Work Text:
She was four when the White Lotus came on her doorstep.
Four when her parents greeted them at the door, the South Pole winds pushed its icy breath into her hut. The White Lotus had told them many had claimed to be the Avatar and they were all false. She was so excited- she was the Avatar. She was the future master of all four elements.
She was four, how could she have known?
Her mother called for her. Korra wasted no time, earthbending a whole through the earthen walls and jumping excitedly, showing off every skill she had practiced the last few weeks.
“I’m the Avatar- you gotta deal with it!” She said, practically vibrating with pride. The White Lotus gushed at her, calling her a prodigy and a savior.
She was five when she was put in the compound.
The White Lotus told her she needed protection while she trained to save the world. They gave her a room, clothing, protection, the best masters of water, earth, and firebending. She trained and learned and spared from sunrise to sunset five days a week. The other two were days to herself.
She was eleven when she asked why she couldn’t go play with anyone. They told her that being the Avatar meant having some sacrifices, that in order to best protect the world, she needed to learn to be the Avatar first. They said that the people of the world knew that, and they’d love her once she mastered all four elements.
She stopped taking one of her days off after that, devoting it to earthbending lessons.
She was turning 15. But there was no party, no laughter, no acknowledgement. Just a half day off, a few half hearted happy birthdays, and a cake and a present from her parents who were allowed to visit her. She cried herself to sleep that night, got up early and began training again.
She was 17 when she finally crushed her earthbending test. Knocked them clean off their feet. The White Lotus told her she was too aggressive, and failed her.
She tried to run. Got caught. Got a lecture about responsibility in the empty halls of the compound, watching as the world went on without her. They forced her to meditate in the cold inner room of the compound.
Now, at 20, she’s in the middle of the courtyard, standing toe to toe with her Firebending master, heart beating out of her chest as she dodges his flame, throwing every ounce of fire she had at him. She was aggressive, she knew that, but she couldn’t fail this test. If she passed, Tenzin came to teach her airbending. Once she learned Airbending? She could leave. She could go do what she was trained, what she bled, what she cried to do.
All she had to do… was wipe the smug smile off of Master Tanrak’s stupid face.