Chapter 23
"Bolin?" asked Korra her friend.
"Korra, Asami, I have a problem. I thought Eska was nice, but I found that she actually terrifies me. I also thought more about Opal and that I should perhaps ask her out instead, but I am just scared of telling Eska," began Bolin.
"Just tell her how you feel," spoke Asami as Bolin looked at her.
"I don't think it would be this easy," spoke Bolin as Korra hugged to comfort her friend.
"Korra, are you ready to go with me to the Southern Portal and open it?" asked Unalaq.
Korra stared at her uncle. She was unsure. Granted, she knew she needed to go, but she disliked the comments she received about Asami.
"Fine, if you want, you can take your friends with you. All of them," spoke Unalaq as Tonraq and Tenzin approached the man.
"Korra already has a teacher, and she will not be going without me," spoke Tonraq as he glared at his brother.
"Korra, I suggest you train more in Air Bending. You need to practice your skills. While you can bend air, you are still far from being a master," spoke Tenzin.
"Dad, I should decide what I will do. Don't be over protective," spoke Korra.
"Knowing my brother, he is over protective. Do you know that it was my brother, and Master Tenzin who put you in the compound?" asked Unalaq
"I thought Aang told you to do this," spoke Korra
"I did what I thought was best for you. I wanted to protect you," spoke Tonraq
"Well, thanks dad, but I can protect myself," Korra quickly replied.
"Korra,"
"Save it Tenzin. I found a new teacher. I guess this is where our journey ends," spoke Korra as Tenzin looked at her with sadness.
"Very well, it was my pleasure working with you, Avatar Korra," spoke Tenzin as he left her.
The group climbed into snow vehicles, and began driving them. They drove the vehicles for a day, before setting a quick camp, where they sat around a fire.
"Dad, what's going on, why do you not get along with your brother?" asked Korra as the group looked at Tonraq.
"Korra, I did not want you to find it this way, but I was banished from the North many years ago," spoke Tonraq
"You were what? Why?" asked Korra
"He was banished because he attacked bandits, who were hiding in the spiritual woods, and destroyed much of it. The spirits were angry, and went on a rampage, but I managed to pacify them. Still, much damage had been done, and my father banished Tonraq from the Northern Water Tribe," spoke Unalaq
"Dad? How could you hide such a thing from me?" asked Korra angrily
"I just wanted to protect you, Korra," spoke Tonraq as he looked at his daughter.
"I need some air," spoke Korra as she stood up and walked away from the campsite.
The Avatar stood on a small hill; the young woman looked at the icy desert, thinking about the lies her father told her.
"Korra?" asked Asami, as she approached her girlfriend.
"Asami, please get back to the campsite, or you will freeze," spoke Korra worryingly.
"Don't worry, it's not as cold as you say it is. Feel free to share what's on your mind, I could help," suggested Asami
"Asami, I, I cannot believe that my father lied to me. I don't know what to think. I love him, he is my father, but I feel betrayed. It turns out my dad not only lied about his past, he also lied about the reason why I lived at the compound all these years," spoke Korra
"Korra, it is only natural that your dad would be protective over you," spoke Asami
"Are you taking his side now?" spoke Korra somewhat angrily.
"What? No. Oh Korra, please don't think of it as sides. I understand that your father wanted to protect you; I mean any parent would want to do so, but fact remains he lied for why he kept you in the compound. He should have told you the truth," spoke Asami as she hugged Korra
"Asami, thank you for helping me. I am glad we are together," smiled Korra as she hugged Asami as well. The ladies stood on the snow for a few minutes while hugging each other before they decided to return to the camp.
When they returned to camp, it was completely trashed. Their equipment lay everywhere. "What happened here?" asked Korra
"Your father happened. Clearly, spirits still remember that he disturbed their sanctuary many years ago. They will come again, I am sure of it," spoke Unalaq
"Korra, we must leave this place. It's getting too dangerous," spoke Tonraq cautiously.
"Now, we cannot leave. The Winter Solstice is tomorrow, and this is the only time in a year when the Avatar can open the spirit portals, since the material and the spirit world align closely during this time," spoke Unalaq
"Dad, you must leave," spoke Korra as a tear escaped her eye.
"Korra, I," spoke Tonraq as he sighed, and took one scooter, before driving away from the group.
"Now, lets continue our journey," spoke Unalaq as the group continued their trip. They soon reached the Southern Portal. Korra left, and journeyed to the portal, where she battled a group of rogue dark spirits, and finally opened the Southern Spirit Portal.
"Well done, Korra," spoke Unalaq as Korra returned to the group. The group then travelled back the Southern Water Tribe.
"Korra, these lights are beautiful," spoke Asami as she observed the Southern Lights.
"I agree. Korra, you made one step towards bring balance to both the material and the spirit world. I think the spirits will grow more peaceful now," smiled Unalaq as he looked at his niece.
When the group returned to the town, Unalaq left the teenagers, as he went to check how his subjects were doing.
As the Team Avatar exited the snow vehicles, a young woman spotted Bolin. "Bolin!" spoke Opal as she approached the group, and hugged Bolin.
"Oh, hey Opal," spoke Bolin as the young non-bender hugged him.
"Why are you hugging this woman, my turtle duck?" asked Eska as she formed an ice wall between Bolin and Opal.
"I," began Bolin as Korra, Asami, and Mako took a few steps back.
"Bolin?" asked Opal, not sure how to react.
"Oh, hi Opal. Opal, this is Eska, Eska, this is Opal," spoke Bolin as Eska glared at him.
"Turtle duck, why do you associate with this woman?" asked Eska as ice formed on her hands.
"Bolin, what does Eska want? I just wanted to talk," spoke Opal as Eska launched herself at the non-bender, and tried to stab her, but an ice wall formed between her and Opal.
Eska looked at confusion, and quickly turned the ice into water. After she did that, the Princess saw that Korra stood in front of her.
"Look, I can see you might be jealous, but you cannot attack Opal," spoke Korra as she looked at her cousin
"She wants to steal my Turtle duck," spoke Eska as she saw Opal and threw an ice dagger at her. Korra again blocked the attack and then grabbed Eska.
"Seriously, stop," spoke Korra as Eska tried to get free, since she really wanted to attack Opal.
"Guys, I think we should talk," suggested Asami, as Korra agreed with her. The group went to a restaurant, and sat at a table. Opal and Eska sat at the opposite sides of the table. Korra was glad that the restaurant did not have much water that her cousin could weaponize against Opal.
"Now we can deal with this issue in a civil manner. What is going on, Eska?" Korra asked her cousin, as she looked at the two women.
"This woman wants to steal my Bolin," spoke Eska, as Bolin looked at Korra nervously.
"I just wanted to talk to him. Bolin is my friend," defended herself Opal, "But if you don't want me to be here, its fine, and I will leave,"
"Nobody is leaving. I want to resolve this issue," Korra stood up and looked at the two young women, "Look, Bolin is very inexperienced with relationships, and he does not know what to do,"
"Hey!"
"Shut up Bo," spoke Korra. Bolin tried to say something, but Asami lightly hit his arm.
"As the Avatar, I feel it is my duty to resolve this dispute. I also don't want my friends to try and hurt each other. I think since Bolin is still quite unsure about his feelings, he should slow down and first just be friend with the both of you. I think you should get to know each other,"
"I like that," spoke Bolin quickly
"And Eska, please don't attack other people if you are jealous. This is not healthy," spoke Korra as Eska just glared, before she nodded lightly.
"Good, now I think you two should shake hands," spoke Korra as Opal immediately extended her hand. Korra saw that Opal was very friendly, and she probably genuinely wanted to be friends with the two people. Eska was more hesitant, but eventually she extended her hand as well, and the two young women shook hands.
"Nice. Now, I suggest you three go and attend the festival," suggested Korra as she grinned. The Avatar notices Bolin's horrified face.
"Could you please look after your siblings?" Korra asked both Mako and Desna
"I will, Korra. I always took care of Bolin," nodded Mako as he left.
"I agree with the Fire Bender. I will look after my sister, as she is prone to jealousy. Don't worry, cousin, I think we will manage the lovebirds," spoke Desna as he followed Mako.
Korra and Asami were the only ones left sitting at the table. "Asami," spoke Korra as her girlfriend, and President Asami Sato, leaned closer and kissed Korra.
'"You are such a wonderful person. You managed to deal with the problem before it could turn into something ugly," spoke Asami
"Thanks," spoke Korra as she blushed, "I feel sorry for Bolin, being a part of a love triangle is hard. Can you imagine if you and I were in a love triangle?"
"I agree, that would be horrible," agreed Asami as the pair stood up from the table and exited the restaurant.
Later that day, Unalaq requested to speak with Korra. Asami joined. The three journeyed to the hill, where Unalaq showed Korra a view to the harbor.
"Korra, I am really proud of you. You did the right thing by opening the Southern Portal," spoke Unalaq
"Thank you Uncle," spoke Korra as she noticed a fleet of Northern Water Tribe ships entering the harbor, and creating a blockade.
'What are the Northern Troops doing here?" asked Korra
" You see, opening the portal was just the first step. To fully reunite our Tribes, much work needs to be done," spoke Unalaq as the Northern Troops soon exited the ship and landed on the ground.
Asami realized what would happen very soon. "Unalaq, I must warn you to treat carefully, or you might end up in an international accident," spoke Asami as the man looked at her.
"President Asami Sato, I doubt you should worry much about this. I am the Chief of both Northern and Southern Water Tribe, and all I want is to reunite our sister tribes. The Southern Tribe ignored our sacred traditions for a long time, and I plan to place it on a righteous path," spoke Unalaq as Asami looked at him.
The President of the Republic City did not like Unalaq. Asami made a mental note to provide help for those people in the South that Unalaq would unjustly punish. Asami decided to speak to Varrick about this man, as she wanted to know more about Unalaq if she were to help in any way to the Southern Water Tribe.
A/N: And so the Civil Wars begin. Asami's role as the President of the Republic City will play an important role in this arc, since she has a lot of political power; Asami is on an equal footing with Unalaq and he cannot easily dismiss her complaints. This is not the end of the Boleska/Bopal love triangle.
Also, any suggestions whether I should skip Korra's visit to the Spirit World? I think there will be a lot of things going on without Korra and Jinora's visit to the Spirit World.
I plan to have a very action packed finale to the act 2.
I would also appreciate comments, and suggestions of future sub plots.