They felt the spirit light flood around them and could hardly see each other anymore. Then Korra let go of one of Asami's hands and pulled her out of the portal, into the spirit world. Asami looked around her in awe. They were standing in a field of knee-length green grass that had the odd tree growing it. The sky was bright blue with only two clouds in sight. All the colours of the world seemed more magnificent here, like they had more depth. She turned to look at Korra, who was smiling at her reaction.
"Soo, I thought we could visit an old friend for some morning tea first?" Korra said, still grinning at Asami.
"Sure," Asami smiled shyly. They started walking across the field, still hand in hand.
"So you know who Iroh is right?" Korra asked.
"Of course. Also known as The Dragon of the West, he was once a firebending master, Zuko's mentor and a hugely influential Grand Lotus of the White Lotus," Asami replied. Sometimes Korra forgot that Asami attended the best private school in Republic City. Her knowledge of history would definitely rival Korra's.
"Well anyway he's also an insane Pai Sho player, so maybe you'll have some competition for once," Korra smiled at Asami. After crossing the field they had come to a path. The path was made of white stones and cut through what looked like sugar cane fields. The plants rose well above either girls' heads. Korra let go of Asami's hand and started through the path.
Asami followed quickly, trying not to be too disappointed by the lack of Korra's touch.
"How do you know your way around so well?" Asami asked before realising her question was kind of stupid, Korra is the Avatar after all. "I mean, cos it's a new portal.." She mumbled trying to cover her tracks.
"Well I can kind of sense things here. It's ahh…a little hard to explain but Raava once told me my spirit bending was far more powerful than anything else. So I guess it's related to that," Korra replied. She wished she could have given a better explanation but some things about the spirit world just can't be adequately expressed.
They continued in silence for a little longer. Asami ran her hand across the stems of the plants as she walked. She saw tiny, insect-like spirits hop and buzz as she disturbed them. They were all different types of bright colours just like the Dragonfly Bunnies she was familiar with.
"We're almost there," Korra called over her shoulder. She could see the plants starting to thin and open out into another field. When Korra reached the edge of the field she recognised the small cottage with the picnic table out the front. Sitting at the table was Iroh, with some familiar spirits.
Asami was walking beside Korra now but much to her disappointment Korra didn't take her hand again.
"Iroh!" Korra called to the old man.
He looked up and grinned, "Korra! So good to see you again. And I see you've brought a friend."
"This is Asami, probably the most important part of Team Avatar," Korra gestured to Asami as Iroh held out his hand. Asami took it but felt slightly weird about the way Iroh and Korra had described her. Was she just Korra's friend? After all this time?
Iroh went inside the cottage to quickly make some tea whilst Korra introduced Asami to some of the spirits including May-Jim. She explained how she had attended their wedding and the strange phenomena of being two years old again.
Iroh brought out tea and cake and Asami asked him many questions about his history. Some of which Korra didn't think she'd ever learnt about.
After they'd finished eating Korra announced she was going to go and play with Hana and her friends. They were flying spirits that resembled bats with long tails. Asami watched the Avatar on an air scooter chasing them around.
"So I get the feeling that I might have quite an adversary if we played some Pai Sho?" Iroh questioned.
"We'll see," Asami smiled as Iroh retrieved a board from under the table. Asami got lost in the logic of the game for two hours. Iroh won the first round, Asami the second and Iroh the third.
"You're just too good I guess General," Asami said leaning back.
"Well there's a large element of luck to the game too," he smiled. Asami looked around to see Korra snoozing on the Bat Spirits as they all lay in a pile. Asami hoped she hadn't neglected her too much as she rose to go and wake her.
"I hope the spirit world gives you everything you wish and more," Iroh called after Asami. She smiled and nodded at him, wondering if he knew what she wished for.
Korra and Asami gathered their things and thanked Iroh before heading off. Korra still appeared to be waking up a little as they walked across two more fields before entering some woods. Asami explained how amazing she thought Iroh's life must have been and how strong his morals were, even though he went through so much.
The trees in the wood were very thin and spread at least half a metre apart, allowing for mottled sunshine to reach the forest floor. Small shrubs grew between the trees and spirits moved all around them. Some flying, some leaping between trees and some crawling along the ground or hiding in shrubs. Asami was admiring a particularly energetic Gliding Squirrel and how similar it's wings were to the air-bending suits she had designed, when Korra slipped her hand back into Asami's. This caught Asami slightly off guard and she flinched a little before lacing her fingers between Korra's and smiling down at her.
Korra smiled back before saying, "So if we walk through here for a while, we'll end up somewhere nice where we can set up camp for the night."
"Okay, sounds great," said Asami, fully trusting in Korra's tour guide abilities.