Standing at the edge of the pier I looked down into the water, noticing how calm it was today. I couldn't believe everything that had happened at the finals, it was just too crazy. Taking a deep breath I readied myself into a stance, focusing on my chi before then beginning to swirl the water. It responded easily enough, allowing me to push and pull it back and forth without complaint. This was the very first technique my grandmother Katara had taught me and it was on that I didn't seem to have too much of a problem with. After that it became a little more difficult.
Turning a circle a stream of water began to rise upwards and I pulled it from the water, my fingers tensing as I felt my pulse quicken anxiously. My breath caught in my throat as I opened my eyes, seeing the large body of water looming over me and all at once I panicked. It was dark and pulsing, large boil like bubbles bursting outwards and I instantly dropped the water back into the ocean, feeling the dread wash over me as I retreated back a few steps and shook my head. "I'm crazy, I can't do this. I'm not a water-bender." I whispered to myself, gripping my head as the shadows played tricks in the caverns of my mind.
Taking a deep breath I turned and walked away from the water, heading back up to the island where Meelo was terrorizing the Air Acolytes by flying around on an air ball, laughing mischievously as he blasted them all with air and sent their robes flaring upwards to reveal their underwear and I had to clamp my hand down over my mouth to keep from laughing before I quickly grabbed Meelo under the arms and his air ball disappeared. "Meelo, you wouldn't happen to be misbehaving now would you?" I asked him and he blatantly shook his head.
"Of course not!" He grinned however I gave him a stern look which he crumbled over, looking at me apologetically. I made him apologise to the acolytes before I swung him up over my shoulder and carried him back inside, knowing that he'd have lessons soon enough and Tenzin didn't like it when Meelo tried to skip. "Aw come on Kanna! You're no fair!" Meelo accused as he struggled against me, trying to wriggle out of my grip but I was too strong for him.
"Well when you're bigger Meelo then maybe you'll stand a better chance of fighting me off, but for now since you're so cute and small, you'll just have to deal with me." I grinned at him as I opened the door to where Tenzin was sitting opposite the girls, already in meditation position. "I found this one running wild, wouldn't happen to be one of yours would he?" I asked, chuckling as I put Meelo down but then grabbed his robes as he tried to escape again.
"Thank you Kanna. Meelo, come sit next to you sister and practice your breathing exercises." With his father now in command Meelo resigned to do as he was told so I winked at him then quickly whispered that I'd play hide and seek with him later which perked up his spirits. Smiling as I closed the door I left them in peace, going back outside to check on the lemurs and make sure that they had enough food. I was just topping up one of the feeds when I heard Korra's footsteps approaching.
"Hey Korra, what's up? Where's Bolin and Mako?" I asked, looking around in confusion. "I thought they were supposed to be moving here since they're closing down the arena for renovations."
"Asami already offered them a place at her house and of course, they want to go live in a giant, magical mansion with gold taps and servants to wait on them hand and foot." She muttered dejectedly as she came and handed me a basket of fruit for me to pour into the feeders. "Asami wants me to go over tomorrow to swim in the pool and she asked me to invite you too."
"No thanks. I don't swim." I reminded her and Korra smiled weakly up at me.
"I know, but she wants to get to know you better. Bolin persuaded me to agree, so if you wanted to come I'd be there with you and you could stick to the shallow end." For a moment I contemplated it but I declined again. I hated change and the way this Asami girl had just waltzed in and seemingly taken over the friendship just didn't sit right with me. You should hear Bolin go on about how amazing her dad is and how rich she was. Seriously, it sucked so I totally understood how Korra felt. "You sure you don't want to go?"
"Well, if I stay here then you can use me as an excuse to leave early." I told her and she brightened a little. "Tell them we'd already arranged to go out into the city tomorrow and that you only stopped by quickly out of courtesy. That way you can get out of there if it becomes too much for you."
"You're the best." Korra grinned again so I punched her shoulder gently which she returned before all at once I body tackled her, the two of us laughing as we wrestled in the dirt, trying to overpower one another but we were pretty evenly matched, though Korra had the edge with stamina. Rolling around we continued to grapple until suddenly three bodies piled on top of us, Jinora and Ikki laughing as Meelo then stood on top, landing lightly with his fists held high.
"I am the strongest everyone must bow down before me!"
"Meelo!" We all laughed as Korra and I managed to grab the kids and toss them into the air, catching them again before we set up a game of hide and seek just like I promised Meelo. Jinora joined in with the games more often these days, giggling as she disappeared into the trees whilst Korra and I counted. We chased them all over the island until we were all exhausted and we dragged ourselves inside, Pema chuckling as Meelo drooled on my shoulder.
"You two are so good with children. I can't wait to see you with your own one day." She said to us and both Korra and I looked at one another in alarm. Us? Have our own kids? "I think you two will make such wonderful mothers and you'll have such cute babies!" Obviously excited by her own imagination concocting a multitude of children for both the both of us, I reached out with a vague laugh as I placed my hand on Pema's shoulder.
"Um, Pema? It might be a long time before anything like that happens you know." I pointed out to her reasonably.
"Exactly, and besides where would I find the time to give birth and all that? Being the Avatar is pretty time consuming." Korra added and I nodded my head in agreement as Pema just continued to smile knowingly. Okay, now that smile is starting to freak me out. Don't get me wrong I like kids, but I can never picture myself with kids of my own, I just wouldn't know what to do and that felt like way too much responsibility. At least with my cousins I wasn't responsible for them being good or bad, that was all up to Pema and Tenzin, though they had done a pretty amazing job.
"Maybe you'll change your mind." Pema said before taking Meelo from me, giving my shoulder a break as Jinora and Ikki still stood beside us.
"Kanna, when you and Korra have babies can I be their auntie?" Ikki requested and I blinked down at her.
"I can give you an extensive list of historic names if you like for both boys and girls. I've always kept in mind what I'd like to call my own children one day so I've had one prepared for a while." Jinora told us both studiously and suddenly we were overwhelmed with questions, the girls wanting to know how many kids we'd want, what our boyfriends or husbands would be like and where we'd want them to be born until Korra and I were totally overwhelmed.
"Pema!" We wailed together before running away from Jinora and Ikki, however they just saw this as a game and chased after us, their laughter waking up Meelo who instantly yelled and chased after us as well until we both collapsed from exhaustion.