We're not in Republic City anymore.

[avatar_state]

She sat, cross-legged, meditating. One day, she'd find a way to reconnect with her past selves. All the previous avatars, stretching back through time. But the meditation itself never hurt. To think just a few years before how bad she'd been at it. So hotheaded, so rash. She'd been tempered. By hard experience, but also by wonderful people.

So she smiled when she felt the breeze stir her hair. It was a reminder, to her, of so much. But then she heard the creaking of a door.

Her eyes opened, and she stood. There weren't any doors here, not out in the wilds beyond Republic City. But there was one, in the face of a boulder near to her, grass swirling in front of it like it had always been there, just a part of the scenery. She stepped forward.

She didn't remember taking hold of the handle. All she remembered was the flash, and then there was...another city. One she didn't recognize, with strange smells, and strange sounds. She turned in a small circle, eyes wide and mouth open.

"How does my life keep on getting stranger?"

Comments

[dragonsflew]

"Oh, no - I'm not from the Spirit Realm. Though I'm flattered, and thank you for the warm greeting."

Gorbash is interested when Korra mentions that her world also has dragons.

"Yes, we all can talk where I come from, though some are more talkative than others. There are other dragons, in your world?"

[avatar_state]

She nodded.

"They're very rare. Most people don't even know they exist anymore. But they do. They're a lot more..." she vaguely makes a more serpentine shape with her hands, "elongated?"

[dragonsflew]

"Ah!" Gorbash is interested.

"There are dragons like that in my world, too - we come in all different shapes and sizes. Dragons are still common in the world of magic - one of the reasons we split ourselves off from the rest of the world was not only that people were starting to disbelieve in us, but because humans were starting to hunt us. Was that what happened in your world?"

[avatar_state]

She nodded, sadly.

"Over a hundred years ago, people tried to wipe out the dragons. But one of the wisest of men, General Iroh, spared the last two. Hid them away where they could pass their wisdom on and live in peace. They taught him how to bend lightning. People came to call him the Dragon of the West. Ironically, nobody in his lifetime ever knew what he did."

"There are more now, but nobody knows how many. I hope there are more, in the Spirit Realm."

[dragonsflew]

Gorbash frowns. He's heard of dragons being hunted for sport, but it hadn't gotten that far.

"That was a good thing for him to do. I'm glad to hear that there are still dragons in the world, and that there are people like you and General Iroh who work to keep them safe. Maybe, someday in the future, dragons will be able to return to my world, too, but it isn't the right time yet. The world would not be a kind place for us."

He smiles slightly, to brighten the mood. "Would you like a ride?"

[avatar_state]

Within a moment, her hands are balled under her chin, and her wide-eyed look and tremendous grin give her answer before she even says it.

"WOULD I?! I've never gotten to ride a dragon! Fire Lord Zuko did, and it looked like the most amazing thing!"

[dragonsflew]

Gorbash gives a toothy dragon grin. He loves offering rides to people, especially people who've never had the chance to fly on dragonback before.

"Very well then." Gorbash bends down and spreads out his wings. "Get on my back, and hold on tight."

[avatar_state]

Her method of mounting up may be unusual. Gusts of wind seem to come from under her, propelling her up into the the air. A quick movement of her hands and two more turn her around so she gently lands on his back, an enthusiastic grin on her face.

[dragonsflew]

"You have magic, too?" Gorbash is interested, asking the question as he spreads leathery wings. He's heard of similar things, where he comes from, though not quite the same. Magic comes in many different forms as practiced by wizards and air magic is definitely one of them.

[avatar_state]

"Oh, no, bending," she replies, settling in, careful so as not to make him uncomfortable. "People where I'm from have mastered the arts of being able to alter the elements. Earth, fire, water, air. usually it's just one each. But the Avatar - that's me - can manipulate all of them."

[dragonsflew]

"Bending! So, that's what you meant when you called yourself the Avatar. I see. I know of wizards in my world who have control over the elements." Gorbash crouches, ready to take to the sky. "Are you ready when I take off, Avatar Korra? I don't want to surprise you."

[avatar_state]

"Thanks for asking, but I am ready, and I am eager!"

And oh, was she.

[dragonsflew]

Gorbash crouches, then beats his wings and throws himself into the air.

He missed this a lot, he thinks.

[avatar_state]

"Wahoo!"

She can't help but cry out with a grin as they get airborne. What girl hasn't dreamed of riding on a dragon?

Certainly not this Avatar.