A/N: Alright, here's my first Legend of Korra fanfic. This show is extremely important to me, Korra helped me through a lot of hard times and she deserves a much writer than me to do her justice, so odds are there are probably going to be quite a few OOC moments, if only because I'm not the best writer out there. I really hope you all like it, and tell me what you think.

With that said, I present to you:

The Legend of Korra

Book 5: Choices

The last three days had been the best of Asami's life. She and Korra had arrived in the Spirit World via the new portal the Avatar had created in Republic City and once she was able to tear her eyes away from her companion's striking sapphires, she looked around at where they were and had her breath taken away.

The large clearing they stood in was better than anything Asami had ever imagined when she pictured the Spirit World. The most striking thing was how similar it looked to the physical world, while simultaneously defying everything the heiress was used to. Beneath her feat grew spongy violet grass. It grew all the way to the edge of the clearing where a forest comprised of the tallest, oldest, and most gnarled trees the heiress had ever seen grew. In the middle of the clearing was a pond filled with water that was both the most beautiful shade of blue she had ever seen, and yet, somehow, extremely familiar. She thought it was being fed from the roaring waterfall that seemed to come straight from the sky and poured into the middle of the pool, but upon closer inspection, realised that the cascade was moving up, flowing from the pool and up into the clouds.

Feeling Korra squeeze her hand and looked back into her hands, Asami turned to look at her, gasping lightly as she recognized the shade of blue she saw in the pool. The shorter woman had never taken her eyes off her friend and smiled at her as she gestured her head towards the horizon.

"Look." She said softly.

Asami turned toward where the Avatar indicated and gasped when she saw the most beautiful sunset in her life. The sun had just started descending behind the mountains in the distance and painted the sky a multitude of different colours. They stood there in comfortable silence, still holding hands, watching the sky as the colours spiraled and danced, darkening slowly to reveal more stars than she had ever seen in her life.

Korra and Asami had spent the next two days relaxing in their little clearing. They spent their days swimming and lounging around, every now and then a spirit would wander in and Korra would introduce them to Asami. They were nothing like any sort of creature Asami had ever seen before, and they were all friendly, some of the smaller and younger sounding ones even stayed and asked Korra if she would play with, which she always did. They didn't have to worry about food as the Spirit World seemed to provide for them whenever they so much as thought of food, even bringing Korra meat on occasion, which she was always grateful for and would always say a quick grace over it before digging in. The nights were spent outside beneath the stars while the two women shared a blanket that was laid out on the ground. Asami learned very soon that Korra was a very clingy sleeper, often finding herself being woken up by the feeling of toned arms pulling her closer to the Water Tribe girl. She couldn't find it within herself to mind though, and always went right back to sleep in her friend's arms. It didn't hurt that Korra's consistent bashfulness and blushing when she woke to see the position the two had spent the night in was equal parts hilarious and adorable.

Today they were merely sitting at the bank of the pond, Asami with her feet in the cool water, reading one of the books she brought with her, absentmindedly running a hand through Korra's short brown locks as the younger women lay on the grass with her head in the heiress' lap.

She had just put down her book, and was contemplating taking a nap when Korra stirred and looked up at her.

"We have some company," she muttered, pointing toward the edge of the clearing. Where Asami could see a silhouette approaching.

"Another spirit?" She asked.

"Actually," Korra said, sitting up to get a better look. "I know this one. He's an old friend." Asami looked back towards the forest, to see an elderly man with a long white beard and a bit of a belly walking towards them.

"Iroh!" Korra exclaimed, before standing up and running to the man.

"Hello Korra," he said with smile before grunting as the Avatar picked him up in one of her famous bear hugs.

"It's so good to see you!" She said, grinning. "Asami, this is Iroh. He's Lord Zuko's uncle and has provided me with some really good advice when I needed it."

Asami stood up and bowed to the elderly man. "It's an honour to meet you Iroh. I'm Asami Sato, Korra's one of my best friends."

Iroh returned the gestured before answering, "The pleasure is mine Asami."

"What are you doing here?" Korra asked.

"Some friends of mine told me the Avatar was here on a vacation, and I figured I would pay you a visit and see if you would like to have a cup of tea, maybe a game of Pai-Sho?" He smiled as he pulled a stone tea set out of his sleeve.

"Well, seeing as you even brought my teapot, how could we refuse?" Korra smiled before getting into a sturdy stance and quickly bending a table and stools out of the ground beneath them.

"Your teapot?" Asami asked with a raised eyebrow.

"This teapot belonged to Avatar Wan, the first Avatar and Korra's first life." Iroh said as he filled teapot with water while Korra built a small fire.

"Wow, that's quite the heirloom."

"Yup. Wan carried Raava in it before they merged, and Iroh says you can still taste the light in every cup."

Iroh chuckled before taking his seat. "So tell me Asami. Why are the Avatar and her friend vacationing in the Spirit World, just the two of you?" He looked at the girls knowingly and Asami felt heat rising in her cheeks as she looked anywhere but at the other two. Once she regained her composure she recounted the events involving Korra going missing, during which the other woman kept her eyes trained on the fire below the teapot, a poorly concealed look of guilt on her face. She went on to tell the older man about Kuvira's conquering of the Earth Kingdom, faltering as she approached the final battle and silently thanking Korra as she rose from the fire to her seat and grabbed Asami's hand before taking over reciting the events, including the loss of her father, all the way up to her creation of a new spirit portal.

After Korra finished, she gave Asami's hand another squeeze while the heiress fought the tears that threatened to spill forth. She looked up when Iroh grabbed her hand and gently placed a warm cup of tea in it.

"Thank you." She whispered shakily.

"Drink," Iroh instructed gently, "the tea will help soothe you."

She carefully took a sip and sigh as a soft warmth filled her chest, she felt Korra's hand tighten over her own and turned to look at her smiling. The sight of Korra's cerulean eyes, so filled with compassion, made the warm feeling in her chest grow.

"I know how hard it can be to lose a family member to war," Iroh began. "But what is most important is to remember that, though they are no longer of this world, it does not mean they are gone. For it is within the hearts and memories of those we love that our spirits find both peace and everlasting life."

Asami sniffed and nodded. She took a deep breath and was about to reply when she felt Korra stiffen next to her. She turned to her friend seeing her seemingly staring into space and opened her mouth to ask what was wrong when a light blue figure flickered into view.

"Jinora?" Korra asked incredulously as the spectral image of Tenzin's eldest daughter appeared.

"Korra, I found you! We need you to come back."

"What? Why?"

"Asami, why don't you and I take a walk while Korra talks to Jinora?"

Asami nodded and stood up and followed the elderly man, knowing that if it was anything of importance, Korra would tell her when they came back.

They walked towards the forest in comfortable silence. It wasn't until they had come upon the treeline and taken a seat upon the root of one of the giant trees that stood there, watching Korra and Jinora speak from the distance, did Iroh finally speak.

"Korra has definitely grown since I last saw her." He said.

"Yeah she has. The last few years haven't been very kind to her, she's had to do a lot of maturing in a short amount of time. I just wish she didn't think she had to deal with everything on her own."

"Being the Avatar is a position that, while awesome in the powers it grants, comes with more burdens and responsibilities than any one other person. It is easy to forget that one does not have to bear the weight of both worlds on their shoulders alone when they believe that that is what is expected of them."

"Well it isn't. I wish she could just get that through her head." Asami huffed, watching Korra intently.

Iroh chuckled. "Katara used to say the exact same thing about Aang. She said that his stubbornness about his duties made him seem more like an earthbender than an Air Nomad."

Asami giggled softly before sighing. "I understand why she does it. She just doesn't want to see the people she cares about get hurt, but doesn't she understand what it would do to us if anything happened to her?" What it would do to me?

"Well, that is what you are for." Iroh said. Asami arched an eyebrow at him.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. It is one thing to be a friend to the Avatar, it takes both loyalty and a commitment to do everything in your power to helping them maintain balance in both worlds. But to love them, that takes something else entirely as well as those qualities."

Asami was glad she hadn't been taking a sip of tea as she turned to the old man. "Excused me!?" She exclaimed, feeling heat rising from her neck to the tip of her ears. It was only made worse when Korra and Jinora stopped talking to look at her curiously.

Iroh chuckled and waved a dismissive hand to the Avatar and the astral projection of the youngest airbending master, then turned back to Asami.

"Katara handled that much better."

"Bu-But I can't be in love with Korra!" Asami said, she could still feel the blush all over her face.

"And why not?" Asked Iroh.

Yeah, why not? A little voice whispered in her head and struggle as she might she had trouble answering the question.

Her first answer was because they were both girls, but that was quickly squashed. She had always believed that love was love, regardless of whom it was between. She searched desperately for an answer, looking between Korra and Iroh.

"Because Korra doesn't like girls like that," she tried, fully aware of how flimsy that excuse was.

Iroh laughed heartily. "That's not what I asked. Besides," he turned to look at her, his amber eyes sparkling. "It is clear as day that you two care deeply for each other. So much so that the Spirit World itself could tell."

"What do you mean?" Sure, they had decided to go to the Spirit World without anyone else. But that didn't mean anything, right?

Korra was her best friend. Just because they had spent the last three days together constantly didn't mean they had feelings for each other.

They were just really good friends.

Really good friends who spent every night in each other's arms.

Really good friends who spent most of their time cuddling, or sleeping with heads in laps, despite the fact that Asami had never really been comfortable with that kind of thing before now.

Really good friends who-

Crap. Every time Asami looked for proof that her relationship with the Avatar was purely platonic, all she found was evidence that what Iroh was saying was true. She sighed and put her head in her hands. Iroh chuckled.

"So let's say that, maybe, you're right," Asami started, feeling the heat creep up her neck. "And maybe, my feelings for Korra go slightly passed friendship. How do you know she feels the same?"

"Look around you," Iroh replied, gesturing to the clearing. "The Spirit World is tuned in to the feelings of those who tuned in to the feelings of those who are here. It can sense your feelings and will change according to them. This is especially true in Korra's case. This clearing is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in all my years in the Spirit World."

Asami looked around the clearing again, taking in its sights before her eyes landed on Korra. Her mouth was pulled into a tight frown as she listened to whatever Jinora was telling her. Asami also noticed that what Iroh had said was true. In addition to the hard frown and tight posture, the grass around the earthen stool upon which she was sitting had started changing. Instead of its normally bright violet colouring and springy appearance, it was starting to take on a grey hue and droop lifelessly.

At that moment though, Korra turned her attention away from Jinora and caught Asami's eyes. Her posture visibly relaxed and she smiled softly at her before turning back to the oldest of Avatar Aang's grandchildren. Asami also noticed that the grass near where Korra was sitting had returned to its normal vibrant violet colour.

"You see?" Iroh said. "She might not be aware of it, but her feelings for you are just as deep and sincere as yours."

Asami put her head back between her hands and groaned. "I'm in love with the Avatar. Great. It's not like she already has enough on her plate," she turned to Iroh who was smiling at her warmly. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Love is hard, when you are young. Loving the Avatar, even more so. Just ask Katara," he chuckled. "I would suggest continuing in a similar fashion to how you have been."

"Really? But she's the Avatar, she could do so much better than me." Considering everything Korra had been through, she deserved the best the world had to offer, and Asami was fairly sure that wasn't her.

"It is true that being a friend to the Avatar is hard, and I'm sure you and her other friends will be there for her and will always do everything you can to help her. But someone also has to be there to remind her that those friends can be relied on for help. To support her unconditionally in whatever she does, but also help her should she stray from her path. Do you believe you can be those things for her?"

Memories of those few weeks taking care of Korra after her fight with Zaheer flashed to the forefront of her mind and Asami knew the answer right away.

"Yes, I can."

"Then you have no need to worry." Iroh finished as he took a long sip of his tea. He lowered the cup from his lips after a moment and glanced at her mischievously from the corner of his eye. "Though it might not hurt to be a tad more forward with her." He laughed upon seeing the blush on Asami's face return as she considered what he said.

I guess it couldn't hurt.

Besides, she had always found some amusement in flirting on occasion with people she found attractive. And considering how bashful the Avatar could get at times it might be worth trying, just so she could see Korra blush the same way she did when she woke up to find Asami in her arms, again.

She looked up from her hands and saw Korra standing up and heading their way. Jinora was nowhere to be seen, but Asami just assumed she had returned to her body in the material world. Korra had a smile on her face and was walking towards them. Upon seeing that smile she decided she would do whatever she could to keep seeing it. This also effectively erased any lingering doubts Asami had about her feelings for the Avatar.

As she approached it was clear that whatever Korra had been talking about had made her quite tense. Without quite thinking about it she stood up and wrapped the shorter woman in a hug, feeling her relax slightly as she returned the embrace.

They stood there for several moments until Asami her the Iroh chuckle lightly from behind her. He did say try being more forward. She backed up slightly and looked into Korra's eyes. "Everything, alright?"

Korra sighed, but Iroh spoke before she could say anything. "Why don't we all sit down and have another cup of tea and maybe play a game of Pai-Sho while you tell us?"

Korra nodded and intertwined her fingers in Asami's before allowing herself to be led back to their makeshift table. Asami sat Korra down, and, deciding to follow Iroh's advice, proceeded to take a seat in Korra's lap. She giggled at the blush and confused look on her friend's face. Korra had opened her mouth, presumably to ask Asami what she was doing, but it closed it and her eyes as Asami began running her fingers through her short, chocolate tresses before rubbing the tense muscles in her neck. She giggled again when Korra wrapped her arms around her waist to bring the heiress closer, and rested her head on the older woman's chest.

Iroh chuckled to himself as he pour another three cups of tea before pulling a Pai-Sho set out of his robe and placing it on the table.

"Would you like to play Asami?" He asked warmly.

"I'd be honoured." They began setting up the pieces, Asami kept one hand on Korra's neck rubbing her neck while they played. Korra remained silent and it wasn't until they were half way through their third match that she spoke.

"We have to head home."

A/N: If you're a fan of korrasami, among other things, I hope you'll follow me on tumblr ( .com) where I post fan art, both my own and stuff I find, links to my fanfics, updates on what I've been working on, and general shameless fanboy stuff.

Now that my shameless self-promotion is over, I hope you guys liked the first chapter and will stick with me as I try to write a story with one of the most interesting worlds I've ever seen.