I like the idea of 1-3k words with updates every other day or so, but let me know if you'd prefer longer chapters. Thanks for reading.
Asami and Korra waved Iroh goodbye as he faded into the fog. It was only a few seconds before he disappeared, but his slightly off-key melody lingered.
"That was unexpected," Asami said. "I've heard rumors about Iroh living in the spirit world, but I never thought he would be so...laid back."
"I guess drinking tea with peaceful spirits for fifty years will do that to you," Korra said, laughing. She jerked her head in the other direction. "C'mon, we're almost there! I promise we'll go anywhere you want after."
"Oh, all right. Show me whatever it is you're dying for me to see," Asami said, bumping Korra's shoulder half-intentionally as they set off.
"I don't just want you too see it," Korra said, bumping Asami back. "I want you to experience it."
"If there's any way for me to experience it other than seeing it, I'll certainly try my best, Avatar Korra," Asami said, nodding her head sagely.
Korra rolled her eyes, albeit with a slight smile on her lips. "Shoosh, you," she said. "Can't we get away from all that Avatar stuff for a bit?"
"Why? You're still the Avatar around me," Asami said. "Just because I've heard stories about your legendary belches from Bolin...and I know that your only friend growing up was a polar bear-dog...and I saw you spit off the side of the Pro-Bending Arena that one time...and-"
"Alright, alright, point taken," Korra said, interjecting. "I'm not the classiest Avatar ever." Asami giggled. "That's not exactly what I meant, though."
"Oh? Well, now I'm curious," Asami said. "What did you mean, exactly?"
Korra sighed. "I just don't want to be the Avatar while I'm on vacation with my girlfriend," she said, stumbling awkwardly over the last word. Korra felt her face get hot and kept her sights firmly set straight ahead of her.
Asami kissed Korra lightly on the cheek, leaving a faint trace of her red lipstick. "Don't worry," she said. "You won't have to be."
They continued on arm in arm, chatting occasionally, until the trees and haze of Xai Bao's Grove began to thin.
Korra pointed out a circle of flat land in the distance. "That's it," she said. "We're almost there!"
Asami looked up at two beams of light piercing the sky, and the colorful trails of flying spirits spiraling from them. "Those are the original spirit portals," she said. "We're not going back to the physical world already, are we?"
"Of course not," Korra said. "I wanted to show you the Tree of Time. It used to be pretty desolate when Vaatu was imprisoned there, but now it's lush and green and attracts all kinds of spirits."
Asami seemed impressed. Korra decided she would have to thank Jinora for the suggestion.
In the physical world, it would have taken them half an hour or more to reach the stony circle surrounding the portals at their leisurely pace. It seemed to Asami like every time she blinked, they teleported significantly closer. Her heart rate increased slightly and she felt a strange giddy energy trickling through her body. She became acutely conscious of the feeling of Korra's forearm brushing against hers as they walked.
Korra said, "Are you okay? You seem a bit tense."
Asami shook her head, trying to dispel her sudden nervousness. "I'm fine. This place is just very...strange."
"Whatever it is you're feeling," Korra said, "it's probably the same thing that attracts all the spirits here."
"Then I guess it can't be that bad," Asami said, putting on a brave smile. She desperately wanted to show Korra that she trusted her.
As they approached the Tree of Time, Korra and Asami marveled at the number of spirits around it.
"I've never seen this many spirits gathered in one place," Asami said.
"Neither have I," said Korra. "It must be at least a few hundred! I wonder what they're all doing here? There weren't nearly this many last time I came here."
"I don't suppose we could just ask," Asami said tentatively.
Korra thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "I guess it couldn't hurt to try." She approached the nearest spirit, a four foot tall owl-like creature with antlers and dark shimmering scales coating its wings. "Excuse me, can you tell me why all these spirits are gathered here? Is something happening?"
The spirit craned its neck to appraise them, then scoffed rudely. "Why am I not surprised that a couple of humans came stumbling in here, asking stupid questions?"
Korra threw up her arms in annoyance. "And why am I not surprised the first spirit we ask decides to be a big jerk about it!"
Asami knew Korra well enough to break up the staredown that ensued. "Come on, Korra, we don't need to start any fights," she said patiently. She tugged gently on her companion's arm. "We can just ask someone else, it's not a big deal."
Korra harumphed and started turning away from the spirit.
Before they could leave, the spirit said, "If you must know, today is the Day of Destiny. I am aware that you humans have pathetically short lifespans, so you probably do not remember. Before Vaatu was imprisoned here, this tree played many important roles in the lives of spirits and humans. For one day out of every century, the Tree grants visions pertaining to one's destiny...if it deems one worthy of the knowledge. Past, present, future...the Tree of Time can reveal all on this special day. It's been ten thousand years since the Tree has bestowed its infinite wisdom on us. Naturally, it drew a crowd."
Asami found this far more exciting than Korra, who was just irritated that he'd suddenly become so forthcoming after giving her attitude.
"That's amazing! Has it ever granted you visions?," Asami asked him.
The spirit jerked his head away from them and shifted his wings. "Obviously not," he said grumpily. "If I already knew my own destiny, I would have no reason to come here."
Korra said, "What are you doing all the way over here, then? Just go up and see if it'll work this time."
"I don't have to explain myself to humans," the spirit snapped. He spread his wings and took to the sky without another word, disappearing into the winding streaks of color around the portal lights.