LES: This chapter has taken longer to write than I anticipated. But, having a stint of depression will do that to you. Sorry about that. But here you go...

Chapter V: Air

If there was one meeting with Korra's teachers that she was looking forward to the most, it was her meeting with her Airbending teacher, Tenzin. When she had first met Avatar Aang in the Spirit world, he had told her to insure that Tenzin went back to the South Pole to take care of his mother. She was going to pass on the message like Avatar Aang asked, but not before beating some sense into him.

Just like Avatar Aang had said, all the rumors she had heard pointed to Tenzin living with his family in Republic City, so that is where she traveled after she had Mastered Firebending.

Republic City was built on the Earth Kingdom continent, but it was considered official Air Nomad land, because Avatar Aang, the last (and first) Airbender had been the one to create the city, but people from all the nations had chosen to live there. It was a melting pot of many different cultures and Benders.

When Korra got her first look at the giant sprawl of buildings, the second largest city in the world, behind Ba Sing Se, Korra had gasped in amazement. She knew that Ba Sing Se was larger, but had never been there. She couldn't imagine how a city could be larger than the massive Republic city.

Her first thought was despair at the thought of having to find a single Airbender within the city. However, as she moved down into the town and began to ask around, she found that many people were well aware of Master Tenzin's presence within the city, and were only too glad to point her in the right direction.

Thankfully, almost no one could figure out that she was the Avatar. Avatar Aang had once found it impossible to hide his identity because there were no others walking around wearing Air Nomad clothing or bearing Airbender tattoos. But here, in Republic City, Korra found it much easier to blend in. There were so many Water Tribe women here that no one looked at her twice. The only thing that would give her away was if she bent either Earth or Fire, or entered the Avatar State.

Thankfully, there was no call for such extreme measures when she found Master Tenzin's house. It was quite a bit larger than the other houses in Republic City, but not as big as the palaces in the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, or Fire Nation. It was clear that Tenzin was probably used to living in luxury, thanks to his status as the Avatar's son.

She paused at the gate of the estate, staring at what was happening inside. A family was outside on the well-cared for lawn. The father and the son, both of them dressed in Air Nomad fashions, were practicing their Airbending together. Korra watched in amazement, rarely having a chance to see Airbending up close. All that she knew of Airbending came from her collective Avatar memories. In the shade of one of the trees, a woman from the Northern Water Tribe watched the scene with a smile on her face.

Most non-Water Tribe people would never be able to tell the difference between people from the Northern and Southern Tribes, but Korra knew the differences. The woman was definitely Northern Water Tribe. The sight of the Master Airbender caused a stirring within her; she could feel Avatar Aang just under the surface of her skin, gazing at his eldest son through her eyes. She allowed him this indulgence. Avatar Aang did not butt into her life that often, so she was willing to let him have this small moment of seeing his son. She felt Avatar Aang's gratitude as the feeling faded and Korra was herself again.

Korra took a deep breath and stepped into the estate confidently, walking briskly up to where Tenzin was.

When she was several feet away, Master Tenzin noticed her presence. He looked over at her, confused. "What's wrong? Is there something…?" Master Tenzin was not able to finish his sentence because Korra suddenly slapped him hard across the face.

The Northern Water Tribe woman sat up straighter. "Tenzin! What do you think you are doing?" She demanded Korra.

"Daddy, are you in trouble again?" The little boy asked as Tenzin continued to stare at Korra in shock.

"Okay…" Tenzin said slowly, rubbing his cheek where Korra had slapped him. "I admit that I was a little too free in my affections before I met my wife, but you are much too young to be one of my former lovers."

"Oh, you only wish that this was just about me being a spurned lover." Korra said. "My name is Avatar Korra."

"Ava…" Tenzin began, gasping in shock. "Are you really?" As proof, Korra bent Water, Earth, and Fire in quick succession, leaving no doubt as to her identity.

"Wow!" Tenzin's son gasped, amazed. "Daddy says that my Grandfather could also Bend more than one element, but I can't…"

"Meelo, go inside with your mother." Tenzin ordered. The boy stared at him in confusion, but obeyed when his mother came over and took his hand, leading him away. "We'll work on more Airbending this afternoon." Korra and Tenzin waited until they were back inside before he spoke again. "Okay, so you are the Avatar, which explains why you are here. But that doesn't explain why you'd hit me. I very much doubt my father would have asked you to do that."

"No, he didn't." Korra said. "The slap was from me."

"And how have I crossed you?" Tenzin asked.

"When was the last time you visited your mother?" Korra asked.

Out of all the things that Tenzin seemed to expect her to say, that seemed to be the last thing he expected. "Well, I write to her often… but I don't think I've seen her in years."

"Yeah, I know that part all ready." Korra said. "My Waterbending teacher and my Earthbending teacher both said that you left your mother after Avatar Aang's death and haven't seen her since. I grew up in the Southern Water Tribe, and I have seen the effect this has on Master Katara. She's sad and broken. How could you leave her in that state?" She demanded.

"You wouldn't understand…" Tenzin began.

"Try me." Korra said. "I'm the Avatar; it makes me sort of wiser than the average teenager."

"Okay, I'll try you." Tenzin said. "I hardly need to tell you that the Avatar lives a very rigid life. The Avatar is constantly under public scrutiny and much of his… or her time is devoted to doing things that will please the people rather than himself. But what you may not know is that this is the sort of life excepted of the Avatar's children as well, and we are as innocent in getting this destiny as the Avatar himself or herself." He paused. "The Avatar is the only one able to Bend all four elements and use the Avatar State, of course, but myself and my siblings were expected to excel in all the other Avatar duties as well. We had to be diplomats, mediators, and powerful Benders. I devoted myself to this life a little easier than my siblings did. I looked a lot like my father, and I was equal to him in almost every way except for raw power. It took my father dying for me to realize that I had turned into my father without even knowing it. I knew it the first time my mother looked at me after my father's death… like she could see my father in me. Without even realizing it, I had given up my individuality, and I couldn't stand for others to see me like that, or to see myself that way. So I left the Southern Water Tribe to begin my own life, to live life my way. I traveled and loved just like the Air Nomads of old… and then I met my wife at the Northern Water Tribe. We fell in love and settled down in my house here in Republic City. I have a wife, a son, and the people love me here. It is here that I am free of the shadow of my father and I am simply Master Airbender Tenzin."

"But… this beautiful house… you didn't get it because you were the Avatar's son?" Korra asked.

Tenzin shock his head. "Do you see that palace over there?" Tenzin pointed in the distance at a palace that dominated the sky-line. "They wanted me to live there when I first came because I was my father's son. But I refused, living among the common folk. I've made my own life bartering the skills of a Master Airbender. Being the only one in Republic City, I'm in high demand for those skills that require a Master Airbender to complete safely. I paid for this house myself, with my own money, and never once accepting any discounts because of my father."

"I guess you were right after all." Korra said. "I can't understand. I can't understand why you'd want to distance yourself so much from your father."

"I told you, it was like I was my father."

"Yes, and because of that, you completely cut Avatar Aang out of your life like he never existed." Korra said. "Didn't being the Avatar's son teach you anything about balance?" Tenzin didn't respond. "You went too far, cutting your father out of your life. You should have lived your own life while also acknowledging the things that your father did and the ways that you are like him. I can tell you for a fact that Avatar Aang wants you to live your own life, but he still wants you to accept him as your father."

There was still no response from the Airbender.

"So… now I will pass on the message that Avatar Aang wanted me to tell you." Korra said. "He wants you to go back to your mother. She probably doesn't have much longer left, and he doesn't want her last years to be miserable. He also wants you to reconcile with your mother, and he wants Katara to know her grandchildren."

Tenzin sighed. "You drive a hard bargain, Avatar Korra." He said. "Maybe there's a little something of my dad in you too."

"I've seen Master Katara, and I know that she misses you, not just your father." Korra said.

Tenzin sighed. "You Avatars… making things more complicated than they need to be. You could have just asked me to train you in Airbending. I will be more than happy to…"

"That was my second request." Korra said.

"I've made my decision." Tenzin said, turning around and heading into the house. Confused, Korra followed after him. "Gather your things. We're leaving."

Tenzin's wife stared at him, confused. "Leaving? Do you have to leave for you to begin the Avatar's Airbending training?"

"No. We're all traveling back to the South Pole to see my mother." Tenzin said. "Avatar Korra is coming with us, and she'll receive her training there."

Apparently, Tenzin's wife was just as confused as Avatar Korra was at Master Tenzin's words. "But you haven't seen your mother in years… you're going back now?"

"It's a request directly from my father." Tenzin said. "Avatar Korra is right about one thing… I haven't exactly been the best son in the last few years. Whether my mother sees me or my father when she looks at me is not the point. The point is that she needs me. So I will go."

"You're going? You are really going?" Korra asked, amazed that it had gone so easily.

"Don't thank me yet. You're Airbending training is going to begin on the way, and it will probably be one of the hardest elements that you've ever mastered."

"But I've all ready learned Water, Earth, and Fire."

"Exactly." Tenzin said. His wife and his son had joined them in the hallway, with their traveling things packed. Korra was amazed at how quickly they were ready to go. Perhaps it was Tenzin's nomadic heritage, and his wife had picked up on it during their marriage. "Well, Avatar Korra, are you coming or not?"

"Yes, Sifu Tenzin." Korra said, following after her new Airbending teacher.

LES: I was originally planning on ending it here, but if enough people want me to continue to, say… Tenzin being reunited with Katara, then I will. I'm not planning on doing a million extra chapters. Just one or two at the most