Chapter Text
Ember Island, once a luxurious destination for the most illustrious noble families of the Fire Nation. After the war, rumors of its "magically enhanced" relaxing properties spread far and wide. Nowadays it has become a mass tourist attraction.
The slow steamboat is loaded to the brim with passengers from all corners of the globe. Families of Republic City factory workers standing shoulder to shoulder with prominent businessmen from the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se.
On the top deck, two newlyweds lean against the railing, admiring the blue sea, shimmering under the white sun. The taller girl on the right, raven-black hair and porcelain skin, wears a burgundy sundress, sandals, and a straw beach hat. The woman would fit right in as a model for the Caldera City Fashion Week. Her opal eyes, only hint of her mixed heritage, are carefully hidden under a pair of oval sunglasses.
By contrast, her musclular companion displays her Water Tribe origins boldly: sleveless azure tunic and navy blue leggings fit her body tightly. Her tanned arms are peppered with all sorts of scars, from minor scratches to impressive cuts. Even with her peculiar short bob haircut, Everything about her shouts proudly that her blood hails from Tui and La.
The southern girl takes a deep breath in, and picking up the familiar salty smell of the ocean, she lets out a relaxed sigh. Her shoulders drop, as if relieved of a massive boulder. Her wife looks over and smiles tenderly, squeezing her hand:
"Look at you, darling. We've yet to set foot on the pier and you're already relaxing! I told you, Ember Island always works its magic!"
The waterbender smiles back, her shoulders shooting back up in a shrug:
"What can I say? With the past few years, we all needed a well deserved break. Although, I doubt Mako would know what to do with a vacation. He'd be standing here frowning and grumbling."
She forces a scowl on her face, and lowers her pitch to mimic their friend:
"What are we even doing here?! I'm Mr. Detective Mako, I have work, work, work! Who will help the elderly ladies of Republic City cross the street?! Doing nothing is a waste of time!"
At that point neither can resist and burst out laughing. Still gasping for air, eyes tearing up, the black-haired woman tries to speak:
"I... I swear... one day we'll drag him away from his desk... and force him into this ferry..."
The other, not fairing much better, retorts:
"Y-Yeah... but I wouldn't... get your hopes up..."
To all bystenders, the scene looks like the playful conversation of a modern couple. None seem to realise that they are looking at Avatar Korra, master of all four elements, and Asami Sato, President and CEO of Sato Industries.
Being married to the welthiest person in the world has many perks, Korra has come to find out. Among them, being the owner of a stunning private beach house. Certainly beats having to fight for a reservation in one of the countless resorts packed with hundreds of other people. Instead, it's just the two of them. Greatly helps with remaining anonymous, and... other plans she had for the night.
After dropping their luggage and changing into their swimsuit, they head straight for the beach. While Korra expected it to be just as bustling as the ship they arrived on, it was shockingly sparse. Seeing the surprise on her wife's face, Asami jumps in to explain
"Most of the hotels and restaurants are centered around the old town, near the southern tip. We're on the eastern shore instead, where it's all private homes. Few tourists venture this far up.
Korra nods along, relieved to hear it. They walk down the sand, until they find a good spot, just a few metres away the sea. Korra plants their ombrella, while Asami lays down their towels.
Between the hot sun, right above their heads, and the fresh breeze coming up from the water, the temperature is... just right. One would swear this place was engineered for maximum comfort...
The Avatar takes the time to admire the view around herself. To her right, the rows of villas continues on and on. The beach below scattered sparsely by a few other ombrellas. Relatively closeby there's a large group of teenagers, laughing and playing in the water. They must be their neighbours, she assumes. To her left, instead, there is only a few more buildings, before the vegetation becomes thicker and the terrain slopes up into a large hill. A tall rocky cliff pretrudes forward towards the waves, cutting off the sandy shore like a wall.
"This place... is more peaceful than the Spirit World..."
Korra mutters out loud. Asami smiles:
"I thought you'd lik-"
"AAAHHH!!! GUYS!!!
They both immediately turn in the direction of the scream. They spot a boy appearing from the cliff. He's running as fast as his legs would let him, face filled with pure terror, panting heavily, carrying a handful of large seashells, like a bandit who just made it off with the loot. They see him run past them, but the couple remains focused on that cliff, ready to face against any threat in pursuit. But, nothing comes.
Meanwhile, behind them, he finally reaches his friends.
"Chan! Where on Agni have you been?!"
A girl shouts with intense worry.
"I... ugh... uff... I-I was... at the R-Royal Beach..."
The kid, apparently named Chan, mutters still gasping for air.
"WHAT?!"
The teens all shout in unison.
"Are you dumb?! You know what dad said! If he finds out, we'll be in so much trouble!"
Another boy adds, firmly scolding him.
"I-I... I know... I'm sorry... b-but I... I just had to know... if the legend was true..."
Chan tries to explain, slowly calming down.
"And you thought it was a good idea to find out... by yourself?!"
The other boy further berates him for his clear lack of judgement.
By this point the Avatar was thoroughly certain that nothing was after the kid, so, feeling quite curious about the situation, she decides to listen in on the group. Not that it was that hard with them screaming on top of their lungs.
"Alright... you went there... then what happened?"
The girl jumps back in, asking with some interest as well.
"Well... a-at first, it was all fine... it was completely deserted... not a trace of a living being... just these shells. S-So... I thought... it wouldn't hurt to pick up some..."
Chan's friends loudly groan hearing that, but he keeps going:
"I know! I know... I didn't think it was a big deal. But then, out of thin air... t-this... witch appeared. Body made of all bones. Skin empty of all blood. Face devoid of life. A-And... t-those eyes... coloured like fire, but with a stare of ice... a sight so terrifying the Avatar herself would temble in her boots... I froze still. She stepped closer... and flames appeared from her hands. They were blue like the sea... but felt hotter than the sun. I booked it before she could turn me to ash. I-I swear, it was an evil spirit..."
The group's reactions to Chan's tale ranged from skepticism to fear. But at a glance all agreed: best to keep away from there.
Korra, on the other hand, was more intrigued than ever. Especially after the kid unknowingly brought her up, she felt determined to prove him wrong. She's the Avatar, for Tui's sake! She dealt with far worse, she ain't scared of an old lady!
She immediately jumps upright, immediately receiving a suspicious glare from her wife:
"What do you think you're doing?"
Asami asks, praying that she wasn't actually considering... that.
"What? We're going to find that spirit, obviously."
Korra responds as if explaining that the grass is green.
"Honey... we're on vacation."
Asami retorts with a slightly annoyed tone. Korra, seeing the frustration on her face, ops to use her secret weapon:
"Please?"
Korra asks with the sweetest, teethrotting voice possible, flashing the Avatar's signature crooked grin.
That smile... that damned smile... one day will be the death of me.
Asami thinks to herself, shaking her head. She sighs:
"Fine... but in return you're doing the laundry this month."
She responds, officially giving in.
"Yes Ma'am!"