It took four hours of relentless trekking through the marsh and a further two by road before Korra and Asami finally managed to return to the toad spirit’s village, much to the exhausted pair’s relief. The soggy ground and clinging mud had pulled at their every step, sapping their strength and leaving their feet scraped and raw. Yet, despite their shared burden and Korra’s curse, by the time they arrived at Elder Toad’s home once more, it was Asami who could barely stand.
Caught unprepared and with a palm-sized captive in tow, the women had been forced to improvise, ultimately settling on using Asami’s sock as a makeshift bag, leaving her barefoot within her boots. It had served to both blind and distract their captive, sparing Korra the added burden of her curse flaring up at the expense of Asami’s feet. However, after dropping their captive off in the guest house and explaining the situation to Elder Toad in her tea room, the spirit’s words caused the two women to forget the aches of their journey.
“Married?” With an expression as if she had seen a ghost, Korra couldn’t suppress a surprised outburst at Elder Toad’s words, sinking back into her wooden chair. They had expected the curse to be something ancient and sinister, not a marriage ritual! In a chair to the side, Asami paused as she bandaged her feet, nearly dropping the gauze in her hand.
“Well, that’s what the ritual was designed for. It’s actually quite romantic! Two lovers swearing an blood oath to each other by the same dagger…” Elder Toad’s voice took on a wistful note as the frog spirit’s eyes gazed off into the distance. From their last visit, the women had experienced the elderly spirits obsession with romance first hand, much to their embarrassment. However, haggard and road-weary as the women were, they had a lot less patience for the capricious toad.
“How is that romantic?” Recovering from her shock, Korra couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice, despite her efforts to remain polite. Turning her gaze towards Asami, she found her companion’s expression sharp and cold.
“It binds the two lovers’ minds, body, and souls. Surely, you’ve felt some awareness of your… err…” Breaking from her revelry, Elder Toad’s expression became serious as she remember her guest’s circumstances. Regardless of its origin, the ritual was as good as a curse under the current situation.
“Attacker.” Asami’s voice was cold as she chimed in, disgust coating her words.
“All I’ve felt is pain.” Korra’s voice wasn’t much different as she remembered her assailant, the thought of being married to him giving her goose bumps. It was a violation! Shivering in disgust, the woman turned her attention back to the spirit before her.
“What better way to push couples to sort out their disagreements than a touch of discomfort?” The toad spirit’s words was weaker as she spoke, her voice hesitant as her face twisted in a mixture of disbelief and betrayal. For a romantic old soul such as herself, speaking of a marriage ritual with anything other than wistful longing felt wrong.
“It’s torture!” Korra couldn’t keep her voice from rising, despite her best efforts to remain polite. Although by now the pain had mostly faded to a dull ache, the initial searing agony of the curse still lingered in the woman’s mind. It wasn’t the worst pain she had ever felt, but it was certainly up there. To think they would subject lovers to this sort of…
“Like I said, it wasn’t designed to be used by enemies. The discomfort is proportional to the displeasure. A small disagreement might yield a dull itch, pushing the couples to talk things out and hopefully resolve their differences. In happy couples, it would even convey a comforting sensation, not too dissimilar from the bond you share with Raava…” Elder Toad’s voice trailed off as she wanted to defend the ritual, but couldn’t in the face of its misuse.
“Is that why I can’t feel her?” With a look of realization, Korra pressed the old toad spirit, leaning forward over the wooden table separating them. The intensity of the woman’s gaze caused the old spirit to lean away in surprise.
“I don’t know.” Raising her knobby hands, Elder Toad motioned for the avatar to settle down before continuing.
“It may be that the bonds are interfering with one another. This is the first time the marriage ritual has been… abused… like this.” Saying the words aloud, the elder spirit’s mouth pulled wide in an inhuman grimace as her own anger began to boil over.
“This is a travesty! That ritual was designed for love, not hate. To turn it into a weapon is… is…” Elder Toad spat with disgust as she spoke, her lips pressing together as her words trailed off into an amphibious hiss.
“What about the dreams?” After allowing several seconds for their host to calm down, Korra continued, her voice quiet.
“Another… feature. Imagine two lovers reliving their memories with one another, learning about each other, seeing how the other views them through their own eyes, or experience their concerns firsthand….” The toad spirit’s fist clenched audibly as she spoke, her outrage growing as she contemplated each new perversion of the once wholesome spell.
“We’re getting distracted. How do we undo it?” Seeing that the old spirit was losing herself to anger once more, Asami interjected, her voice sharp and cold.
“That’s simple. You both just have to agree to a divorce.” Recollecting herself, Elder Toad took a deep breath before releasing it in a calming sigh.
“That’s it? No magic words? No rituals or artifacts?” Korra’s voice took on a note of hope at the seemingly simple fix.
“That’s it. Any spoken wish to sever the bond to the other should suffice.” Elder Toad voice also grew calmer as she realized a solution was readily available. The spell was designed to be consensual in the first place, so thankfully removing it was a simple affair.
“What if they’re unwilling…” However, Asami’s words doused the kindling optimism, her implication dark. Their assailant was consumed by the desire for revenge to the point of throwing his life away.
“Both parties need to agree to sever the bond…” The toad spirit’s voice grew quiet and sad as realization dawned on her.
“What happens if he… you know? Before we can undo this… ritual.” Remembering her attacker’s mad attempts to fling himself to his death, Korra voice was fragile as she spoke.
“It persists… Indefinitely. A blessing to help a grieving widow through dark times…” Elder Toad’s voice was little more than a sad whisper. The room grew quiet as Korra and Asami contemplated what could have happened had they failed to rescue their assailant the day before.
“However, not all hope is lost.” Clearing her throat, Elder Toad forced herself to take a more optimistic tone before addressing her guests once more.
“The ritual works in both directions, seeking to bring harmony between the two of you through the mixing of energies. Humans are fickle creatures, and a hatred as strong as your assailant’s cannot be maintained for long. Your own compassion will drown it out. Eventually, he will become more reasonable, whether he wants to or not.” However, despite the forced note of optimism, the spirit couldn’t keep an edge of uncertainty out of her voice.
“What’s the catch.” Having picked up on the nervous undertone in Elder Toad’s words, there was a tension in Asami’s voice as she spoke. The old spirit hesitated for a second before continuing.
“His hatred may dye you as well.” A note of defeat hung in the spirit’s voice as she spoke, her snout drooping.
“Would this change be permanent?” Asami’s voice was tight with alarm, her fist clenching the gauze in her hand until her knuckles grew white.
“You’re human. Nothing’s permanent…” However, despite her words, the elder spirit’s voice was grim. An ominous silence hung in the air for several seconds until, with a grim determination Asami reached for her boots, slipping them over her bandaged feet before standing abruptly. Moments later, she was out the door.
“Asami!” Alarmed by her companion’s sudden departure, Korra hurriedly rushed after Asami.
Meanwhile in a guest house at the edge of the spirit village, Shu was frantically trying to escape from his putrid prison. However, his desperation wasn’t born from any discomfort. His nose had long ago grown numb to the earthy stench of Asami’s feet after his stay in her boot and the subsequent travel via her sock, and he had already gotten used to the slimy touch of moist cloth. No, his anxiousness was born from another source. However, no matter how hard Shu worked at the tight knot tied at the top of the sock, it wouldn’t budge.
The dreams! The Red Lotus hadn’t told him anything about dreams. Having relived the death of his father, Shu was shaken to his core. Even the raging furnace of hatred within his heart seemed to wither at the thought of reliving his past. Although his hatred for Korra was bone-deep, his dread of what memories might be drudged up rivaled it.
The day his father died his innocence had died with him. What had followed was a hellish life as a slave under Yutao, being forced from one miserable job to the next with barely enough to eat and a whip as his only reward. However, even that had been peaceful compared to the day he met her… As long repressed memories threatened to resurface, Shu barely suppressed a sob, his hands shaking violently as he continued to work at the knot before him.
Suddenly, the rough rattle of a door handle being turned filled the room, followed moments later by the sound of angry footsteps approaching the bed. Shu had only moments to brace himself before the damp sock he was trapped within was hoisted skyward, sending him tumbling down into the toe. It took only a few aggressive tugs for the knot he had been struggling with to be undone.
Before the shrunken man could even realize what was happening, his world upended once more, and he found himself tumbling out onto the pinkish skin of an all too familiar palm. With a savage grip, Asami’s fingers wrapped around Shu, squeezing the air from his lungs as her other hand rose to seize his arm, her sock discarded. Trapped in Asami’s clenched fist and with an arm seized painfully between her fingers, the woman lifted Shu up before her blazing gaze.
“Repeat after me. I sever my bond with the Avatar.” There was no preamble. As Asami’s damp breath washed over him and her teeth gleamed below, Shu couldn’t help but be reminded of the ease with which his captor could end his life. However, that was exactly what he was hoping for. Gritting his teeth, Shu kept his mouth closed, until with an irresistible force the fingers seizing his arm began to twist.
“Say it!” Her teeth gritted in a savage grimace, her eye glittering with barely contained rage, Asami’s voice rattled Shu’s bones as she let out a vicious snarl. The shrunken man could recognize the hatred within Asami threatening to boil over as something very precious to her was threatened. She was close to losing control, close to doing something she might regret. Sensing an opportunity, Shu spat, watching with morbid satisfaction as his saliva passed between her ruby lips.
Asami’s reaction was immediate. Recoiling in disgust, the woman spat to the side, her face crumpling in outrage as the grip around Shu’s chest and arm tightened painfully. Gritting his teeth, the shrunken man prepared himself for the pain he knew would come. It was so easy to lose control when in the throes of rage, and at his size, even a single mistake from the larger woman might mean his death.
“Don’t think for a second I won’t break every bone in your miserable body.” Asami’s snarl shook Shu’s tiny form as the fingers gripping his arm began to twist. The man couldn’t help but let out a cry of pain as he felt the tension building in his shoulder joint, his tendons creaking ominously.
“Asami!” However, before Shu felt the shattering pop of his arm, a familiar voice called out, causing his captor to pause.
“Stay out of this Korra!” At Asami’s growl, Shu turned his head toward the doorway, finding the familiar figure of the avatar standing at the edge of the room. Once again his anger roused, though rather than a blazing inferno, his lingering fear reduced it to a steady blaze. Korra’s alarmed expression crumpled in pain as Shu’s attention fell upon her.
“No! I won’t let you do this.” However, despite the sudden of pain, Korra took a step towards her companion, her eyes never leaving Asami’s.
“So, what? I’m supposed to let him change you?” Asami was keen to avoid Korra’s gaze as she spoke. However, Shu could see the anger melt from her eyes, giving way to fear as tears began to pool in the corner of Asami’s eyes.
“And I’m supposed to sit by and watch him change you?” With a wave of her hand, Korra motioned towards the shrunken man in her companion’s hands as well as the arm still held in Asami’s grip.
“Look at what you’re doing! This isn’t you.” Korra’s voice broke as she shouted. Asami could be savage and ruthless when something important was on the line, but never so cruel as this! Korra had witnessed tyrants and madmen in the past. She knew there were some lines that, once crossed, changed a person forever. Seeing her lover threatening to shatter their captive’s arm, someone incapable of resisting, truly terrified her.
“I’m doing what I have to. For you.” Asami’s voice was low and calm, but her trembling hands belied her fear.
“But at what cost?” At Korra’s words, the room grew silent.
Shu could feel the hands around him shaking uncertainly until a pained expression flashed across Asami’s face. Hesitantly, the woman relaxed her grip on Shu, allowing his arm to slip free from her grasp as she dropped her hand to her side. With a defeated expression, Asami closed her eyes.
“I don’t want to lose you.” Asami’s words were barely a whisper s as the tears at the corners of her eyes finally broke free, rolling down her cheeks as they headed towards her chin.
“And I don’t want to lose you.” Seeing her companion relax, Korra gently walked up to Asami, hugging her from the side. Feeling the taller woman’s resistance grow weak, Korra carefully snaked her hand along Asami’s arm until, with a delicate touch, the shorter woman plucked Shu from her grasp.
“The curse…” Asami’s concerned gasp was cut off as Korra gently shushed her.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. It’s not as intense as before.” Although Korra’s expression was still stiff from discomfort, she felt nowhere near the debilitating agony from before.
Within her palm, Shu bristled at his enemy’s touch, but could bring forth the sheer hatred he had been able to summon even the day prior. He didn’t know whether he was still shaken from reliving his father’s death or from the overwhelming pressure of facing down a titanic Asami, but every time he sought to wield his rage to cause the avatar pain, it felt muted.
“Then what are we supposed to do?” Turning her gaze towards her girlfriend, Asami wrapped an arm around Korra’s waist, pulling her closer before leaning her chin on the shorter woman’s shoulder as she sought the comfort of her girlfriend’s touch.
“I don’t know, but we’ll get through this.” Returning the hug, Korra snaked her arm around Asami, gently rubbing her back.
“But what if we’re too late? What if you change?” Asami’s words were soft and weak as she hugged Korra tighter, her tears continuing to fall unabated.
“Would you leave me if I did?” Korra’s voice was confident, but a note of uncertainty still colored her words.
“Of course not!” However, Asami’s incredulous outburst brought a smile to the tanner woman’s face.
“Then everything will be alright.” A note of warmth entered Korra’s voice as she lifted her face towards Asami’s, planting a light peck upon her lips. For several seconds, the two simply enjoyed each other’s company, ignoring the wriggling prisoner held within Korra’s grasp until they finally pulled apart. Taking a calming breath, Korra turned her full attention to the shrunken man before her.
Concentrating, Korra’s piercing blue eyes focused on the man in her palm, not so much looking at him as looking through him. With Elder Toad’s words guiding her, she was now aware of some vague tether connecting her to her assailant, similar to her bond with Raava, yet different. She could sense hatred, indignity, but also sorrow and fear coming from the tiny man.
However, none of that excused what he had done to her or Asami. As her own anger surged, Korra felt the bond react, sending pulses of discomfort in the other direction for a change. Now that she was aware of the bond’s nature, her experience with Raava allowed her to sense it better and to control it to some extent. If she wanted to, she could probably use it to send some pain back at her assailant, to give him a little payback. Korra felt a surge of cruel intent well within her heart, but pushed it aside, choosing instead to take a calming breath.
“I forswear my bond with Shu.” Taking a deep breath, Korra delivered the words with a solemn air before turning to address her captive.
“Shu.” Korra’s voice was calm yet firm as she restrained her emotions. Although she found the man before her revolting, she had learned through past experience that anger could not overcome anger. She needed to be diplomatic.
“I don’t know what your problem with me is, and I don’t care. If, right now, you forswear your bond with me, I swear in Raava’s name that I will bear no grudge towards you. I will make all efforts to restore you to your proper size, I will listen to your story, and I will use all of my powers as the avatar to right any injustices that you may have suffered in your past, so long as I judge them to be injustices.” Continuing her solemn tone, Korra looked down at Shu with a neutral gaze. However, after several seconds without a response, the woman shrugged unsurprised.
“The curse you afflicted me with. It’s a marriage ritual. We’re married.” Korra felt a pang of surprise and then disgust register from bond, giving her an odd sense of relief. He hadn’t known! For some reason the knowledge that their marriage hadn’t been intentional made her feel better.
“The ritual goes both ways, and even now is changing us both to get along. Over time, your hatred of me will be replaced by familiarity, maybe even fondness.” Korra wasn’t sure that was how the ritual really worked, and she didn’t really care. The waves of fear and repulsion radiating through the bond let her know that her words had been effective. She could sense Shu’s uncertainty as his will wavered, almost as if he could read his thoughts. His hatred and desire for revenge was all he had left. Now that that was threatened…
“In your dream, I saw your father…” A note of compassion crept into Korra’s voice as she spoke, only to be suddenly cut off by a pained yelp. Hearing his father mentioned by his enemy was too much for Shu, causing the burning hatred within him to blaze to life once more. To have his father’s name uttered by the filthy mouth of the one who had prevented his vengeance!
“Korra!” Asami’s face twisted as she stepped towards her companion, but Korra waved her away.
“I’m alright. I’m fine. It’s not as intense as before.” Honestly, that outburst had been as bad as the first, but due to her newfound familiarity with the bond connecting them, she was able to mute the pain coming her way. Shaking her head, Korra turned her attention to Shu once more.
“You said you wanted justice. I can help you.” However, sensing the simmering outrage boiling through the bond, Korra realized that she had made a mistake by mentioning Shu’s father. Her words were met with a silent glare and a rude hand gesture.
“Fine.” Unsurprised, Korra let out a small sigh before moving over towards the bed in the guest house. She had never expected her negotiations to work on the first try. Diplomacy was a slow process. Unfortunately, time was the one thing Korra lacked. Sitting down, the road-weary woman brought her foot up to rest on her knee, tugging at her boot strings with her free hand.
“What are you…” Uncertain, Asami looked at her companion as she unlaced her footwear.
“You said so yourself, we’re on a time limit. So, I thought I might give Shu here a little incentive.” With the soft grating of cloth on leather, Korra’s boots popped free from her feet for the first time since they’d left the cave. All at once, the pungent reek of six hours worth of hiking through rough marsh was unleashed. The stench of feet, sweat, bog water, and something rotten filled the small guest house, causing Asami to cover her mouth and retch.
“We have to sleep in here!” Shrieking in outrage, Asami tossed a dirty glare Korra’s direction as she quickly distanced herself from her companion with a look of horror upon her face. However, moments later her eyes lit up with realization as she processed her companion’s words.
“Wait, you aren’t… That’s repulsive!” As the stench grew stronger, Asami let out a choking retch before taking another step away from Korra. Despite that, a coughing fit overtook her as the fetid air forced its way into her lungs.
“You did it.” Wincing in embarrassment and at the smell of her own boots, Korra shrugged, motioning towards Asami’s sock where it even now rested atop the bed.
“Yeah, but we didn’t have any better way to carry him. Also, even on my worst day, my feet don’t smell like that!” Torn between wanting to flee from the reek of Korra’s boots and wanting to remain nearby for support, Asami hovered at the edge of the room, her face contorted in disgust. Placing her boot upon the floor, Korra dangled Shu above the opening at the top, watching as the shrunken man quickly covered his face with his hands.
Although Korra was trying to remain neutral, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t enjoying the surge of disgust pouring in from Shu via their bond. After all he’d put them through over the last day, a little stink was more than fair. Well, maybe more than a little. This was simply a little payback. Struggling to keep a neutral expression, Korra looked down at the captive dangling between her fingers.
“It’s not too late. I don’t have to do this.” At the avatar’s words, Shu hesitated, not because of the unholy smell wafting up from below him, but because of Korra’s earlier promise. Justice. All he had ever wanted was justice for the death of his father and the hell he had been forced to endure. However, the avatar’s words rung hollow. The justice he sought had already been within his grasp until Korra’s actions had snatched it away. Now, not even the avatar could reclaim it.
“You will foreswear your bond with me eventually. The only question is how unpleasant I’ll have to get before you do.” Seeing Shu’s continued silence, Korra let out a sigh once more before relaxing her grip and sending her captive into the putrid abyss below.