A Leaf in the Wind
I don't own Digimon or Legend of Korra
The day after the press conference announcing Korra and Sora's arrival in Republic City, the two girls got settled in on Air Temple Island and were currently sitting at a table with Tenzin for breakfast with Korra reading the newspaper while Sora was writing a letter to her parents and grandparents. "And in the final round the Buzzard Wasps won with a decisive knockout. What do you say we go to the arena tonight, catch a few Pro-Bending matches?" she asked Sora and Tenzin.
"That sport, is a mockery of the noble traditions of Bending." Tenzin answered.
"Come on Tenzin, I've wanted to see a Pro-Bending match all my life and now I'm just a ferry ride away from the arena." Korra said pointing behind her at the arena across the bay.
"You're not here to watch that drivel, you're here to finish your Avatar training. For the time being you shall remain on the island." Tenzin told her.
"Is that why you decided to keep the White Lotus sentries around?" Korra asked pointing to a few White Lotus members in the room keeping an eye on her.
"Yes. I believe you need a calm, quiet environment free from any distractions." Tenzin said making Sora giggle.
"You do know that this is Korra we are talking about, right? Trust me this "calm, quiet environment" will turn into a Loud Hectic Environment soon enough." She said earning a look from Korra. "You know I'm right Korra. Despite being born in the Water Tribe you take after someone from the Earth Kingdom or the Fire Nation." She went back to finishing her letter while Korra looked out the window at the stadium across the bay.
Soon the two girls and Tenzin were walking towards the training area with Korra wearing Airbending attire, only with the sleeves rolled up and Sora wore her training clothes. She wore black puffy pants with slits on the sides with gold beads connecting the slits together, black cuffs around her wrists with three gold hoops on each cuff, she wore a red crop top with gold lining around the edges and her hair was pulled together with a black ribbon with two black chopsticks in her hair. Because her shirt had no sleeves Korra could see a tattoo of Mushu on her left arm with fire coming out of its mouth and sparks surrounding the dragon that Sora got when she mastered firebending and the slit on her right pant leg allowed her a brief glimpse of another tattoo.
"So, my mother informs me that you've never been able to Airbend before," Tenzin said making Korra stop and nod sadly.
"Yeah and I don't know why. The other elements came so easily to me, but every single time I've tried Airbending, nothing not even a gust of wind." She replied.
"That's quite alright, we just need to be patient. Often the element the Avatar has most trouble dealing with is the one opposite their personality, for Aang it was Earthbending," Tenzin said rolling Korra's sleeves down making her frown.
"Yeah well I'm about as opposite of an Airbender as you can get."
"That may be true Korra, but Uncle Aang eventually learned how to Earthbend. So you will eventually learn how to Airbend." Sora told her friend with a smile and Korra smiled back and gave her friend a side hug as they followed Tenzin.
"Korra's gonna Airbend, Korra's gonna Airbend." Ikki said jumping up and down excited as they walked over to a series of gates.
"What is that contraption?" Korra asked Tenzin.
"A time-honoured tool, built to demonstrate the fundamentals of Airbending," he answered. "Jinora will you like to explain this exercise?" he asked his eldest child who nodded.
"The goal is to make it to the other side of the gates without touching them." she explained.
"Sounds easy enough." Korra replied with a confident smile.
"Jinora forget to mention that the gates will be spinning while you move through them." Ikki added making Korra blink as Tenzin bent a gust of wind at the gates causing them to spin, he then picked up a leaf and sent it towards the gates with a gentle gust of wind.
"The key is to be like the leaf, flow with the movement of the gates. Jinora will demonstrate." He said and Jinora headed towards the gates. "Airbending is all about spiral movements, when you meet resistance, you must be able to move at a moment's notice." He explained as Jinora made it through with ease before sending a gust of wind to keep the gates spinning.
"Let's do this," Korra said running to the gates only to smash into the first one making Tenzin and Sora wince as Korra was thrown around like a ball and flung to the ground on her butt.
"This is gonna take a while. I'm gonna get the first aid kit," Sora said covering her eyes as Korra ran into the gates again only for the same thing to happen a second time.
"Thank you, Sora, it's right by the burn treatment kit." Tenzin told her and she walked back to the temple amidst Korra's yelps of pain every time she hit a panel.
Later that evening she, Mushu and Naga were watching Korra trying to Airbend at a picture of Lin from the newspaper. "Airbend!" Korra shouted trying again but nothing happened, she growled and sent a jet of flame at the picture burning it to ash. "Maybe I'm just not cut out to be an Airbender huh guys?" she asked.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm coming you live from Republic City's Pro-Bending arena where two teams at battling their way for a place in the upcoming championship tournament." Both girls heard the radio in the guard station and both girls blinked and smiled and snuck over and climbed onto the roof and began listening to the match.
"Tenzin's gonna be mad if he catches us," Sora whispered but Korra winked as they continued to listen as the match continued.
"This Mako's got moxy, he fires two quick shots, advances, Yomo is hammered back into zone three, clock is winding down, can Yomo hold on? He's teetering on the edge of the ring now; the Fire Ferrets line up to strike…" The radio went silent making Korra and Sora drop their heads in disappointment.
"Korra, Sora get down here." they heard Tenzin from inside the guard house and he did not sound happy, both girls sighed and climbed down and stood in front of the three White Lotus guards and saw Tenzin holding the plug in his hand.
"You shut it off at the best part!" Korra whined.
"I thought I told you to not listen to that nonsense," Tenzin said.
"Technically it's their radio, and you never said anything about us listening to a match." Sora told him with a grin making Tenzin frown.
"You…you…you know what I meant. Anyway…shouldn't you both be in bed by now!?" he asked turning and leaving the two girls who sighed.
The next morning while Korra, Tenzin and his kids were in a gazebo meditating, Sora was on a nearby cliff surrounded by lit candles and the flames grew with each deep breath she took. "How is it that everyone else can meditate but I can't?" she heard Korra ask as she walked up to her friend while holding two glasses of Lychee Juice.
"People find different ways to meditate, don't worry you'll find a way that suits you." Sora told her friend without opening her eyes. "And I'll take that second glass of Lychee Juice," she said making Korra chuckle and hand her friend the glass and both took a sip of the drink. "So, are we sneaking over to the stadium tonight?" she asked.
"You know me so well," Korra answered and both girls chuckled, soon once night fell both snuck out of their rooms and past the White Lotus guards to the edge of the island where Mushu was waiting for Sora, she climbed onto her dragon and he flew off towards the arena while Korra dived into the ocean using her Waterbending to catch herself and the two headed to the arena.
"Alright Mushu, once we get there fly back to Air Temple Island so Tenzin doesn't suspect anything, even if I'm allowed to go anywhere in the city he'd still blow a gasket." Sora told her dragon who nodded and he flew to the arena and both saw Korra waterbend herself into an open window and Sora jumped through the window and waved to Mushu as he flew off.
Both soon heard the crowd and walked off in that direction before they came across the training area for the teams, in awe both walked further into the room. "Hey! What're you two doing in my gym!?" both gulped and saw an old man with a towel around his neck walking over to them.
"Oh, uh sorry, we were looking for the bathroom and got lost." Sora lied meekly.
"The old I've got to pee excuses, well I've had enough of you kids coming here and not paying, I'm calling security!" the old man told the girls.
"No wait…we can explain." Korra said.
"There you are." Both girls and the old man saw a boy with black hair and green eyes and wearing a Pro-Bending outfit walking towards them. "It's alright Toza, they're with me." He told the old man.
"And what have I told you about not bringing any of your girlfriends' backstage, Bolin?" Toza asked him.
"They're nothing like that, they're just friends who came to cheer me on." Bolin lied smoothly escorting Sora and Korra out of the gym leaving Toza who frowned before he began Earthbending sets of weights around the gym.
"Thanks a lot," Sora whispered to Bolin.
"Anytime milady," he replied leading the girls to his team's locker room. "What do you think? Best seats in the house don't you agree?" he asked as both girls looked around in awe to find themselves looking right at the ring with no obstructions.
"This is amazing, I've never seen anything like it." Korra answered with Sora nodding in agreement as the other two members of Bolin's team walked into the locker room.
"We didn't introduce ourselves, but I'm Sora and this is Korra." Sora said with a smile.
"Psst, Bolin." One of his teammates whispered and Bolin walked over to him who had black hair like him only with gold eyes. "I thought I told you to stop bringing your crazy fan-girls here before the matches, get rid of them."
"Aw come on Mako, I know what you said but I've got good feelings about those two. They're something special." Bolin said walking back over to Sora and Korra. "Hey, I want you two to meet my brother Mako." He told them.
"Mako, I heard you play on the radio," Sora said as Mako and the other member of the Fire Ferrets walked past her and Korra.
"Come on Bolin we're up." Mako said.
"Charming fellow," Sora muttered.
"You'll get used to him. Wish me luck, not that I'll need it." Bolin said running over to his teammates as the platform they stood on extended taking them towards the ring.
"Good luck, knock them out." Sora called as she and Korra waited for the match to begin, the bell soon sounded after the introductions and both girls began watching with excitement. The Waterbender of the team seemed to have the most trouble in the first round, being eliminated easily while Mako and Bolin managed to hold on but only barely.
"Round one goes to the Golden Temple Tigerdillos!" the announcer shouted.
"The Tigerdillos are good, I hope they can come back from this." Sora said and Korra nodded as round two began, the Fire Ferrets were knocked back into the second zone again before they rallied and managed to knock back the Tigerdillos into the third zone to win the second round.
The third round began and things began terribly for the Fire Ferrets, their Waterbender tripped and knocked over Bolin and both were knocked out of the ring into the water below leaving Mako alone to face all three Tigerdillos.
"Oh no this is not good," Korra said pulling at her hair as Mako began bobbing and weaving avoiding the attacks from the Tigerdillos until they tired themselves out and Mako struck back knocking the Waterbender and Firebender off the ring into the water and then he knocked the Earthbender into the water when he jumped through the cloud of dust made from their attacks clashing several times and the crowd cheered at the comeback victory.
"He's so great," Sora said in awe her eyes not leaving Mako for a second.
"I bet you could take him," Korra said with a knowing smile and Sora nodded as Bolin, Mako and their teammate made it back to the locker room.
"You did more harm than good out there," Mako scolded the Waterbender.
"We won, didn't we? Get off my case pal," the Waterbender said removing his helmet and he threw it to the ground and left the locker room slamming the door behind him.
"Useless." Mako mumbled walking to his locker while Bolin approached Sora and Korra.
"One more win and we're in the championship, what did you think?" Bolin asked both girls.
"That was awesome, you were great." Sora said giving Bolin a high-five. "And you were amazing Mako," she complimented.
"Oh, you're still here?" Mako asked her.
"Oh, you're still a jerk?" Sora replied with a frown. "Anyway, the way you guys moved out there was amazing. It's almost like there is a whole new style in this city, do you think you could teach Korra and I some moves?" she asked Bolin.
"Absolutely. However, I'm not sure how my Earthbending will work with your friend being a Waterbender and you being a Firebender." Bolin answered scratching his chin.
"Actually, my friend Korra here is an Earthbender, she is also a Firebender and Waterbender." Sora informed him with a grin.
"Huh…oh I'm very confused." Bolin said looking at both girls who smiled.
"She's the Avatar, and I'm an idiot. And I guess that means you are Princess Sora, right?" Mako asked looking at both girls.
"Yes, to all three." Korra and Sora said at the same time before looking at each other and sharing a laugh.
"No…way…The Avatar and Princess Sora!" Bolin whispered looking at Mako who rolled his eyes while Sora and Korra grinned. Soon all four were in the gym with Bolin and Mako in white tank tops and pants while Sora sat on the staircase Mako was leaning against while Bolin and Korra were practicing Earthbending. "Good power, but in a real match you'd be a sitting Turtle-duck, not so upright and flatfooted, stay right on your toes, right up until the moment when you need to dig in a strike and then…" Bolin instructed Korra before sending two discs made of Earth towards the net and Korra looked at what just happened amazed.
"Ok, let me try again." Korra said adjusting her stance and she sent two discs towards the net quickly.
"Whoa! Nice adjustment." Bolin said amazed.
"She's a natural when it comes to learning new moves like that," Sora explained with a grin.
"Not bad," Mako said.
"What does it take to impress him?" Korra asked Bolin pointing at Mako.
"What? I said not bad. Anyway, it's getting late, I'm going to turn in. Nice meeting you Avatar Korra, Princess Sora. See you upstairs bro," he told Bolin walking off.
"Upstairs, you guys live here?" Korra asked Bolin.
"Yeah. In the attic, it's nothing fancy but we get some great views. Now then let's keep practicing." Bolin answered and Korra nodded and both continued firing earth discs at the net while Sora watched with a smile.
The next morning however the mood was very different, Korra was once again trying to move through the Airbending gates but kept on smashing into the panels. "Patience Korra!" Tenzin reminded her.
"You know patience and Korra don't work together well Tenzin." Sora said as Korra was hit by another panel and growled before she began destroying the gates with her firebending to the shock of Tenzin and his family and Sora who facepalmed. "I can't believe she did what I did." She groaned as Korra panted angrily before storming off leaving the gates burnt and destroyed.
"Not again." Tenzin said with a sigh making Sora scratch the tip of her nose and laugh as her cheeks went red in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry Uncle Tenzin," she apologised making Tenzin roll his eyes.
"Thank goodness that your mother has offered to pay to have them repaired whenever you or Korra destroy them." he muttered.
"I'll go find Korra, maybe she's calmed down by now." Sora said hugging Tenzin quickly before running off after Korra. Just like the night before, Sora and Korra snuck off to the Pro-Bending arena and found the locker room only they saw Bolin and Mako looking at the ground.
"We didn't miss your match, did we? You guys look like you already lost." Korra said.
"We might as well have," Bolin mumbled.
"Hasook is a no-good no show," Mako informed them as the judge opened the door and poked his head in.
"You guys got two minutes to be ready to play or you're disqualified." He told Mako and Bolin.
"Well there goes our shot at competing and the winnings," Mako muttered.
"Can't you ask one of those guys to fill in for you?" Sora asked pointing to another team in the locker room.
"The rules say you can only play for one team," Bolin answered.
"Well what about me, I'm a top-notch Waterbender," Korra suggested with a smile making the brothers look at her then at each other.
"But you're the Avatar, isn't that cheating?" Bolin asked her once again glancing at his brother.
"It's not cheating if Korra only does Waterbending," Sora answered with a smile.
"No way. I'd rather forfeit then look like a fool out there," Mako said.
"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence." Korra muttered as the judge came back into the room. "We're in." she said before Mako could speak.
"We are?" Mako asked blinking in surprise.
"Yes!" Bolin cheered as Korra ran to the locker to get ready.
"Hey, I didn't agree to this," Mako said but Korra and Bolin ignored him and he sighed. "That girl is crazy."
"You don't know the half of it. Try growing up with her and being her Firebending teacher." Sora told him with a grin.
"Eh good point, let's just hope she doesn't blow it." Mako muttered as he Bolin and Korra now in the Waterbender Fire Ferret gear walked out to the ring with Korra trying to adjust her several sizes too big clothing. "Don't do anything to fancy…actually don't do anything just try to not get knocked off the ring." He whispered to Korra as they took their positions on the ring.
"You got it captain." Korra replied as her helmet fell down her face and she lifted it up just as the bell sounded, Korra then swung her leg sending a jet of water at the opposing team's Waterbender sending them over the side of the ring making Mako and Sora facepalm.
"You're supposed to throw opponents of the back of the ring, not over the side." Mako told Korra who sheepishly scratched her head.
"Whoops," she said as she moved back to the second zone because of her knocking the opposing team's Waterbender over the side, the round resumed and Sora covered her eyes with her hands as Korra once again got penalised when she stepped over the line.
"Come on Korra you can do it!" she cheered her friend on as the first round went to the Fire Ferret's opponents. The second round began with the opposing team pressuring Korra to try and knock her out of the ring first before she growled and bent two earth discs up to block a water jet and fire stream launched at her stopping the match as the crowd gasped in shock. "Oh no." Sora groaned facepalming again.
"I can't believe what I am seeing. That young Waterbender on the Fire Ferrets team, she's the Avatar and it looks like Fire Princess Sora is in the Fire Ferret's locker room." The radio announcer said as a spotlight shone down on Sora who chuckled sheepishly and waved slightly as the crowd cheered.
"Something tells me I am in so much trouble," Sora thought as the judge walked onto the ring to give his decision.
"The Avatar may continue to compete as long as she solely sticks to Waterbender," he announced making the crowd cheer and Sora sighed in relief.
"Oh, thank Agni that was a close one," she said, a few minutes later Korra was sent flying off the ring into the water and Sora groaned before she felt someone tap her shoulder and she turned and saw Tenzin behind her and she gulped.
"You are in so much trouble young lady." He told her. "We're leaving, once I get Korra." he said walking down to the lower platform and Sora sighed and looked over the side and saw Tenzin confront Korra and both argued for a few minutes until the second round ended and from what Sora could see the argument did not end well for either of them as Korra stood on the lift and went back to the ring.
Tenzin returned to the locker room and Sora smiled slightly. "I take it Korra didn't want to leave?" she asked softly.
"No. What am I going to do with that girl?" Tenzin asked as the third round began and both watched and Tenzin rubbed his nose when he saw Korra pushed back to the third zone quickly while Bolin and Mako were pushed into a corner unable to help.
"How about you watch, I think your teaching has clicked." Sora told him as Korra began dodging the attacks from the opposing team like a completely different player.
"She's still in the game folks. All of a sudden the Platypus-Bear's strikes are only striking air!" the radio announcer shouted.
"How about that," Tenzin whispered softly while Sora smiled.
"Come on Korra, finish them off!" she cheered as the opposing team ran out of stamina allowing Bolin and Mako to get back into the match and they and Korra began knocking their opponents out of the ring one by one.
"Knockout! The Fire Ferrets come from way behind to steal the win!" the announcer shouted.
"Wahoo!" Tenzin cheered as Sora laughed causing him to blush and recompose himself before leaving the locker room, Sora smiled and once Korra, Mako and Bolin were in the locker room she hugged all three of them.
"You did great Korra," she told her friend who hugged back.
"Thanks Sora, for believing in me." She said.
"That's what best friends and sisters do Korra." Sora said, Korra nodded and began removing her gear and putting it back in the locker.
"So, I assume since Korra will be training with us, would you like to come and train with us as well Princess Sora?" Mako asked. "It would be nice to have a sparring partner."
"I would love to, Mako. Maybe you can teach me some new moves." Sora answered making Mako smiled.
"I would love too, and who knows you might teach me something as well." Mako said making Sora laugh.
"It would be my pleasure." She said while Korra smiled at their interaction, and soon both she and Sora were back at Air Temple Island and saw Tenzin with some Air Acolytes repairing the gates, Sora elbowed Korra slightly and she nodded and walked over to Tenzin.
"I'm really sorry, about everything I said. I was really frustrated with myself and I took it out on you." She apologised.
"I think I owe you an apology too. I tried to teach you about patience, but I lost mine." Tenzin apologised back.
"No hard feelings?" Korra asked.
"Of course not. By the way, you were really good out there tonight. You moved just like an Airbender." Tenzin praised her.
"Wait, you stayed and watched?" Korra asked.
"I did. Pro-Bending turned out to be the perfect teaching tool for you." Tenzin answered.
"I'll see you tomorrow for Airbending training bright and early, also I kind of permanently joined the Fire Ferrets and we're playing in a couple of weeks." Korra said as he ran off.
"Also, I'll be training with Mako to teach him some new moves and to learn from him." Sora said running after Korra and Tenzin sighed heavily.
As Sora and Korra ran to their rooms, Sora stopped and looked at the arena and smiled as she thought of Mako, not knowing that at the same time Mako was looking at the Air Temple through a window also thinking about Sora.
"They're perfect for each other." Korra thought catching her friend looking at the arena.
The end of the chapter
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