I can see Master Xi-fan's house now, Jasso should be training so I'll have time to think about what to say before I'll have to tell him. I go up the steps and turn the knob, giving the door a push. It swings open easily. Funny, I seem to remember having to push it harder than that, but, as I look up, I see why it opened so smoothly; I didn't open it. Jasso stands with his hand on the other side of the door.

I jump back in surprise. "AUGH!"

"You okay Solu?"

"I thought you were training!"

"It's lunch time. I was just on my way to have lunch over at the restaurant."

"Oh. I...didn't realize it was lunch time."

"Then you're here why?"

"Um..."

"Solu!" I think he guessed what happened. He takes a deep breath and forces a smile. "How'd your day go?"

I give him a short and undetailed go-over.

"You knocked him out?"

"He made a rude comment about my face!"

"So you knocked him out?!"

"I...yea."

"That's over doing it just the tiniest bit, don'tchya think Solu? I know you don't like benders, and I don't either, but seriously!"

He has descended the steps by now and we are walking through the streets.

"Sorry, but if I'm not working with benders there's much less chance of it happening again."

"You sound like your planning on getting into-hey, look!" He points to a headline in the window of a shop. "'Whole world mourns death of Avatar Aang.'"

"I'm not mourning."

"Oh, come on, have a heart Solu. I know he's a bender, but, I mean, come on."

I roll my eyes and sigh. "Where to for lunch?"


I am backed against a wall. Flames from the darkness lick my skin and my face...my face! It's here. A man emerges from the fire. He is engulfed in flames, yet not consumed, for he is a firebender. He is a bender. He steps towards me and all my knowledge of chi-blocking leaves me. I cannot fight this burning man. His hand reaches for me. I put up my arms to cover my face; I will keep it this time. He grabs my shoulder and shakes me.

"Wake up! Wake uuup!" A cheerful voice calls.

"Wha?"

I open my eyes. Black hair, light blue eyes.

"Did you mean to try and smack me?"

"Huh?" I try to remember where I am.

"You started flailing your arms when I came to wake you."

"Wake me?"

"It's morning."

"Oh," I'm back in the present. "Morning Jasso."

"Dreaming?"

"No, I just woke up. Uh, I mean, yea, I was." I sit up and rub my eyes. Why is it so dark? "Uuuh, Jasso, the sun's hardly up yet."

"I know, my training starts in two hours, let's see if we can find you some more work."

"You'll help me?"

"Of course. Do you think I wouldn't?"

"I just thought after yesterday's incident you might be too annoyed."

"I was pretty annoyed, but not that much."

I rise and begin to dress. "So, what do you do? For work."

"I do some housekeeping around here."

What?! Why haven't I heard about that?! "I'll do housekeeping!" Anything to ensure I'm not with a bender. Or stuck washing sushi dishes.

We ask Master Xi-fa later and he agrees, but says his house had better be 'dotless' from now on. Jasso and I smile and agree.


Jasso continues to train under Master Xi-fa for the next four years. I wait for anything to tell me it's time to start preparing for my revolution. Today, as I am walking past the same shop that Jasso had seen the headline announcing Avatar Aang's death, I see a headline of equal, if not greater, importance. "Avatar Korra discovered in Southpole!" Suddenly I feel an urge, a pull. I see my path falling into place before me. I have to go to Republic City.

I run back to the house and only sort of mean to interrupt Jasso's training session. He is working on a handstand on his kali sticks. Jasso comes down neatly when I burst in. Fortunately, the master is not in his room.

"You alright Solu?"

I nod; my face covering hides my smile. "We need to go to Republic City."

"Republic City? Is this an Amon thing?"

"Yes, but before that..." Thoughts of my childhood and some unsettled business flash though my mind. "I'll need to make a stop along the way."