Chapter Text
Right after Zuko’s coronation, Ursa and Hakoda left for Ember Island for a few days. For the first time, there was no fear of soldiers, no worry of getting recognized and no war to keep them from spending time together.
“You know this place better than I do. Where should we go?”
A smile crossed Ursa’s face. That night she brought him to the theater to see Love Amongst the Dragons. They ended up sitting in a balcony seat for the production which made it a little hard to see what was going on but Hakoda believed he could follow the plot without issue.
Twenty minutes in, his hand was holding up his head and trying to stay awake. From the over the top acting to the horrible designs, he had no clue how Ursa liked this. Yet, she was leaning forward in her seat, taking in every second of this play.
The play was merciful though and gave them an intermission, which Hakoda took full advantage of. He stepped outside for some fresh air and a nice view.
“So, what do you think?” Ursa asked.
“I love it.” He lied.
“Yes! Finally someone in this family likes them! Azula and Zuko hated this play when they were kids.”
“Don’t forget this is a very long play and they were probably young. It’s hard for kids to enjoy anything for that length of time.” Ursa nodded in understanding, “But, aside from the play, look at this view.”
She did and leaned her head against her husband, “It’s really beautiful. In the morning, you should see the sunrise over the ocean. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”
“One of?”
“The view from the top of a small mountain in the South Pole, the Southern Lights, and some waterfalls in the Earth Kingdom come close.”
“You’re putting the Southern Lights at the same level as a waterfall?” Hakoda asked.
Ursa laughed, “I am.”
“How are we married?” Hakoda asked. His head was shaking but he had a smile on his face.
“Because I made the mistake of flirting with you and you fell head over heels for me.” Ursa smirked.
“That’s not how I remember it.”
“And how do you remember it?”
“I think you were so impressed with me that you started flirting and I found you cute.”
“Really? That’s what happened?”
“Yup. I’m positive.”
“Will Bato back you up?” Ursa had to laugh at Hakoda’s face when she mentioned his best friend.
“Do we have to ask him?”
“I think we need to get some confirmation on this.” The sound of a gong went off making Ursa stand up, “Saved. Come on. It’s time for part two. Oh, and fair warning, the second part is longer than the first.”
“Longer?” Hakoda whispered, a small look of fear in his eyes.
“But you love it?” Ursa laughed, “Don’t you?”
“Yup. Love it.” He said with a nervous smile, “But I love you more.” He whispered, kissing her head.
“Awww. Nice try, we’re finishing this play.”
—-----------------
Kiyi continued to train with Katara years after the war. She had no interest in returning to the North Pole to finish her training and instead asked Katara to show her some moves.
“There should be a waterbending school down here.” Kiyi absentmindedly said one day.
“A waterbending school? There aren’t a lot of benders down here.” Katara reminded her.
“But we’re getting more and more every day. Plus, Zuko gave us back all those Southern Water Tribe scrolls. Why not train people with those techniques?” Katara looked at her ten year old sister, thinking over her words. It was true that the South Pole was now far more populated than it had been in years. Waterbenders from the North Pole were coming down for a freer life, people from the Earth Kingdom moved down because their homes had been destroyed, and a few Fire Nationals even came down, though they mainly came because they wanted to see what the South Pole was like.
Could they really start a school? One that taught Southern Water Tribe style bending and showed people how they could use it with earthbending and firebending?
“And you could run it!” Kiyi chirped, pointing at her nineteen year old sister.
“Me?”
“Pakku said you’re a master waterbender. Why not?”
Katara really was considering Kiyi’s words. She was certainly qualified to teach waterbending and it would be good to show the girls coming down from the North Pole that they could use their waterbending for something other than healing.
“Probably not just yet, but I’ll think about it. On one condition.” Katara smiled.
“What?”
“You are one of my students.”
—-------------
The first time Kiyi was allowed in a meeting with her older siblings she was fifteen. Azula and Zuko, twenty four and twenty six, still thought she was too young and Kiyi was forced to constantly remind them that they were taking down the Firelord at her age.
“But you’re still just a baby.” Azula said, ruffling her hair.
“I’m fifteen! I’m allowed to travel from the South Pole to the Fire Nation on my own now. I can handle a simple meeting.”
“Yes or no did you bring Wolfie with you?” Azula asked.
Kiyi’s blush was answer enough, “Kiyi, we know you can handle a meeting. We just don’t want you to have to deal with any pressure that come from this life until you’re ready.”
“I’m ready, Zuko.” She promised, “I’ll never inherit the throne, but I want to learn about this nation. I am part Fire Nation, right?”
“Very well.”
After the war, Kiyi learned to deal with a few comments and looks from people. She was told a couple of times that she didn’t look Water Tribe, that she had to pick a nation, or thought of as a firebender or earthbender rather than a waterbender. She learned to endure it and ignore them.
This meeting was no different.
People would ask if she was qualified to give an opinion, if she deserved to be there because she was half Water Tribe, and the term war baby/child was tossed around a bit. Still, Kiyi remained there for the meeting and spoke when Zuko asked what she thought. When everything was said and done and the advisors had left, Kiyi left out a sigh of relief.
“What did you think?” Azula asked.
“I think they’re idiots.”
“True, but they’re all talk and no bite. Don’t let them get to you.”
“They haven’t gotten to me for ten years. I think I can put up with them a little longer.”
—-----------
When Kiyi was seventeen, she went on a trip around the Earth Kingdom. Her parents and siblings were beyond nervous about her leaving for months, maybe a year, but she assured them that she would write and come home if something felt off.
“But why?” Hakoda had asked her.
“Because I know about the Water Tribe and Fire Nation, but when I was in the Earth Kingdom we were always rushing from one place to the next so I never got the time to actually see anything.”
“Sweetie, living on your own in the Earth Kingdom can be-”
“Dangerous, I know. Mom, I’m a master waterbender and Katara, Sokka, Azula and Zuko were ending a war when they were younger than me. I can do this. I promise everything will be okay.”
“Kiyi, I-”
“Ursa, let her go.” Hakoda placed his hand on his wife’s. Ursa looked back at him with confused eyes but he just smiled at his wife and daughter, “Kiyi’s a smart girl. We raised her well.”
“Thanks, dad.”
For months, she lived under the alias Korra and pretended to be a regular waterbender from the North Pole. In her travels, she helped villages, met people, sat in on multiple classes at Earth Kingdom schools, and learned more about Earth Kingdom culture. For a whole week, she stayed with a farming family and learned a little about agriculture.
Then, a month or so before she decided she would return home, she stopped in a small village and met a boy named Shen. He was eighteen and had lived in the Earth Kingdom his entire life. They met when Kiyi had gotten a little turned around and was staring at her map with a death glare.
“You okay?”
Kiyi looked up, “I’m fine.”
“Really? Because you look like you’re ready to stab your map.”
“I just can’t tell the fastest route to the South Pole.”
Shen’s eyes lit up, “Oh. You should get a ship to Kyoshi Island then head to the South Pole from there. They have ships leaving in the morning.”
“Thanks. I’m Korra.”
“Shen.”
“So, how do you know so much about maps?”
“I don’t. My parents just own a boat business and they’re always taking people to Kyoshi Island so that they can get to the South Pole.”
“Ohhhh. So you’re just trying to drum up business for your parents.” Kiyi laughed.
“You got me. Will you still go?” He asked, chuckling.
“Only if you get me some dumplings. Then we’ll call it even?”
“You got yourself a deal.”
Shen and Kiyi ended up talking all night. Kiyi did feel a little bad having to lie to him about certain parts of her life. She told him her siblings all lived up in the South Pole and her parents were simple fishermen. In her defense, she was certain that if he knew the truth he would get freaked out, run away or try to attack her for a ransom.
“I know I’ll probably never see you again, but-”
“Come to the South Pole.” The words left her mouth before she could even think to stop them.
“What?”
“I don’t mean right now, but…you could come visit me. I really liked talking to you.”
“I liked talking to you too. I don’t know if I could visit, but I can definitely write to you.”
“I’d like that.”
—------------------
She and Shen continued to write for two months straight after their first encounter. In that time, Kiyi went up to visit him twice. She used Appa to make the journey then rode on a boat with him back home. By now, everyone knew about her relationship with him and they all agreed that she had to tell him the truth sooner rather than later.
On their last visit together, before stopping off in Kyoshi, Kiyi decided to come clean.
“Shen?”
“Something wrong? You can go below if the wind is too much or I have blankets.”
“No, it’s…I lied.” She stood up and walked over to the steering wheel.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not Korra. My name is Kiyi.”
“Why would you lie about your name?” He asked, now utterly confused.
“Because my older brothers are Firelord Zuko and Ambassador Sokka and my older sisters are Princess Azula and Master Katara.”
Shen’s mouth hung open and his eyes grew as wide as possible, “Shen?” Kiyi whispered.
“Can-Can I stop the boat?” She nodded.
The silence that followed was almost too much for Kiyi to bear. She kept playing with the water around them just to keep her mind off of Shen pacing back and forth. Did he hate her? Did he want her to find her own way home? Would he stop talking to her after this? What if he hated her only for her Fire Nation half? Or only for her Water Tribe half?
“Why did you lie?”
“Because I was worried that you’d get freaked out or try to kidnap me or something.”
“Kidnap you!?”
“You’d be surprised what people do when they find out the Firelord is my brother.”
Shen brought a hand to his hair, grabbing onto it for a second before releasing a breath, “I don’t like that I was lied to, Ko-Kiyi, but I can see why you lied. Just promise me there won’t be any more lies.”
“I promise!” She quickly cried, “No more lies! I swear!”
—--------------
“Hakoda?” Ursa called.
“Yes?” Hakoda was lying in their bed, about to fall asleep when his wife entered their room looking nervous, “Ursa? Are you okay?”
“I think I’m pregnant.”
Hakoda’s eyes went wide, “You-....I…you can’t be pregnant.”
“Well, I guess that settles it then. I’m not pregnant.” She tried to play it off as a joke but Hakoda’s expression didn’t change, “I don’t know yet. I’m talking to the healer in the morning.”
“Spirits.”
“I’m sure it’s a false alarm.” Ursa told him, taking her place on the bed.
Hakoda still offered her a concerned face. Ursa fell asleep that night but Hakoda didn’t. His worries for having another child spilled over into realizing how old he was getting. Sokka had been taking over more and more of his responsibilities as the years went on that, by this point, Hakoda wasn’t really needed for anything. Katara could help Sokka if he ever had any issues and Sokka had good relationships with every world leader so he had a large array of people who could offer him advice or aid if he needed it.
The next morning, the healer confirmed Ursa wasn’t pregnant.
“Thank the spirits.” She sighed.
“Hey, Ursa. I’ve been thinking.” She raised an eyebrow, “Last night, I kept thinking about a kid and realized we wouldn’t be able to keep up with an infant then I realized I can’t even keep with Sokka or Katara.”
“Hakoda?”
“I think it’s time to retire. Really retire.”
Ursa smiled, “I agree. I think you’ve done enough.”
—---------------
Sokka was announced as the new chief of the Southern Water Tribe two months later.
—----------------
Sokka and Suki got married a year later. They were married at Kyoshi Island under a full moon.
Suki made sure to thank all their guests for coming, including Yue.
—---------------
A year later, Kiyi became an aunt twice. The first time was when Zuko and Mai welcomed Izumi into the world. Kiyi and her dad arrived the night Izumi was born. Ursa had been there for the week before Izumi was due to help Mai and Zuko with whatever they needed. Plus Mai loved having Ursa there more than her own mother.
“She’s beautiful.” Kiyi whispered.
“Do you want to hold her?” Zuko asked.
The twenty year old nodded, taking her niece into her arms, “Hi, Izumi. I’m your aunt Kiyi.”
Izumi shifted silently in her arms but remained asleep, “I love her.”
“So where’s Mai?” Hakoda asked, an arm wrapped around Ursa.
“Sleeping. She’s exhausted.”
“I can imagine and you two are in for some sleepless nights. Best to get as much sleep as possible.” He warned.
“Thanks for the warning.”
“Trust me. It’s all worth it.”
“I just hope she has a good life. Spirits only knows my father-”
“You’re nothing like him.” Ursa quickly jumped in, “You’ll be an amazing father.”
“I-”
“Zuko, she wants you.” Kiyi whispered.
Zuko took his daughter from Kiyi, holding her close to his chest. Izumi grumbled a little but began to quiet down after a few seconds, especially when Zuko started lightly rocking her.
“Seems like you’re doing just fine.” Ursa whispered.
—-------------
Bumi was born two months later. At the time, Kiyi was in Omashu with Shen when she got a message telling her that Katara had given birth. She and Shen went straight to the South Pole. By the time they arrived, Bumi was a little over a week old but he was no less cute than Izumi had been when Kiyi saw her.
“Awww.” Bumi sneezed in her face, “Eww.”
“Do you know if he’s a bender yet?” Hakoda asked, ignoring his youngest daughter wiping her face.
“No clue. We won’t know till he’s at least a few weeks old, but he’s healthy and that’s all that matters.” Katara said, placing a hand on her son’s stomach.
There was a general understanding though that Katara and Aang needed to have an airbending child. Since Aang was the last airbender left, he needed to have an airbender to help restore the Air Nation. Aang didn’t care if the baby was a girl or boy, they just needed to have an airbending child.
“He does look so handsome.”
“Wait. I have something for him.” Reaching her hand into her bag, Kiyi pulled out a stuffed wolf, “Waterbender, airbender, or nonbender, he is still Water Tribe and needs a Water Tribe stuffed animal.”
“No air bison?” Aang asked, a hand on his chest acting as if Kiyi had just insulted his honor. In truth, Kiyi did have an air bison stuffed animal but it wasn’t ready.
“He might be a little young for a stuffed animal, but we’ll give it to him when he can handle it.” Katara promised.
—--------------
Three years later Shen and Kiyi got married.
Two years later, they welcomed their daughter Amaya into the world. Only a month later, Katara and Aang had Kya.
—---------------
“How are things going with you and Ty Lee?” Ursa asked, taking a seat next to her daughter and pushing her graying hair behind her ear.
“Great.” Azula and Ty Lee married two years ago, before Amaya and Kya were born, but they did it in secret on Ember Island. Azula was sure she’d never heard the end of that from her mother.
“I’m glad. I’m really happy you’ve found someone like her. Ty Lee’s always been a sweet girl.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“Azula, there is a reason I wanted to come and talk to you.” Azula’s face turned serious, “I went to talk to the healer a few weeks ago and…”
The realization gripped Azula making her heart sink, “You’re sick.” She whispered.
“I am.” Her mother confirmed, “I still have some time, but not much.”
“Is there nothing Katara can do? Or Kiyi? Or any other healer? Katara calls herself one of the best healers in the world and yet she can’t-”
“Azula, Katara did everything possible. Hakoda had to stop her because she kept trying to heal me and was wearing herself out.”
“How’s Kiyi doing with this news?”
“She’s upset but Shen and Amaya are with her. I wanted to tell you and Zuko in person so that I could also get a chance to apologize. I wasn’t the best mother to you and I didn’t want to pass away without telling you that I love you. I really do love you Azula more than you will ever know.”
“Thanks, mom. I love you too, but…instead of getting all lovey could we just have an afternoon together. No talk about being sick or advisor duties, just us talking about our lives.”
“I’d like that.”
Ursa and Azula spent the rest of the night by the turtleduck pond. Azula told her mother about how she and Ty Lee were thinking of getting a house on Ember Island and Ursa told Azula about how Hakoda had gotten into the habit of scaring the new recruit for the Water Tribe guard.
—---------------
Three years later, Tenzin and Lin were born.
A year later, Ursa died.
Two years later, Hakoda died. Katara claimed it was from a broken heart.
—---------------
Kiyi was thirty three when both her parents died. Her sisters were forty two, Sokka was forty three and Zuko was forty four. The siblings mourned together for the loss of their parents. Zuko and Azula gave Ursa a proper Fire Nation funeral while Sokka, Katara and Kiyi gave a proper Water Tribe funeral to their father.
“It won’t be the same without them.” Katara whispered.
Sokka wrapped an arm around his sister, “No, but at least they got to see years of peace in their time.”
“I’m going to miss them.” Kiyi had tears rolling down her face but couldn’t find it within herself to clear them.
Ursa, despite her Fire Nation funeral, was buried in the South Pole like she wanted. She and Hakoda were buried side by side. Hakoda had told Katara that he wanted to go next to her when he died, both because he wanted to be next to his wife and it was only a few feet from Kya.
For hours, the five siblings sat by the graves, in silence. One by one, they were all forced to head back to their tents and families. Kiyi was the one who stayed the longest, if only by a few minutes. Before leaving, she placed a hand in between the two graves.
“I know having me probably wasn’t what you two planned, but thank you...for taking care of me, for not caring that I was a bender even though it meant extra danger, for keeping me safe throughout the war...for everything” Kiyi wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up, “Goodbye.”