*Flashback*

"We're going to get caught," Kyra said.

"I know," Korra answered. "Just enjoy it while it lasts, oh he looks cute."

Kyra looked to where her friend was looking. A handsome boy stood there talking to a shopkeeper. He had golden eyes, pale skin, well at least compared to anyone in the Southern Tribe, had black hair, and was surprisingly young. She saw the symbol on his red uniform and knew he was a general.

"Go talk to him," Korra said.

"What no," Kyra refused.

"Why, scared?"

"Yes, what if I do something stupid?" Kyra asked.

Korra rolled her eyes at her shy friend.

"Just go," Korra said, and bended the ice under her friends feet to face her towards him. "Remember what Katarra says, you only need a minute of courage a day."

Kyra then took a step and walked towards the man. When she got close, Korra notice her slow down, she rolled her eyes and made a small block of earth come up under her feet, tripping Kyra. The general then turned and caught her, and put her back on her feet.

"You okay?" he asked.

Kyra blushed, "Y-yeah," she answered.

He smiled, and Kyra smiled back, "I am Iroh, General of the United Army," he said.

"I-I'm Kyra, Master water bender," Kyra answered.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," he said and then kissed her hand, absolutely paralyzing the shy girl.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too," she replied.

"Would you happen to know where I can find the White Lotus?" he asked.

"Um, yeah actually, I could show you if you want," Kyra said.

"Wonderful, lead the way," he said.

Kyra whistled for her Polar wolf and the giant dog came running.

"It's a ways, hope you don't mind," Kyra said.

"No, I don't," he answered.

She hopped on and Iroh got on behind her. She then turned the wolf around, "Back home Jango," she said.

The giant wolf took off and Iroh was scared into holding on to her waist. Kyra blushed, but said nothing. They were back to what Kyra called home in a matter of minutes. The ice gates opened and the wolf walked in.

"Where were you and Korra?" asked a bending master.

"Um, we were, um," Kyra said trying to make something up.

"I sent the two of them to pick up General Ihro," said Master Katarra as she came up.

Once again, her former master had saved her behind.

Iroh got off the giant wolf and reached up and helped her down. She then let the general and the masters talk amongst themselves. She took her wolf to the stables and saw Korra there giving Naga a belly rub.

"So how did it go?" Korra asked.

"It went well, I didn't do anything stupid," Kyra answered.

Korra smiled, "Did you know he's going to be staying for a while?"

"What!?" Kyra asked.

"Yeah, according to Katarra he thinks he's out of balance, and since the best benders are here teaching me how to bend, he figured that they could teach him to be in balance, but Katarra says that's not how it works," Korra explained. "She says that somebody has to put themselves back in balance."

Kyra remained silent, she too felt as though she was out of balance. Every time she bent water, she would see visions of her dark past.

"Am I interrupting?" asked master Katarra as she walked in.

"Um, no," Kyra answered.

"I couldn't help, but overhear you two," Katarra said. "Yes Iroh believes he is out of balance, and what Korra said is true, but we need to guide him."

Both of the young girls nodded and went to dinner. When Iroh came in he smiled at Kyra and sat across form her, disappointed at the fact that the two seats next to her were already taken by an elder and the avatar. They ate and on the way up to his room, he saw Kyra practicing bending. Her form was flawless, and the moon made her look beautiful. Then she lost focus for a split second and everything fell apart around her, just like his bending did.

She then went back towards the house and they walked into their rooms and fell asleep.

The next morning Kyra woke up and splashed some water in her face. She got ready and went outside, to find Iroh fire bending.

He was completely focused and was strong. She watched in awe, but then his bending fell apart, lighting some wooden objects close by on fire.

Kyra quickly ran and put the fire out.

"Sorry I just-"

"Don't be, these things happen," Kyra said.

Iroh remained silent and when Kyra went back inside he then started to bend again, this time away from anything that would light on fire.

"So, he has the same problem as you, one minute your bending is flawless then," Korra then made a farting noise with her tongue.

"It's more complicated than that," Kyra said defending him.

"I know, maybe you two could help each other get through it," Korra said. "Maybe even get a little close along the way."

Kyra then left and saw one of the bending masters with Iroh, they were talking, but Kyra couldn't tell what they were saying, but Iroh did.

"You're off balance, do you know why?" the bending master asked.

"No, ever since I became a general my bending has been falling apart," Iroh answered.

"I think you are well aware that one of our own benders has the same problem, am I correct?"

"If you're talking about Kyra, then yes," Iroh answered.

"She has discussed this with me as well. Every time she tries to do something advanced, it fails. She sees visions of her father and mother," the master explained.

"What happened to her parents?" Iroh asked.

"Her mother used to beat her brutally. Her father didn't want for her, so he took her and abandoned her on the door-step of Korra's house. He disappeared along with Kyra's mother," the bending master answered.

"Oh…"

"Yes, it is quite…unsettling, that one person could go through so much," the bending master said.