:: Departure ::
Chapter One
Seven Months.
Thirty Weeks.
Two Hundred and Thirteen Days…
The never ending cycle of the sun and moon continued without pause. Days began with the luminous sunrise and ended with its final rays eclipsing the buildings of Republic City before the night took over. Fire ruled the day, Water the night. In the days that followed Amon's death, the restoration of her bending and that of the citizens of Republic City, Korra had learned that the duty of an Avatar wasn't always a battle based on bending ability. Within the last few months, she'd witnessed the pain of every man and woman she'd healed. Be they bender or not, every soul had been touched by the strength of Amon's wrath. Homes had been destroyed, and the city left burning as the last of the Chi Blockers had been forced back.
Ocean blue eyes fluttered open as Korra woke from her meditation, lazily keeping her relaxed posture until she felt ready to face the bits of wisdom that Aang had shared with her. Connecting to her past lives had become as simple as settling her mind down for meditation, and while the young woman still had trouble with entering the Spirit World, Korra found that the Avatar State was no longer but of her reach. Long after she'd finished her "soul searching" as she had taken to calling her meditative sessions, the water bender held on to the tranquil feeling that made her feel peaceful and centered. Before Amon and Republic City, Korra doubted she would have seen the value of sitting still for a half hour, let alone possess the discipline to continue it. Yet, she was becoming better skilled at it.
Thestrugglefor peaceis never over. As much as it is desired and soughtafter,one cannot rest in this pursuit Therefore, there willneverbea day that the world does not need its Avatar. Thepeople may believe themselves past the time of Bending but there will come a day when they will need you. Train,my young Avatar, train so that when the time comes,you will be ready.
Finally allowing her strained muscles to move, Korra gazed around the Yin and Yang meditational yard of Air Temple Island, sensing that she was being getting to her feet, her body instinctively sinking into the ground, Korra idly thought about how awesome it would be to "see" like Toph Bei Fong, feeling every slight change in the earth's vibrations. With a quick shake of her head, dark brown locks swishing around the back of her neck, Korradismissed the odd feeling from moments before in favor of dwelling upon Aang's words. She'd always known that she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed: puzzling over riddles and prophecies had never been her strong point. But a small part of her mind couldn't help but feel that her predecessor's words were that of a warning.
"Training, huh?" Gently scratching her short nails against the nape of her neck, the water bender sighed. "Guess I can never get away from it, huh? Thanks, Aang. You could have specified a little more." Her slightly forlorn expression shifted into a tense smile, eyes crackling at the thought of a good challenge.
"Feeling out of shape already?" Mako glided in from the shadows, his golden eyes appearing to sparkle as he looked upon the form of his girlfriend. Korra's lips turned up into an excited smile as Mako's fingers lightly grazed across the tanned skin of her forearm. Standing close to the water bender, Mako gently tilted her chin towards him, pressing a soft kiss to Korra's mouth.
"How's my beautiful girlfriend?"
A delicious shiver swept through Korra's body, shaking her knees and her heart with just the sound of Mako's seductive voice. She'd grown used to the possessive way he called her his, the very sound of her name upon those thin lips was enough to make Korra's stomach flutter in anticipation. Feeling herself being swept away, the curve of Korra's smile lifted, her eyes smirking back at Mako.
"Your girlfriend is very happy to see a certain fire bender. And of course I'm not feeling out of shape!" Taking a step back, Korra intertwined her fingers with Mako's. It didn't matter how many times she touched the fire bender's hand, the sensation of his long fingers tightly locked with hers always made her content.
Mako casually maneuvered his arm around Korra's waist in a kind of half-hug. "Did you receive some awesome Avatar spiritual advice?" He asked, half-jokingly.
Korra responded to Mako's embrace, letting herself be gently guided away. She thought again about the warning from Aang. "Mako, have you ever felt trapped?"
Startled, Mako dropped his arm around her in mock severity. "Don't tell me you want out of this relationship already," he joked, though his expression was searching.
She smiled reassuringly. "Ha ha. That's not what we talked about at all. I just…" she paused, thinking it over. For too long the young woman hadn't paid heed to the advice of those far more wise than herself, and this time she was determined to listen.
Mako considered her thoughtfully. "When I was younger, yes, I felt like I was being forced to work with the Tirades just to survive. Knowing that I had to help people break the law just to keep Bolin safe…"
The Fire bender's fingers tightened on her hands as Mako closed his eyes against whatever unsavory memory had been brought to the surface. Korra hated that she'd brought up the memory, but her own mind was unsettled as well.
"That's not what I mean, Mako." Releasing his hand, Korra began to walk the short distance to the front of the island. Mako trailed after her with a confused expression.
"Then what do you mean?"
The water bender paused at the top of the stairs that led from Air Temple Island's docks, her blue eyes gazing back at the city from across the bay. "Everything is quiet now, Mako. The city had finally overcome its fear of Amon coming back, and everyone believes that he's dead." Closing her eyes, her hand rose up to pinch the bridge of her nose in thought. Korra sighed, her hand falling back to her side.
"When I spoke to Aang, it seemed like he was warning me of something. It was almost as if he knew something bad was going to happen." Korra spun on her heels to face Mako, her steps sure on the familiar uneven stone steps.
Since the fall of Amon, Republic City had remained peaceful during the its rebuilding. With most of the Tirade leaders out of commission, Korra having refused to restore their bending, crime was at a surprisingly low rate now. Patriots like Mako had quickly rushed to join the police force, offering their services to help the city during its time of need. Rebuilding had taken time; homes, businesses and public services were some of the first things that had been reconstructed. Once the important matters had been taken care of were the entertainment buildings such as the Pro-Bending ring fixed. Bolin, the new captain of the Fire Ferrets, had been saddened by the fact that Korra had resigned from the team, and Mako had limited himself to that of a part time player.
Mako was close enough to Korra that she could hear his breathing. They both stood against the turret of the staircase, focusing on the recovered skyline. "I feel like I've done everything I can do here. The city is rebuilding itself. I think Aang may be right; I need to learn more. I'm seventeen and yet I've only ever seen Republic City and the compound." The rising tempo of her voice escalated as Korra continued to think upon the last seven months of her life.
Alarmed by both her words and tone of voice, Mako tightly gripped Korra's hand and pulled her body flush against his. Pressing his brow against hers, the fire bender closed his eyes against the impending feeling of desertion. "What are you saying, Korra?"
Thrust back into the memories of helplessness at the hands of Amon, Korra took a ragged breath, hyperaware of the worry that had laced Mako's voice. "I'm saying that I need to see the world, Mako. I need to show the people that they still need me."
Amber eyes shot open, and Korra could recognize a look of suppressed panic on his face. "What? Are you leaving me, Korra?" The grip on her hands became painfully tight as Korra's eyes narrowed, annoyance at her boyfriend's sudden lack of confidence tightening her lips.
"Where did you get that from?" She shook off his tightened grip, continuing their descent down the stone steps." I said that I need to travel, not dump my boyfriend." Mako continued to follow her, their steps a soft cadence against the stone.
They reached the bottom of the steps, the soft tresses of Korra's hair swept across her shoulder as Mako gazed at her with unblinking eyes. "You just said you wanted to leave," he pointed out, his words clipped. "And that's something I can't do. Did you forget that you have a duty to this city, too? And to me?"
Blue eyes sparked in anger as yet again, Mako took her words and used them against her. "I have a duty to the whole fucking world, Mako! I'm the Avatar, everyoneneeds me."
Sensing her rising aggravation, Mako sighed and tried a different approach. "Look, I understand that you feel the need to travel and I'm willing to go with you!" He held up his hands in placation. "Just… wait a few months. Let the city fully recover, and then we can go together." His eyes silently pleaded with the young woman as Mako he placed his hands around Korra's waist. His arms slowly snaked over her body, holding her against him. His lips murmured, "please," against her neck. The fire bender didn't relax his hold until Korra melted against him.
The dinner bell rang across the yard as Mako and Korra walked into the dining hall, hand in hand. Greeting the Air Bender family with a tense smile, Korra took her seat beside Tenzin who immediately picked up on her unsettled expression.
"Korra, if you would, I'd like to speak to you after dinner."
Leaning her elbow upon the low table, Korra nodded but didn't turn to look her teacher in the eye. At the end of the table, settled beside Bolin, Mako's gaze was focused on the His emotions were still caught up in feeling abandoned.
Tenzin promptly turned his head to gaze at the lithe body of his wife as Pema entered the room from the adjoining kitchen. Dressed in the standard red and gold attire of the Air Nomads, Pema smiled at her husband as she set down the last of the dinner plates.
"When do we get to eat?" Moaning from the end of the table Bolin, pouted as he gazed longingly at the dishes. "I still don't get why you guys don't eat meat, it's juicy, it's meaty, and-" The earth bender quickly shut his mouth at Tenzin's glower.
"We're waiting on an important guest, should only be a minute or two more." Pema smiled at Bolin kindly, speaking before her husband could remark on Bolin's lack of patience. "Ah and there he is!" Settling herself beside Tenzin, Pema shifted her smile in the direction of a familiar man walking toward the table.
"I apologize for my tardiness," General Iroh inclined his head in the direction of Pema and Tenzin.
Korra's eyes swept up from their downward gaze, moving to land upon the form of the Fire Nation Prince. Iroh had dressed as casually as he could, forgoing the use of his stern uniform in favor of a more relaxed tone. Almost as if to state his nationality, the fire bender was dressed in dark red and black colors, the cloth of his pants running the full length of his long legs. Bowing at exactly the required angle, Iroh placed his closed fist and open palm before him in a regal greeting to the Air Nomads.
"Master Tenzin. Miss Pema."
Pema, ever the doting mother, strictly pointed to Iroh's place across the table from Korra. "None of that formality at the dinner table, Iroh."
Lips twitching in amusement at the woman's demand, Iroh did as he was told; acutely aware of the Avatar's scrutinizing gaze as he slid into place. Dinner was lively as always, Meelo and Ikki firing off question after question that the Fire Prince seemed to answer with a calm that had Korra doubting he was even a fire bender. Her eyes seemed to linger on Iroh, watching his every controlled movement throughout dinner. Occasionally she'd glance at Mako, who remained solemn for the duration of the meal.
After the pleasantries that always followed dinner, Tenzin lithely got to his feet, blue eyes lowering to look at his student. "Korra, we'll have that talk now. Iroh, if you will."
Pema lifted her hand with a smile as the air bender stopped beside his wife to chastely kiss her offered hand. "I won't be long."
Tenzin's office was befitting of his rank as Councilmen of Republic City. Various relics of his people's lost civilization were carefully hung about the walls, Aang's own glider hanging just behind the desk. Korra trailed behind her teacher, blue eyes lingering on the air bender's back. Iroh followed a pace or two behind her, hands folded behind him casually.
She didn't know why Tenzin wanted to speak with her nor did she understand the reason that the Prince had to accompany them.
As soon as Iroh closed the door, Korra didn't waste a moment. "What's this all about, Tenzin?"
Eyes shifting between the two men, Korra impatiently waited for one of them to speak. It took a long moment of the two men staring at each other before Tenzin finally motioned for them to sit, taking his own seat behind his desk.
"I know why you're here, General Iroh, but your letter was sparse with the details. Please explain further."
An unsettled feeling filled Korra as the fire bender next to her took a deep breath to answer.
"I have received word from my mother, Fire Lord Ursa. As you know, August is the month that my people celebrate the Fire Lily festival, and many of the world's diplomats travel in order to witness it."
Iroh took a moment to collect his thoughts, the long lashes of his eyes closing over the golden color of his iris.
"It seems that my mother has taken it upon herself to order me to return home before my next tour." He looked slightly sheepish as he said it, and Korra had to grin. "And she has extended an invitation to the Avatar to attend the festival."
She couldn't believe her Iroh finished speaking, Korra's eyes went wide with excitement and her fingers, the water bender held her tongue until Tenzin had had his say.
"I had thought as much." The air around the nomad seemed to swirl like Korra's own enthusiastic emotions. Tenzin considered Iroh thoughtfully. "I understand that Korra needs to experience the father had never intended for her to be locked , I don't think she's ready." Korra's face fell as she listened to her master's words, biting her tongue now in order not to rashly speak out. "I am not alone in this decision, General White Lotus have just as much say in her training as I do."
Iroh nodded his understanding. There is no need to explain any further, Master Tenzin. I understand your reservations. However, I will ask you this: how is the Avatar to learn if she does not decide her own path? Didn't the late Avatar Aang say that 'one shapes their own fate'?"
Tenzin's eyes twitched in annoyance at the trap he'd allowed the young General to capture him in. How often did he recite such things to Korra and yet here he was receiving them from a man much younger than himself?
"You've caught me," he muttered under his breath, fingers roughly pulling at his black beard. Tenzin's shoulders drooped slightly. "General, allow me two days to contact the White Lotus, then and only then will I have your answer."
Resigning himself to the agreement, Iroh stood up to bow as the door was quickly pushed open. Turning to face the door with a surprised look the fire bender moved to offer his seat to Pema as she walked in like a queen. An authoritative aura surrounded the aging woman as she looked her husband directly in the eyes, a small smirk playing on her lips. Korra had turned in her seat to look at the new arrival, still too stunned to speak.
"Approval from The White Lotus won't be needed, Tenzin." Coming to stand before her husband's desk, Pema stood her ground firmly as the air bender gawked.
Tenzin seemed to have a fit, looking left to right in astonishment. "Pema, what are you doing here?" His hands swept around the room. "I was having an important conversation about Korra's future with General Iroh."
Pema seemed to laugh as if nothing was amiss, almost as if she already knew the outcome of the discussion. "Oh I know, dearest. However, Korra will be going."
"What?" Voice rising to a shout, Tenzin tried for a measure of his former composure. "Pema, I haven't decided that yet."
Sweeping aside the man's argument, Pema simply shook her head. "No, but Korra has."
The news of Korra's departure traveled fast around the island, much to Tenzin's disapproval. To the air bender, it was a sore reminder that he could not, in fact, withstand his wife's insistence. Pema wasn't visably affected by the situation at all, quietly giggling with her fellow females about men and their defenselessness at the hands of their wives. Everyone, save Mako, had congratulated Korra on her new adventure; clapping the young woman on the shoulder as they grinned their excitement. Mako, on the other hand, hadn't taken the news well, and during the three days before Korra was scheduled to leave,he'd mostly avoided her. Unable to get over his frustration with Korra in not consulting him in her decision, Mako had finally come to regret his foolish behavior. With no definite return date and with every plan to not obey the rules once she'd gotten to the capitol, Korra was brimming with excitement.
A small squad of Lotus guards had already cleared off the wooden dock that anchored Iroh's ship, and Allied troops were busy loading supplies, including Naga. The massive Polar bear-dog did not hesitate even a moment as her current handler led the passive animal up the ramp. Standing with her back to the massive Fire Nation ship, her leather pack carelessly thrown over her shoulder, Korra smiled back at her companions that had come to see her off. Iroh stood at attention beside her.
"Korra, remember to meditate. There's a lot that you can learn from Avatar- my father." Even at the time of departure, Tenzin remained in lecturer mode, "And take these. Pema was nice enough to find someone to copy some Air Bending scrolls for you months ago, but with everything that happened, I never got the chance to give them to you."
The young woman's eyes darted between the couple, a wide smile on her lips despite the Air Bender's lecture. "Of course, Tenzin! I'll make sure to practice every day!"
"And knowing you, the first thing you're going to do is gorge out on meat. Try not to eat too much." Narrowing his eyes for a moment, the non-meat eating bender relented with a smile. "Just… stay out of trouble, Korra. I can't save you when you're in the Fire Nation. That responsibility is going to fall on General Iroh's shoulders, so please behave."
"Tenzin, relax!" Swatting her husband with a teasing look, Pema swept the young Avatar up in a hug before releasing her. "Stop being such a mother hen and allow the girl to leave. Look at her, she's ready." Wrapping her arm around her charge's shoulders, Pema pulled Korra to the side.
"You have everything you need right? Lady stuff as well?" Korra nodded with a blush, prompting her guardian to smile. "Good girl."
Squeezing the water tribe girl once more Pema turned back to the others. "Okay everyone; say your goodbyes so that Korra can leave. Our Avatar is finally getting to see the world!"
Smiling to her friends as one by one they hugged her and said goodbye, Korra hesitated briefly as she finally reached Mako. Standing awkwardly in front of her boyfriend, her blue eyes looking anywhere but into his gold irises, the young woman scuffed her boot into the wooden dock. "I'll write you, I promise."
Unable to speak for himself, Mako nodded and wrapped the woman in his arms tightly, nose buried in the dark hair that had escaped its wolf tail prison. "Stay safe, Korra." Tightening his hold for a second, Mako stepped back and with a last look, walked away.
"Korra… I'm sorry." Clasping his hand on the Avatar's shoulder, Bolin looked at his friend sadly. "He's not good with goodbyes."
"I know, Bo." Nodding her head sadly, Korra turned to the three young children that bounced at her feet. "Meelo, Ikki, Jinora: behave while I'm gone and don't drive your father to crazy. I won't be here to play with you for a while."
All three children nodded obediently. "Korra, I'm going to miss you." Her childish face pulling downward in a pout, Ikki grasped the young woman's hand. "You have to write to us as well, keep us updated on your bending and we promise to show you all our new tricks when you get back!"
Nodding her head determinedly, Jinora joined in. "You have to come back soon, if not, you'll miss Rohan's air bending!"
"Of course, I can't miss that." Holding her arms out wide, the three children were quick to dart forward into the Avatar's tight hug. "I'll see you soon." Kissing each of their heads, Korra got to her feet and smiled broadly at Iroh. "Well then General, let's get to it."
Editor: evilredmenace