The southern air temple was great but after a few days we left to continue on to the eastern air temple where the spiritual connection was much more noticeable. The moment I stepped down I could sense the energy roaming freely through the air and it pressed against my chest rather firmly, as if it were reaching out to me. "What's the face for sweet muffin?" Bumi asked me as I frowned, deep in thought.
"I don't know, I just got a bad feeling that won't go away. It's almost like I feel a sort of unbalance in the world but I can't quite put my finger on it." I mused thoughtfully before scratching my head. "Makes no sense to me at all. Oh well, I'm hungry. Please tell me I don't have to drink onion and banana juice." Bumi laughed with me at that, promising that we would go on a dangerous trek to procure proper food if there was nothing else to be had. Thank goodness, I tried onion and banana juice once and it was enough to make me want to barf. I never tried it again.
"Alright, who's ready for an exciting tour of the Eastern Air Temple?" Tenzin called with a clap of his hands to bring us all to attention. "We've got a lot to see today including ancient statues, ancient gardens and the meditation hall used by ancient air-benders." My uncle listed off rather enthusiastically whilst Ikki's shoulders slumped noticeably and Meelo picked at a snot bubble.
"Yay. Old things." Ikki drawled with a bored tone however just as I was about to try and boost her spirits something caught on the periphery of my eye and I turned my head to see none other than Korra herself walking towards us. I was so surprised to see her there that I stopped in place, mouth hanging open as Tenzin also noticed her.
"Korra?" Immediately the kids all whirled around and bounded towards her with enthusiasm.
"Korra! Yay, Korra! Korra's back!"
"What are you doing here?" Pema asked in astonishment, jiggling Rohan up and down as my mother frowned slightly.
"And how did you know where to find us?"
"Tenzin's itinerary. We went over it like a hundred times before we left Republic City." She informed everyone as the others all crowded around her whilst I remained rooted to the spot. I didn't even know how to react. Seeing her like this only a week or so after our massive fight, I couldn't help but feel awkward. What should I do? Should I run and hide? I'd said some pretty mean things and I'd meant them, so how was Korra going to react when she sees me too? Will there be animosity? I can't help but admit that I've missed her. The real Korra, I missed her so much.
"See? This is why schedules are important." Tenzin said rather smugly as Korra gave a rather tired looking smile. Something had happened. I haven't known Korra for as long as I have to be able to read her face in an instant. Something had gone very terribly wrong and she was stressed but more than that, she was worried.
"It's so great to see you all again."
"It's great to see you too, but why aren't you training at the South Pole?"
"Wait, you don't know about the civil war?" The what now?! Civil war? What war? What exactly had happened since we left?
"What? No. We've been out of touch with the outside world since we started our vacation."
"Tenzin's idea. What happened?" Bumi asked with a look towards his younger brother as everyone waited patiently and expectantly as Korra exhaled and rubbed her head.
"So much. I don't know where to start."
"Just tell us everything!"
"Everything? Okay." Sucking in a deep breath Korra blurted out everything at once, hardly pausing for breath. "I opened a spirit portal at the South Pole but then Unalaq turned out to be bad guy and wanted to take control of the South. So I sort of started a civil war, but when I went to find some help, I was attacked by my cousins and then by a giant, dark spirit, and then I forgot who I was, and then I met the first Avatar, and then I realized I shouldn't have opened the portal in the first place, and now I need to close it again!" As the information sank in, everyone just stared as Korra gasped for breath.
"You dummy!" I finally broke the silence, striding forwards and pushing my uncles apart to reach Korra who blinked at me in surprise. "Didn't I say that you were being reckless?! You're totally hopeless without me there to hold your hand it's embarrassing!" Finally making it through my family to reach her, I wasted no time in flinging my arms around Korra. "Damn it Korra, I missed you so much. You idiot." Korra sniffled slightly before crushing my spine as she snapped her arms around me too.
"I'm sorry Kanna, you were right about everything! I'm never ignoring your advice ever again I swear!" She vowed and the others waited patiently as the two of us cried and embraced one another, fixing everything up in an instant before finally we were calm once again and Korra explained things a little more clearly this time, taking it slow and steady as we all nodded and hummed at appropriate intervals.
"I knew something like this would happen. So Avatar Wan imprisoned this dark spirit Vaatu in the Spirit World?" Tenzin repeated and Korra nodded.
"Yes and now I think my uncle is trying to free him." Damn that Unalaq, wait until I get my hands on him. First I'm going to punch him for invading my home, then again for using Korra for his own means and a third time just to make me feel better.
"I knew Unalaq was hungry for power but never realized how far he would go to get it."
"This is all my fault."
"Well duh." I supplied unhelpfully, knocking her head gently but enough so that the message got across. "But mostly this is all Unalaq's mess so you can blame him for everything and we'll just make sure to clean up everything and bury him in a mountain of snow so he can't bother anyone else ever again. Mistakes can't be undone once made, however they can be prevented from being repeated again, so let's get to it." My uncle blinked at me in surprise.
"That was a rather wise sentiment Kanna, where'd you hear that?"
"Probably in one of those dusty old scrolls I've been reading for the past couple of days. So, what's the plan and do I get to knock people's heads together? I call dibs on those creepy twins." I announced so Tenzin frowned in thought, stroking his beard slowly.
"We need to close the Southern portal, but if Unalaq's army controls the South, how are we going to get to it?" He questioned and Korra lifted her head.
"I thought about that. My best chance to close the portal is from the inside. I have to enter the Spirit World." What?! No way! A Spirit World fieldtrip? Count me in that sounds amazing!
"A journey to the Spirit World." My uncle murmured in wonder, his eyes glazing over a little dreamily. "All my years of spiritual training have prepared me for this moment." Dusting off his robes I watched as my uncle drew himself up to his full height and placed a hand on Korra's shoulder, adopting his authoritarian tone to convey a sense of dignity when he spoke. "I will help you. Today, we enter the Spirit World."
"Woo! Spirit World vacation here we come!" I cheered, clapping Korra on the back however my uncle didn't look impressed so I winced. "Oh, sorry, guess that means just the two of you are going, right?" Total shame. Tenzin started to arrange numerous ceremonies and meditation circles however there was always something wrong with each one. I couldn't help but notice the lack of spiritual energy in the places that he chose, they had become too connected to the material world but I didn't say anything since I wasn't a mystical guru or anything, though as Tenzin became more and more irritating, I found it harder to bite my tongue until he started having a go at Korra for not focusing.
"You know, if you want to get to the spirit world, you should probably just ask the spirits themselves." I noted and everyone looked at me quickly with a blink. "Right Jinora?" My little cousin jumped rather suddenly, squeaking as she looked at me quickly.
"What?! What do you mean?" I pointed to the clumps of energy that I could sense around us.
"Those things in the air, you can see them right? I can't exactly tell what they are but I can sense them. They're spirits right? I saw you chasing around a blob earlier but thought you hadn't noticed, but you're actually paying a lot of attention to them right now. You can see the spirits, can't you?" I said and she blushed heavily as my mom nodded her head.
"I thought so too. Jinora, is there something you'd like to tell everyone?" She asked and my cousin blushed further before giving a small smile.
"My spirit friends are all trying to show me something, so I think I actually know where Korra needs to go in order to get to the Spirit World. It's okay everyone, you can show yourselves now." Jinora said before lifting up her hands. The concentrated blobs that I had been noticing suddenly transformed into cute little dragonfly-bunnies, hopping and fluttering around everywhere with soft looking bodies.
"Bunnies!" Meelo yelled however when he lunged to grab one I quickly caught him around the waist and held him away from them, not wanting to frighten the spirits off.
"How long have you been able to do this?" Tenzin asked Jinora who gave a nonplussed shrug.
"I'm not sure, I guess I've always had a connection with the spirits. Kanna is actually really connected to them too, I think if she were in the South or North Pole, she'd be able to see them a lot better there if she tried properly." Jinora said with a smile towards me so I grinned back. I'd never really contemplated my spiritual connections before but I guess she's right. Close by I heard my uncle laugh as one of the spirits nuzzled his cheek and sat on his shoulder, getting affectionate with him and Bumi tickled it under the chin.
"I think this one likes me." A pale yellow one came and fluttered close to me, twitching its ears and two more followed before they flew around my head, making me giggle before I reached up and touched them, smiling as they nuzzled into my hand and came to sit on my head, shoulders and one even wriggled its way into the cradle of my skirt where it looped over my hip, using it as a kind of hammock to take a nap. So cute!
"Are they here to help?" Korra asks as a few of them started to fly off so Jinora pointed.
"I think they want you to go down there."
"I don't know. The spiritual energy is historically strongest near the temple." Uncle Tenzin mused warily, watching as the spirits began to lead us away from the temple and to lower ground.
"No offense, but I'm guessing the spirits have actually been to the Spirit World, so I'm gonna follow them." Korra announced and I quickly followed after her with my hoard of dragonfly-bunnies as more and more of them attached themselves to me. What's with these spirits? Were they just hitching a free ride because they were lazy?
"If we need to go to the Tenzin World, we'll call you." Bumi assured him with a grin, his own new friend still riding on his shoulders as we followed the spirits. Eventually we came to a part where we couldn't follow by walking so Tenzin called for Oogie and we all jumped on board, the spirits flying ahead to show us the way. "Oh, you are just so cute. I'm going to name you Bum-Jun. It's short for Bumi Junior. Don't you think he looks like me?" Bumi questioned and Tenzin gave a dry response.
"The resemblance is uncanny." Jinora wilted a little, looking a little put out and worried as she hugged her knees before whispering to my mom and I who sat either side of her.
"I think dad's mad at me."
"Your father's not mad. His pride is just a little bruised since he isn't able to see spirits like you." Mom assured her warmly as I rubbed Jinora's back to comfort her whilst Korra nodded in agreement, leaning forwards a little to join the conversation.
"You have a natural gift. That's pretty lucky."
"You're the lucky one. You actually got to meet the first Avatar. I know about a lot of Avatars, but I don't know anything about him. Is it even a him, or is it a her?" Jinora questioned and Korra gave a lopsided grin which made me smile too. One thing I could say about Korra, her smile was infectious.
"It's a him, Avatar Wan. He was amazing. I saw how he became the first Avatar by fusing with Raava, the Spirit of Light."
"The Avatar is part spirit? Of course! Just like the statue!" Jinora brightened a little, making us all blink at her in confusion.
"What statue?"
"When we were at the Southern Air Temple, I was drawn to this old carving. I couldn't figure out what it was until now. It was the first Avatar. It was on the solstice." Jinora explained to us. The solstice, I don't really remember much happening that day, no spiritual disturbances though then again, I hadn't exactly been paying attention so I could have simply missed it.
"That's the day I opened the Southern portal." What a crazy small world this was. Lifting my head I noted that we were descending and waited until Oogie had landed safely on the ground before I jumped out of the saddle and looked around in anticipation though nothing seemed out of the ordinary just yet. Just some regular old trees and rocks. All the spirits started to fly into the trees so I waved a hand and stepped forwards, making the first move to follow as several of the spirits chirped and came to flutter around me before hitching a ride on my shoulder.
"Are you sure these spirits are leading us to the right place?" Tenzin questioned sceptically as he held onto Jinora's hand, glancing around him almost nervously as if he expected some other kind of spirit to suddenly leap out of the trees and eat us.
"Of course! I trust Bum-Jun with my life." Bumi responded boldly and confidently, making me giggle softly as his own rather attached bunny spirit rode on his shoulder. Eventually we emerged into an area where a great mound of rocks were positioned in a circle surrounding a flattened ground with the Air Bending symbol carved into the surfaces of the upstanding stones, a sudden weight pressing on my chest as I came into contact with the spiritual energy of the place we had been brought to though it felt weird, almost like it was stale.
"This is an ancient air-bender meditation circle." My uncle breathed in awe as everybody looked around.
"There's a lot of spiritual energy in this place, but it feels really strange." Jinora agreed as I scratched my head, sensing her come up beside me and take my hand so I gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Strange is the right word Jinora, it almost feels like…well it just feels old." I agreed as Tenzin informed everyone that we would have to perform a spiritual cleansing ceremony in order to purify the energy here and strengthen the connection to the Spirit World. "Well kiddo, looks like this is the place where a spiritual vacation is happening." I said to Jinora with a smile and a wink making her smile back at me gratefully, relaxing her tight grip on my hand.
We all sat in a circle whilst Tenzin used the incense that he burned to purify the area, causing the spirits to scatter much to Bumi's chagrin however when the ground began to tremble my eyes flew open and my mouth dropped in awe, feeling the dynamic change of spiritual energy around us as the air cleared and became much fresher than before. The vibrations continued and became more urgent however when the stone slab at the centre of the circle suddenly flew off I instinctively leaped towards Jinora, grabbing her into my arms and held her close as a flock of bright purple bat like creatures flew into the air with an ear piercing collection of shrieks.
"Ah! Bats! Evil bats!" Bumi wailed, flailing wildly to get the bats away from his head as they came back around and dove straight for us again. I turned my back on them to shield Jinora, feeling their claws scratching at my exposed skin and when Jinora cried out in fearful alarm I instinctively tried to cover her more.
"Not bats, dark spirits!"
"Well since you're the Avatar and all, shouldn't you tell them to go someplace else?! You know, evict them from the property or something?!" I yelled across to her over the noise as we ran to hide behind some of the larger stones and I ushered Jinora to stand in the corner where she was best protected from the dark spirits as they continued coming back at us even as Korra and Tenzin tried to fend them off. Korra glanced across to me with a thoughtful expression as the bats flew up and arced back around and I saw the expression in her eyes change to determination as she surged forwards and summoned water to her aid. I watched in awe as she bent the water to surround the entire flock of dark spirits in several ribbons and I carefully observed her movements as the water turned from crystal blue to luminous golden light, shining brightly as it converted the dark spirits into purer energy.
"Amazing." My mother breathed and Jinora was also staring with her jaw agape as Korra eradicated the dark spirits and as she did so, the moss and vines which had overgrown everywhere started to receded and disappear.
"Your spiritual training has come a long way." Tenzin complimented Korra as he walked forwards, looking up as a shower of sparkles came down upon us and Jinora grinned up at me at the pretty scenery we were treated to.
"Unalaq may be a horrible person, but his spirit powers are no joke."
"He taught you how to transform dark spirits. I can't even get you into the Spirit World." Everyone felt a sting of sympathy for Tenzin and the resigned tone of his voice, his head hanging low a little bit as Korra turned around to face him.
"Everything Unalaq taught me was to help himself. Everything you've done was meant to help me. I am so sorry for turning my back on you as my mentor. I need you now more than ever." It was a touching moment between the two of them and I noticed my mother shedding a small tear as Tenzin promised to do his best for Korra, both of them embracing.
"Sorry to ruin the moment, but I'm pretty sure there are people scheduled to visit the Spirit World and I hate to break it to you guys, but it looks like we're running out of time." I pointed upwards to the sky which was losing its bright colour and starting to fade. "So you know, should we maybe get this show on the road?"
"Yes you are right Kanna. There is no time to waste." My uncle agreed, clearing his throat then flicking out his larger outer robe in order to prepare himself. We all waited in patience for him as he meditated for what felt like hours, taking us into the night but still he gave no indication that he had reached the Spirit World, causing me to send puzzled and confused glances over to Korra who merely pursed her lips comically and gave a large shrug of her hands. Finally Bumi seemed to have enough as he started to prod Tenzin with a long stick, pestering him to know if he'd been successful yet. "No, I am not, and stop bugging me!" He retorted rather childishly and created a gust of air around the stick and flung it away.
"It's okay, Tenzin. Maybe you weren't meant to guide Korra into the Spirit World." My mother suggested however this seemed to sting Tenzin's pride all the more as he tensed visibly from stress and frustration.
"No! Just give me some time."
"Stop being so stubborn. It's not your destiny. I think Jinora was meant to guide the Avatar." At this my uncle rushed to his feet and whirled around, the vein at his temple popping as he turned a rather interesting shade of angry red.
"Jinora will not enter the Spirit World! She's not ready for the dangers of the other side, but I am. I've spent years training, studying, and mastering everything there is to know about the Spirit World." I gave a long sigh, once more glancing up at the sky to where the stars were already out and the moon was rising higher.
"Uncle Tenzin, we don't have time to be waiting around. Korra needs to get to the Spirit World now." At that he turned away once more, stubbornly folding his arms.
"If everyone could just be quiet and let me focus!" I was about to speak again however Jinora walked forwards calmly and took her father's hand, holding it gently as she looked up at him with a rather confident determination that I did not often see in her.
"Aunt Kya and Kanna are right daddy. I can guide Korra into the Spirit World. I'll be alright." She reassured him and I watched as Tenzin instantly calmed down, his shoulders going lax as he turned to face his eldest daughter.
"Perhaps I will never have the connection with spirits like I always wanted...like my father wanted me to have." He sounded so desperately sad about it that I couldn't help but feel my heart twinge for him a little. In answer Jinora gave him further reassurance and placed her arms around his waist, embracing him in a tight hug as he smiled softly and rested a hand upon her head. "I'm proud of you. Go. Close the portal. We'll wait here and keep your bodies safe till you return."
"We'll be alright." Korra smiled in reassurance so I gave her a quick hug and knuckled her shoulder.
"You better tell me all about it when you get back and someday, we'll go together." Nodding her head in agreement Korra returned with a sarcastically confident comment before she and Jinora sat down and meditated together whilst the four of us watched over their bodies. I gnawed on my lip in anticipation and worry, watching carefully until finally Korra's eyes opened with a luminous glow to signify she was in the Avatar state which we all took as a sign that they had successfully made it. "I'm guessing there isn't much we can do for them on this end, right?" I asked my uncle who shook his head.
"All we can do is ensure that no harm comes to their physical forms and that they are not moved. If they are moved then their spirits might be unable to return and become lost in limbo." He said and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I looked back to Korra and Jinora who had both gone perfectly still. it was a little creepy to observe but I resigned to watching with dedicated care, keeping all senses trained on any incoming threat. We waited and waited, watching and barely blinking all the while we grew more anxious by the second.
I'm starting to think that maybe this was a bad idea. "I can't believe my little girl had to guide Korra into the Spirit World instead of me." Tenzin said as he paced back and forth so my mother went over to him to console him. "If anything happens to her, I won't be able to forgive myself." Dropping down in despair Tenzin gripped his head in his hands whilst mom placed a hand upon his shoulder reassuringly.
"She's very smart and she obviously has a strong connection to the spirits. She'll be fine."
"Yeah, dad went all the time." Bumi agreed lazily as he stretched out over a rock trying to get comfortable and even I was yawning by this point.
"They won't have their bending in there. They'll be defenceless."
"Ahem. Excuse me, but I've never had bending, And I don't think I'd call myself 'defenceless'." Bumi stated rather coldly and I turned my head slightly to listen to the banter between siblings.
"Of course you aren't, because you have your, um..."
"Positive attitude?" My mom offered a little weakly after Tenzin had looked to her for help. Poor Bumi, he struggled so much sometimes with the fact that he hadn't been born a bender like everyone else in his family. I kind of wish Amon had actually taken my bending away so he wouldn't have to feel so alone and isolated from his own family.
"I would have said acute intellect and catlike reflexes, but whatever." Trying to make him feel better I leaned in and gave him a bright smile.
"You see? If that's not a positive attitude then I don't know what is. You're amazing just the way you are Uncle Bumi so don't let anybody tell you any different." I said before releasing another long yawn which earned an affectionate chuckle from both my uncles.
"Why don't you three get some sleep? I'll take the first watch." He offered and we all instantly took him up on it, finding anywhere that was comfortable to lay down and grab a nap.
"Wake us up if you need some company."
"Or if any interesting spirit stuff happens, like their bodies start floating around and you need someone to help you grab them before they fly off." Bumi said sarcastically with various hand and arm gestures and I giggled again at his antics whilst my mother clipped him over the head with a scolding.
"Bumi!"
"I'm just saying we're here if you need us." Bumi corrected, turning away but not before he gave me a secret wink so I chuckled to myself before resting back on the ground, using my skirt wrap as a pillow to cushion my head better and whilst I was bathed in the warm light of the fire, I was perfectly able to fall asleep though not until after I saw Tenzin get back up and walk over to his daughter to place a protective and loving hand over her head. They'll be okay. They had to be. There's no way Korra would fail now, right?
