Chapter 19 : A Private Affair
When Korra and Asami finally got back to the new plaza, both stared in amazement. There were more people here than when Korra had awakened from her short nap! One of Varrick's surviving huge "boats" - if you could call a private battleship like the Zhu Li a mere boat - was moored near a dock she didn't remember making, and Korra even spotted two strange, wooden cages containing rather defeated looking figures.
Tenzin, Zuko and Katara were standing in the center, laughing and talking to each other, only pausing to eat shark whale. Even Tenzin ate the meat, seemingly out of politeness to his mother rather than actually liking it. Mako, Bolin and Opal were close by, with Mako looking rather glum as Bolin kissed Opal, Bolin making to grab her - which only netted him a slap on the face and an angry girlfriend. He yelled loudly, "Oh, come on, Korra's already grabbed Asami's butt, and only they know what else, and you won't even let me squeeze your arm?" He began to say something else, but Opal cut him off with a blow of wind to the face, followed by a strong kiss on the lips. Opal asked him, "You happy now?" to which he could only reply "…. Yeaaah" before falling over onto his flushed face. Lin and Su, who were close by, started laughing wildly, and when their faces were red from laughter they resumed sipping what must have been weak sake. Or at least laughter's what Korra assumed their faces were red from, anyways.
Pema was leading Rohan, Ikki and Meelo on a tour of Varrick's huge boat, and given some angry shouts from a running Varrick, he either wanted them to pay admission to the Zhu Li or leave his possessions alone. A shrieking Meelo shot a few blasts of wind at a stuffed platypus bear standing on the deck, apparently trying to control it like a huge puppet. He failed miserably. A large piece of stuffing flew out, hitting Varrick in the face. Varrick grabbed Meelo and yelled "Why you little dirty rug rat!" Meelo smiled broadly, managing to get a hand free to point at an angry duo standing behind Varrick: Pema and Zhu Li. Pema snatched Meelo from a stunned Varrick as Zhu Li hit him over the head with a ledger and yelled, "No Thing for you tonight, mister!"
Jinora stood behind a large table, deftly sending plates and glasses flying back and forth to the different groups of people, some with food on or drink in them. She even managed to land two plates with food into the two odd cages, followed by two glasses of sake, receiving applause for her feat. After finishing clapping, Korra traced the path the plates and glasses had taken back to the table, and noticed three familiar figures behind the impromptu serving bar - one of whom was very large, and chewing on the remnants of the shark whale in content.
Korra dragged Asami behind her as she ran towards her parents, yelling, "Mom! Dad! I want you to meet my girlfriend, Asami!" As Naga leapt onto her master and Tonraq wrapped Asami in a polarbear-dog hug of his own, Korra barely heard a squabbling Zhu Li and Varrick yell "Asami's your WHAT now?!" in the distance. Blowing off the inevitable twin information dump until later, Korra talked and laughed with her mother and father for a good thirty minutes, Asami clearly enjoying having something close to a mother and father in-law. Tonraq even told Asami, "Korra was right - you do have a beautiful face," making Asami blush slightly.
They were only interrupted when Varrick, having apparently pried the ledger from Zhu Li's grasp, smacked Korra in the back of the head, saying, "Everyone talking about all this ostrich horse leavings that I have no idea what it means, and I hate not knowing what's going on. So I'll keep hitting you on the head with this now-unreadable ledger until you tell me!" Varrick proceeded to weakly bonk Korra on the head at least 20 times before she stopped laughing, and took him seriously. Korra told him, "Get Zhu Li over here and promise your undying secrecy and I'll tell you - though not with words." A confused Varrick ran off to get Zhu Li, and Korra told Asami, "Seeing Varrick and Zhu Li are basically your business partners and co-inventors, they'd have to know what was going on eventually. I wouldn't worry about him secretly selling our relationship information to the press - when he gets over here, just make sure to have your electroglove on, and mention it would be an unwise business move to anger his major business partner."
The ploy had the desired effect, though Senna was not pleased with Korra's dirty little tactic, or that Asami went along with it. Zhu Li found it hilarious, however, much to an already small Varrick's chagrin. Once Zhu Li had finished laughing, Korra told them both, "Prepare for the update of your lives!" and placed her hands on their foreheads. At about the point she was transmitting information about her training with Bolin, Korra felt a bit of information actually enter her brain - something about color movers? When Korra had finished - realizing she had accidentally imparted information about Kuvira's trials too late - she placed one hand at her side and one on Asami's shoulder. Before she could say anything, or ask about the color movers, Varrick yelled, "Wow, Korra - that was great! Any chance you can teach me how to do that with a machine or something? That's so much more efficient than talking!" Caught off guard, Korra laughed and said, "Nope, I'll tell you again what I told Jinora - this appears to be Avatar only." Zhu Li said, "That stuff you showed us about Kuvira - it was heartbreaking. She sounds like a changed woman, Korra - all thanks to you. You saved her not once, but twice." Korra fidgeted nervously, prompting Zhu Li to ask, "Surely, you have told people that Varrick and I's crazy former boss is now just formerly crazy - right?" Korra whispered to Zhu Li, "No - I guess now would be as good a time as any, though. By the way, who's in those wooden cages?"
Remembering what Kuvira had said about Tonga's wooden prison, their identities hit her like a ton of bricks. Korra said, looking at everyone around her except Asami in disbelief, "Surely you didn't bring two war criminals to this gathering - what were you thinking?" To Korra's surprise, it was Senna who said, "Last night, I happened to walk by Kuvira's wooden prison, and she yelled out to me to come closer, starting to tell me about what had just happened before you fell asleep on Druk's back. I thought that if she really was telling the truth, it'd be cruel to keep her and Baatar Jr. away from this celebration - I had a very hard time convincing Su and Lin with just Kuvira's word. They're still in those wooden cages, obviously." Tonraq put a large hand on his wife's back and said, "Why don't you try and use that new ability of yours to update everyone on what happened with Kuvira yesterday? I'd like to see what this 'information dump' feels like, especially since you told us the events of the past 48 hours old fashioned style. Varrick is right - while I thoroughly enjoyed our talk last night, this does sound like it would be a lot more efficient than talking." Before Korra could place her hand on the ground to impart Kuvira's trials to everyone - including Baatar Jr., hopefully - her father added, "Though something tells me this wouldn't be a good thing to use in diplomacy - politicians and rulers always love a good long speech or debate, though not if the speech is someone else's."
Laughing at a sudden image of trying to "update" President Raiko or Firelord Izumi with what Korra had just named "infobending" in her own mind, Korra entered into the Avatar State and placed her hand on the ground, using her new earthsense to "see" through now closed eyes. She used the channels in the marble-like stone beneath her feet to connect with everyone around her, and began infobending Kuvira's trials in great detail, making sure to keep the information she divulged about Jinshu Kuangmai to the necessary minimum. After she felt the light of Raava fade from her eyes, she withdrew her hand from the ground, looking around to see people's reactions.
Korra saw a surreal scene - everyone except herself, Asami, Varrick and Zhu Li were wobbling slightly with stunned looks on their faces. Apparently, receiving all of Kuvira's experiences and emotions from last night was quite stressful. People began shaking their heads back and forth to regain their composure, some like Zuko and Katara running towards the wooden cage on the left as they did so, most just rubbing their foreheads and groaning lightly, and others bursting into hysterics. Bolin and Su were both in this last group - though for different reasons. Bolin yelled, "AUGH! What did I tell you about doing that… thing, Korra! Now I'm going to have a headache all day!" before falling over - though this time, onto his back. Su sobbed loudly, "Wait… she called me MOTHER Suyin? She never even called me that when she was a child! And shattering that horrible thing, only to almost lose her face to Koh… I'm coming, Daughter Kuvira!" Su bent some metal off her person into the shape of a large saw, running off to the cage that Zuko and Katara were in front of, talking excitedly with its occupant. Lin could only manage a temporary look of cynicism at her sister before running after her, yelling, "Wait - don't just cut her free yet! What are you thinking? We need to replace the platinum handcuffs first!" Korra saw everyone else follow suit, finding her own legs moving of their own accord.
After both Kuvira and Baatar Jr. were outside of the wooden cages and bound in handcuffs - though Korra noticed that Lin had let both prisoners keep their hands in front of their bodies - Su hugged them both, saying, "I never thought that you'd call me something like Mother Suyin, Kuvira - or should I say, Daughter Kuvira." Kuvira began crying happily as Baatar Jr. let out a horrible yell, saying, "Get away from me! I want nothing to do with you - and I have no idea why everyone is acting so friendly with you now! You kept yammering at me last night, but I just plugged my ears - we're done!" Kuvira stood silent at first, but then said, "Look, I know I fired that awful weapon at you, Baatar Jr. - but I was most definitely following my evil side up until last night, like I tried to tell you." Baatar Jr. spat in Kuvira's face, cursing and then yelling, "I don't care if you became the new Avatar and vanquished Vaatu permanently tomorrow, or magically restored the Earth Kingdom, Zaofu AND Republic City to what they used to be before you ravaged them! Now, just leave me alone!" Lin forcibly restrained him from attempting to kick or knee Kuvira in the groin as he cursed madly.
Su ran away from Kuvira and Baatar Jr. towards Korra, saying, "Why don't you do that … thing on my son, and see if he changes his mind? Apparently, the wooden cage must have blocked the information from flowing." She turned around, with a stern expression on her face, saying, "Right, Junior?" Korra walked over to Baatar Jr. with Asami and Su as Su's son said, "I don't know what you're talking about, mom, but I don't care what Korra has to say!" He broke free from Lin's grasp, only to be entombed in ice. An angry Katara yelled, "You stupid fool - surely, you've heard the stories of how then Prince Zuko defected to Team Avatar after having a change of heart?" Baatar Jr. said curtly, "Yes, I have - but then again, Zuko never tried to turn me into ash with a spirit weapon!" An angry Zuko started explaining to Baatar Jr. just how off his excuse was as everyone else just stared at the angry former Firelord. Emotions running high, Korra dismissed a thought that floated through her mind: "Becoming good again… Wasn't Baatar Jr. first?" Korra felt her eyes glow momentarily, and Aang's figure appeared in front of her body, turning to face and join Zuko in his little ten-minute lecture. Korra noticed that as the two former enemies turned allies lashed into Baatar Jr., even Lin's eyes softened.
After Aang's image vanished, Zuko stared intently at Kuvira's obviously now ex-boyfriend in anger. Baatar Jr. just crossed his arms as far as his handcuffs and ice prison would allow him and said, "I don't care if Zuko's switch ended up saving the world - Kuvira still tried to kill me in cold blood, and it's not as if she's going to get a chance to help save the world. After the Battle of Republic City, I can hardly imagine anything being more dire or worse." Everyone - even including Pema, Rohan, Ikki, and Meelo, Korra not having remembered showing Rohan anything - began laughing hysterically. Korra felt her eyes glow again, and a familiar small, white-haired girl very briefly appeared in front of Baatar Jr. He began to laugh wildly, causing Raava to grow to full size before anyone but Korra had seen the previous, smaller form. Raava yelled, "NOW do you recognize me, you stubborn moron? Here, allow me and Korra to demonstrate exactly what happened to Kuvira last night, that you couldn't be bothered to listen to. As well as exactly why Kuvira is needed and not just a prisoner of war, like you are." Raava extended a large tentacle rapidly to Baatar Jr.'s forehead, and Korra followed suit on his back.
Korra could feel Raava putting extra care into this infobending, making sure that Baatar Jr. saw that there would be no peace for quite some time and that he felt everything that both Kuvira and Korra had. Korra noted with pleasure that Raava also kept Jinshu Kuangmai's identity a secret. After Raava removed her tentacle and returned to Korra's body, a voice intoned proudly I know what a secret is - and I plan on helping you keep it.
For about five minutes, Baatar Jr. stood in mute silence until finally saying, "You're all crazy! I fail to see how Kuvira will be of any help from a jail cell!" Turning his head enough to barely see Kuvira, he yelled, "I still don't care about your 'trials' Kuvira, shattered evil self or not! We're completely through!" He took a deep breath, adding with a hoarse scream, "For crying out loud, you tried to kill me, you crazy b - " Su's hand slapped him across the mouth before he could finish the last word and stayed put until Lin bent a strip of metal towards Baatar Jr.'s face. He bit Su's hand and managed to say, mother crying woundedly, "Lin - surely you of all people don't buy Kuvira's bulls - " before his voice was muffled by the large strip of metal. Lin held him in the air by his new gag and forced him back into the wooden cage, bending some more metal to form a lock.
Kuvira had been crying bitterly for quite some time now. Mako approached her, saying, "I trust you - if 'Mother Suyin', Raava and Korra trust you, I see no reason why not." He put both arms around her chest, making sure to avoid the handcuffs, and Kuvira managed to say, "Thank you - that means a lot to me, especially after what I did to your home city and your arm," before her tears could return. She looked down at Mako's left arm and said, "Wow - I knew Korra 'told' me she had healed your arm, but I didn't expect this. Here, I want to feel it - I figure I'll need to start learning more about healing of any kind if I am to be of any use in the Earth Kingdom's rehabilitation." Kuvira grabbed Mako's palm with her handcuffed hands, feeling the flesh intently. When Kuvira didn't let go and clasped her hands tighter in an unanticipated move, both Mako and Kuvira blushed deeply. Bolin let out a whoop, starting to say an... earthy celebratory exclamation before a blast of air from Opal and then another metal gag from Lin stopped him short. Bolin removed the gag from his face, seemingly having gotten the message, and then ran up to Mako and Kuvira to hug them both. Mako let out a startled "Ow! Bolin, you're pressing me up against her handcuffs - don't hug so hard!"
Meelo tugged on Pema's clothing, asking, "Mom, can you teach us these words that keep getting interrupted? They sound cool!" Pema picked him up, letting a boisterous Rohan free, and said, "Maybe when you're older, Meelo - though I don't see what use an airbender would have for such words." Meelo pouted, saying, "I'm not just an airbender, Mom - I'm also a stylebender! You remember that picture I re-painted hanging in my room, right? That's how I wanna roll." Pema rolled her eyes, saying, "Yes, I do remember that portrait. While it is a fine piece of art, it seems more suited to a firebender's portrait - Firelord Ozai or Princess Azula, perhaps," finishing with a mischievous smile. Meelo's cheeks turned red, and Pema and Tenzin laughed deeply. Jinora began snickering in the background, along with Katara and Zuko.
This more lighthearted exchange and the silence of a gagged Baatar Jr. removed the pall in the air that the altercation between Baatar Jr. and Kuvira had produced. Thinking to herself that everyone who mattered was now present and somewhat happy, Korra felt a sudden surge of energy, spotting a familiar figure in front of her. Korra groaned deeply and said, "Raava, cut that out! I hate it when you leave my body without asking." Korra crossed her arms and let out an angry "Humph!" as Raava laughed hysterically, along with everyone who had been present at the Restoration.
Zhu Li, Varrick, Senna and Tonraq looked wide-eyed at Raava's "human-y" form - they had heard of it before, sure, but never actually seen it. Raava made a funny face, sticking out her tongue, making all four jump. She ran off towards Tenzin and Jinora giggling, and as Korra followed to maintain a close distance to Raava, she heard her father say, "She reminds me an awful lot of Korra at about four - now I see where she got it from." This just made Raava laugh loudly, only stopping once she and Korra were near Tenzin and his eldest daughter, now standing near the hugging trio from earlier.
Jinora had a mischievous look on her face. Once Korra and Raava arrived, she looked at her father and said, "So I guess it is true." Tenzin, taking the bait, asked, "What is true, Jinora?" Without missing a beat, Jinora replied, pointing to Kuvira, "They really will let anyone into the spirit world these days," closing her eyes and grinning widely much as her grandfather might have done. Apparently, Kuvira, Bolin and Mako overheard this, and all three began laughing loudly, with Korra and Raava joining in their mirth shortly after. Raava slapped Jinora on the back, saying loudly with a fake groan, "You beat me to it!" Tenzin had a furious look on his face, saying, "That smile! Urgh… You're just like my father, Jinora. If I weren't so thoroughly an Air Nomad, I'd spank you for that!" Korra heard Kuvira, Bolin and Mako laughing harder, and what she sensed as five individual's footsteps approaching them. As Jinora and Raava giggled, she identified the two other individuals - Asami and Opal. Shortly before the rest of the core of Team Avatar arrived - Korra realized with an odd start she had just lumped in Kuvira with the rest of them - Tenzin looked at Raava with a serious, slightly desperate expression. He asked, "You don't really mean to tell me her joke was the truth, do you?" Raava laughed with an edge of irritation, saying, "Just so you know, Tenzin, what she said isn't true, in case you took my comment seriously. Do remember, before Kuvira meditated into the spirit world, she had just 'shattered' her evil half in a fight for her sanity and soul."
Once the new arrivals were comfortable, Jinora said, with a serious look, "This private party can't and shouldn't just be about laughing and having fun, so it's time for me to share an idea I had. I remember in the - what is your name for it, Korra? Information dump?" Korra answered, "I want to call it infobending - information dump just sounds inelegant and slightly dirty." Bolin laughed as Jinora continued, "Yes, infobending. Anyways - I remembered the comment that Long Yumao made about trying to challenge Vaatu for this never-before heard 'Grand Dark Spirit' title if he could get his beak on Vaatu. Thinking about how Long Yumao loves to prattle on about how many 'sensible' spirits were offended or enraged by Raava's generous gift to Asami and Korra, I thought that we could use this new information about Long Yumao's plans against him. I figure that if some of his supporters or neutral spirits knew he intended to usurp Vaatu and disturb the balance that has existed between Raava and Vaatu, two perfectly opposed spirits, we will get some spirits to come to Raava's side. Long Yumao holds chaos and utter darkness in disdain, making him a flawed foil to Raava." Jinora stopped, clearly proud of her idea.
Before Korra could compliment her idea, Raava said drolly, "While that is a good idea and will likely win us converts, Jinora, I am afraid due to my own changing nature that Long Yumao is now a better foil for me than Vaatu." The teapot around Raava's neck seemingly "nodded" in agreement. "Before my close interactions with Korra - especially of late - Vaatu and I were perfect foils of one another. He mainly represented darkness and chaos - spirit and human alike, while I mainly represented light and order. However, as my interactions with Korra have changed me, I have begun to value something you humans call 'freedom', 'humanity', and 'equal opportunity'. Vaatu, while he dislikes humans, doesn't really care if it is human darkness and chaos or spirit darkness and chaos. I have the feeling that had the Fire Nation won the 100 Year's War, he wouldn't have even bothered trying to get the new Avatar to free him for Harmonic Convergence. His job of bringing about destruction, darkness and chaos - even if it did manifest itself in the form of an oppressive genocidal government instead of absolute disorder -would have already been done for him by human tyrants. Three genocides - Air Nomad, Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom…"
Korra noticed with a sickening feeling that the teapot was now vigorously "nodding", letting out a muffled noise as though he had something to say. Raava stopped, opening on a clasp on the teapot and yelling at Vaatu, "You can stop doing that any time now!" and shut the clasp again before continuing, "Long Yumao the Opportunist, on the other hand, does not stand for absolute darkness or chaos, but instead stands for 'oppression', spirit's rule of humans, and the superiority of spirits over humans. As I find the qualities of light in more and more humans, and reflect on the great improvements of order in the world worked for so hard by humans, I feel myself transferring my value of light and order into a larger blanket - the 'humanity' I mentioned." The teapot began vigorously vibrating, knocking a clasp slightly ajar and a small curse escaped from Vaatu, who then yelled "I still would have wanted out - humans can't do my job perfectly, as Unalaq so deftly showed me. Long Yumao… That other fool must not get my title!" A laughing Raava shut the clasp once again, smacking the teapot's side for good measure. Raava finished, "My experience with Kuvira has only accelerated this process - I honestly thought she would lose to her evil half and her mind would shatter like 'Princess' Azula's did, and seeing her triumph has only increased my faith in humanity."
While Jinora did look slightly disappointed, she still seemed glad that her idea would be of some effectiveness. Kuvira looked positively ecstatic, picking up Raava and grinning wildly. Raava enjoyed it at first, but tired after about thirty seconds, saying, "Please put me back down, Kuvira. My… stomach? … doesn't feel very good." Once back on the ground, Raava stumbled around until her eyes widened in anticipation. As she began running, Korra realized with a start she was heading towards the sake table! Not wanting a drunk Raava, Korra did something she hadn't tried before - forcefully recalling Raava. At first, her attempt was very weak, then she felt a huge surge of energy - it must have been her past human lives helping! Once an angry Raava was back inside her, an image of Aang left Korra's chest, who said, "That was satisfying to watch, after all the trouble I had controlling the Avatar State during my youth." He grinned widely and said, "Carry on!" vanishing without a trace. Despite Korra's best efforts, Raava exited her body yet again - though this time she seemed uninclined to run off to go drink sake, and seemed to pay Korra a bit more respect.
Apparently, Katara had heard Aang's voice, as Korra saw her running towards them away from Korra's parents and Naga. Once she arrived, she asked, "That was Aang, wasn't it? I was just talking with your mother and father, Korra, and it got me thinking about my own family. While it is nice that I can see Aang again, I still feel the loss of my brother. He died too soon…" Tenzin gently walked to his mother, saying, "I'm sure he's in a good place, Mother - if he were alive, he'd probably still be looking for that sword of his." Katara managed a weak laugh, saying, "You're right - it's just sort of depressing to think that when almost any human dies, their spirit just vanishes to the next life unceremoniously, except for a few like Iroh." Katara looked like she was about to start crying, and a concerned Raava said with a coy smile, "Who knows, Katara - after this Spirit Civil War is over, I might be able to do something about that. The spirit never truly dies - as you said, it is reincarnated, inaccessible to the living except in extreme circumstances." Korra was rather puzzled by how Raava looked at Asami as she said this last bit, Asami saying, "Oh. So that's what happened..." As though picking up an unspoken question from Asami, Raava said, "Not now, Asami. Though, I will answer your partially formed question - the person has no memory of their past life." Korra was about to ask why Raava had such a strange expression, and what Asami was talking about, but Raava coughed, saying, "Not now, Korra. Wait." Something in the way Raava said this told Korra she would be waiting quite some time, Raava nodding. Katara gave Raava a funny look, saying, "Forget all the waiting. Is this other thing about Sokka? Wait - surely, he's not… Is he what I think he is?" The shimmer in her eyes fading, Katara groaned in frustration when Raava replied by way of a wide, toothy Aang-style smile, Katara saying, "Fine, be that way!" as she crossed her arms in a huff. Raava said, taking slight offense at Katara's anger, "You're not the only one with surprises waiting - and Korra's is even bigger!" Giving Raava a quizzical look, Korra began to ask Raava what could possibly be bigger than an immortalized Sokka. Raava shook her head before the words could leave Korra's mouth, saying, "It is not up to me to decide when, or even if, this surprise happens." Korra noticed Asami shift uncomfortably, but Korra was interrupted before she could speak, unable to remember her question, as though someone had snatched it from her mind…
Bolin, who had been muttering, "Sword! Sword! Sword!" under his breath the whole time, finally couldn't wait any longer and said, dragging Korra off to the side, "Korra, I've been wanting to learn how to use a sword, like the Kyoshi Warriors use their fans. But Kyoshi Island is all the way in the Southern Earth Kingdom, and given all this new information about this General Jinshu Kuangmai, I don't really want to go anywhere outside Republic City unless I have to. So, do you think you could project Avatar Kyoshi herself out here?" Korra gave him a dirty look - he had dragged her over here to ask her to project the one Avatar that hated her guts? Bolin said, "Look, I know you and Kyoshi aren't on the best of terms, but maybe if I talk to her she'd be willing to listen." Figuring she had nothing to lose, she focused on Kyoshi's energy, noticing that Raava was at Korra's side once the angry Earth Avatar had appeared. Raava was doing her best stink-eye at Kyoshi, and given how the ancient Avatar didn't start cursing at Korra, it must have had some effect.
Kyoshi said, giving Korra a withering look, "You already know my opinion of you and your actions - or rather, lack thereof. What do you want?" Korra said, pointing to Raava and then Bolin, "My friend here - Bolin, a talented earthbender - wants to train with you or the Kyoshi Warriors, and given that Kyoshi Island is far away and possibly inside hostile territory, he was wondering if you could train him in the ways of the warrior. Specifically, the sword." Kyoshi rolled her eyes, clearly not in the mood to talk to anyone related to Korra. Kyoshi confirmed her suspicions, saying, "And why should I help you learn the art of physical combat, Bolin - friend of 'Avatar' Korra, who I consider to be a failure?" Raava cursed loudly, making Kyoshi laugh and say, "Not even Raava can change my mind about Korra - only Korra can. So, unless you can name me one reason I should train you, I'm going back to the Spirit World to finish my other, more interesting conversation."
Bolin surprised Korra by not showing off his lavabending for Kyoshi, instead kneeling before her, simply stating, "Avatar Kyoshi, I know one thing : as far as non-elemental combat goes, I am not worthy of your training. I may be able to lavabend -something Toph told me is a very rare skill - and use my earthbending to its full potential, now including metalbending thanks to Korra, but my physical combat skills are adequate at best. I am keenly aware of an earthbender's dependence on having available earth or metal to bend - we cannot simply remove water from the air, create fire, or conjure wind as the other benders can. It's one of the reasons we can be so easy to imprison - throw me in a wooden cage away from any metal or earth, and I'm trapped." Before Kyoshi could say anything, Bolin continued, saying, "I have relied on raw talent for far too long, and have felt at times that I was a secondary player in events, with only my newfound lavabending making me feel like I was an equal contributor to Team Avatar. I didn't learn this wonderful skill, or earn it - I was just born with it. An undeserving recipient of a gift from the Universe. I'm not going to ask you to train me in my element - I trust Korra can fill in the gaps there. I just wanted to know if you would be willing to help me better myself as a warrior." Appearing as though he had just remembered something, Bolin said, "Not with the war fans, though - my girlfriend Opal harasses me enough as is."
A presence behind Korra said, "Ah yes, I remember the time Sokka trained with the Kyoshi Warriors - makeup, fans and all." At the mention of Katara's brother's name, Kyoshi said, "This Sokka... I mentioned earlier I had a much more interesting conversation to return to. Before I continue, I will let your know your request has been denied, Bolin - but not for the reason you might think." Once Bolin had refocused after this distressing news, Kyoshi continued, "A rather serious human spirit was telling me about a humble individual much like Bolin before Korra booted me out here. Bolin, your speech reminded me of one a young boy gave Piandao. Piandao mentioned his name a few times, even telling me the whole speech. It was considerably shorter than Bolin's, I might add." Kyoshi gave Bolin an odd look, saying "Gumflapper." As Katara and Korra laughed and Bolin blushed, Kyoshi continued, "Piandao was deemed worthy of the honor given to Iroh -human spirit immortality - given their shared ideals and proficiency in various physical arts, as well as his role in the post war years, and liberating Ba Sing Se. Piandao was a nonbender artisan, both with the brush and the blade. This other human he spoke fondly of? I honestly forget why he was deemed worthy of spirit status after his death." Kyoshi stopped to think, a vaguely annoyed expression forming on her painted face after a while.
Kyoshi stated curtly, "Oh yes, I remember now, Korra - your predecessor's spirit, Aang, lobbied very strongly for this 'Sokka' -a relation of yours if I remember right, Katara -to be immortalized in Iroh's fashion after his death." Katara's face lit up, saying, "I knew Raava was hiding something! Why didn't you tell me?" Raava smiled, saying, "I wouldn't have gotten to see the surprised look on your face if I did. Now, I believe Kyoshi was saying something." Appearing slightly uncomfortable, Kyoshi said, "Once individuals - including myself - managed to look past the… qualities he exhibited in his youth, we accepted Aang's request. The only spirit who had major objections was Wan Shi Tong - something about tricking him with some knots. If anything, this just solidified our decision - Wan Shi Tong is not easy to trick." Kyoshi paused, to let a now hyperventilating Katara calm back down, continuing, "We considered mainly his adult self, as well as his contributions to ending the 100 Year War and maintaining peace after. Particularly impressive was his role in defending a young Avatar Korra from the 'Red Lotus', despite his advanced age at the time. Sokka also came recommended by Iroh and Piandao - though the latter did have some reservations. Upon entering the spirit world, Sokka of course immediately manifested as his younger self." Kyoshi gave a disgusted groan, saying, "One of the first things Sokka did was go to Koh's tree, make all sorts of rude faces at the ancient spirit, and said something 'witty' as he left - 'Water Tribe', if Koh told the truth. Koh was not amused, as he couldn't steal a spirit's face. It didn't get much better after that. We haven't used an Avatar's request as criteria for human spirit immortality since."
Katara was actually rolling on the ground, growing hoarse from her wild laughter. She howled, "I can't believe Sokka taunted Koh like that - and then said 'Water Tribe' as he left!" While Korra was laughing as well, she didn't quite get this "Water Tribe" reference. She could hear Aang laughing hysterically in her head, however - it must have been one of those things that you had to be there to find funny. Once he had stopped laughing as well, Bolin asked, "What do Sokka and Piandao have to do with my desire to train as a swordsman?" Kyoshi said, with a tone that let everyone else know she was about to vanish, "As I said, someone else will be training you. I get enough of Sokka's antics as is, and from what I have heard, yours are even worse." Korra and Katara laughed as Bolin grumbled, "Well, I think I'm funny, and that's all that matters!" pointing his hand at a confused Raava. Kyoshi continued, "Given your humility, Bolin, I still think you are worthy of a master's training, however - and I get the feeling you don't want to train with war fans anyways." Bolin's face lit up, and before he could ask Kyoshi anything, she continued, " Piandao and Sokka will help you train in the art of the sword in the Spirit World. I'll finish my conversation with Piandao later - I believe they are waiting for you right now. Be careful, however - none of you will be able to bend." As Kyoshi vanished, Korra could see Katara crying, who was blubbering, "We can see Sokka again! That's great! I can't wait to hear his voice again…"
Korra grabbed both Bolin and Katara by the shoulders, making ready to transport them both into the Spirit World, but then she remembered something Kyoshi had said at the end - no bending. Reading Korra's mind, Raava said, "Kyoshi never did pay attention to fine detail - since you are the Avatar, Korra, and I have such a strong bond with you, especially given all the human-y stuff I have learned, you should be able to bend even if you meditate in. You bent your own energy to save Kuvira, after all. No one else can, however - you will need to work with Bolin outside the Spirit World to incorporate any sword forms he learns with his bending. At the very least, you can imprison Koh and Long Yumao temporarily as you did when you saved Kuvira." With that, Raava re-entered Korra's body, and she felt Bolin and Katara vanish with her.