A month before vacation, Korra returned. And with news that made me want to grab my head. I thought it was just another gang, but an Avatar running into an ordinary gang? Oh no, the Avatar doesn't take the easy way out. The result was a waterbender who could use blood magic just like me. And he knew how to block magic.
When I examined Korra, I found that her elemental nerves had dried up. I didn't know how to get them back in order. I didn't know how to control my energy magic, and the usual elemental magic didn't work. If I had time, I might be able to figure something out.
But Korra cried when she heard my conclusion and ran away. And fifteen minutes later she came running back, satisfied and with her magic unblocked. I had mixed feelings about this, on the one hand I was happy that she was still learning energy magic from Aang, but on the other hand I wanted to hit myself against the wall, because of the situation itself.
Azula didn't have that choice, but her upbringing only allowed her to put her palm to her face. Anyway, when Korra's emotions subsided and she gave everyone their magic back, I stepped in.
«How are you?» I went over to her and put a hand on her back. The hugging moment had passed, so she was reacting normally now.
«I'm fine», she smiled at me, «I got everyone's magic back.»
«That's great», I nodded at her, «Did the magic scrolls help?»
«Very much!» she exclaimed emotionally, «Especially with the fire magic!»
«I'm glad», I patted her on the head «Shall we go back?» I said as Tenzin noticed me. Talking to him right now was not something I wanted to do.
«Sure», I slowly stepped back, right up to the cliff, and sat down on it.
«Do you remember my request?» I asked calmly.
«Yes», her mood soured. I, on the other hand, looked at her with a smile.
«You know, some earth magicians can sense if people are lying or telling the truth», I turned to the sea again, «I can do that too. But there's no land here», I spread my hands, circling the years of ice, «Except I can control blood, just like Amon can», at these words Korra felt fear and looked at me incredulously, «And I'm not the only one who can do that. On my island, every water healer can do it», I turned around and saw her shocked face, «Do you know why I taught them?»
«No», she mumbled confused.
«So you could save lives. A mage like that could perform an operation of monstrous complexity. In all the time they've been treating people with this magic, only one person has died. And that was decades ago», I patted the ice with my hand and invited her to sit down. And Korra sat down, «What I'm getting at is that it doesn't matter what magic a person uses, it's how», I looked into Korra's eyes with a slight smile, «You don't want to train me, do you?»
«That's not the point», she said sadly, leaning her knees against her chest and wrapping her arms around them, «I want to, but Aang told me not to train you in it because having that knowledge could ruin the world.»
«Yeah», I scratched the back of my head, «Have you been to my island?»
«Just heard about it.»
«Too bad», I shook my head, «You could have seen what magic can do when it's channeled into creation.»
«I wish I could see it.»
«Come and see», I shrugged. We sat and talked for a while, «Do you know why we don't get along with Aang?»
«No!» she yelled angrily, «Aang won't tell me.»
«Because he tried to kill me», I said calmly and Korra looked at me again in shock, «I managed to save myself but at the cost of losing my legs and my left arm», I smiled, «But I managed to get them back by growing them back. It took me a long time to recover. I wanted revenge, but it was too hard a time for everyone, so I decided to leave him alone», I shook my head, «But almost ten years later, I got the chance. The Battle of Yu Dao, have you heard of it?» a shocked Korra nodded, «That was when I got my revenge. I didn't want to sink to his level, so I forced him into an Avatar state. When he was at the peak of his powers, I defeated him. That's why he doesn't want you to teach me», I said smiling, remembering the time I kneed him in the head, «But you know, when we weren't fighting, he taught me a guru practice. And now all the people on my island do it, so their life expectancy is at least a hundred years. I don't want to do it for myself, but for those I care about and love.»
She thought for a long time. At least an hour. That's a long time for someone as lively as she was. I didn't interrupt her, I just meditated. It's good enough for magic and for the soul. But soon she perked up.
«If you don't mind, I'd like to be convinced of your words», I just smiled. Korra got nervous, «It's not that I don't trust you, it's just...»
«It's okay», I ruffled her hair again, «When are we going?»
«Tomorrow», she mumbled after a moment's thought, «And also...» she scratched the back of her head, «Can Bolin, Mako and Asami come with me?»
«Okay», I mumbled and stood up, «I'll come by tomorrow at dawn.»
And standing up, I walked back, Korra snuggled up next to me. And at the house near where I had picked up Korra, Tenzin was waiting, angry as hell.
«Tenzin, good to see you», I nodded with a smile, «How's Republic City?»
«Good», he muttered through clenched teeth.
«Well, I won't keep you», I shrugged, «Yeah, and I have things to do.»
I turned and walked towards the exit, grabbing Azula. We didn't talk, we just walked home in silence. At home, though, I was finally able to relax.
«How did it go?» Azula asked curiously.
«Aang tried to give me a hard time», I said with a smile, falling onto the couch.
«But?» Azula stretched out with interest.
«He didn't succeed», I said contentedly, «After all, I only told Korra the truth and only her truth. No accents or understatements.»
«And she agreed?» Azula wondered.
«She wants to see how people live on the island», the mood was good, «Will you come with us?»
«No», she waved her hand, «I'm staying here. You'll be back soon, won't you?»
«No more than a week», I nodded, «We still have to open the portal, and that's more time for persuasion.»
«I see», she stretched and smiled. «Sleep then?»
«Yes.»