The sun was setting. It drifted further and further towards the soft pink horizon, sending sparks of light reflecting of the glass windows of Republic City's sky-scrapers, creating a warm vista of color and glowing structures. Korra hated it. She watched from the dock of Air Temple Island as the last fringes of sun clutched the golden waves, refusing to let go. She watched as the waves tore themselves free of the sunlight. She watched as the moon rose to greet the waves. She watched as the moon turned the water to radiant silver, as the moon stole the ocean from the sun. And still she watched as the sea and moon rejoiced in a relationship that the sun just wasn't part of. The symbolism wasn't lost on Korra. In water-bending, the sea and moon had a special union. Unfortunately, she was the sun, and what she wanted was the sea.

Refusing to shed tears here, she stood, and began the trek back to her room. Amon was gone, but the Equalists weren't. A new leader had filled Amon's place, once again uniting the anti-bending sentiment against the city. Everyone was looking to the Avatar to lead the charge against them, but Korra's confidence was failing. Just like after her encounter with Amon, Korra felt like she couldn't breathe, let alone fight. She felt paralyzed, immobile. Frozen.

Her brief stint with air-bending hadn't lasted, and neither had her brief stint with Mako. Despite their confession of their feelings, Mako had later said that, while he loved her, he just didn't belong with her, that they weren't right for each other. And then he had gone back to Asami. Asami, the moon, took the sea.

Korra wrenched open the door to her room and sprawled on the bed, fighting the tears. Not only had Mako left her, but with him her air-bending. Now she just couldn't get past the most basic techniques. It was an improvement from her previous complete block, but not by much.

Finally the tears came, bursting past her defenses. Softly she cried into her pillow, breathing shallowly. Korra glanced out her window, only to find the entire opening dominated by the full moon. It was all Korra could do not to scream. It was the worst a full moon had made her feel in a long time. Growling in frustration, she dragged herself of her bed. She stalked to her private training room; the one Tenzin had set up for her. Unfortunately the route took her past the dining room, where she could hear Mako, Asami, and Bolin eating dinner. Asami was whispering in Mako's ear, while Bolin was yelling at Pabu, "No, Pabu! You don't do the Worm until you've finished the Moon Walk!"

Korra ripped her attention from them. Silently she closed the screen behind her as she stepped into the practice room. Three dummies, a disc launcher, a large pool of water, and a grouping of large boulders decorated the room. With a shout she loosed a stream of flame toward the first dummy, knocking it back. A whip of water dispatched the second, a boulder caused the third to follow suit. Sighing, she walked forward to reset the dummies. She picked up the first and second, but when she turned to lift the third, it wasn't there. Korra rotated her head from side to side, surveying the room. The dummy was nowhere to be seen. Slowly she turned around, to find the missing dummy floating right behind her. An involuntary scream leapt from her lips. She took a step back, only to fall into the pool of water.

She emerged from the pool sopping wet, and growled, "Ikki! When I get you, I-" She broke off suddenly when she saw that it was not Ikki who was leaning on the wall watching her. It was a boy.

"Close your mouth." His voice was deep and rich. "You don't want to catch flies." Korra realized she was gaping.

"Who are you?" she said as she watched the floating dummy drop when he waved his hand. Instead of answering he raised his hands. Korra felt a cushion of air lift her out of the pool. Then soft gusts dried her. Once she was entirely water-free, the boy lowered her to the ground. "Thanks."

The boy shrugged. He appeared to be about Korra's age. "Technically it was my fault you were in there in the first place. Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"No harm done, I guess." She replied. "I'm Korra."

He nodded. He was tall, taller than Mako. "The esteemed Avatar."

Now it was her turn to shrug. "And you are?"

"New here." Then he merely winked, and stepped outside the training room, closing the screen behind him.

Korra just stood there thinking for a few moments. Then she strolled into the dining room, her quarrel with Mako and Asami forgotten. She sat down next to Bolin. "Hey, is there a new Air-bender here? A boy?"

"Apparently," Mako said, "Tenzin said that his sister Kya recently discovered that her son had some of Aang's blood. That her non-bender boy actually had a special ability after all."

Asami took over. "So I guess he'll be receiving training from Tenzin here with you."

"Yeah, and he's cute, isn't he!" Bolin interrupted. When he realized what he said, he promptly slunk down in his seat and said, "What? I'm open-minded!"

"Korra?" The teenagers all turned to face Tenzin, who was standing in the doorway. "A word, please?"

Korra reluctantly got to her feet and followed Tenzin out. Her last sight before the door closed was Mako staring at Bolin as if you still couldn't believe what his brother had said.

Tenzin lead her outside to the spinning panels that he had tested her with when she first arrived. At first Korra thought that he wanted to test her again, but then she saw that the panels were already rotating. Inside the maze she could make out the graceful, darting figure of the tall boy she had talked to earlier. Within seconds he passed through, completely unscathed. With a grin, he launched himself into the air, summoning a miniature cyclone to carry him over to her and Tenzin.

Tenzin nodded, "Very good, Traiko."

Traiko looked affronted. "Very good? Not masterful, exceptional, or spectacular?"

Tenzin narrowed his eyes. "No."

Traiko seemed exasperated. "Well then!"

Tenzin sighed. "Traiko, this is Avatar Korra." He gestured in Korra's direction.

Traiko smiled, "We've met, though under less than fortuitous circumstances."

Korra raised an eyebrow as she shook his hand. "Nice to actually meet you. Traiko, is it?" she tried not to stare as she sized him up. His skin and complexion were only slightly darker than Tenzin's, but whereas Tenzin's head was bare, Traiko had a long dark brown mane reaching to his shoulders. The chocolate locks began silky and smooth, but curled at the very bottom.

Traiko offered an elaborate bow. "Present, accounted for, and at your service."

Korra realized he was staring at her, and blushed despite herself. She quickly turned away. Tenzin glanced at the moon's position and said, "Yes well, it's getting late. Traiko, I'll show you to your room on the boy's side of the island."

Traiko bowed again. "Of course lead the way TTJ."

Tenzin's eyebrows shot up. "TTJ?"

Traiko presented a look of pure innocence across his handsome features. "Why, Twinkle Toes Jr., of course."

Tenzin scowled and walked away, muttering something non-flattery towards Toph's apparently oversized mouth.

Traiko looked at Korra and the two shared a laugh. "See you tomorrow?"

Korra paused, and then said, "I'd like that."

Traiko gifted her with a genuine smile, one that lit up his cheek-bones, strong nose, sensual lips, and gleaming green eyes like a candle.

Later that night, Korra lay on her bed. She couldn't get the new boy, Traiko, off her mind. She sat up, moving to stare at the moon through her window, and for the first time since Mako had left her she could see how beautiful it was.