The regale carriage of the Princess rolled though the woods and away to the castle in the east. Inside the carriage, the young princess Korra was fighting with her lessons teacher, Tenzin.
"But Master Tenzin, why must I learn embroidery? Surely it is of more use to our kingdom if their princess learns sword play instead." Korra whined
"Now Princess, the duty of a lady is to be silent and graceful not to be swinging swords around at others like a simple peasant."
Korra sighed and stared out the window. The two had been having this same argument since Korra's mother, the queen, had walked in on the young princess talking sword lessons from the swords-master, Tahno, earlier that week. Her mother had been shocked to find that these private lessons had been going on for some time and had quickly put a stop to them.
Unfortunately, this was not the first of these occurrences with Korra. Ever since the princess could walk, she had been doing things that princess are not suppose to do. Polar-bear-dog riding lessons from the stable boys, potions work with the potions master Katara, even hand to hand combat with the guards themselves!
Each time her mother and father had put a stop to it, but Korra had grown better at hiding it and they had become desperate to break this bad habit. So, when the nun Asami from the monastery had come for a visit, the queen and king had been given an idea.
What better place to send their daughter but a monastery? It was calm, quiet, and centered on learning much more princess like arts.
Thus, Korra, after much protesting, had been sent away to study with the monks for a year in hopes of breaking her habit.
Even since the decision had been made Korra had began to try and talk her teacher out of it.
"What if I need those skills one day?" She lowered her voice "What if I met the Shadow?"
Tenzin snorted "There will never come a day when a princess must raise her hand against another. And as for the Shadow, 'tis merely a farmers tale. He is not real."
"But of course he is real! How do you explain all the robbery's that have been happening."
Tenzin sighed "They are all unrelated to each other and the robbers are simply using this Shadow character as a ruse to make people fear them. Now then, I suggest you use the rest of the trip to reflect on your manners for when you meet the Reverend Mother."
Korra set back with a very unladylike like huff and crossed her arms. If she was being truthful, you would admit that she wasn't so much worried about having to defend herself against the shadow as eager to fight him.
Ever since she had gotten the hang of sword fighting she had found that very few people in the castle could hold there own against her and the practice duels she fought in had begun to bore her.
So when word of the Shadow reached the castle and she heard the rumors that he was not only a thief but also an excellent swords men, she had been dieing to fight him.
Now, however, it seemed that the dream was...
CRASH
The carriage lurched and fell on its side sending Korra and Tenzin crashing into the wall.
Korra jumped up "Tenzin what was that!" She asked but received no answer
Tenzin lay on the ground out cold. Korra muttered a cruse and precessed to break the back facing window of the carriage and climbed out ignoring the tearing of her dress.
She stepped out into the sunlight and barley had time to dodge as a sword flashed next to her.
She whipped around and came face to face with a man in a black mask. He stood before her on the overturned carriage welding a curved swords.
"The Shadow!" Korra's mind screamed as she took in the man who could only be the legendary robber
"Don't worry miss." The Shadow said his voice muffled from behind the mask. "I only want your jewels and money and you can be on your way."
"Oh? And what makes you think you can take them so easily?"
He pointed with his sword "Take a look"
She turned her head slightly, afraid to take her eyes off of him, and gasped.
A huge hole had opened up in the road and her guards and polar-bear-dogs lay in the bottom all out cold. The broken harness dangled over the edge where the guard must have cut them to avoid the whole carriage from going over.
She turned back to the masked man.
"See?" He said "There is no one left to protect you."
Korra stood slowly, anticipation for the coming move filling her. "Don't be so sure of that."
"Wha-"
Korra reached into the folds of her dress and drew out the dagger that had been strapped to her leg and threw it at the Shadow who dived to the side to avoid being hit. Korra was already reaching back into the carriage and grabbing Tenzin's sword as the knife flew.
When the Shadow hit the ground he was face to face with the armed princess.
He laughed "What can you do, girl? Put the sword down before you hurt yourself."
Anger at being looked down on burned in Korra and she ran towards him. He was so taken by surprise that he couldn't move before her sword was at his throat.
"Here's the deal, Shadow. Fight me and if you win I give you my money. I win and you leave with your face intact."
The Shadow laughed again. "What have I here? I girl who can handle a sword?"
Korra then twirled the sword around and, in one quick move, sliced the string that held the mask on.
She jumped back before it hit the ground and said "I can do more than handle a sword you-"
She never finished for before her stood an extremely handsome young man. He had jet black hair that was spiked in the front and cold orange eyes that were watching her with a somewhat amused look.
"What? You lose your wits at the sight of a man?" He crouched down "I'm afraid this wont be a look fight." And ran towards her.
Korra shock her head and leaped back as his sword flashed in the air in front of her. Then she brought her own sword around and sliced back. The Shadow was too fast he spun away from her attack and tried to get behind her but she twisted around, only to fall on her dress.
She hit the ground with an uff! And only just had time to roll away behind his sword hit the ground where her head would have been.
"You can't even stay on your feet!" The Shadow jeered "How do you expect to win?"
Korra stood and in a few quick cuts, sliced her dress so that the skirt fell just above her knees.
The Shadow cocked an eyebrow and whistled "I didn't know I would get a show out of the deal.
Korra narrowed her eyes and charged him anticipating his jump and mirroring it so that he had just enough time to put up his sword so that her sword met its blade and not his face.
"Enough talk! Fight me!"
The Shadow spun out and around her this time swinging his sword at the same time. She spun to and their swords locked with them facing each other.
"Not bad" He huffed his face just inches from the princesses
She grinned "Your not to bad yourself."
He threw her a cocky grin before dropping down and attempting to sweep her legs out from under her. Korra jumped though, landed, and raced back towards him sword raised only to feel the impact of sword hitting sword ripple up her arm as he defected her blow.
"He's fast!" She cursed as she leaped away to catch her breath.
However, he jumped with her and slashed at her mid air. She leaned back to avoid the blow and aimed a kick at his legs that sent them both tumbling the ground where he landed on top of her.
The Shadow began to pick himself up but stopped and smiled down at her. "Well hello there. What a position you have your self in."
Korra immediately tried to throw him off but he just straddled her and pinned her arms down by her wrists.
"I do believe I have won" He said slightly out of breath from the battle.
Korra was also breathing hard but for a different reason then the battle.
"Fine, you bested me. Now get up so I can get your money."
The Shadow just smiled "I think I have something else in mind that you can give me instead of money."
Korra's heart leaped. "Like what?"
He leaned down so that their faces where only inches away. "How about a name and a kiss?"
Korra blinked in surprise "Wha-" But she never finished because his lips were on hers.
At first she tried to fight it but quite soon gave into and kissed him back. His lips where strong and sure against hers and she felt a heat rise up from her chest into her cheeks.
He pulled back first breaking the kiss and sent her another grin.
"Well then half the debit is paid how about that name?"
Korra couldn't speak at first, your mind scattered by his kiss and when she finally got her words she heard a noise from the carriage.
The Shadow heard it to and leaped off of her. "Well it seems your caretaker has awoken and it is time for me to take my leave."
He scooped up his mask and began to run to the forest.
"Korra!" She yelled and he looked back at her.
"My name is Korra!"
He smiled and gave her a small bow. "It is a pleasure to met, battle, and kiss you Korra. My name is Mako. I hope we met again soon." And with that he vanished into the trees.
Tenzin finally managed to clime out of the carriage and just saw the Shadow vanish into the trees.
"Princess!" he exclaimed "Who- was the the Shadow?" then he took in her dress. "What happened?"
Korra turned to look at her teacher and said softy "Mako, Mako happened."
"What?"
She shook her head "Nothing, nothing at all."