? Why wouldn't I want to leave the portals-

[His confused questioning was cut off by Raava's voice in his head.

We cannot destroy Darkness. Had we stayed, the Tree of Time would have been a fine prison.]

And closing the portals would prevent any human from making the same mistake of releasing him that I made.

[It was fairly obvious that he was having a seemingly one-sided conversation with himself. His eyes going down and away before returning to Korra.]

You didn't imprison Vaatu in the tree? Where did you put him?

[Now that Korra knew he was talking to Raava, she listened to the one sided conversation and bit her lower lip guiltily. A human was able to release Vaatu, and it was Korra's fault for opening that spirit portal in the first place.]

I, didn't imprison him anywhere. When I say I vanquished Vaatu, I mean I purified him and let him go in peace. [Maybe it was nicer than he deserved, but Korra was thankful to be able to do so. She shrugged her shoulders and that smile came back just a little.] I actually save the world.

Darkness can no more be destroyed than Light. Purifying him will only vanquish him for a time. He will eventually return.

[Wan repeated Raava's words, both concerned at this knowledge. But it did mean that for the time being the world was saved. Perhaps that was a better solution that whatever he chose to do. Better for her time and the people that lived in it.]

But it won't be for a long time. Not until the sometime before the next Harmonic Convergence.

[He smiled, shrugging.]

Time enough for the world to prepare. Just as long as his threat isn't forgotten, I think that it will be fine. I don't mind the portals being open. If the portals were closed, then the spirits of the Spirit World would have had to return or be trapped outside their home. Does that mean humans aren't living separate from each other anymore?

[That was a relief, especially since it came from Wan himself. There was no greater validation in her future actions than having the okay from the person who's work she would be undoing. Korra nodded remembering the speech she heard herself give to the Southern Water Tribe.]

Yeah, they're going to have to learn to live together. It's going to be a new age.

[Then she took a deep breath and raised her eyebrows slightly cheerlessly.]

But that's back home. I wish I could say the same for here.

[That look didn't bode well for things.]

What's wrong here?

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