Chapter 6: Unanticipated Success
Tenzin had been meditating for what seemed like hours. He got over his anger at his mother pretty quickly - he realized the point wasn't whether or not he trusted Kai with his eldest daughter, but whether she wanted to be with him or not. He remembered tales of his parent's youth, and they hung around some worse characters at times - the amoral Jet that had gotten his own mother's fancy temporarily was far worse than Kai, after all. He'd take a thief over a thug any day.
The real reason he stayed meditating was he desperately wanted to finally enter the Spirit World legitimately, as Korra, Iroh, his father and even his own daughter had done - no walking through a portal, something he had done before. Though he had failed many times before, Tenzin held hope that the newly opened Republic City Spirit Portal's proximity would help him in his quest. So far, though, he had little to no luck, though he did keep feeling odd spiritual energy emanating from the portal's direction - something that reminded him of Vaatu. Tenzin shook his head, thinking, "Isn't he supposed to be severely weakened? This makes no sense," to himself, accidentally interrupting his meditation. He shifted his stance, attempting to regain his composure.
Suddenly, he felt that strange energy intensify. A strange spirit's voice began drolly said, "You're more perceptive than you think, human," sounding vaguely displeased. The presence subsided, but not completely.
Not quite sure what to make of this, he shifted his tactics from general meditation to focused contemplation. Taking a technique from Korra's book, he focused on a specific person's energy - his daughter's, thinking, "Breathe in, and breathe out. Let your mind be as a leaf on the wind…"
Suddenly, he felt a very odd sensation - as though he were no longer inside his own house, but still in the physical world. He looked down at the ground, and noticed something very odd - he was blue!
Suddenly realizing what this meant, he cried out, "By the spirits, I'm projecting myself! I thought I would go into the spirit world before this…" He heard a girl and a boy yelling in alarm behind him, suddenly realizing who they must be, asking, "Jinora? Kai? Come around front, I literally just figured out how to do this, and don't want to risk moving." He saw his daughter run around the edge of his vision, dragging Kai behind her.
His daughter's reply shocked him - there must have been a reason she didn't come out front. His mind raced back to his conversation with the two late last night, and his row with Katara this morning. Jinora simply said, "I don't care if you just learned to project - I'm not talking to you until you apologize to Kai for what you said yesterday, and to me for meddling in my affairs so much. I'm rapidly approaching adulthood, and want - "
Tenzin sighed deeply, with regret and disappointment - in himself. He felt himself turn to face Kai and Jinora as he uttered the words "I am sorry. To you both."
Had he not known doing so would likely sever the connection, he would have laughed at the expressions on both their faces - Kai and Jinora were in complete shock. Tenzin continued, "I had an argument with your grandmother today, Jinora, about you and Kai, and after meditating on her words I came to realize she was right. She told me what I am doing was the equivalent of her forcing me to stay with Lin Beifong, and that it isn't fair of me to try to closely control who you show affections for." As he thought of what he wanted to say to Kai, he found his body pivoting once again, to face the boy, saying earnestly, "And Kai, I am sorry if I have allowed your past actions to cloud my judgment. I had forgotten the lessons of my father's youth - to cast you aside would be the equivalent of my father refusing Zuko's pleads to join his team." As soon as he had finished talking, he saw a gleam in Kai's eye - as if he had spotted some scattered, ownerless gold coins. Kai picked up a small rock, and began spinning it in a small ball of air, still looking at Tenzin, asking, "So, Tenzin, does that mean I can kiss Jinora?"
Tenzin couldn't help but blurt out an emotional "NO!", and much to his surprise he did not get booted back to his house. Relaxing a little, he laughed as Jinora slapped Kai lightly in the face. She scolded him, "I'm the one with the airbending tattoos, so I'll decide when we kiss!" She gave Kai a withering glare, saying to Tenzin's great pleasure,"And that's a little bit too much to be asking of my father, a man who only just now confessed he no longer sees you as a little airbending thief." Tenzin could not help but approve of his daughter's attitude - she wasn't some gold statue to be snatched from a mansion. Wait - if Kai wasn't a little thief, why did he keep thinking this way? He shook his head slightly, saying, "Well, whatever you two decide to do, make sure it doesn't go beyond kissing for now. I don't want to be a grandfather just yet." He sighed deeply, as though some burden had been lifted off his soul. His image vanished, leaving only the two young perplexed airbenders behind.
Instead of returning to his house, he suddenly found himself in the middle of a large grove of trees surrounded by randomly distributed pools. He did not find the place familiar at all. He heard a strange voice behind him, that sounded human, but not entirely. The older male voice calmly stated "I found that letting go of control can be very helpful in accessing the Spirit World, and I see you are no different. Your block wasn't spiritual, Tenzin - it was emotional."
Not feeling entirely comfortable turning to face the voice, Tenzin asked "Who are you, and exactly where am I? This place looks awfully earthlike to me." The owner of the voice appeared before him, and he looked awfully familiar. Wait… could it be?
Tenzin could feel his jaw drop, and nearly bit his tongue as he closed it again so he could speak. "Are you… 'Uncle' Iroh? My father's best friend and loyal ally, Zuko's uncle? I haven't seen you in years!" The older man laughed in a familiar way. Tenzin could have sworn he had once met him in his youth, before Iroh passed. "Yes, Tenzin, I am 'Uncle' Iroh. It does not matter if I am actually your uncle - you may call me whatever you like. Congratulations on finally achieving your ambition of entering the Spirit World through meditation, and not physically, as the last time we met. You should know, it is very rare for any mortal other than the Avatar to successfully enter in this way - you should be very proud of both yourself and your daughter." Iroh smiled warmly, and put a hand on Tenzin's shoulder.
He noticed Iroh tense up at the same time his own body froze. That energy from earlier… it was close. Iroh started frowning deeply, and he slapped his hand on his forehead, saying, "Oh, not again! Not another person's spirit trip ruined!," asking no one, "When will he quit poking his big beak where it's not welcome?" Tenzin was about to ask Iroh just what spirit he was talking about, but then a large shimmering mass appeared behind the old firebender. Tenzin swore he could see undulating purple and black, and small points of a familiar sickly yellow light as the spirit took complete form.
Even before the spirit was completely finished appearing, it began to speak, saying, "Ugh, another mortal tourist?" The spirit finally stopped shimmering so much, having fully materialized, but the undulating colors on the upper portion of its hide did not stop. Behind the spirit's serious face, bizarre long twin feathers, large grey-black beak and piercing unsettling yellow eyes, Tenzin saw a substantial serpentine body. The spirit seemingly waited, letting Tenzin "admire" him… While the bottom of this spirit was colored much the same as its beak, except lighter, the upper half of its body was mainly black, except for one detail Tenzin found very disturbing - the black pulsed erratically with large, continuously moving patches of an uncomfortably familiar purple that had even more unsettling red eye-shaped spots in their center. A large mane lined the top and part of the bottom of the spirit, its color pulsating in a mix between the sickly yellow of the spirit's eyes and the red that caused Tenzin so much alarm.
Had the spirit possessed a mouth, it might have smiled. It turned to a visibly shaken Iroh, and clacked its powerful beak menacingly, starting to laugh in - yet again - an eerily familiar fashion. The spirit began talking with a cool hatred, saying "Yes, Iroh - in case you haven't noticed since our last encounter, I have grown substantially. I do not yet enjoy the support of as many spirits as I would like, but Raava's little party trick with her host and that other mortal woman has upset plenty of sensible spirits a lot more than some plants did. As more spirits join my side, my power only grows. You are lucky only great spirits can truly harm another spirit." The spirit started cackling wildly as it turned to face him, and Tenzin finally realized what its oddly modified voice reminded him of - the same bone-chilling laughter of Vaatu. Tenzin stood up, demanding, "What is the meaning of this, spirit? I thought Vaatu was the size of a teapot now, contained inside Raava!" This just made the spirit laugh even harder, all the various frightening and sickening colors intensifying, pulsating unnervingly in rhythm with the malicious laughter.
The spirit zoomed closer to Tenzin's face, its beak narrowly avoiding his own nose, as it began to speak once more, saying condescendingly, "Even an airbender, what humans fancy so spiritually advanced, so arrogant, ignorant? Typical. Vaatu himself may be weak, now, but that doesn't mean there are no darkened spirits - your father encountered a partially transformed spirit in his youth, decades before Harmonic Convergence's occurrence. A pity Hei-Bai did not simply smash that village in a single fit of rage." Tenzin heard a small sound, and he noticed more Dark Spirits now present in the grove. The large yellow eyes glittered again, in seemingly higher hatred - Tenzin wanted to get out, and fast.
The spirit cackled, "Oh, no you don't, airbender. I may not be able to strike at Raava, for now, but I can certainly hurt the Avatar - my friends here will see you do not leave." Tenzin took a large step backwards, and as the large spirit began to open its mouth, Iroh ducked in front of Tenzin, who only managed to say "Shut your eyes, and brace yourself!"
Despite being half asleep, Korra felt her body sit up and roll Asami slightly to her side with no input of her own. She felt a very strange jerking motion, and her eyes begin to glow as she, seemingly in a dream, appeared in Xai Bau's Grove once more.
Her now flexing limbs splayed out into a star pattern, in what she assumed to be a bizarre dream, and became aware of a nightmarish scene before her - a thousand piercing yellow eyes, and a substantial mass owning even larger eyes in front of her. Her own body, in the center of a very angry white spirit - Raava. Two humanoid figures behind her, seeking shelter behind the great white spirit's pulsating form. Her body took a deep breath of its own accord, and she saw a large white and blue beam shoot at the largest spirit, who moved his large body with unnatural speed, letting a lesser Dark Spirit take the blast instead. She saw the energy strike its unintended target with a sense of mute horror, and obliterate the spirit, leaving many small, normal copies of itself behind, about a quarter of which immediately turned dark again.
The last thing she felt before this weirdly specific dream ended was Raava's energy tossing the two figures behind her with great force.
Korra rubbed her forehead, and muttered "Knew… I… shouldn't have eaten… that… old sea-prune… stew…" before collapsing back onto Asami, half remembering a bad day of her childhood, suddenly saying, "Wait a minute - I haven't eaten Water Tribe food in ages. Just what was that?", staring at the ceiling before her eyes shut completely a short time later.
You'll find out soon enough.
Tenzin opened his eyes slightly with a start, and felt immense relief - he was apparently back in his own home. He heard a sound that made him immediately doubt that, however, and fell backwards to the floor when he saw who was standing in front of him.
"Uncle" Iroh laughed jovially, saying, "I don't know why Long Yumao hates humans and Raava so much. What, did a former Avatar use him as a plaything or something?" Despite Tenzin's expression of disbelief and gaping jaw, Uncle Iroh laughed lightly, and wondered aloud, "Did they play serpentball, or spin-the-spirit?" and began laughing harder. Uncle Iroh suddenly became serious again, and said, "Though a Spirit Civil War is no laughing matter."
Tenzin pointed a finger at Uncle Iroh in shock, saying to the man he vaguely remembered from his youth before his passing, "Uncle Iroh, you're a spirit now - just how in the name of the spirits are you here with me now?" Uncle Iroh stepped forward, and ran his hand through Tenzin's legs. Tenzin let out a small yelp. Uncle Iroh said "After Korra opened the spirit portals, all spirits could come and go as they pleased - I just never had a real concrete motivator to leave the spirit world until now. However, since I was famous in my lifetime, too many people - especially your mother and Zuko - would recognize me, so I will need to find a new temporary home until I decide what to do. I want nothing to do with the spirit world - not after that - until Long Yumao the Opportunist is dealt with." Uncle Iroh smiled slightly, and vanished through a wall.
Something Uncle Iroh had just said itched at Tenzin's mind - "Spirit Civil War." Tenzin had never been one for total guesswork or ancient accounts, but that had an eerily familiar ring to it - it sounded an awful lot like what Avatar Wan had to deal with between humans and spirits before closing the portals. He also had some scrolls in his study talking about contention amongst spirits - observations about the affairs of the Spirit World from airbender scholars that had miraculously survived for thousands of years inside an arid cave.
After Tenzin ran to his artifact room and opened the door he couldn't help the shocked expression on his face at what he saw - and he had the uneasy feeling that was exactly the wrong expression to have if he didn't want a fireball shot at him. He could only manage, as the two girls stirred from their slumber, to ask, "Korra? Asami? What are you doing here?" He looked at the floor, and his cheeks turned a deep red. Were those… their shirts? He pointed at one, and began to say, "It's certainly not to study", and just managed to dodge the spurt of flame aimed near his feet.
Korra was just finally reaching a deeper sleep again when the doors to the artifact room burst open. After all this time in relative darkness, she couldn't make out who was there very well. A voice began talking, asking, "Korra? Asami? What are you doing here?" Korra had an unpleasant realization - it was Tenzin! If he decided to go running to anyone but Mako or Katara, the whole circle of trust plan would fall to pieces, the fact that Tenzin trusted her not occurring to her in her panic. She saw him eyeing their discarded clothes with mounting alarm - and the face he was making pushed her over the edge.
As he began saying, "It's certainly not to study", Korra cut him short with a small spurt of flame between the feet. He was quicker than her own still-slightly sleepy self. Ignoring his now horrified expression, Korra shook off the last of her sleepiness, and jumped to her feet, forming a fairly large fire in her right hand. "What are you doing here, Tenzin? And just what was the meaning of that expression you had earlier?!" she snarled, adding with a more desperate tone, "This wasn't how it was supposed to work!"
A female voice said "KORRA! What are you doing? Put down that fire right now - it's just Tenzin!" from the floor. Korra felt a well-placed kick on her bottom, and she fell forward face-first. Face now blushing hotter than the now-extinguished flame, she managed to squeak out "Hey, Tenzin! Fancy meeting you here…" as she scraped her chin on the floor to look up to him. She braced for the inevitable angry lecture about proper use of firebending, and to be more careful around so many priceless artifacts. Tenzin surprised her - he almost looked ready to cry in sadness.
Tenzin turned his downcast eyes to Korra, who was still looking up at him awkwardly from the floor. After wiping his eyes slightly, Tenzin said mutely "Korra, you have to know I would never judge you or reject you over anything, much less who you want to be with. I may be hard on you at times, but airbenders were - and still are, to a large extent - renowned for their open-mindedness and compassion. Your hostility hurts me more than if your fire had hit its mark."
Korra was still shaking slightly on the floor in anger and embarrassment - anger at Asami for the kick and for her own foolish reaction to Tenzin, and the remnants of the embarrassment of one of her best teachers and friends finding her in such a … position. Asami, now standing, bent over to take Korra's hand and lift her off the floor. Before Asami could say anything, Korra said directly to Tenzin, "I'm sorry for my reaction, Tenzin. I just need you to understand the importance for secrecy regarding our unconventional relationship, and why that made me panic and act so hostile." She bowed deeply to Tenzin.
He bowed back, stating, "Apology accepted, Korra." A smile lit up his face, and he pointed to a pot full of scrolls, saying, "I think I know something that will make you two feel better. Here, let me grab a special scroll quickly." He rummaged through the pot, finding a scroll with Air Nomad markings that looked as though it had barely survived Sozin's genocide - she could see charred segments. Tenzin brought the scroll to Asami and Korra, and pointed to an unmarred section, saying, "Most of this scroll is of no consequence to anyone but the most serious Air Nomad scholar - even I fell asleep reading parts of it. I could only imagine Zaheer would be interested in its entirety. Anyways - it is a list of decrees and findings by various Air Nomad scholars and leaders over time, and this is the one I found most relevant." He pointed to a block of script with a red pencil's markings surrounding it, saying, "As my 'apology' for bursting in on what was clearly a private affair, allow me to read it to you - just sit down with your girlfriend. Asami, Korra... I have a feeling you'll both really like this."
Before Korra could ask some smart-alecky question like "Is it the guy who never ate finally eating?" or "Is it sexy?", Tenzin began reading. He dropped into a more serious tone than usual - if that was even possible - and began saying, "It has not escaped the notice of the elder monks and Air Nomad leadership that some individuals in our communities do not seek the company of members of the opposite sex during the short window we Air Nomads allow for intercourse, nor has it escaped our notice that these same individuals will act with one another in a decidedly non-platonic fashion outside of this time." Korra could feel her curiosity growing by the word, Tenzin continuing, "The assembled scholars have agreed that in the name of compassion and empathy, that these relationships are not to be disrupted, as they might be in the other three nations. Furthermore, these relationships shall be allowed to exist in their full capacity - including intercourse, of its kind - all the time, as these woman on woman and man on man pairings have no potential for producing a family unit that might supersede the primacy of Air Nomad culture and community. Their relationships shall from henceforth be known as 'another way for the wind to blow', without any of the derogatory remarks present in the other three nation's vocabulary."
Though the writing was dry, Korra found what it said to be more liberating than when she busted loose of Zaheer's chains, and based on her look alone, Asami felt even more relief. Korra felt some tears coming to her eyes, as she asked Tenzin happily, "You mean we're not alone? And that a whole NATION saw homosexual relationships as not only acceptable, but equal to norma- I mean, heterosexual ones?" Tenzin laughed, and said, "From what I have read further on the subject, some of the Air Nomad leaders actually found same-sex relationships to be less troubling - no potential for an untimely baby or 'subversive' family unit formation."
Korra could see Asami blush at the same time as she felt her own cheeks fill with blood. "Yeah, about the baby part, Tenzin…" Asami began explaining, as Tenzin looked at her with increasing surprise. Both she and Asami started unleashing a veritable tide of words, explaining everything that happened in the Spirit World, and what Katara thought had occurred. When the name Long Yumao came up, Tenzin looked uncharacteristically uneasy. Once he felt that both women had talked their share, Tenzin put his hands on both their shoulders, saying with a hint of fear, "You mention this 'Long Yumao' spirit… I believe I now have something to tell you." Korra could see his unease rising, Tenzin saying, "To keep the story short, after the argument with my mother this morning, I meditated. At first only on what she said - which I eventually realized was wholly true." Korra couldn't help but let her jaw drop open slightly, Tenzin smiling slightly as he said, "I managed to accidentally project myself to where Jinora and Kai were by focusing on Jinora's energy. I told them both about the conversation I had with Katara, giving my support to Jinora to make her own choices. They… made a face sort of like yours. When I finished, I felt as if a large burden had been lifted from my soul."
Korra hugged Tenzin, looking up to his face, and said, "That's great! You can project yourself just like your daughter can now." Korra felt a frown form on her face, asking, "What does that have to do with Long Yumao?" Tenzin shivered slightly, continuing, "Apparently, the control I had attempted to exert over Jinora had served as a block to entering the Spirit World properly - through meditation." As Tenzin explained his encounter with Uncle Iroh, Korra felt a smile return to her face - only to be replaced by a look of abject horror as he described Long Yumao's new appearance, size, and how many spirits were following him. She suddenly remembered her bizarre dream, and realized it was no sleepy hallucination, wondering what humans ever did to this spirit to make him so hateful.
She began to cry out of fear and uncertainty, tightening her hug around Tenzin, who let out an audible grunt, saying, "Easy, Korra! You're a lot stronger than you think - physically, emotionally and spiritually." What Korra felt to be false, placating words only made her - and now Asami, who was also now hugging Tenzin - start to weep more bitterly. Korra cried, "This is all our fault! If me and Asami hadn't gone into that stupid portal…" Tenzin let out a deep sigh, saying, "By the spiri- I mean, Raava. Can't really say the first now, can I… You are right to be somewhat fearful. This does not sound good, Korra." Korra still could not completely wipe away her fear, but her tears began to subside. Korra saw Tenzin extend his hand, and blow the tears off her own cheeks, as well as Asami's, Tenzin asserting, "Korra, this is not your fault; it sounds as if Raava wanted this to happen - for the spirits to start treating us more reasonably, if not in some cases as equals. This Spirit Civil War is just a nasty side effect - growing pains the world must go through to enter a brighter future. On the other note -you said yourself Raava now sees yin and yang as Uncle Iroh does, through no small help on your own part. This other wonderful event is both something for us to celebrate as a group for its own sake, and a catalyst for the other change. It's a shame we'll have to wait almost a year to see the baby." Tenzin pushed both Korra and Asami away from him slightly, saying, "Even if he himself wishes you could share without reservations, Uncle Iroh is probably right that no one we cannot trust should know. Especially Asami's pregnancy - that is uncharted ground."
Korra felt herself stand up straight again, and sniffed slightly - the last sign of her earlier outburst, thanking Tenzin as she bowed, "Thank you for all your kind words and helpful information, Tenzin. I need to wash up, and …" Korra's eyes opened in a slight panic, saying, "Tenzin, quick, help Asami and I get our clothes back on. It would be really awkward if someone walked in on us like this." Korra was just helping Asami finish buttoning her overcoat back on as she heard the sounds of running, and panicked breath. Knowing that would likely be the airbender kids, Korra groaned, "Looks like we're not a moment too soon." Tenzin hurriedly stuffed the scroll back into its pot as the footsteps approached.
Bumi was running as hard as he could towards the trio, seemingly forgetting he was an airbender now. Bumi was being trailed by his little spirit friend, Bumju - who looked a bit… whiter than normal? Bumi began talking rapidly when he reached his brother, saying, "This isn't some story. Bumju says a big mean spirit tried to insult him for hanging out with humans, and that he can't remember anything after that! Avatar, you do spirity stuff. Can you help him?" Bumju let out a sequence of shrills and high-pitched squeaks, and Bumi told the spirit, raising his arms in the air, "What do you mean you're perfectly fine! Now why don't you tell me the real reason I ran halfway across Air Temple Island." Bumju made motions mimicking those of an airbender's, and Bumi slapped himself in the face, grumbling, "Why didn't you tell me I should have just airbent my way over here!" Thoroughly annoyed, Bumi crossed his arms, pouting,"Whatever. Won't wear my sweater, and now all this nonsense." Korra noticed Bumju coming to her.
She reached out to touch the spirit, intending to tussle it - it was very cute, after all, and seemed to want her attention. Instead, she heard a high little voice in her head when she made contact. It said "Hi, Avatar! Can you help me? I was trying to warn Bumi about a war that I don't understand, but he wouldn't listen." Korra found herself talking to the spirit, much as Bumi would have, asking "Can you show me what happened?" As she felt herself beginning to fade, she could hear Bumi yell "Hey! Korra, you already have a spirit friend, and Bumju's mine!" She felt her eyes glow slightly, and her palm shot up to meet Bumi's forehead, holding a wildly grabbing Bumi back from her and Bumju.
As the Avatar, Korra had plenty of experience with the sensation of another, more powerful being inhabiting her own body. Now, though, the feeling was reversed - here she was, watching the small spirit's memory of what had happened as the more powerful and wiser presence. She couldn't help but wonder if this was part of what being a parent or being Raava felt like.
As she fully came to, watching a stilled Spirit World through Bumju's eyes, she heard his high little voice again. "I was just minding my own business, Avatar, when a big mean spirit came and started talking bad about me and Bumi." The scene in front of her unfroze, and she saw a visibly incensed Long Yumao rise before Bumju, as though he had just lost some quarry he desperately desired to catch. She remembered what had just occurred to Tenzin, and as she said "Bumju, this is Long Yumao, and you were right to call him mean - he doesn't like spirits who tolerate, much less like humans, and despises humans as well," Korra noticed the scene had frozen again. She took the opportunity to study his features, and she confirmed what Tenzin had said - Long Yumao certainly had a lot of hateful and wrathful energy in him that reminded her of Vaatu's, but it lacked something - chaos. Korra suddenly understood this new adversary's nature better - he wanted order, much like Kuvira, but saw spirits ruling humanity with an iron fist instead of a human - Kuvira - doing so. Though even Kuvira had made no pretense to try and rule spirits outright…
She could sense Bumju was confused, much in the same way she was when Raava wouldn't tell her something, Korra thinking much as Raava might intone to her, "Sorry, Bumju, I was just thinking to myself that this big mean spirit is an awful lot like two individuals I have already met - one spirit, one human. Bet he wouldn't like me telling him that last bit." Korra tried to smile, but found she couldn't - she felt as featureless as Raava. Without form, she thought, "Anyways, show me the part where you stopped remembering - I may be able to see what you couldn't."
The frozen image before her resumed motion once more, with Long Yumao snarling "Hello, little spirit. I've heard that others make fun of you for how close you are to that clown of a mortal, Bumi - they say it's not proper for humans and spirits to be friends." Korra saw many yellow eyes appear behind Long Yumao, sheltered in darkness. "They wonder whose side you are on - spirit, or human - along with that traitor, Raava. You must have heard the rumors of her favoritism, and that… gift she gave her lackey." Korra was surprised when she encountered what appeared to be an inner block that stopped her from becoming angry. Bumju chimed in, "This is where I forget what happened."
Korra could sense the normally peaceful spirit growing very angry, and she sensed Bumju's body growing in size, to occupy the form Furry Foot had taken under Unalaq's influence. Something was off compared to that terrible time, however - Bumju was a striking white-blue instead of the evil color Jinora's spirit "friend" was temporarily all those years ago.
All of a sudden, she heard a very familiar voice - but one that had obviously caused Bumju much confusion, and was possibly the cause of his lapse of memory.
Interesting, my first convert - I didn't expect this so soon, a voice whispered into what she assumed was Bumju's consciousness. What she knew to be Raava continued, You need to get out of here, Bumju. Just focus on Bumi's energy, and I'll help with the rest.
Before doing that, however, Bumju grabbed a surprised Long Yumao by the eyefeathers and began spinning him around, eventually letting him go, sending the enraged spirit sailing over the horizon, his surprised squawking fading. Not quite what I had in mind, but that will do. She could feel Bumju shrinking back to normal size, and focusing on Bumi. The small spirit vanished just in time before the multitude of Dark Spirits that had been behind Long Yumao crashed onto the spot where he had once been.
She heard Bumju's high voice asking her, "So what happened? Did a fight happen? I don't like fighting." Korra told him what had happened, and told him he had been very brave to grab onto Long Yumao like that. The spirit then asked her "And why am I whiter?" Korra did not have an immediate response, so she returned both of them to the physical world, from the spirit's memory.
Now you have some idea of what it feels like to be me, Avatar, and vice versa. Maybe you will be a bit more sympathetic to my occasional slipup. Raava continued, with what felt like a small amount of budding human emotion, Bumju is whiter than he was because, in standing up for "his" human, he aligned himself with my will. I hope he will prove valuable in this coming Spirit Civil War, especially as one of my first converts, even if he doesn't like fighting much.
Korra began to explain this to Bumju, letting Bumi fall flat on his face. After she was finished, she noticed everyone but Bumju giving her a very strange look - almost as if she had been speaking gibberish. Bumi stared with wide eyes, telling her, "I've never seen a human speak Bumju's language before - I didn't think it was possible." He put his hands on his hips, and with considerable jealousy said, "Wish I could talk like that. Now that you're done with my Bumju, want to explain what happened in there?" When Korra got to the part where Bumju tossed Long Yumao like a sack of potatoes, Bumi started laughing hysterically, and grabbed Bumju, saying "That's my boy!"
Instead of an angry trill like Korra expected, as Bumju did not like fighting, he merely squealed contentedly. The same unknown part of her mind that had apparently let her verbally speak to Bumju translated it as "I may not like fighting, but I will gladly follow you into battle, Avatar, if it means protecting Bumi and his human friends." She started smiling at the same time as Bumi, who picked Bumju up into the air, and said, "You're darn right, soldier - the real reason humans fight in wars is rarely for an ideology, but for their comrades or loved ones." Bumi fished in his pockets, and produced a sufficiently gaudy medal, looping its string around Bumju's neck. Bumi yelled, with a dramatic flair, "I now pronounce Bumju Commander of the first Spirit Battalion! Now, Bumju, if you're going to command, I'll need to tell you -" A sudden blast of air knocked Bumi off his feet, and Bumju simply trilled and began flying again.
After a low moan, Tenzin barked, "Brother, I won't have you trying to militarize your own spirit buddy! Now take that ridiculous thing off him - I have a feeling that Raava can handle orders just fine, being an all-powerful spirit and all." Bumi stood back up, and looked like he was going to ask another stupid question - probably involving why Tenzin had been with Asami and Korra before he ran up. Predictably, Bumi started, pointing at Korra, asking "And just what were you three doing before I came? It certainly didn't seem like you were talking about the weather."
Korra vaguely considered earthbending a small wave of earth at Bumi's feet as Toph had once done to her, but stopped short - she was no grouch. Korra started telling Bumi about the coming Spirit Civil War, making careful to avoid anything to do with the "gift" from Raava or her and Asami. Bumi put his hand to his chin, with a concerned look on his face, saying, "I know that reconstruction has not yet begun on Republic City, but it might be wise to declare a control zone around the portal. I don't want any nonbenders entering and being abducted by Long Yumao, or any hotheaded benders stirring up the spirits inside any more than they already are." Bumi turned to Korra, with an increasingly uncharacteristically serious look on his face, saying, "The Northern and Southern Spirit Portals are not extremely close to any large human populations, Korra, so I do not think you need to do what I am about to suggest with those portals. I know this goes against what you did after Harmonic Convergence three years ago, Korra, but… if the infighting between spirits becomes too great and begins to manifest around the new portal, you may need to shut down the Republic City Spirit Portal."
He brings up a very good point, Korra, but I believe that point in time is very far off. It was good to have such a knowledgeable advisor, now that she was more used to the formerly practically mute spirit's increasing presence.
Korra responded, "Raava does not believe that is necessary just yet - it has only been a single day since the portal's opening after all, and closing it would lead people to question my decision to keep any Spirit Portal open in the first place." She turned, addressing both a surprised Tenzin and smiling Bumi at the same time, saying, "I have other business I need to attend to, and would appreciate you both leaving me and Asami be." After Bumi rushed off after a freewheeling Bumju, Korra whispered to Tenzin, "If it's alright with you, I would like to make your artifact room Asami and I's 'secret' bedroom until things settle down a little." Tenzin gave her a slightly distrustful look. Figuring what the problem was, Korra pledged, "And I promise, no more elemental bending inside the room." The look persisted. Korra mumbled, "Or the other kind of bending." With this final promise, Tenzin told her, "Yes, you can stay in the artifact room - you'll need to wait until more private quarters are available to carry out any… other activities, I'm afraid."
After Tenzin left, Korra told Asami, "Just wait here and doodle on your design pad until I come back - it may be a while." Korra stopped for a moment, and suggested, "Perhaps some long-term project you can work on when your pregnancy becomes a hindrance to your agility, and you no longer can fight as well. I'd hate for you or the…" Korra paused, the reality of the situation finally beginning to hit home. "… baby. To be harmed. Love you." She opened a window in the back so Asami would have a light to work by, and quickly left the room.
As she stepped out into the sunlight once more, one name entered her mind - Jinora. Before she tried to read Jinora's location, she thought to herself, in a way not much different than Bumju had when she was observing his memory, "How can I tell if she's circle-of-trust material, for sure? Raava, you mentioned that you would help in any way you could - care to give me any specifics?" She heard Raava intone, seemingly pleased, If you can get me close enough, I should be able to judge her through your physical touch - though I doubt there will be anything wrong with a girl who once saved me. Raava made something that closely resembled a laugh. Korra thought with a sense of relief , "You're starting to get the hang of some of this 'human-y' stuff, Raava - and not just through your connection to me." At first, the spirit had seemed somewhat dense regarding humans, but she could tell Raava was learning well from Korra.
You're the first Avatar to try to directly teach me anything human-y, Korra - most of the other ones just taught me some important things not to do to or say to other humans with their own misadventures, and Wan was too busy being the first Avatar for anything else... Korra felt the spirit laugh again, this time much closer to a human's, and saw a very brief flash of a laughing small girl with snow-white hair. I think I would be a lot less awkward if I had connection with our shared past lives again - but that's something for later. As the spirit finished, Korra placed her hand on the ground, focusing on Jinora's energy. She saw a vision of the young airbender sitting apparently alone, facing the sea - seemingly pondering something.
As Korra approached the spot she sensed Jinora sitting atop an air scooter, she saw a small form still facing the endless ocean. Korra yelled, "Hey, Jinora!" dismissing her air scooter, asking, "Why the long face?" Seeing that Jinora was still reluctant to turn and face her, Korra added, "Your father already told me about his little projection stunt. So I'm not here to ask you if you kissed Kai, or whatever you might think I am curious about." She became more concerned when even this good-natured jab produced no reaction. Korra ran up to Jinora's side, and used her waterbending to create a platform in front of Jinora that she could sit on and face Jinora directly.
As she finished sitting on the solid ice, she noticed Jinora had a very dark, concerned look on her face. Jinora's head slowly rose, and she could see that Jinora had her eyes closed. Jinora gasped in shock, and opened her eyes, coughing violently. Jinora said, clearly concerned, "Korra! I was just in the Spirit World, trying to be peaceful and figure out why my dad had such a sudden change of heart about me and Kai, and some big Dark Spirit tried to spook me! He said 'My name is Long Yumao, and you're not welcome here - and now to do what I failed to do to your father!' and I broke the connection instantly by instinct. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that spirit, would you?" Jinora usually tried to remain relatively stoic, but Korra could hear the fear in her voice. Jinora started tapping her finger on the sand - half impatiently, half anxiously.
This spirit was really starting to make her mad. First, he refused to help defend Republic City, home to both humans and spirits, then threatens to have a malicious spirit steal her girlfriend's face, insults Raava, attempts to do goodness knows what to Tenzin, bullies a much smaller spirit, and now threatens Jinora, a fourteen-year old? Korra felt an immense heat building in her chest, and faced up towards the afternoon sky. Eyes now glowing, she roared, "Universe, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" as huge spouts of blue flame left her mouth and intense jets of the same strange blue fire shot from her hands.
So this is what pure, human righteous anger feels like. Korra suddenly remembered she wasn't alone, and inhaled deeply, shutting off the seemingly infinite power of Raava and the Avatar State, leaving only a single orb of blue fire in her right hand. Jinora was staring at it, as if she were afraid the fire might take human form and try to kill her.
Pointing at it, Jinora said, "Korra! What in the name of the spirits did you just do?! You know that blue flame was the signature of one of my grandfather's worst enemies, 'Princess' Azula, right?" Korra heard an icy yelp in her head at mention of this Azula. A desperate look entered Jinora's eyes, Jinora saying, "Please tell me you aren't going crazy like she did!" Korra sighed deeply, and walked towards Jinora, outstretching her left arm - Korra wasn't done looking at that bizarre flame just yet. Reassuring Jinora, "Sorry about that, Jinora. No, I'm not going crazy, though I fear the world - specifically the spirits, just as you mentioned - may be. Raava's been talking to me seemingly nonstop in the past 24 hours," Korra noticed Jinora was still eyeing the flame, more so in curiosity than fear now. Sharing Jinora's curiosity, Korra said, "I only have a vague idea where that flame came from, so I'm not going to dismiss it just yet. Here, let me sit at your right side, and I'll explain more of what's going on. Sound good?" The young airbender's head bobbed up and down enthusiastically.
After Korra maneuvered carefully around Jinora, making sure to maintain the flame, she extended her arm to rest on Jinora's right shoulder. Korra grunted in exertion as she tried to sit down properly from a standing position without letting that odd blue flame go out or crush Jinora into the sand. Korra told Jinora to sit still for a second so that Raava could finish reading the young airbender next to her.
Read completed. It is as I thought, Avatar - she is trustworthy. Her experience with her father's disapproval of her relationship with Kai has made her very accepting of other's relationships. Korra felt Raava re-center herself inside Korra's chest. Before she could begin talking to Jinora, Jinora suddenly turned to her and said, "What was that weird energy I just felt? It felt like something was judging my worth. Can you teach me how to do it? If you do, I'll help you learn how to project yourself without Harmonic Convergence's help!" Jinora's eyes shone brightly - she always was thirsting for knowledge.
Korra patted Jinora on the head, and said, "No, sorry, kid - this appears to be Avatar only, unless Raava teaches me how to do it manually. It might even be Raava only, for all I know. I will, however, fill you in on what I said I would earlier." And so, Korra began to spill all the details of the past 24 hours. Again. As she finished, Jinora said, "Wow! And I thought creating a new Spirit Portal was cool. You truly will be a legend, Korra." Korra gave Jinora an odd look, and asked, "Aren't you worried at all? You know, about the Spirit Civil War, or what people will say once Asami gives birth to what will probably be a waterbender?" Jinora shrugged, and said, "I figure nothing can be worse than Harmonic Convergence and Vaatu almost destroying the world." Korra smiled at this young brazen optimist, and said, "I wish some of your optimistic attitude would rub off on me or your dad. We can both be a bit pessimistic at times."
Suddenly, Korra felt as though they were being watched. She yelled, "If that's you, Long Yumao the 'Opportunist'" -the last word in a goofy voice, making Jinora laugh - "I'll wreck your - " Stopping short, she realized the presence was no spirit - it was Opal. Korra stood up, facing the bushes and flaring the mesmerizing blue fire in her right hand at the same time, hoping to penetrate the darkness. Realizing that Opal had likely been listening in for some time, the flame flared larger under the influence of her rising anger. She asked loudly, noticing Jinora was quickly scooting away from her legs, "Just how long have you been listening in, you little sneak, and why didn't you just come out?" The only sound she could hear was the cracklings of the fire in her right hand. "Don't make me earthbend you out, you little eavesdropper - "
Opal suddenly leapt from the bushes and simultaneously used one hand to shoot a powerful blast of air at Korra's forehead and a leg to sweep a gust of wind from behind Korra, striking her knees. At just the right moment, when Korra was at her wobbliest, Opal used a powerful punch of air to hit her in the gut, breaking her flame and sending Korra tumbling backwards. She saw Opal's face appear over her own shortly after, and Opal gloated, "I may not be able to bend blue noble's fire, but I can still knock you over. Now apologize to me." Korra made a quick grab for Opal's leg, catching her off guard, and the airbender joined Korra in the sand.
Read complete. Opal is also trustworthy - Suyin Beifong's lifestyle has left Opal open to many possibilities. ..though I would suggest you treat your allies a little better. Korra thought with a whine, "Come on, that was just being… playful! Just a little good fun -" Don't bother trying to lie to me, Korra. We both know you were furious at Opal. Now say sorry, before she notices the delay this unnecessary second half of our conversation has caused and thinks you're crazy… er. Korra had to admit - Raava only continued to improve. She seemed less a clueless child now, and more an exasperatingly knowledgeable mother. Of course, that lie had been pretty weak, and the spirit wasn't trying to read another human - she was just reading her vessel.
Returning her attention to the people around her, Korra shook the sand off her body and Opal's, Korra said, "I'm sorry, Opal - I just don't like being stalked, and depending on how much you heard, the reason for that would be apparent." Opal apologized, "I'm sorry as well, Korra - based on what I heard and understood, it sounds like some very sinister spirit has something of a vendetta against you, and I shouldn't have remained in the bushes so long." Opal sighed slightly, and continued, "Since I don't know what I don't know, you may as well start from the top." Korra groaned slightly, and said aloud "Just one more to go after this," and then told Opal everything she had been repeating so often lately, wishing she could just… give out information!
Saving the most bizarre news for last, Opal giggled slightly when Korra mentioned that she had basically made Asami pregnant with Raava's… unasked for help. Stepping back from Korra's more-than-slightly angry frown, she just said, "I already figured out that Mako knows about your relationship with Asami, but I can't wait to see his reaction to that." Korra laughed, and said, "Too late - I told Katara to let him know what she figured out earlier. Sorry - I don't think you'll be seeing any shocked reactions from him." Opal looked vaguely disappointed, and then she began talking again with a slight gleam in her eye, saying, "Oooh! I know one person you haven't told yet who should have a funny reaction - Bolin. Can I tag along to see his face?" Opal put her hands together in what had to be the most annoying way possible.
Seemingly without her input, Korra's right hand formed a blue flame again, this time in the form of a small blue dagger. Korra yelled at Opal, the dagger growing slightly, "Do you think this gift from Raava is some sort of carnival freak show, or what? It started a WAR! I do not find this funny at all!" She heard Jinora mumble, "That looks an awful lot like one of Azula's firebending forms!" Korra took a deep breath, and the sickening fireblade vanished. Opal looked at Korra as if she were Kuvira. Korra began crying lightly, partly out of cumulative stress, partly out of guilt - and partly out of her ineptitude at controlling her emotions lately, crying included. Korra blubbered, "I'm sorry, Opal - the past few days have been extremely stressful, and in some ways I have been running on adrenaline for months now. If I am to master this 'gift' of blue fire, I will need to learn to control my emotions much better." As she said this, an idea occurred to her - what if she tried to temper that volatile flame just like she had tempered her anger in the Spirit World, and the lust that was leading her to disrespect Asami's wishes in the artifact room earlier today?
Korra motioned to Jinora and Opal to stand back, stating "Can you two step back for a second? I want to try something to control that flame." Their overeager faces and unanimous reply of "Sure!" from both of them annoyed her - but only a little. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she pointed her hands out towards the open sea. Korra tried to make the most violent and unruly flames that she could, thinking of Zaheer, Long Yumao and what Asami endured growing up. Based on the sounds of shooting jets, intense crackling and deep gasps from behind her, she had succeeded. Then, breathing deeply once more, she thought of Asami and her own love for her, opened her eyes, and the flames stopped behaving wildly. Both had shrunk to manageable blue bushes, no longer striking violently across the ocean's surface. Examining her now upturned palms, she could have sworn she saw multiple colors at the base, but she was satisfied with blue.
Korra announced, "Test completed. You may now approach me again," dismissing the flames and turning to face the thicket behind her. She laughed at the shocked expression of Jinora's and Opal's faces. Opal asked, with some hesitation, "How on earth did you get those flames back under control? You barely avoided incinerating a passing boat!" Korra turned around, to see an obviously panicked fisherman gunning his motor. She frowned - she was sick and tired of almost hurting people. You should be glad you haven't hurt any people you love yet - your record is actually better than Aang's; remember the story of the first time he attempted to firebend and burned Katara? Korra felt herself relax, and she answered to Opal "I thought of my love for Asami, and I instantly regained control of the flames." Jinora cooed "Awwww," and Opal said rather dejectedly "I wish I could firebend - there's no airbending moves I can augment like that." Opal laughed, adding "Plus, I'm not sure that thinking of Bolin would give me more control over my bending just yet anyways - he's still too much of a goofball. I might just knock someone over." Korra snickered - business first, then a little "romance". Typical Beifong. "Speaking" of which…
Korra pointed at Opal's hands, then her feet, asking, "What did you knock me over with earlier, Opal? It didn't look like any airbending I've ever seen. It looked more like…" Korra suddenly slapped her forehead in realization. "Earthbending. It's based on earthbending, isn't it." Opal smiled lightly, and said, "Close, but not quite - the form and idea is closer to my mother's and aunt's fighting style, and the smaller, denser punches of air are intended to mimic steel projectiles." Opal's eyes glittered slightly as she said "steel projectiles", and said "I wish I could get my hands on something to propel with airbending that's easily storable in a magazine." Jinora shot Opal an accusing look, and said, "That's not very pacifist!" Opal laughed deeply, and said "Look, no offense, Jinora, but a sizeable chunk of these new airbenders still think less like you, and more like I do, given that they are from the Earth Kingdom."
Jinora stuck out her tongue at Opal, and said, "Sounds more like 100-Year's War era firebending to me." Apparently, this struck something of a nerve, as Opal scowled and used her same hybrid airbending move on Jinora. As a clearly shocked Jinora got up from the ground, Opal told her, "Look, you may be Tenzin's daughter and have your Airbending Master tattoos, but the facts support my view, not yours. We have a lot of new airbenders who are more steeped in Earth Kingdom culture, despite all your family's hard work over the past three years." Korra was tired of watching two practically mature women fight like five-year olds over a toy, and simply bent a wall of ice between the two feuding parties, and moved to straddle the wall. When she noted both Jinora and Opal giving her a sheepish look, Korra said, "Let the individual airbenders decide how they want to fight after showing and explaining the basics principles and forms of your new form, Opal. You also might want to hone this new style more first. If any show as… combative inclinations as you do, Opal, and want to augment their airbending with projectiles, I will ask Asami to design some new equipment for them. As is, I will make a special request for new equipment for you - she is currently doodling as we speak, probably coming up with ideas that far outstrip our own." Korra vaguely considered lightly splashing both as she tore away the ice wall between Jinora and Opal, but refrained from doing so. She walked towards solid ground, and placed her hand down.
Korra said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go talk to Bolin," as she headed in the direction her reading told her where Bolin was. Before she had walked even five feet, she could hear both Opal and Jinora starting to bicker. Korra walked backwards just enough to be able to manipulate the ocean's water, then bent two small jets of water from the sea at both quarreling girls' faces, saying, "And quit fighting - it's not very pacifist or like an Air Nomad either." Korra heard both girls laughing as she finally left earshot. Korra said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go talk to Bolin," as she headed in the direction her reading told her where Bolin was. Before she had walked even five feet, she could hear both Opal and Jinora starting to bicker. Korra walked backwards just enough to be able to manipulate the ocean's water, then bent two small jets of water from the sea at both quarreling girls' faces. "And quit fighting - it's not very pacifist or like an Air Nomad either." Korra heard both girls laughing as she finally left earshot.