#but is there part of me that sometimes wishes we could kyoshi ourselves into the pacific and stop being held back by gop governments? yeah

[anghraine]

Perhaps the most purely surreal aspect of the election, btw, is that it actually went pretty great in my state (Washington). I don't even mean standard West Coast results. Washington is sapphire this year.

Harris/Walz are running about 20 points ahead of Trump statewide—currently, they're further ahead here than in Oregon or California. They're winning in Whitman County in eastern Washington and came within a few of points of winning Spokane County. Clark County, which is adjacent to the border with Oregon and contains the Portland suburb of Vancouver WA, can be a lot "swingier" than Multnomah County just to the south (which contains Portland) and a ballot box was literally blown up there to screw with the election results. Clark County worked to get new ballots to everyone affected and Harris is not only clearly winning in Clark, but further ahead than Biden in 2020—leading Trump by nearly 10 points iirc.

One of the few politicians I truly like, my beloved governor Jay Inslee, is stepping down, and had endorsed his Democratic AG, Bob Ferguson. Ferguson is easily winning the state, though not leading as much as Harris is, which is a kind of nice change from so many Democrats (including pretty mediocre ones) doing better than her, even though I've liked Ferguson as AG.

I will say that Ferguson was running against what goes for a good Republican candidate these days—a "moderate" with ties to King County (Seattle) who was not the first choice of the vile Washington GOP, but beat out some far-right assholes in the Republican primaries. For part of the campaign, it seemed like Reichert (the Republican candidate) might be "normal" enough and local enough to conceivably eke out a win, but in the event, Ferguson is ahead by double digits.

Our Democratic senator easily held her seat and also ran ahead of Ferguson in counties like Whitman.

Inslee's acknowledgment of Trump's win includes zero congratulations or unity blather, but instead remarks that Washington State sued the first Trump administration 97 times and won 95 of those cases while he was still president, and we will do it again if we have to (these suits were of course driven by AG Ferguson, now our governor-elect).

For the first time in generations, Washington Democrats actually won every statewide elected office—there are nine of them and the margins of the victories vary a lot, but the GOP failed to win even one, and the state government remains a Democratic trifecta as well.

There were four deceptively-worded, Republican-funded, corporate bullshit initiatives on the state ballot this year. Three are already dead in the water. As Governor Inslee put it, "Washingtonians sent an unequivocal message that they want action on pollution and climate change. Washingtonians also made clear they want to preserve the equity of our tax system with the capital gains tax on the super wealthy. When they or a loved one need long-term care, they want the WA Cares Act to be there for them." Yup!

Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (a current Democrat in the House) is still leading in the Trumpy WA-3 district, which redistricting only made redder than it was before (when her victory was considered one of the biggest House upsets of the year). She's about three points ahead still.

This may sound like bragging about my state and isn't really meant that way. It feels like existing in a weird capsule because we're still very much in the USA and affected by national politics and we have our own right-wing assholes, of course, but so much about the country we live in is decided thousands of miles away from here, in large part by people who don't seem to share even the most basic sense of reality with most people here. It is a very strange experience to feel so estranged from what's happening in so much of the country.

[sokkascroptop]

traitor. (sokka x f!reader) pt 8

part 1 | part 7 | part 9

A/N: seems a bit anticlimactic when we all knew it was going to happen. I hope y/n learns that she isn’t the burden. Anyways, here it is. 

Y/N bit her lip to stifle a snicker, she heard Azula do the same on her right. Y/N felt a twinge of sadness for what she had done. Here she was, laughing with her friends like she’d done nothing wrong. 

The Earth King had welcomed the four of you, no questions asked, into his court.  The disguises were working and for once it felt like things were going in your favor. Y/N knelt at the foot of his throne with Azula, Mai and Ty Lee, as King Kuei recounted all that happened. Y/N had to admit, he was a little dramatic as he gestured around wildly, so much that he was constantly pushing his glasses up his nose. Y/N was surprised the bear didn’t take his hand off when he came too close. 

“You couldn’t have come at a better time. My most trusted advisor Long Feng and his Dai Li agents tried to take control of Ba Sing Se from me.”

Azula shook her head. “It’s terrible when you can’t trust the people who are closest to you.”

Blood rushed in Y/N’s ears like the thumping of drums. Surely Azula wasn’t talking about her? Right? No. No, she didn’t know. She couldn’t know. Y/N was careful when she gave Suki that fan. It was just a coincidence that The Earth King had just been betrayed by his long time friend and close confidant at the same time that Y/N had done the same thing to Azula...

“–luckily the rest of the Dai Li are absolutely loyal to me, and we haven’t had a problem.” Kuei leaned over to pet his bear on the head. “Isn’t that right, Bosco?” he placed a kiss on the bear’s nose. 

“Ew,” Mai muttered beside her. 

Y/N bit her lip to stifle a snicker, she heard Azula do the same on her right. Y/N felt a twinge of sadness for what she had done. Here she was, laughing with her friends like she’d done nothing wrong. 

---

The Earth King gave the girls a separate house to stay in while they were there. It was next door to the palace but Azula was happy for it; it was outside of any prying eyes and ears there might be. 

Ty Lee and Mai were seated at the large vanity cleaning their faces of the thick greasepaint. Y/N was on the balcony looking at the stars, and Azula was pacing and plotting behind her. Their faces were already scrubbed bare, having raced to the mirrors first. 

“We have come across an extraordinary opportunity girls.” Azula drawled as she approached Y/N. 

“Mai finally gets to wear makeup that not totally depressing?” Ty Lee giggled. 

“Ha. Ha.” Mai glared at her and then held her cloth out to Y/N. “Please come get this off my face.” She demanded. Rings of black circled her eyes and she still had white paint on the tip of her nose. Y/N brushed past Azula–who went to stand where Y/N was before and wiped gently under Mai’s eyes. 

“I’m talking about conquering the whole Earth Kingdom,” Azula said as she stared out at the palace grounds. All three girls jerked their heads around to stare at her. 

“For a hundred years, the Fire Nation has hammered away at the walls of Ba Sing Se from the outside. But now we’re on the inside and we can take it by ourselves.”

“Gosh, you’re so confident. I really admire that about you.” Ty Lee gushed. Mai and Y/N looked at each other and simultaneously rolled their eyes.

Azula continued. “From the inside we’re in the perfect position to organize a coup and overthrow the Earth King. The key is the Dai Li. Who ever controls the Dai Li, controls Ba Sing Se.”

“How do you know?” Y/N asked. She reached for Mai’s chin and continued wiping her face. 

“The Dai Li work as a team. They wouldn’t be divided in who they were loyal to. I bet that Long Feng still controls them from prison.”

“So what’s your plan?” Mai asked.

“Glad you asked.” Azula’s gold eyes glinted dangerously in the light. 

---

Ty Lee and Mai both had said good night and went their rooms about a hour ago. But Y/N couldn’t make herself get up and leave. She laid on the floor of Azula’s room on her back, staring at the wooden beams above her. It didn’t matter how tired she was or how much she wanted to sleep in a bed, once her head hit the pillow, sleep would evade her. Guilt would poke at her until her head ached and the sun was rising. 

She wished she had a way out. A way to leave Azula and the girls and go back home without getting in trouble, but she knew couldn’t have both. She couldn’t leave and still be friends with them. There way no easy way for her to tell them either. The only way she could leave is if she snuck away. 

“I appreciate you coming with me,” Azula said from the balcony. She rested her head on her hands and looked out at the earth kingdom, land that she was about to claim for the Fire Nation. 

“I wasn’t aware I had a choice in coming.” Y/N replied. 

“You didn’t. Still. It’s much better to be doing this with friends at my side.”

“Yeah,” was all Y/N said. 

“I trust you, explicitly.” Azula turned from the balcony and towered over Y/N.

Y/N rolled to her feet. “Yeah?” She was taller than Azula, but she always felt like she was looking up to the younger girl. There was a little skip in Y/N’s heartbeat. That... was unexpected.

“I know that you would do anything I asked you for.”

“Azula I–” Y/N bit her lip. She held back everything she wanted to come flowing out of her. Azula, I’m leaving. Azula, I’m sorry. Azula, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Azula, I love you.

Instead Y/N asked something safer, but had the same heaviness about it. “Azula, why does everything fall to you? To us?”

“Because whose else could do it?” Azula narrowed her eyes. “Zuko is a failure. Iroh is a failure. Everyone fails. Except for me. Taking Ba Sing Se will be the first of many victories I will take in my father’s name.”

Y/N didn’t know what to say to that. She just nodded like she understood. She kind of did, her father always needed proof that she was good enough too. But he was nothing like Ozai. 

Y/N packed her bags that night. She didn’t have much, just a few changes of clothes, her sword and her armor. And then she sat there. All night, awake staring at nothing until her eyes burned with sleeplessness; until the sun peeked over the horizon. 

Then she painted her face and got dressed in the Kyoshi warrior dress and pretended that she didn’t mean to leave at all. Because that was just who she was. 

Y/N was a coward. And she hated herself for it. She could feel her soul being ripped apart at the idea of staying. But she wasn’t strong enough to stand up for herself and she wasn’t strong enough to leave. She was loyal to Azula. So she was going to do the only thing she knew how to at this point, and it was conform; obey.

Hearing what Azula had to say last night made her feel worse that ever. Azula had said she trusted her, and that meant a lot. She sometimes showed that she lay trust in Y/N, but telling her? Someone who was normally so headstrong and independent admitting that she was putting her faith into Y/N; she could tell it was difficult for Azula to admit. 

---

They sat in the throne room laughing. Their plan was going to work. The Dai Li had heard Mai and Ty Lee talk about being from the Fire Nation while Azula and Y/N hid in the shadows. They slunk off to tell their boss quickly after that. Azula was going to take Ba Sing Se for the Fire Nation and Y/N couldn’t say she wasn’t happy for her friend. This was something that her father would be proud of. Y/N’s dad would be proud too, and if he told her that, Y/N was sure that she wouldn’t stop smiling for a week. 

It felt weird to follow along with their plan and laugh and joke but she cared for these girls. There was no doubt about that. They were her family, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt them. She had pushed away that pesky guilt before, she could do it again for their sake. 

The door opened with a bang. The watertribe girl they’d been after, came running in, a flying lemur was perched on her shoulder, chattering noisily. 

“Oh, thank goodness you’re here, Suki!” the waterbender was looking directly at her. Y/N touched Suki’s headband self-consciously. 

 “Something terrible is going on. The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city. I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle! We have to tell the Earth King right away!”

Y/N let in a sharp intake of breath. Zuko was in the city? Iroh was alive? She looked to Azula who was already walking towards the girl. 

“Oh don’t worry. I’ll be sure to let him know.” 

Something changed in the girl’s face. She didn’t look comforted by the sight of them anymore, she looked scared. Something about Azula had tipped her off that they weren’t the real Kyoshi warriors. She turned like she was going to make a break for the door but Ty Lee was already there, chi blocking her. 

The waterbender fell to her knees in front of them, her arms hanging limply, and uselessly at her sides. The flying lemur had taken off, leaving at the first sight of danger. 

“So Zu-zu’s in the city too? I think it’s time for a family reunion.” Azula stood over the girl. “So while we’re dealing with Uncle and Zuko. What are we going to do with you? Y/N?”

“Yes?” Y/N stepped forward and stood next to Azula. The watertribe girl gave her a look that could kill. 

“I want you to kill her,” Azula murmured.

“What?!”  Y/N looked at her incredulously. That was not something that Y/N would do. 

“ I want the Avatar, not some water tribe savage. She is in my way. Take out your sword, and do as I tell you.” Azula was amused even as she said it. 

Y/N wanted to drop to her knees. Azula knew. She had to know everything. Y/N was not a master at lying, she never had been but she thought she was hiding her torment well enough. As the realization dawned on Y/N’s face, a smile lifted on Azula’s. 

“Don’t be so caught up on the killing part, Y/N.” Azula reached up to touch Y/N cheek but she jerked away. “You already killed all of those Kyoshi warriors.”

A tear slipped down Y/N cheek. “No…”

“You thought I didn’t know about that?” Azula threw her head back and laughed. “I know everything about you. I know when you’re nervous, when you’re scared. You haven’t been able to look at me since. It was obvious.” She pointed at the water tribe girl. “So do what you’re meant to do and maybe I can find the strength to forgive what you’ve done.”

Y/N didn’t know what Azula expected her to do. This was never part of the plan. None of this was. These were all just schemes that Azula made up along the way to give her something to win at. If this is what loyalty was, Y/N didn’t want that. This was not something you asked of your friends. This was a game to Azula. A test to see the kind of person Y/N could be. And Azula acted like she already knew the answer. 

“No.”

“What?” Azula growled. Y/N had shocked Azula and herself. She had shocked everyone in the room. Y/N was Azula’s lap-dog. She didn’t tell her no, nobody did. 

She couldn’t force herself to do it, not for anything. The alarm bells that had been tinkling before, were ringing full force in her ears now. “I won’t kill someone that doesn’t deserve it. It’s not right.”

“I’m not asking for your opinion on the morality of murder. You need to learn your place!” Azula’s voice was dangerously calm. It was worse than if she had been shooting flames at her. 

Y/N was the complete opposite. She was enraged that Azula would even suggest she kill for her. “If this is my place, then I don’t want it! I don’t want this! We were the ones who attacked them in Omashu. We have been chasing them. They have only defended themselves against us. I think that makes us the bad guys, Azula!” Everything was spilling out now. “If you want her dead, you can kill her yourself.”

“Where do your loyalties lie?” She asked it slowly, mockingly, through her gritted teeth. It was her. It had always been her. Except for now it wasn’t. 

“They used to lie with you.”

Smoke rolled out of Azula’s nose as she tried to control her breathing. Control was what she was all about. Controlling those around her but also controlling herself. She’d never let anyone know that she was spiraling because of the words that came out of Y/N’s mouth. 

Azula never took her gold, piercing eyes off of Y/N. “Mai, take her sword. Ty Lee, get the Dai Li and have them escort the savage and the traitor to the crystal caves below the palace.” Her voice shook with anger.

“You were my friend,” Azula spat in Y/N’s face. 

“Friends don’t order their friends around like their personal guard.” Y/N wasn’t sure where the surge of confidence came from. 

“I chose you. You betrayed me.” And Y/N thought Azula might cry there in front of her. That word–chose–used to mean so much to Y/N. It used to feel special, Azula never used it to describe anyone else. Now, Y/N knew why. Now, it just felt like an insult, a kick while she was down. 

“I choose me.”

Y/N didn’t look away. Not like she might have done a few months ago. Not when Mai stripped the belt that held her sheathed sword off of her, not when she forced her to kneel in front of Azula like she was a prisoner and not an old friend who had come to her senses. Y/N was done. She was free. But now she felt more trapped than ever. What had she just done?

---

A/N: I added some things this morning. I think I’ve read it so much that words have lost all meaning. I hope you like it! ❤️

Taglist: @myexgirlfriendisthemoon​ @reclusive-chicken-nugget​ @astroninaaa​ @bubblebars​ @beifongsss​ @crownofcryptids @welovediaaxx​ @littlefluu @lozzybowe​ @thebluelcdy​ @kellllybeans​ @sugarmoongey​ @fanficdepot​ @teenbiology​ @13-09-01​ @riespage​ @davnwillcome​ @naanlianid​

[avatarsymbolism]

My Thoughts on “The Rise of Kyoshi”

Spoilers if you haven’t read “The Rise of Kyoshi.” Please, don’t spoil me if you already read “The Rise of Kyoshi.”

My Thoughts

Alas, my dreams for a Rangi/Yun/Kyoshi ot3 have been dashed but at least Avatar "Bi Mess" Kyoshi has Rangi.

I guess he’s kind of alive? Or at least, he’s some kind of spirit now? What’s going on?

Father Glowworm is fucking terrifying, What the fuck? He has teeth-filled tentacles THAT RIPS ITS VICTIMS SKIN OFF! Holy shit (or I suppose ‘holy Shu). 

Speaking of profanity, I can’t believe ‘the bastard children of Oma’ is now a canon profane phase in the Avatarverse.Kind of just cracks me up, I dont know.Funnilly enough, this happened ra short time after we got ‘holy Shu,” which made me want more creative swears instead of lazy substututes for holy shit. At east Avatar had monkeyfeathers. 

I love all the little worldbuilding details that makes the world come alive and make it feel like history is being shaped . Like the little detail about the South Pole not getting lumber for ships and the little ironies like how only the Fire Navy ships have access to the southern waters, stuff like that.

I kind of got the feeling of the world being shaped in the comics, but the book just hits different. I'm not sure if it's the scope of the world being enlarged again, my own interests or what, but it just feels right. It probably doesn’t hurt that Yee throws in a bunch of names and titles to make you feel immersed in the world and all the different people involved. 

This book is not messing around. I know it’s partially because YA fiction is allowed to a lot of things that you can’t do with say YA television, but man there are just so many ‘oh shit’ moments in this books. They also realized they could get away with a lot more death and violence, so they just went with it. 

I know the show has its moments but most of the time we were kept a distance away from the death and destruction (most of the time), and there wasn’t a whole lot of death and violence on the regular. 

Speaking of violence: Jianzhu. Just AHHH. This guy. I want to know what he did to the wounded guy in Hujing. It’s one of the things that’s done off screen. The fact that we’ve seen him commit acts of cruelty and violence just makes your imagination run wild, wondering just what the hell he actually did. 

HE POISONED HIMSELF JUST TO CAST SUSPICION OFF HIMSELF WHEN HE POISONED AN TIRE CONCLAVE OF EARTH SAGES. 

Th dialogue and writing in this book is phenomenal, especially in the last two thirds of the book. I was not prepared. I reread passages because they were just so well-written sometimes. It was like they said ‘what if we took the level of politicking and dialogue from the Ba Sing Se arc and stretched it out to book length?”

A lot of writers have tried to describe fight scenes in the Avatar world, but I think Yee handled it well. I especially liked how he tried convey the sheer power of the Avatar State, and how a beginning Avatar still is unable to control all that combined power. 

Can’t say I agree with forgiving Kyoshi’s parents. I’m personally not ready for that just yet.

On the other hand poor Lek. :(. Kid was growing on me.The kid did from an allergic reaction to to shirshu poison, not even from the poison itself (which was just meant to paralyze the the victim). 

Obviously the book is going to have YA related tropes like explaining things to the audience a lot but that’s less a valid criticism and more just a result of me having moved on from YA fiction ages ago. With that said, I still wasn’t expecting the kind of dialogue we got with this book. I was blown away with some of the conversations in the latter half of the book, especially the stuff with the Yellow Necks, and the conversations between Kyoshi and Gao Ge. 

Plus you have Kyoshi’s thought process as she becomes more okay with killing and tries to sort out her philosophies as a young Avatar. 

I think part of me missed having to look up stuff when I first watched Avatar and learned that some of the stuff in the show was based on real life things. It just felt nostalgic looking up stances and the like. I even read some stuff on the Yellow Turban Rebellion even though I recognized the reference immediately. 

In my ignorance, it never occurred to ,e that the fans Kyoshi used were based on a real thing. I just assumed it was an airbending thing  I’d seen illustrations of war fans, but I thought to look into it. I wish I had sooner. But, that’s the thing about Avatar. You get to learn. 

Things I’m looking forward to reading “The Shadow of Kyoshi”

Avatar Kuruk’s redemption. I’ve heard a lot about that, and I can’t wait to read about it. 

All that Fire Nation political intrigue that I’ve also read a little about. Apparently we got ourselves a little succession crisis coming up courtesy of a illegitimate son and disputes between royal houses and I want that so bad. 

[patrickstargang]

Forgotten Past, Hidden Future (Legend of Korra fic)

Chapter 1: Looking In The Wrong Places

Chapter 2: Lucky To Have You

Chapter 3: A Lot To Learn

Chapter 4: Kya’s Story

Chapter 5: A Tale of Miazu

Chapter 6: The Avatar’s Love

Final Chapter: The Mural

spoilers for Rise of Kyoshi in this chapter

“When I was a young girl, I worked as a servant for an estate up in what used to be Yokoya Port. Before then, I was just an orphan living on the streets. I had crossed paths with a bender who taught the Avatar before me, an Air Nomad named Kelsang. He took me in and cared for me while I was growing up. He didn’t know I was the Avatar then, but he still looked after me and I grew to see him as my father. When I was old enough, he helped me to find work and a place to stay. That place was the Avatar mansion.

“At the time, many thought that a boy named Yun was the Earth Avatar. Most of this was due to the Earth Kingdom’s somewhat archaic system for finding the Avatar, which led to desperate decision making. After I showed dedication in my work, I became a personal servant of Yun. I got to know him well and we became good friends. There were even times where I thought we would be more than that.

“I also met someone else. Someone who would be incredibly important in my life. A girl named Rangi. She came from the Fire Nation and was the Avatar’s bodyguard. She always said that she was ‘honor-bound to follow and protect the Avatar.’”

It was a brand new sight to see Kyoshi chuckle, Korra couldn’t believe it but she didn’t let it distract her.

“She was great at barking out orders, always bossing me around the mansion. But I could always sense a facade behind it all. Like the cold shoulder, she would give me now and then meant something else. But I grew to be close with the two. It seemed odd, being a mostly novice bender and having two friends who were masters of their craft. Sometimes it felt alienating. More than that, it was hard to come to terms with the fact that I had feelings for both of them. Being at a young age my mind was going in a million different directions.”

This reminded Korra of her own relationships, and the million different directions her mind went back when she was younger, going from Mako to Asami. “I definitely know what that feels like.”

“But, things started to change. The position of Avatar was being put into question as people began to slowly realize that Yun wasn’t the Avatar. Some thought I knew... that I was hiding this secret away. Rangi resented me at first, she thought it was some kind of sick joke. But it wasn’t, I’d never try to hurt her or Yun like that.”

There was a long pause after that last sentence, a long painful pause. There was a great deal of regret hanging on to those final words.

“That wasn’t the end. Someone I thought I could trust betrayed me, killed not just the only person I saw as a father but Yun as well. Or so I thought. But at that point, I felt alone. I was being hunted by one of the most powerful people in the Earth Kingdom. It felt like going back to the streets, I felt truly alone. But it didn’t last long. Rangi was there to help get out of Yokoya Port and find safety. She was by my side all the way through. At first, I just thought she was doing this because she knew I was the Avatar.

“Back when I was still a maid, there was a group of kids who would always try to pick on me. Some of them said that I was still just a poor girl just like them, which to an extent was true. But there were other things that they said about me, much more hurtful things. I’m not sure how they knew what those words meant, or if their parents told them, but every once in a while I would catch an insult from them. And Rangi, she would always scare them away. They knew they could pick on me, but they didn’t dare pick on Rangi. But she tried convincing me to stand up for myself, she was so adamant about it. It was hard for me to understand, mostly because it felt like she was mocking me. But later, I figured it out.

“While we were staying in a new city to get away from trouble, Rangi got into a fight that almost ended in her death. I felt completely helpless to stop it but she made it out before any permanent damage was done. I confronted her about the fight, I was so confused why someone would put themselves through all that suffering so recklessly. And that's when it hit me. She wanted me to know what it felt like, to see someone you love take a hit and not stand up for themselves. To just accept that suffering. She said that pained her to watch, to see me put myself through that suffering. Whether it was being picked on by some local kids or letting personal vendettas eat away at my humanity, she had enough of it. She told me that she cared about me, not as the Avatar but who I really was. She said that I deserved happiness.”

The grin on Kyoshi’s face from before returned, but it morphed into a truly affectionate smile.

“She said that she wanted to make me feel loved.

“I knew what I had to do after that. I opened myself up to her, let her know I truly felt. Ever since then, I knew that she truly meant what she said. Later on, she would become my firebending teacher. She was tough as nails but she always knew how to keep me motivated. Though I wasn’t a fan of all the horse stance practice.

“But something happened, a kidnapping took place. She was taken and a good friend was killed. I felt like I was back right where I started. But with some help, she returned and the man who killed Kelsang and Yun was gone for good. But something happened to Rangi, something that.... damaged her honor.”

Korra could tell the severity behind that statement. She wasn’t completely knowledgeable about Fire Nation culture but she knew that an attack on someone’s honor was a bigger deal than it sounded.

“Not only that, but her mother had gone fatally ill and she needed to take her to the Northern Water Tribe for proper healing. So at that point, we both had to go our separate ways for some time. I spent those days in the Southern Air Temple learning to airbend while I was on the opposite side of the world from where Rangi was. It felt like such a long time, even though it was only a few months.”

Korra recognized something familiar in what she said. She remembered Asami saying that the time she was away healing from the mercury poison felt like the longest two years of her life. She felt a knot in her stomach, realizing that despite their difference of eras that they shared many struggles outside of being the Avatar. There was a feeling of mutual sympathy.

“But eventually we found our way back to each other. From then on, we were practically inseparable. We were always out there for each other, even during the craziest missions. There was always a fear that something would happen, that this might be the last time I would ever see her. I had lost so many friends, so many people I cared about. I couldn’t bear to lose her but I had to grapple with the reality of it. But she always stayed, every step of the way.

“After we brought some semblance of momentary world peace, we decided to celebrate by finally getting married. We both wanted to do it in the Earth Kingdom, we spent so much of our lives there and it meant so much more to us. But because of the prejudice of the time, we did it in secret with only a few friends down in Maizu. Despite the secrecy, it was one of the happiest moments of my life. I still had that creeping suspicion in the back of my mind that this would all fall apart without a moment's warning, but it never did.

“That being said, we did eventually move to the Fire Nation. I didn’t want to keep my love in hiding for the rest of our lives and the Fire Nation was more accepting of us in that regard. We still got funny glances from others, but it wasn’t likely they weren’t going to say anything to the Avatar and her elite firebending bodyguard.

“After settling in the Fire Nation for some time, we both agreed that we wanted a child. We went to a local orphanage, it felt like writing the wrongs of when my parents left me as a kid. It was strangely cathartic, even healing. We found a girl named Koko. It didn’t take long before we knew she was the one. She had a lot of the same intensity that I saw in Rangi, it felt like I was seeing it again for the first time. We had our struggles raising her, as we both had our own responsibilities trying to help the world. But also, I feel we raised a really brilliant woman, and I couldn’t have done it without Rangi’s support, not just for me but for Koko.

Korra seemed fixated on this, she has considered a future with her and Asami but having a kid?! She thought it was out of the question, but this conversation gave her hope for a scenario she only considered just now. If Kyoshi could make it work hundreds of years ago, maybe she can too.

“But time went on. Everyone started getting older. Before I knew it my daughter was grown up and Rangi was reaching her final years. Having to see her go was painful, it really was, but at the same time I was content. For the longest time, we were having to suffer to help each other. Trying to help save the world. Always putting ourselves in constant danger. We went through so much, our only wish was to just grow old together. And we did. I always thought that Rangi would die in battle or be taken from me too soon. It was the greatest relief to know that she lived a good, long life and went peacefully among her friends and family.

“But I still remained.”

The coldness in her voice came back, it was as palpable as ever.

“The world was beginning to shift back into chaos and I still had to do my duty as the Avatar. To me, its what she would have wanted. In that time I took down Chin the Conqueror, created Kyoshi Island with Koko’s help and established peace in the Four Nations, for the time being.”

There was a question that was on Korra’s mind, but she didn’t know if she should touch on the subject. It felt wrong but part of her needed to know. “Did you ever find someone else?”

Kyoshi seemed confused by the vagueness of the question.

“I mean....did you ever remarry?”

Kyoshi slowly shook her head. “I couldn’t. I still felt so loyal to Rangi, even after all those years. But also because I knew that I would see her again.”

Now Korra was the one who was confused, but she continued to listen regardless.

“I kept growing older, seeing all my loved ones come and go with the ages was taxing but I still had that sense of duty that I had to uphold. Then, at the ripe old age of two hundred and thirty, I decided it was time for someone else to take over. Rangi wanted me to be honorable as an Avatar, but more than anything she didn’t want me to give up my own happiness for the sake of being the Avatar. Those last few years I started to remember that. I started hanging on to some of my biggest regrets, knowing it was pointless to do so. That was when I knew it was time for a new Avatar.

“I spent my last few days in Maizu. It felt therapeutic, with all the regret that I was holding onto, to see people that I was able to truly help. I saw how much it's changed since its inception, how happy everyone has been. It felt like a symbol to the spirit of these people, to see the village still standing even after hundreds of years. After a celebration was made by the villagers, I quietly passed on, leading Roku to fill my place as Avatar. And now, many many years later, two Avatars later…..here you are, Avatar Korra.”

It was hard to hide it any longer. Korra was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down her face. She felt great sorrow for Kyoshi, having to live on without the love of her life, but still finding the courage to continue on. It felt unbearable. She also felt something else, a feeling of smallness in the face of the long legacy of the Avatar. Kyoshi’s journey defined a generation while Korra was still trying to make sense of her own. But most of all, she was confused. Confused at why Kyoshi was smiling.

The blue energy acting out the scene slowly faded away into the darkness. Korra had a burning question, a question that felt even more inappropriate than the last. But she needed to ask. “Why,” she spoke softly through sobs. “Why did you hold on to Rangi, even after all those years. Why did you say that you would see her again?! I-It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Her confusion had given back to her sadness. It was hard for her to comprehend that level of unconditional love, a love that lasted through the eras. It was hard to see through the tears, but Korra could hear Kyoshi chuckling.

“Korra, Avatars aren’t the only ones that reside in the Spirit World.”

Before Korra could comprehend the statement, the blue aura appeared again. Taking shape, it seemed to resemble a person, somewhat shorter than Kyoshi. Then it began to fill in the details, a woman with black hair, probably in her 30s, and Fire Nation armor standing by Kyoshi’s side. It was Rangi. Korra, with watery eyes, stared in absolute amazement, beginning to smile again.

Rangi bowed slightly in her presence. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you Avatar Korra.”

Korra, trying to hold herself together, bowed back. “It's a pleasure to meet you too.”

Korra stayed in that position for longer than she needed. Once she rose back up, she was still overcome with emotion but was still smiling. “Thank you….. for everything.”

“Korra, always remember what I said to you. You're still young but you’ve done so much already.” Kyoshi let her words simmer in the moment. “Already you’ve done a great service to the world, take the time that you have to let yourself be happy. You’ve spent so much of it becoming a good Avatar, now's the time to appreciate those that truly love you.”

Kyoshi gave a cheeky smirk. “But I think you’ve already got part of that taken care of with your girlfriend.” Rangi rolled her eyes at Kyoshi.

Korra blushed profusely. “Wait, how did you know about that?”

Kyoshi stared at Korra ominously. “I see everything.” She paused for dramatic effect before Rangi gave her an elbow to the side. “I’m just kidding, I’m just kidding!”

Seeing these little interactions, the mannerisms between the two were healing to Korra. Knowing that even after years of separation and many more years of being back together, they still had playful banter with one another. It was obvious that they still loved each other. It didn’t help her already tear-filled attempt at staying collected.

“But do take her words seriously,” said Rangi. “You won’t always know when your time with the ones you love might come to an end. Take advantage of the time you have now. I may not know this girl, but I can tell from that look in your eyes that she truly loves you.”

The certainty in her tone was shocking but comforting at the same time.

“That's special, not everyone can find a love that special. Never take it for granted Korra.”

Korra rubbed her eyes, continuing to smile in admiration. She felt relieved, not just about her search coming to end, but for everything. It was starting to dawn on her that maybe she has found happiness, maybe she hasn’t fully accepted it yet. After everything, after the world continuously falling into chaos, after what was her lowest point, she really was finding true happiness. And they could tell, just from a look on her face.

“Thank you both,” Korra said over light sniffles. “I’ll never forget this, I promise.”

“We know,” Kyoshi interjected. She gave Korra one last approving face, a true sign of admiration. “Until we meet again…….”

Both Kyoshi and Rangi bowed before they dissipated into the blue aura, which itself vanished. Korra bowed back to the empty ethereal plains. The white lights around the dark began to burn brighter, becoming an all-consuming pure white. The sound of chimes started to ring in Korra’s ears.

--------------------------------------------

Korra’s eyes sprung open. She was still pouring with tears, but her breathing was slow. She glanced to see Asami and Kya, still by her side. They also opened their eyes when they heard her breathing change. Asami noticed the tears coming down her face, she looked at Korra with concern. She put a hand to her cheek just like she did at the dining hall, with the same amount of tenderness. Korra realized that this might be the first Asami has seen her cry.

“Korra,” Asami spoke softly.

“I did it, I finally did it.” Korra’s smile was massive, an affectionate look back at Asami which she also gave to Kya. She didn’t try to hide the tears, she just let them flow out like a river.

Asami returned the smile and hugged Korra. They both held on tight to one another with Kya joining in. Feeling the love around her at that present moment, it felt good, like a genuine release for what seemed like the first time in a while.

Korra chuckled, “I haven’t cried this much in months.”

They all chuckled with her, as Korra felt the collective warmth of being with those she loved. She didn’t want to ever let go of this feeling. As they all sat there together, Asami leaned into her ear and whispered...

“I knew you could do it. I’m so proud of you.”

[cerezsis]

The Missing Link

Chapter Four: Sura

Summary: The Earth Queen has fallen. Ba Sing Se is in chaos. How long before it spreads through the entire Earth Kingdom?

--

           A light breeze came through as Sura left the market. Her eyes naturally gravitated towards the statue of Avatar Kyoshi, still standing tall and proud after all this time. These days, small spirits often sat perched atop; sometimes even a fox spirit would rest below. The statue was a staple of the village, proudly honoring the Avatar who created the island.

           Pulling her gaze away, Sura continued her way home, carrying her basket of elephant koi fillets and various vegetables. Soon, her thoughts once again turned to the radio broadcast from that morning; “The Earth Queen's reign has come to an abrupt and violent end. Ba Sing Se has descended into chaos. Rioters and looters have overrun the palace.” She had been enjoying a lovely breakfast with her family when the radio switched from music to the grim news. Though she never met the queen, she remembered the way then-Princess Izumi spoke of her decades ago.

           “I don’t like speaking negatively of others, so instead I’ll opt to say nothing.”

           Sura thought it funny at the time, but as Queen Hou-Ting’s reign went on, she realized her friend’s quip was more of a warning. The queen was far from beloved, save for the older generations, but the way she met her end was truly disturbing. Suffocated, the air ripped from her lungs by a mad man; the same man Sura’s father helped to fight off thirteen years ago.

           What troubled her the most were the ongoing reports coming out of the capitol: riots, looting, fires, utter chaos. Part of her could understand the palace looters, as the queen was known to have been hoarding the nation’s wealth at the expense of her citizens, but the rest? It was madness.

           Finally, her home came into view. To her surprise, her son was sitting on the porch steps, twiddling his thumbs with his head down.

           “You’re home already?” Sura asked, stopping in front of him.

           The early thirty-something-year-old man lifted his head, his dark blue eyes meeting his mother’s gaze from below his auburn hair.

           “Slow day. Not much work to do.” He stood up, extending his arms. “Let me take that.”

           Raising an eyebrow, Sura handed him the basket.

           “Where’s your dad?” she asked as they walked inside.

           “He’s doing the laundry. And Mu’s not home yet.”

           Sura nodded at the mention of her daughter-in-law. Without saying much else, the two of them began unpacking the groceries. As the seconds ticked on, Sura decided she couldn’t take the silence anymore.

           “Alright Kang, spit it out. What’s on your mind?” she asked, turning to him with her hand on her hip.

           Kang’s eyes fell to the floor. He was hesitant to speak.

           “Well… Mu and I were talking… we’ve decided…” He struggled to say the words. “We’re leaving Kyoshi.”

           Sura blinked. His words took a moment to sink in.

           “You’re… leaving?” she asked, her face falling.

           Kang nodded. “We’re immigrating to the United Republic. What’s happening in Ba Sing Se… it won’t stay contained to the capitol. The Earth Kingdom isn’t safe anymore. We need to get out while we can.”

           Sura was lost for words. She searched her mind, desperate for something to say. “You… Kyoshi’s very isolated. We don’t have much contact with the mainland. Even if what’s happening in Ba Sing Se spreads through the rest of the country, we’ll be safe here.”

           Kang finally looked up, though he just barely met his mother’s gaze.

           “You’re right. Kyoshi is isolated. Too isolated. This isn’t a spur of the moment decision, mom. Mu and I have been talking about this for a long time. We want to have children, start a family of our own. There’re more opportunities in Republic City, for us and our future children. Kyoshi Island… this is my home, but it’s not my future.”

           Sura just stood there, staring at him. Finally, with sadness still in her eyes, she managed to muster a smile.

           “I understand. You need to do what’s best for you and your family. I’m sure your aunties will help you get settled in the city. And if you need anything from dad and me, we’ll always be here for you.”

           Kang smiled back, a sense of relief washing over him.

           “Thanks, mom.”

--

           The sound of running water echoed in the small bathroom as Sura washed her face. She couldn’t stop thinking about Kang’s announcement. He was her son, her only child. And he was leaving…

           She reached for a towel and dried her face. Opening her eyes, she stared at herself in the mirror. Out of all the sisters, she looked the most like her mother, possessing her auburn hair, pale skin, and dark blue eyes. Her hair was cut shorter than her mom’s ever was – not even falling past her ears – but everything else was the same. She used to wish she looked more mixed, like her sisters, but since her mother’s passing, she was grateful for the strong resemblance.

           The thought of her mother brought the history of her home to the front of her mind. Several generations of her mother’s family lived here, perhaps as far back as before the Hundred Year War. Sura herself was born in this house, though it was only her home for a few months before her parents moved the then family of four to the United Republic. It wouldn’t be her home again until she was a teenager, when she moved back to the island to care for her aging grandparents. The move was supposed to be temporary – only to last until her grandparents passed – but then she met Shen. Then she was elected governor. She’d built a life, a home, a family in this house, on this island.

           Though, technically, she supposed her family truly began in the Fire Nation. She was still six weeks away from her due date when they traveled to attend Prince Iroh’s birthday celebration. There was supposed to be plenty of time, the key words being supposed to. She went into labor just a day after arriving at the palace.  

           It was terrifying, but Aunt Katara assured her it would be ok. Along with her aunt, her cousin, Kya, and sister, Jia, assisted her. “My two best students,” Katara had said. In the end, it was a blessing she went into labor early. Kang was fine, coming out screaming his little head off, but Sura… had she delivered on Kyoshi Island, she would’ve died.

           After Kang was born and given a clean bill of health, things went wrong fast. The placenta wouldn’t detach, and she ended up hemorrhaging. The only way to save her life was to undergo an emergency hysterectomy, something she wouldn’t have had access to on the island. Fire Lord Zuko himself called for the royal family’s personal medical staff, and the procedure was performed quickly. Even though she nearly lost her life, Sura remembered feeling guilty that Jia had to witness that. She was just barely eighteen, and she was forced to watch her older sister nearly bleed to death. Sura was certain she’d be traumatized, perhaps to the point of never having children of her own. Instead, just a month later, she stated her intentions to go to medical school.

           A sudden knock on the door made Sura jump, tearing her out of her thoughts.

           “Coming to bed, honey?” Shen’s voice asked.

           Sura relaxed and turned towards the door. “Just a moment.”  

           She put the towel back before opening the door. Shen smiled at her, before heading to the bedroom. Sura followed suit, getting into bed with him.

           “Something on your mind?” Shen asked, reading Sura’s far-off expression.

           The auburn-haired woman turned to him. “Just Kang,” she admitted, “I can’t believe he’s leaving.”

           Shen nodded, sadly. “I was half his age when I left for the shipyards. A seed can’t always take root where it first falls.”

           Sura suppressed a sigh. “Trust me, I know that. I have legal citizenship in three nations, after all.” A thought suddenly occurring to her, she glanced to the side. “You know… they’ll probably have an easier time gaining citizenship if there’s a citizen in their party.”

           Shen blinked. He stared at her for a while before speaking. “You want to leave the island?”

           “Not really, no. But I do want to be close to my son. The thought of him leaving… I’m already so far away from most of my family. I don’t want to be far from him too.”

           Shen didn’t respond right away. He stayed silent for several minutes, taking his time to think it over. “Well, we are about at retirement age. And it couldn’t hurt to have more family around.” He grinned. “And when Kang and Mu finally have kids, we should be close to them. They’ll need the support. I still remember our first few months as new parents. I don’t know what we would’ve done if your folks hadn’t come stay with us.”

           Sura met his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. She gave him a quick kiss.

           “I’ll write to my sisters in the morning. I’m sure one of them will be able to house us while we get ourselves sorted.”

           “They’re gonna be happy their big sister’s coming home.”

           Sura chuckled. “Now if we could just convince our biggest sister to join us.”

           “Good luck with that.” Shen said as he laid down and turned onto his side. “She doesn’t seem like the retirement type.”

           “Oh, definitely not. She’ll hold her title ‘til her dying breath, just like dad.” She laid down next to him. “Goodnight, dear.”