The Road to Forever

Chapter 1: Important Lessons

"Asami darling, it's time for bed!" Asami's mother called to her from the hall, but the five year old wasn't listening. She was engrossed in a small book in the family library.

Aiko entered the spacious room and found her daughter huddled in a corner with the book in her lap. Her already long, dark hair flowing around her and almost acting as a shield from the outside world. Asami's mother couldn't help but smile. She loved that her daughter had developed such a love for reading, as she had. But it was late...

"Asami! It's late my dear. Time for bed!" Aiko called out again and Asami startled and looked up. She had been so deep into the story that she hadn't heard her mother come in.

"Sorry Mom! I'm almost finished, can't I stay up a little longer? Please!?" Asami pleaded.

"What is it that you're reading this time that has you so excited?" Aiko asked her.

"It's a story about Avatar Aang! It's about when he defended the Northern Water Tribe against an entire fleet of Fire Nation ships! It's so amazing!" Asami gushed.

Aiko smiled. She knew that story well.

"That is very good story Asami. But it really is very late, I think it best you finish it tomorrow."

Asami sighed but nodded before placing a marker in the book and closing it reverently. She followed her mother back to her room and was silent while Aiko tucked her into bed. The older woman was nearly finished when Asami spoke.

"Mom?"

"Yes, my darling?"

"Can I be the Avatar?" Asami whispered.

Aiko was taken by surprise at the question but smiled softly at her daughter.

"I'm sorry, Asami. Being the Avatar isn't something you can choose to be. You are either born the Avatar or not and remember, you are like your father and I, a non-bender." Aiko explained.

"Oh...I see." Little Asami whispered sadly. "Well when will the Avatar come back?"

"I don't know. The Order of the White Lotus has been searching for the Avatar since the world lost Avatar Aang four years ago. The next Avatar is meant to be a water bender but now that the people of the nations have spread out more, the Avatar could be anywhere. I'm sure they will find him soon." Asami's mother told her.

"Or her! The Avatar could be a girl! Right?" Asami said excitedly.

Aiko laughed and nodded. "Yes that's right!" She was quiet a moment as she watched her daughter settle down and ready herself to go to sleep. She smiled at her daughter and reached out to run her fingers softly through her hair.

"You know, you might not be the Avatar, but that doesn't mean you can't do great things too, my strong girl." Aiko told her.

Asami looked up at her mother questioningly so Aiko explained.

"Avatar Aang had friends who helped him on his adventures. There was Master Katara, Chief Beifong, Fire Lord Zuko, and even non-benders Chief Sokka and his wife Suki. You see? It doesn't matter if you were born a bender, or not. It's what you choose to do in your life that can make you great."

Asami looked at her mother with big eyes and asked excitedly, "So, I can go on adventures too someday? I can fight bad guys and save the world?!"

Aiko chuckled. "Well I hope you're never in that kind of danger, but you can do anything you set your mind to. You just have to believe in yourself and be willing to work hard. If you do that, then you can be unstoppable. That's true for everyone, whether they're the Avatar, a bender, or a non-bender."

"Ok Mom! I'm going to do it!"

"Alright then. It's settled. But first, you'll need your sleep! Time for bed, little one." Aiko whispered and kissed her daughter softly on the forehead before turning to leave. She looked back at her daughter before turning out the light. Asami was staring at her ceiling with a big smile on her face, clearly already envisioning the adventures she would have. Aiko smiled and turned out the light before leaving her daughter to her dreams.

"Asami? Asami where are you?" Aiko called out. Asami wasn't in the library, or her bedroom. Then she heard the faint sound of the radio coming from the family room. It was the radio they had gotten for her for Asami's sixth birthday. She peaked in to find her daughter listening intently as the announcer read off his report.

"That's right ladies and gentlemen you heard that right! A small band of terrorists attempted to kidnap the young Avatar Korra just last night! The Avatar was unharmed and the kidnappers were apprehended. We've been told that Fire Lord Zuko and Chief Sokka themselves aided the Order of the White Lotus in stopping the attempt. However, Chief Sokka was badly wounded during the battle. It is not yet known how badly, or whether or not he will sur-" Aiko shut the radio off before the announcer could continue and Asami looked up at her, tears in her eyes.

"Mom...why would someone want to kidnap the Avatar? And Chief Sokka will be ok, won't he? He has to be! He's one of the heroes of Team Avatar, he can't die!" Asami said in a rush as she held on tightly to her mother's robes.

Aiko leaned down and hugged her daughter tightly and she gently rubbed her back, trying to sooth her daughter.

"There are people in this world who only want to do bad things Asami. They've lost their way and can't see the light anymore. These are the kind of people who would try to kidnap the young Avatar. I don't know what they had planned but I'm glad they were stopped. As for Chief Sokka, I don't know my dear. I hope he'll be alright. But, you need to understand that no one lives forever, not even your heroes. Everyone must leave this world sometime. It's hard and we miss them, and yet, the people we love never really leave us, not if we remember them." Aiko soothed her.

"You won't leave though, will you Mom?" Asami whispered.

Aiko sighed. "Someday my love, yes. I can't live forever either. But that is a long time away."

"I want you to live forever though! The Avatar can live forever, why can't you?!" Asami said, upset. It wasn't fair!

"The Avatar spirit may go on, Asami, but the person still leaves this world. The spirit is reborn and the cycle begins anew. Little Korra may be the Avatar, but she is not Aang or Roku or any of the other Avatar's before her. She is her own person, reborn but still unique. Do you understand?" Aiko asked her.

Asami looked away and said, "I-I think so. It just isn't fair that anyone should have to leave."

"I know dear. That is the cycle of life though. The world turns, people pass on and life begins again. Don't let it worry you. You're much too young to be getting worry lines like me!" Aiko told her laughing as she reached out and tickled her daughter until she giggled madly.

When Asami had finally calmed down, she smiled up at her mother.

"I'm glad Avatar Korra is ok. I really want to meet her someday. Maybe we can even be friends!"

Aiko grinned widely as she looked down at her beautiful, kindhearted little girl.

"Maybe you will be Asami. Maybe you will."

Author's note:

Hello again! I've decided to start a series of one-shots around Korra and Asami. This is the first of what I hope will be many. I've been wanting to write about Asami and her mother now for a while. We know so little about her. I hope you guys liked it! I'm eventually going to move through each season detailing different moments.

Also, Aiko apparently means "Beloved". I found it suited her perfectly.