I sit forward, trying to catch on a word that's intent on not being caught. "Nah, don't think I have." Least nothing my mind wants to chase anyhow even if I have. Mako will explain anyway.

As if on cue, Mako starts. "There's been a movement recently. Apparently a group of non-benders are getting fed up with syndicate violence."

I'm right there with them. After three years of ridding the bad ones, there always seems to be plenty more to fill their spots. I think of what ol' Toph said again and mentally take a note to cheers her again when Mako's through.

He bores on, "They've started with the Agni Ki's, taking 'em out one by one, but they're not the only gangs they've been targeting."

"I take it the police aren't inclined to do much. Doling out vigilante justice doesn't seem too bad to me."

He semi-nods, "You aren't too far off. They've been ridding us of a lot of issues as of late and can't say I'm not grateful to some extent, but you just can't have murders of 'innocent' people either. There have even been some innocents caught in the crossfire."

There's a pause. "Word on the street has been they aren't just gonna stop after they wipe out the syndicates."

I take that in, but it doesn't go down quite as smoothly as the whiskey in my hand.

"So, what exactly does that mean?"

"Not too sure, but it doesn't sound like anything I want a part of."

"Well, it ain't nothing that concerns me as of right now. I got bigger fish to fry."

Can't say his words didn't unsettle me, but it's the truth, I don't have time to be dealing with something that hasn't happened while I have larger things to worry about. It's partly the reason why I'm here to begin with.

I gulp down another mouthful of the firewater.

"How's the spiritual training going?" Mako makes true my earlier assessment. Once you've known a person long enough, it's easy to read their body language.

"Shit. But what's new?" It was more than that, but I don't talk about those times.

"Got word that my uncle from the Northern Water Tribe is coming down to train me after I rained down on Tenzin pretty hard." I feel pretty bad about it, if I'm being honest, but I gotta get past that block. Since Tenzin can't do it, then someone else has to. The Avatar's gotta master the spirity mumbo jumbo bullshit.

"So you're drinking cause you got word your uncle is coming into town?" I sigh. Mako knew it wasn't the full truth.

"'Course not, I'm just frustrated. I can't connect to my spiritual side and making to be a pretty shitty Avatar," I blow out a long breath, "on top of that, I can't get a handle on all these problems on the street. One minute, I think 'hey, I'm making my mark' and then bam, another comes and replaces him."

It all was supposed be like the movers. You take care of the bad guys, save the city, and then you live happily ever after.

Mako's not the comforting type, but he flashes me a small smile anyway. "You'll figure it out. But if it's any consolation, you've done a lot for the world." I give him an appreciative nod, but it doesn't sit right, so I wash it down with rest of the whiskey.

I fish out a couple spare bills, "Hate to cut this short, but I gotta be up early. Something tells me my uncle wouldn't appreciate me being drunk the first training session." Though I grin at the idea. Who says it won't help me connect with the spirits anyhow?

Mako waves my money off, "It's on me," He reaches over and we clasp arms. I faux salute him as I weave my way to the entrance. I push through the door and am greeted with the city air. Lemme tell you it's not the type you want to take a deep breath of.

I dawdle some and take the sights in before me. The establishment sits nicely on the cusp of Yue Bay. Light fog rolls off the water, spilling over into the streets. From the outside it seems like this ominous thing, but I'm completely at ease.

Might be because I'm lost in my own fog. They say like attracts like. Law of Attraction or some shit.

Anyway, my eyes find the statue of my predecessor. He stands valiantly overlooking Republic City, but all I see is how insignificant I am compared to him in any way you put it. Down to even the most literal sense. I laugh and it sounds ugly leaving my throat.

I attempt to spit the bitterness from my throat, but it ain't something you can wash down easily. I suddenly crave another glass of whiskey.

My eyes move onto the city itself. It basks in rich, golden light. The skyline is most glorious at this time, I decide. It's like something you'd send in one of those postcards to those relatives you barely even remember the name of.

"It's pretty isn't it?"

I nearly leap out of my skin. It'd been a minute since someone's got the jump on me.

A pretty sound reaches my ears and I realize I'm being laughed at. I turn, angry. I don't like being made a fool, but it whatever words I have instantly die on my tongue.

I don't think years of training for this moment would have prepared me for the dame before me. Her beauty hit me square in the chest, leaving me damn near breathless. Maybe I got the meaning "if looks could kill" all wrong.

She's the type of beauty people wrote about and sculptors tried to perfect. Thing is, there aren't words that fit right or ways to capture it.

It wasn't fleeting per se, but you could compare it to seeing mountains for the first time. Majestic, glorious, and everything a picture couldn't capture and what words couldn't describe.

She's one of those things you'd have to experience first hand, and try as you may, never conjure words to give her justice.

She peers at me curiously with languid eyelashes of velvet black, but I'm rapt in the deepest of greens. I force my eyes away, but I'm drawn to her face like magnet.

Maybe it's the warm glow from the city brightening her face, revealing delicate and superbly polished features. Or maybe the way moonlight dances in her lustrous black tresses. Or it could be her puffy, heart shaped lips.

With the fog surrounding us, I'm half convinced she's a siren ready to take me under. I'm not opposed to the notion though. So I nod again in favor of not saying something stupid. She studies me for a moment and I fight to not to fix my appearance.

The moment ends quicker than it came and her gaze returns to the bay. If she knows me, she doesn't show it. I watch her as her focus glazes over, replaced with a wistful look. That's the thing about these dames—they don't realize every look they make could warrant some sort of modeling contract.

"What do you see when you look out into the world?"

The question takes me off guard, but I recover and let it roll over in my mind for a couple seconds. I find my voice.

"I see all sorts of things normally, but as of right now, I see how I just don't matter. What's that fancy word people use?" I lick my lips and find the word. "Insignificant."

I feel her tense for a moment. Guess I said the wrong thing. I scramble to explain.

"As you can probably guess, I'm not from these parts. I used to have this image that Republic City was the greatest thing. Everyone had it good sort of thing. But, from day one in the city and since, I've been slapped with reality."

I pause, trying to find words and she's patient.

"I saw how messed up things are. I wanted to be the one to fix it. Hero stuff, y'know? It's taken a good while, but I realize everything I've done so far hasn't done a damn thing."

She doesn't say anything and I don't expect her to. Nobody ever liked a whiner anyway. You just don't say shit like that to a stranger. Maybe the whiskey got the better of me.

To my surprise, she faces me again. She opens her mouth to speak, but whatever words she was going to say are forever lost due to a Satmobile approaching. The windows so black I can't see within.

She gives me a small smile. I'm not the master of reading body language, but it seems almost sad.

"Guess I gotta go," she says. I tip my cap, not sure how to respond.

She walks away and begins to open the door. My brain finally catches up to me.

"Wait!" She stiffs up like I blasted her with ice. "I never caught your name."

She relaxes and sends me a genuine smile this time. I'm convinced she's an airbender the way she has left me breathless not once, but twice. She flips her hair, wind whipping it gloriously, and I have no doubt. She winks as the door closes and I watch the Satomobile place distance between us.

Well, that was fucking weird. I didn't take myself as the type to drive women away. Guess I can't make fun of Tenzin anymore for not being the most suave.

I take a moment to collect myself, but embarrassment goes down as smooth as bitterness. My next bet is to wash it off, so I run furiously fast toward the water and dive in.

I torpedo out of the water and land rolling on to Air Temple Island. I revel in the small feat of airbending the water out of my clothes. At least it was one thing I could do right.

I glance back at the city wondering who that mystery girl is. Chances are I'd never see her again, but I'll damn sure try.

Doesn't take me too long to retreat into my quarters. Not like before anyway. I used to get lost in the seemingly never-ending hallways of the Air Temple. But just like anything, once you do something enough times, it becomes easier.

After a quick shower, I lie in bed staring into the ceiling. Maybe I am a nobody. Can't even get me a name from a pretty broad. I turn over in a huff and eventually find sleep.

I wake to a loud bang and I instantly wake. I throw the covers off and ready myself to attack.

"MEELO!" I hear Tenzin yell. Shit. It's just the kid again. I blow out a long breath and run a hand through my hair.

I shake the adrenaline and wander into the hallway. Mess didn't quite fit the destruction I uncovered. One of these days, I really should hand it to my mom for dealing with me as long as she did.

I fix what I can and head to the kitchen. Smells of breakfast waft in my face and a hunger hits me unlike before.

"Good morning, Korra,"

I wave at Pema, Tenzin's wife and the woman I've dubbed as my second ma. I knick a biscuit and shove it into my mouth. "Mrnin'," I say through stuffed cheeks.

I can't decipher if she's disgusted or amused, so I settle it's a solid both. It looks funny on her soft, slightly aged features. With surprising strength, she slaps my hand from grabbing another biscuit on the tray.

"You can wait," she says with a shaking finger of disapproval, but her smile betrays her.

"But—"

"Breakfast is about to be served. Your uncle will be joining us."

"Well, this outta be fun," I say as I grab some plates to help set the table. I hear my adopted siblings shuffle in before I actually see them. They're the type that's hard to miss really. Unless you're deaf and blind that is, but even then I don't think you could miss 'em.

I feel gusts of wind kick up from all directions as they fly in. And I mean that in the most literal sense of the word. Just like everything else though, I got used to it pretty quick. Might cause a startle if you're a stranger though, and I hear one yelp to know that's happening with my uncle.

I chance a look in his direction and I could pretty much sense the annoyance from here as he fixes his navy pinstripe suit and tie.

Northern Water Tribe members never spared a dime in regards to appearance. I never saw the need to be spick and span every second of every day, but we southeners are a humble group and only dress fancy when necessary. Just another one of those things that set us apart.

"Hello, Korra," Unalaq greets.

"Heya, uncle. Good to see you." It's partially true. I'm not particularly close to him, you see, but I am anxious to get the ropes of this spirit stuff.

I find my seat on the ground and wait for everyone to take their spots. Jinora, the eldest of the three kids, sends smiles a warm hello my way and grabs her usual seat next to me. I hear Ikki flapping her yapper at the end of the table to Meelo while gesturing to my uncle.

I catch bits and pieces, but it doesn't interest me enough to pay attention. I still chuckle some fondly even though they can be a handful. My uncle sits before me as Tenzin and Pema stride in.

We pay our respects to the spirits and start eating before getting into real discussion.

"Korra, I hear you're still unable to connect to the spirit world. Is that true?" Unalaq asks, but I know it's a jab to Tenzin. Airbenders are supposed to be the ones most spiritually connected. I feel Tenzin tense from across the table.

But I can't deflect the question after all, that's why he's here. I sigh and do what I can to salvage his good name.

"Tenzin's done a lot for me here. He got through my thick skull to teach me airbending, but maybe I have a limit on only mastering one frustrating thing at a time."

Guess I wouldn't cut it as a comedian. My jokes aren't funny enough for my uncle, but at least I got the rest of them laughing. Tenzin shoots me a grateful smile and I could tell my words genuinely warmed him some. I'm glad.

"As the Avatar, you are the bridge of the two worlds. It's your duty to master your spiritual side—" He drones on, but I don't take kindly to people, even family, undermining my previous masters.

"And that's why I've asked you to come," I cut him off hotly. He gets the hint and backs off. A smart man knows when he's treading on another's territory, and my uncle is far from dumb.

"Of course. We will begin your training here for the time being, and once I feel you have a strong grasp, we will visit both of our homes."

I pipe up at that.

"Not that I'm not happy about going home, but why?"

"There's spiritual areas that have been neglected for far too long and have thrown the world out of balance. I'm sure you've seen it firsthand here." He gestures to the window and towards the city.

"Sure, but I don't see how fixing old spiritual areas is gonna affect the people here." I say unconvinced.

"Negative energy can affect all, Korra," he replies as if the answer was sufficient enough, "but first, we need to begin here at the place where it festers the most."

Jinora shifts some, offering me a side-glance. "He's not wrong exactly," she whispers, "the spiritual energy really is wrong here."

I make a mental note to ask her more about it later, but I simply nod in response.

"We shall open up our home to you as long as you need, Chief Unalaq," Tenzin says, but I know he's not happy about it. If my uncle notices, he doesn't say anything.

"I appreciate your hospitality, Tenzin, but there's no need. I have made arrangements with the Councilman Tarrlok and he's graciously provided me with a place to stay."

Seems like it didn't get past him, but as I said, my uncle is a smart man. Can't say I'm not relieved some by his words.

After more forced conversation, we finish breakfast. The kids made out of the room in a flash once they finished helping with the clean up. I face my uncle and he gestures for me to follow. I match eyes with Tenzin and he catches my bye for now.

I stay a pace or two behind my uncle until we get outside. It's a sunless day and yet it's almost brighter nonetheless, so I shut my eyes to a near close.

He leads me to the water and stops so abruptly that I nearly knock into him. I mumble my apologies but all he does is give me a blank stare in return. It's an unnerving sort of thing that makes your skin crawl in uncomfortable ways.

I avert my eyes and take in my surroundings and there's a whole lot of nothing other than the bay that eventually runs into the city.

"Take a seat, Korra," he directs as he fans his hand toward the sand. I plop down and he fashions himself a spot next to me. I keep my questions to myself for now, giving him time for explanations.

"Do you have any idea why I've lead you here?"

I take a look around, trying to find clues but come up with little.

"To be close to water?" It's a stupid answer, but I'm no detective or mind reader. I let out a sigh. I know he's gonna want a more detailed answer, so I get my mind to work.

"We're facing the bay. I can see Aang's statue from here along with the city in the backdrop. You said we gotta focus on Republic City since it's filled with negative energy," I point to Aang's statue, "and maybe that's to connect me with my past lives."

He nods, happy with the answer it seems. "Why do you think I want you close to the water? How will that help?"

I was never one for school and it sure does feel like five all over again. I draw a blank and it shows.

"Water is the element of life and change. It can cleanse, give clarity, enable growth, and represent change. In order to master your spiritual connection you must understand this. Now use this knowledge to answer my question from before."

I think hard for a moment. Clarity. Cleansing. Growth. I connect the dots.

"If Republic City is impure as you say, then I gotta act as the water to cleanse and change to allow the city to grow." Unalaq beams.

"Precisely."

"No offense, that sounds nice and all, but I don't know how to do that. Been trying to do that since I've been here." I hear the defeat in my voice and hate the way it sounds.

"My dear niece, that's precisely why I'm here."

A/N: Korra, you're a dork in every fic. Comments, follows, and favorites are appreciated. Love to hear from y'all.