Asami gripped Korra's hands more tightly as a whirlpool of tertiary colors enveloped them. Korra's face seemed to morph under the shifting light. The whole effect was disorienting to the point that Asami could barely recognize the person in front of her, until she refocused on the pair of steady blue eyes gazing at her. Asami felt a tear roll down her cheek, and closed her eyes tight.
"Are you doing okay?," Korra said. Her strong voice echoed slightly in an otherworldly way, giving no clear impression of the space around them.
Asami leaned her head forward slowly until their foreheads touched, still too ashamed and nervous to open her eyes again. "I don't know," Asami replied. "I feel happier than I've ever been before, but I've never been in this much pain."
Korra wrapped her arms around Asami, bringing her into a gentle hug, and whispered into Asami's ear. "I don't know that I'll ever be able to take away that pain, but I promise I will always try my best to make you happy."
Asami sniffed and turned away to wipe her eye. "Thank you. That means...that's, I mean...thank you. Thank you so much."
She felt Korra's hands on each of her shoulders. "Look," Korra said. "We're here."
Asami looked up and after a moment, her eyes widened in astonishment. The more she searched, the less she could focus on any single thing. The clouds roiled in strange formations, lit from indeterminate angles. The ground around them seemed to swell like the sea and the untamed grass waved in a breeze she could not feel. Small luminescent spirits skittered and flew into her periphery, then faded as quickly as she could spot them. Everything around them danced as though to a rhythm she could not perceive.
"This is incredible," Asami said. "Do you really come here all the time? Is it always like this?"
"Actually, no," said Korra, scanning the horizon. "Everywhere I've been to in the Spirit World is completely different. The only other time I've seen this place is when Kuvira blasted us here with her spirit weapon. Since I've pretty much only ever come here to fulfill my duty as the Avatar, I guess I never really stopped to appreciate the view." She glanced at Asami and smiled.
"There's no reason not to start now! I'd say I could get used to this," Asami said as she continued to survey their surroundings, "but to be honest, I don't think I ever will."
"Me neither." Korra took Asami's hand. "Come on," she said, leading her away from the portal. "There's something I want to show you."
"Does it have to be a surprise?," Asami asked. Korra lead her toward a nearby forest with a slightly ominous auburn haze permeating it.
"It won't take long to get there," Korra said. "The other two spirit portals are connected in the Spirit World, so I bet this one will be nearby too. Besides, we'll get to visit Xai Bau's Grove on the way."
Korra saw cautious interest on Asami's face. "Is that Xai Bau's Grove over there? But..." Asami hesitated. "But, isn't this that Red Lotus place?"
"Don't worry," Korra said as they weaved around the first tree. "It may be named after the founder of the Red Lotus, but it's one of the most peaceful places in the whole Spirit World. Just ask him!" Korra pointed to a silhouette materializing in the haze.
A throaty chuckle came from the figure ahead of them. "I'm surprised to hear this place was named after Xai Bau." A plump bearded man stepped into view. He smiled and waved at them.
Korra and Asami exclaimed simultaneously, "Iroh!" They looked at each other. "How do you know him?" Korra asked. "I thought you've never been to the spirit world before!"
"I haven't," Asami said. "His picture's in about a million history books."
"Oh. Right." Korra scratched her head, slightly embarrassed. "I guess it's been a while since I've cracked open a text book. Or any book, for that matter."
Korra rushed forward and hugged the old man. After a moment's surprise, he returned the hug graciously. "I can't believe it's you," Korra said. "You helped me so much the last couple times we met. Thank you."
"It was a small favor for a good friend, Avatar," Iroh said, as Korra released him and beckoned Asami closer. "And I see you've brought someone very special to you," he said, smiling warmly at Asami.
Asami blushed. "Uh, hi. I'm Asami."
"I am honored to meet you, Asami." Iroh gave her a respectful Fire Nation bow. Asami felt extremely grateful for the etiquette lessons her father had given her as a child, to be cultured enough to return the gesture accurately.
"So," Iroh said. "To what does the spirit world owe the honor of accepting such graceful guests?"
"We're on vacation together," Korra said, grinning at Asami. "Her idea."
"Oh! I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Iroh said. He raised his hands in front of him apologetically. "Please, allow me to excuse myself if you two would rather be alone."
Korra was indecisive, and glanced at Asami for her opinion. "Um, well, this is my first time getting a tour of the Spirit World," Asami said. "Who better to show me around than the Avatar and someone who's been living here for more than half a century?"
"Huh," he said. He stroked his beard in bemusement. "It's been that long already? Well, if you're unfamiliar with the Grove, I would love to escort you ladies through it," Iroh said. "Shall we?" He extended an arm toward the Grove's canyon and waited for them to start moving.
As they walked together, Iroh said, "Shortly after I began living in the spirit world, Xai Bau came looking for me. We had a very interesting conversation about philosophy."
"Well, I don't know what he said to you," Korra said bitterly, "but after he came back, he formed the Order of the Red Lotus. They tried to kill me."
Iroh's expression became downcast. "Ah. Xai Bau struck me as an intelligent but confused young man," he said. "He was an initiate of the White Lotus, but he seemed to think the world depended too heavily on the Avatar's help, and that without the Avatar as a crutch, they would learn to help themselves and begin living freely. When I tried to show him how the Avatar has helped shape our worlds, both Physical and Spiritual, he gave up and said he intended to discuss his ideas with Avatar Aang instead. I sensed no ill-intent in him at the time, but perhaps his ideas were twisted by those who succeeded him in his teachings."
"There's no doubt that Zaheer and his gang were twisted," said Korra.
Asami said, "You know, before I started hanging out with you, Korra, I'd always assumed you spiritual people were all enlightened, not troubled." She paused. "Uh, no offense to either of you, of course."
"Don't worry," Korra said, "I know what you meant."
"No offense taken," Iroh said reassuringly. "In truth, I have believed for a long time that one cannot truly appreciate the great mysteries of life without first being utterly lost in them."
Asami sighed. "My life's definitely got me feeling a little lost, lately."
They were all silent for a minute, but they continued hiking the winding path down the canyon.
Iroh eventually broke the silence. "When my son Lu Ten died during the Seige of Ba Sing Se, I feared I would never stop missing him. My physical wounds healed, but my heart continued to ache. At first I suffered because I thought I had lost Lu Ten forever. Then I believed that I would be reunited with him one day, and I suffered because I feared I could not endure the wait. It was not until I first came to the Spirit World that I realized we were never separated at all. Here, I feel his presence so strongly that I cannot help but be at peace."
Iroh glanced to his left and thought for a moment he had lost his companions. He turned around and saw them stopped ten feet away, Asami staring into the distance with glazed eyes. Korra reached for Asami's hand, looking concerned.
Iroh was about to apologize when Asami said, "You're right." She kept Korra's hand in hers and continued walking. "I can feel him. It's like if I turn around, I'll see him standing right next to me. He feels so close.
"The people we love are never far if we hold that love near to us," Iroh said as they caught up. "In order to experience the joy of living, one must also endure the pain of loss; but those feelings are distinguished only by our limited perception. It is good that after everything that's happened, you two are still full of so much love."
Korra blushed and looked down. "Thank you," she said. "I guess there's no point keeping secrets here, huh?"
"When you have experienced true love for yourself, it's easy to see it in other people," Iroh said. "Although in this case, I'm afraid I'm not being figurative!"
"What do you mean?," Asami asked.
"I mean that the kind of love you both possess radiates a very particular aura," Iroh said. "I once told Korra that your emotions affect your surroundings, here in the Spirit World."
Korra remained silent for a minute. The ground was becoming far less steep. They were nearing the center of the canyon.
"After everything I've been through," Korra said, "I can't believe my confidence is gone again. I know what some people will say, but that's not what scares me. What if some of the people who say those things are people I love?"
"Korra," Asami said, "the world is already changing so quickly. If people can learn to live with all the other changes that have happened, they can learn to live with this."
Iroh laughed abruptly. "Well said! For someone so young, you sure know how to make an old man's wisdom feel obsolete."
Asami couldn't help laughing along. "I'm sorry!"
"Don't be! I'm just glad to know the Avatar has someone as strong and wise as you to support her," Iroh said.
He pointed further along their path. "That's the stream ahead. Follow it downhill; it will take you where you want to go."
"You're leaving already?," Asami asked. It was obvious to Korra that Asami was enjoying Iroh's company.
"I am looking for inspiration in painting a new Pai Sho tile, and I believe the only place for me to find it is upstream," Iroh said.
Asami's eyes lit up. She said, "I love Pai Sho! My father and I used to play it all the time."
"If we meet again before you two finish your vacation, I would be delighted to share a game with you," Iroh said, smiling broadly. "I shall paint a second tile as a gift for you when that time comes."
Korra asked, "What kind of tile are you trying to paint, anyway?"
"A Red Lotus tile, of course!" Iroh pulled from his sleeve a small glass vial filled with red paint and a blank Pai Sho tile.
"But...there is no Red Lotus tile in Pai Sho," Asami said, looking confused.
"Not yet, anyway," said Iroh, stashing his tile and paint. "The physical world isn't the only place where things are changing." He bowed once to each of them before starting off upstream alone, humming happily.