Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Korra and I do not claim so.
As a side note - I named Toph's ability to see with her feet 'Beifong's Echo'. Initially I simply needed that for description, when I had no idea how to refer to it. But it makes sense to me, that this talent would get a special name of its own, so I stuck to that. Enjoy reading!
Chapter 1: 'Off she goes!' (part 2)
"I will miss this place," thought Korra, entering dining room. Floor made from light wood, walls covered in draperies and tapestries, representing art and symbols of all four nations and many small, rectangular tables spread in seeming chaos. This place looked more like an expensive restaurant than military canteen, that it used to be ten years ago. Korra even remembered this place vaguely before re-stylization, as she was eating her meals here, when she was a child. Back then, entire complex was rather stark, since it used to belong to Southern Pole's army. But then Honna happened. That was a memorable day, when this elderly woman came here and forced White Lotus' guards to literally redesign entire complex, to suit her aristocratic taste.
Korra smiled internally, remembering total chaos that followed her arrival. She could even recall that Katara was the one person particularly opposing that sudden change, but then professional cooks were drafted in and, with the first bite of their food, her complaints were gone.
Korra put some lobster and steamed vegetables on her plate, from the big table at the right side of the room. She started to think about matching sauce intensely to hide her nervousness. Masters' attention was now focused entirely on her and she could just feel their looks on her back.
When she finally made her world changing decision, Korra headed towards table at which they were sitting in their standard layout: Shailesh on the one side with Honna opposite to him and Katara on her left, leaving seat next to earthbender free.
"Well, well, am I glad that you have honored us with your presence, Your Avatarness," Honna's sarcasm was surprisingly not unpleasant today.
"I guess I can do this little for a humble citizens of my world," said Korra, as seriously as she could only muster, earning firebender's smile in return and sitting down.
"Ungrateful child," Shailesh continued joke. "We sacrifice so many years of our lives to train her, and she can hardly find a half an hour to eat a meal with us!"
Korra's almost lost her calm, feeling guilt filling her heart.
"And I will leave you without saying goodbye…" She thought, before she could stop herself.
Shailesh sensed her reaction immediately.
"Ooops. Not funny?" he asked apologetically.
"No, no," Korra waved her hands in denial. "I just…"
"Convincing lie, convincing lie, quickly…"
"You are just right. I used to avoid meals, after hard trainings just to not see you. When I was angry at you. But you were just trying to help me…" she said, having hard time phrasing her thoughts.
"This is not a lie, brain…"
"For the Earth, don't sweat it, really. When I was your age I tried to run away from Toph, when she was too harsh for me," Shailesh teased her even more.
Korra's heart almost stopped beating, but before she could even start thinking about answer, Shailesh jumped on his chair and fell over with it, making loud clatter.
"Ooops," murmured Honna and the air got filled with the subtle smell of ozone. "I did not mean that, promise."
"You have kicked and electrocuted me, you old hag!" earthbender raised from the floor, completely ignoring White Lotus guards staring at him.
"Call me that one more time, and I will show you what 'electrocute' mean in my book," Honna looked at him with a stare so utterly scary, that man could barely suppress laughter. She couldn't resist his good mood and chuckled a little herself. "I will really do that, you handsome beast."
Korra was too afraid to even sigh, but it seemed, that her masters' attention averted from her person, so she started to eat, listening to Honna and Shailesh arguing mockingly, alternating between threats and flirting. Katara, who never excelled at joking, has never even tried to join their conversation, when they were in such a mood.
Korra ended her meal, as quickly, as she thought it would not be suspicious and rose from the table.
"See you tomorrow, masters," she said.
"Going already?" Shailesh mocked disappointment and Honna kicked him once again. "Yes, yes Avatar. See you tomorrow."
Korra left the dining room, accompanied by next masters' argument, this time about one pea, that was lying on the tablecloth, at seemingly neutral territory.
"How dare you suggest, that I have wasted food?!"
"Well, you can technically still eat it, you old hag."
"It. Is. Not. MINE!"
"For the Ocean, sometimes it is hard to believe, that they really are bending masters."
Korra exited the building and found out, that the sun has almost completely disappeared behind the horizon.
"It is almost time."
She was starting to feel guilty about the escape, but she has already made up her mind. Masters would not let her go to the Republic City, no matter how many times she has asked for that. And Korra saw no way of progressing further, as the Avatar, without airbending. Leaving was the only option.
Her heart filled with determination and excitement, when she entered her house.
"Now waiting," Korra took off cloak and sat on the floor in the Lotus position.
After around two seconds, she started going crazy from impatience.
It was the new moon today, so when Korra finally exited her house, six hours later, the complex was almost completely dark, except for torches on walls and few other key points. Korra called upon her waterbending and started walking on the surface of snow covering ground, without leaving a trace behind her.
She sneaked between buildings, quickly getting to Naga's shed, that was just next to the wall. Careful not make any unnecessary noises Korra slipped through the door. Polar bear dog woke up immediately and got excited even faster, growling quietly and squirming.
"Calm down Naga, calm down," Korra whispered quietly, putting hand on her head, managing to silence her.
She got animal out of the wooden building and took her behind it. There, under a thin cover of ice, was a tunnel, that Korra has dug secretly a night before. It led directly on the other side of the wall and was big enough for Naga to squeeze into it. It took a roasted fish, however, to convince her to do so.
Korra emerged on the other side and checked, if any guards were near. She could see only one, but he was far away and during the darkest night of the month, he should not be able to see her. Girl dragged her polar bear dog out of the hole in wall and she was just intending to jump on her, when…
Ring of golden flames appeared in air, casting almost blindingly bright light around her. One of the bigger snowdrifts disappeared suddenly and Korra's heart almost stopped, when she caught a glimpse of five shadowy figures, that were hiding under it just a second ago.
"Going somewhere, Avatar?" Shailesh's voice was full of self-satisfaction.
Her eyes slowly accommodated themselves to light and she saw them. All of her masters were there. But aside from them…
"Mom? Dad?" Korra started to think that all of that was just a very weird dream.
"Yes, honey," Senna's voice was much happier, than girl would expect, given the circumstances. "We came to say goodbye."
"Goodbye? But… What? How did you…?" Korra was completely confused, but then her mind started to piece facts together. "You knew I wanted to escape?!"
"For the Sun, of course we knew, silly girl," Korra didn't see it, but was sure that Honna rolled her eyes. "You were behaving in really suspicious manner lately. Besides, Shailesh had seen, that you have packed yourself."
"You were spying on me?" girl asked earthbender shocked. Shailesh sent her wide smile.
"Of course I did. One can't really turn off his Beifong's Echo," he didn't seem ashamed in any way, shape or form about the fact, that he had infringed her privacy.
"Wait, does that mean that you were peeking at her, when she was naked?' Tonraq's voice was really cold, but with a slight cheerful undertone.
"We are all naked to him. Constantly," Katara laughed.
Korra, that was already pink on her cheeks, blushed even harder. He looked on Shailesh and he nodded, smiling so widely, that his grin almost left the contour of his face.
"Don't be ashamed. It is quite a pleasant vi…" He barely dodged the mix of water and lighting that sliced the air, when older masters attacked him in unison.
Korra's cheeks were on fire now. She had to say something, anything to change topic of this conversation. And one question emerged as a good candidate.
"Are you not angry, that I am trying to leave?" girl asked, facing Katara. "When I was asking you about airbending, you were always saying, that I can't leave Pole, until I master fire, earth and water."
"Well, you are right, I have said that, indeed. But it was a little lie of mine. There was simply one other test, that you had to pass."
"Whaaa…?" Korra's night was full of surprises.
"Yes," Senna smiled to her warmly. "Ask your perverted master about it."
"'Perverted'?! Oh, excuse me. Can't man give one adult compliment to his apprentice?" Shailesh seemed completely unaffected by recent attempt on his life. Korra looked at him with anticipation. "Yes, you see, I have figured out a funny test, that were to decide, whether we let you go or not…"
"Considering the fact, that half year ago, it became apparent, that we cannot teach you anything more," Honna interrupted him.
"Yes, considering that," Shailesh nodded. "You see, I convinced other masters, that we will let you go, if, and only if,… you will defy us directly."
Korra found it hard to believe, what she has just heard. After all this time when they demanded absolute obedience, now they…
"You see," Shailesh continued. "World doesn't exactly need the Avatar, that obeys everything, what other people say. And if you were to tell us, colloquially speaking, 'to go fuck ourselves', it would be kind of proof, that you have finally stopped being child and became mature enough to make your own decisions."
Korra just stood there speechless, with utter shock showing on her face.
"Do not get the wrong impression," Honna said with a serious voice, wagging her finger at the girl. "You may be mature, but you are still inexperienced. And stupid, honestly. There is long way before you."
"Don't be so harsh on her," Katara laughed.
"Yeah, don't be," Senna seconded her. "She will surely learn quickly."
"Hopefully," added Tonraq.
And they have all started to laugh. Korra still confused, suddenly felt all kind of emotions filling her. Gratitude, happiness and love. She jumped forward, grasping her mother in a hug, and Tonraq quickly joined them.
"I love you so, so much," Korra started crying. "I will be writing and visiting you as often as I will be able to."
"Don't think about us now," Senna brushed her daughter's hair. "You are starting a new stage in your life. Focus on it now."
"Yeah, go and save the world or something," added Tonraq.
When her parents finally let go of her, Korra turned to her masters. They stood next to each other, smiling. The Avatar bowed to them deeply, deeper than ever before, and they answered with the same.
"Thank you… all, for all these… years," Korra had problem with speaking.
She came closer to Shailesh and hugged him. She has been dreaming about this for years, but now it had nothing to do with girl's infatuation.
"You were the coolest master I could have asked for," Man chuckled a little bit, patted her back and pushed her away gently, so that he could look her in the eyes one last time.
Girl turned to Honna.
"And you, you were the hottest master I could have dreamt about."
Old firebender burst into laughter, losing her composure for a second. She quickly regained it and coughed two times, covering her mouth with hand.
"Thank you very much, Avatar Korra. It was a fruitful collaboration, indeed." she answered calmly and embraced girl quickly, trying to avoid looking girl in the eyes. Single tear, unseen by everybody, rolled down her cheek.
And then came Katara's turn. Old master was not even trying to hide her tears.
"The time has come for you to find your own way, Korra." old waterbender was faltering a little bit. When Korra embraced her, she seemed very fragile. "Please, do your best as the Avatar, but do not forget to care about yourself a little bit too. Aang… He had problems with that…"
She started sobbing so hard, that she could not speak anymore. Korra tightened her hug and Honna patted her friend's back.
"I won't, I promise," girl released oldie and walked towards Naga.
One last time she turned in the direction of five people, who were dearest to her and bowed once again, to which they replied with the same.
Korra mounted Naga and pricked her with gentle touch of feet. Polar bear dog run straight ahead, carrying the Avatar towards her future.
Spirits, I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a review if you feel like it, I want to know what do you think about that.
If you don't mind I will probably leave some commentaries to the chapters here. It will be something like that: Is it not strange, that Korra's masters are barely mentioned in the original story? She spent like a decade with them and then she just runs away and we never hear about them later, aside from Katara.