The calming pattern of the crashing waves, was the only sound that the tan girl could hear.
That and the occasional primal call coming from either a nearby spirit or dragonbird. Other then that. There was nothing. Just wonderful serenity.
...kinda.
"Come on come on."
Repeating her mental mantra like a prayer, Korra snapped open her eyes and glared at the still rising morning sky.
The sight was defiantly something worth smiling about, but only a scowl covered her features.
"Stupid sunrise..."
This was suppose to be a peaceful time. THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE HER TIME. She had even gone ahead an written out a letter to alert anyone on the island not to disturb her!
THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE HER RECONNECTING WITH THE WORLD HAPPY JUJU TIME.
...but it was anything but that.
Shutting her eyes forcefully, the tan Avatar shut out all of her negative thoughts an tried to once again, relieve the pressure in her soul.
All week, Korra could feel herself losing touch with her own mind. Not like the 'I'm going to pull a princess Azula and become completely bonkers', but something was definitely off.
Her heart rate was irregular, her eyes would blur out of sight at times, and her voice was becoming almost higher?
Katara had visited not to long ago and claimed that her symptoms were more spiritual then the possibility of ailment.
But that wasn't cutting it for Korra.
In the past she had felt unease multiple times. The weeks that followed her battle with Zaheer had been particularly tiring, but she had gotten over that. She had endured A LOT of physically, mentally, and spiritually draining things before. But the aftershocks had never been like this.
The never ending sense of something eating away at her own sanity. It was like she was drowning, but couldn't move.
Then again though, what was there to be so...worried about?
She had her hopes back up, Mako had stopped being an awkward turtlebear around her, Bolin was happily writting letters to Opal, the air nation had gained a new master, she had the greatest girlfriend in the world, she COULD WALK AGAIN.
Everything was looking up for her...so why did the aura around her feel wrong?
Like right now, there was something nagging at the inside if her mind and it had been a nuisance to her periodically past the last few weeks.
Here she was. Mediating in her favorite spot looking over the Republic City water. Far before anyone, even Pema would arise.
She had assured no one would bother her. She had the world at peace. But...
"ARRRUGHH"
Clenching her eyes down tighter, Korra focused even harder on achieving some, ANY, form of balance.
But then again, where could her mind wander to?
The Avatar cycle was still severed, the spirit realm was open to the material world already.
There was no escape. No where.
Giving uo for the morning, Korra's cerulean eyes widened to the size of saucers when she noticed that she the sun had set far below the city skyline. Even the barest hint of the end if the day night sky was beginning to form.
How long had she been meditating? WHERE HAD THE DAY GONE?! Had she fallen asleep?
Not recalling in the slightest as to how the hell she ended up outside for what looked like hours, the Avatar stood and yawned. Stretching her suddenly sore arms far over her head. Before realization slapped her like a rick to the face.
Asami was gonna kill her!
Rushing to stand, Korra remembered that her note had said SHE would call when meditation was over. And her girlfriend had most likely been expecting her to meet for lunch!
With the sky becoming darker by the second, the tan girl formed an immediate air scooter, and raced towards the island house.
The second she arrived though, she noticed that Oogi was situated out in front if the bison stables.
That could only mean that Tenzin and Opal had come to visit! Seeing as Jinora was probably still working with the relief groups in Ba Sing Se.
Hopping off of er elemental ride, Korra rushed towards the air temple doors. Bursting through them rather ungracefully.
"Hi guys!"
The second she noticed everyone around the dinner table, the Avatar noticed that Asami was sitting wide eyed along with the rest of the family and friends.
"Spirits! Sami I'm sorry I must have dozed off during meditation! Avatar's promise I'll take you to...lunch...tomorrow? Why are you guys all staring at me?"
Not a sound came out of anyone's mouth.
Kya, Asami, and Bolin looked petrified. Tenzin and Pema looked like someone had just punched them in the throat. Mako, Bumi, and Opal had their jaws slack. And the airbending kids were silent. Which was never a good sign.
"Guys? What's wrong? I left a note saying I'd be gone-"
"AANG IN THE SKY WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!"
Startled by Tenzin's outburst, Korra felt herself actually tear up a bit at the shout. Which was odd? Her airbending master had yelled at her plenty of times, why did she feel so upset over it now?
"Geez nice to see you too. I said I was sorry! When I saw Oogi outside I was excited and wanted-"
"No Korra! What happened?!"
Completely lost, the Avatar wiped cautiously at her face to see if there was dry drool on her face. But stopped completely when a VERY small hand met her...round face?!
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Looking down at herself for the first time since waking up, Korra noticed that instead of meeting the downwards view of her mature and toned body, there was a rather pudgy belly being covered by a FAR too big pelt and shirt.
Her joints were smaller an undefined and she was finally taking notice of how close to the ground she was.
"Tenzin?! What-"
Not even finishing her question, Korra suddenly noticed a glass of water on the dinner table before her. With a quick sweep she bent the water up towards herself and froze it to clarity.
Screaming an dropping the ice when a five year old image met her gaze.
"No no no no no! I'm dreaming! I have to be dreaming! I fell asleep while meditating and I'm dreaming!"
Shutting her eyes tightly, the tan girl tried to will herself to wake up.
"Korra?"
She didn't react to her name being called.
"Korra!"
Peeking open one cerulean orb, just like a scolded child would, the suddenly rather upset girl noticed that Tenzin was kneeling before her.
"Korra, I want you to listen to me okay? What exactly happened while you were meditating?"
Speaking without even thinking, the young child wiped away at the tears threatening to fall across her face.
"I...I had been feeling off for the past few weeks so I...I just went out to meditate for the morning and when I woke up it was dark out. I hadn't even noticed anything was wrong until you all stared at me..."
Frowning slightly, Tenzin stood to unintentionally tower over the child, and began to worriedly rub his temples.
"There have been legends in the past...but I never would have guessed they could be true."
"What did they say?"
Looking down at the young Korra, a heavy sigh escaped the master's lips.
"There have been past incarnations of the Avatar, not many, but a few that suffered from something so mentally damaging that they repressed their fears to the point of transforming into their weakest form..."
"That sounds just like what happened in the spirit world when I went with Jinora! I was alone and I turned into a kid again, but Iroh helped me see what I had to do. But I'm not even scared about anything this time!"
Turning to kneel once again in front of Korra, Tenzin gave the child a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. None of the tales have ever been documented to have lasted forever. We will find a way to reverse this. This isn't a bad thing Korra, consider it as a new challenge that you can over come."
"How do I overcome? THIS?"
Gesturing to her now pint size stature, Tenzin chuckled. Actually finding it slightly hilarious that Korra reminded him of a younger Ikki.
"There was obviously something bothering you, that only you can defeat. Even if it is in this state, I have faith that this will be a good thing for you."
Finally relenting in her worries, the water tribe girl begrudgingly accepted her master's wisdom.
Having a reasonable explanation to the entire situation at last, Asami finally allowed her smile to break.
"But on the plus side! KORRA! YOU'RE ADORABLE!"
Shooting her now cooing girlfriend a glare, Korra became even more frustrated when similar looks of awwing began to spread across most of the table.
"This is gonna be so much fun! Korra can play with us more now and be like our Jinora 2.0!"
Meelo excitedly raced from the room to go fetch something, while Ikki raced right after her brother. Both going to fetch some of their older sister's clothing.
Kya waited until the youngest occupants were gone before chuckling.
"At least you're use to looking up at people already, kid."
Huffing at the jabs being thrown her way, the Avatar pouted slightly. Noticing that Asami still had a playful look in her eye. A look Korra had learned never to trust.
"Asami, I don't know what in spirits name you are thinking about but-"
Moving to stand carefully, the engineer approached the smaller girl and kneeled before her. Face breaking into a brilliant grin.
Before Krra could react, her girlfriend was picking Korra up like the small child she was.
"ASAMI!"
"You are so cute, I'm sorry I couldn't help myself!"
Not wanting to hurt the taller woman with her bending, Korra tried her hardest to struggle out of the taller girl's grip. Before resigning in defeat.
"Aw did you tucker yourself out?"
"The second I'm back to normal I swear to-"
"Ah ah ah! Now swearing, you're much to young for such a thing!"
Now actually becoming quite embarrassed at all of the teasing, the Avatar pouted slightly an hid her face towards Asami's jacket. Mumbling profanities so only she could hear.
"Relax hun, I'm just kidding, but you do look rather adorable."
"Shut up I am the Avatar...I shouldn't BE ADORABLE!"
"Aw come on now! Why not enjoy being a kid?"
Sighing slightly Korra motioned that she would like to be place back onto the ground. And for this time only, Asami complied.
"Because I hate having people have to watch over me all the time! I can take care of myself just fine."
Pema smiled patiently at the newest child and moved to start collecting the forgotten dinner plates.
"There is nothing wrong with letting others help you out Korra. If anything perhaps this was the lesson you needed to learn. How to be happy."
"I AM HAPPY!"
Kya chimed in thoughtfully.
"Actually pipsqueak I think you're nuetral as of now. I mean nothing is exactly going wrong, but you have been really tense lately. Your aura's just so mixed?"
Asami kneeled besides the now quiet girl.
"It's okay to enjoy yourself a little. You said you were fine after you could walk again, but maybe your mind hasn't caught up with your body yet."
"I don't exactly have TIME to enjoy myself! There may not be anything extremely wrong, but there is still crime! And people could be dying and-"
Suddenly feeling herself being picked up for the second time of the night, Korra squeaked in protest. The engineer was quick to nuzzle her.
"Just relax okay? For just this once can you just be Korra? Even in kid form?"
Huffing much like a hardheaded kid would, the Avatar gave a slight eyebrow twitch.
"Sami I really-"
"Come on, we can go play at the park tomorrow? Go get some ice cream and get you some water styled clothes? Pleaassee."
The idea of treats an a fun day triggered something to the young Avatar, and she dropped her gaze.
Stupid child mind finding everything exciting...
"...I guess I could...get use to this for now..."
Her girlfriend shook her head.
"So stubborn. Maybe you need a nap?"
"You're the worst..."
"Yeah yeah yeah. Let's go shortstack! We'll go join the other youngsters."
Pema waited until the two were out of earshot to stare at Tenzin's suddenly pale face.
"What's wrong dear?"
"Jinora was bad enough...I don't know if I can handle when and if Korra has to relive puberty..."