Chapter 15: Good Wishes

Senna was worried - she hadn't seen Korra since the Zhurrick wedding, and it wasn't like Korra to just run off and not tell her own parents that she was leaving for what seemed like 24 hours. Korra's separation from her and her husband, Tonraq, by the White Lotus all those years ago had instilled a deep respect and value for family and the precious time they could spend together in her daughter. It didn't help that she had seen practically everyone else who had dealings with her daughter disappear earlier today - apparently on some hush-hush mission.

Tonraq could tell Senna was worried, and he said, "Our 'little girl' is 21 now, honey - she's fine." A loud barking outside their temporary housing was followed by a huge white form knocking over half of the tent. Naga began licking both her and Tonraq excitedly, as though the polarbear-dog was expecting Korra to come calling soon. Petting the huge beast's side, partly to calm Naga down and partly to alleviate her own stress, Senna said, "You're such a good girl! Who's a cute polarbear-dog?" as Tonraq set the tent up around its new huge occupant. Naga settled down, staring expectantly at the small space left by the door - her white body took up most of the tent.

Tonraq put a large, comforting hand on Senna's shoulder and said, "We'll need to return to the South Pole relatively soon - as soon as I hear what Prince Wu's plan is for the Earth Kingdom, I want to return home. This place is far too hot for my tastes, and given the way Naga is panting, she doesn't care much for this small tent or weather either." Senna said, "I agree - I came here to see my daughter, and Zhu Li and Varrick get married - not sweat in some uncomfortable tent. Maybe Korra can even come with us, for a break…" Getting an idea, she asked Tonraq, ignoring the pang of longing for her daughter, "Do you think you could get an earthbender to set us up a larger shelter? I hadn't anticipated Naga being so friendly when I picked out our temporary tent."

Tonraq patted her on the back, saying, "That sounds like a good idea, Senna - it's just the only earthbenders I'd trust making me a shelter left on some urgent mission earlier today." Senna suddenly realized something - before she saw the two airbison laden with passengers, she had noticed the new Spirit Portal acting strangely. After she told Tonraq this, he said, "It must be something to do with Korra - I can't imagine what else could cause a Spirit Portal to act like that." Senna thought to herself, "That is rather obvious, honey…", but didn't say anything. She yawned absently - all the commotion of the past 48 hours was much more excitement than she was used to, ever since the Water Tribe Civil War had ended.

Just before she told Tonraq that she was going to see if she could find a source of water to form some ice to wake them all up, and cool down an overheated Naga, a strange shimmer appeared in the spot that Naga had been staring at intently. Suddenly, a form appeared in place of the shimmer, and Senna shouted with happiness - it was Korra! Naga began panting excitedly, staring at the blue form - apparently she could see Korra as well. Her daughter was smiling warmly, saying "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you where I was going before I left - had I known that my little trip would cause so much trouble, I would have told you before I went." Her daughter sighed deeply, seemingly ready to cry, and said to Senna "I'm sorry I can't hug you, Dad or Naga - this is just a projection, like what Jinora can do."

Tonraq asked, with a proud look on his face, "Just how did you manage to do that, Korra? I know that projection is a very advanced airbending move, and you never were one to strike me as an airbending master - at least not the spiritual side." Her daughter laughed, and said, "You're right, Dad - I've got a lot of explaining to do. But we just left the Swamp, so I've got plenty of time. Make sure no one can hear us, and I'll start." Tonraq gave his daughter a funny look, and said, "It appears you have already made sure that there's no one around to hear - what did you need ten people for in the Swamp, anyways?" Korra laughed again, saying, "It's a LOT more than just what happened in the Swamp. Let me start with when me and Asami entered the spirit world - " Senna saw an odd, surprised look on Tonraq's face, and given how Korra stopped suddenly and looked vaguely hurt, she must have seen it as well.

Seeing that he had potentially hurt his daughter's feelings, Tonraq said, making to cradle the projection's sullen face, "I don't know where you were going with that, sweetie, but wherever it is, I'm not going to judge you for it. It's just that the last I knew, you were still slightly interested in Mako, and figured if you were going to take anyone on a vacation, it'd be him - especially after what happened to his arm. He's lucky his brother saved him." Korra looked much more alive now, breathing an oddly large sigh of relief.

When Senna's only daughter began her story about since she had last seen her parents, sometimes Senna laughed, sometimes she cried, sometimes she recoiled in horror. She even noticed Tonraq getting emotional at times, and when they were both sad, Naga howled along in sympathy. When Korra had told them everything, Senna sighed contentedly, and told her daughter, "I'm glad that even though you're with Asami now, you'll still have a child - that was awfully generous of Raava," making sure to not mention the Spirit Civil War. Her daughter looked to the side, asking, "Mom, is it… normal, to fall for someone so hard, so fast? Part of me feels like I'm going too fast. Vacation one minute, having never heard of Asami's desire for me directly, the next, going way beyond a kiss." Senna smiled, pointing out, "You've already got a kid coming, and from what you told me, that was all Raava's doing, so fast… you wanted to go slow. Just go with what feels right. I fell for your father after a short time - two years, between meeting him, and, well, you." Smiling, her husband added with a low laugh, "Maybe I need to refresh your memory… it was a lot faster than that, Senna," making both her and Korra blush slightly for totally different reasons as Tonraq finished, "You've known Asami for years, Korra, and gone through a lot together. Not just fighting, either - though I guess technically the drama with Mako and your rehabilitation are just different kinds of fighting. Just be yourself, lucky daughter of mine." Korra looking relieved, Tonraq said, "Oh - about what you just said, Raava's gift to news also makes me happy, and I am especially glad you re-connected with your past lives again. Raava sounds like quite the lively spirit - never thought a huge white kite would have feelings, much less want to be 'human-y', let alone get drunk."

Korra laughed so hard she seemingly got an unseen figure to interact with her, and she yelled, "Zuko, stop that! You're supposed to be guiding Druk back to Republic City, not laughing so hard you double over." Tonraq said, in an overly loud voice, "Tell Zuko I said hi, and that his daughter is a coward!" After an apparent short exchange, Korra returned to face Senna, Tonraq and Naga once more, and said "He says hi, and that he agrees with you about his daughter." Given Tonraq's initial reaction, he was expecting a very different answer, but her husband resumed smiling all the same. Korra turned away once more, in a different direction, then said "Asami says hi as well! She pestered me about an official Water Tribe betrothal necklace just now, but given what I told you that 'Uncle' Iroh said about discretion, I don't think that's a good idea." While Senna was always one for romance, she found herself saying "I agree" at the same time as her husband. Senna having a deep distaste for close-minded people, she found herself rationalizing to Korra, wishing the reason she was about to give was the only concern, "It wouldn't be like my daughter to brag about that kind of thing anyways - at least, not the one who came back from three years of pain." Korra blushed slightly, and turned in the same direction again, saying "Later, Asami! I don't really feel like doing anything 'interesting' right now. I'm not done talking to my pa -"

Suddenly, Korra's eyes glowed momentarily, and she now had a rather confused look on her face. Her daughter shook her head from side to side, then said, "I'm sorry, Mom and Dad, but it looks like Raava needs me to help someone. She wouldn't say who - just that they were desperate, and she's telling me to hurry up. I'll talk to - and hug you - later." Just like that, her only child's image vanished once more. Even though she was no longer worried for Korra's safety, Senna hugged Tonraq and petted Naga intently all the same, wishing good things to come to whoever needed Korra's help.