A/N: I changed the rating to T for now because there's really no point in having it be M while there's nothing gory or smexy going down. Otherwise no other big announcements, though I do have chapters 2-5 outlined, the chapter titles for 2-10, and a pretty good idea of what will happen in this, "first arc." Also, this chapter's title is in German in case you'd like to find its equivalent English word. Enjoy.

Chapter 2: Haifisch

The first order of business after introductions was to find out where Korra and her friends would be staying. The mayor and his wife lead them down the street to a large house which, unsurprisingly, was made of snow. It was about two and a half stories high and it was square at the base but curved inward slightly as you went higher. The snow was a dazzling white and because of the sun hitting it, it seemed to glow at the top like a star. Korra immediately took a liking to the place and asked to be shown to her room first.

"Ah, but it is not just your room," replied Mayor Anselmo.

"So you're saying we're sharing rooms?" Iroh asked.

"Is that going to be okay?" said the Mayor.

"Compared to the space on those battleships an igloo would be okay," said a grinning Iroh.

They all went inside laughing and soon the guests were lead to the room Korra would soon inhabit. In the first part of the room was a large bed with many blankets stacked neatly on it. To the right of the bed was a large opening through which you could walk into the other side of the room, and a similar bed was in that side of the room.

"Korra, you and Asami will be sleeping in this room. You can decide on which side is who's later because currently I believe Korra has somewhere to be," while the Mayor said this he pointed out into the hallway where Kisame stood silently.

Upon hearing that she would be bunking with Asami Korra had grown happy at the prospect of being right next to her best friend, but the thought of starting training pushed that thought out of her mind and got her adrenaline going. Unbeknownst to Korra Asami had also grown happy at the prospect of bunking with Korra as well but was now disappointed her friend would be leaving so soon.

"Well at least she'll be back tonight and then I can stay up all night with her and talk about how beautiful it is here and how good it is to be off that cramped ship," thought Asami.

Kisame had already staked out a private training ground for him and Korra and it was truly a great location. There was a vast plain of snow where they could practice long range combat and camouflage techniques. There was a mountain of rock, ice, and snow that could be used to train about the importance of using one's terrain properly. Best of all was the "lake" that Kisame had created in the center of the plains. It was an almost perfect circle that was filled with light blue water that slowly darkened as you gazed into it.

"I can see that the sides of it are ice too, how does this not freeze solid? And where's the bottom? I can't see it." asked Korra.

"There are many techniques you have let to learn and in good time you will learn them all if you're any good. As to the bottom, well there isn't one. I carved the bottom straight out to the bay. My own private tunnel," said Kisame.

"Well we may as well start sooner than later right? So what's this special way you have of not letting the water freeze?" said Korra curiously.

"Watch." Was the simple response.

Kisame put his hand into the water and a moment later, to Korra's shock, the water began to steam in front of her. The steam came off in great clouds and a thick fog began to form around the lake, as impossible to see through as solid rock.

"Well that seems to have got your attention, don't need to flood this whole area with mist. That's not my technique and I'm not stealing it," said Kisame as he removed his hands from the water.

"But how did you?"

"Put your hands in the water. Then picture making the water move faster so it becomes hotter, but don't actually make the water stir. Keep it so flat I can see our reflection," said Kisame.

Korra thought that what he was saying was nonsense and wondered what he meant by "our reflection" considering he was standing a bit away from her now. Still though she placed her hands in the water and concentrated on making the water move, yet not move simultaneously. Kisame heard her shout and turned to see her plunging her hands into the snow, looking quite absurd. He walked over to her and said nothing, it was easy to figure out that she had succeeded in heating the water but had overshot it by quite a bit and burnt her hands.

"She seems to be a quick learner, though she seems to have no control yet. Hm, she is quite powerful indeed. Maybe this will be some fun after all," reflected Kisame.

Korra meanwhile, determined to salvage what dignity she still had in front of her new master, put her hands back in the water and focused herself so completely on the water that even her breathing seemed to stop. Tenzin had been right, the ability to concentrate absolutely was a powerful ally indeed. Soon the water was slightly warm instead of numbingly cold or scalding hot. Kisame, touched his own hand to the water and immediately after threw his cloak onto the ground. He grabbed his huge sword with one hand and dove into the water saying, "Keep up."

Korra recovered quickly from her slight shock at his abrupt actions and put her own coat and boots on the ground before jumping in. She used Air Bending to make a bubble around her and realized two things, she would be freezing to death without the technique she had just learned and that Kisame was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly all the breath left her body as something that felt like a giant boulder flew into her. The force was so great she came out of the water and had to quickly freeze some water below her to land on, gasping for breath like a dying fish. Kisame then appeared, standing on the water in front of her.

"You came here to Water Bend Avatar. You will not use any other kind of bending unless I specifically tell you to. That was a soft tap compared to how hard I could slam into you. Now listen close. Without using your hands, you must manipulate the water around you so that it parts from you in a way that you can always breath. Try it." and with this he walked over and pushed her into the water with the tip of his still wrapped sword.

Korra drifted helplessly for several seconds, the harshness of both his methods and his blow had left her completely unprepared and she realized she would drown. Instinct and muscle memory kicked in as he used her hands to force the water away so she could gulp some more air in. Then as the water came back upon her she fought panic and still was holding half a breath inside her lungs when the water began to move away from her. Exulted at this new development she began to swim all around the lake and she didn't even notice the splash as Kisame dove in.

When she did make eye contact with him he motioned towards the darker, deeper, section of the water and began swimming in that direction. She propelled herself after him, but after only thirty seconds of following him it grew too dark. Flashes of a pale white hand, a limp body, and a sunken ship began to appear in her head. Kisame felt himself be pushed downwards as Korra propelled herself up into the air with a huge propelling of water. He followed, angry and impatient at this young girl who just seconds ago had been improving greatly. When he once again stood on the water he heard this, "Can't, I can't. The dark, the memories, no no no no, not the dark waters."

"I will not train you if you are afraid of the water. Now go. In your current state I refuse to train you," Kisame said.

Korra managed to get herself under control enough to get herself back to the room where she was staying. She didn't cry. She just collapsed on the bed, and stared at the white snow of the ceiling, trying to erase the memories of what had happened to her in the darkness of deep water. That was how she remained. That is, until Asami came back.