The Reset

The new development relating to Kei had put Korra at unease. Add to the fact that now she had to tell Mako and Asami about it and why she hid it from them. But at the end of the day they understood. Which made her wonder again that her future self now had people who were her actual friends, something that Korra at 12 can’t really imagine. Her life beyond the walls of the compound was still a distant dream to her. She had never thought about that, her life was busy with training and training. She could already take on most of the warriors in hand to hand combat, the bending was a different issue. Heading straight to the problem attitude did help. But it would be a lie if she didn’t admit that she craved some company, a friend who’s not Naga. Even at 12 she felt that her life was very much restricted by adults, though they had convinced her of it as necessary for her safety and growth. But as she read about the previous avatar, she was confronted how most of them had friends and adventures in their pockets of memories. Aang was travelling all around the world when he was 12 and learning the elements at their natural home. But this was her life and she was determined to be the best out there. So she used overtraining to keep her mind off things, talk to Katara and hear her story about the adventures. She liked it but it was more of a distraction.

But now here she was suddenly living in the city she always dreamt of, with people who were close to her and friends with her, and she was known for the things she did, changes she made, and respected as an Avatar. She felt a bit overwhelmed by the kind of responsibilities her future self had and now she had to bear the same. All she had to do was what she always did. Head straight to the problem. But that was all in future, for now a restful sleep is all she can think of. She was lost in thinking and didn’t realise when the sleep cocooned her and she drifted to soft snoring. At least there were no nightmares to visit her.

--

Asami couldn't keep not going to the office for any longer. Doesn’t matter how much she did not want to, she had to go. An important meeting with Prince Wu and a delegation from Earth Kingdom about something to do with infrastructure of Ba Sing Se. She still found herself speechless at times around Wu, as he was always juggling from a careless brat to a responsible leader. She could use some tips from Mako. But she did manage to get the meeting shift to morning so that she could be done with it earlier. Anyway, she did realise her responsibility to her company, a lot of people depended on her. So that was what had to be done for the day. 

She was sipping her tea in the pavilion when her eyes caught a sleepy Korra walking toward her. It was early morning hours before the sun could grace the island.

“You’re up early.” She rubbed her eyes trying to focus, “And dressed.”

“I had some work in the city so I had to leave early.” She answered and sipped her tea again. “Why are you awake, you’re not a morning person.”

A yawn. Korra was cuter when she was a kid Asami had to admit. Blue eyes filled with more innocence, the confused morning face.

“I had morning meditation with Tenzin, something about spiritual energy being the best in the morning.” Korra wasn’t thrilled at the idea, her tone giving all the clues. “For air bending.”

Asami looked at her watch. “Good luck with that.” She started walking back only to stop and scratch Korra’s hair. “And wake up, I will see you later.”

“Yeah. Later then,” Korra said as the sunrise caught her eye. It was serene.

---

It had been half an hour of trying to meditate. And she was distracted by everything, especially the silence. She could hear a leaf fall, birds chirping every now and then. She noticed sounds that were not even there. Meditation was definitely giving her headache, not her cup of tea for sure. She looked around at the pavilion. With no one around to watch her, it doesn’t matter if she even skipped it. She got up to go back to her room and have another round of sleep. That sounds like a plan. It’s not like Asami was there for her to talk anyway. She liked talking to the tall girl.

“Good morning Avatar.” She heard a voice. Not many people called her that way, it was easier to guess who it was. Zaheer.

“Good morning.” She looked at him. He was looking opposite of how she looked when she woke up. How could someone be a morning person? A mystery to her.

“Were you trying to meditate?” Zaheer did not spend time talking things around.

“Yes.” Throwing her hands in the air. “Trying, but it’s no use. I feel I am the least spiritual avatar ever.” Her statement made even the straight face Zaheer chuckle a bit.

“I am sure that’s not the case. You have a great spiritual potential. I have witnessed it firsthand.”

“I am sure I do.” Her tone was quite sarcastic.

“I can help you. I have done it before.” He sat and motioned her to sit in front of him. She thought for a second and got the ‘might as well try this’ response, and followed him.

“Close your eyes and try to focus on the sound of moving wind.” Well that was the only thing she did not hear before.

She concentrated, but nothing happened. But slowly the other sounds that had filled her mind before vanished, and all she could hear was the wind and sound of Zaheer’s breath. And soon it was all filled with silence, until she started feeling a bit cold. She opened her eyes thinking it was another failure. But what she saw was something she didn’t imagine to have ever seen. Zaheer was still there and he opened his eyes and smiled at her a bit.

“Welcome to the spirit world Avatar.” 

“This is the spirit world?” He nodded. She was mesmerised by the beauty she saw. A colorful world like fairy tales, bright and with creatures she had never seen. They were all cute and small. It was different because the only things she had read about the spirit world were that it was all about dark spirit. Seeing some similar creatures flying around the airtemple was a shock but she brushed the thought aside thinking maybe they were different. But here, her first time in the spirit world and it awed her.

All these cute spirits were flocking to her, like they were happy to see her.

“Korra you’re back.” One of them said and it was like it triggered the speech as nearly everyone started following the first one.

“We missed you.” 

“You came after such a long time.” 

“Did you forget us?” 

“We found a new place we wanted to show you.” 

“Iroh is having another tea party.” 

It was like her ears could not catch a break. And that’s when a golden dragon bird flew in circles on top of her. It was huge, and if it wasn’t keeping it’s distance Korra would have thought it was a foe. And when it descended to the ground in front of her. The other spirit moved back a bit to make may for Korra and the spirit.

“Do you know me?” The dragon bird moved closer, keeping it’s head down. Korra put a hand on his head acknowledging.

“These spirits find your presence calming.” Zaheer said from the side, making Korra turn to look at him. “What you’re witnessing is just a miniscule part of your potential.” The dragon bird looked up and moved to fly back and so did the other spirits.

“Before you opened the portals, Avatar was the bridge between our worlds.” He said. Korra only nodded. She was lost in the familiarity of the world around her, though it was the first time she had visited it.

“Why did you want to erase the Avatar then?” She sounded more confrontational than intended.

“I believe in the potential of our kind. Still do. I didn’t foresee the outcome of my actions. My ideology is the same, power should be with people so that they can be truly free not with the leaders who put the word to shame. But I also believe in learning, so after meeting you I have started thinking how sometimes there can be external factors to freedom.” He smiled a little at her. 

“It’s funny to hear this, I mean Kei told me just the opposite. He said I was pretty much a failure at what I was supposed to do.”

“It is his perspective and he only can answer you the best. For me even through reluctance at first, I accept that the consequences of your action led to some positive change. I never got a chance to say this before, but I am grateful to you. It’s because of you that I could truly embody the philosophy of airbending, I got a chance to feel closer to something I really admired. I was blinded by my pursuit at first but now in hindsight it makes me feel gratitude toward you.”

“That wasn’t me technically, so you should tell this to Korra when you meet her.” She smiled back at him.

“You are the Avatar. Your spirit is the Avatar, physical appearances don’t matter.”

They talked for a long time. It was the opposite of what she had been taught. The things he said, every word sounded weighted and well put. But it was the time to go back. They had spent nearly a couple of hours in the spirit world. Mostly her running off and him explaining stuff to her. She thought that understanding more about your enemy can be more about realising that they are not truly your enemy. Everything stems from differences of world views. She thought about Kei as well, what she was supposed to do. But it was time to go back, so they sat near a mushroom spirit who somehow was looking ecstatic to see her and meditated again.

When she opened her eyes, Jinora was staring at her with a joyful and proud expression.

“Welcome back Korra.” Jinora said. Zaheer was already standing, he smiled at her and went back to the building leaving them alone. “We were worried since you skipped breakfast.” She got up and they talked some more before making their way to the dining room. Jinora went to tell Tenzin about Korra’s successful meditating.

Somehow she wanted to tell Asami about it, about the spirit world and the dragon bird. Bad luck she wasn’t here.

--

The meeting with Prince Wu and others went extremely well. Her Assistant Sia was also happy to see her boss and her skills. It was draining but she made her way back to the office to finish some paperwork. Her thoughts occupied with Korra.

She knew it was difficult to be Avatar’s girlfriend. They had fought together, how everything her lover was involved in was a matter of life and death and her selfless pursuit to help as many people as she could. She had witnessed her growth firsthand. She did not realise when she went from having complete faith in Korra to a constant worry about her. The poisoning was one of the first moments where she saw the vulnerability of Avatar. The strongest person in the world was still part human. She had waited 3 years for her and now when she finally felt some peace in her life regarding Avatar, her lover was taken away from her again. It felt like a bad joke when it comes to her life. Waiting and longing and seeing them put themselves at risk again again, is this how all the partners of previous Avatar felt. She wished she could talk to them, making a mental note about talking to Katara next time they were at the South Pole.

It was worrying but she had accepted it. Being Avatar’s partner came with these conditions. But she had to be strong. Avatar or not, Korra was the most important person in her life...left. Though she was childish sometimes, but now the whole childish thing was a child now. Someone who was confused. She couldn’t let her worry. She missed Korra but this was more important right now. A tear escaped her eyes, Sia was entering so she wiped it away and buried it. Sia kept some files on the table and a sweet bun with coffee like usual as she was sure of her boss skipping breakfast.

For now she had to finish this stuff and get back to the island, she was worried.

“Are you fine?” She looked at her.

Well Asami should give her the credit, Sia had worked long enough with her to know something was wrong.

“Yeah, I am fine, just worried about Korra a bit.”

“Oh” She exhaled. She kept the newspaper in front of her. “Does this have anything to do with it?”

“What do you mean?” Before looking at the paper in front of her. Her face left color as she read the headline.

Avatar Korra missing. 

Reports say that Avatar Korra’s whereabouts are unknown and Last sighting from more than a fortnight at Air Temple Island.

The well kept secret was out in the open. How, no idea.