Chapter 42

Chen and Korra stood up in front of the portal that opened. The ice, which had covered the forest, melted away. After being dead for so long, green leaves grew up on the trees. It was as though life grew in this icy place. Some lakes started appearing, and it got warmer around the portal. 

It was phenomenal. But Chen didn't feel surprised as he'd lost hope in logic ever since he came to this world. There was one thing left to do, and it was to get into that portal, wait for Unalaq, and kill him. Then he would blame it on the spirits or pretend that they never met. 

"The spirits, they turned into positive ones again," Korra said. Chen and she had yet to change positions. He was lying on her chest while she hugged him from behind. It felt like she was the chad in this friendship. Chen didn't mind it or anything.  

"I know." He replied, looking at the spirits dancing around the portal. They weren't dark anymore. He clicked his tongue, thinking of how much experience they would be worth. 

Thinking about experience, he opened his system to see how much he had got. 

It was a little more than 430.000. 

It would be enough to level up his specialities. 

Chen decided to think of that later. For now, he'd enough power to complete his task. 

Now, there is one thing he should consider. How was he going to enter the spirit world without anyone knowing?

Unalaq would enter the portal after summoning the troops from the North to take over the south. It would happen this morning. He was sure of it. Chen knew the canon. If the troops came from the north, it would mean that Unalaq's forces had been waiting somewhere near for the invasion. It meant that it was planned a long time ago.  

"The storm stopped," Korra said, sounding happy that she completed her job as the Avatar. 

There's something that Chen always wanted to know about Korra.

"Korra, I have a question." He said. "I know it may be rude, but I can't leave it in my chest any longer." 

Since she was behind him, she blushed and opened her eyes widely. Chen could see that through his thermal vision. 

"You can't leave it on your chest?" Korra repeated after him. 

"Relax, it's not a confession. It's a question." Chen confirmed. 

"It's okay. Don't be embarrassed." Korra faked a giggle, pretending to take it as a joke. 

"I'm not embarrassed or something." He took a deep breath and tilted his neck between her breasts, his face facing hers. 

"Why do you feel that you have to act as if it's responsible to act as people tell you." 

"What? What do you mean? I'm the Avatar, and I'm just doing my job." She corrected with a smile.

"When your father showed his concern for you, you acted rude." He said. "However, you are acting different toward your uncle. Whenever you get argumentative with him, he would just shut you up by a few words about you being the Avatar." 

"What do you mean?"  She asked. 

For the first time, she frowned at him. Korra clicked her tongue, not seeming to like how Chen was talking to her. 

He didn't lie though. He'd convinced her to go to the portal by telling her that she was the Avatar. She shouted at her father when he tried to help her. 

Unalaq hadn't been the first one to play her. 

Tarrlok did, and he'd told her that it was her job as the Avatar to play her. 

"Let's say, for example, I wanted to invade your nation under the name of unity." He replied. "When you come to talk to me, I can simply say that The Avatar shouldn't interfere between nations. I would play you, hide my intents, and you would just be shackled by words such as the Avatar should remain neutral. You would think you are the Avatar and you are doing what you are supposed to do, but in reality, you are just played by me." 

Now since the invasion may happen soon, Korra would question how he knew about it. 

However, Chen had a backup. 

He can always say 'jinx' or 'vision provided by spirits'

Korra started breathing heavily, seeming to recall few memories. When a person expresses a change, they would go through some stages before accepting the truth.

The first was a shock. Then denial. Then rage, then they would try to make up excuses, and finally acceptance. Korra now was getting through denial. Before her getting angry at him, he decided to leave. 

"Alright. There is no way such a thing  I'm the Avatar, and I'm not easy to be played with." She pinched his nose and shook it. "I don't know how you got the idea that I'm easy to play with."

"You are the Avatar, but before that you are Korra. If you don't trust your judgement and wait for others to tell what you are supposed to do, you are just a mere pawn played by the others."  Chen said. "Trust me, I know the proxy life more than you do. The only difference was that I was aware of what I was. You may think you have control, but you are played. Can you stop pinching my nose, it hurts." 

That was Korra's truth. She was just a pawn. People, White Lotus order and everyone she knew told her what she should do.  She was nothing more than a pet. Anyone who would pet her Avatar ego would easily control her. 

In the first season, Tarrlok played her. Then Unalaq. Then the Earth Queen. Finally…he didn't remember. But he was sure that someone would. 

"Alright, let's finish this stupid conversation." She said, changing the topic. "Did one of those spirits play with your mind? You know, I will try to ignore that you are acting like a fool, and I would like you not to mention this topic again. You think I'm a pawn, well, I think your head got hit by something when you opened the portal." 

Chen sat up. 

Korra's heart was beating faster and faster.  She furrowed her eyebrows at him, seeming to want to bite him. 

She would soon realise the meaning of his words when her uncle invade the south. When he would try to shut her up by saying that it's not her job as the Avatar. 

He sighed. 

He may be young in body, but he was older. 

He wouldn't take a teenager such as Korra seriously. 

He didn't turn his head. Korra was looking at his back, biting her bottom lip. Drops of water fell from her eyes. Somehow, his words hurt her. 

She would enter the anger stage. It's the longest stage. 

"Let's get back to everyone, your father is waiting for you." Chen stood up and put his hands in his pockets. 

He gave his back to Korra and walked back to the group he came with. She rubbed her eyes and followed him. 

On the way, no one spoke a word. 

They soon met their group. Tonraq opened his arms widely and hugged his daughter. Korra, this time, didn't act rude toward her parent. She shut her mouth and closed her eyes, her head on her father's. 

"I'm sorry for shouting at you," Korra said. 

"It's okay," Tonraq replied. 

Unalaq, on the other hand, flinched seeing that Korra and her father were getting fine. 

'Family drama… what am I doing here?' Chen shook his head. "I'm leaving early. Take care of yourself" He then pointed his hands down. A purple jet flame appeared under his feet and hands, carrying him all the way to the sky. 

"Something happened?" Tonraq asked. 

"Nothing, nothing at all." Korra lied. 

-x-X-x-

In the town of the south water tribe, the people were looking in the direction of the south. Lights covered the sky, and spirits danced with it. 

Chen was with Asami, on the yacht, looking at the sky that became beautiful. 

"So, she opened the portal." Asami asked, "How was it?" 

"It wasn't that hard," Chen answered. He was the one who opened the portal, not the Avatar. Thanks to his Chi control level, he could do that with ease. Controlling the mystical energy surely has more uses than just bending an element. That would be left to think of later. What Chen needed to do was sneak into the portal. 

"Asami, let's stay here for a few more days." 

"Huh?" she looked at him. "And why is that?" 

"I want to train," Chen said. 

"Come on, there is no need for training." She said. "We can always hire bodyguards. Hold on, nothing happened between you and Korra, right?" 

"Not in a way that harms our relationship." Chen shrugged. "You can say that she's angry at me." 

"I thought you two are good friends. What happened?" 

"I told her the harsh truth." 

"Chen, you can't just be mean to girls." 

"But I can." Chen placed his chin on her shoulder, hands on her boobs. He started rubbing, and Asami breathed heavily flushing. 

"That's not mean at all," Asami said, flirting back. 

— one round later — 

Chen kissed Asami's cheek, leaving her to sleep on the bed of her room. 

It was almost dawn, and it was the best time for him to sneak into the spirit world. 

He knew that he was going on a dangerous journey. Cracking his neck, he stood off the bed. Seeing Asami's body, half naked on the bed, he reached the blanket and covered her. It was cold. Somehow, he didn't like seeing her skin shiver. 

'Now that the forces of the North Pole are coming, I have to sneak into the spirit world.' 

Chen then headed outside the yacht. He flew to a high point in the sky, before heading to the pole. No one could see him with most people sleeping. 

Very soon, he reached the south pole. He stood up in front of the pillar light. Some spirits, peaceful ones, were flying around it. 

One of them, looking like a large rabbit, descended. It was a spirit that Chen cleansed from the darkness. 

"Hey, human. You came to play with us." It said. surprisingly, it knew how to talk. 

"Yeah, I came here, but not to play." Chen lifted his head. The spirit was around 4 meters tall. 

"And why is that? It would be fun for you to play with us humans. I told my friends about your white fire and how warm it is. You should try it." 

Faking a chuckle, he smiled and said. "I would love to, but I want to see your word."

"I advise you not to go from this way. There is an evil spirit, called Vaatu. It has a dark priest with it. He has the power to feel your spirit with dark energy and make you lose your mind." 

"Don't worry. My mind is physical." Chen said. "By the way. That evil priest, is he a waterbender?" 

"Yes, how did you know?" 

"Just a guess." 

Chen walked forward, passed the spirit, and closed his eyes. His body touched the pillar of the light.