Chapter Two- Years Passed
KAI
"Korra, what do you think they're going to be telling us?" I asked my sister. She was seated across the table from me chomping down ferociously on some noodles.
"I don't know, Kai," she answered. She looked up from her noodles just long enough for me to see the look of worry in her eyes. "They've been talking to Kohl and the others for a while though. I'm not really sure what's going on."
I looked down at the noodles in front of me and forced them down. I was getting too nervous to eat. "Korra?" I whispered.
"Yes, Kai?"
"Do you think everything would be better if only one of us had been the Avatar. I just... I don't know what's going to happen. What do you think the people outside of the South Pole think about the world having two Avatars?" I asked. Korra always knew how to make me feel better.
She sighed and looked up at me. She twirled her noodles and thought for a moment. "You know, Kai. Life would probably be easier if only one of us had been the Avatar. But, I know that I wouldn't want it to be that way. Do you know how much harder life would be? Our situation has brought us together, but if only one of us had been the Avatar we probably would have been torn apart. I know things will be crazy, but we've always been there for each other and we always will be. So don't worry, okay?"
I was about to repsond to her when our parents and Kohl walked into the igloo. "Come here, darlings," mother called from the doorway. There was a look on her face that I'd never seen before. It was a mixture of sadness and relief. Korra and I did what we were told and we went to her. She took us in her arms and held us tightly. Father wrapped his arms around us too. After a moment we broke apart.
"Now, children, we have some rather interesting news for you," father said. "Let's all sit at the table." He added. The five of us went to the table.
Korra and I sat on one side, our parents sat on the other, and Kohl sat at the head of the table. I looked at the White Lotus' leader eagerly while Korra sat beside me with her arms crossed against her chest.
Kohl cleared his throat before speaking. "Kai, how would you feel about having a proper airbending trainer?"
Something inside me soared. I'd never learned how to properly bend air because the only family of airbenders was very busy in Republic City. We'd met Tenzin and his family a few times, but the meetings were always brief. "I would love that, Kohl!" I looked at Korra, but she was looking to the ground. Would she be able to go too?
"Excellent!" Kohl smiled at me and turned to Korra, "Now Korra, how would you feel about going to Republic City to get in touch with your spiritual side?"
Korra looked up from the ground, she looked uneasy, but she always accepted a challenge. "Really? I could go to the City too?"
Kohl gazed at her with a puzzled look. I knew that Korra had always been his favorite. He never liked to see her unhappy. "Of course! There is no better place for you to try and get in touch with your past lives and learn about why this may have happened. You both need to learn a thing or two from Tenzin."
Our mother spoke next, "We've made all the arrangements. Tenzin and his family will be here in a few days to take you to the city. We're going to miss you girls so much. We expect you to write us as often as you can!"
The next few days were a blur as we prepared for our transition to city living.
KORRA
It seemed like ages before we were finally left the South Pole and headed for the City. Tenzin, a very pregnant Pema, and the children showed us all around the island. We saw the area where we would be continuing our Avatar training and we got to explore the grounds a little. The strangest thing of all was that Kai and I had separate rooms. We'd always shared the same room for as long as I could remember. At least Naga was still in my room. Kai had her polar bear dog, Kala, in her room.
I was relaxing in my room when Kai entered. "It's time for dinner Korra. Be prepared, though. It's all vegetarian."
"Yuck," I stuck my tongue out and Kai laughed. She waited in the door frame for me to get off of my bed. Together we walked to the main dining room.
"Ah, girls, we've been waiting for you!" A very pleasant and plump Pema smiled from the table. The look on her face showed how starved she looked.
"Yeah, it's about time!" Meelo added. The little bald headed boy stuck his tongue out to add to his frustration.
"We're so sorry!" Kai exclaimed while we took our places.
Tenzin said grace before we dove into the meal. For vegetarian food it wasn't awful.
"So Tenzin, how is our training going to work?" Kai asked. The children had been chattering away and cracking jokes, but there was finally a lull in the conversation. I could tell Kai had been dying to ask that question.
"It will require a lot of hardwork, girls," Tenzin sighed. He was done with his meal, but Pema continued to eat. Meelo was playing with his food, Ikki was scolding him, and Jinora was paying close attention to her what her father was saying. "As we all know, this has never happened before in the history of the Avatar. We must try and figure out some kind of connection for the two of you girls." Tenzin glanced lovingly at his wife. "Sweetheart do you think you could take the children to prepare for bed?"
"Of course, darling," she smiled brightly at her husband. Then she looked to her children, "Come along, angels. We must get you ready for bedtime! Your father has a lot to discuss with Korra and Kai. Say goodnight to the girls, children."
"I don't want to go to bed! I want to stay and talk to the girls and find out what's going on and play with them and maybe braid their hair!" Ikki cried out. She was a spitfire.
"Me too!" Meelo decided. "'Cept, I don't want to braid your hair!"
"Ikki, Meelo, come on! Mother said we have to go and get ready for bed so we should," Jinora scolded the others. Luckily for Pema, they obeyed their older sister.
Tenzin began to speak to us once the others left. "I'm very sorry girls, but I can't begin your training tomorrow. There's a... situation going on in the City and I must work with the other council members tomorrow."
Kai looked at him with disappointment but said, "It's okay, Tenzin. We understand."
"Can we go to the city with you? I want to see everything there is! I want to meet the people that we are supposed to help. I'm sure Kai wants to go too," I added and looked at my sister for support. She faintly nodded her head.
"I'm sorry, girls, but it is far too dangerous for you to be wandering off into the city. There's a lot going on right now. If you want to do some exploring feel free to adventure around the island. I'm sure that the children would love to join you after their morning meditation," Tenzin replied firmly.
"What?" I cried out. In the South Pole we were confined to a small village. We were kept away from the other children to avoid any teasing or harrassment. However, in the city no one knew us yet. We would be fine. How could we do an Avatar's duty if we were confined to a small island?"
"I'm sorry, Korra. That's just how it has to be," Tenzin sighed. The three of us sat in silence for a moment. I glanced at Kai, but she was focused on Tenzin. I looked back at him too and then he spoke. "We will begin your lessons the day after tomorrow. I'm sorry to disappoint you girls. Go and get some rest." With that Tenzin was gone.
"Kai, this is so unfair. No matter where we go we're trapped in a cage," I muttered. I felt utterly deflated.
"Korra, you're being dramatic. We'll get to go into the city eventually, it just won't be tomorrow. There's still plenty of the island that we can look around. I'm sure there's great spots for you to water bend and for me to earth bend," Kai tried to comfort me, but it didn't work.
