Li Na
Wow, finally back in Republic City- and look, no snow!
I've missed this place. As much as I love the Poles and traveling, and learning about new cultures, there's no place like home! I've missed going down town and visiting my older friends who run the shops, and I've missed the smell of fresh meat coming from the food carts. I was so homesick towards the end of my stay in the South Poles, I missed everything about Republic City- except school, of course! I'm so glad I now do homeschooling with the airbending kids on Air Temple Island. Oh, and did I mention, we live there again! Yeah, since Korra kept the spirit portals open, the vines have been growing out of control and have taken over the city! That includes our apartment. So Bolin and I are back to living on the island. Mako is living at the police station because he still feels awkward being around Korra and Asami, who I don't think cares that much. We're still figuring everything out, but really, I'm just happy that Harmonic Convergence is finally over. I guess the thought of actually being there was pretty cool considering it only happens every 10,000 years, but thinking back to that day, it was terrifying. Jinora was stuck in the Spirit World, Vaatu escaped and took Raava right out of Korra, and for a moment, Unalaq actually won. The world was ending, and it was hard for to just sit back at the compound not knowing if my family and friends were ok.
After being apart for so long, I just wish Mako would come home. After him and Korra breaking up, I think it's better that everyone just stays friends. It was hard seeing everyone so divided. Korra and Asami are getting along fabulously, I think. They've been spending a lot of time together actually, and I mean an unusual amount of time together, but it's nice knowing that after everything they went through with my brother, they can still be friends. I wouldn't know what to do if I had to pick between the two. I love them both so much. I think Mako just needs to calm down and realize that there's no hard feelings between him and the girls. I just wish he'd come back, I miss him- hey! Wouldn't it be funny if Asami and Korra fell in love? Mako would probably die! I know what I said, but at the same time, I can't lie. It'd be a little funny.
Despite Korra actually doing a good thing, I actually feel bad for bad for her. President Raiko has been on her butt about these spirit vines, and people are really critical about her keeping the portals open. Well I think she's doing great! The spirits are beautiful, and once upon a time, we all shared the same world. Why can't people just try to see the good in this instead of complaining? I know it's different, but this is our reality now, and we should all learn to accept it.
Despite Harmonic Convergence being over, I still haven't been to the Spirit World. I didn't get to go when Unalaq decided to turn into an evil Avatar. I can't lie, I wouldn't have wanted to see that, not like that. I was all for it before, but now that I think about it, and my adrenaline rush is gone, I can only imagine how terrifying that was. To meet the Spirit of Darkness up close and personal is already an absolute nightmare. The day the world went dark is a day I never want to relive again. Hopefully I don't live for another 10,000 years, because that's when the next Harmonic Convergence is.
I know he's dead, but I can never ever have any sympathy for Unalaq. He put everyone's life, including the spirits, in jeopardy! Even his own kids! I just don't get it. My mom and dad died protecting my brothers and I. How can he, as a father, put his kids through that? And now because of him, Korra lost her past lives. Wan, Aang, Roku, Kyoshi, Kuruk, Yang Chin, all gone! Poor Katara and her family lost the only connection between them and Aang, I wouldn't know what to do in that kind of situation. Imagine the next Avatar needing some wisdom, so they call on their past lives and only Korra shows up. Korra's great, but what if they need wisdom from an earthbender, or an airbender, that would suck! Hopefully as Raava grows, she can connect back with her past lives as time goes on.
...
It's supper time, and I have to say, it's really nice to feel like a part of a family- a big family, that is. She isn't my biological mom, but Pema is really nice. I can't help but feel like she's my mom, too. And Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo are like my younger siblings. It's nice being the older sibling for once, even if it's not by much.
Since living here, Bumi always has something wacky to say. I always look forward to his stories about his time in the military. And this is the best one yet. Bumi said that earlier today, he was actually airbending. I know it sounds pretty silly, but who knows? I kinda believe him. It'd be nice, I think. Being a non bender is cool, but when your siblings can bend, and you can't,sometimes you do question 'why?' I mean, I should know. I use to be a bender myself, but that was a long time ago. Some times I do question, 'why me?'
"What's up with him?" Korra asks as she and Asami joins us for dinner.
"Bumi says he airbended earlier, but he can't now," Bolin starts. "Oh, and I guess he's not very good at knitting either. I gotta say, I love being a part of this family. You got the grumpy dad, The put-upon Mom, crazy kids. This is great!"
"Where's Mako?" Asami asks.
"Oh, you mean the brooding teenager? He's staying at the police station," I tell them.
"Still?" Korra asks.
"We told him Tenzin invited us to stay here since our apartment is a vine habitat now, but he said he had to focus on work," Bolin says, then stuffs his face with food.
"Oh! Did you see that? I think the napkin moved!" I look at Bumi and hes trying to airbend again. He looks funny.
"You blew on it!" Kya says, clearly annoyed by her older brother.
"Wait! Maybe I can only do it when my life is in danger. Bolin, bend a giant boulder at me."
"Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea," Bolin responds.
"If you're gonna be bending giant boulders, you can do it outside," Pema orders, obviously tired from taking care of the kids all day.
I go over and grab Rohan and gently cradle him in my arms.
"It's ok, Pema. I've got the baby."
"Thanks, sweety."
Tenzin slams both hands on the table and shouts, "No one is bending giant boulders! You are not a bender, Bumi!"
"I don't know, I wouldn't doubt it. Look at Kimi, Firelord Zuko's wife. She didn't find out she was an airbender until she was well into her teens, and she only found out because she had a cold and sneezed. She blew her friend half way across the room! Who's to say danger won't do the same thing for Bumi?" I state matter-of-factly.
Meelo suddenly stands up and slams a hand down on the table, and shouts, "Look alive, Uncle Bumi!" And he throws a plate at him with full force.
I and everyone else close our eyes, ready to hear the clash of the plate colliding into the wall, but it never comes. I take a peek to see what happened.
No. Way.
"Ah, I told you!" I exclaim.
There Bumi is.. and he is definitely airbending.
"Unbelievable," Tenzin says, stunned. "You're actually an airbender."
Everyone's jaw is on the floor. Korra said we're in a new era... Seeing someone besides Tenzin and the kids airbending doesn't feel feel real.
"Wait until I tell Mom! She's gonna love this," Bumi says with a cheeky grin.
...
Bumi is really an airbender, the world finally has a new airbender... Wow. It's incredible, it's almost unbelievable, but still, not impossible. like I said, Fire Lord Zuko's wife is an airbender, and she didn't know for years.
It's the very next day and everyone is outside discussing what happened. It's such a beautiful afternoon, I can barely pay attention to what's being said. The wind is blowing, and ever since Harmonic Convergence, the atmosphere has been different. It's nice. I don't know, everything has just felt so different since Korra left the portals open.
"Do you think being in the Spirit World during Harmonic Convergence could have given him bending?" Korra asks Tenzin.
I wish Harmonic Convergence gave me my bending back.
"I suppose it's possible," Tenzin answers.
Suddenly Lin and Mako walk into the yard and I smile from ear to ear seeing my brother. I run to give him a big hug, and I don't let go.
"You've missed me." He chuckles lightly.
"Yeah," I say. "I've missed living with you. Have you missed me?"
"Everyday, Hazel Nut."
I'm not use to us not living together. When we left for the south, I never thought my trip would become an extended stay, or that Korra would open the spirit portals and keep them open, causing the vines to over run the city and having to move back with Tenzin and his family. I also didn't think I'd walk again. Everything is changing, and it's for the best, I guess, but still, I'd rather my brother be here on the island. Not living under his desk in a police station that I'm pretty sure has rats.
"Lin! You won't believe this. Bumi just started airbending, " Tenzin exclaims.
"I'm afraid he's not the only one," she says.
"What?" We all simultaneously ask.
"I got a call last night about a guy who just started airbending out of nowhere," Mako reveals.
"You mean there's another one? Where is he now?" Tenzin asks excitingly.
"He... blew a door down on me and got away. We've got an all-points bulletin out on him right now."
"Wait," Korra says, and Mako stops in his tracks. "We'll help you look for him. Where should we start?"
Mako rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Oh, well, you know, you should... You should leave it to the police. It's... police business, you know. It's, um... official," he says.
Mako, Mako, Mako.
...
I've been hanging out with Korra and we've been meditating together. I know I'm not the meditating type, but I'm desperate here. I have a big decision to make, and Korra's trying to get in touch with her past lives, so we thought this would do some good... don't tell Korra, but I don't think it's working. Jinora is the spiritual one, she's the spirit whisperer.
Tenzin joined us a little bit ago trying to cheer Korra up. She just feels so alone right now, and he's the closest thing we have to Avatar Aang. As for my problem, well, I haven't told anyone yet, not even Bolin.
"You're not the President, Korra. Your job isn't to fix the daily problems of every person in Republic City. Your responsibility is to bring balance to the entire World. And that means no matter what you do, some people are not going to be happy about it," Tenzin says softly.
"Great," Korra huffs with frustration.
"On the other hand," he says while sitting next to her. "Some people will be very happy, like me. What you did during Harmonic Convergence may have brought back the Air Nation. And that can only be good for restoring balance. That is the act of a great Avatar."
"It's scary. I have all this power and all these people depending on me, but I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing half the time. It seems like I should be... wiser," Korra explains.
"True wisdom begins when we accept things as they are. You started a new age, Korra. There's no going back to the past."
Moments later I spot a frantic Bolin running our way. Something is happening, and because my brother tends to exaggerate everything, there's no telling what happened!
"Mako called! The cops found the new airbender guy. But when they tried to bring him in, he ran away and climbed to the top of Kyoshi Bridge and he won't come down. Ooh! Sorry. Did I interrupt an Avatar wisdom session?"
Another airbender, wow! I get chills just thinking about it.
"Avatar wisdom is a thing of the past, Bolin. Come on!"
"Oh, okay. Is that a good thing?" He asks me.
"Maybe," I answer.
Korra takes off on her glider while Tenzin gives us a ride on Pepper. Let's go meet the new airbender, I guess.
...
Poor guy. I know what it's like to feel stuck, to feel hopeless, like no one understands... But now that Korra has discovered her own Avatar wisdom, I think she can help this guy. I know she can relate to what he's feeling. It's kinda like when Amon took her bending away. Korra was terrified! It was all so sudden, and she didn't know what to do without her bending. Now we have this guy who can suddenly airbend? He probably thinks he's dreaming! It's a big change, and I can see why he's freaking out.
I let out a scream, It all happened so fast! The man lost his balance and he starts plummeting towards the ground. I turn into Bolin, scared of what's going to happen next.
I can't look!
Luckily Korra was able to save him on her glider and glide them both back down to safety. I breath out, not even realizing I was holding my breath in the first place.
"Daw, this is Tenzin. He's going to help you, and this is Bolin and Li Na. Not airbenders, but still really great people."
I give Daw a warm smile and a wave while Tenzin bows. It's nice to put a name to his face... though he looks like he's going to throw up.
"It is absolutely my pleasure to meet you, Daw. I've never met a new airbender before. Well, at least no one whose diaper I didn't have to change," Tenzin says nicely.
"Actually, I just fell off a bridge, so I could use a fresh diaper right about now," Daw states awkwardly, but something tells me he's not joking.
"We have a crisis every other day now, thanks to you?" President Raiko walks up to Korra, and asks quite aggressively while ruining the moment.
"Listen, I know you're having a tough time getting used to these changes, and I'm sorry for that. But you and everyone else are gonna have to learn to live with it. The vines and the spirits are here to stay."
"Well, you know who's not here to stay? You! I order you to leave this city. You've caused nothing but trouble since you arrived!"
"You have no right!" I butt in. "We'll take this to Lord Zuko if we have to!"
"Don't worry," Korra tells me while she puts her hand on my back comfortingly. She then turns back to Raiko. "I was already leaving."
...
"I can see my path now. There are new airbenders out there, and I'm gonna find them and rebuild the Air Nation," Korra says to Tenzin and not giving Raiko anymore attention.
"Don't think I'm not going with you. It's so exciting. Who knows who's out there right now, discovering the gift of airbending for the first time?"
We turn to walk away. Ugh, I cannot believe Raiko!- well I guess I can, he is an idiot. I have to say something. I love Republic City, but our President is such a loser!
"And you, Mister, are lucky I'm not old enough to vote. Your presidential campaign was weak, and you haven't fulfilled any of your promises. You've done nothing for my city, and I can't believe people even voted for you!"
I turn away on my heel and walk away proudly.
Hm! That'll show him.
...