AUTHOR'S NOTES: The fact that the enmity between Korra and her father doesn't really exist in this version of the story has given me an interesting challenge. Her trauma has left her somewhat suspicious as well as even superstitious, and while she's suspicious of Unalaq, he hasn't done anything yet to make her distrust him, and so she's sort of playing the Mediator between the two brothers. Also, while I can't give a definitive answer as to when, this book will be when we learn what exactly Senna's deal is, so there's that as well.
Happy Reading!
BOOK THREE: WATER
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHT: SHADOWS OF THE SOUTH
Korra still swore by the notion that the morning was evil, but she did break that rule on a few occasions, today being one of them. She arrived at Unalaq's doorstep as a small team of people were preparing Arctic camels with supplies.
"Well, this is a familiar sight," Unalaq looked wryly amused, both he and Korra recalling the months spent together in the in the hidden compound above Republic City. "What happened to 'the morning is evil', hm?" This was probably the closest Korra had ever seen Unalaq come to making a joke, although his general attitude fit right in with the old Red Lotus style acerbic wit.
"It is, but I've got training to do." Korra pouted, "I'm pumped up and excited to learn some of that Unalaq spirit fighting."
"I'm not here to teach you to fight spirits," Unalaq corrected her, "I'm here to help you finish your spiritual training—to complete some of the tasks I failed to finish three years ago after my revelation that your teachers were the Red Lotus secret society."
"Are you sure you didn't have ties with them?" Korra narrowed her eyes in a suspicious pout. When Unalaq had sold out his comrades, Korra had been in the middle of being tortured by Nakkoa in a small cavern.
"Korra, dear," Unalaq corrected her, "I was the one who reported them. I was the one who phoned former Councilman Tenzin, as well as your father himself. Had I not done so, they very well may have finished fully moulding you into a fully-weaponized emotionless tool of anarchy. Consider that as well."
Unalaq made a valid point. While Korra had had an ostensibly good time in the mountains prior to Nakkoa's attack, her emotional growth had been hindered without anyone that properly loved or cared for her beyond a professional level. Kwan had been the closest thing to a friend Korra had had in that compound, and even she remained distant until Korra had nearly died.
"Regardless," Unalaq continued, "I am going to take you to one of the most remote places in the world" the long neglected spiritual center of your tribe—the South Pole."
"Welp, it isn't the first time you've gone and taken me to some remote place to do Avatar training," Korra shrugged her left shoulder, "why there though?"
"Because that is where we need to set things right," Unalaq declared, "By neglecting the spirits, the people of the South have brought darkness upon themselves and now it threatens to destroy our tribe. We must set things right, and the Southern Water Tribe now depends on their Avatar."
"A dangerous trip to the South Pole to right someone's wrong?" Korra raised an eyebrow with wry amusement, "huh, count me in."
She and Unalaq were joined within half an hour by Mako, Desna, and Eska, the latter of which bluntly remarked that "her Bolin" would be along soon. Mako and Korra exchanged looks, and Korra raised her eyebrow as if looking for a story.
"I'd call it possessive personally," Mako admitted, "but as long as they're not abusing him and he's enjoying himself, then that's for him to deal with."
As they waited for Bolin, Asami showed up on a snowmobile, pulling off her goggles as she made eye contact with Korra. Any excitement she may have had for her upcoming little trip into the dangerous frozen wastelands was eclipsed by that heart-fluttering feeling that always took over when she was in the presence of the one she loved.
"Hey babe," Korra opened her arms, hoping to get a hug, "you coming with me?"
"I'd love to," Asami admitted, "but I'm afraid I wouldn't be much use. I've got to keep Future Industries running as well, but I hope you know you have my full support as always."
"I wouldn't doubt it even for a second, love." Korra squeezed her tighter. Perhaps it was being reminded of her time with the Red Lotus due to Unalaq, but Korra remembered just how much she loved physical contact and affection, as if she was making up for how much she had been deprived of it during her 15th year of life. "You stay safe, okay?"
"The worst that can happen in my line of work is a deal falling through," Asami ruffled Korra's hair, knowing the young Avatar enjoyed it, especially since for whatever reason she had neglected to tie it back the way she usually did, "you on the other hand, are going to the frozen tundras of the south pole. You stay safe too, love."
"Will do," Korra beamed. "Thanks for the support…"
Asami had hardly thanked Korra in turn, before Bolin pulled up in an equally fancy snowmobile and with a borderline extravagant snowsuit on, no less.
"Wait for me guys!" he called out, "check it out; I'm travelling in style!"
"Nice ride," Korra gave an amused pout as she raised an eyebrow, "did Varrick hook you up?"
"He sure did!" Bolin beamed, "he's awesome. He's the one that hooked me up with this sweet snowsuit too! It's inflatable with an internal heater, emergency beacon, and food ration pouch. I mean, if I get lost, I could survive in this thing for like a month!"
He paused and pulled out some cucumber-quat slices, and asked if anyone wanted any. He was met with silence, including from Korra, who had simply crossed her arms with an amused smirk on her visage.
"Nobody?" He glanced around awkwardly, "did I interrupt a conversation?"
"Nothing detrimental," Asami chuckled, "I was just saying goodbye to Korra, and you know how she gets when I'm around."
She shot Korra a cheeky grin, and as if on cue, Korra's brown cheeks flooded with red and she started babbling incoherently before burying her face into her hands with a sheepish giggle.
"That's evil, Asami," Mako cracked a grin.
"Isn't it though?" Asami chortled in return, putting an arm around Korra one last time and holding her close. Both of them (as well as Mako even) knew that it was just playful interaction and that Asami had absolutely no malintent, which just made Korra enjoy it even more.
"You guys really are the best though," Korra smiled. However, before she could continue, she had company of her own, as she noticed her father approaching.
"Tonraq," Unalaq scowled, "what do you want?"
"I heard you were taking Korra to the South Pole." he answered, "I'm coming with her."
"Absolutely not," Unalaq frowned, "you're a distraction to Korra and a hindrance to what must be done. I don't think I need to remind you of 20 years ago."
"Do you really want to start digging up the past?" Tonraq growled, "because two can play this game, brother."
"Even if your assertions were true, brother," Unalaq retorted, his eyes briefly glancing towards a confused Korra before fixating back on Tonraq, "I'm sure you have no qualms with this organization considering who you married."
"Korra isn't going without me," Tonraq asserted after a pause, "whether intentional or not, the last time I left my daughter in your hands, she came back with her neck and forearm burned raw and an explosive tattoo on her forehead."
"Hey," Korra stepped forward at this point, "isn't anyone going to ask what I think of all this? Dad; what happened to trusting me and giving me your blessing?"
"I do trust you, Korra," Tonraq explained, "I'm not trying to deter you from going, and frankly, I'm not even trying to hinder Unalaq. The South Pole is a treacherous hazard in and of itself though, and frankly, I could use this as a learning experience myself."
"So where's mom?" Korra turned to her father, "what did she say about all of this?"
"She's staying," Tonraq shook his head, turning to Unalaq, "so if my brother was worrying about my wife's attitude, he can put those fears to rest."
"It's honestly less that and more simply your irreverence for spirits and the fact that you are misguided," Unalaq explained, "the sad truth is that men like you have thrown the spirit world out of balance. You've ignored my warnings in the past and haven't learned since."
"Hang on, what happened in the past?" Korra had always had suspicions about Senna's past, especially the more she learned about Desert Storm, but had always felt like she had known Tonraq's backstory a little more soundly until now.
"Nothing important," Tonraq shook his head, "but what Unalaq has apparently not told you yet is about the Everstorm."
"The Everstorm?" Korra glanced from Tonraq to Unalaq and back again.
"It's a massive blizzard that's battered the South Pole for decades," Tonraq explained, "and on that note, if you wish to stop me, Chief, then maybe I'll change my mind."
"Don't waste my time," Unalaq retorted, "we're already short on time as it is…"
Asami bid Korra goodbye, also mentioning that Kwan had wanted to say goodbye as well, which warmed Korra's heart for two reasons. Firstly, because Kwan was her friend; but secondly, because to her that meant maybe Kwan and Asami were starting to make amends.
Soon they had departed, however, and Bolin found himself riding with Eska to his very temporary delight… but contrary to what he had planned, she and Desna were in the sidecar while Bolin had to drive. The earthbender was clearly not amused.
There was mostly silence as the snowmobiles, the camels, Naga, and Korra and her accomplices travelled southward from the tribe to the more remote reaches of the Southern Water Tribe's landmass.
It was only after they reached the summit of a small hill that overlooked a massive storm of unnatural green glowing clouds, that they stopped to speak.
"So," Korra broke the ice as she turned to her uncle, "once we reach the South Pole, what happens then?"
"You will open an ancient spirit portal." Unalaq's reply was blunt.
"I'm sorry," Korra's eyes popped open, "what now?!"
"At the South Pole, there is a portal that connects our world to the Spirit World," Unalaq explained, "but it has long since been closed."
"And that's why the evil spirits are attacking?" Korra tilted her head.
"There are no 'evil spirits', Korra," Unalaq corrected her, "there is light and dark in them all, the same way there is in humans. When they're unbalanced, however, then the darkness—the chaos—takes over. If you can open the portal in time, the balance will be restored."
"Easy peasy," Korra beamed, "wait… what do you mean 'in time'?"
"There's a reason the Glacier Spirits Festival ends on the Winter Solstice," Unalaq's smirk was so subtle that no one noticed it. "That's one of two times when the physical world and the Spirit World are the closest together."
"I take it the Summer Solstice is the other one?" Korra guessed.
"I always knew you were a smart one," Unalaq nodded, "and it is only at times like those that the Avatar can open portals like these."
"But the Winter Solstice is tomorrow!" Bolin exclaimed.
"Exactly," unalaq nodded slowly and put his hands together, "and we can't afford to wait another year… we most certainly can't afford another year…"
"Hmm?" Korra heard him mutter, but it had sounded like he merely repeated himself. Unalaq's concern with the spirit portal bordered on obsession, although his subtlety made it hard to detect. Unfortunately for him, Korra's sojourn with the Red Lotus and the resulting trauma from Nakkoa had made her a much warier individual, and she suspected that Unalaq had an ulterior motive. However, the lack of immediate danger made her dismiss this premonition, deciding to give him a fair chance before striking.
"I'm simply realizing how little precious time we have left," Unalaq put Korra's brief fears to rest, "although I do feel we are being followed, and not just by spirits."
This naturally made everyone (apart from Desna and Eska, who seemed nonchalantly disinterested) look around them. A few spirits lurked in the shadows behind rocks or ice formations, but none of them attacked. If anyone was actually following them, they did such an astounding job at covering their tracks that not even Korra or Naga could sniff them out. It did not stop the latter from growling defensively, however.
"Easy, Naga," Korra petted her trusty companion's head.
"I… take it those are dark spirits?" Bolin whimpered.
"Yup," Korra frowned, "Those are definitely dark spirits."
"Let's keep moving," Tonraq asserted, "we need to find a safe place to set up camp."
They trekked onward, until coming across a very curious scene at the mouth of a cave. The ice and snow were disturbed, and there were clear signs of a fight of some sort. Small flecks of blood were splattered on the icea as well, although there didn't look like enough blood to be a fatality. Something or someone had definitely been wounded though.
"Spiritual miasma," Unalaq mused, although no one else—not even Korra—seemed to notice what he was talking about. "Something got into an altercation with some of these spirits, but it seems to have driven them off for the time being."
"Sounds like a good enough excuse to make camp to me!" Bolin hopped off his snowmobile.
Naga slumped down, accidentally causing Korra to slide off and land on her backside.
"I guess that's that," Tonraq shrugged with half a smirk.
They soon had a fire going and food in their bellies, and it seemed that whatever had caused the fight here was long gone, which left everyone a little more at ease.
"Uncle," Korra had several questions for Unalaq, and this was just another of them, "why do you think the dark spirits are following us?"
"Can we not talk about dark spirits please?" Bolin whimpered.
"I will protect you, my feeble turtle-duck." Eska replied in her usual monotone, putting her arm around Bolin's shoulder in a move that was almost affectionate.
"Why not?" Korra piped up, "I'm all up in wanting to find out what their problem is."
"Bolin doesn't like ghost stories," Mako explained.
"Sadly, this is no ghost story." Unalaq frowned, "this is real."
Bolin gasped, covering most of his face with his hood. Korra leaned in closer, staring at her uncle through the roaring fire which illuminated his face in a somewhat ominous way.
"The spirits are angry because he's here," he pointed accusingly at Tonraq, "Haven't you ever wondered how your father ended up at the South Pole?"
"Ended up at the South Pole?" Korra tilted her head, oblivious to the irked expression that had appeared on Tonraq's face, "are you and mom not from the South?"
"Senna is about as Southern as they come," Unalaq spoke dryly all of a sudden, "but there's a reason your father hasn't ever taken you to visit his homeland in the North…"
"Unalaq," Tonraq interrupted him, "This is not the time."
"You're right," Unalaq sneered, "you should have told her a long time ago. Don't even get me started on your wife, either…"
"Don't even get ME started on Senna," Tonraq threatened, "speak ill of me if you must, brother, but leave my wife out of this."
"Hold it, hold it!" Korra extended her arms, "told me what? And what's the deal with mom?"
"You know most of your mother's story," Tonraq lied, "but your uncle is right, Korra. I shouldn't try to defer to her past when mine is about to rear its head. You deserve to know the truth."
"Yes," Unalaq put his hands together, his face expressionless. "She deserves to know."
"The truth is that I was from the North," Tonraq confessed, "and I left not out of choice… but because I was banished."
Korra gasped and her eyes widened accordingly. While she had had suspicions for a long time that there was much more to Senna's past that she had not been made aware of, she had never suspected this from her father, and had never even realized until now that he was from the North. She did not reply to his remark right away, but her expression told Tonraq that he had a great deal of explaining to do.