Authors' Note: Thank you everybody for the wonderful reviews and favs! Hugs and kisses for you all! Glad you like my story so far and I hope to keep your attention longer!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Bryke...and LoK...then I'd have another Avatar series!

The next day, after swearing Tonraq and Senna to secrecy, the only other people that she allowed within the south pole to know about her intended proposal was Katara and Kya. Having heard the wonderful news, Katara promptly invited the young engineer over for afternoon tea. Sometime before that Asami trudged alone across the snow-filled streets of the Southern Water Tribe capital city. She and Korra had travelled here enough for her to get a good sense of the city's layout. Having an eidetic memory probably helped too. So it didn't take her long before she reached the small humble looking home of arguably the world's greatest waterbender and healer.

Like much of the members of the original team avatar, Katara was still a modern day legend. It was rumoured that in the prime of her youth, save for her husband (only because he could bend all 4 elements), the only other person that could have possibly given Katara a real challenge in a one-on-one fight was the famed Blind Bandit herself. Even then, such rumours were unconfirmed as nobody actually witnessed the two fight each other. Some poor stupid fools together perhaps. But never each other. It truly was anybody's bet who would win in such a situation. Not to mention she was the only living person apart from the Avatar who was known to have broken out of the hold of an accomplished blood bender. Asami always had the greatest respect for the woman. After all, Korra spoke of her with such fondness and love, having nothing but unadulterated adoration for the woman who had been a crucial figure in both her present and past lifetime. Spirits, just thinking about Katara's accomplishments over the decades was a monumental task in itself. Asami knew from her previous interactions with Katara that the older woman was also humble, never letting her influential position get in the way of the greater good.

So it was with much eagerness she looked forward to spending some quality time with Katara. After arriving at the front of the rather large ice hut, she knocked on the thick wooden door. She heard a muffled "Come in" and pushed the door open. As she shook off the snow from her boats and coat, she removed the winter fur and looked up in time to see Kya walk in to greet her.

"Asami, how have you been?" said the waterbender, gesturing for Asami to follow her towards the back of the hut. Asami smiled before returning the greeting, "I'm good Kya. Busy with work. The usual." Kya gave her a quick hug.

"Let me give you an early congratulation. I am so happy for you both!"

Asami laughed a little weakly, "Thanks, but I still have to ask Korra. And she still has to say yes."

A mischievous smile that was not unlike Bumi's made its way on Kya's lips. "Oh please. I wouldn't worry about Korra's response. Have you seen the way she looks at you? Like Naga does at a strip of hippo cow meat. If that's not true love, I don't know what else is."

That got a laugh out of both of them.

As Asami ducked under the bead curtain of the doorway, she passed the healing bath and therapy rooms. Her quick, intelligent green eyes took in the setting, and she couldn't help but feel a lump suddenly form in her throat. This place held so many memories for Korra, she knew. This is where her lover had struggled to come to terms with all her trauma. This is the place where she had come close to giving up, yet had somehow found the strength to not stop struggling. Asami averted her eyes back to the trim form of Kya as she continued leading the young woman up some stairs to the second floor of the hut where Katara and she resided. Asami wasn't sure at this point if she was ready to deal with all the emotions this place held not only for Korra but herself. It was at this moment, many years later Asami would recall, that she promised herself that as long as it was within her power, she would protect Korra from ever having to come to such places to heal any more physical or mental trauma.

Asami was broken from her train of thought as Kya opened a door down a narrow hallway. Stepping inside she called out to the elderly lady sitting near the open patio doors sipping a steaming cup of tea. "Mom, Asami's here," said Kya walking over to her mother. She bent down and placed a kiss atop her mother's white hair.

"Thank you dear," Katara said kindly. Despite her age, the trademark blue water tribe eyes focused intently on Asami who had held back a little, and she bowed down her head in polite greeting. "Katara. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long?" Asami asked. Katara waved her off, smiling. "Not at all. On the contrary, your timing has always been impeccable," she said while pouring a cup of tea for the non-bender. They slipped with ease into a comfortable pace of conversation. Katara had given her heartfelt congratulations, and listened intently as Asami spoke of how she was being guided by Tonraq to make the betrothal necklace. Asami had been sure to order some specialized stone-cutting and carving tools be sent to Future Industries southernmost headquarters. She had estimated her time carefully, as was fairly confident that with her (hopefully!) soon to be father-in-law's help she would be able to make good time in shaping the perfect necklace.

During a slight lull in their conversation both women sat facing the open patio doors, where the faint smell of the salty ocean along with a small bit of cold seeped in. Asami knew better than to suggest closing the half open doors. Technically this was spring time, and she knew most tribes people were more than adapted to the cold. Instead, she let the comforting presence of the woman who was like a grandmother to Korra, warm her up. And the tea helped too of course.

"Asami," Katara said after a while, gently putting her tea cup down.

"Yes Katara?"

"I wondered if you would humour an old woman's request?" asked the elderly woman.

Asami raised an exquisitely shaped eyebrow. "Oh?" she said, also putting down her tea cup. "I'd be more than happy to. What can I do for you?"

"Would you play a game of Pai Sho with me?" asked the master waterbender suddenly pulling out a board and a small case of pieces. "I heard you're quite the skilled player." Asami tried to school the look of surprise from distorting her facial features. Surely Katara must be joking? Another skill added to the elderly waterbender's fame was also her incredible Pai Sho mastery. It was common knowledge that Katara had spent the many hours at Ba Sing Se in General Iroh's tea shop learning and playing with the grand master and legendary strategist himself. What chance did she possibly have?

"Uh..."she hesitated a little. "Sure...?" Damn. That part wasn't supposed to come out like a question.

"Excellent!" said Katara, moving the tea cups and the pot to a side and making some space for the Pai Sho. She handed the required number of playing chips to Asami and with practiced ease both women quickly placed their pieces. It was at this stage that suddenly something caught her sharp eyes. Was that...? Hang on a second. Asami frowned, and Katara must have noticed her hesitation.

"Is everything alright Asami? I do believe you have the first move," said Katara taking a slow sip of her tea. Her crystal blue eyes looking unwaveringly at Asami's face. Asami bit her lower lip, as she usually did when she was thinking. "Well, maybe I'm wrong, but I thought the Pai Sho chips are almost always dark yellow coloured," said Asami slowly looking at Katara. She could have sworn she saw a twinkle in elderly waterbender's eyes. Maybe the lights were playing tricks on her. Nevertheless, Asami continued, "And while my ones are alright...I can't help but notice...that your lotus piece...is um..." she trailed off, suddenly feeling a bit stupid. Surely the colour of one single piece, albeit a piece that was known to have much significance attached to it, was over thinking on her part.

Katara inclined her head in a motion Asami knew was an unspoken gesture for her to continue. Asami swallowed, and said slowly, "It's purple." Katara smiled a little before answering, "Well, it's quite an old set. I've played with this board so many times, in so many places, I'm bound to have misplaced a piece or two. I've had to get replacements from assorted sources. I really can't keep track when or where. This mind has been growing somewhat feeble over the last few years."

Asami tried not to snort her tea. Now that she knew was a lie. Asami's intuition was fairly accurate and she was sure that there was something more that what met the eye. "Of course, I'm sorry. How silly of me." Inwardly the young CEO smiled. Two can play this game.

Asami made the first move. Katara moved her tile next. And over the next few minutes, there was no words spoken. Only the soft placing of tiles and the occasional sipping of tea could be heard as two extremely competent Pai Sho players undertook a silent battle that would be witnessed by no living eyes. There would be songs composed serenading their wit, no poems recited to commemorate their efforts, and no stories written to immortalize their actions.

Asami had been playing this game long enough to know when she was being baited. She could sense in the careful placement of Katara's tiles that she was being guided to place her own tiles in a specific location to maintain the harmony of her tiles. While she first bristled at being manipulated in such a way, and having lost the first round after one of the best games she had ever played (if she did say so herself!) she couldn't help but feel that Katara was holding back. Not because she was taking it easy on her...no...it almost felt as if Katara was trying to express something through the handcrafted Pai Sho tiles.

Asami was no fool. Since the White Lotus has come out of secrecy all those years ago, she was more than aware of the play made by grand masters and members alike as a method of identifying themselves without words. She had read all about that. So why did this feel something like that?

"Pai Sho is more than just a game," Katara said cryptically her eyes looking intently at the board. Something about those words got Asami's attention. They seemed so familiar...who else had said that before? Asami wracked her brain as she grasped at the thin tendrils of several memories trying to piece together her thoughts. And suddenly it hit her! She remembered now where she heard that phrase. When she and a certain Avatar had entered the Spirit Worlds years before on a much needed vacation and visited...oh of course!

The Dragon of the West himself.

This time Asami let herself play the pieces the way she knew Katara wanted her to. She didn't have to look up to see the sudden wide smile across Katara's aged face. Both women had long since put down their tea cups and in quick succession they put down tile after tile in an ancient shape that was almost the same geometry of the most famous symbol in their world's history.

Almost.

They have formed a lotus, but this one's design was slightly leaner that the White Lotus, and with a flourish, Katara placed her purple lotus tile in the middle of the intricate design. She finally looked up at Asami and put her fist and palm together before bowing her head slightly. Out of habit Asami returned the respectful greeting, her mind reeling at their intense game. It was only now she noticed the light sheen of sweat that covered her forehead. And...Spirits! Did the room feel hotter? Asami tried not to tug on the collar of her signature red jacket.

"Well done Asami Sato. Welcome...to the Order of the Purple Lotus."

The Order of the what now?!

"This isn't something you'll ever read about in the history books. I can assure you," Katara said readjusting herself into a more eased position. "Get comfortable my dear. You're about to learn something that has been passed down for over 1200 years and that too only every other generation at a time. Historically there usually only been 1 member of this Order...rarely has there ever been two simultaneously. You and I...we are part of a rich history. One that has been in existence long before that of the White Lotus itself."

Asami sat quietly, her mind reeling from everything that Katara said. But by the way Katara was looking at her, she knew the woman wasn't done yet. Katara continued, "The Order of the Purple Lotus is comprised solely of the Avatar's Chosen One. The one person that will be by the Avatar's side till the end of their days. He or she can be the Avatar's husband, wife, soul mate, and in some exceptional cases a very dear friend...anyone that was deemed by that current incarnation as their closest ally. It is a most delicate position, which is why almost all the Chosen One's have been usually restricted to the Avatar's soul mate."

Katara took a second to pause, making sure that the young non-bender was still following her words. "Asami, when I heard the wonderful news that you were going to propose to Korra, I knew immediately that I had found the next initiate for the Purple Lotus." The older woman reached across the table and placed an aged but warm hand on Asami's. Her voice was low, but still carried weight, "Being the Avatar's lover, is not enough."

Asami's pale cheeks coloured at that statement and she stammered "I...we're not...I mean that's not to say we haven't...but...really Katara I-"

Katara gently interrupted the blabbering Asami with a small squeeze to the hand. "Don't worry about that my dear. I was young too...I'm well aware of the temptations of the flesh. Such things are of no consequence at least here in the Water Tribe. In the cold winters, any warm body will do. And I know for a fact that the Air Nomads have never put any restrictions on love either. One's soul mate is a match not of the bodies but of the mind and the spirit."

Asami couldn't help but feel her eyes tear up suddenly. The wisdom and compassion of the old water bending master knew no bounds! "You know," Katara said her voice filled with warmth, "Korra never stopped talking about you the entire time she was recovering here. I know that she didn't write back to you as much as she would have liked, but she always kept your letters close. Whenever she talked about you or got a letter from you, there would be a spark in her eyes...emotion in her voice, that I feared had been lost since the poison wrecked havoc on her body. She didn't talk as much about Bolin...or Mako...but you..." now Katara smiled, and Asami felt herself blush once again, "She always talked about. She always said you'd be the one to understand her situation. She may not have realized it herself, but I knew, this Asami Sato that Korra kept bringing up must be a wonderful woman."

"I love her Katara. More than anything," Asami finally said, her voice thick with emotion...her eyes shining with unshed tears. While she was not completely sure of Korra's feelings, since the Avatar left for the South Pole all those years back, leaving nothing but an empty hole in her life, Asami suspected that hot-headed, smart, passionate, and beautiful young water tribe teenager had departed that fateful day with more than just her family. One of the reasons Asami had buried herself so much into her work was so that she didn't have to think how much she missed the Avatar...how much she craved to see her back in Republic City, in her life, and in her embrace. Korra had been the glue that kept Team Avatar together, and with her 3 years absence, they had all drifted in their separate directions.

"I know you love her...I love her too. In this lifetime and the one before" said Katara. "But I will not always be here, just like Aang. Eventually I too will have to move on from this life."

"No..please. Don't say that-"

"That is the way of life my dear. There's no point denying that. My time will come soon enough"

"But she still needs you Katara! You are her master!"

Katara gave Asami a smile that felt like it carried infinite wisdom. "No my dear. The world needs Avatar Korra. But Korra...will need you."

Katara leaned forward, "Korra may have lost her connection to her past lives, but now as a member of the Order of the Purple Lotus, you have access to chronicles and experiences of the Avatar's Chosen Ones. You can use their knowledge of the time they spent with the Avatar...learning about the world as much as they learnt about themselves. You can take all their wisdom...and their knowledge...and their experience and help guide Korra to become the Avatar that she wants to be."

Asami's eyes widened at that. What was Katara talking about? "I...Katara...I'm not sure what you mean."

Katara got up slowly, taking time to let her old knees adjust to her weight. She gestured for Asami to follow her.

"Come...it might be easier if I show you instead."

Woo hoo another Chapter out!

Thoughts? Critique? Things I should consider as I delve more in the world of the Purple Lotus?