"Humility isn't more important than the truth. I think you pulled this off yourself."

— Jetsun congratulating Yangchen for being able to cross over into the Spirit World for the first time.

"The First Step" is the first chapter of The Dawn of Yangchen.

Overview

Jetsun helps Yangchen meditate and cross over into the Spirit World for the first time.

Synopsis

Yangchen is now eleven years old and is aware that she is the Avatar, although she has kept it secret with the nuns wanting to figure out what to do about her visions. The involuntary bouts of vivid memories are still occurring, and the nuns are troubled by the ease with which past Avatars slip into her speech in discussions Yangchen eavesdrops by air spouting herself under windowsills and hiding behind pillars. Yangchen hears Jetsun standing up for her one day, and appreciates her "older sister" even more, remembering all the experiences they have shared together, both someone who patiently listened to her crying and sometimes the reason she was upset.

Jetsun has been chosen as the one to guide her into the Spirit World for the first time. Jetsun tells Yangchen not to have too many expectations and not to be disappointed if she cannot do it at first, but Yangchen jokes that she can definitely do it if Jetsun did, internally concerned about measuring up to her. They travel to a stone meditation circle in the meadows above the cliffs of the Western Air Temple, Yangchen usually avoided it, thinking that it looks like a giant's palm about to grab her, but Jetsun counters it could also let go of her, and never either of those in a row. Jetsun and Yangchen sit in the circle together, with Abbess Dagmola and Librarian Tsering acting as assistants to the meditation.

Shortly after the session begins, Yangchen sees a bright light glowing through her closed eyes, and sees a world where the colors are much brighter when opening them. She is proud to have performed an act of Avatarhood out of her own volition instead of it happening to her, Jetsun jokingly understating the achievement. Yangchen wants to be excited, but tries to act cool and bashfully downplays her achievement, wondering if she had remembered how to do it from a past life, though Jetsun says that humility is not more important than the truth that she pulled it off herself. Yangchen wonders what there is to do, and Jetsun says that the great lesson of the Spirit World is that there is nothing to do, other than existing as a spirit. Disappointed for a moment, Yangchen asks if they can at least explore around, which Jetsun affirms, and Yangchen takes her older sister's hand, deciding there was a chance she might like her role as Avatar.

Production notes

Series continuity

• Yangchen notes that most people consider the Eastern Air Temple to be the most spiritual of all the air temples, as stated by Tenzin in "The Guide".^[1] Jetsun finds it more reputation than proven truth.
  • The meditation circle described in the chapter resembles the one showcased at the Eastern Air Temple in the same episode.^[1]
  • Abbess Dagmola and Librarian Tsering set up incense, a windhorn, and a ringing meditation bell to aid Yangchen's crossing into the Spirit World, all preparations which Tenzin also did in his failed attempt to help Korra cross over.^[1]

Character revelations

• Yangchen learned that she was the Avatar between the ages of eight and eleven.
• Yangchen considers Jetsun to be an older sister, and might be a distant fourth or fifth cousin.

Trivia

• A preview of this chapter was released by Gizmodo on May 24, 2022.^[2]

References