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"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

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Later that night, everyone was ready for sleep and in their rooms. Well…except for Mako and Korra, who were both laying on Korra's bed in her room. She curled up against his lean torso, giggling and chatting.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Officer? Would you arrest me if I did that?" Korra giggled after he told her an interesting story.

"Are you kidding? I'd be /lucky/ if I could get you to do that in /private/." He smirked.

Pouting, the Avatar slapped his chest hard.

"Okay…! I'm sorry…!" The firebender laughed, kissing his angry girlfriend's cheek.

"Whatever…!" She rolled her eyes, smiling wide. "It's like you want me to prove something to you." She smirked, leaning in and nibbling his neck.

"Well…I won't complain if you ever decide to get a little feisty on me…" he laughed, his hand sliding down the small of her back.

"Don't hold your breath, buster." She leaned in and nibbled his neck again, making him squirm.

"That freakin' tickles, Korra…!" Mako grabbed her arms, gaining dominance and getting on top of her, pinning her wrists above her head. Korra looked up into his eyes, her cheeks turning pink at the sudden act. Mako. Was on top of her. On a bed.

After a moment of heated silence between the couple, footsteps were heard down the hallway. Unalaq stepped into her room, Mako now sitting at her side as if nothing had happened. Her uncle raised a curious eyebrow.

"I hope I'm not interrupting…"

They both turned redder.

"No, uncle. We…were just saying good night." Korra blushed even harder.

"Well…goodnight, son." Unalaq gestured to outside of the room.

"Oh…uh…right, sir. Goodnight." Mako cleared his throat, getting off the bed and heading to his own room, very embarrassed. He smiled to Korra one last time before disappearing into the hallway. Unalaq seemed amused.

"Uncle…I-…I'm sorry…I know you don't want us to share-"

He laughed. "Oh no…never mind it. I appreciate young love." He smiled slightly, stepping further into the room.

What? Then why did Eska say that it was forbidden? Korra needed to think about that.

"…you /do/, Uncle?" Korra eagerly pulled herself to the edge of her bed, expecting to hear some sort of story to justify his words.

She knew her uncle was previously married, but she didn't know much about his wife at all. Neither Desna nor Eska seemed to know much about her, either.

"Of course. But that's not why I came to visit you. I wanted to discuss our future with training before you went to bed. Without my brother's interruption."

Korra couldn't hide her frown, disappointed that she didn't get the story that she wanted to hear.

"…sure, Uncle. You're the master. What…did you have in mind for me?"

Korra recalled when her uncle had calmed down the angry spirit that threatened the village back in the south during the festival. He did something so strange, there wasn't even a name for it. Was it even waterbending? If she could learn that, it could help strengthen her connection to the spiritual world. He was so calm, and his form was so graceful that the spirit easily fell into a trance and disappeared. It was incredible.

"I was thinking that we'd spend a few nights here with the family as we trained. To…reassure your father, in some respects. Then, we'll travel out of the city and spend a few nights there. I want to show you one of the most spiritual locations in the entire north. With this journey, your bond with spirit will significantly increase. And you may very well restore the respect and balance between the physical and spiritual realms."

His tone was serious and powerful as he spoke. Spirit was something that he took very seriously and personally. Korra gave a slight nod. The offer her uncle suggested sounded perfect for her. But no matter how many days they spent here, her dad would still be so protective and would either want to join them, or argue out of them even going in the first place. He cared about her training, but the thought of her alone with her uncle probably would not be an easy idea to digest.

"…I trust you, uncle. My father is very…well, protective of me. He means no harm. I-…don't want it to get in the way as much as you do…" she frowned.

"Then it's settled. We'll begin our first lesson tomorrow evening. The moon will be full. A clear night rich in spiritual energy." He smiled. "Rest well."

"Will do, Uncle. Goodnight."

...

Unalaq exited Korra's bedroom, leaving her alone. She had a lot to think about. A lot on her mind. She laid back on her bed, her arms folded above her head. Her eyes wandered to the open window, the curtains blowing from the slight breeze of the late night. The moon could be seen, hidden only by a few dark clouds. Yup…definitely going to be full.

Korra reminded herself of the beauty, yet dangers of the full moon. Waterbenders gain a powerful increase in their abilities, as Katara had taught her. That is also when the bloodbenders rise, too. It's a good thing it's illegal…and that it's an extremely rare skill to acquire, she thought. Only the greatest waterbenders in the would could even possibly be capable of it. A strong shiver chilled Korra's body, nightmares returning to her. She took a deep breath, letting the thoughts leave her through meditation. 'Better not remind myself of it. It's over', she whispered to herself, as her mind continued to wander, sending her into a deep, relaxed sleep.

If Korra had learned anything from her first night in the Northern Water Tribe, it's that the people here are neighborly and loving…

…even the darkest of shadows could shine a light here.

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