Korra used the stars to guide her as she spent the next three days and nights in the speedboat. The fuel ran out after an hour or two of going full throttle, and Korra regretted not taking a normal boat. There was no sail on a speedboat, obviously, so as soon as Korra had used up all the fuel in the tank and lying around, she had to rely on her waterbending. She lived on a diet of fish, which was ok, but after a day or two of eating the same food, it really started to mess with her bowels.
But all that paled in comparison to the amount of stress Korra was experiencing. After only half an hour away from the South Pole, she began worrying frantically about Kalla. It took all her willpower not to turn the boat around and head back to check on her. But to add to that, the times it tempted her the most was when she was creating a current to push the boat to Kyoshi Island, peeling away at her motivation to keep going. She would push and pull a fast-enough current for an hour, always struggling to maintain focus.
Korra could have used the Avatar State to speed the boat up by several times its current pace, but she didn't do it for two reasons.
Firstly, she wasn't in a life or death situation, but the second was the one really holding her back. Korra spent the lonely days and nights wondering about two things; Kalla and Vaatu. She'd tried to speak to both Vaatu and Raava, but neither of them would answer her. She could sense their energies though. She hadn't ever noticed Raava in her body before in her life, as Raava's spirit had always been inside of her and she didn't realise it was something supernatural, but with Vaatu there, it was like having one hot and one cold hand.
Korra mulled over what Vaatu had told her. She felt very confident that she could go into the normal Avatar State, as the separation she felt inside was very pronounced. She tried to bring Raava halfway up, just to test it, and it didn't feel anything like when she fought the United Forces. Raava was in perfect sync with Korra's mind, but Vaatu fed off her anxiety and other negative emotions. She thought about what Aang and Gyatso had told all those months ago, about the 'darkness' inside of her.
Korra had dismissed it after about a month, but now she knew that they had meant Vaatu, even if they didn't know themselves. She racked up a million different ways of feeling so good that she could 'temporarily satisfy herself to the full' as Gyatso had put it, but she couldn't think of one that was flawless. The only two standout moments of pure happiness she could recall ever since creating the portal in Republic City was when she gazed into Kalla's eyes for the first time. That had been breath-taking. The other was to a much lesser extent when she'd been on a vacation with Asami, but she wasn't completely euphoric back then. It had been a first date, not a wedding, and she enjoyed herself. But not to the extent she would need to get rid of Vaatu, seemingly.
"But if looking into your daughter's eyes for the first time doesn't make you completely happy, what will?" Korra muttered, talking out loud. It helped her confirm that she wasn't going crazy. "Well, I'm not going to be at peace while we're separated, anyway." Another thought, which caused her to boil in anger was thinking of Mako. "How could he just reject his daughter?!" Deep down inside though, even if she wouldn't accept it, Korra knew that Mako had a somewhat valid argument.
Early in the afternoon of the fourth day of being stuck on the boat with only her own thoughts for company, Korra spotted Kyoshi Island, which had a strong spiritual vibe about it. Korra would've described it as a pulse or glow. She felt Raava rise up a bit more as she got closer. She sped up, rising up a huge wave to carry her the last three hundred metres.
The nose of the speedboat impaled into the sand on the tiny beach, and she had to jump off to avoid being thrown off. She landed harshly on the sand and dug her toes in, happy to have something new to stand on.
"Finally!" the water-tribe woman shouted.
She ran up and down the edge of the water gleefully, putting aside her more pressing issues, just to burn all the excess energy her legs had built up sitting in that boat. There was one small wooden pier sticking out into the water, and all six of the poles were already occupied by eight boats crammed in, so she left her boat halfway in the sand, glad to be rid of it.
After about ten minutes of burning off energy, Korra brushed off whatever sand was on her, and started walking up the steep trail that lead from the beach. She needed to find somewhere that had been very personal to Kyoshi, where she could meditate and hopefully talk to her. The only other Avatar she'd properly talked to was Aang, and technically Wan, but she hadn't actually had a conversation with Wan. She knew that Kyoshi had lived to an age somewhere around 270 years old, so she had to know something of use.
Korra's senses perked up as she heard rustling in the bush not far away from her, in the middle of the small forest, but kept her eyes straight ahead. She had left her shoes in the boat, and had forgot to put them back on when walking up given that it was a well paved trail, but it had turned out handy enough. Korra didn't have the biggest range of sensing vibrations in the earth, but it was still sharp enough. She felt two, three, five, seven bodies all scurrying around, and after a minute, they were all in position to ambush her, but Korra didn't give them the chance.
Korra swivelled and punched a whirlwind to her left with her right hand. It slammed into a bush, and a woman with very pale skin and a greenish dress was thrown several metres back. Korra felt someone she had her back to throw something, so she dropped to her stomach, and watched a couple of ropes with weights at the end wrap around a tree. She got up, turned, and sent an air slash into that particular bush, but her assailant got out of harm's way just in time.
Another person jumped out at Korra's side, and tried to chi block her, but Korra grabbed their wrist and twisted their arm behind their back. The person, who was definitely a woman, let out a gasp. Korra didn't intend on breaking her arm unless necessary, so she air-kicked the woman in the back. She shot towards another person waiting in the bushes, and collided with whoever was there. They tumbled away out of Korra's line of vision. Korra was tempted to firebend as that was a lot more effective for fighting, but she'd probably burn down the forest while she was at it, so that was definitely a no-go.
"I didn't come here to fight!" Korra declared, then leant back as another projectile swiped by her head. She grumbled, and located the remaining four attackers. They were all staying at a distance now, not so confident. Korra put her right leg forward, leant heavily on it, and brought her fists up in a curling motion. Earth encased one of the assailants who was trying to hide. Korra air-vaulted upwards to avoid more projectiles. She somersaulted, and brought a blunt, but very thick, slash of air down with her heel. It slammed into another fighter, and Korra saw their body slump from her bird's eye view. She landed gracefully, facing the other two with one palm facing in front of her, and the other facing the sky.
"Are you… are you the Avatar?" the person who Korra had encased in earth behind Korra asked. Another woman.
"Yes," Korra answered calmly, although she didn't look around to face the woman. "And I can sense both of you two hiding as well. I don't want to fight any of you, and we can call it quits right now, or else I can beat you up too. Your choice."
Korra waited a few seconds, and then the last two walked out glumly. They dropped their weapons, which were… fans? Regardless, Korra put her arms down by her side, although she stayed alert. She looked the two remaining people left, and raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Why are you dressed like Kyoshi?" Korra asked. They both had identical dark and light green dresses, and on a closer look, they had white face paint on, with red around their eyes, rather than just pale skin.
"We don't have much of a reputation, then, if the Avatar doesn't even know who we are, do we?" one of them commented, who was yet again female. It seemed like all of them were women.
"Are you the sages of… Kyoshi Temple?" Korra asked delicately. She didn't know if Kyoshi had a temple, but why else would there be a group of people dressed like her? Then, an old story she had heard years back, from Katara, suddenly hit her. "Wait, you're the Kyoshi Warriors, aren't you? That's why you're all dressed like her!"
"So she does know," the other Kyoshi Warrior said, relieved. "Although we can't exactly boast, with how she just blew us away so casually."
"Yeah," the first one said. "But the radio broadcast about the United Forces at the South Pole sounds somewhat believable now."
"You know about that?" Korra asked, pursing her lips awkwardly. "Am I not welcome here? Is that why you attacked me?"
"We attacked you because you crashed into our beach and started to march up to the village," the one still stuck in earth stated dryly. Korra laughed awkwardly, trying to relieve the tension. She turned and sunk the rocks back into the ground. She didn't even get a 'thanks'.
"Sorry about that," Korra apologized, rubbing the back of her head. Then she stood up straight, hands by her side. "But I need to talk to Avatar Kyoshi, and I think this is the only place I can do it. I've already caused enough trouble with the United Forces, and I don't want a repeat of that, so if you ask kindly, I'll leave, but I really need her guidance. So please, let me stay. I'll only be here a day at the most, and I'll sleep outside."
"Why do you need to be here to talk to her?" the one who Korra had released asked. "Can't you talk to her anywhere?"
"No, it's… complicated," Korra answered. "I'd rather explain later."
"Whatever," the first warrior to talk said. "You are the Avatar, so we'll give you everything you need, but it's best for the moment if you just stay hidden, so we'll go around the village to the town hall. My name is Soma." She walked over and held out her hand. Korra accepted it, then had to hold her gasp in, as Soma squeezed as hard as she could. Korra returned it fiercely, and they held it for about ten seconds, before one of the others broke it up.
"Come on, Soma," the other warrior said.
"Just getting to know her," Soma replied, and dropped her hand. Soma led the way as Korra and the other two warriors started following her through the forest, leaving the other Kyoshi Warriors behind.
"What about your friends?" Korra asked. "I can heal them if you want, it won't be inconvenient."
"They'll be fine!" Soma snapped. "It'll only take them a few minutes to get back to the village on their own."
"Just offering," Korra muttered. She tiptoed her way around the back of the village, which was on top of a mound and spread downward from that. There were roughly 35 buildings in the village, all small wooden shacks. The only noticeable one was the three-storey building at the very back. There was a rotten statue of what Korra assumed was Avatar Kyoshi in the middle of the village. They got around to the back of the town hall in no time, and Soma knocked on the door. An old woman with white hair tied into a braid opened the door.
"Who are you?" the woman asked, looking at Korra. "And where are the other warriors?"
"They're on their way back," Soma answered, her head down slightly. "A few were… injured fighting the Avatar here." The old woman's mouth hung open, and she gaped at Korra, speechless. Korra had gotten it a thousand times before though, so she knew how to greet people like his.
"It's an honour to be here," Korra said, bowing. "I'm sorry for the problem with the Kyoshi Warriors earlier, I hope you can look past it." Soma harrumphed at the last part, but Korra ignored it.
"Come inside quickly, all of you!" the old woman urged, and they came inside. Korra and the Kyoshi Warriors followed her up the stairs to the top floor, which was modest, but a nice visitors' room nonetheless. The old woman closed the shudders on the window, and gestured for Korra to sit down at one side of a table. Korra did so, and the others all sat on the opposite side. It reminded Korra of when she tried to break out of the compound when she was younger, and had been lectured by the White Lotus.
"What's your name?" Korra asked the old woman politely. She had more pressing issues, but she wouldn't be in much of a position to go asking favours if she didn't even know their name.
"My name?" the woman asked. She looked like she was in her mid-to-late eighties. "My name is Ty Lee, and I'm the governor, if you will, of Kyoshi Island."
"Ty Lee?" Korra repeated, sitting up. "I've heard of you! Didn't you used to run with Fire Lord Zuko's, the crazy sister, or something like that?"
Ty Lee shuddered at the mention of her old friend, and all the warriors simultaneously glared at Korra. She shrunk back down a bit. She was evidently a bit rusty when it came to her social skills still, part of why she hated all those boring meetings that ensued after Kuivera. If she remembered correctly, she'd just kept her mouth shut when possible.
"Yes," Ty Lee answered, and put on a smile, not taking it to heart. "She scared me into being her friend when we were growing up, but thankfully, I cut her loose before her mind snapped entirely. I'm not offended, don't worry, but just between us, don't mention her name. Some of the older people living here have bad memories of when she used the Kyoshi Warriors to take over Ba Sing Sae. That's if," she added, "you intend on meeting the rest of the village?"
"Has everyone here heard about what happened at the South Pole?" asked Korra, deflated.
"Yes," Soma answered. "And that's why you shouldn't be showing your face around here! We don't want the whole navy of the United Forces showing up on our doorstep!"
"Soma, don't be so rude to the Avatar!" Ty Lee scolded her. "I'd expect better from my own granddaughter!"
"Whatever," Soma said, disinterested in her grandmother's opinion.
"Look, you attacked me earlier, I was just defending myself!" Korra said, getting irritated by this girl's attitude.
"She means no harm," Ty Lee said graciously, pinching Soma on the thigh. "Anyway, why have you come to Kyoshi Island? You don't intend on hiding here, do you? I'm sorry if you do, but this isn't the biggest island in the world. You'll probably be better off somewhere else."
"No," Korra cleared up, and she noticed their shoulders all collectively drop as they sighed in relief. She didn't blame them. "I'm really lost at the minute, and I thought that by coming here that I could talk to Avatar Kyoshi. You see, at Harmonic Convergence four years ago, my connection to the past Avatars was severed. I thought that I'd never be able to talk to them again, but a few months after I created a new portal in Republic City, Avatar Aang appeared in front of me."
"So it's true?" one of the warriors interrupted. "You really blew open a new portal? That's awesome!"
"If that's how you want to look at it," Korra said sombrely. The other two warriors were a lot more friendly than Soma. "It's brought about a whole ton of problems with it." She felt Vaatu's energy swirl around inside her as she said that. "Wait, haven't any of you ever been to Republic City?"
"We have," Soma answered. "Once, a few months ago, but the place the spirit portal is meant to be is just covered up by this metal dome. We didn't see any spirits there, either. Is it true that you shut it while running away from the police?" The last question was more of a jibe than anything else.
"Yeah," Korra answered flatly, making eye contact.
"It's not your place to be asking those kinds of questions!" Ty Lee murmured to Soma, but everyone heard it.
"You can't tell me what to do!" Soma stated, giving her grandmother a cold look.
"Soma!" Ty Lee scolded. "Go back to the training den, and don't let anyone know about this until I say so! Understood?"
Soma didn't say anything, and Ty Lee breathed heavily in warning. "Understood?" she repeated.
"I'm going on a walk," Soma declared defiantly, and stormed out. Ty Lee rubbed her weary eyes, tired, as Soma slammed the door shut.
"I'm so sorry!" Korra apologised, getting up to follow. "I'll bring her back."
"No, no, you're fine," Ty Lee reassured, waving for Korra to sit down, which Korra did after a moment of hesitation. "Soma is just angry that the warriors weren't able to stop you. There's very little that ever happens on Kyoshi Island, so this is just her overreacting. Continue with what you were saying."
"If you're sure," Korra said, offering the others a chance to take it back, but they didn't, so she continued. "Anyway, Aang said that I could maybe contact my past Avatars if I went to a sentimental location from their lives, and Kyoshi Island was the most convenient when I, you know, got away from the United Forces, so I came here."
"Mhm hmm," Ty Lee hummed, taking in what Korra had said. "In that case, why don't you try to talk to her now? We don't have any monks here, so I'm afraid we can't help you with anything spiritual, but we'd be glad to help the Avatar in any way we can."
"That's… as good a place as any to start, I guess," Korra agreed. She looked warily at the three of them, wondering if it was safe for her to meditate around these complete strangers, but they seemed friendly enough. Besides, two of were part of a group named after a former Avatar, so surely they wouldn't attack the present one? And Ty Lee seemed very reasonable.
"Is there anything else you need?" one of the warriors asked. "Like candles, or bells, or something like that?"
"No," Korra laughed. "Candles are just for show. All I need you to do is stand guard over my body, as I might go into the spirit world. But, do you know any place where Kyoshi spent a lot of her time in particular? That would be very helpful."
"That sounds doable," Ty Lee said, and looked to the two warriors. "Escort her to Kyoshi Shrine, but avoid any unnecessary attention. There aren't too many houses on the way, but it's no harm if we keep her presence hidden just for the time being. I'll go with you, as well. I know a story or two from old friends about Avatar Aang, and they might hint in a way only you can recognise if you're stuck somehow."
"Thanks," Korra said gratefully. "Can we go now?"
"I suppose," Ty Lee said, looking to her two warriors for any objections, but they just nodded in agreement. She got up, slowly, and pointed to a robe hanging on a wall. "Put that on, just in case we meet anyone."
Korra did as she was told, but as she was putting on the robe, a question came into her head. "What about the other warriors?" she asked. "Won't they spread the word that they were taken out by an airbender?"
"They'll report to Soma," Ty Lee answered. "And even though she was moody to you, she won't ignore me on something like this. She is generally very nice, just stubborn the odd time."
"That's good to know," Korra said, content, and they started to head downstairs, Korra keeping her face hidden.