The Woman in White
Red Queen
Chapter 2: Cherry Tree
"You saw the woman in white?" Korra turned the lamp on. "Are you sure?"
Iroh nodded. "Yeah, it was in a dream there was other things." Iroh shook his head. "I-I can't remember anything else but she was there. She said it wasn't over. Do you think the cures is still in effect?"
Korra patted his arm. "The curse, it's over, we broke it." She kissed his cheek. "Go back to bed my love, we've got a long trip tomorrow."
Iroh sighed. "Yeah, about that. Kor I feel I need to take a small trip."
"Something calling to you?"
"Yeah, something like that." Iroh kissed her. "Can you take the kids back to the Fire Nation? I'll be only a few days behind you."
Korra nodded. "Sure, Sona's got to get back to school and I think Atem's coming down with something." She curled back up in the blankets. "You'll take Naga with you right?"
"Like I could leave her behind." He petted the polar bear dog sitting lying by the side of the bed. "Babe, make sure Mako goes with you, I hate it when he becomes a mother hen."
Korra turned over to look at him. "You're going without security? Honey you're the Fire Lord, you need protection."
Iroh gave her a smile. "I can take care of myself. I'm not going into enemy territory I just need to check something. It's important but not life threatening."
"Better not be. Goodnight dear, love you."
"Sweet dreams, love you."
.o.
Mako about had a heart attack when he realized Iroh wasn't with them on the ship. "What do you mean he's got stuff to do!? But I'm not with him! I'm his bodyguard! I need to protect him! What if he gets assonated? Or hurt? Or lost!?"
Korra crossed her arms. "He's an adult Mako, he can take care of himself, and he's got Naga. She'll protect him if his bending can't."
Mako pouted and stroked his beard. "Fine, but I'll stay in the city and wait for him to show up and go home."
Asami rolled her eyes but gave a defeated shrug to Korra. "We better let him do it. He'll be nothing but a nervous wreck if we don't."
Korra sighed. "Fine, stay here and keep an eye out for Iroh. You can stay in the Embassy."
Mako nodded. "Thank you your highness."
.o.
There was a small town in the north of the Republic. Iroh found a flower vendor and bought the most beautiful bouquet he could and some incenses before taking Naga further north. No one bothered him or asked questions they just gave him knowing looks.
The actual battlefield of The Massacre at the Colossus had barely been touched since the last body was taken away, however, someone had placed a small granite monument at the highest point of the area. Iroh passed the monument and led Naga to a cherry tree at the edge of the battlefield. Iroh put the flowers at the foot of the tree and set up the incenses lighting each. He bowed in respect before sighing.
"I know it's been too long and I should have come back here long before this…. and I know I could just talk to your newest incarnation but." Iroh sighed. "Sometimes I wish I could just take to you my dearest Korra." He looked around. "Or maybe I just needed some peace and quiet. This place is nice so peaceful, you deserve this." Iroh looked down at his feet.
"So what do you want to talk to me about?"
Iroh looked up to see Korra leaning against the tree dressed in a ragged white dress. "How? Aren't you Mi'tem?"
"Well yes but you never asked why you could see Ming while Korra was alive. Nor do people ask why Aang could talk to Roku."
Iroh shook his head. "Reincarnation is confusing."
"It is, think of me as an echo of Korra, I'm her but I lack the substance of the real thing. You can still talk to me." She smiled. "If you think it can help." She sat down. "Come sit, tell me what is weighing on your mind so much you came all this way to talk to a bunch of bones."
Iroh nodded sitting down; Naga curled up next to him placing her head on his lap. "I saw the woman in white again, she said it wasn't over. That wouldn't of happened to be you would it?"
The echo shook her head. "Did you tell Mi'tem?"
"I did she seemed unconcerned. She's not the Avatar anymore and she's concerned with many things but-"
"She no longer cares abut the world." The echo frowned. "That's unfortunate but I didn't care much nearing the end either I guess that was passed on."
"I don't blame here. Most of the world hates her. She cares about her children, the Fire Nation, and the history of the nation."
"I see…that sounds like me." She looked up. "You know it's such a nice day today shall we talk about something nice? How is my Sona doing? Can you tell me about her?"
Iroh gave a small smile. "I would love to tell you about her."
.o.
Korra felt more at ease back in the palace even if she was tending to an ill child. Atem had run a low fever and now she was carrying the poor babe to his room. The boy whimpered a little as she hummed to him. Korra glanced at one of the mirrors in the hall and caught the wrong reflection. The reflection leered at her.
"If you were the Avatar you could've healed him you know. He'd be happily playing with his sisters right now if you were me."
Korra ignored it and kept walking.
"Ignoring me now? Brave but you can't push me away forever Fire Lady. I'm in your head, Mi'tem, in your very skin. You'll never be rid of me!"
Korra paused for just a moment. There was something familiar about the way the reflection spoke. She put Atem to bed and readied a wet clothe for his forehead. She placed it on his head and paused for just a moment. She placed her hand on the cloth and tried her bet to remember how to heal with water bending. After a moment she felt silly. Making sure Atem was comfortable, she sat in a near by chair and started to read. She kept an eye on him all night.
The guards found her asleep in her chair with a book in her hands.
.o.
A/N: I would like to give a shout out to JBS2294 who gave the basis of the idea in their comment on the Girl in Green, you can check it out but be warned there be spoilers in that comment. Speaking of Comments please do so if you feel so compelled ~C.C.
