Cold Journey and Father's Dark Past Reveal
Korra is putting the saddle onto Naga to be ready for the training trip while Mako is making sure the supplies they got are just enough to last for the trip there and back, then the female Avatar notice something is missing. Desna and Eska are also coming along because they didn't want to feel bored back at the castle.
"I thought you said Bolin was coming?" Korra asked.
"He said he'd be here, but I can't worry about it. I have to make sure you have everything you need for a safe trip." Mako stated.
"Thanks, Captain Expedition, but I'll be fine." Korra smiled sarcastically.
"Man, I don't know why, but that sarcasm of yours just makes you look sexier than ever." Mako complimented.
"Oh, then maybe I should do it my often." Korra chuckled and snuggled her nose onto his.
"(Aw, young love. How I wish I could give them more time for each other, but my goal comes first and nothing else.)" Unalaq thought determined with a serious face.
Then they heard a monitor sound coming from a distance and getting closer to them until they saw it was Tonraq riding a snowmobile, he rode toward the small group and got up getting firm look from Unalaq.
"Tonraq, what do you want?" Unalaq asked.
"I heard you're taking Korra to the South Pole. I'm coming." Tonraq answered with a firm look of himself as Mako can tell the brothers are going to be on edge with each other again.
"Absolutely not. You're a distraction to Korra and a hindrance to what needs to be done." Unalaq said angrily at his older brother.
"Normally, I would say it's for watching over Korra, but that has already been done with Mako by her side. I'm coming along to keep a close eye on you, little brother." Tonraq explained his reason.
"Oh, so now you're treating me like a child. How thoughtful of you to finally give me some attention." Unalaq said sarcastically in a mocking tone.
"You're just asking for something out of this." Tonraq glared.
"Okay, dad, why do you always have to give Uncle Unalaq such a hard time when he's family?" Korra asked.
"I don't think Bolin and I would ever hate each other that much." Mako stated.
"Because he's misguided. The sad truth is, it's men like your father who have put the Spirit World out of balance. He's ignored my warnings in the past and hasn't learned since." Unalaq mentioned.
"What happened in the past?" Korra asked curiously.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is the Everstorm." Tonraq said.
"The Everstorm, is that a dangerous place part of the South Pole?" Mako asked.
"Yes, it's a massive blizzard that's battered the South Pole for decades." Tonraq explained.
"Well, that's going to be something to train my Ki to keep my body warm." Mako started to see this more intense with the cold.
"Not to mention, this trip may also get those two to finally reveal what happened between them." Mako whispered the plan to Korra.
"I think you might be right; those will have to talk to each other during this trip." Korra nodded.
Tonraq and Unalaq are glaring each other like they are sending messages through their minds from the eyes, Korra and Mako can sense those two are not going to like trip one bit though it's not like they're gonna say no to each other right now.
"I think now would be best to change the subject." Korra whispered to Mako who agrees.
"Guys! Hey, wait for me!" Bolin shouted from a distance until he came in riding on a new snowmobile and wearing a new suit as well.
"Check it out. I'm traveling in style." Bolin smirked though accidentally turn on the throttle for a second before stopping.
"Okay, uh, sorry, still getting used to that throttle." Bolin admitted.
"Yeah, and something tells me, you'll be doing more crash." Mako muttered.
"What was that?" Bolin asked as he thought he heard Mako say something.
"I said where'd you get the ride?" Mako asked.
"Varrick; he's awesome! He also gave me this fancy snowsuit! It's inflatable, with an internal heater, emergency beacon, and food ration pouches! I mean, if I get lost, I can survive in this thing for like, like a month!" Bolin explained and reached into the pocket to pull out some snacks.
"Who wants some freeze dried cucumberquats." Bolin offered, but nobody seems to want any right now.
"Nobody? Did I interrupt a conversation?" Bolin asked and Pabu came out of the suit to eat the snacks.
"No, no, we were just about to move out. My uncle and dad were just telling us they'll be leading the group together." Korra said.
"We are?" Tonraq and Unalaq puzzled.
"Yes, you are." Korra looked back at them with a firm look that forces the two to agree.
"Does this sidecar have the capacity for two passengers?" Eska asked.
"Sure does. But, uh ... who's gonna drive?" Bolin asked in a flirting tone, to make this his plan on getting Eska close to him to help her with fake dating. And maybe make her fall for him for real.
(Later)
Bolin groans in annoyance that his plan did not go as he hoped it would as the water icy twins are riding together on the sidecar, all because Eska believes Bolin is more than capable of doing the driving which feels like a compliment though this is still a big blow on his plan.
"You seem to be getting better at driving this thing now." Mako commented, flying next to Bolin.
"Sure, at least this count for something." Bolin said with an upset face, confusing Mako.
"It would appear you are no longer bother by the cold." Desna pointed out.
"Nah, I still feel the cold somewhat, just working on warming myself up with my Ki." Mako revealed.
"Well, if you like, I could help with the warmth." Eska offered which surprises Mako and look to Bolin.
"This one is full of mysterious." Bolin commented.
"So once we get to the South Pole, then what happens?" Korra asked her uncle.
"You will open an ancient spirit portal." Unalaq answered.
"I'm sorry, what now?" Korra asked again surprise as Tonraq is also a little surprise by this as well.
"At the South Pole, there is a portal that connects our world to the Spirit World, but it has long been closed." Unalaq explained.
"And that's why the evil spirits are attacking?" Korra wondered about that.
"There are no evil spirits, there is light and dark in them all. But when they're unbalanced, the darkness takes over. If you can open the portal in time, balance will be restored." Unalaq said.
Mako looks on ahead to see the large dark green cloud from a far distance along with the loud thundering sounds almost like there's a storm.
"Is that the Everstorm?" Mako asked Tonraq.
"Yes. Still fierce looking as I remember." Tonraq answered looking at those clouds.
"Back when you and Unalaq weren't at each other's throats?" Mako asked, hoping to do some ease moments to get Korra's dad to talk about his past.
"You really want to know about us, do you?" Tonaq asked back.
"Well, mostly Korra wants to know." Mako shrugged.
"Of course, she does." Tonraq sighed.
"What do you mean ... in time?" Korra asked on the words he just said.
"There's a reason the Glacier Spirits Festival ends on the winter solstice. That's when the Spirit World and the physical world are close together. Only then can the Avatar open the portal." Unalaq answered.
"The winter solstice is tomorrow." Korra remembered.
"Exactly, and we can't afford to wait another year." Unalaq stated.
"(Hmm, I'm getting a strong feeling that there is more to this trip than he's letting on.)" Mako thought narrowed at Unalaq.
Then he senses something dark from behind as he turns around, Naga picked up on the bad feeling too as she turns around growling as Korra tries to calm her down and the group see something from a distance.
"What are those?" Bolin asked feeling a little scared here.
"Dark Spirits." Korra answered sensing where they are until the fog came up and they disappeared.
"Guess that's they're way of giving a warm welcome." Mako commented.
"Let's keep moving. We have to find a safe place to set up camp." Tonraq suggested.
"Great, then you two can go look for shelter together." Korra immediately said making the two men glare at each other.
"Fine, just as long as you can watch my six." Tonraq said.
"If you remember which way the twelve is." Unalaq refused to look at his big brother before they went on ahead.
"Now I'm starting to worry if this was a good idea letting you dad come." Mako worried.
"I'm sure the tension will die down, I hope." Korra shrugged, really hope that she is right about this.
Soon, the group are now inside the new shelter to camp within for the night that Unalaq and Tonraq found together though refuses to mention or say anything to each other at the moment while everyone has gathered around the fire Mako made with a small energy ball.
"This Ki bending of yours is very impressive, makes me jealous that I couldn't learn that myself." Eska commented.
"Thanks, had to learn this from a pervert old man, but his training was worth it in the end." Mako smiled.
But his mind went to thinking about what Kame said getting angry too much that makes him and his power going out of control, he still needs to work on that.
"So, huh… Uncle, why do you think the dark spirits are following us?" Korra asked.
"Can we not talk about dark spirits, please?" Bolin gulped and scoot over to Eska holding her hand.
"My brother doesn't like ghost stories, mostly my fault for telling the scariest ones." Mako explained.
"You know what, I think I rather be comfortable on this side. Away from you." Bolin quickly moved on the other side and sitting next to Desna who doesn't mind right now.
"Don't worry. I will protect you from your mean big brother, my feeble turtle duck." Eska said dryly and look toward Mako.
"Thank you." Bolin smiled, and a little glad this plan of his have worked.
Eska threw the monkey-tailed boy a wink that caught him off guard and felt his heart skip a beat or two for some reason, he just looks away and scoot onto Korra some more as this confuses her a bit.
"Sadly, this isn't a ghost story. This is real." Unalaq said causing Bolin to feel scared again.
"The spirits are angry because he's here." Unalaq glared at Tonraq, surprising Korra a little and worry.
"You're saying the spirits are angry because Tonraq did something a while back?" Mako asked, feeling nervous right now.
"Indeed, he has, more damage than you think." Unalaq nodded before looking back at Korra.
"Haven't you ever wondered how your father ended up in the South Pole? Why he's never taken you to visit his homeland in the North?" Unalaq asked his Avatar niece.
"It would seem Korra has setup this little scheme to try getting both of us to talk about our past." Tonraq figured out as Korra chuckles.
"Yes, and now seems to be the time for you tell her." Unalaq stated.
"For once, you are right, little brother. It is about time Korra learns about the sin of the family." Tonraq sighed and look to his daughter, imagining her as the little girl years ago for a moment.
"Now I'm not sure if I want to hear it." Korra worried.
"Regardless, I'm going to tell you now." Tonraq said before taking a deep breath to mentally ready himself.
"I left the North Pole because ... I was banished." Tonraq revealed shocking Korra and the two brothers.
"…I was not expecting that." Mako said.
"Me neither. You were banished from the North? Why?" Korra asked surprise.
"Because I almost destroyed the entire tribe." Tonraq said surprising the teens again.
"Was it from a teenage prank?" Bolin asked.
"If only that was the reason why I was banished." Tonraq sighed as the memories flow into his mind.
(Flashback, 20 Years Ago)
A younger Tonraq is seen standing in front of his Water Tribe soldiers being firm and ready for any kind of action that may come to them.
"20 years ago, I was a general in the Northern Water Tribe, sworn to protect my people." Tonraq said.
Tonraq turns around seeing someone riding on a snow camel-horse approaching the general fast and the one riding the snow animal is the younger Unalaq with a worry face.
"Brother! We're being attacked!" Unalaq alerted.
Tonraq became upset as he and his men hurry to the city as the barbarians are attacking the people like throwing them into the water and forcing them down on their knees. Tonraq and the soldiers arrive to stop the barbarians with their might and soon the attackers were forced to leave the city while the Southern Water Trible soldiers chase after them.
"I drove them out of the city and deep into the frozen tundra." Tonraq mentioned.
Unalaq saw his older brother leaving the city with his men and his eyes narrow a bit.
Tonraq and his men follow the trail of the barbarians into a forest with green trees like the cold has never touch them.
"We tracked them deep into an ancient forest. Many believed this forest was the home to spirits, and the barbarians retreated there because they thought we wouldn't attack them on such hallow grounds. They thought wrong." Tonraq said.
The Southern Tribe soldiers sneak around the forest finding the barbarians hiding behind some trees, Tonraq hand signal his men to go around and attack.
The Water bending soldiers attack with the water from the snow around the forest taking out the barbarians as they barely put up a fight.
"We captured the barbarians, but in the process, we destroyed the forest." Tonraq said.
Tonraq and the Water Trible soldiers force the Barbarians to leave while leaving the forest drowned in water and mostly destroyed.
"I didn't realize the consequences of what I had done. By destroying the forest, I unknowingly let loose angry spirits." Tonraq said in a sad tone.
Tonraq wakes up from his sleep and hurry outside to see the angry spirits attacking the city and he tries to fend them off with his waterbending but didn't seem to work as he jumps out of the way to dodge the angry spirit.
"They threatened to destroy everything, the entire city." Tonraq mentioned.
Then Unalaq and his own waterbending team came in using their spirit technique to calm the spirits down and guide them back to the city.
"Unalaq was able to guide the spirits back to the forest. But by then, the damage had been done." Tonraq said.
Tonraq is now seen before an old man with Unalaq as they look down on him in anger as the old man pointed and Tonraq bow in respect though sadden of the decision for his punishment.
"For being the cause of so much devastation, my father banished me from the Northern Water Tribe in shame." Tonraq revealed.
Tonraq sailing away from his homeland and looking down dejectedly that he will never come home ever again, he looks toward the horizon hoping for something good to happen.
"That's when I came to the South and started a new life." Tonraq finished his story.
(Flashback End)
Tonraq look up at the night sky before turning toward the others as most of everyone was shocked in silent before Bolin broke that silent.
"Whoa, so you were supposed to be chief, then he became chief. No wonder you guys don't like each other." Bolin said oblivious of what the story truly means which earn an elbow strike from Mako.
"Ow! What? Isn't that what happened?" Bolin asked.
"No, it had nothing to do with the chief title." Mako said.
"It isn't?" Bolin confused about this.
"I can't believe you kept this from me." Korra said as she stands up.
"I was protecting you from the shame I brought on the family." Tonraq stated.
"Why did you keep hiding things from me and then telling me it's for my own protection? I'm tired of you protecting me!" Korra angered and flew away.
"Korra!" Tonraq called out, but she ignores him and Mako stands up.
"I'll go after her, but something doesn't seem to add up." Mako said.
"Like what?" Tonraq asked.
"The barbarians, why would they even think about hiding in the spirit forest of all places because it sounds like they never heard about it before when you think about it." Mako pointed out before chasing after Korra.
Unalaq narrow his eyes at Mako, fearing that this boy's smart may become a big problem for his ultimate goal.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The group are getting closer to the center of the South Pole for the spirit portal and now everyone, especially Korra have now learned the truth about Tonraq's past originally from the South Pole and the reason he got banished which may put the tense between father and daughter.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!