Korra knew she had no other choice, the way her successor was behaving wasn't going to benefit the World. She knew it wasn't well spoken of and could be risky, but she was desperate. The war was spreading fast. No longer the revolutionist of benders was growing but also the anti benders, they no longer imprisoned benders, they killed them after they began fighting back. Chi-blocking was their most successful method to make them suffer before killing them.

Korra was feeling guilty for not being able to stop the hate, the differences. But she was one woman, one Avatar. She couldn't be at every place all the time, once she resolved a problem, another surfaced and that was probably what killed her so young. She was only 50 when she could no longer protect the world. She could feel her chi weakening with each time she went back and forth to the spirit world and back to her own. It was a struggle, and more so with her link to her past lives severed. If anything, she felt the worse for that, how she had put at risk all of her reincarnations. Every one of the Avatars next in the cycle. If she could keep the peace between spirits and humans was thanks to Jinora and her husband Kai -who felt into synchrony with her meditating and easily welcomed the Nomads culture- but she could feel herself how her chi was no longer the same. How she easily deteriored. How she fell sick so quick, not even healers had been able to help her, her chi paths weren't as strong

And she could see the consequences on the new avatar. How entering the Avatar State for a few minutes had tired her out for hours. She felt guilty she not only she had given her the weakened part of being an avatar. She gave her a war to resolve. The fate of the world, to bring peace again. To resolve the hate she herself hadn't been able to resolve. Korra sighed sorrowfully, rubbing her eyes. She felt guilty but knew she couldn't do anything about it. Raava was already deep connected with Avani, taking her away from the girl was bound to bring severe consequences or worse, killing her and definitely destroying the Avatar cycle. 'Things happen for a reason', Korra mused inwardly, recalling Aang's words from deep her memories, something she guarded heavily within herself, a memory of her past life that stayed with her even after she could no longer feel him. Maybe Avani wasn't only meant to restore peace and stop the new war. Maybe she was destined to do something else. But what?

Korra groaned, she wanted to know. She wanted at least to know to give a hint to the clueless avatar. But the answer wasn't coming, she just had a technique that could give her the push to send her the right path, and she just hoped the other spirits had heard her out. How to make an Avatar to accept her destiny?

Apparently she was going to get her answer soon enough.

~8~

Korra stared at Hei Bai and a massive shadow Spirit with menacing yellow eyes floating a few feet in the air, his always shifting form kept its glowing eyes on Korra's face.

"The Time Tree?" Korra repeated in disbelief. "What the hell is that?"

"Your solution" The shadow Spirit answered "And a pray taking into account. We're going to lead the Avatar the right path"

"She won't listen" Korra pointed out "Earthbenders are stubborn by nature. She won't twist her arm so easily to accept another answer she already thought about"

"This girl's not the only Avatar we've used this tree on" Hei Bai purred, licking its paw "The spirit World has done it countless of times before with past Avatars so they step up and accept their destinies"

"You didn't with me" Korra pointed out

"It wasn't needed" The shadow Spirit replied "Besides, the tree needs thousand of years -Hundred, even more in the physical world- to restore its energy to do it again without messing timelines. It's time to give it another use with this girl"

"You haven't met the girl yet" Korra grinned, chuckling, "If anything, she's as stubborn as Lin Beifong"

The shadow Spirit shifted, its form growing as if smug "Strangely enough, we've only used the time tree with earth Kingdom Avatars and it has been successful" Korra's grin faded slowly, blinking impressed "So, it may take time but... We know it will be successful"

"Well, then..." Korra clapped her hands, grimacing "Let's get our avatar"

~8~

Avani glared up at the sky, something telling her this wasn't good. She had fled the village a few hours ago, running along the shore of a river, the sound of water relaxing in her ears. However, it wasn't long before wind began picking up, the calming waves becoming violent as a big grey cloud covered the sun. Avani glanced up warily, tapping the sole of her feet on the ground, feeling a breeze of cold air seeping through her bones. Her seismic sense was telling her she was alone but, something inside twisted, her stomach forming knots and the back of her hair stood up.

While her earthbending let her know she was alone. She definitely knew she wasn't.

Avani nibbled on her lip without noticing the water of the river growing, the waves crashing against the shore soaking the earth close to her feet, slowly starting to encase her legs. It was a bright flash of lighting and push of Hei Bai that send Avani flying toward the water.

The coldness seeped through her clothes and skin, directly to her bones, her eyes opening to show a bright white bluish as she closed her fists, a sphere of air surrounding her as she unconsciously bended the water away from her.

Avani gasped, coughing as she opened her eyes to find herself laying atop a brunch of a golden tree. The roots were surrounding her body as if they grew around her. She tried to move but the branches suddenly tightened on her, starting to glow. "Korra?!"

The woman in question appeared in front of her, smiling grimly "I'm sorry, Avani. But you gave us no choice"

Avani could only stare at the guilty looking Avatar as the light of the golden tree grew stronger blinding her completely

~8~

Avani coughed out the water from her lungs, the sensation weird as she could feel the water moving out of her lungs. She rolled over with a spasm, heaving, her hair dripping wet as she felt a gentle hand rubbing her back. Her hands flat in the rock ground, blinking as she focused in her surroundings, head tucked in her chest.

"It's okay" a gentle feminine voice cooed, as if talking to a wild animal "You're okay. You're no longer in danger"

Avani furrowed her eyebrows as she felt three presences in the same room, though she could also feel something heavy, a loud heartbeat that she could only identify on a big animal.

"Isn't that suspicious?" A loud, gruff masculine voice spoke, sensing the shift when he walked closer, about to touch her when she sprang to life, whirling around suddenly -with speed she didn't know she held- to grip his wrist, holding it tightly as he began to trash "Ah! I knew it, Fire Nation spy!"

"Sokka!" The gentle tone left her voice as she snapped, pulling the guy away from Avani.

Avani could only crawl backwards, eyes widened in fear as she ignored the pull of rock and earth underneath her to bend as she was so good at.

The third presence, a small bald boy suddenly disappeared from her 'eyes' before appearing again and in front of her, hands raised up in innocence as he smiled at her "I'm sorry for Sokka. He's wary of everyone new. I'm just glad you're okay. You gave us a good scare" Avani said nothing, starting at the boy - monk?- in shock, a brief shock of recognition within her and it seemed the same to him as he cocked his head, curiously "Do we know each other?" Avani gulped, her fingers stretched as of ready to chunk a slob of earth to him to escape. "Doesn't matter then. My name's Aang!"

Avani gaped in shock.

Aang smiled at her expression, pointing behind him "And those are my friends, Katara and Sokka"

Avani followed his gaze toward a pair of Water Tribe - Their brownish skin, icy blue eyes and clothes gave them away- stood, glaring at each other. However when the boy said their names, the girl Katara turned to face her, a small smile growing in her face, warm and concerned while the guy Sokka stared at her in suspicion

Avani gaped at the three of them, green eyes flickering in shock. KORRA, WHAT DID YOU DO?