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AUTHORs POV

It was a peaceful morning, Team Avatar was getting ready for the trip of a lifetime, in search of the new airbenders in this world. Korra, Bolin, Bumi, Kya, Tenzin, Pema, and the airbender kids, were all gathered outside when they spotted a large aircraft heading its way to Air Temple Island. The aircraft was nicely parked right in front of the group, and a door was opened to reveal Asami.

"Did someone order a fully equipped Future Industries airship?" Asami asked.

"It's perfect! Thanks Asami!" Korra said, as Asami walked down the ramp.

"If we are going to Ba Sing Se to find airbenders, then we need to do in style," Asami said.

"Cool! An airship!" Meelo exlaimed.

"I wanna see!" Tikki said cheerfully, as the two kids ran inside the aircraft.

"While you guys are gone, Pema and I will hold down the fort," Kya said, as she tended to Rohan.

The group smiled fondly at the small child. Korra noticed Mako coming up the stairs of the courtyard. She walked over to him to greet him. She also noticed that he had a scroll strapped against his back.

"Mako, I'm so glad you're here," Korra said.

"Of course, Korra. Avatar. Avatar Korra," Mako said awkwardly, as he removed the scroll from his back.

"Once I received your message, I proceeded to contact various locations within the Earth Kingdom, as orders from you, the Avatar," Mako added, as he stood up straight. Korra raised her eyebrow.

"Right, the Avatar thanks you for your royal service. Did you find any leads?" Korra asked.

"There were reports of airbenders popping up all over the Earth Kingdom. The villages on this map, you guys can take it with you," Mako said, as he handed out the map to Korra. Korra frowned.

"Actually, I was kinda hoping you could come too," Korra said softly, as she grabbed the map.

"Really, It's probably better if I sit this one out," Mako said, looking away from Korra.

"I know things has been weird between us since we broke up, but you're a part of Team Avatar and we can't do this without you," Korra said softly.

"Sorry, I can't," Mako said, as he started walking down the stairs.

Bolin knew his brother better than that, so he decided to give it a try to convince him to go. He actually had a few ideas in his head that could get him to come. Bolin started running down the ramp and was able to catch up to Mako right before he stepped into the boat.

"Mako, wait a sec!" Bolin said, as he stopped in front of Mako.

"Korra already asked, Bro. I can't just leave Republic City, I have a life here and a job," Mako said.

"A life? You sleep under your desk," Bolin stated, Mako rolled his eyes.

"And what's a more important job than helping the Avatar rebuild an entire civilization?" Bolin added, Mako turned away from his brother.

"It's not just that," Mako paused. "I feel like I've been drifting apart from everyone,"

"Well, drift back, we need you," Bolin said, approaching his brother.

"Come one, Mako. We're going to Ba Sing Se where dad grew up. What if I meet our grandma for the very first time? and she asks me, 'Where's your sweet brother?' and then I'd have to say 'I'm sorry, grandma, he had some really important police paper work to file' and she starts to cry those grandma tears and she cries, 'Mako, Mako! Why?' and she dies," Bolin said.

"Alright, I'll come with you," Mako said, giving up.

"I guess I have to go call Beifong. She's not going to be happy," Mako added.

Mako and Bolin went back up to the courtyard to see that everyone was almost ready to leave. Korra looked at Mako and smiled at him.

"So, decided to come?" Korra asked, Mako rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Uh, yeah, you might need some help interpreting the map, that's all," Mako said, Korra smiled and nodded.

"Well, get ready, we're about to leave," Korra said, as she walked away and Bolin approached Mako.

"You know, Mako. I think I know another reason why you decided to come as well," Bolin smiled widely, Mako raised his eyebrow.

"What is it?" Mako asked, Bolin smiled even wider.

"Oh, don't play dumb, Mako. Asami and I already know it's because you like Lei," Bolin whispered, Mako raised his eyebrows.

"What?! I don't like Lei! And what do you mean you and Asami already know?" Mako asked curiously.

"You're very obvious about your feelings, Mako. I don't know how Lei hasn't found out about it yet," Bolin commented.

"I don't like Lei!" Mako exclaimed, Bolin rolled his eyes.

"Right, I believe you," Bolin said sarcastically, Mako sighed.

Speaking about Lei, he searched for her through the group and couldn't find her anywhere. He looked again to double check and she wasn't there still.

"Hey, where's Lei?" Mako asked the group.

"Right here," a familiar voice said, from behind Mako.

Mako turned around and widened his eyes in surprise at Lei. Based from her outfit, she really looked ready for the trip. She had her dao swords strapped at her back. She climbed up the last step and approached the group. Bolin nudged Mako, and he hit him on the shoulder.

"Sorry, I was late. Asami told me that when you travel you gotta do it in style. Right, Asami?" Lei winked at Asami, who winked back.

"Absolutely, right. Alright, everyone, let's go," Asami said, before entering the aircraft.

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LEIs POV

We have all boarded the air ship, and we were in the main room. Mako had placed the map of all the locations that had reports of airbenders suddenly appearing, based from the information he and I gathered earlier before I got ready for the trip. I was standing right next to him as he flattened the map on the table, while everyone else was seated around the table.

"As of now, these are the towns that we've gotten reports about airbenders. Looks like we can hit up most of them before he hit up Ba Sing Se," Mako said, as he pointed to the red marks on the map.

"We're gonna bring the Air Nation back from the brink of extinction after nearly two hundred years," Korra said happily.

"And it's all because of you, Korra," Tenzin smiled at her.

"Well, our next stop should be in a few hours, so everyone can relax for a while," I said, then everyone stood up.

I made my way to the upper deck, where the winds were strong and cold. I gazed upon the sky and the earth down below. We were really high up. I turned back from the view and made my way to the center of the deck. I stood right in the middle and closed my eyes. I inhaled and exhaled deeply, while I began my stretching.

"You doing warm ups? Can I join?" Korra asked, as she approached me. I smiled at her.

"Of course you can, Korra, but will you be able to catch up with me?" I taunted her, as I stretched my arm. Korra raised her eyebrow in interest.

"Is that a challenge, fire princess?" Korra teased, as she crossed her arms.

"If you're ready for it, Avatar. But you can only fight me with you firebending. You might even learn a few tricks from me," I winked at her, she smirked.

"Game on," Korra said, as she took a battle-ready stance.

Everyone had gathered to watch the sparring between Korra and I. We were standing opposite to each other, both of us ready to make our first shot. I smirked at her, before taking my first shot. I sent a fire lash at her, causing her to dodge it by rolling to the side. She sent a blazing arc at me from my feet but I dodged it by backflipping over it and landing safely on the ground. I created a fire comet but I augmented to increase the size to a bouncing ball before I sent it to Korra. She nearly got hit by it, but quickly dodged looking at me in amazement. Korra and I never really sparred together before. Everyone clapped at the two women.

"How'd you do that?" Korra asked curiously, as she came up to me. I smiled at her.

"Augmentation, its a master level type of firebending. It's an incredibly hard skill to get, that is why few firebenders have the ability to do it," I replied. She nodded slowly.

"You think you could teach me?" Korra asked excitedly, I smiled.

"Sure, why not," I said, Korra smiled widely and hugged me tightly, I hugged her back.

After a couple of hours of rest and waiting, we finally arrived at our first stop. It was already sundown by the time we arrived. Once the airship came to a complete stop, we all made our way down to the small village where we will be meeting our first airbender and the mayor of the town.

"Avatar Korra, and oh! The Princess of the Fire Nation! It is such an honor for everyone of you to come to our humble village," the mayor said excitedly, as he bowed in front of us.

"I hate to get down to business, but is the airbender here now?" Tenzin asked.

"Kuan and his family will be joining us shortly for a special dinner. Please, right this way," the mayor said, as he gestured to the path and walked ahead of us.

He led us into a house where a long table filled with food had been laid out for us. Everyone took a seat around the table. Korra was sitting at the head of the table since she was considered the guest of honor, while I sat in between Mako and Asami, who were beside the rest of team Avatar. Bolin looked really hungry as he stared intently at the food in front of him. Kuan, the airbender, and his family were sitting on the other end of the table, opposite from us.

"Kuan has been the talk of the town ever since he got airbending. He's like a local celebrity," the mayor said happily, as he gestured to the man sitting in front of Tenzin.

"I just want to say that it is an honor to meet a fellow airbender," Tenzin said, as he looked at Kuan.

"Oh, I still just think of myself as a simple farmer, who can airbend!" Kuan said humbly, before accidently airbending the pie right into Bolin's face.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I still don't have any control," Kuan said, Bolin smiled.

"No worries! I love pie! and so does Pabu," Bolin exclaimed, as Pabu licked the pie of Bolin's face.

"Well, you are so much more than just a farmer now. Harmonic Convergence changed everything. You represent the future of a culture that has been reborn and to help us rebuild the air nation," Tenzin explained, Kuan frowned.

"I'm gonna do what now? The only thing I'm planning to rebuild is my barn," Kuan retorted, I looked at Tenzin who didn't seem too happy.

"But, you must come with us to the Northern Air Temple," Tenzin said, on the brink of fusing.

"Well, I can't do that, I have a family and a farm," Kuan said, as he looked at his wife and kids.

"Of course you can come! This is of the utmost importance! Your wife understands," Tenzin said, I sighed as the situation started getting out of hand.

"What? No, I don't understand," Kuan's wife said.

"Dad, where are you going? Why does the old man wanna take you away?" the daughter asked, about to shed tears. I smiled softly at the child.

"No one is going to take Daddy away, sweetheart," Kuan's wife said to their daughter.

"Actually, this old man does wanna take him but it's for an important cause," Korra spoke up.

"Your Dad is an airbender and he should learn about his culture," Korra added, as she gave a soft gaze at the children.

"I think there is some sort of misunderstanding but I'm not going with you. I may be able to airbend but I'm not some air nomad!" Kuan retorted, as he glared at Tenzin.

"Okay, maybe we should just have some desert, huh?" The mayor spoke up.

"Sir, you must understand. You're an airbender now, and there are thousands of years of culture you must learn about, skills you must master," Tenzin explained.

"You expect me to abandon my entire life? My family? No, sir, and I think that it is best that you leave," Kuan said angrily, as he stood up and pointed at the door.

After that chaotic dinner, some of us gathered in the discussion room again and sat around the table. I stood next to the window and looked down, gazing upon the small town we had just been in, as we were leaving for our next destination. It was completely dark outside, so the lights from the small houses below illuminated the land below.

"In my head, I saw that playing out very differently," Korra said.

"Maybe we should have stayed, and convinced him harder for him to join us," Asami said.

"Or we could've thrown him into a potato sack and forced him onto the ship," Bolin exclaimed, I turned around and looked at them for a moment.

"That's how they got me to join the United Forces," Bumi said, as he laid down on the white couch playing with Bum-ju who was levitating above him.

"Well, we can't coerce people or throw them into potato sacks, they must come freely. But not to worry, there are plenty of other airbenders who would be happy to come with us when they find out what the air nation is all about," Tenzin said, with positivity.

I left the room for them to continue their discussion. I went to the floor where all the dormitories were. I was walking down the hall to my personal room, when I passed a room that was slightly open. I peeked inside to see Mako laying down on the bed, covering his eyes with his arm. I knocked on the door, before stepping inside. He removed his arm and looked at me. He sat up on the edge of his bed immediately.

"Lei? Is everything alright?" He asked quickly, I smiled at him and sat next to him.

"I should be asking you that, you look like you have a lot on your mind lately. Are you okay?" I asked, as I placed my hand on his thigh.

"I don't know, I shouldn't even probably tell you about it," He shrugged.

"You're one of my best friends, Mako. Tell me what's wrong," I said softly, he looked at me.

"I don't know, I guess after the harmonic convergence, I feel like I wanna distance myself from the group," Mako explained, I frowned.

"Why would you wanna do that?" I asked, he sighed.

"I think it's because I'm still awkward with Asami and Korra, after the break ups. I guess I feel kind of bad, like it's my fault," He replied.

"First off, There's nothing awkward about it, unless you make it awkward. Like that time we were on Air Temple Island, and you actually saluted the both of them," I chuckled lightly, and he chuckled too.

"I didn't even mean to do that, I was flustered," He said, I exhaled deeply and looked at him.

"Look, we're all friends here, Mako. No matter what. And what happened between you and Korra, or you and Asami, is not your fault. So, stop holding this burden with you. And if it bothers you so much, try talking to them about it. It would make you feel better because it assures you that the air is cleared," I said softly, he smiled lightly at me.

"You have a way with words, princess," He chuckled, I playfully smacked him at the mention of 'princess' as I stood up.

"Don't call me princess, and at least try to get along with Korra and Asami, alright?" I said, as I walked under the door frame.

"I'll try my best. Goodnight, Lei," he said softly.

"Goodnight, Mako," I smiled, before closing the door and making my way over to my own room.

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AUTHORs NOTE:
This chapter was edited but nothing from the storyline has been changed.

PUBLISHED: September 19, 2019