-Departure—

Korra opened the door to the twins' bedroom as quietly as she could. She tiptoed to the two beds and gently woke them.

"Korra?" Ahna said sleepily, "what's going on?" Akna was rubbing her eyes.

"I'm leaving, girls. There is something I have to do in Republic City. I was hoping not to go back for a while, but it seems I must return."

"You'll be gone, then? For how long," Akna asked, in the middle of a yawn.

"I don't know."

"It won't be forever, though, right?" Ahna asked desperately.

"I hope not. I really do. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for everything. You girls really helped me persevere through your dad's training. There were times when I felt like giving up and going home, but your acts of kindness made me want to stay strong and determined to continue. I owe a lot to you, for bringing me food and comfort on those days when I was just left outside to sleep, unable to move. And for taking care of Naga, my best friend. I couldn't have done it without you. I think I'm going to have to leave her here, which means I'll definitely be back." Korra smiled, and so did they.

Korra hoped she would come back. She hoped she would someday see these two girls again, and maybe even Uncle Tomkin, too.

Tomkin was sitting at his table drinking tea as Korra was quietly leaving.

"Sneaking out are we? Was my training too much for you?"

Korra was no longer afraid of this man. She let her bag on the ground and slammed her hand on the table. "Look. I spent the last year under your grueling training and never complained or quit or whined or anything. Have I really proven nothing to you, so little to make you think that I would give up now?"

Tomkin sniggered. "Relax, Korra. I understand these last few weeks have been different for you. You've probably been hearing things upon learning your ability to feel the cosmic energy. You feel you have to go somewhere and do something. I wouldn't expect anything different."

"I need to go to Republic City. I think something is there. I just don't know what yet, but it is bad."

"Fine, but may I suggest you return with stealth? It would be best if only one person knew of your return. I think the Avatar's presence might make any existing problems exacerbated. I am sure you can understand that. And you shouldn't have any problem keeping yourself unseen given your training."

Korra knew she would get around just fine. She realized how easily she would be able to traverse across building tops and scale walls and things like that. Her daily intervals during her stay with Tomkin involved getting through several obstacle courses, using the energy to predict attacks and traps. She even became excited thinking of Republic City as her playground now. Her new skills would allow her to anticipate anything before it happened. The patterns in the cosmic energy around her were like constants radars.

"Here," Tomkin gave Korra a cup with hot tea in it. "Have a seat. It's going to be a long journey, and who knows when we will meet again."

Korra wanted to leave immediately, but she saw that Tomkin was trying to reach out to her. Over the last few weeks he had changed how he acted toward her. Much the opposite from the demanding and brutal master he was during the physical phase of her training. He seemed nothing more than an old relative asking his niece to keep him company. She realized then how lonely it must get up here without anyone but his daughters and perhaps the occasional visits from Zheng.

Korra sat down and drank tea. It was strange spending time like this with Tomkin. She thought about it and came to the conclusion that she really knew nothing about him. It was only a night after arriving that he became the yelling, unfriendly, closed-off, unapproachable teacher, and that lasted over a year. That became her only opinion of him.

"This tea is good, Uncle. Thank you." Tomkin smiled.

"It is funny that you say those words, in that order. I have heard those words in the air, in the cosmic energy, spoken by a young man who, just like you, was trying to find his purpose."

"Did he ever find it?"

"I believe so."

"What will you do when I am gone?"

"I will spend time with my girls, just like before. Raising them, or, at least trying to. I learned a long time ago that treating your own children the way you treat your pupils is never a good thing."

"They are really great kids, Uncle. I couldn't leave without saying goodbye and thanking them for being so nice to me while I trained with you. I'm leaving Naga with them while I go. I don't want to have any liabilities when I return. She really seems to love those two."

"Yes, they are quite lovable children. I am proud of them. They have no hatred in them at all, no sorrow, only love. And that is why I cannot leave this place. They wish to spread their love, they believe all things deserve it. It is truly the most powerful thing we have as humans. Unfortunately, there are those in the city who would use them. I honestly believe Ahna and Akna would choose love over anything else. I have failed many times in my life, but they have even been there for me. I used to believe they were something strange. Now, I've been wanting to believe that they are truly human, and all the bad people in the world are the ones who have let go of what humanity should embrace."

"Uncle, what happened to their mother? To your wife?"

Tomkin became solemn. "She passed away. Only a year or two after the girls were born. I was very much in love with her, but that is the way things are. People flow into this world and sometime later on they drift away. Some earlier than others. I thought I had come to accept that. But when she was gone, I began listening to the patterns in the cosmic energy again. I spent days concentrating. I strained myself to filter out the signal contained within. Hoping, desperately, to hear her from the otherworld. Just her voice, her movements, or her touch. But something like that is difficult. You can feel the things around you, but to connect with someone beyond the grave can be impossible. I still try to reach her, just to hear her say something again. I guess…I never really accepted her death, then. I know I'll never come into contact with her again, but I don't think I'll ever give up trying."

Korra was saddened by this. Tomkin's love for his wife was so strong he was trying to stretch it beyond this world. She also believed that as long as the possibility was there, he would keep trying.

Korra had finished her tea and was deciding when she should leave. She had listened to Tomkin, and truly wanted to remain with him. He was her niece after all. She wished she had had this conversation with him earlier. She wanted to know him more. But there was little time.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Tomkin. I have to leave."

"Before you go I want to give you something."

Tomkin led her to his den and took out a piece of clothing. It was a shirt similar to the shirt she had always worn, only it was darker and had a hood attached to it. On the back of the shirt was an ornate design that looked very odd to Korra. It looked like a golden tree lining the spine of the back. The hood was dark blue with white stripes. "I have found that my face is completely veiled while wearing this hood. I am unrecognizable."

The shirt fit Korra. She wanted to wear a different outfit this time to prevent recognition, and this would work. The shirt was sleeveless. Korra's new attire consisted of sleeves that stretched up to her biceps, Tomkin's shirt with the hood, and slightly tighter pants tucked into more modern boots than her usual. Tomkin also gifted to her two short blades similar to the two she had trained with. They, too were lined with a golden trace, like the one on her shirt.

"Where did these come from, Tomkin?"

"There are many things I have learned in this world, Korra. One of those things is that, sadly, there is so much I will never know. The origin of these blades, for instance, as well as that hood. I have never seen anything similar in all my travels. No one can pin a designer who has ever made anything like these. The only thing I have to go off of concerning its origin is that it may not have even been made by our own human race. The designs seem to suggest a different style unheard of to any man or unknown in all of history. It truly is interesting to think what has come before our race."

Korra placed the swords in a sheath on her waist and prepared to leave, but hugged Tomkin before doing so. "Thank you, master, for everything you have taught me."

"I am proud to see what you have become. I am no longer a master, I see you as my peer now, Korra. As my friend." Korra smiled.

"I want you to know something. People have defined you in various ways, Korra. They will look to your bending, they will see you as an Avatar. You were born into that position, and that can get in the way when you try to identify yourself, but I tell you this. You are not now nor have you ever been defined by your bending. You are not defined by the Avatar or the Avatars before you. You are defined by Korra. Only Korra will determine the greatness you can achieve."

Beyond Mt. Nyst, a train was rolling through the valleys. Korra stowed away in the empty boxcar, and prepared herself for what awaited her in Republic City.