Dear Mom,

How have you been? I've been doing fine. My training is coming along and—

"Too stale." Crumple, toss.

Dearest Mother,

I hope you have faired well since I have departed. I am in good health as I gradually progress to the next level—

"Too formal." Crumple, toss.

My dear Mommy,

I'm very happy to finally write to you now. A lot of things been happening and it was very distracti-

"Ugh!" Ball up and throw! Soon followed by an annoyed snarl.

Korra comes back to earth and turns apologetically to Naga. "That hit you didn't it? Sorry girl."

Naga huffs and lies her head back on the bed.

Sighing, Korra hunches over the desk as she stares vexing at the newest sheet of paper. "What should I write…? What should I say?"

Because she couldn't sleep, Korra decided that now would be a good time to try to write a letter to her mother. This shouldn't be hard, she's exchanged letters with her family for years, the only form of consistent bonding she has with them. So why…

"Why is it so hard now?" She asks herself. "I didn't have this much trouble all this time. Not even when I dealt with… harsh training in the Earth Kingdom." Sighing again, she raises her head to the ceiling, peering beyond the plaster and wood. "I can't sleep until I do this…"

But what to write… what to say. She could write about the troubling dreams she's been having – but even the inkling to do so makes her too stubborn to admit it. She could write about her first few days in Republic City, that should be easy – but for some reason she doesn't want to. Or really she wants to tell them, but feels it be better if she got to tell them of her crazy adventures… in person.

So what could she write? What is there for her to say? Taking a deep breath, cerulean orbs return to the lone, blank page. "Maybe… I'm thinking too much." Retrieving her fountain pen, Korra determinedly place the point on the sheet, preparing to make the first word. "If I keep this up I'll be at it all night. Just write, that's all you can do."

Nodding to her resolve, she writes and writes. It is blunt, honest, not formal or sugarcoating. But at the same time, it doesn't reveal too much. Once the page is completely scribed, Korra puts down the pen and flexes her slightly cramped hand. She decides it's best not to read over what was written, otherwise she'd lose her nerve and be tempted to start the crumple-toss cycle all over again. Getting up, she ignores all the paper balls littered about the floor, plops on her bed, and uses Naga's head as a much prefered pillow. She'll clean her room after morning's training, right now she needs to sleep.

Mom,

I'm glad everything is okay back there. I know the OWL heads can be overbearing all the time. Things are fine on my end, though things have been crazy the first few days I came to the city – but that's something I want to share when I'm back home. I'm staying on Air Temple Island, you can't miss it, it's a piece missing from the bigger Air Temples. Must've broken off and drifted away till it got stuck on something underwater.

Terrible jokes aside, airbending training has been a challenge, as expected. Meditating is hard enough, having to sit still and do nothing for an hour… if I was anybody else it'd be pure torture. Then there's this old relic of gates that spin and you have to dance through them without getting thwacked. Worthy inanimate adversaries, but I'm gradually winning the war.

At least Tenzin and his family are great to be with. Tenz is a traditionalist like the days of olde, and a classic killjoy through and through. But he's an awesome sifu, and he's being very patient with me, which I get must be hard; I dunno how I put up with myself sometimes. Pema's the pure essence of mother love, just like you. She's been very nurturing and treating me like her own child, and while it feels awkward… I can't say I don't appreciate it. And there's never a dull moment with the kids around: Jinora's the bookworm sage, Ikki's chatter is a form of bending I can't hope to master, and Meelo is a faithful lieutenant I'm honored to have at my side. Being with them is as fun as it was back at the Fire Nation, and I can't wait for more fun to come.

As for my spiritual lessons, it's tough – shocker, I know – but I think I'm reaching a semblance of understanding I didn't get anywhere else. It's gonna take some time, I've been knowing that, but it's frustrating nonetheless. I just want to achieve everything so I can finally be a fully realized Avatar. I want to finally help the world only an Avatar could. Plus, the sooner I complete my training, the sooner I have the freedom to be where ever I want without the OWL breathing down my neck. That means I get to surprise you guys with a visit when you least expect it, so I hope your heart is strong enough with the ways I'll pop up into your life!

Well, that's I gotta say. Tell everyone that I love them, and tell Nilak to expect word from me real soon.

With love,

Korra

Drips and drops plop upon the bottom of the page, being sure not to splotch the wonderful words written. Surged with emotions, Senna puts a quivering hand over her mouth to silence the fact that she's crying over a letter from her daughter… again. It doesn't happen so often anymore, but the floodgates always overflow over the first letter from Korra's newest location. Tonraq knew this, which was why he took the kids out, so it's just her and little Kanami.

Said baby girl whines, letting her mommy know that she's done with her naptime. Laughing lightly, Senna gently refolds the letter, and with it still in hand she gets up from her bed to the crib. She brings her last baby up to her bosom with care only a mother could provide.

"Did I wake you sweetie? Mama's sorry." She raises the precious parcel for her youngest daughter to see. "Look, your big sister is thinking about us. You'll be able to grow up having her around." Her smile widens at the answering giggle fit, and kisses her little babe's crown.

Instinctively she glances towards a frame on the wall, tears returning to her eyes. The photo taken almost seventeen years ago, of her and her entrance into motherhood. The little infant that is her Korra was bundled in a light blue blanket and snuggled close to her breast. Senna herself looked tired, sweaty, and her hair all over the place, but what a beautiful moment she cherishes.

"But even when we're apart, our family is always whole."

K

O

R

R

A

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

And that concludes chapter 3—cue the Final Fantasy Fanfare!

It feels great when a chapter is finally complete, brings me closer to all the other awesome stuff I have planned for this story and other stories in the works. It's also fun to speculate the kind of struggles Korra would have as the Avatar, how different and similar she is to Aang.

More and more shall be unveiled as the story drives forward, and I can't wait to get to each and every one of them.

Expect the beginning of the fourth chapter before this season is over. Happy reading everybody!