1: Air

I don't own The Legend of Korra

It had been two days since Tenzin had found Korras' note, telling them that she and Asami were going through the new spirit portal to investigate the surrounding area on the other side. The date and time given for their return was noon in three days time.

This had raised a few eyebrows. Why not take a larger group, or include those with the greatest spiritual affinity, like Jinora. Tenzin shared that the two women been talking at the wedding reception, and was sure that the visit had a deeper purpose.

"Whatever her reasons, we must trust Korra"

The others had accepted that with varying levels of reluctance

Jinora, for her part, had kept up her regular routine since the wedding, with a few adjustments to accommodate filling in for her dad while he's meeting with the President. But whatever her duties, Jinora always made time to meditate, and this day was no different.

As she arrived in the spirit world, something instantly seemed off.

The air felt like a thunderstorm was on the way. Tiny wind currents moved all around her, like the atmosphere itself couldn't keep still. Jinora wasn't about to let this go unexplained, and so started to investigate.

She quickly found that the disturbance was strongest in a particular direction, suggesting that it had a focal point. As she moved, Jinora considered probable causes. Her thoughts first went to the new spirit portals' creation. She had never heard of such a thing happening, who knew what its' creation had caused.

Having stopped on a hill overlooking a large clearing, Jinora looked at the spirits nearby. They looked somewhere between nervous and excited. If whatever was causing this could influence the spirits as well, it only made finding out whatever it was more urgent. The spirits here where thankfully friendly, and while they couldn't explain what was going on, they could tell her something.

"It feels like the Avatar"

At that, Jinora couldn't decide whether to keep going solo, or to tell the others. She argued with herself, she was a Master, she was alone and without her bending, there wasn't any evident danger, no guarantees of it staying that way...

She trusted Korra to get help if danger showed itself.

That decided, Jinora resumed with a new purpose. Korra was her friend, and while she trusted her, Jinora also wanted to know what was making her feel this way, especially after the poison...

Plus the Avatar should know when they're starting to influence the spirits around them. Knowing Korra, that could cause some trouble.

As she continued on, slower this time, Jinora couldn't shake the feeling she was missing something right in front of her face. The memory of the spirits' facial expressions kept coming back to her. She had felt that way herself, but she couldn't place exactly where.

Another clearing, and some spirits where having a party. While Jinora decided not to join in the celebrations (although it had been very tempting), she found herself thinking back to her younger days. As memories of a time before the responsibilities of the Master rank, the earth empire, or Korras' recuperation flooded through her mind, she decided to indulge in some nostalgia.

Her happiest memories were those from when Team Avatar and Company (which was she a member of anyway?) had travelled the Earth Kingdom looking for new Airbenders. As the oldest child, Jinora had grown up with the idea that she would be responsible for preserving what was left of the Air Nomads for future generations. But thanks to Korra, there could be a true Air Nation again, a people, not just a single family on an island. And on that adventure, she had crushed on an Earth Kingdom born rogue, who had revealed a heart of gold.

It hit Jinora like a lightning bolt, Korra was infatuated.

And here she was, rushing to a friend who obviously wanted to be alone, minus Asami anyway...

The phenomena had been increasing slowly, but then suddenly stopped. The air cleared, the wind calmed, all was normal. Jinora backtracked slightly and found that it hadn't ceased, it just stopped after a certain point.

Jinora had never been comfortable with the unexplained, and with recent events her tolerance was lower than usual (some would say it was never that high to begin with). Korras' sudden departure, her apparent effects on the spirit world, her multiyear disappearance...

Answers, enough to know that Korra was alright, but answers none the less, and now.

Sensing Korra was easy enough, but as Jinora closed the distance, uneasy resurfaced. Should she let Korra know she'd searched for her, tell her about the effects on the spirits and their world. Would Korra be angry she'd been tracked down (defiantly), would she understand upon explanation (probably).

While walking slowly through some dense undergrowth, Jinora froze. She could hear voices on the wind, voices she knew.

"I'm glad you showed me this place, it's beautiful"

"Not a beautiful as you"

"Charmer"

"I try"

Jinora was shocked into silence. She knew she wasn't the worldliest of people, but in all her travels and adventures, she never heard of this...

"What do we tell the others, we can't keep this a total secret forever."

"I...well, I just..."

To hear Korra so hesitant and afraid hit Jinora like a punch to the stomach. She'd suffered so much, had only recently regained some of her old strength, and now this.

"How about we start with Tenzins' family, Bolin and Opal.."

"Mako?"

"I... don't know"

"At the wedding, he told me he had my back whatever happens, and I believe him"

"Ok"

"How about I lead on telling Mako, you on everyone else? You're better with words than I am"

"Says the one who convinced Kuvira to surrender"

"I just...wish I felt as sure about this as did facing down that metal giant"

"Whatever happens, we'll deal with it, the two of us"

I...thank you"

Hearing the happiness in those two words broke Jinora out of her trance. Returning to her physical body, she made herself three promises.

She wouldn't tell anyone what she'd heard, she'd tell Korra and Asami what had happened as soon as possible once they finished there trip, and that if anyone tried to keep these two apart, she would show them the error of their ways.

By levitating them as high as she could, while riding a sky bison.