We're back on chapter three. Sorry for keeping you waiting.
REMINDER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF KORRA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
At the tribal palace, where Northern troops were marching to Southern civilians, creating a commotion.
Kaori returns to the city and saw them all. "This is not good." she said.
A Northern soldier approaches. "Everyone, clear the streets! Get back in your homes."
The civilians remain still and look at the troops with contempt. The Northern soldier gestures and two waterbenders bend ice barricades, separating the civilians. The troops continue marching.
At the harbour, waterbenders were forming ice walls around the docks, preventing ships from leaving.
"Uncle, why did you bring your troops down from the North?" Korra asked Unalaq.
"Now that you've opened the Southern portal, we need to protect it from the people who would do the spirits harm." he said.
"I can protect it." Korra said confidently.
"I need you for something more important. There is another portal, in the North. Once you open it, spirits and man will be able to move freely between the North and the South in a matter of seconds."
"But, the solstice is over. How am I going to open it?" Korra wondered before Unalaq answered.
"The spiritual energy is much stronger in the North. And now that you've opened the Southern portal, your energy is stronger as well."
"With both portals open, our tribes will be united again." Korra said with a smile.
"The world will be united again." Unalaq said.
Meanwhile, at the Southern Air Temple, Tenzin and Pema were relaxing. Kya was sitting on a rock, feeding lemurs.
Tenzin sips his tea. "Ahh, I haven't felt this at peace since…" he was interrupted when Bumi jumps in, interrupting Tenzin, who looks in shock. "Aaand, it's over."
Bumi leaps onto rock, with his sister looking in shock. "Gooood morning, Universe."
Kya covers her eyes. "My God! Bumi, please, cover yourself. You're making my eyes burnt."
Bumi said to Tenzin: "Well, lookee here, 'Vacation Tenzin' has finally decided to join us."
"Yes, he has." Tenzin said before he carries Rohan from his wife. "It's so nice to get to spend more time with my family. Isn't that right, my little Rohan?" Rohan smiles and coos. "And I've really enjoyed having you two around. Reminds me of all those great vacations we took as kids with Dad."
Kya frowns and said: "Uhh, I think your memory's a little foggy. Bumi and I weren't on those great vacations. It was always just you and Dad."
Tenzin starts thinking. "No, that can't be right. What about the time he took us to Kyoshi Island to ride the elephant koi?"
"Nope, we weren't there."
Tenzin still thinks: "Hmm. Oh, remember Ember Island? Those amazing sand palaces we built on the beach."
"You mean, you built? We never saw the place." Bumi said.
"I could've sworn we did."
Jinora and Meelo arrived on air scooters. Poki flies and lands on Meelo's head when both siblings land on solid ground.
"Morning, kids!" Bumi said before Jinora and Meelo run to him.
"Morning, Uncle Bumi!" Meelo said before he points to Bumi's stomach. "Do you have a baby in there?" The question makes Kya, Tenzin and Pema laugh.
"Where's your sister?" Pema asked.
"Who?"
"Ikki. About this tall. Talks real fast. I'm sure you know her." she said bluntly which makes Jinora uneasy to say.
"Uhh..."
"There was a lemur fight, but the bison told us not to worry because a giant was coming. Then we almost got eaten by a shark-squid!" Meelo said before he smiles widely.
Bumi gets terrified. "The shark-squid? He's here? It appears my old nemesis has found me."
Pema folds her hands in annoyance. "Jinora, were you and Meelo teasing your sister again?"
Jinora gets defensively. "I don't know. Maybe." She hangs head down in shame. "Yes."
"She ran away." Meelo said.
Pema gets angry. "Honestly to God, I don't know why you kids can't just get along!"
"It's all right, dear. Ikki couldn't have gone far., I'll find her." Tenzin said as he hands Rohan to Pema.
Bumi salutes and said: "Commander Bumi reporting for duty! Search-and-rescue missions are my specialty."
Kya runs forward and holds her brothers' shoulders. "What do you say we all go together?"
"Sure, I could use the help."
"When I get back, we'll come out with a plan to take down that shark-squid once and for all!" Bumi shouts.
"Yeah!" Meelo shouts enthusiastically.
Later, at the outskirts of Wolf Cove, followed by the interior of Tonraq's house where there was a meeting.
"Thank you for coming, everyone. I know these last few days have been very troubling."
The entire group looks at Varrick who was helping himself to cookies. "Troubling? Troubling is when I get that itchy rash that won't go away, and Zhu Li's not around to scratch it. This is shocking." he said as he stands straight and drops cookies off plate before tossing the plate to the floor. "Nay, sickening! But these kale cookies? Opposite. Remind me to get the recipe later." Zhu Li nods.
"What's your point, Varrick?" Tonraq asks.
"My point is, Unalaq's already booted our chieftains out of their palace. Lord, how long before he starts telling us what kind of cookies we can eat?"
"Probably a couple of days." Zhu Li answered.
"Rhetorical question, Zhu Li, you gotta keep up. Not to mention, I've got a cargo ship full of halibut that's rotting thanks to this harbor lockdown?" he asked enraged. "Who wants to buy a ship full of stinking fish?" Varrick slams plate to floor and continued: "Seriously, it's not rhetorical. I need to sell these fish."
"Chief Unalaq is here to help the South. He wants to show us how to restore balance with the spirits so they'll stop attacking." Korra said.
"The only spirit I'm interested in restoring is our spirit of independence. Am I right, people?" Varrick asks before the gathering agrees in anger.
"All Unalaq is trying to do is make our tribes unified again."
"No, he wants control of our wealth. My wealth. And I like my wealth. If Unalaq doesn't pull his forces out, then by God, we have no choice but to fight for our freedom!" Varrick said before the gathering agrees in anger again.
Korra gets concerned and said: "You want to start a war? Are you crazy?"
"Unalaq started this, not us." Tonraq said, before Korra scowls, he sighs. "I'm sorry, maybe you could speak with your uncle. Tell him how frustrated we all are. He'll listen to what the Avatar has to say. Do it for me?"
"I'll do it for the tribe." Korra said before she walks away and slams the door.
"I cannot stop eating these things. Look, we all know where this conflict is heading. We need to start preparing for war." Varrick said.
Later, a sweating Bolin was pulling a rickshaw. Desna and Eska were seated at the back, with Pabu in Desna's hand.
"I will hate to leave this quaint tribe." Eska said. "Is that true, Eska?" Desna asked.
"Of course not, Desna, I will not miss it at all. I hold immense dislike for the South." Eska said before she and her brother starts laughing awkwardly. "Bolin, laugh at my humorous quip!"
"Yes, dear." Bolin said as he forces laughter. "So-so funny." Then Pabu yawns.
Bolin stops the rickshaw and runs to the side where he earthbends a small flight of stairs before gesturing for Eska to walk down.
Bolin start holding Eska's hand while she descends the stairs. "You know, I'll be really sad when you have to leave. It's been really great getting to know you." He chuckles lightly. "Really."
"But you will be coming with me to the North. There we will live the rest of our lives together in icy bliss." She walks away. "Foolish Bolin."
Then Bolin sees Mako. "Mako! I'm so happy to see you!" He awkwardly hugs Mako.
"Uh, you all right, bro?" Mako asked, then Bolin shakes head.
"No! No, Mako, I'm not all right. I can't take anymore. Listen, I don't want to live in icy bliss with Eska!" He weeps. "Don't make me. Oh, please, please don't make me."
"Uh, hey, if you're that unhappy, just break up with her." Mako said.
"Break up with her? You can do that?" Bolin asks.
"Yeah. Guys do that all the time."
"How?" Bolin asks again.
"Just tell her you're not that into her anymore." Mako said. "Oh, no, no, I don't think she'd like that." Bolin said.
Mako holds Bolin's shoulder and said: "Ending a relationship is kind of like pulling off a blood-sucking leech. You just gotta rip it off and get it over with. You'll feel a lot better afterwards. Trust me."
"Thanks, Mako. Whew. I'm lucky you're so good at breaking girls' hearts. Ha, Korra better watch out." Bolin joked before Mako scowls and folds his arms. "Oooh, no, it's just a…, uh, you kn… uh, never mind."
Now, inside of the Southern Water Tribe palace, Korra walks in to see Unalaq who was sitting on the throne. "Our next training sessions isn't until tomorrow."
"I'm sorry to interrupt. It's about our conversation this morning." Korra said.
"Yes?"
"I understand why you brought your troops here, but I'm afraid it's sending the wrong message." she said.
"Your father has been talking to you." Unalaq wondered.
"Not just him. Varrick, too. There was a meeting at my parents' house. A lot of Southerners feel like their tribe is being invaded." Korra said.
"I am their chief. I'm uniting, not invading." Unalaq said.
"I know, but I'm just afraid if something doesn't change, there could be a civil war."
"If the Water Tribes were at war, the other nations would take sides. The dark spirits would thrive off this negative energy, and the world would be thrown into a battle between spirits and man. That would be catastrophic." Unalaq said.
"How do we stop it?" Korra asked.
"We? No, Korra." Unalaq rises from his throne. "This is a war only the Avatar can prevent."
"I'm usually the one starting fights. I don't know how to stop them from happening."
"As the Avatar, you must remain neutral in this conflict. You will naturally want to help your people, but showing favouritism will not help our tribes finds unity." Unalaq said.
"Maybe Tenzin was right." Korra said before she looks down, discouraged. "Maybe I'm not ready to be the Avatar."
"Tenzin lacked faith in you." Unalaq said as he places his hand on Korra's shoulder. "But I have no doubt that you will become the most admired Avatar the world has ever known."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Later at a snow-covered street, a group of four Northern soldiers were marching into view. The civilians glares at the soldiers hatefully. The soldiers glares at the civilians before being pelted by snowballs.
"Who threw those?" the soldier asked furiously.
On a roof, children were giggling. A Northern soldier waterbends and sends the children to the ground.
"You hoodlums think you're tough, huh?"
A Southern civilian came by. "Pick on a waterbender your own size!"
Both civilians and soldiers waterbend were ready to attack. Then Korra starts running between both sides. "Stop!"
"Tell these thugs to go back to the North. They're not welcome here anymore!" the Southern civilian said.
"These Southerners need to stay in line." said the Northern soldier.
"Everyone, calm down. You're all part of the same tribe, start acting like it." Korra said.
"You're taking their side? We thought you were one of us." the Southern civilian said angrily.
Korra gets defensively. "I'm not taking anyone's side." she said before she got hit by a snowball to the head. "Hey!"
"You're the worst Avatar ever!" a little girl said.
Tonraq came and said: "Everyone, walk away from this. They're not worth our trouble. Go back to your homes."
Civilians drops their water and walks away. Soldiers leaves as well.
"Korra, I…" Tonraq tries to say, but Korra was leaving. "Korra!"
Unknown to Tonraq, Kaori was still watching over Korra.
Later, at the Southern Air Temple.
Tenzin shouts: "Ikki. Ikki! Ikki! Ikki? Ikki, where are you?"
"Over here, Dad!" Bumi said in a childlike voice. Then he laughs. "Just kidding. It's me!" he said before Tenzin groans in annoyance.
Kya comes running up behind him. "There's no sign of her anywhere."
"Why would Ikki run off like this? Ah, it's probably my fault." Tenzin said sadly.
Kya crosses arms and said: "Probably."
"Excuse me?" Tenzin got confused.
"I'm guessing you've been so busy with your 'duty' to Republic City that you forgot about your duty to your kids."
Bumi starts laughing. "Duty."
Kya places hands in her sides as she turns to Bumi; annoyed. "What are you, five years old?"
"Kya, you're right. I haven't been spending enough time with them. I wish I could be as good a father as Dad was to us." Tenzin said.
"Tenzin, your problem is you're exactly like Dad. He was so focused on saving the world and doing his duty, don't laugh, that he never had time for us."
"Dad was under a lot of pressure." Tenzin said.
"He always had time for you, though, his precious little airbender." Bumi said as he pinches Tenzin's cheek, which makes him flinch.
Tenzin pushing Bumi aside and spoke: "Dad loved us all equally. Besides, it all happened a long time ago. Why are we even talking about this?"
"Because you seem to have some grandiose delusion that we had a perfect, happy-go-lucky childhood. Guess what. We didn't!" Kya complained.
"We need to keep moving if we want to find Ikki before dark."
"See what he's doing there, Bumi? Classic airbender technique. Cutting and running when things get tough!" Kya said mockingly.
"Yeah. Did Dad teach you that move?" Bumi teasingly.
Back to the Southern Water Tribe, where Korra rides atop Naga and approaches Mako.
"How was your day, sweetie?"
"Oh, fabulous. My tribe's about to go to war, and I'm supposed to stop it, but will anyone listen to me? No! And I didn't ask for my father's help. Can't he just let me be the Avatar?"
"Uh, do you want advice, or am I just supposed to listen? I'm still not clear on that." Mako said.
"Ugh. I'm sorry. My dad just gets me all worked up." Korra said.
"How about you take a break from all this Avatar stuff, and we go out for a quiet dinner. Just the two of us." Mako said before Korra grins.
Suddenly, at a dining area where Korra gives a bored expression, while Mako gives the same expression. Bolin, Desna and Eska were seated.
Bolin laughs awkwardly. "Isn't this fun, huh? We never get to spend enough time together, just the... five of us. So fun."
"Excuse us while we retrieve more sustenance." The twins walk away.
"You guys gotta save me, in the name of Jesus."
"I thought you were breaking up with her. What happened to 'ripping off the leech'?" Mako asks.
"I tried! But anytime I bring up the subject, she threatens to freeze me in a block of ice and feed me to dolphin piranhas!"
"So it was more like you tugged at the leech, right?"
"Yes, over and over and over, but it won't come off. Korra, why the hell didn't you warn me your cousin had the power to reach into my heart and crush my soul with her bare hands?" Bolin asks Korra.
"Uh, 'cause I thought it was pretty obvious?"
"No, no, not to me it wasn't. I'm very bad at reading people. You should know that by now. Bolin starts sobbing Oh, man. Oh! Do something, Avatar!" Bolin begged.
"What am I gonna say to Eska?" Korra asked
"JUST SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE!" Bolin begs Korra as he cries loudly.
Later, back to the Southern Air Temple, where Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin were walking. It is getting dark and Tenzin was holding a lantern.
"You know, this reminds me of a search-and-rescue mission I commanded years ago in the mountains outside of Ba Sing Se."
Tenzin gets annoyed. "Oh, here we go."
"For five days we scoured the beast of a mountain, fighting our ways through blizzards, sandstorms, and three typhoons. Finally, we found the men huddled in a cave, seconds from death. With no time to lose, I piled all twelve of those poor souls on my back and single-handedly carried them down the mountain to safety."
"And how exactly in the name of God is that supposed to help us find Ikki?" Tenzin snapped.
"It was supposed to inspire you. Clearly, you know nothing about being a leader of men. That's probably why the Avatar fired you."
Tenzin spoke back: "I'm sick of your far-fetched tales. Three typhoons?"
"Well, I may have thrown in an extra typhoon or two for dramatic effect, but…"
"Quit arguing and bring that lantern over here. I found footprints." Kya said before Tenzin walks up to Kya and follows the footprints with his lantern. "
Come on!" said Tenzin before he runs down the path, following the footprints.
"No, follow me! This will get us down fifty times faster." Bumi said before he leaps onto rocks alongside the waterfall.
"Bumi, it's pitch black and the rocks are slippery. You're going to hurt yourself."
"Come on, you wimps! If I can do it, it should be no problem for a couple of benders."
"Fine." Kya said before she descends the waterfall using waterbending to hold her. Tenzin leaps from ledge to ledge, using airbending to boost his leap. Both soon overtake their older brother, who grumbles.
"You were right, Bumi! That was faster!" Kya said teasingly.
"At least fifty times faster, by my calculations." Tenzin said before he chuckles with his sister.
Bumi starts grumbling. "Oh, so Tenzin's the funny guy now."
"If you need an airlift down, just say the word."
"Bah, I don't need your help. I've got everything under control." Bumi said before he slips and falls. "Agh!"
Tenzin got shocked and worried. "Bumi!"
Back to the Southern Water Tribe, where Korra was riding back to her home. She enters and finds her mother seated.
"Did Dad send you to talk to me?"
"Your father doesn't know I'm here." Senna said before Korra sits beside her. "Korra, what's going on between you two?"
"Ask Dad."
"I've tried, but he won't talk about it. Honey, it breaks my heart to see our family being torn apart like this." Senna said.
"You want to know what's been going on? I found out Dad's been lying to me my whole life. Unalaq told me everything; how Dad and Tenzin kept me trapped down here while I trained; how Dad got banished from the North."
Senna gets upset. "So, the truth is out."
"You knew? And you never said anything." Korra said.
"We were trying to keep our family together, to give you a normal childhood." Senna said.
"Mom, I never wanted a normal childhood. All I ever wanted to be was the Avatar. But everyone keeps holding me back, even my own parents! Unalaq's the only one who believes in me."
"That's not true, Korra." said Senna.
"No? Then why is everyone in the South turning against me, when all I'm trying to do is help them?" Korra ask bluntly.
"The problems between the North and the South started long before you were born. You can't expect to undo them in a day."
"So I should just sit back and let the Water Tribes go to war?' Korra asked.
"No, but this situation might be out of your control. Varrick's been plotting a rebellion against Unalaq. He asked your father to join, and…"
Korra stands up and spoke: "Dad is part of a rebellion?"
"I don't know, but I don't want you getting caught in the middle of it." Senna said.
"It's too late, Mom. I'm already in the middle of it." Korra said before she leaves the house.
Senna runs out to door. "Korra! Wait!"
Later, at the interior of the palace, where Korra runs in.
"Uncle!" She stops, and notices Northern troops tied up and unconscious. "Oh, no. Uncle?"
She runs and stops at a corner and watches a masked rebel carrying an unconscious Unalaq while three others stand guard. "Dad, don't do this."
"Turn around, Avatar, and pretend you didn't see anything."
"No. Leave Unalaq and go. I'll tell him I tried to stop you, but you escaped. We can still avoid a war." Korra begged.
"No, we can't."
The rebel traps Korra within an ice wall while they escape. Korra punches a gap within her enclosure and pursues the rebels. While the rebels were running down a flight of stairs, Korra freezes the handrails and slides down in front of them.
"Get him out of here!"
The rebel leader runs away. Korra tries to follow, but was blocked by an ice wall.
"We're all part of the same tribe. I don't wanna hurt you!" Korra said.
The rebels prepare to attack Korra, but she dodges their offenses. Korra leaps up and grabs a banner while evade the rebel's offenses. She runs up a pillar and tosses the banner against two rebels, using airbending to ensnare them.
Korra continues dodging the remaining rebels' offenses and grabs the rope of one of the rebels and kicks another rebel, slamming him unconscious on the staircase. She ties the rope around the rebel's wrist and swings him to a pillar, knocking him out.
Korra runs out of the palace to see the rebel leader leaving.
"Dad, stop!" She waterbends at the snowmobile, causing it to change course and crash.
"Why did you do this, Dad?" Kora removes the rebel's hood, revealing him to not be Tonraq. "What? Who the hell are you? Where's my father?"
The rebel leader spoke: "He wouldn't help us. He's a traitor, just like you, Avatar Korra."
Unalaq awakens. Meanwhile, back to the palace, where the rebels were led away in handcuffs.
"Thank you for saving my life." said Unalaq.
"I'm just glad I got here in time."
"Find Varrick. I want him to freeze in prison with the rest of these traitors." Unalaq ordered his troops who were leading the rebels away.
"Wait, you can't just lock them away. That will only make the South angrier."
"You mean you want them to go free, Korra?"
"No. But let them stand trial for what they did. Every Water Tribe citizen deserves that right." Korra said.
"Very well. I will respect the Avatar's wishes in this matter." Unalaq said.
"Thank you, Uncle." Korra said.
Meanwhile, back at the Southern Air Temple, where Kya was healing a dazed Bumi. "I told you those rocks were slippery. You're lucky you didn't kill yourself."
"You done with the lecture, Mom?" Bumi asks.
"Oh, grow up! You haven't changed one bit since we were kids. You're still trying to prove you can do everything a bender can. Well, you can't. Deal with it."
"And you're not our mother. You don't get to tell me what I can and can't do. Deal with that." Bumi said before Kya stops waterbending, causing the water to splash onto him. "Ugh."
"Good luck healing yourself with your special nonbending powers." Kya said.
Bumi shakes water off head and said: "Hey, hey, back me up here, Tenzin."
"Kya's right. You're the oldest of us, but you always acted like the youngest. I had to become the responsible one."
"You think you're the responsible one?" Kya approaches Tenzin. "Where were you after Dad died and Mom was all alone? Because I was the only one who packed up and moved my whole life to be with her."
"Sure, after years of flitting around the world, trying to find yourself. It was time for you to settle down somewhere. You two have no idea how it feels to have the future of an entire culture on your shoulders." Tenzin said agitatedly.
"Oh, boo-hoo. Must've been real hard for you, flying around the world with Dad, riding elephant koi all day." Bumi said sarcastically.
"Oh, so that's what this is all about?"
"That's what it's always been about. You think you're some saviour who has to carry on Dad's legacy." Kya complained.
"Who else is going to do it?"
"How about all of us?" Kya complained.
"Yeah, we're Aang's kids, too, for God's sake." Bumi also complained.
"We never should have come on this vacation., Kya said.
"I couldn't agree more," Bumi said.
"Well, I didn't want you to come in the first place, because you are always annoying! I just can't be around you two right now. Go back to the temple and see if Ikki returned. I'll keep looking out here." Tenzin snapped agitatedly.
"Fine!" Bumi snapped. "Fine!" Kya snapped, too.
"Fine!" Tenzin also snapped.
Kya and Bumi walk back to the air temple, leaving Tenzin alone as he continues the path.
Later, back at the Southern Water Tribe village where Korra rides back to her home and opens the door to see her parents eating. Tonraq and Senna look up to her, smiling.
"Is it okay if I come in?"
"Of course. We heard what happened." Senna said. "Are you okay?"
Korra gets her tears up and hugs her father. "I'm so glad you weren't there, Dad. I don't know what I would've done."
"I had no idea how far Varrick was willing to go. My brother and I have our differences, but I would never attack him."
"I'm sorry for thinking you had anything to do with the rebels. And for all the pain I've caused you and Mom." Korra said.
"I'm the one who should apologize. After I saw the Southern Lights return, I was so proud of you. I never should've held you back." Tonraq said.
"When your father and I found each other, all we wanted was to live a simple life and raise a family. But, then we discovered you were the Avatar, and simple was over. We knew one day the world would need you, and you wouldn't need us anymore." said Senna.
"Mom, Dad, of course I still need you." Korra said before he hugs her parents. Then Tonraq sees Unalaq walking in.
"We weren't expecting you, Unalaq." Tonraq said.
Four soldiers enter the room. "Tonraq, Senna, you are under arrest and will stand trial." Unalaq said.
"Trial? For what?" Tonraq asked.
"For conspiring to assassinate me."
Korra and her parents were looking in shock and disbelief.
Chapter 4 will be coming soon.
Review if you enjoyed the story.