The Legend of Korra - Book Two : Spirits

by pavop

Continuation of Book One. Korra, Patrick and their friends are going to the South Pole to celebrate the Glacier Spirits Festival, only to face the Harmonic Convergence. They will be referenced and mentioned other characters, places and events outside ATLA/LOK Universe and even they will appear in the story.

2. The Southern Lights

Early in the morning, Patrick sat down with Tonraq and Senna at the fire ring and had breakfast prepared by Korra's mother.

"Do you like it, Patrick?" Senna asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"That is good. Honestly, I was a little worried that you would be used to the food from the fancy restaurants in Republic City."

"I visited restaurants there a couple of times. But I was usually eating at Air Temple Island, so this is a welcome change."

They were eating for a couple of minutes, then someone entered the igloo. It was Ama.

"Hey there!" she said in an energetic tone. She looked much better than two days ago.

"Ama!" Senna replied. "Do you feel better?"

"Yes, I do. Like I said, I just needed a few days of rest." She sat down beside them. "What do you have for breakfast?" She leaned forward to see into the large bowl in the center of the fire ring. "Oh, your specialty, Senna."

"Want some, Ama?" Senna asked and picked up an empty dish.

"Yes." Ama paused for a moment to look around. "So, where is Korra?"

"Probably still sleeping," Patrick replied.

"In order to have the energy for the Unalaq's training, right?" Ama said. "Yesterday, when she was checking up on me, she did not even mention what happened at the festival. I had to find out from the neighbors." She sighed. "Poor Tenzin."

"Yes," Tonraq silently agreed while looking at the ground. He was thinking about the conversation he had with Patrick, where they discussed the connection between the Spirit's attack and Unalaq's arrival.

"So, Ama, how long have you known Korra's family?" Patrick asked in the hope that the answer might explain to him why she was looking so familiar to him.

Ama turned her head toward him with a daring smile. "Someone here is curious, no? I have known Korra and her family since I and her parents moved here. We three even traveled on the same ship here." She paused for a moment. "But it was later when I entered her life. She did not tell you what happened back then?"

"She never did."

"She should have told you; it was the same day she met Naga, after all."

"Really?"

"Yes," Senna answered and she waited for Patrick to turn his head toward her before continuing. "She was five or six at the time… She sneaked out of our igloo to see a pack of Polar Bear-Dogs. When we found out that she was gone, a great storm blew through. At that moment, I was completely overwhelmed by the fear of losing her. Later, when we called White Lotus to help us with the search, she came back with Naga, accompanied by Ama."

Patrick turned his head back to Ama and she just shrugged.

"I found them hiding under an igloo that Korra made to help them both survive. They were both small children who got lost in the frozen tundra. I was just lucky to find them in time," she said.

Patrick wanted to ask Ama where she was coming from when Korra entered the room through the curtain.

"Good morning," she said and turned her gaze to Ama. "Hey, Ama, do you feel well now?"

"I do. Thank you for asking."

Korra bent down to pick up and eat a few pieces of Senna's breakfast. "Taste good, mother."

"Then take a full dish," Senna replied and she was about to fill another dish.

But Korra shook her head. "I cannot. I have to go. Unalaq is waiting for me at the stables in the city. Today we will start our training," she replied in an excited tone and headed to the door.

Senna only sighed in disappointment that her only child would not even eat properly at home. But that was nothing new with Korra.

Patrick, on the other hand, stood up. "Wait, I will go with you."

Korra turned to him. "Sorry, but Unalaq said I should go alone."

"Still, I will go with you. I will just watch, that is all."

Korra sighed. "Did Tenzin put you up to this?"

"No," Patrick replied and it was true; Tenzin did not tell him to watch over Korra.

Korra sighed again. "All right then, but Unalaq will not be happy about your presence."

Patrick made the gesture that he would be silent.

He and Korra then went out of the igloo to Naga and headed into the city.

"How can you not believe in Spirits?" Korra asked after a while of their ride. "Even when you have fought one."

"I said I do not believe in them, meaning that I do not worship them like you do here. I did not say I did not believe in their existence. That is a big difference."

"Still, it is quite strange. Do you have no Spirits in your World?"

"It is… complicated," Patrick answered after a moment of thinking about how to answer. We do have Spirits in my World. We also have Angels, Demons, Gods and other similar beings.

"Complicated…" Korra repeated and for the rest of their journey, they continued in silence.

After a while, they arrived at the outdoor stables of the Royal Palace. They were huge and designated for breeding and stalling a large number of Arctic Camels, which were very popular in the Northern Water Tribe, but they found their way into the South as well. To Patrick, the Arctic Camels resembled a certain species of Camels in his Universe that lived in the Gobi Desert.

When they arrived, Unalaq just came out of one of the stables to check on a bunch of things that were placed on the ground. They seemed to be things meant for a long journey.

Korra stopped Naga and quickly jumped down to approach her uncle.

"You are early," Unalaq said to her.

"What can I say? I am pumped up to learn how to fight with Spirits!" Korra replied excitedly.

"And he?" Unalaq asked and motioned to Patrick, who was still sitting on Naga's back.

"I am here to observe. To observe and learn something new," Patrick replied. But mainly to watch you.

Unalaq looked at Korra like he was demanding an answer from her.

"From my experience, he can be quite silent; trust me; otherwise, we will not get rid of him," Korra said.

Unalaq sighed. "Very well, but, Korra…" He placed his hand on her shoulder. "I am not here to teach you to fight Spirits, I am here to help you begin your spiritual training." He then motioned to the Arctic Camels around them. "We are going to one of the most remote places in the world, the long-neglected spiritual center of your tribe, the South Pole itself."

"You are going to train me at the South Pole?" Korra asked surprised.

"We will do more than just train. By neglecting the Spirits, the people of the South have brought darkness upon themselves, and now it threatens to destroy them. We must set things right. The Southern Water Tribe depends on you."

It is quite strange that the darkness let itself be known as soon as you arrived, Patrick thought.

"A dangerous trip to the South Pole? Count me in!" Korra said.

Patrick cleared his throat to gain her and Unalaq's attention. "Well, in that case, I think it will be better if Bolin, Mako and the others go with us. You know there is strength in the numbers." Patrick wanted to suggest that Asami also join them, but she now needed to focus on her business talk with Varrick.

"I agree," Korra said.

"But, Korra," Unalaq replied. "This was supposed to be a closed training with just two of us. No one else."

"I know, but Patrick is right about this. And besides, my boyfriend and friends would be worried if something bad happened. They will be quiet and not interfere. I guarantee that."

"And you could bring your children as well, Chief Unalaq," Patrick added. "They seemed to be interested in this place as well."

Unalaq sighed. "Very well," he agreed in a defeated tone. "I will go oversee the preparations for our journey." And went back to check on things.

The more of us there are, the less chance there is of you trying anything on Korra. Plus, having your brother with us would not hurt, Patrick thought as he watched Unalaq. He noticed how easily Unalaq agreed to the terms just to get Korra to go with him. Whatever he was planning, he desperately needed her at the South Pole.

Meanwhile, Tenzin and his wife and children, accompanied by his siblings, who were, to put it mildly, forced upon him by his mother Katara, slowly made their way through the high peaks of the Patola Mountain Range to their destination — the Southern Air Temple.

"There it is, the Southern Air Temple. Is not it magnificent?" he said with enthusiasm in hopes that in this place he would finally be able to get some relaxation when he was no longer overseeing Korra's training.

The Southern Air Temple was indeed huge and magnificent. It was built on the top of one of the peaks of one of the mountains, and thanks to the twisted pathways that served not only as a way to travel but also as meditation mazes, it was quite a remote place. And also, thanks to the fact that it was built by the original Air Nomads, this place could only be fully inhabited by Airbenders. This, along with the open-spaced gardens and blue color of the roofs, gave this place a peacefulness and simplicity.

Tenzin landed the Flying Bison in the courtyard in front of the main building and immediately after he and his family got their feet on the solid ground, they were greeted by Abbot Shung and his acolytes, who were bringing gifts.

"Master Tenzin, welcome!"

"Good to see you again, Abbot Shung," Tenzin replied and humbly bowed to him.

"Is there anything you need? Water? Dandelion greens? Or perhaps you would like to recenter yourself by mediating in the gardens?" Abbot Shung offered.

"No, thank you, I am alright," Tenzin refused.

Abbot Shung's eyes then focused on Pema. "And you must be the honorable Pema! Please accept these gifts." Shung quickly turned around to one of his acolytes and took one of the gifts from him.

It was a strange thing that resembled a helmet made completely of sticks with a propeller on top. On the bottom were at least a dozen of the short knives attached.

Abbot Shung quickly put that strange thing into Tenzin's hands. "This is an ancient Airbender head shaver we have refurbished just for you."

Tenzin looked at the thing in his hands. "Oh… Good?"

Shung again fixed his eyes on Pema. "And Pema!" He handed her a massive bouquet of flowers. "These flowers once filled the mountainside! Now, they can brighten up your room."

"That… is sweet? You did not have to," she said.

"Nonsense!" Abbot Shung replied. "Whatever you need is yours. Anything for the mother of the next generation of Airbenders." He then turned his gaze to his left.

There was the female acolyte standing in front of Ikki and Jinora, and she was about to give Jinora the book. But Ikki quickly took it from her hands.

"No! That gift is mine!" Ikki said.

Jinora looked sternly at her younger sister. "You do not even like to read!"

Pema, in the meantime, tilted her head a little bit forward to see through the bouquet what her children were doing this time. And she was not happy at all that it was happening in front of the local acolytes.

Ikki stuck out her tongue at Jinora. "Eeeeh!"

Embarrassed, Pema turned her head toward Abbot Shung. "Yes… those are the world's next generation of Airbenders," she said with a fake smile.

But Abbot Shung still kept his optimistic smile. He probably knew how the children could be. Unfortunately, his smile quickly disappeared when Meelo jumped on his back from behind, holding a Winged Lemur that he was going to show his parents.

"Mother, Father, look! I finally got a lemur! I will name him… Poki!"

The Winged Lemur quickly got out of his hands and flew away as fast as possible.

"Poki! Come back!" Meelo yelled, quickly jumped down from Abbot Shung and formed a sphere of air to chase after the Winged Lemur. In the process, he almost spooked the female acolyte who was sweeping the courtyard.

In the meantime, Bumi and Kya were unloading the things from the saddle. Both were very frustrated because no one from the acolytes nearby was helping them with it. They all either greeted Tenzin and his family or were doing their own things.

"Excuse me, a little help here?" Bumi said to the female acolyte that was sweeping the courtyard.

The acolyte turned to them. "Sorry, I thought you were the servants."

Bumi and Kya looked at her with pure anger. "We are Tenzin's brother and sister!"

The female acolyte looked at them shocked. "Avatar Aang had other children?" She quickly dropped the broom and clasped her hands in joy. "The world is filled with more Airbenders?"

"We are not Airbenders," Kya said in a calm but angry tone.

"Oh…" The joy in the acolyte's eyes quickly disappeared and she humbly bowed. "I am sorry."

Bumi and Kya exchanged frustrated glances with each other over this.

"Let me show you your rooms," Abbot Shung said and gestured for Tenzin and his family to follow him.

After a minute, they were all going through the stone corridor of the temple.

"I see nothing much has changed over the years," Tenzin commented.

"We are trying our best to maintain the aesthetics of the Air Nation. Of course, as Non-Airbenders, we had to rework some mechanisms to work without using the Air," Abbot Shung replied. "There is relative peace and calm here, Master Tenzin but…"

"But what?" Tenzin asked because, as a former politician, he knew that this word at the end of the sentence usually meant something bad.

"We have received reports of sightings of the Spirit here within these walls."

"Really?" Tenzin replied and remembered his encounter with the angry Spirit at the Southern Water Tribe. He hoped that it would not repeat itself. His thoughts then led to what Unalaq was probably doing with Korra right now.

"Yes. According to those reports, the Spirit resembles a human. A man, to be more specific. All blue and glowing. According to some, the Spirit looked like an Airbender."

"Interesting…"

"But those reports are just a few and people have a tendency to overexaggerate. So perhaps it is nothing."

"Jinora…" the male voice said to her.

Jinora quickly turned her head around to see where it came from. It was from the corridor to her left, which she had just passed by with her family and Abbot Shung.

"Where is this leading to?" she asked and pointed to that corridor.

The group stopped and Abbot Shung turned his head toward her. "That corridor is leading to the statue room."

"The statue room?"

"There are statues of all the previous Avatars, including your grandfather, Jinora," Tenzin answered. "After we are settled in, I will take you there."

"Good," Jinora replied and continued with the group.

Meanwhile, at the South Pole, the expedition was making the final preparations.

"I thought you said Bolin was coming?" Korra asked Mako.

"He said he would be here, but I cannot worry about it," Mako replied and turned his head toward the Naga's saddle, where the supplies were. "I have to make sure we have everything we need for a safe trip."

Korra smiled at her boyfriend. "Thank you, Captain Expedition, but we will be alright." She then turned her head toward Patrick. "Are you sure that you will not need the Arctic Camel or some other ride?"

"I will be fine, Korra." Patrick pointed to the rocket outsoles.

Then they all heard the sound of a snowmobile coming toward them. Korra turned to it in hopes that it was finally Bolin, but she saw how her father on a snowmobile stopped by them.

My plus one is here, Patrick thought. He used the preparations to easily sneak away and go to Tonraq to inform him where Unalaq was taking Korra.

Unalaq quickly turned his head toward the snowmobile that had arrived. When he saw his brother, he immediately approached him with anger on his face.

"Tonraq, what do you want?"

Tonraq crossed his arms. "I heard you are taking Korra to the South Pole. I am coming."

"Absolutely not!" Unalaq said in a frustrated tone. "You are a distraction to Korra and a hindrance to what needs to be done."

"My daughter is not going without me! She needs someone to watch after her."

Korra and Mako rode up to them on Naga's back. "Father, why do you always think you know what is best for me?"

"Because he is misguided," Unalaq answered instead of Tonraq. "The sad truth is, it is men like your father or him," Unalaq pointed at Patrick, "who have put the Spirit World out of balance. He has ignored my warnings in the past and has not learned since."

And here it is, Patrick thought. What he was anticipating had begun. Unalaq began to hint at Korra's father's past with the Spirits.

Korra looked at her father surprised. "What happened in the past?"

"It does not matter. What matters is the Everstorm," Tonraq dodged the question.

"The Everstorm? Is that some kind of super blizzard?" Patrick asked.

Tonraq turned his head toward him and nodded. "Indeed. That blizzard battered the South Pole for decades." He then turned his head back toward Unalaq. "I am coming, unless you think you can stop me, little brother." And he looked at him menacingly.

In that tense moment, Patrick could imagine a similar scenario with his brother. Him in Unalaq's place and Felix in Tonraq's.

The tense moment was interrupted by Bolin's incoming yell. "Hey, wait for me!"

The following minute, Bolin arrived to the group on a snowmobile with an attached sidecar. Patrick noticed that he was wearing a new snowsuit with the logo of a blue ship with light blue sails. He was sure that Bolin was not wearing this snowsuit when they arrived at the South Pole.

"Check it out," Bolin boasted and placed his elbow on the throttle of the snowmobile. "I am traveling in style!" But then his elbow slipped down on the throttle, which caused the snowmobile to jerk forward. Luckily, Bolin managed to stop the vehicle in time. "Uh, sorry, still getting used to that throttle."

"Where did you get that?" Mako asked amused.

"From Varrick!" Bolin motioned to the snowsuit he was wearing. "He also gave me this fancy snowsuit! It is inflatable, with an internal heater, an emergency beacon, and food ration pouches! I mean, if I get lost, I can survive in this thing for like a month!" He then pulled out of his snowsuit a few slices of cucumberquat and extended his hand with them to the crowd. "Who wants some freeze-dried cucumberquats?" But the group was just looking at him. "Nobody? Did I interrupt a conversation?" Then Pabu emerged from his snowsuit, took the slices, and crawled back.

"No, the conversation is over," Korra replied and turned her head toward her father. "Father, come if you want; just do not interfere with my training." She and Mako then rode away as Unalaq returned to his Arctic Camel. "Looks like you have quite a competition," she said to Patrick, whom they passed, and motioned to his pockets full of devices, indicating Varrick's multifunctional snowsuit that he had given to Bolin.

"It looks like," Patrick replied. Even though he doubted that half of the things that Bolin mentioned were actually working. He really should meet Varrick, but right now he needed to talk with Tonraq. "You should tell her what happened in the Northern Water Tribe now," he said to him when he approached him, hinting at what Unalaq mentioned a few minutes ago.

"I know, but I cannot…" Tonraq said.

"The sooner, the better. Otherwise, it will backfire on you."

Meanwhile, Eska approached Bolin and his snowmobile. "Does this sidecar have the capacity for two passengers?"

Patrick, who heard her voice for the first time, looked at her shocked. The tone in which she was speaking sounded like that of a robot.

Bolin, on the other hand, put on his flirting smile and patted the seat of the sidecar. "Sure does." But then his flirtatious smile disappeared. "But, uh… who is going to drive?"

Several hours later, the group was making their way through the frozen tundra, heading where Unalaq was leading them. Korra was riding Naga beside him. Behind them rode Tonraq, and at the very back of their expedition was Bolin, driving the snowmobile at a slow speed with an upset expression. And he had a reason to; he thought that he was going to snog with the princess of the Northern Water Tribe in a sidecar, but instead Eska and Desna were sitting there, and he was their driver. The situation was not getting any better with Mako riding the now vacant Arctic Camel to Bolin's left and Patrick flying with his rocket outsoles to his right. Throughout their journey, those two taunted him.

Mako amusedly said, "Well, what do you know? Looks like —"

"Go away, Mako," Bolin interrupted him with an annoyed tone.

"Hey, Bolin! After we are done at the South Pole, would you mind giving me a lift too?" Patrick asked jokingly.

"Go away, Patrick!" Bolin said and it looked like he was very close to raising his voice.

Patrick wanted to taunt him some more when he noticed that Unalaq was saying something to Korra in the front. So, he increased his speed to eavesdrop on them, leaving Mako to have fun.

"So, once we get to the South Pole, then what happens?" Korra asked her uncle.

"You will open an ancient spirit portal," Unalaq answered while he was focused on the path ahead of them.

"I am sorry, what now?" Korra asked shocked. She was not aware that there was a portal in her homeland or that she was able to open one.

Unalaq turned his head toward her. "At the South Pole, there is a portal that connects our world to the Spirit World, but it has long been closed."

"And that is why the evil Spirits are attacking?"

"There are no evil Spirits; there is light and dark in them all. But when they are unbalanced, the darkness takes over," Unalaq explained and motioned to the massive storm ahead of them.

No evil Spirits? In that case, you should meet with Su'kanron, the ancient Spirit of the Plague, from my Universe. He will gladly correct you in this statement, Patrick thought after overhearing their conversation. Then there was that thing about the portal leading into the Spirit World. Patrick was not surprised by its existence; his own world had similar attached dimensions: Asgard, Hell, Heaven, Olympus and others. He was more concerned with why the portal was closed in the first place, and why Unalaq wanted to open it, and why now.

"If you can open the portal in time, balance will be restored," Unalaq added.

"What do you mean… in time?" Korra asked confused.

"There is a reason the Glacier Spirits Festival ends on the winter solstice. That is when the Spirit World and our world are close together. Only then can the Avatar open the portal," Unalaq explained.

"The winter solstice is tomorrow."

"Exactly and we cannot afford to wait another year."

Still, it does not explain why you need to open the portal this year, Patrick thought.

The group then continued their way through the frozen tundra, accompanied by thick fog. Then Naga suddenly stopped, turned her head toward her left, and started growling at something.

"Easy, Naga," Korra said to her animal companion and she looked with the group at what Naga was growling at.

The fog slowly started to clear, revealing a trio of dark figures in the distance watching them.

"What are those?" Bolin asked frightened.

"Dark Spirits," Korra answered.

And in the moment, she finished the sentence, the fog thickened and the Spirits disappeared from their sight.

"Patrick, you have something against them, right?" Bolin, still frightened, asked and turned his head toward him to gain at least a nod from him. But nothing.

"I do not, Bolin. Not here," Patrick replied and he was speaking the truth. In his basement, he could find many weapons against the Spirits, but he would have to teleport there, and it would take some time to find them. Sadly, he could not because he had to watch over Korra and Unalaq, especially now that he learned that Korra had to open the portal into the world of those beings.

"Let's keep moving. We have to find a safe place to set up a camp," Tonraq suggested.

The group then continued on their journey.

A few hours later, in the deep night, the group sat down around the campfire. Patrick sat beside Tonraq; beside them were Desna and Eska with Bolin, and opposite them were Mako, Korra and Unalaq.

"Uncle, why do you think the Dark Spirits are following us?" Korra asked Unalaq.

"Can we not talk about the Dark Spirits, please?" Bolin replied and sat closer to Eska next to him so he could grab her arm to feel safe.

"My brother does not like ghost stories," Mako said to the group.

"Do not worry. I will protect you, my feeble turtle duck," Eska said to Bolin with a possessive tone.

"Thank you," Bolin replied and snuggled closer to Eska.

"Sadly, this is not a ghost story. This is real," Unalaq said and Bolin gasped in fear, put on the hood of his snowsuit, and closed it. "The Spirits are angry because he is here," he said and he looked at Tonraq opposite him. He then turned his gaze to Korra. "Have you not ever wondered how your father ended up in the South Pole? Why has he never taken you to visit his homeland in the North?"

And here it finally is, Patrick thought. He looked at Korra's father and waited for his response. He hoped that Tonraq would choose well.

"Unalaq, this is not the time," Tonraq said to his brother.

Oh, no, Patrick evaluated that response. This will make Korra more interested in finding out the truth. He could see it in her eyes.

"You are right," Unalaq continued. "You should have told her a long time ago."

"Told me what!?" Korra asked.

Tonraq took a deep breath before he continued. Patrick was right; he should have told her the truth when they were at Wolf Cove. Now the truth will be revealed under his brother's terms. "I left the North Pole because… I was banished."

Korra gasped in shock. "You were banished from the North? Why?"

"Because I almost destroyed the entire tribe," Tonraq answered and he started telling the story he had told Patrick in the igloo. When he finished, he stood up, turned his back to the others and hung his head down in shame before he turned back to the others.

"Whoa, so you," Bolin said after hearing Tonraq's story and gestured to Tonraq, "were supposed to be Chief, then he," he gestured to Unalaq, "became Chief. No wonder you do not like each other…" And before he could continue, Mako elbowed him to stop him. "Ow! What? Is that not what happened?" he asked his brother.

Patrick, meanwhile, silently nodded. Yes, Bolin.

Korra, on the other hand, stood up, full of anger at her father. "I cannot believe you kept this from me."

"I was protecting you from the shame I brought on the family," Tonraq replied.

"Why did you keep hiding things from me and then telling me it is for my own protection?" She paused for a moment. "I am tired of you protecting me!" She turned around and left into the dark.

"Korra!" Tonraq reacted and was about to go after her when Unalaq stood up to stop him.

"You have done enough damage already, brother. I will go talk to her." Unalaq then went after her.

Tonraq sighed and sat back down in his place.

"I have told you; you should have told her sooner. Now she will trust Unalaq," Patrick whispered to him.

"I know…" Tonraq replied.

"Anyway, what do you know about that closed portal we are heading to?"

"Not much, just that the Southern Water Tribe considers that place to be cursed and forbidden," Tonraq answered, and as a former warrior, he knew very well that it was necessary to know the hostile area well before entering. "Do you think it will be bad?"

"Opening a portal to another world, probably filled with more of those Dark Spirits? Yeah, it could be bad," Patrick replied and remembered how the Mad Monk from his Universe at the end of World War II had opened the portal to summon the Beast of the Apocalypse together with the Seven Gods of Chaos.

"Unbelievable!" Korra said after she walked several meters away from their camp. She then noticed that Unalaq was behind her and turned to him. "Over twenty years, he did not tell me the truth! And now he wants me to trust him about what is best for me?"

"Korra… I can tell you that your grandfather was not happy at all when he banished your father," Unalaq said and he turned his head toward their camp, where he saw Tonraq. "His favorite son," he whispered. He then quickly turned his head back toward her. "But you are not your father. You are something much better."

Korra crossed her arms and turned her gaze to the ground. "I guess you are right."

"So, still, you want to learn something about 'fighting' the Spirits?" Unalaq asked.

Korra looked at him with interest. "You will teach me that thing you did with the Spirit at the festival?"

"Of course," Unalaq replied. "You will need it eventually when you try to open the portal. But it is not much about the fighting; more precisely, it is about giving the Spirits the balance they need."

An hour later, Mako, Patrick and Tonraq were sitting around the campfire. The twins had already gone to sleep, and they dragged Bolin with them.

Between those three there was a silence, which was broken by Mako, who was gathering the courage to talk with Korra's father. "So… sir, how have you been?"

Patrick looked at him amused. Really, Mako?

"I have been well, despite the recent events," Tonraq replied and looked at Mako sternly. "And you?"

Mako gulped down. "Good, good, good, that is good…" He looked for a moment at the ground.

"I hope you are not getting my daughter into any kind of trouble in the city." Unalaq took a strong twig and snapped it in half with ease while looking at Mako before he threw the wood into the fire. "Do you?"

Mako, who watched the twig being snapped, gulped down again. "No…no. Not at all." He paused for a moment to think about what to say next. "I actually recently became a Police Officer in Republic City."

"Really?" Tonraq asked with interest.

"Yes. Mako is actually the esteemed newest member of the Police in the city," Patrick said.

Mako gave a wide smile. "That is right. Just like Patrick said."

"Who on his very first day committed a risky police chase that ended up destroying public property," Patrick continued.

Mako kept his wide smile, but there was a fear in his eyes as he watched Tonraq pick up another twig. "Patrick, what are you doing?" he said through his teeth.

"Is that so?" Tonraq snapped the twig in half and threw it into the fire.

"And let's not forget that Mako ran numbers for a criminal gang and some other stuff," Patrick added.

"Patrick…" Mako reacted while keeping his eyes on Tonraq, who this time did not say anything; he just picked up three twigs and snapped them all in half.

"Anyway, Mako, I strongly believe that we will find you still breathing in the morning." Patrick stood up and friendly patted him on the back.

"Patrick, where are you going?" Mako asked in panic as he shifted his gaze from him to Tonraq.

"I am going to check on Korra. Have fun, you two," Patrick replied and headed over to Korra and Unalaq.

As he walked away from the campfire, he could hear Mako whisper, "Do not leave me here!"

Patrick reached Unalaq and several meters in front of him was Korra, who was making the same movements with her hands as Unalaq did a few days ago at the festival.

"You have to be in emotional balance; otherwise, the Spirits will sense it, especially your inner darkness," Unalaq instructed her.

"Got it!" Korra replied.

Unalaq then noticed that Patrick was standing next to him. "What are you doing here? I thought you only worshipped Progress and Science."

"I observe; that is part of it. Learning new things," Patrick replied and looked at Unalaq. He could see that he was holding and looking at an open book. It was the same one he had seen Unalaq holding at the feast in the Royal Palace.

The book had a worn-out brown hardback cover that indicated that it was very old. Even though Unalaq was trying to hide its content from Patrick's eyes, Patrick could spot a few handwritten notes; the book seemed to be a diary or something like that. Patrick then quickly noticed a drawn picture of some landscape with what looked like a beam of light that rose to the sky in the back. If Patrick could guess, that place could probably have been the South Pole in the past, and that thing could be that portal that Unalaq was talking about. But further examination was prevented by Unalaq.

"I think we both started off on the wrong foot," Patrick said in the hope that he could make Unalaq let his guard down.

"I think not," Unalaq replied. "On the first day we met, it was clear that we both did not share the same ideology. It is definitely pointless to continue this conversation."

Patrick turned his gaze away and sighed. Perhaps he could gain Unalaq's favor in a matter they both shared. "It had to be hard to be the second-born son of the Chief." He turned his gaze back to Unalaq and could see that he was looking at him with a little bit of interest. "Growing up in the shadow of a firstborn, who never did anything wrong and who was constantly praised by the people." He paused for a moment. "Being the second-born, who had to work hard, but it still was not enough because his sibling was born earlier."

Unalaq closed the book and, in the corner of his eye, looked at Tonraq and then he focused back on Patrick. "Brother or sister?"

"A brother, the heir himself. The perfect obedient soldier."

Unalaq chuckled. "And I thought I was the only one." He paused for a moment. "It looks like we have something in common after all. Did your family force you to train?"

"Yes, but I was always spending time in the library or doing my own thing."

"Same. My father wanted soldiers instead of sons. I never knew why or how he got on the throne. He never had great ambition or vision. And Tonraq was the same." He paused for a moment to look at how Korra was proceeding with the training. She was able to form the shape of an hourglass from the water, just like he did a few days ago. "You are doing great, Korra," he said to her.

"Thank you; I think I am starting to figure it out," she replied.

"But I think it is enough for today. We should have some sleep. Tomorrow you will need all your strength to open the portal." He turned to Patrick. "Perhaps I was wrong… dear colleague. You could perhaps learn something from our journey." He then walked over to the camp.

"I can only hope," Patrick replied and with him and Korra returned to the camp. For the rest of the night, Mako was sleeping as far away from Tonraq as possible.

Meanwhile, at the Southern Air Temple, where the sun was slowly setting, Tenzin took Jinora to the statue room located in the sanctuary of the temple.

It was a huge spiral room with levels leading to the top. There were statues of all the previous Avatars arranged in the spiral, from the newest on the ground floor to the ancient ones at the top.

"Wow, the statue room," Jinora said.

Tenzin turned his head toward her. "That is right, Jinora, the most sacred place in the entire Southern Air Temple." He turned his gaze to the statues in front of and above them. "Here, you will find statues of every Avatar who ever lived." He then started looking around because he remembered that, except for Jinora, he also took her siblings into this room. When he could not find them, he turned his gaze to his only sensible child. "Where are your brother and sister?"

Then Ikki and Meelo zoomed behind them at full speed on their spheres of air.

"You cannot catch me! I am the greatest air scooter-er of all time!" Meelo yelled at his sister, who was right behind him, without looking at the path ahead of him, which caused him to crash into one of the statues after saying those words.

Tenzin watched in shock at how his son had crashed into a centuries-old statue that had survived the war. "Meelo!" He ran to his son to tend to him and make sure that the statue was not damaged.

Jinora, in the meantime, walked over to the statues and carefully examined each of them. As she was looking at them, she remembered the board with pictures of Scientists in Patrick's basement. This place reminded her of it perfectly.

What if Patrick's World has its own some sort of Avatars like here? she thought as she stopped at the statue that depicted her Grandfather Aang. With great awe, she looked at the statue.

"Jinora…" the male voice said behind her.

She turned her head around to the source of the voice in a quick movement, and for a mere second, she saw some man, completely blue and glowing, standing behind the statues. In the next second, he was completely gone. She quickly rubbed her eyes to make sure what she just saw was real or perhaps she was daydreaming.

Back at the South Pole, the expedition was making its way through the frozen tundra while it was constantly snowing. Korra was in front, and almost all day she was not talking with her father. Tonraq decided to ride forward and speak with her.

"Korra, you have every right to be mad at me. But I do not want you to make the same mistake I made," he said to her while she was still ignoring him. "I should never have gone into that forest and we should not be going to the South Pole now. The Spirits and the physical world should remain separate."

Patrick, who was flying beside them, agreed with Tonraq's statement that it was better to keep the two worlds separate. From what he had learned from the High Sorceress's library in his Universe, thousands of years ago, an army of demons, dark gods and other malevolent entities from different worlds and dimensions tried to attack the Earth, but they were stopped by the then sorcerers, Earth gods, and others. Since then, they have ensured that none of those threats will ever repeat their attempt to enter the Earth, even though they have continued to try ever since, from outside or within.

Korra on Naga's back moved a little bit forward, so they could both turn toward him. "Father, it is my job to be the bridge between the Spirits and the physical world, and I finally have a chance to live up to my protentional."

"You do not even know if what Unalaq says is true," Tonraq replied sternly.

"You want proof, brother?" Unalaq said and stopped his camel at them. "Look to the sky. Where I am from, the Spirits are at peace and they light up the dark."

"The Northern Lights," Korra concluded.

"Yes. There used to be lights at the South as well, but during the Hundred Year War, the South was thrown out of balance and the lights disappeared. When the War ended, the North helped to rebuild you physically, as a nation, but we have not rebuilt you spiritually. Now the Spirits no longer dance in your skies. Instead, they rampage in the Everstorm."

Then why did you not tell Aang about it when he was alive? Why wait until now? Patrick asked the questions in spirit.

A few minutes later, the group reached the edge of the cliff.

"I think we are here," Mako announced.

Korra looked with worry at the Everstorm, which was several kilometers from them and was raging at full force. The group then rode down the side of the cliff and went forward.

A moment later, they were in the Everstorm. They all had their hoods on to protect their faces against the icy wind, except for Patrick, who had a transparent red aura around him, which was his thermal shield that was working at full power.

Soon the group heard a roar in the distance and they stopped to look to their left at the source of it. But they could not see anything in that blizzard.

"Is that what I think it is?" Bolin asked with fear while his two passengers did not show any emotions at all.

"We must keep moving," Unalaq replied and gestured for them to continue.

Patrick had to agree with Unalaq on this one; they were deep in a hostile area, and the only way out was to move forward.

The roar sounded again, but this time it was much closer to them.

Bolin immediately started to panic. "Oh, man, I really do not like this!"

Mako turned his head toward him and tried to calm him down. "Bolin, just stay calm, there is no reason to —" Mako did not finish the sentence because dozens of the small Dark Spirits emerged from beneath them, who very quickly climbed on their animals and vehicles to grab their supplies at the same speed and ran away. "…panic!" Mako finished the sentence with a yell while he was trying to calm down his Arctic Camel.

So, they started by stealing our supplies. When will the main attack begin? Patrick thought as he hovered above them and looked around to see any signs of the incoming attack.

One of the small Dark Spirits jumped on Naga's head and frightened her so much that she instinctively stood on her hind legs, which caused Korra to fall down. Korra quickly turned her gaze to her left and saw that another Dark Spirit had emerged from the snow, only this one was quite bigger and resembled a bird.

Tonraq did not waste any time and quickly got out of his snowmobile to form an ice wall against the flying Dark Spirit. But the being just flew above it.

Korra then heard another roar behind her and saw that another Dark Spirit, much bigger than the other ones, was running directly at her.

Tonraq noticed the running Dark Spirit and quickly, with the use of his Waterbending, got Korra out of its range. He then tried to attack the being, but it dodged his attack and fully focused on him. In that moment, Patrick decided to step in and fly straight into the Dark Spirit while activating his shield. Even though he did not have any weapons against the Dark Spirits, there was one thing in his arsenal he could use: his shield. Of course, it would serve as a temporary weapon until the Dark Spirits adapted to it, but right now it was all he had. And he was successful. The impact knocked the Dark Spirit away without hitting Tonraq.

Bolin, on the other hand, had his own problems because one of the Dark Spirits entered the engine of his snowmobile, and in the following second the engine exploded, and the snowmobile charged forward at full speed. Bolin tried to regain control while the twins still showed no reaction.

Korra and Mako were fighting the Dark Spirits with their Firebending when suddenly another Dark Spirit emerged from the snow. This one was much bigger than all of them combined and had stumps instead of arms. Korra decided to use the technique that her uncle taught her.

For a few seconds, she managed to form water into an hourglass shape, and the Dark Spirit was almost purified when it suddenly broke free and hit her. Korra landed hard on her back and was trying to stand up, but the Dark Spirit was already above her and was about to attack.

Patrick noticed what was happening and quickly flew to the Dark Spirit to hit it at full speed with his shield. But he only managed to slightly push it away. The Dark Spirit turned its gaze to him and tried to slam him down with its stump. Patrick dodged his attack and was now above Korra with his back to the Dark Spirit; he was now the only thing between her and that thing. He was about to quickly turn around and hit the Dark Spirit, but the being of pure energy was much quicker than he thought, and it pinned him down against Korra.

Damn! Patrick thought as he growled in pain from the impact. He looked directly into Korra's eyes, which were just a few centimeters from his.

Korra turned her gaze to the being above and could see that the Dark Spirit opened its mouth full of fangs and bit Patrick's back, but it looked like it was met with resistance.

Patrick, on the other hand, could slightly feel Spirit's fangs on his back. Just a few seconds, and that thing will be able to get through his shield.

Luckily, Unalaq managed to purify the Dark Spirit before it could happen, and the being disappeared.

Patrick quickly stood up and helped Korra up.

"Thank you," she said.

"You are welcome," Patrick replied with a sigh. It looked like they repelled the attack.

"Is everyone alright?" Mako asked while looking around for his brother.

"Aaaahhhh!" Bolin's scream sounded several meters away from them.

Everybody turned their attention to its source. They saw Bolin's snowmobile speeding up toward the mountainside at full speed.

Bolin was trying everything to stop the snowmobile, but nothing worked. "I cannot stop it!" he yelled, terrified, hoping that his passengers were terrified as well.

But Eska and Desna still did not show any emotion. Then they stood up and jumped off their seats onto Bolin's back.

"We will save you," Eska proclaimed and the twins jumped again, this time taking Bolin with them. In the following second, the snowmobile crashed into the mountainside. The twins in the middle of the air then dropped Bolin onto the snow while they elegantly landed on their feet, which they covered with ice so they could slide down easily.

As for Bolin, his snowsuit immediately inflated itself; one of Varrick's inventions for the suit was activated. "I am a raft!" he commented while, with Pabu on his stomach, he followed the twins.

The trio got down to the others, but it looked like Bolin was about to slide further until he was stopped by Patrick.

"Uhhhh, can someone please deflate me?" Bolin asked.

Patrick was about to use his laser blade when Eska quickly formed three ice spikes from the snow and pierced through Bolin's snowsuit.

"Thank you," Bolin replied as he was able to freely move again.

The group then turned to their animals and vehicle to see their destroyed supplies.

"Oh, great. There goes our equipment," Mako commented on the situation.

Yep, the classic hit-and-run tactic, Patrick added in spirit, and he was surprised that the Spirits, behaving like mindless beasts, were able to plan something like this, but it could also be a random result of their rampage.

"Now what are we supposed to do?" Mako asked, turned to the others and waited for their suggestions.

"There is only one thing to do," Tonraq said. "We have to turn back."

"No!" Unalaq raised his voice. "The solstice is tonight. And we are so close."

"This mission is too dangerous. We are leaving."

"No, we cannot. We have to move forward," Patrick said.

Tonraq looked at him surprised. "What?"

"See, brother. Even a man of Progress and Science could see the necessity of our mission," Unalaq said with a smile.

But Patrick ignored Unalaq's remark and looked at Tonraq. "Look at it as a warrior, Tonraq. How does that look to you?" He waited for Tonraq to look at their destroyed equipment to slowly realize what it was. "They took out our supplies and destroyed one of our vehicles. They could have done it yesterday or earlier today, but they waited until we were in the Everstorm. That means they can think and use tactics. What would you do in their place?"

Tonraq looked at him and then turned his gaze to the frozen ground as he realized the answer. "I would attack the enemy if they retreated or…" He looked back at Patrick. "If they were to continue forward."

"Either way, we are screwed, and I cannot teleport us back in this weather. So, probably our only option is to get to the portal." Patrick did not like it the same way Tonraq did, but right now they do not have any choice in this matter.

"Then let's go," Korra said and the group proceeded to the remaining means of transportation.

"He will use Korra to open that portal!" Tonraq whispered to Patrick while they were walking.

"I know! But right now, we have to play his game before we can play our own," Patrick replied. "And something is telling me that the portal is just a small piece of the puzzle. Plus, Korra would send you away and I need someone who could stand against Unalaq if necessary, when we reach our destination. Do not worry, I will keep an eye on her like always."

"Understood and thank you," Tonraq said and got on his snowmobile.

Korra, who, in the meantime, was already on Naga's back, noticed how her father and Patrick were whispering about something. Probably once again deciding about her life without her telling them her opinion.

"We do not have much time," Unalaq announced.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Korra replied harshly.

The group continued on their journey. While Tonraq and Unalaq had their vehicle and animal for themselves and Patrick was flying, the others had to share. Mako sat behind Korra on Naga's back, and Bolin was sitting behind Desna and Eska on the other Arctic Camel.

A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination — The South Pole. It was actually a forest completely buried in ice and there was some clear light coming from its center.

"Trees frozen in the ice," Korra commented when everyone came closer to see.

"It is just like the sacred forest Tonraq destroyed in the North," Unalaq remarked about the South Pole's connection to what happened at the North Pole.

"So, what do I do?" Korra asked and turned her head toward him for the answer.

"You must find your way to the heart of the forest where the dormant spirit portal lies. From here, you are on your own."

"Wait a second; there is no way she is going alone," Tonraq protested.

"Agreed," Mako joined.

"Yes! If she goes, we go, too!" Bolin added.

"The Avatar must go alone," Unalaq said with resolution.

"But I do not have any connection with the Spirits. In fact, it seems like they hate me," Korra reacted to that information as she approached her uncle.

Unalaq placed his hand on his niece's shoulder. "You have to believe in yourself, like I believe in you." Korra then turned away from him and chuckled. "What is it?"

"I guess I am just so used to people telling me how to do things that I forgot what it was like to have someone trust in me," she answered and for a brief moment she looked at her father, who turned his gaze away with a guilty expression.

"Korra, all the past Avatars live on inside of you. Let them guide you. Let them help you find the light in the dark." And they both turned their gazes to the South Pole.

Korra sighed. It was time to test how good the Avatar she was. She turned her head toward Bolin, Mako and her father. "Wait here, please; I will be alright."

"Good luck," Mako replied.

Tonraq wanted to protest more, but he realized that he would only be pushing Korra away. She was right. He had to believe that she could do it. Plus, it reassured him that she was not going there alone at all when he and others noticed that Patrick went ahead.

"What do you think you are doing?" Unalaq asked surprised.

Patrick turned to him. "I am going with her," he answered and gestured for Korra to go.

"Are you deaf or something? I said the Avatar must go alone!"

"I heard you, but I do not give a damn. I am going with her."

Korra grinned. "Another one who is telling me what to do instead of trusting in me. You, Tenzin and my father make quite a team."

"Oh really?" Patrick stepped forward toward her. "Should I remind you what happened at Aang Memorial Island? How did I warn you not to do it? And how did you later cry from Amon almost taking your Bending?" He then pointed at her and then at himself. "You see, trust is a two-way thing, and as long as you will not trust others, they will not trust you." He paused for a moment. "I do not doubt your skills at all, Korra. I just will not let you go there alone."

Korra pouted and turned her gaze away for a moment, then she looked back at Patrick. "Good then."

"No! The Avatar must do this alone!" Unalaq said.

"She just has to open the portal, right? So, I do not see a harm in her being accompanied by someone," Patrick replied. "We can do it now or wait another year, Unalaq."

Unalaq sighed to calm himself down. "Very well then. At least the man of Progress and Science will be able to see the full power of Spirits with his own eyes." He then watched with others as Korra and Patrick made their way toward the forest. His eyes then wandered to his brother, who gave him a smug face, but Unalaq ignored him as he pulled out his book. It does not matter anyway if she does not go there alone; the only thing that matters is that she opens this portal and the other one. He was getting so close to fulfilling his destiny of becoming the Dark Avatar.

Korra and Patrick reached the forest buried by ice and went through what looked like an entrance into an ice cave, which, after they entered it, revealed that the ice that covered the forest had turned the place into a network of ice caverns whose walls were penetrated by the roots of the trees.

"I cannot believe that you used the mention of what happened on Aang Memorial Island," Korra said to Patrick angrily as they descended deeper.

"I would not if there were any way to talk to you normally, but sadly, there is not," Patrick replied. "There is something wrong with this expedition to open that portal."

"And what is that?" Korra asked but her tone showed that she was not interested in any answer.

"Why did Unalaq wait until now to reveal the existence of that portal and that it needed to be opened? He could have asked Aang to do it, or you with the Order of White Lotus when you were growing up. Why now?"

"Perhaps… Perhaps… I do not know! And I do not care!"

"Korra, the Dark Spirits started attacking shortly after Unalaq's arrival, and if he so cares for the South, then why did he not visit it so often? And we do not even know what opening that portal will do."

Korra turned her head toward him with a surprised expression. "When the Dark Spirits attacked us and destroyed our supplies, you agreed with Unalaq that we should go here!"

"I said that it would probably work. Probably! There is also a chance that it will get worse! You have to listen and start thinking, Korra! Not just following Unalaq because he showed you something cool you could do with the Spirits!"

Korra stopped and fully turned to him. "Maybe I am done listening. After all, you and my father have a nice talk behind my back, deciding what I should do."

"Your father cares for you, Korra, as a proper parent should."

"That is why he has been lying to me all my life? No, thank you; I do not want this type of care." She turned around and continued walking.

Patrick rolled his eyes. Here we fucking go again. In a few days, you will regret what you just said. And he followed her.

After a minute, they got to the intersection.

"Do you know where to go at least? Does your Avatar's instinct point somewhere?" Patrick asked.

Korra just shrugged. "No." She turned her head toward him. "And you?"

"If I had some probes, I could scan the entire network of these caverns, but sadly…no." He then started looking around.

"What?"

"It is too quiet here. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Yes… I do too," Korra replied because she also realized that this place was perfect for the ambush.

Then they heard some noise behind them. They both turned to its source and saw a pair of the Dark Spirits in the shape of snakes flying toward them.

"It looks like we have to choose!" Patrick said and they both ran to the right.

But the Dark Spirits caught up with them, knocked them down, and each of them wrapped themselves around their bodies. Patrick's shield was able to resist the Dark Spirit, but that was the only thing he could do now. Luckily, Korra sent a fire blast at the Dark Spirit that was wrapping itself around her body, completely shattering it in the process. Then, with a quick motion that helped her stand up, she sent another fire blast at the Dark Spirit by Patrick.

Patrick quickly stood up and noticed that the Dark Spirits had put themselves back together. "Go!" he yelled the order at Korra and then they ran onward through the ice tunnel.

When they reached the end, Korra quickly formed the wall of ice that stopped the pursuing Dark Spirits. She and Patrick then watched as the Dark Spirits disappeared somewhere.

A few seconds later, they turned around to see where they had gotten to. They were in a huge ice cave. And in its center, underneath the ice floor, was a dome of light. It was the source of the light they saw coming from the forest before they entered it.

"So, this must be that portal," Patrick deduced and he started looking around to see if the Dark Spirits were preparing for another attack.

"It is," Korra agreed and slowly approached the dome.

Meanwhile, at the Southern Air Temple, it was a deep night, and Jinora was sleeping in the room she shared with her siblings. Lucky for her, she had her own bed, while Ikki and Meelo were sharing one along with Winged Lemur, whom Meelo managed to catch after all, so it was a peaceful sleep until the unknown male voice interrupted it.

"Jinora…"

Jinora slowly sat down on the bed while tiredly rubbing her eyes. She then looked at her younger siblings, wondering if they had heard it too, but they were deeply asleep.

"Jinora…" the male voice repeated from the other side of the closed door of their room.

Jinora got out of bed and headed to the door to open it. There was no one in the empty, dark hallway. She looked again at her siblings before she heard that voice again. Without any hesitation, she closed the door behind her and went to the source of the voice. The Statue Room.

Several minutes later, she was slowly reaching the top of the statue room.

Korra stood above the dome of light inside the ice floor. "The light in the dark." She then tried to punch the ice while using her Airbending. Nothing. "Ugh!" She took a few steps back and sent a stream of fire at it. Nothing. "Why is it not opening?"

Patrick stepped forward and activated his laser blade on the gauntlet on his right hand. "Let me try it."

"All yours," Korra replied and made a welcoming gesture. She watched as Patrick approached the dome and was about to cut into the ice when he suddenly stopped and took a step back. "What?" she asked but then she noticed that he was looking at the opposite wall. She looked in that direction and saw at least hundreds of those Dark Spirits they had encountered a few minutes ago running up through the ice walls of the cave. She immediately kneeled down to the dome and kept punching the ice floor. "Come on, portal, open!"

"Could you speed it up a bit?!" Patrick said as he was watching how the Dark Spirits above the ceiling of the cave started to merge into one big Dark Spirit.

"I am trying!" Korra replied.

"Then try harder!" Patrick quickly activated his shield in the shape of a large dome around himself and Korra. This will buy them a few minutes at most.

The big Dark Spirit broke through the ice and charged at them, but it was stopped by Patrick's shield. Still, Korra and Patrick could feel the strength of that being.

Then from the Dark Spirit started to emerge hundreds of tendrils, which were trying to pierce the shield.

"Korra!" Patrick said to remind her of the urgency of the situation.

Korra kept punching the ice below them. "I know! I know!"

Then one of the tendrils pierced through the shield and grabbed her by the arm. Pretty soon, another one grabbed her other arm. Korra tried to break free, but more and more tendrils were getting through and wrapping themselves around her body. Patrick was about to distract the Dark Spirits to buy some more time for Korra when one of the tendrils got through his shield and wrapped itself around his neck and slowly began to strangle him. Then another tendril grabbed him by the leg. The pair was then dragged upward by the Dark Spirits.

Luckily, Korra managed to enter the Avatar State and momentarily break free to drop down toward the portal, but the Dark Spirits were still holding her. Korra extended her hand to the portal and in the final moment of desperation, she touched it with her finger. This time a ring of light formed at the exact spot where she touched the floor and a second later the cave started to shake. In the next second, the floor started to crack and a massive light exploded, throwing her and Patrick aside while dispelling the Dark Spirits.

Bolin, Eska, Desna, Mako, Unalaq and Tonraq watched as a green beam of light emerged from the center of the forest into the night sky, completely dispelling the Everstorm and replacing it with the southern lights.

"Are you alright?" Korra asked Patrick while she was standing up.

Patrick nodded while holding his neck. "I am."

Then they both watched that glory from the front seats in its center. The ice that was surrounding them started to melt and pretty soon the ice caverns were replaced by the forest.

"The spirits, dancing in the sky," Korra remarked.

Patrick, on the other hand, was slowly counting the seconds in spirit until something bad would come out of that portal. He hoped that he would count to infinite.

Jinora reached the top of the statue room and she was slowly approaching the last statue. It was an ancient statue depicting the Avatar, which she knew nothing about. Then the statue completely glowed in front of her and she gasped in surprise, but it was not because of that. The light from the statue revealed a man standing in front of it and looking at her.

He was huge, bald and blue-glowing. He reminded her of an Airbender, like her father, but this man had instead of arrows on his forehead a dot and a circle around it with a smaller dot on its top.

"Hello, Jinora…" the man said.

Jinora's gaze slowly moved down and she quickly turned around because the man in front of her was completely naked.

Jon looked at his body and quickly understood what the problem was. "I am very sorry. It has been a long time since I have been talking with somebody else, and those I was talking to before have gotten used to my… nakedness." He formed a black suit on his body. "You can turn around now, Jinora."

Jinora slowly turned around to see and she could not believe that someone was able to dress so quickly. "Who… are you? Are you a Spirit?"

"No. I am… I was human. It would be hard to explain to you when your world has not even yet discovered the basic laws of physics. So, let's just say I am more than a human, Jinora. My name is Jon Osterman."

"How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot of things."

"It was your voice that was calling me, right?"

"Yes, Jinora."

"And you made that statue glow like this?" she asked and she pointed at the still glowing statue behind him.

"No." Jon turned his head toward the statue. "This is merely a reaction to what your friends Korra and Patrick did on the South Pole a few minutes ago." He turned his head back toward Jinora. "They opened a portal leading into the Spirit World."

"They did?" Jinora asked surprised.

"Yes. One of two. But unfortunately, they are unintentionally helping something… bad, or more precisely, evil. One of the many consequences of the actions of this Avatar." He motioned to the statue behind him.

"And who is this Avatar?" Jinora asked while looking at the statue and making the first steps forward once she was sure that Jon, that strange being in front of her, would not hurt her.

"His name was Wan and he was the first."

"The first Avatar?"

"Yes. He lived exactly ten thousand years ago and he was the beginning of the Avatar Cycle."

"And why are you telling me this?"

"Because in several days Korra and Patrick will arrive here and they will need help. Your help with the Spirit World and with what is to come."

"What? Why me? I know nothing about the Spirit World or about the Spirits themselves. Honestly, this is my father's domain."

"But he lacks the talent you have." He then watched how Jinora looked at him surprised. "Yes, your natural affinity with the Spirits that you always had."

"Why are you telling me all this?" she asked.

"Because you need to develop your skills before Korra and Patrick arrive to gain an advantage against what is coming. Consider this your first step towards fulfilling your destiny, Jinora."

Jinora turned her gaze to the glowing statue and then back to Jon, thinking about what he said to her. "I will start this morning in the library. I will find everything about the Spirits and I will learn it."

"Good and you should go to sleep now because your brother will wake up in a few minutes and find your bed empty."

Jinora humbly bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Jon. I hope we will see each other again."

"Do not worry, Jinora; we will," Jon replied.

Jinora turned around and left while Jon was observing her, knowing that what was about to happen to her would be her father's fault.

Back at the South Pole, the rest of the expedition was watching the beauty of the southern lights in the night sky.

"I cannot believe it," Mako commented.

"It is beautiful," Bolin added and he rubbed his eyes because tears were welling up from looking at it.

Tonraq, who was standing beside Unalaq, was watching with pride the work of his daughter. "She did it." He turned his head toward his brother and saw him smiling.

The first of the two portals has been opened. Now the only thing is to persuade her to open the other one and nothing will stand in my way. Captain Danrok and the others have the signal to begin the next phase, Unalaq thought.

Korra and Patrick walked side by side to the others, while the forest behind them was fully recovering.

"Hey, Korra and Patrick are back!" Bolin exclaimed happily and ran over to them. When he was at them, he quickly hugged Korra and was planning to hug Patrick as well, because he thought he would never see them again, but before he could do that, in between him and them an ice wall rose up that stopped around his neck and turned him around to face Eska.

"Why are you initiating physical contact with another woman?" she asked.

Bolin was not able to answer; he just fearfully laughed, hoping that Eska would spare him. She did and she melted the ice wall that was holding him.

Meanwhile, Korra and Patrick were approached by Unalaq.

"Everything you said was true," she said.

"Avatar Korra, you have taken the first step in bringing balance back to the South, and soon the whole world," Unalaq replied and he turned his gaze to Patrick. "The same can be said about you, Patrick, man of Progress and Science."

"That still does not mean I will worship the Spirits as you do," Patrick said.

"Just gave him some time," Korra remarked jokingly.

"Oh, he will have time," Unalaq said and went to his Arctic Camel.

"By the way, I am really sorry for being a total pain back there. Recent things were really stressful for me," Korra said to Patrick.

"Well, perhaps I should start collecting money for every one of your apologies. With that money, I could buy a house," Patrick reacted sarcastically.

But Korra did not let him destroy her good mood after she opened the portal. So, she just jokingly nudged him.

Mako ran to her and hugged her. "You never cease to amaze me."

"Thank you," she replied and hugged him back.

And Patrick just rolled his eyes at their frolic before he walked away.

Several hours later, the expedition was approaching the cliff of the mountain, from where there was a great view of Wolf Cove. Korra was about to look with satisfaction at her home, for which she opened the portal and saved it from the wrath of the Spirits, but she, like Bolin, Mako and her father, instead watched surprised at the incoming fleet of battleships of the Northern Water Tribe and how the soldiers were disembarking from the ships that were already in the harbor. The only ones who were not surprised at all were Unalaq, his children, if they were able to make any reaction at all, and Patrick, who had a stern expression a few minutes ago when he was in the air and now was standing beside the expedition.

"What are all your Northern soldiers doing here?" Korra asked while turning her head toward Unalaq, demanding an answer from him.

But before Unalaq could answer, Patrick said, "They are an invading force, Korra." Patrick turned his head toward Unalaq. "That portal was a signal for them, right?"

However, Unalaq was ignoring him and instead he decided to answer Korra's question. "Opening the spirit portal was only the first step in getting the Southern Water Tribe back on its righteous path. There is more difficult work to be done before our two tribes are truly united."

Korra looked at Patrick and realized that he was probably right once again.