Note: I've actually worked on a couple chapters worth of material- so I hope you enjoy whatever I have so far. Also, I enjoy naming chapters after songs that I like. This chapter is named after one of my favorite Grizzly Bear songs.
Disclaimer, I still don't own this.
Korra said farewell to Katara and her family one last time. She was preparing to board a ship with General Iroh and Zuko. The day before, she packed all she needed to bring with her except her beloved Naga. Korra spent a tearful morning with Naga before returning her to the compound. She couldn't bring Naga with her for this new mission in her life. This mission that sustained her life and all of her thoughts. She knew Zuko had only been kidding about being a vigilante, but she hadn't stopped thinking about it since she was given the idea and the mask. Everyone in the tribe seemed to notice a change in Korra in recent days since her visit with the former fire lord though. She found some reserve firepower in her soul. To be honest though, Zuko was concerned over this. He mentioned to his grandson in private that her energy was one that found its source in anger and regret. Iroh wondered if it was something he or his grandfather should talk to Korra about.
"No, Iroh. Neither you or I are in the place to talk to her about it," Zuko said.
"Grandfather, but you said it yourself that energy from an emotional place like that could change her terribly," Iroh said.
Iroh and Zuko were standing over the railing of Iroh's United Forces ship. Iroh had straightened his cravat and concentrated on Korra. Zuko stood by Iroh sipping a cup of jasmine tea. They looked at Korra hugging her parents and tearfully waving to the village.
"Iroh, I know it will be hard to restrain yourself from just barging in and telling her to not do it, but she needs to learn," Zuko said.
"Why did you have to give her that stupid idea Grandfather?" Iroh said.
Zuko looked at his grandson and smiled.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say my grandson has a crush on a certain Avatar," Zuko said.
Iroh grimaced.
"I am not a thirteen year old boy anymore, and I don't think of her like that. I respect her," Iroh said
"I was just having a little fun. I'm allowed to have a little fun at this age. It keeps me young," Zuko said.
Zuko laughed to himself and continued enjoying his cup of tea. Then he looked back at Iroh and gave him a stern look that shook Iroh.
"Keep in mind what I said to you. Korra needs to find herself. She should make mistakes and fail and not be held to some ridiculous standard because she's the Avatar. She needs to find a new reason to live- one that has nothing to deal with being the Avatar. I always trust that the Avatar will know what to do, and you should too," Zuko said
"I know. I know. I know. You've told me that before," Iroh said.
"I know," Zuko said.
Zuko chuckled again and finished his tea. Korra finally said her last goodbye and boarded the ship. She took a look at Iroh and Zuko and made a little bow.
"Thank you for letting me on your ship. I'll try and not be too much in the way," Korra said.
Iroh noticed how unblinkingly stoic Korra was when she said that. She was a changed woman- not just because of her renewed sense of being but just so different from the girl he met a year ago. Korra was just made up of different fragments that added up to a person who looked a lot like Korra, but nothing about her new personality was adding up to what he knew as the Avatar.
Korra went inside the ship to go into her room. She removed the Blue Spirit mask that Zuko gave her from underneath her parka that she had hidden the mask under. She placed the mask on her face and closed her eyes. She felt so embarrassed that she felt safe underneath the mask. She felt a freedom contained in there that allowed her to cry, to fail, and to not be the Avatar.
Weeks on the ship allowed for Zuko to try his hardest to train the Avatar. He understood his grandson's concerned over his encouragement of Korra's secret mission for herself. However, he feared Korra's ill preparedness over any of Iroh's concerns. He wanted Korra to at least have some modicum of ability if she was going to do what she set out to do. He first set out to teach Korra stealth. Each night Korra snuck out to meet Zuko on the deck where he would have Korra find him while evading the guards and on duty soldiers. She learned quickly how to cover her steps and wrap herself in the shadows. When she proved proficient enough, Zuko had Korra master fencing. Every morning, Zuko made Korra duel Iroh. She handled her fencing with flair but failed to understand what Zuko was teaching.
"Why am I learning to fight with a sword anyway? Most people don't use swords any more," Korra said.
Korra took her sword in hand and faced Iroh who shed his jacket. Zuko sat by on the side sipping on his morning cup of tea.
"You need extra practice with discipline. Besides, you shouldn't rely so much on your bending," Zuko said.
"Isn't there a better way of doing this?" Korra said.
"I don't doubt there actually is. This just seemed to be more entertaining," Zuko said.
Zuko laughed as Korra and Iroh began their duel. Pro-bending helped Korra become lighter on her feet, but she was no match for the deftness of Iroh's movements. Iroh moved like he was involved in an intricate dance with Korra. His sword did not whip around awkwardly like Korra's tended to. Instead, his sword cut through precisely.
"You move too much Korra. This isn't a pro-bending match," Iroh said.
Iroh's breath hadn't even changed cadence as he spoke and moved about. Korra, on the other hand, spent most of her time struggling to keep up with Iroh when it really came up to it. She exerted too much energy and found herself out of breath despite the fact that she was a physically fit woman.
"Iroh is correct. Try to be patient. Strike when he exposes his weakness," Zuko said.
Zuko walked over by Iroh as Iroh had stepped about. He stopped Iroh and held Iroh's position.
"See. He's in a vulnerable position when he stands like this. Also, look at how he is holding his sword. He should probably hold it a little differently, but if he were to be any more careless, then you would be able to expose his weakness. When you see your opponent in a vulnerable position that is when it is time to strike. We don't strike at any time. We strike when the time is right," Zuko said.
Iroh glared at his grandfather for pointing out his poor stance and careless grip on his sword. Zuko ignored this and walked over to Korra and made a stance to counter Iroh's.
"Just follow me," Zuko said.
Korra mimicked Zuko's action. She jabbed at Iroh; unsettling him, Korra made another parry that knocked Iroh on his feet. She felt the swell in her heart of victory. The feeling came to her like an old friend- warming and assuring. Korra's fist pumped into the air, as she was so familiar with before. Iroh came back to his feet and brushed the dust off his shirt.
"You certainly are improving Korra," Iroh said.
"Yes… Though I don't think we'll be able to finish this sword training. We'll be in the Northern Water Tribe lands in the next day or so, and I have much more to teach Korra," Zuko said.
"Something awesome like chi blocking?" Korra asked.
"Heh- I'm too old fashioned to know chi blocking, but I do know how to play Pai Sho. That is something you should know how to play," Zuko said.
"I don't think I'm going to be asked to play a game of Pai Sho any time soon," Korra said.
"My grandfather has a point. Pai Sho is a game of strategy. It would certainly be beneficial to learn it more than you'd think Korra," Iroh said.
Korra rolled her eyes. Iroh smiled to himself. There was the Korra everyone knew…
Korra walked into her cabin after the ship's last music night ended. She grabbed her tensed shoulder and rubbed it slowly with the heel of her palm. She missed being able to heal more than ever. Korra collapsed into her bed, not noticing her door slowly opening. She wanted to be dead to the world for just a little longer before tomorrow- before arriving to the Northern Water Tribe capital. She heard that her uncle had already arranged for a homecoming of sorts for her there. Hopefully, she would be given a slight tour of the city again because Korra's memory of the city wasn't as good as used to be. She hadn't been to the city in ten or so years ago. At the time, she just visited her young cousins- the creepers as she called them in her mind.
"Grandpa's tsungi horn wasn't that bad," Iroh said.
Korra sprung from her position and saw Iroh leaning on the frame of her door. Iroh carried something black in his hands.
"Oh no… I'm just tired," Korra said.
"Well you should get some rest for tomorrow. The wire said that the chief has got quite the plan for your arrival," Iroh said.
"Are you going to come in or not?" Korra said.
Iroh smirked and entered Korra's suite. He closed the door quietly. Iroh looked at Korra eyeing the item in his hand. He sat on the edge of her bed and fingered the rough cotton sheets that were issued on all United Forces beds.
"You know that I am always here for you," Iroh said.
"Iroh… if this is why you wanted to come in here, I'd rather you just leave," Korra said.
"I really just wanted to give you a gift. This just out of politeness for you putting up with the crew and my grandfather," Iroh said.
Iroh placed the black cloth in Korra's hands. He didn't bother to wrap the gift. Korra unraveled the cloth where she heard metal clink on the floor.
"Damn it… I should have told you," Iroh said.
Iroh dove to the floor to grab the other part of her gift. Korra didn't pay attention. She just stared at the black cloth- a body suit. She placed the suit on top of her body to get an idea of whether it would fit or not.
"It will be a snug fit. They're experimenting with that fabric," Iroh said.
Iroh reclined back onto Korra's bed. He reached behind her and placed two steel stilettos on her nightstand. Korra grabbed one and slid her finger across the blades edge. She nicked her fingertip at the tip. She seethed a bit at the pain.
"Be careful, I just had those sharpened. Plus those are antiques. They're my grandmother's. They'll be easier to conceal than that broadsword my grandfather gave you," Iroh said.
Iroh placed his finger over Korra's and lightly cauterized her cut. He didn't want to be a part of Korra's little game, but he also didn't mind indulging her.
"Korra… whatever happens, be safe."
"Iroh, you don't need to worry about me."
"I know. You've saved me before, but you need saving too."
Iroh got up from the bed and walked to the door. Without looking back to Korra, he stopped.
"If you wreck those stilettos, my grandmother will haunt you from the Spirit World. So don't say I didn't warn you."
Korra snorted at Iroh's parting words. She strangely welcomed the idea of former Fire Lady Mai coming from the Spirit World to haunt her because at least she could say that she made some new contact with the Spirit World. Besides, the wrath of the spirits were hardly the things that scared her at night...