Author Note: Sorry for the long wait and the relatively short chapter, but I think it came out pretty good. The next couple have been ones I've been excited to write. I really am excited to write the characters Bolin, Mako, and the rest of the cast. The question still stands, who do you guys think the main ship should be?

"There is probably no more terrible instant of enlightenment than the one in which you discover that the Great and Powerful Avatar...that the most powerful and philosophical of Jedi, are merely men and woman...in human flesh." - "The Collected Quotes of Benjamin 'Diath' Wilum"

Chapter 5

Isaac stood with his mouth open. The cigarette sliding from between his fingers as he looked around his surroundings. The broken shop broken through earth bending, the tossed away automobile by the spurge of water bending, and the silenced fire that was slowly losing its flame against the harsh wind.

The three members of the Republic City mafia groups were tossed away. There wounds reeling over their bodies as they recoiled and writhed on the ground in pain. The crowd had immediately dispensed due to the trouble.

Hell, he was just here because he wanted to get alcohol for Mako's and Bolin's victory party for their future game coming up. He was still drenched in sweat. His work goggles clinging around his neck, his worker jumpsuit was filled with oil stains and soot as he stared at the bendor.

Yes, bendor, the girl…bending all the elements at once. Isaac was no fool, and he knew what she was. The Avatar, his old friend…

"Korra…"

He murmured the name underneath his breath as he stared at her. His eyes widening as he repeated the name once again. That girl, his peer, his comrade…an old friend. How many years had it been since he had last saw her. Four or maybe five years?

She had changed so much. Stronger, taller, she had become a beautiful woman...

Isaac looked at her for longer. Struggling to speak, willing to say anything, but his lips were closed as he struggled to find the words that had longed hounded him. Here she was. Infront of him in Republic City, but here he was too afraid, and tongue tied to say anything.

He just stared at her. Until those dark blue eyes locked onto him. She smirked, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Yes, I know, I am the Avatar."

The words came out confident and brash.

Somehow, or for some reason. Isaac merely just felt strange nostalgia. Even after all these years that calm, brash, and confident friend was still there.

"That was impressive." Isaac said.

Korra merely shrugged her shoulders as her closed smile stretched from ear to ear. A part of Isaac realized how foolish this was. He shouldn't be talking to this girl right now.

The sudden thought caused his mood to dampen a second. The Sith were still out there, republic city police force, and the White Lotus were inherently corrupt. A couple of years ago they had sent strike teams to attack the Jedi Temple.

They had wounded his sister and possibly killed her…they had killed his father and made him an orphan. Yet, there was something stronger, something compelling him that surpassed the fear of what he had witnessed during the past.

Korra, he could still remember the sound of her laugh. There are fights, there training, her smile as the early signs of friendship began to bloom…and maybe the early signs of a crush on his part all that time ago.

He smirked, dropping the cigarette as he crushed it underneath his feet. "So, your Avatar Korra?" He mocked. Seeing the dip of the girl's mood as she slowly looked at him. "For the Avatar, you don't look like much…"

He could see the flick of anger dart along the girl's once smiling face. 'You really were so easy to tease…you really haven't changed much, Korra.'

Yet right before she could say anything. He saw a large flicker, a large mass slowly come towards them as the large polar bear dog whirled in front of its master.

For the split second, Isaac, even with his closed off connection to the force felt the simmering wraith and menacing presence that was directed towards him from the animal. Yet, Naga took a sniff of him. That once contorted face of anger and alertness was now mellowed out, slowly moving towards him as Isaac merely raised his hand.

Korra's eyes widened at the strange familiarity as Isaac slowly rubbed Naga's ears. "That's strange," She spoke. "Naga usually isn't this open with strangers."

"Really?" Isaac replied. Feigning truthfulness as he glossed over towards her. "Maybe, I'm just special."

He spoke those words with the inching of a smile as Korra herself felt something strange, a faint flicker ness of familiarity. Yet, she just shook her head at the thought. "Fine, whatever. Your special, but that doesn't…"

Sirens, cutting off her way of speech. Harsh barrages of memories circulated through Isaac's mind's eye as he glared behind him. His features contorted into one of fear and anger. Yet, snapped just as quickly back towards Korra.

"That's the republic city police force," He spoke. "We have to go!"

"Wait, but they were…"

"You think they're going to believe you after all this?" Isaac shouted. Stretching out his left hand as Korra was reminded of all the damage that was caused. The ripped-up holes in the ground, the destroyed shop, and the messed-up gangsters that were beaten up.

She nodded, tossing herself upon Naga as Isaac boarded with her. Before they knew it, they were already down the road as the mess of sirens slowly died out behind them. They continued to ride out for a long time, just to make sure.

Only taking a break to let Naga breath as they each departed. Korra taking Naga by the reigns as she led him down the auburn-colored streets of the afternoon sun. "I never got your name?" Korra spoke up suddenly.

His eyes widening as he turned towards her. Yet, he didn't want to give her the secret. He had paved a life out for himself here, and he knew that if Korra found out...

He took a deep breath. "Ulic Qel Droma." He replied to her.

Korra's eyes widened. "That sounds like a Jedi name," She spoke. "You're a…"

Isaac's vigorously shook his head in response. "No, god no." He repeated for extra clarification.

Yet, he watched Korra's features dip. "That's a strong reaction. Do you have something against them?"

"No," Isaac repeated softer. Slowly running his hands through his tendrils of hair. Yet, he heard Korra laugh, looking back at her. "Something funny?" He asked.

"No, it's just, that's something my friend always did when he got stressed. His son did that too."

"Really?" He asked. "What were their names?"

Korra hesitated. Yet, she stopped for a second. Her eyes locking along a certain store as she raised her hand to give her a second. She quickly gave him the reins of Naga as she quickly went into her pocket as the jingle of coins resounded.

He watched as she quickly went into the store. His eyes going to the store's name as he…a floral shop. Watching her hold three bouquets of flowers as she made her way back towards them.

"Sorry, but I must do something important. You can come along if you want, I won't hold it against you."

Isaac already knew the answer. This was his childhood friend and even though she may not recognize him or know who he is…he just shook his head. "Nah, let's do this."

She walked by his side as she slowly began to lead him down the road, almost like she herself was a native to this great city his father had built. "His name was Benjamin Wilum, and his son…," Her eyes went to the sky, clearing missing the shock register over Isaac's features. "The Grandmaster of The Jedi Order, and likewise…his son," He watched as a smirk decorated along her features, but her lip slowly quivered. "They were so good…I miss them, so much."

She slowly shook her head as her arms went to wipe the tears at the edge of her eyes. Yet, all Isaac did was watch silently. "People have issues with the Jedi. But what happened to them was horrible, and I just want to make peace with it."

Then, Isaac slowly began to understand what was going on. Where they were going to…where he was being led to.

"I struggled with air bending, and something came up so I couldn't properly learn. I came to republic city to make Tenzin teach me, but also to do this."

There was this tenseness to the wind. This strangeness along the air that Isaac could detect with his latent force sensitivity. Korra hated this, how he would utilize the force to sometimes feel the emotions of others. But he could feel it. Responsibility, excitement, but also…grief.

The setting sun had dipped over the city at this point. Looming over with its unique bright orange-auburn glow as Isaac took in the sights. He watched the looming grass sway under the harsh cold breeze that tickled his skin.

He watched as the wildflowers slightly sway as they grew along the tombstones. Yes, tombstones. Long rows arranged almost like dominos within the cemetery as Korra moved through the place. Isaac followed hesitantly behind as he watched it.

She stopped in front of it. A large chunk of limestone implanted within the earth as the names could be read. Isaac felt a lump generate along his throat. Slowly biting down his tears as he swallowed intensely. Feeling the reddening of his eyes, the strangeness of his fingers grows numb.

Here lies Benjamin 'Diath' Wilum and his wife Ty Lee Wilum. When the darkness was going to consume this world. When the light was going to be vanquished, these two, and with many others fought to prove a better tomorrow. Within their sacrifices, deeds, and heroic acts. They were able to save the world and likewise bring about the birth of the New Jedi Order.

He was still healing when this had happened. The funeral, the extravagates, the speeches and radios. All of them praising the great Benjamin Wilum. He was too weak and rendered immobile around that time, and he had missed everything.

How many times had he agonized over his father and mother's grave. How many times had he grown with such hatred and self-anger at himself for his actions as a failure. Now they were buried there…with the failure of a son, that couldn't do a damn thing.

Korra rested the flowers on the gravestone. Isaac watching as the wisping of her dark hair curled along the harsh breeze of the wind.

That was when he truly watched Korra's features and he began to realize how long it had truly been. That wound along his heart ached deeply, like a knife wound cleaving along his chest as he slowly began to realize the great realization of what had happened due to his absence.

It had slowly dawned on him that it had been four years ever since his life had changed…four years since his whole world was flipped on his head. Korra, she was a woman now. The young teen that was struggling to master the elements was now a full-fledged master in three out of four of them.

She had grown stronger, taller, and her eyes reeked with experience and understanding. Sure, he still witnessed the young Korra that he knew from his youth. But she had changed, there was a bitterness within her actions as she mourned the Grandmaster of The Jedi Order…his father.

"You haven't said anything." Korra mentioned.

Isaac's eyes widened at the sudden words as he was brought back from his thoughts. Slowly shaking his head in response. "Sorry, I was just really deep in thought."

Korra sighed.

"I know, this wasn't really a good idea honestly," She forced a chuckle. "I brought the person that saved me from the republic city police. A complete and utter stranger with me to pay respects. I didn't mean to drag you for emotional support…I really am terrible."

"No, you aren't." Isaac snapped.

Yelling the words with such conviction that it startled the pair of them as his breath halted. Slowly shaking his head as he combed through his locks of dark hair. "I'd honestly rather you have me, then be by yourself," He sighed. Casting his glance to the gravestones, but he didn't have the strength to speak the truth. "I know what it's like to lose people that are important to you."

They watched each other for a second, but he watched as Korra held back a bit of smile. Isaac eyed her strangely as the girl gazed at him.

"You don't know this, Ulic. But you really remind me of an old friend, he's dead now, but we don't…"

She bit her lip, slowly shaking her head as Isaac could see the bite of tears, but Korra was always strong. Maybe, too strong to ever truly show weakness.

They gazed and made peace for a bit. Korra did, but Isaac didn't…

In the strangest of ways. It was like what his mother. The great Ty Lee Wilum stated before that he had much of his father within him.

Before he was content to live out the rest of his days disconnected to the force and working in that shitty factory. Yet, Korra had awakened something within him. He could feel something from deep within slowly shift and contort as he eyed the remains of his father's final resting place.

Persecuted by those he put into power…betrayed by the great politicians of this city…and cut down by his very own students that he had trained with his own hands.

There was deep lingering fire that had slowly began to spark within his chest. All those memories, all those emotions, all that lingering darkness. It had been pushed deep within his soul, but now after all these events…it was threatening to burst out.

He looked to Korra. Gazing at her dark skin and those brilliant azure eyes. They began to descend the hill as the sun fully began to set. The lanterns would soon spark to life and the natural wonder of republic city would soon dawn on the pair.

"You mentioned your friend," Isaac spoke up. Seeing Korra's face turn towards his own as he looked at her. "Can you tell me about him?"

Korra sighed, but he could tell that she was going to speak.

"He's been dead for…four years now. It feels longer than that, honestly."

She sighed again. But he saw the faint trickle of a smile go along her face. "His name was Isaac 'Jet' Wilum. He was the second child of Benjamin and Ty Lee Wilum."

Isaac didn't speak or answer. Rather he simply listened to the girl he cared for…lament over his supposed death.

"I think you would've liked him, honestly," She chuckled. "Isaac was good."

"Good?" He repeated.

"You know what I mean," Korra chuckled as she slowly began to smile deeper at the warm memories. "Isaac was kind to the people that he met. Sure, he could be a bit of a brat sometimes and felt that his way was always best. But he always did have the peoples best interest at heart."

He chuckled at that, but Korra didn't pay it no mind.

"He was kind, he was funny, and he was talented," She gazed upon him now. "Isaac's father always told me how impressive it was. That year that I was born was the same year Isaac was born. An Avatar that could already bend three out of four elements, and a young Jedi…believed to hold the highest force sensitivity of all time."

But her features went somber. "But his life was cut too soon."

Korra wiped a tear, and Isaac for a second raised his hand to hold her, but he stopped himself. Slowly shaking his head as he realized that to her, he was just some stranger. And right now, he still couldn't do it…he couldn't force himself to tell her the truth regarding it.

Yet, he did the only thing he could do.

"I think, this is a bad start to republic city." Isaac said.

Korra looked up at him with confusion. "What do you mean, Ulic?

Isaac felt the sly grin spread across his features. Seeing the trickle of lights within the distance as he took Korra by the hand. "You mentioned to me before that this is your first time visiting republic city," She nodded with the words. "Well, let me show you the true beauty of this city. Of my home."

There was a hesitance within Korra's movements, but that fun loving, and curious girl bristled within his movements.

"All right. Show me around then!"

Isaac smirk went into a full smile. Her hand within his own hand as he took her down the hill. "You won't believe this. You WaterTribe people don't know what a party is until you party in republic city!"

Their voices, there laughter, and the bristle of fresh emotions contrasted the negativity and somberness of their encounters. The Avatar and her friend, unknowingly reunited were going to take the city by storm tonight. Yet, they were all unaware of the lingering darkness that was slowly starting to surround them.