Chapter Twenty- Eight: Training Day

Khari shoved her face into her pillow as she tried to rest just a bit longer. The night before she didn't get the best sleep. She tried not to think about how she asked Iroh to speak to her dad about leaving her alone. The face Iroh was making when he came back made her wonder what was said. She was about to pull the blankets over her face when she felt an arm around her. She groaned knowing what was coming next. Iroh laughed in her ear a bit before he spoke.

"Katara told me to come get you for breakfast. Today is a big day and you need to eat. Plus, everyone leaves tonight. You should really eat breakfast with them all before they leave." Khari still didn't budge. "Khari Beifong do not make me pull you out of this bed."

She started to reach out onto the bedside table for her hearing aids. She finally stood to see Iroh smiling at her with the stuff she would need for the day. She smiled as she walked over to him. She started to get ready when she heard a knock at the door. She faced Iroh who shrugged before she turned to the door. She wasn't expecting anyone. She wondered if her father came here instead of listening to Iroh. She started to walk towards the door but before she could reach it her Aunt Kya burst through into her hut. Khari stood there and wondered if maybe something was wrong.

"Khari, everyone has been waiting for you. Korra is excited to start training. Today is a big day for you. You'll look back one day and say I trained the avatar. My father would be so proud of you."

Khari smiled a bit as she thought about how proud she would have made her Grandpa Aang. She wanted nothing more than to make him proud. She felt her Aunt Kya pull her towards the door. She turned to Iroh who had the things she needed for the day. She saw Raina run by her towards her Gran Gran's hut. She pulled away from her Aunt Kya and started to sprint after the polar pup as the two ran to the hut. She turned jumped over Raina as the pup ran in front of her. Kya laughed as she watched Khari play with Raina. When Khari and Raina reached the hut, she shoved the door open as Raina jumped inside. She laughed as Raina ran around for a bit before she laid down behind Katara. She looked up to see her Gran Gran wiping her face quickly. She tilted her head a bit before she walked over to her Gran Gran. She sat next to her, placing her hand on her Gran Gran's shoulder. She watched as her Gran Gran pulled away, but she soon felt her hand run across her cheek. Before Khari could ask her, what was wrong her Gran Gran told her.

"Oh, sweetheart I am so proud of you. You have come so far since we have both lived on the island. You are so smart, beautiful and talented. Your Grandpa Aang would be so proud of the young woman you have become. You may not see it this way but them telling you to leave the island that day was good for you. That little free spirit had finally gained her freedom to take on the world and shape her own destiny. Much like my friends and me. You are living up to be more than any of us imagined."

Khari gave the aging Water Tribe woman a smile. It was nice they were proud of her, but she wanted to hear him say it. She also wanted her parents to say they were proud of her. She hugged her Gran Gran before they all turned their attention to the meal before them. As they ate, she listened to everyone's conversation. When they were done, they sat for a bit, but Khari didn't know why. There was soon a knock at the door, making Khari look at her Gran Gran. She watched as the White Lotus walked in. She thought about how she didn't even get a chance to digest her breakfast before she had to listen to a bunch of bossy old men. One of the White Lotus Masters tried to hand her an outfit and a wooden white lotus pendant necklace. She gave them a confused look before she looked down at her outfit. She didn't think there was anything wrong with what she was wearing now. What made them think she would be able to train Korra in that. The outfit was now pushed at her, but she pushed back.

"I don't know who you think I am, but you will not push me around. I may be the daughter of Master Tenzin, but I act nothing like him. You will not push me around. I'm young but you asked me to come here and train Korra so I will do it my way. I will wear what I want. You are masters in your elements, and I am a master in mine. So, I am going to say this one time. Back off."

The four men stared at her before she stood. She said what she said, and they weren't going to change it. She heard a few people chuckling as she turned her back to everyone. She grabbed her things as she made her way to the area where they trained Korra. When she got there, she took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. She spun, quickly pulling her swords out. She swung the swords up as she continued to spin. She soon stopped when she sensed something in front of her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Korra with a smile on her face. Khari thought back to the times when her Grandpa Aang trained her. She soon realized that everyone would be watching. She didn't understand why everyone needed to watch. She didn't even know where to start to be honest. She felt her Gran Gran and the other White Lotus masters staring at her. She knew she couldn't just toss a sword at Korra and tell her to fight. When she glanced up for a minute, she caught Iroh's eye. She got an idea, making her walked over to him with Korra close by. She tossed a sword at him, making him look at the sword then her.

"What do you say? Want to help me with a demonstration before I give her something that could cause bodily harm?"

"I don't know, K."

"Oh, come on. When did you become such a stick in the mud? I can't beat up on an old man or a little kid. That makes me look like a bully."

"Hey, this old man could still kick your ass!" Sokka shouted.

"Yea, and I'm a vegetarian. Seriously Uncle Sokka you know I could easily beat you. This has to be a good demonstration of what she will be taught. You wouldn't just hand me a sword at her age. I remember exactly what you said to me. You told me I was too young and that a sword wasn't a toy."

She watched as her Uncle Sokka chuckled at her. She knew that she had proven her point. She gave Iroh a look as she shoved the sword in his direction again. He sighed as he took the sword. The two made their way to the center of the training area. She pulled a cloth out and grinned at him. He shook his head and chuckled as she covered her eyes with the cloth. She moved her left foot and sensed everyone's heartbeat. She giggled a little before she smiled.

"Does seeing me blindfolded with a sword excite you or concern you?"

"K, this isn't the first time I've seen you blindfolded, and I know it won't be the last."

"I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to him." She informed everyone as she turned her head towards Shen Tao, still wearing the blindfold. "Well, which one is it? Your heart rate kind of makes it hard to tell."

"I... umm. I just... I think that. Well, umm I don't know how you can do that."

"Shen Tao, I've done this my whole life. My mother threw a boulder the sized of my father at me when I was four while I was blindfolded. It's second nature. Like breathing. My grandma Toph learned from badger moles because she was blind. She taught my mother and Aunt Suyin blindfolded. I was taught blindfolded, and my children will learn blindfolded. Now calm down before you have a heart attack."

Iroh raised his eyebrow as Khari turned her head back towards him. She sensed the hesitation coming from him. She lifted her sword a bit and adjusted her feet. Sokka tilted his head a bit as he watched Khari. Iroh quickly yet quietly sprinted towards her. He raised the blade, but she still stood where she was. He shoved the sword in her direction, but she moved quickly, making him fall. He turned and pushed off the ground, shoving the sword at her again. She put her sword up and the two swords clashed. She pushed as he tried to knock her back. She almost lost her balance, but she tilted her sword down the up quickly. Iroh lost his grip on his sword giving her the chance to regain her balance. After he picked up his sword, he quickly backed her close to one of the wooden posts at the compound. Iroh shoved the sword at her again and she didn't realize she would hit the post until it was too late. She jumped against the post and smacked her head against it. Everyone stared at her after they heard the thud. She soon pulled the blindfold down and looked around. She closed her eyes and started to massage her temple a bit. She figured her head hurt because she hit it and that it would go away in a bit. She stopped when she heard a similar voice that she hadn't heard in a long time.

"Sokka, they have Korra!" Suki shouted.

Her eyes shot open, and she didn't see her at first but when she blinked a few times everything in front of her started to change. She saw the members from the Red Lotus in front of her, making her drop her sword. She was scared just like when she was a child. She couldn't let them take Korra, she told herself. She pulled her staff out and extended it. Iroh tilted his head at her as her expression changed. Khari sprinted towards him, swinging the staff at his side. He tried to deflect her attack with his sword but failed. She knocked the sword out of his hands and he back up a bit. Zuko and Sokka looked at each other before they looked back at Khari. When she glanced up, she saw her Aunt Suki's body lying on the ground. Her eyes widened and she swung her staff again. She struck Iroh in the side, knocking him to the ground. He tried to get up, but she slammed the staff against his chest. He didn't understand why she was acting like this. She was hurt. She lost her Aunt Suki and if she failed, she would lose Korra. Khari wasn't about to let the Red Lotus do that to her. She placed her staff across his neck and started to push. He grabbed her arms and pushed her, but she didn't budge.

"You killed her! You should be dead, not her! I hate you!"

She suddenly felt something hot on her arms, making her jump and snap out of it. She saw that she was sitting on Iroh with her staff in her hands. She looked at her arms before she got up. She already knew something happened. She could see it on everyone's faces. The tears started to form in her eyes as she stood. Iroh reached out for her, but she simply stared forward. She grabbed her sword from the ground and started to make her way out of the training area. She didn't understand what happened. She had blanked and attacked someone. She wondered if it was because of all the stress, she was under. She felt the burns on her arms start to hurt but she kept walking away from everyone. When she turned to face everyone again, she gave them a brief smile. Korra started to run up to her but Khari put a hand up so Korra would stop. Khari soon sprinted for her hut, leaving everyone behind. The White Lotus masters stared at Katara, hoping she had some form of answers to why Khari acted out. Zuko cleared his throat quickly before he spoke.

"Shen Tao, could you and Ling take the children somewhere so we could talk? Maybe Kimiko would like to join you."

Kimiko smiled at the children as she gathered them, but one refused to move. Korra stood, staring where Khari once stood. She didn't understand what Khari had meant. Iroh never killed anyone that Korra knew of. Khari never said she hated Iroh before, so Korra didn't understand what happened. Kimiko finally got Korra to follow her. When it was only the adults and Iroh, they turned to Zuko. The aging man stared a everyone and thought about the last time Khari had been in the Southern Water Tribe. He sighed as he stared at the red mark across his grandson's neck.

"She is reliving her trauma. She is remembering the day the Red Lotus tried to take Korra. The day Suki died. She was here. That was the last time Khari was in the Southern Water Tribe. She won't tell us something is wrong. She wants to go through it herself. She has done that in the past." he informed them.

"Are you saying she won't be able to train Korra? That we brought her here for nothing. That we got not only Korra's hopes up but ours for what Korra's potential could be. Are you saying she is dangerous?" A White Lotus master asked.

"Khari is dangerous but not in the way you think. She wouldn't hurt Korra. If someone got too close to Korra and she didn't like it, that is a different story. Here is an example. One of the guards from the United Forces comes and starts messing with her and Khari would notice and see that it isn't a joke someone is most likely walking away hurt. Her past has already put the protective nature in her."

"Do we have to worry about her informing Korra why she is really in the compound?" Tonraq asked.

"We can't be too sure about that. She has voiced her opinion on the compound. She doesn't like it and doesn't think Korra should be held prisoner in it. She should get to learn the elements the way her grandfather did. That a bunch of old men in robes and her father should think more outside the box. That airbending comes with freedom which we are holding from her. Those are Khari's words." Sokka told them.

Iroh stared at everyone. He touched his neck before he stared in the direction Khari walked. He felt a hand on his arm, making him look to see his mother standing by his side. In the distance Kimiko helped Ling and Shen Tao with the children. Korra tugged on Kimiko's outfit. The princess looked down at the young avatar with a smile.

"Princess Kimiko, is everything going to be okay with Khari and Prince Iroh?"

"Yea, of course. Don't worry about it. Hey plus you'll still get to train with Khari today."

Korra smiled a bit before they continued to walk. After about half an hour everyone but Khari was back at the training area. Korra wondered if she really would get to train today. Khari so walked into the training area with all her things. She knew everyone was staring at her, but she didn't say anything. She gestured for Korra to follow her. Everyone gave her a concerned look as the two continued on their way. Khari handed Korra a sword, showing her how to properly hold it. She didn't understand why her grandfather thought she would be a great teacher. You needed to stay calm, and she had problems with that. She put a pillar up and demonstrated how to use the sword. She stood there and watched as Korra used the sword. She told her when she was doing things wrong. She pulled her staff out and corrected her stance multiple times. Korra tightened her grip on the sword. When Khari fixed her stance again Korra turned with the sword held up.

"Stop hitting me with that staff."

"I don't know who you think you are pointing that sword at, but you have two seconds to get it out of my face before I use my sword to cut one of those arms off. I don't care who you are, I could still knock you down. I'm doing this because my grandfather wanted me to do it."

She stood there and stared at the blade in her face. Everyone watched as she quickly disarmed the young avatar and hit her with her staff. Korra hit the ground and stared up at Khari. She threw a fireball at Khari's head but missed. Khari shifted her feet, making Korra fly back. Korra threw a boulder at her, but she smashed it with her cables. She stood there and waited as Korra ran towards her. When Korra got in front of her, she used her staff to slam the young girl on the ground and held her there.

"Listen here, I have better things to do than fight with someone who doesn't like my teaching method. You know what I'm walking away before I say something I regret."

She pulled her staff up and started to grab her things. She started to walk away from Korra, but a White Lotus Master stepped in front of her. She pushed him aside before she continued to walk. She stopped when she heard her name. Don't do it. Don't you dare do it.

"Miss. Beifong I'd like to remind you that your grandfather wanted you to train Korra."

"Don't you dare use that against me. Don't you dare use that, knowing that I want nothing more than for him to be proud of me. I will train her my way not your way. If you don't like it, then find someone else. If you use my grandfather against me again, you'll find yourself on the ground."

She continued until she got to her hut. She placed everything inside before she left again. She went to a cliff and stared at a nearby boat for a while. She felt someone staring at her, so she turned around. She saw Izumi giving her a look over the rim of her glasses. She turned back to look at the water again. She didn't feel like talking. She soon felt something cold on her shoulder. She looked down to see snow sitting on her shoulder. She heard giggling when two more snowballs hit her in the back. Kenzo laughed when Khari turned around and hit Izumi with a snowball. She covered her mouth as Izumi started to clean the snow off herself. She soon glared at Iroh and Korra who were laughing. She made a snowball and hit Iroh in the face before she started to laugh. He picked up more snow and threw it at her. The Beifong children looked up at Suyin who nodded at them. They laughed as they joined in. Kimiko picked up some snow and threw it at Korra. Noatak and Khari both hit Iroh with a snowball. Khari hit the ground laughing after Korra hit her with multiple snowballs. Naga and Raina started to join by jumping on Korra and Khari. Shen Tao and Ling watched as everyone enjoyed themselves. Suyin turned to face the two with a smile.

"Well, are you two going to stand there or are you going to join them."

The two men looked at each other before they picked up snow. Korra jumped on Naga's back as the polar bear pup ran by her. She froze a chunk of ice behind Khari so the two could run behind her. Naga ran up the chunk of ice, but it started to crack. The ice broke and the two soon fell. Korra screamed as they fell and Khari ran, using her cables to catch the two. The weight from the two made her whole body slam to the ground. She started to breathe heavily as she tried to pull the two up. Korra clung to Naga as she looked down at the water.

"Hey down there. How about we try training again after I get you back up here. Maybe Prince Iroh will let you kick his butt. Maybe I could even show you some stuff from your past life."

Korra looked up at her with a smile. She started to slowly pull the two up, but she started to slide. She slowly slid until she is had a bit of her legs left on the ledge. She wrapped one cable around the two as best as she could. When she thought they were safe she let the rest of her body slide off the ledge. She sent her second cable up, hoping someone would grab it. She watched as another metal cable wrapped around her cable. The three slammed against the ice, making Khari lower Korra and Naga a bit. She slowly pulled the two up. She started to pull them up with her other cable. She bit her lower lip as her stomach slid against the ice. She turned and pulled Korra up the rest of the way. When she finally got Korra up the young girl hugged her. When Korra pulled back Khari looked at the top to see blood. She smiled before she looked down at her abdomen. She saw the small wound that was bleeding. Compared to most of the wounds she has had this was nothing. She turned to the ice and watched as it changed. She told Korra to go to her parents as she stepped near the ice. She bent down and started to examine the ice more.

"Kenzo, when you were sending people to get me how many people did you send to the Southern Water Tribe?"

"Only one and he got those brothers. I'd say technically three. Why do you ask?"

"So, you never sent a waterbender to get me?" Khari asked as she stood.

"No, I wouldn't send a waterbender to a place like this. It could be dangerous for either party. You didn't know I was sending someone. Why are you asking these questions?"

"That ice should have never cracked. I was also attacked by a waterbender when I got in one of my I'm pissed off at the world moods. I think that the ice br-"

A huge chunk of ice broke off, taking Khari with it. She tried to turn and stick her armband in the ice. The only thing it did was slow her down. She tried to dig the reshaped metal arm bands further into the ice, but it only broke more ice off. She soon fell into the freezing water. Iroh, Noatak and Bumi ran to the edge to see if they could find her. A couple minutes later she appeared. Noatak slapped Iroh and Bumi on the back before he placed his feet on the edge of the cliff.

"Don't worry boys, I'll bring her back. A little wet and cold but the waterbender has got this handled."

"A bit full of himself today, isn't he?"

"Oh Bumi, let him have this. He is saving Khari."

Noatak jumped towards the water, pulling a bit up so he could hit the water sooner. He grabbed her and the two were on their way up but when they were halfway up the water stopped. The two soon fell back in the water. She looked over at Noatak who shrugged a bit.

"That's a first for me. That's never happened at all. Even when I practice it doesn't happen."

"You're going to get us halfway up and I'm going to get us up the rest of the way. Get ready Iroh and Uncle Bumi!"

"Ready for what?"

Bumi looked at Iroh as the prince shrugged. Noatak grabbed her and they started to make their way up again but like before the water started to fall back into the ocean. Khari sent her cables at Iroh and Bumi, watching the two grab them. Iroh and Bumi stared at the water when they saw it rise into a few waves. Their feet slid a bit as Khari and Noatak were hit with the first wave. Khari tried to pull them as Iroh and Bumi pulled back. The ice pushed out, causing the two to fly out a bit. The two men almost lost their footing, but they felt metal cables around their abdomens. When Khari and Noatak finally got up, they got away from the cliff. She was shivering as she crossed her arms.

"Why do we have to train her somewhere cold? Why can't we train her somewhere warm, like the Fire Nation. Oh, I miss how warm the Fire Nation is. This place is so cold, it's stupid."

"You never said the cold was stupid before when you came here. You never seemed bothered by it before."

"Well Gran Gran, I was just thrown into the icy ocean. I'm freezing to death." Katara pulled the cold water out of Khari's clothes. "Oh, that is so much better. I still hate the cold. I swear when I get a hold of those waterbenders it will be the last thing they ever did."

"Waterbenders?" Kenzo questioned.

"Kenzo, you as well as everyone here knows that one waterbender is not cable of something like that. I don't think any bender could. No matter the amount of skill. There were two and I want to know why they have a problem with me."

(Author's Note: Okay so the extremely long-awaited update has finally arrived. Khari is still stubborn. She obviously won't let the White Lotus change that. Yes, she remembered what happened to Suki while training. We did see Korra and Khari butt heads a bit during training but that they can still be friends. I am excited to continue more with Khari. Thanks to everyone that has continued to support the story. I appreciate. Have a great day.)