Prologue "Oh no."
Tenzin sighed as he watched his brother cackling on top of the incoming ship.
"Yay Uncle Bumi's here!"
Tenzin rubbed his forehead in distress. "Great, now I have to entertain my brother."
Tenzin felt like his day couldn't get any more stressful, that is until a second figure appeared next to Bumi.
"Oh no…" Tenzin groaned
"YAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Chai!" Tenzin's kids chered
Cackling right next to Bumi was a young teen girl. Her skin was a honey color a shade or two lighter than Bumi's, her face was heart-shaped with lovely round cheeks. She was dressed similarly to the Commander next to her. White fitted pants with a maroon red jacket, but the jacket was cropped stopping at the girl's waist. She stood out like a sore thumb but not because of her brazen attitude, no it was the girl's hair and eyes.
The girls' hair was light and golden just like the sun and her eyes were a rich amber color, like the sky when the sun started to set for the day. She looked like she had been touched by the sun itself.
The girl had her hair pulled back into a long fishtail braid that went past her shoulders and she had short bangs that just crested her eyebrows.
Although her coloring was strange and never before seen, she was still a beauty in her own way, a bright beauty many would say.
Tenzin placed a hand on his face sighing into his palm.
"Not only do I have to entertain my brother but his daughter as well."
As the ship docked, Bumi and the girl hopped off the ship landing on the docks.
Chai!" The little air bending children shouted darting over to their cousin.
"My mini airbenders!" Chai smiled, opening her arms for a hug.
Ikki and Meelo leaped at the girl attacking her with two fierce hugs. The force of the impact caused her to stumble backward but she took a step back catching herself from falling. With the two children securely in her hold, Chai spun around laughing as she hugged her cousins closer to her. She stopped spinning when Jinora approached, the oldest of the siblings calmly wrapping her arms around Chai's waist in a much less rambunctious hug.
When the hug-fest was over Chai set Meelo and Ikki down.
"Chai! Chai! How was your trip? Did you learn any more cool fighting moves? Did you change your hairstyle? How many new recruits have you beaten up?"
Chai chuckled at all of Ikki's questions. "Great. Yes, yes, and 33." She spoke answering all of Ikki's questions with ease.
When she was done with Ikki's various questions Chai looked to the others.
"Aunt Pema!"
Chai jogged over to the formerly pregnant woman, who was currently cradling her newborn.
"Ooooooh baby," Chai gasped looking at the baby with a starry-eyed gaze, "He's still wrinkly too." She got closer to the baby sniffing around him. "He's got that new baby smell too."
Pema gave a soft chuckle at Chai's comments use to the girl's eccentric nature.
"Uncle Tenzin!"
Tenzin put his arm out in front of him in a protective manner. "Chai! No, no-Chai!"
Chai pounced on her uncle knocking the poor older man on the ground.
"I missed you, Uncle!"
Chai smiled snuggling her face into her downed Uncle's chest.
Tenzin huffed out in defeat. "It's good to see you as well Chai." He sighed, patting the girl's head.
Chai stood up and turned her sights onto the others standing on the docks, she sped over with a large smile on her face. For a second it looked like she was going to barrel into them but skid to a stop right before Team Avatar. She was shortest amongst the group, only reaching just below Korra's chin.
"Avatar Korra! A pleasure!" Chai greeted giving an enthusiastic bow.
"What's with that formal greeting?" Korra said
"Yeah, your right. Hugs!"
Chai threw her arms around Korra's neck pulling the Avatar in a tight embrace. Chai put all her weight into the hug, hanging off of Korra's neck like a child and since Korra was taller all Chai had to do was lift her feet slightly off the ground.
When she was done Chai let go. "Don't you worry Korra we'll get you to Gran-Gran in no time flat."
Korra gave a soft smile. "Thank you…."
Chai looked at the others and smiled.
"Ah! Introductions are needed!" She smiled facing the entire group, addressing them all. "Greetings! My name is Chai!"
Confused expressions bloomed on their faces.
"Chai?" Mako mumbled
"Like the tea?" Bolin asked
"Yes! Like the tea!" Chai stated proudly, with her hands on her hips.
Asami stepped forward holding a hand out. "It's nice to meet you, Chai. I'm Asami."
Chai smiled grasping Asami's hands with both of hers shaking with heavy enthusiasm. "Nice to meet you! Wow, you're like the prettiest person I've ever met."
Asami was taken aback by the sudden compliment but flattered nonetheless. "Thank you. I think you're quite pretty too." She said returning the compliment.
Chai chuckled, flipping her golden braid. "Well, I do tend to turn heads." She semi-joked
More attention was drawn to the girl's hair, its golden locks glowing in the midday sun.
"Whoa you hair," Mako whispered
"Hm?" Chai hummed looking over her shoulder with an inquisitive expression. "Neat ain't it." She chuckled
"It looks like it's made of gold…..can I touch it?" Bolin asked, reaching out a hand.
"Bolin," Mako hissed elbowing his brother. "Sorry about him. I'm Mako and this is my brother Bolin."
Instead of being offended Chai burst out laughing. "Well aren't you a charmer," She laughed gesturing to Bolin. "It's nice to meet you both. My grandfather says I was blessed by the spirits. Born during the golden dawn of the first rising sun of the new year. I'm like 100% sure I'm the only one with this hair. So you, my new friend are welcomed to touch. Who knows when you'll get the chance. Right?"
Bolin let out a slight cheer before running over to Chai petting her hair.
"It's so soft…."
Chai continued to laugh as Bolin enjoyed himself, she didn't even flinch when he started to rub the locks against his face. Mako raised a brow watching the two confused, he had never seen someone get along so well with his brother's more odd behaviors.
Suddenly something furry darted over to Chai climbing up her leg resting on the girl's shoulders.
"Ooooo who are you?" Chai questions
"That's Pabu," Bolin said
Chai smiled stroking the little creature under the chin earning purr.
"A fire ferret. I see them roaming in the wild a lot at home. They tend to get into people's gardens and trash. Much cuter in person, isn't that right you little bundle of fur," She said
Pabu rolled off Chai's shoulders into her arms allowing the girl to stroke his stomach, the fire ferret went all but limp in the girl's arms enjoying the petting.
"Whoa, I've never seen Pabu so relaxed with a stranger before. He doesn't even like Mako all that much," Bolin spoke, gesturing to his frowning brother.
"I've been told I have a way with animals. I used to sneak off into the forest and play with them. Still do too! I'm too big to ride on the hog monkey's backs now, but they're still fun to play with." Chai said
"You used to ride wild hog monkeys?" Bolin questioned
"Isn't that dangerous?" Asami added
"Yup!" Chai answered with a smile. "Got bit a few times, but once you show your dominance they stop."
"How do you….show dominance?" Mako asked
He wasn't sure he wanted the answer to that question but with his curiosity peaked he just had to know.
"You bite back. Headbutting works too," Chai said
Mako blinked brows raised. The more she spoke the more confused Mako was, this girl was just confusing and maybe a bit crazy.
"You're like the coolest person I've met," Bolin said
"Why thank you," Chai smiled, putting her hands on her hips.
Bumi's ship moved swiftly through the waters of the sea, getting everyone down to the South Pole within a reasonable time. The moment they exited the ship everyone headed to the White Lotus compound locating Katara. The elder woman moved swiftly and started working on Korra post-haste, while everyone else waited in another room.
Silence permeated the air, the tense atmosphere weighing heavily on everyone's shoulders. It was some while before Katara came back out, the woman's head hung low in a woeful manner.
"I've tried everything in my power, but, I cannot restore Korra's bending."
"But you're the best healer in the world, you have to keep trying!" Lin persisted
Katara regrettably shook her head. "I'm sorry, there's nothing else I can do. Korra can still airbend, but her connection to the other elements has been severed."
Lin's shoulders drop and she looks away disappointed. A moment later Korra comes out of the healing room, the air of depression clinging tightly around her as she keeps her eyes downcast. She pauses and looks up to see all eyes on her.
"It's going to be all right Korra," Tenzin said
Korra shook her head. "No, it's not."
Frustration and anger mix with her sadness as she storms out of the room. Mako looks hesitant before he goes after Korra.
Chai slid up to a window peeking outside to observe the two. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she did her best to make out the gist of their conversation through body language.
At first, the two were arguing, well it was more like Korra was yelling at Mako. But the firebender turned it around and the next thing Chai knew it looked like Mako was going to kiss Korra.
"Man this is better than those dramas I listened to over the radio," Chai whispered to herself.
Korra reacted to Mako's affection by running away, quickly climbing on Naga leaving.
"Uh, guys Korra is running away!" Chai announced to the group.
Tenzin is the first out of the room and everyone files out as they watch Korra leave the compound riding on Naga's back.
Tenzin walked over to Mako, putting a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder.
"We need to be patient with her. It will take time for her to accept what has happened."
"Do you need a hug?"
Mako looked to his left to see Chai who already had her arms out ready for an embrace.
Mako went after Korra and it wasn't too long when he came back with the Avatar in tow. The two had smiles on their faces, Korra's being the biggest.
Korra stood before Lin, the officer kneeling before the Avatar. Korra entered the Avatar state and placed her hands on Lin. When she was done Lin stood up and the woman took a deep breath raising her hands the surrounding rocks in the area following her arms. Everyone looked elated to see Lin had her bending back. Bolin's jaw had dropped and Chai was bouncing up and down clapping her hands together like an excited child.
Lin dropped the rocks and turned to Korra with a small smile on her face.
"Thank you."
Korra returned the smile as she bowed to Lin.
Tenzin walked up to Korra. "I am so proud of you, Avatar Korra."