03x01 - A Breath of Fresh Air

[bunniefuu]

Earth.

Fire.

Air.

Water.

Only the Avatar can
master all four elements

and bring balance to the world.

The world has entered a new age.

Harmonic convergence
created an energy shift

the likes of which has
never been felt before.

And after two weeks,

Republic City
continues to recover

from Korra's epic
battle with Unavaatu.

Vines have sprouted up all over,

creating pockets of wilds

the spirits have
come to call home.

What other changes are
in store for our city?

Come back, Bum-Ju.

If you don't wanna wear
the sweater I made you,

that's fine.

I'm sorry I got mad.

Bum-Ju, I'm running out of tree.

Can we go down now?

Bum-Ju, a little help?

Ah! Ahh!

Look!

I'm airbending.

Ah!

Wow, that still hurt a lot.

How are we ever gonna clear
away all these vines?

I don't get it!

I can vanquish Vaatu, but not
a bunch of stupid vines?

I'm sure you'll find a way.

Why do you wanna
get rid of them?

You changed the world.

We're connected with
the spirits again.

The wilds are their home.

I don't think the people
who used to live here

are as excited about
it as you are.

I gotta go face the
press and tell them

I still don't have a way
to get rid of the vines.

This should be fun.

Mr. President,

are you concerned that
your approval ratings

are now nearly as low
as the Avatar's?

Have you seen today's headline?

It says, "Raik-oh-no.
Polls pan Prez plans!"

I'm not concerned with snappy
put-downs in the press.

I'm facing this calamity just
like every other citizen.

There's a tree growing
right through my office.

You think I'm not doing
everything I can

to get rid of it?

- A few questions, please!
- Avatar Korra!

Do you regret the way you
handled the Unalaq crisis?

Why are you forcing the
integration of spirits

in Republic City?

Listen, I've been trying
everything I can think of

to get rid of these
vines, but...

- why can't you fix this?
- Are the vines here to stay?

Is this part of your
new world order?

Look!

Harmonic convergence was
just a couple weeks ago.

I just need a little more time

to get everything
back to normal.

The Avatar has put us all in
a very difficult position,

- but my administration...
- Oh!

I'm sorry.

Did I put you in a
difficult position

by fighting the giant
force of pure evil

that was going to destroy
the whole world?

Maybe your administration
could've handled that!

That's all! No more questions!

This is a disaster.

Don't worry. We'll
figure something out.

Easy for you to say.

You don't have my poll numbers.

8% approval?

Who were they asking?

You can't take that to heart.

People are just frustrated.

I don't blame them.

I should be able to fix this.

I'm the Avatar.

You are not gonna believe
what just happened.

Where's your father?

Dad!

What is it? What's wrong?

The most amazing, wondrous,
fantastical thing just occurred.

Okay, Bum-Ju and I
had a little fight.

I made him this sweater, and
he didn't seem to like it.

And I'll admit it
might need work,

but it was my first
attempt at knitting.

So I was a little hurt.

Hilarious.

Time for dinner, everyone.

No! Check this out.

I can airbend!

Yeah, wait. Seriously.
I was doing it.

Oh, hold on. I just...

Maybe if I...

No.

I swear I'm not making it up.

Stop waving your arms
around at the table.

It's not funny anymore.

It's not a joke.

What's up with him?

Bumi says he airbended earlier,

but he can't now.

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 wacky Uncle.

The put-upon mom, crazy kids.

This is great. Where's Mako?

Oh, you mean the
brooding teenager?

He's staying at the
police station.

Still?

I 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.

Oh! Did you see that?

I think the napkin moved.

You blew on it.

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.

If you're gonna be
bending giant boulders,

you can do it outside.

No one is bending
giant boulders!

Look alive, Uncle Bumi!

Ah!

I told you!

Unbelievable.

You're actually an airbender.

Wait until I tell mom.
She's gonna love this.

Ow!

Police.

He what? Slow down.

Okay, I'm on my way.

What the heck did all this?

It was my brother.
He's out of control!

Okay, just tell
me what happened.

We were arguing about the books,

and Daw was yelling at me,

and all of a sudden things
started flying around!

He was creating
this storm like...

Like what?

Well, like he was airbending.

Sir... That's impossible.

There are only five airbenders
in the entire world,

and your brother is
not one of them.

I know what I saw.

He was freaking out, yelling,
"what's happening to me?"

Then, he ran into the back room

and locked himself in.

Police. Open up.

Go away!

Get out here, sir, or I'm
knocking this door down.

One...

Two...

Ah! I'm so sorry!

I told you! Airbending!

Ugh! I can't figure
this thing out!

Do you think being
in the spirit world

during harmonic convergence

could've given him bending?

I suppose it's possible.

Maybe Uncle Bumi is
just a late bloomer.

I have been noticing a
change in your aura lately.

And you didn't tell me?

Invisible spirit monster att*ck?

Lin! You won't believe this.

Bumi just started airbending.

I'm afraid he's
not the only one.

What?

I got a call last night

about a guy who just started
airbending out of nowhere.

You mean there's another one?
Where is he now?

He... Blew a door down
on me and got away.

We've got an all-points
bulletin out on him right now.

Wait, we'll help
you look for him.

Where should we start?

Oh, well, you know,
you should...

You should leave
it to the police.

It's... Police
business, you know.

It's, um... Official.

Okay.

How are you doing?

You know you're
welcome to stay here

instead of sleeping at
the police station.

No, I'm fine.

I should just get... Going.

So!

As you were...

Ladies.

This is so exciting!

New airbenders in the city?

I bet we can find that
guy before Mako does.

You know I'm not
very good at this.

You're the Avatar, master
of all the elements.

You should know how to drive.

Besides, it's relaxing.

Clutch! Clutch!

Ugh! Ah! Ugh!

That's the brake.

Let's try again. You ready?

How long do you think
talking to Mako

is going to be like
pulling teeth?

Well, Mako has never been

the most "in touch with
his feelings" guy.

But it'll get better eventually.

So when I was gone,

did he tell you
that we broke up?

Yeah. We all knew.

Sorry.

That's pretty embarrassing.

Actually, I need to tell
you something about that,

and I should've told
you this sooner,

but... While you were gone,

I... Kind of... Kissed him.

I'm sorry.

No wonder he's so
nervous around us.

- You're not mad?
- No!

I mean, I kissed Mako when he
was going out with you, so.

You what?

I'm so sorry! I
thought you knew!

I'm just kidding. I
knew a long time ago.

Well, whatever
happened with Mako

I'm glad it hasn't
come between us.

I've never had a girlfriend
to hang out with

and talk to before,

except for Naga.

This is nice.

Vine! Vine!

Hey! Watch where you're going!

What are you doing living
in the middle of the road

in the first place?

Don't ask me, Avatar.

You made the world this way.

We're just living in it.

Look, I don't have
anything against spirits,

but these vines are
causing major problems

all over the city.

Spirits? Vines?

We're all the same.

Seems like the Avatar
would know that.

Korra, you okay?

I think that spirit
just gave me an idea

how to get rid of these vines.

But I'm gonna need
a lot of water.

It's like a dream, dad.

After 170 years, new airbenders.

Dad?

When a new guy gets airbending,

does that make him our brother?

Well, in a way, all
airbenders are our family.

Does that mean I have
to share my room?

Because I like my
personal space.

Of course not.

But we might have to get used

to not being the only
airbenders around any more.

I hope we have
enough for an army.

I wanna be a commander
like Uncle Bumi.

Air nomads don't
have armies, Meelo.

But maybe there will be enough
to fill the temples again.

What's wrong, daddy?

I just wish your grandfather
were here to see this.

Will you be airbender president?

No.

But I think the new airbenders

will need lots of
help and guidance

to understand what it means
to be a part of our nation.

That's a big responsibility.

Don't worry, dad.
We'll help you.

I know you will.

I hope this works.

What are you guys doing here?

I was alerted that
you had a new plan

to wipe out these noxious weeds,

so I thought you'd want
everyone to be here to watch.

Avatar Korra!

Do you really think...
No questions!

Just stand there. Silently!

Go in peace.

How did you know what to do?

Will you send the
spirits away now?

How soon can we expect public
water service to resume?

Look out!

Let's go, people. Hurry!

Hang on!

I think that could've
gone better.

Can't talk. Meditating.

You must be at the end of your rope.
You hate meditating.

I thought that if
I really tried,

I might be able to
contact my past Avatars.

Someone who knows
something to help me.

But I can't.

They're gone and I'm all alone.

Did I ruin everything by leaving
the spirit portals open?

You didn't ruin anything.

You did what you thought
was best for the world.

And now things have changed.

Change can be good or bad,

depending on your point of view.

I know the people's
point of view.

- It's bad.
- 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.

Great.

On the other hand, 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.

True wisdom begins when we
accept things as they are.

You started a new age Korra,

there's no going
back to the past.

Mako called, the cops found
the new airbender guy.

But when they try
to bring him in,

he ran away and climbed to
the top of Kyoshi bridge

and he won't come down.

Uh... Sorry, did I interrupt
an Avatar wisdom session?

Avatar wisdom is a thing of
the past, Bolin. Come on.

Oh. Okay.

Is that a good thing?

Depends who you ask.

Come down immediately or we
will be forced to take action.

Stay back! I'm dangerous.

Sorry!

Don't panic. I'm
just here to talk.

Please, I don't know what I'm doing
and I don't wanna hurt anyone.

Tell me about it.
Rough day, huh?

I'm having kind of a
rough day myself.

You mind if I sit down here?

- No.
- I know you're scared.

You've gone through a big change
and it's kind of my fault.

But you're not alone. There are other
airbenders and they want to help you.

Actually, they're really
excited to meet you.

I don't want to be an airbender.

Please, you're the
Avatar, make it stop.

I'm sorry, I can't.

But I promise you,
things will get better

if you just give it a chance.

Let me take you over to Air Temple
Island and we can talk this through,

okay?

Daw, this is Tenzin.
He's going to help you.

It is absolutely my
pleasure to meet you, Daw.

I've never met a new
airbender before.

Well, at least not one whose
diaper I didn't have to change.

Actually I just
fell off a bridge

so I could use a fresh
diaper right about now.

So is this the deal,

we have a crisis every other
day now thanks to you?

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.

Don't worry, 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.

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.

You know the drill, Zaheer.

Of course.

I hope you still like rice.

Have you ever read the poetry of
the great airbending guru, Lahima?

What?

Guru Lahima lived 4000 years ago
in the Northern Air Temple.

It is said that he unlocked
the secret of weightlessness

and became untethered
from the earth,

living his final 40 years without
ever touching the ground.

Is that how you plan to escape,

with something you picked up from
an old airbender children's story?

Like all great children's tales,
it contains truth within the myth.

Lahima once wrote,
instinct is a lie,

told by a fearful body
hoping to be wrong.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means that when you base your
expectations only on what you see,

you blind yourself to the
possibilities of a new reality.

Unh unh unh, you wouldn't want
to singe your friend, would you?

How?

You're not a bender.

Nature is constantly changing,

like the wind.

Now you might wanna
ration that bowl of rice.

You've got 3 weeks until
the next shift change.

It's the dawning of a new age.

The end of the White Lotus and
soon, the end of the Avatar.