Intro
(Asami)
I’ve known Korra for years. Ever since she first moved to Republic City from the Southern Water Tribe to stay at Air Temple Island with Master Tenzin, a close friend of her family’s. Overtime I’d come to hold a great deal of respect and admiration for Korra; she was a skilled water bender, an incredible fighter, but most of all she was my closest friend. After my mom died, I felt a piece of me had gone too, but overtime I came to notice that Korra filled that gaping hole inside me. Something not even my father, nor my friends Mako and Bolin had managed to do. It took me a while to realise and accept it, but I loved Korra – love Korra, and I believe that maybe I always have. I knew that much deep down no matter how often I tried to fight it or think up different reasons, and deep down I knew she loved me too, but I always got the feeling she was keeping something from me, even after all the years we’d known one another. Instead of pressing to find out just what that something was, I decided to wait, trusting that in time she’d tell me. When I did come to learn just what it was, it changed my life - all our lives. We knew our paths had intertwined with hers and that nothing would ever be the same again.
(Korra)
Air Temple Island.
4 years ago
“Maybe it’s about time I tell them Tenzin. What do you think?” she directed the question to the older, balding man who then stared back, they’d had this discussion a few times, he prepared himself for another.
“Korra, I know your friends mean a great deal to you, and you don’t want to keep things from them but if you also want to protect them, you’ll need to keep them in the dark about you being the Avatar, at least until you’ve completely mastered your air bending. So that should the world call on you, you’ll be ready.”
She sighed, she knew where this was leading, but she considered herself an honest person, and she hated keeping secrets, especially from her friends. “Tenzin I don’t know how much longer it could be until I completely master air bending! I know you say I’m not ready for the world to know I’m the Avatar, and sometimes I’m not sure I’ll ever be, but I’ll have to face it eventually, ready or not. Who better not to tell first than my friends! They trust me, and I trust them” Korra pleaded. She didn’t understand why it felt so important for her, even after all this time, to tell her friends of her identity. But it tugged at her, like something she felt she needed to do and would never fully be satisfied until it was done.
“In time you will master air bending and they will come to learn that you are the Avatar, I just think you need to be patient. There’s no good that can come in rushing. Don’t worry Korra,” he said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. She’d grown so much since she first arrived, not just physically, but mentally too, “we’ll get there soon, you’ve matured into a thoughtful young woman who puts the needs of others before your own. I know you mean well in wanting to tell your friends the truth, but I believe that time will come sooner than you think.”
She lowered her head in disappointment. She knew he had a point. The plan was always, master the elements, ready yourself for the world so that when the world needs you, you’re there, fully realised and more than prepared to help guide the world toward a better path. But Asami, Mako and Bolin were her friends, she cared deeply about all of them, and wanted nothing more than to tell them, to lift the burden off her chest and confide in her friends.
Sensing her disappointment, Tenzin steered her away from the training relics, “Come, that’s enough training for today and President Raiko is throwing the banquet soon for some of the most important people in Republic City, it’s going to be a big night. You and your friends are already invited. Asami will be joining her father Hiroshi of Future Industries. We best get ready.”
The idea of seeing Asami and her friends soon, put a warm smile on Korra’s face and a fuzzy feeling in her stomach particularly towards the thought of seeing Asami, she didn’t understand why but ignored it.
They strode back towards the temple when multiple sounds of laughter and gushes of wind came whizzing up behind them. “Yay! Banquet!” They turned to where the voices came from and saw Meelo, Ikki and Jinora air scootering past them.
“Korra! Come on, race you back to the Temple!” said Ikki excitedly.
“You’re on! If I win… You do my laundry for a week!” Korra challenged the young, over hypo air bender, smirking Ikki agreed. Korra formed an air scooter and raced back towards the Temple, already deciding on an outfit to wear tonight, and taking delight in knowing Ikki will be the one to clean it afterwards.