Chapter 22
Korra and Asami decided to visit their friends at the fair. When they arrived, Korra quickly noticed that the brothers were playing some game at the fair. "Mako, Bolin," greeted them Korra
"Oh hey Korra. Do you know who are those two lovely ladies?" asked Bolin as he pointed to the twins
"That's Desna and Eska, my cousins. Desna is a guy," mused Korra
"Are you trying to ask Eska out?" asked Asami
"What? I am a teenage boy, and I would love to be with some girl. I even feel jealous seeing you two being so happy together," spoke Bolin
"What about Opal? I thought you two had a connection?" asked Asami
"Oh no, I mean Opal is nice but she has four brothers. Anyway, wish me luck," spoke Bolin as he went to speak with Eska.
Korra grinned. "What?" asked Asami
"I bet Bolin will have a great time with my cousin. I wonder sometimes how we are even related," spoke Korra as the remaining members of the Team Avatar saw that Opal appeared.
"Hello, my name is Opal," introduced the young non-bender to the twins.
Korra watched at this in amusement.
"I think it is best if we go somewhere else right now," suggested Mako as the two women agreed, despite Korra wanting to observe how Bolin could spend time in the company of both Eska and Opal.
"Fine, lets eat some lunch," suggested Asami as the three remaining members of the Krew left the scene.
They arrived into a small cafeteria, and soon sat at a table next to a window. A waiter arrived, and gave the menus.
"Any recommendations? And I mean, anything good besides the noodles?" asked Mako
"Arctic hen seems nice," spoke Asami, as she remembered one of Korra's favorite meals.
"Alright, we will take two portions of five flavored soup, an Arctic hen, and sea weed noodles," spoke Korra as she waited for Mako to decide what to eat, since Korra knew what Asami would eat.
"I would just share the Arctic hen," spoke Mako
"Very well. Your food will be here shortly. Thanks for choosing our restaurant, Princess Avatar Korra," spoke the waiter as he left the table.
"Princess?" asked Mako
"Uh," began Korra, "Well, my uncle is the Chief, so that technically makes me a Princess. It is strange though for people to refer to me as a Princess though,"
"I like it, you are my own lovely Princess," smiled Asami as the two ladies kissed.
"You dork," spoke Korra as the three friends began talking.
"So, how do you like your job, Mako?" asked Asami
"I like it a lot, although I would prefer to actually be a detective," replied Mako, "I still wonder how Chief Beifong allowed me to leave,"
"First, this is your first vacation in a while, and second, I told Lin that I could use a bodyguard," smiled Asami
"Smooth, Madam President," spoke Korra
"Well, I wanted the whole Team Avatar to visit the South Pole," The soups arrived, and the group paused their conversation.
Later, as the three friends waited for the hen, Asami spoke.
"You know, I bet that Chief Unalaq is playing some game. He seems to be some sort of Traditionalist, and it is possible he wants the South to embrace the old traditions," spoke Asami
"Are you serious? I know my Uncle is very old minded, but to actually force his will," spoke Korra
"I think it is possible, but how would he do it without any military involved?" asked Mako
"He might employ the military," suggested Asami
After the lunch was over, Mako stood up. "I will check on how Bolin is doing," spoke Mako as he left the two women.
"Alright, what do you want to do next," asked Korra
"I wanted to speak to Varrick actually," spoke Asami as Korra nodded, and the girlfriends walked towards the large ship that belonged to the businessman.
"Hello, can I speak to Varrick?" asked Asami as the two women entered the ship.
"Nice to meet you again, President Sato. Avatar Korra, my pleasure," a woman greeted the couple, as she led them to Varrick's room.
"Observe, I will not show you my powers of flight," spoke Varrick as he concentrated and made a gesture.
"See, I rose in the air," spoke Varrick as people clapped.
"Um, no you didn't. You need to be an actual Air Bender to do rise in the air, like this," spoke Korra as she bent the air currents underneath and rose successfully in the air. Meanwhile, Asami slapped herself in the face.
"What? And why nobody told me? You are fired," spoke Varrick to the man who supposedly taught him how to fly.
"Avatar Korra, I presume," spoke Varrick
"Yup, that's me. And this is my girlfriend Asami Sato," spoke Korra
"Hello again, President Sato," spoke Varrick as he shook her hand.
"I did not come to visit you as a President but as a fellow Business person," spoke Asami before she was interrupted.
"It can wait. Zhu Li, do the thing," spoke Varrick as his assistant ran and activated the camera.
"Now, observe," spoke Varrick as he showed the picture of a mowing ostrich horse.
"You got to admit that this is great," spoke Korra
"Yes, I can see that, but I am here to speak with you on business related things," spoke Asami as Varrick leaned a bit closer and began staring at Asami. The young woman was confused at first, but then stared back.
"We have a deal," spoke Varrick as he stood up, and people clapped.
"Well, that went better than I expected," spoke Korra
"And why is that?" smiled Asami
"I thought I actually ruined everything," smiled Korra
"Don't worry sweetie, you did no such thing," smiled Asami as she then looked where Varrick was.
"When would you like to discuss the particular details?" asked Asami
"Lets do it tomorrow during lunch time," suggested Varrick. Before he left, he approached Korra.
"You know, I could use some help in making new movers. Do you know anyone who would be interested? Imagine: a warrior of the South, fighting evil villains," spoke Varrick
"I think Bolin actually might be interested. I will tell him to speak with you," spoke Korra as the couple left the ship.
As Korra and Asami walked, a large dark blue body with large yellow eyes attacked them. The creature pushed them into the water. "Korra, what is this?" asked Asami as the young couple quickly climbed out of the water.
"I don't know, I guess it is a Dark Spirit. Hold on," spoke Korra as she rose in the air and sent water at the creature. The attack did now slow the creature down; it only apparently made it angrier.
"Get back, it only wants to fight me," spoke Korra as she sent sharp ice projectiles at the creature. The attacks did not work either.
The creature flew at Korra, pinned the Avatar down, and looked menacingly at her. Korra angrily used her foot and hit the creature, which once again just made the creature more destructive.
The dark blue creature noticed Asami and flew at jumped at her, before grabbing Asami and lifting the young non-bender above the ground.
Asami knew how to fight, even against benders. She knew she could defend herself well against almost any threat, but this was something else. This creature did not even react to Korra's bending attacks, so Asami reasoned her own martial arts skills would be useless. For the first time in forever Asami truly felt helpless.
"Let her go," spoke Korra as she entered the Avatar State and using Air Bending rose in the air before punching the dark spirit. It released Asami, who fell on the snow.
The spirit looked at Korra and then jumped at a nearby building, before at another. Korra rose in the air and using a water whip, grabbed the creature, before throwing it away.
The monster for some reason decided to ignore both Korra and Asami, and now instead began to demolish various small buildings.
Korra glared, but before she could do anything, the monster stopped. Water began circling around the Dark Spirit before turning into a glowing yellow light, finally dispersing the creature.
"Uncle? How?" spoke shocked Korra.
"I told you the Spirits have been attacking people, and now they are targeting settlements. This madness has to end. Korra, I need your help," spoke Unalaq
"What do you want me to do?" asked Korra
"I need you to open the Southern Portal and release spirits into the world, reconnecting the Material and Spiritual Worlds. I also think you should at the very least break up with your current obsession, since it is especially important for the Avatar to follow the traditions," spoke Unalaq
"I will help you, wait, what? You want me to do what?" asked Korra
"I just told you what you should do, not what I will make you do. Your strange interest in that city woman will make spirits specifically target you," spoke Unalaq
"Korra?" asked Asami
"No, I am not breaking up with you!" spoke Korra
"Break up?" asked puzzled Asami as she now listed to the conversation between Unalaq and Korra.
"Now listen here Unalaq. I will help you with opening the Southern Portal, but you are wrong to assume that my relationship with Asami is wrong," spoke Korra as Tenzin and Tonraq arrived on the scene.
"Korra, is everything alright? We heard there was an attack," spoke Tonraq
"I am fine. Don't worry about it, dad. Unalaq just told me that the spirits are getting restless, and that he wished for me to open the Southern Spirit Portal," spoke Korra
"I also told my niece that her relationship with this woman is wrong and the spirits will attack them because of it," spoke Unalaq
"Wrong? What's wrong about two people loving each other? I know about the importance of keeping traditions, but this is plain bigotry," spoke Tenzin.
"Don't say I have not warned you," spoke Unalaq, "I will wait for you to join me tonight to open the Southern Portal,"
Korra nodded, although she knew that she would only help her uncle to free the spirits. "I need to meditate," spoke Korra as she left the group. Korra sat on the snow and concentrated, meeting Aang. Meanwhile. Asami sat next to Korra and watched over Korra's body.
"Aang?" asked Korra as she saw her former life in the Spirit World.
"Hello Korra," spoke Aang
"Aang, my Uncle wants to reunite the Spirits and the Mortal World. He keeps telling me people should follow the old traditions. I wanted to know, do you know if it is wrong to not follow some traditions? I am very confused, " asked Korra
"Is this about you and Asami?" asked Aang, "Look Korra, traditions are good, but they can change. A few years after I defeated Ozai, my friends and I visited one village, where I fought with a spirit. I learned during that trip that traditions could change. I do know, however, that the reunification of both Material and Spirit Worlds would be a good idea. A Guru once told me that the divisions among the nations are an illusion, and later I decided to create the Republic City as a symbol that all nations can live happily together," spoke Aang
"Thank you for your advice," smiled Korra and returned to her body.
"So," spoke Asami
"I just learned that my Uncle is wrong. Surely, I will help to open the spirit world, but I think it was just a coincidence that the spirit attacked us. I think my Uncle just got stuck up in old traditions that he does not show any willingness to change," spoke Korra
"I love you," spoke Korra
"I love you too," spoke Asami as the two kissed.
Bolin interrupted their kiss.
"Korra! Asami! Help, I don't know what to do!"
"Bolin?"
"Please help me!" spoke the Earth Bender
A/N: more tensions between Korra and Unalaq. Next chapter: Korra opens the portal, Korra and Tenzin argue, Tenzin leaves, and the Civil War begins.