Chapter Text
The last thing Hakoda had expected to see on his hunting trip was a wrecked Fire Nation ship but his eyes didn’t lie. It appeared like the ship had hit ice and whoever was on board couldn’t control it or maybe they could and aimed for the shoreline. Hakoda took out his hatchet and slowly crept towards the boat. He could hear someone inside and it only sounded like a single person. The boat was certainly not large enough to hold more than 5 or so people.
“Who’s here?!” Hakoda yelled, bracing himself for a firebender.
Instead, a woman came from the shipwreck holding up her hands. She wore a long black robe, had pale skin, brown hair and golden eyes.
“Who are you?” Hakoda demanded.
She put her hands down, one going behind her back making Hakoda jump into action. Sure enough, she had a knife behind her. Thankfully, she was a very small woman and Hakoda had no problem disarming her and forcing her against the boat.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
She continued to struggle but wasn’t firebending meaning there was a high chance she was a non bender.
“I’ll ask you one more time before I offer you to the wolves. Who are you and what are you doing here?” Again no response.
Before Hakoda could say anything else, he noticed what the boat was covering. The way the ship had smashed against the ship left a small opening under it for a person to hide under. There was a lantern, a blanket and some poorly cooked fish.
“Have you been sleeping here?” No answer, but the woman did look away, “I don’t want to hurt you, okay? How long have you been here?”
“Two days.” She responded.
“Two days!? How-...nevermind that. You’re Fire Nation, right?” She opted for silence, “Look. I want to help you, but I can’t unless you work with me. If you just cooperate then we can help you get to the Earth Kingdom or back to the Fire Nation.”
“I’m Fire Nation. I was escaping when I got caught in a storm and crashed here. I couldn’t go to the Southern tribe because you’d kill me on sight so I’ve been here trying to figure out a plan.”
“Wait. Kill you on sight? We wouldn’t do that.”
She looked like she wanted to say ‘yes. You would.’ but decided against it.
“Look. How about we return to the village. You can get some better clothes, food, better protection from the wind, and we’ll talk about helping you get to the Earth Kingdom.”
The surprise was clear on the woman’s face, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but one condition.” Hakoda didn’t miss the woman going rigid, “What’s your name?”
“Ursa. My name is Ursa.”
—---------------------
The helping Ursa get to the Earth Kingdom plan quickly fell apart when she and Hakoda started dating. Of course, Sokka and Katara voiced their own complaints but they started to accept her after about a year. Started to being the key word, but their father was happy and they didn’t want to interfere with that.
Ursa started working with the other woman of the tribe, allowing them to slowly accept her. One night, while she was heading home, one of the women, Ulu, even invited her to hang out with the others.
“Really?” Back in the Fire Nation, women of the court didn’t tend to like Ursa. Mainly because she was from Hira’a and they saw her as a peasant who didn’t deserve to be the prince’s wife.
“Of course. Maybe you can teach Aguta how to properly skin a fox-rabbit.”
“I was distracted!” Aguta yelled.
“No, you’re just bad at it.” Ulu argued.
“I don’t have to take this you know?” Aguta said, her face making it clear she wasn’t really offended.
“Sorry. Sorry.” Ulu put her hands up and walked towards the other women, “Hey! You guys wanna see who can skin a fox-rabbit the fastest?” She called to the others.
“Ulu!”
Things with Hakoda only got better and better as well. In the first year of their relationship, they shared stories about their homes, each other, Ursa even told Hakoda about her own children that she left behind. After the war, or at some point, she wanted to return to make sure they were okay.
“I’m going to see them again. The thought of them with that man by themselves for a year.” She told him one night.
“You’ll see them again.” Hakoda promised.
“I have to. What kind of horrible mother just abandons her kids with someone like that?” Tears came to her eyes.
“You were in an impossible situations and did what you thought was best.”
“I wish I could tell them that.” The two ended up talking all night. The next day they were both exhausted, so much so that the other tribe members asked them to go back to bed.
Hakoda allowed himself to be a little confused after that night. It wasn’t like Ursa to get this emotional. True, she did get tears in her eyes when talking about her parents or kids but she rarely spoke about it to such an extent. Maybe she was just upset that night for some reason.
The next week, Ursa was off. She was more secretive with Hakoda, spoke to Kanna more and spent more time with Katara and Sokka. One night, Hakoda decided to confront her.
“Ursa?”
“Hmm?” She had been happily laying against the furs about to go to bed when he spoke.
“What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t talk to me. You leave the room whenever I come in. Is everything okay?”
“Something happened and I-I’m worried that you’ll react poorly.” She sat up and began playing with her hands, a sign that she was incredibly nervous.
“Ursa. You’re scaring me. What happened?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Hakoda went silent and just stared at her.
“Hakoda?”
“…”
“Hakoda? I’m looking for any kind of response here.” She snapped her fingers in front of him.
“….”
“Any response.”
“…I…ummm…are you sure?”
“I talked with Kanna and she confirmed it. I’m pregnant.”
Hakoda got out of bed, a hand in his hair as he paced the floor.
“Hakoda. I understand you must be shocked and angry and-“
“I’m not angry.” He quickly said, “Just surprised. How are you feeling about all this?”
“Freaked out.” She admitted with a small laugh, “I’m worried about how everyone else will take it. What will Katara and Sokka think? They’ll say I’m replacing their mother. The village will hate you cause you’re having a kid with someone from the Fire Nation. What if our child looks Fire Nation? Will they have to leave? What if-“
“Ursa, woah. Breath.” She did all while looking directly into his eyes, “Katara and Sokka will be fine. They’ll be shocked and confused at first but they’ll be fine. The village will not hate you. You’ve earned respect here. Our child will never be sent away. I would sooner die than send my son or daughter to the Earth Kingdom because they didn’t look Water Tribe.”
“I love you so much.” Ursa whispered, pulling him in for a kiss.
“I love you too.”
Hakoda returned to his spot in the bed and let out a loud sigh, “Do you want to be the one to tell everyone?”
“Now? I’m only a few weeks along.”
“What do you mean?”
“In the Fire Nation we wait until the woman is at 3 months or so before telling people.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.“
They didn’t make it to month three. Around week seven Ursa started having morning sickness and the women in the tribe pieced together the reason very quickly. One woman told the others then they told their husbands and the children overheard and soon everyone knew. Hakoda and Ursa came clean a few days later.
“You’re replacing everyone!” Katara screamed.
“Katara-“
“No! You replaced mom and now you’re replacing us!”
“Katara, I’m not replacing you!”
“Yes, you are! You don’t want us!” Tears started to come to her eyes only for Hakoda to wrap her in a hug.
“Sweetie. That will never be true. I love you and your brother. Do you think I stopped caring about Sokka when you came around?”
Sokka, who didn’t have strong feelings about this like Katara, shrugged when Katara looked at him.
“No.”
“Exactly. I love your brother, I love you, and I will always love your mother. But I also love Ursa and I’m going to love our child. I don’t want you to think I’m replacing you or Sokka. I could never replace either of you. Never. I’m not asking you to be on board with this right away, but…could you at least think it over.”
“Okay.” Katara whispered.
—————————
Bed rest was probably the second worst part of the whole pregnancy in Ursa’s opinion. She had been told to stop doing chores and was confined to her bed until the baby arrived. It started off as a nice little break but quickly turned boring.
“Hakoda! Hakoda!”
“Yes?”
“How much longer do I have to be pregnant?”
“The healer said you’re at 36 weeks. You’re close but it’s still gonna be a bit.”
“Azula and Zuko were both early. Why can’t this baby be?”
“How early?”
“Zuko was two weeks early and Azula was a week early.”
“Don’t worry. Enjoy these last few weeks of quiet while you can.”
“I’d rather a screaming baby than spend another day in this bed.”
“Anything I can do?” Hakoda asked.
“Yes. Go back in time and tell me not to get pregnant.”
“I’ll get right on that.”
“And some Mooncake.”
“And that too.” He offered her a kiss on her forehead before heading off to get her the sweet.
—————————
In the week before she was due, she and Hakoda talked about the chance of having a bender or non bender.
“But you’re not a bender.” Hakoda argued.
“Yes, but my father was and my grandfather was Avatar Roku. I know Ozai wouldn’t have had it any other way, but both Zuko and Azula turned out to be firebenders and you have a daughter who can waterbend. Did Kya have any bending in her family?”
“Not that we knew of. My mother believes Katara gets her waterbending from her grandfather, my dad.”
“Hmmm. I can’t tell. It feels like it could go either way. I just worry about if they’re a firebender. The polar nights for a baby firebender won’t be pleasant.”
“There’s always Kyoshi Island.” He suggested. Ursa knew he was thinking of her and the baby going away so that she could keep them warm.
“I don’t want to be away from you for so long.”
“I don’t either but we need to think of what’s best for the baby.” Hakoda placed a hand on her stomach, “We’ll figure it out.”
“If the baby’s a waterbender you know Katara would love it.”
“Another Southern Water Tribe waterbender.” He whispered, “Katara would make a great teacher.”
“She really would.”
“I think they’re both looking forward to having a little sibling around.”
“I hope so. I hope even more that the baby looks Water Tribe.”
Hakoda didn’t tell her that he was wishing for the opposite. If the baby looked Fire Nation, there was a higher chance it could survive years later. A higher chance they could exist on both sides of the war.
————————-
Two weeks later, Sokka was in the house when he heard Ursa scream. He ran into her room to find her grabbing at the fur covers. Her hand was grabbing so hard it had turned white.
“What’s wrong?”
Ursa looked at him, “Sweetie. Get Kanna and Hakoda now.”
Sokka did as he was told and retrieved his grandmother. His father was out hunting but he came running back when he heard Ursa was in labor.
By the time he arrived, Ursa was with Kanna and a midwife, Alla.
“Ah!”
“Where are Sokka and Katara?”
“I sent them to their aunts until the baby comes.” Kanna told him.
“Good. Ursa? You okay, honey?”
“AHHH! Shut up!”
“Shutting up.”
“In the palace, the healer had special medicine to make the pain stop. Ahh!!!” The previous births had been painful of course but less so than this.
“Honey.” Kanna went to Ursa’s side, “You’re going to be just fine and so is this baby.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
————————————
“Hey.” Katara’s eyes blinked open.
“Gran-Gran?” She whispered.
Sokka woke up at the sound of his sister’s voice, “What’s going on?”
“Do you two wanna meet your little sister?”
The baby was wrapped in furs, breathing gently, and Ursa was holding her tightly. Hakoda had a hand over his new daughter and another wrapped around Ursa.
“I love her.” Ursa whispered.
“I love her too.”
“Dad? Ursa?” Her head turned upwards when Katara and Sokka came in.
“Come here.” She whispered, “Say hi to your sister.”
The baby’s eyes blinked open when she yawned. Blue eyes stared back at the family but she had light skin. Her hair had yet to come in so that was still up in the air about whether it would be brown or black.
“She’s so…squishy.” Sokka whispered.
“What’s her name?” Katara asked.
“I don’t know. She needs one though, doesn’t she? Do you two know any good Water Tribe names?” Ursa asked.
“Keta? Sedna?” Sokka suggested.
“Korra?” Hakoda offered.
“Korra’s interesting. What about you, Katara?”
Katara hadn’t taken her eyes off her new little sister, “Kiyi.” She whispered.
“Kiyi.” Ursa repeated, “I like that name.”
“Kiyi. Did you just want another name that starts with K?” Katara giggled.
“A little.”
“Welcome to the Water Tribe, Kiyi.”
————————
Kanna made her new granddaughter a wolf and dragon plushie.
Kiyi preferred the wolf.
————————
“Kiyi, I can’t play right now.” A ten year old Katara told her one year old sister.
Kiyi didn’t like this and threw her wolf plushie at her older sister. She looked ready to scream her head off.
“Kiyi, please. Dad will be back soon and he’ll play with you. I have work to finish and-“ The polar puppy eyes were very effective, “Fine. Who says school’s important?”
Kiyi giggled when her sister came down to the floor to play. They played with a few of Kiyi’s toys, many of which had been made for her by her mother, and Katara showed off her waterbending abilities.
Kiyi really loved when Katara made little water bubbles splash on her face.
“At least you like my bending. Maybe you’ll be a bender one day. Wouldn’t that be cool?” Of course the one year old had no idea what her sister was saying, but based on the tone she assumed it was something good so she started laughing.
Kiyi’s face suddenly morphed into one of discomfort, “What’s wrong?” Katara asked. Without warning, Kiyi threw up on Katara, “Spirits!” Kiyi’s screams could be heard all over the house.
Ursa, returning from her chores, came bolting towards the sound of her baby crying.
“What happened?” She asked, collecting Kiyi in her arms.
“She got sick all over me.”
“Poor thing. She must have a stomach bug.”
“There’s vomit all over my parka.” Katara mumbled.
“You have a clean one on your bed. Take that one off and try to keep yourself as clean as possible. Once I deal with Kiyi, I’ll be in to check on you.”
“Thanks, mom!”
Five minutes later the two would realize what Katara had said. At dinner, Ursa made no move to try and remind Katara about what she had said. The ten year old was finally starting to accept her and Ursa didn’t plan on ruining it by pushing her.
“Sokka. Can you help me make the table?” Hakoda asked, “Katara-“
“I know. I’ll go help mom.”
“What?”
“I said I’ll go help mom.” Katara stared straight at Ursa as she spoke.
Hakoda didn’t miss Ursa’s smile.
—-----------------------
Ursa’s eyes snapped open from her deep sleep. Her dreams of her old life were either so perfect she didn’t want to wake up or so dreadful that she was thrashing in her bed trying to. This latest dream fell into the latter category. She sat up in her bed and scanned the room. The furs under her and cold air helped remind her about where she was and calmed her rapidly beating heart.
“Just a dream, right Kiyi?” She turned towards her daughter’s crib only to find her gone, “Kiyi? Kiyi!” Rushing out of bed, she began running through the house.
“Kiyi! Kiyi!” She screamed.
“Ursa? What’s wrong?” Hakoda asked, returning from his council meeting.
“I can’t find-” Then she saw her. Hakoda was holding Kiyi who was completely wrapped in furs, so much so that Ursa almost couldn’t see her baby’s face, “Kiyi!”
“Yeah. You were sleeping so I decided to take her to one of my meetings.”
“Really?” She asked.
“Really.” Hakoda confirmed, “She was a pretty active little baby, weren't you?" Kiyi giggled at her father and reached for his face.
"So hopefully she’ll go to sleep tonight with ease. You okay?” He asked, trying to get the words out quickly before she grabbed his lip.
Ursa hadn’t taken her concerned eyes off of her daughter until Hakoda spoke, “I’m sorry. I just thought that she…that she was in trouble.”
“Remind me to hit Ozai a couple times when I see him.” Hakoda muttered, “Do you want to hold her?”
“No. She’s your daughter and you’d never hurt her. I trust you.”
“I love you too.” Hakoda planted a small kiss on Ursa’s forehead.
—————————
When Kiyi was two, her father left. Apparently some Earth Kingdom villages had sent S.O.S signals to the Water Tribe and Hakoda wanted to help. Ursa kept up appearances for her kids but she was heartbroken when he left.
“Promise me you’ll take care of the kids.”
“Of course I will.” Ursa whispered, “Promise me you’ll come back.”
“...I’ll try.”
Just another reason to curse Ozai’s name.
—————————
Kiyi was three when she accidentally fell and scratched up her leg. She had been chasing Sokka in a small game of tag and, as most toddlers do, tripped over her own feet.
“It’s okay.” Sokka had told her over and over but Kiyi kept crying.
She cried and threw her arms around so much that she didn’t notice the ice around her was starting to crack. Sokka did though. He noticed it start cracking faster when her screams got louder too.
Kiyi was a waterbender.
Sokka shook himself free of the shock and scooped up his baby sister whose sobs turned to whimpers.
“Hurts.” She mumbled.
“I know, I know.” He whispered, bouncing her in his arms until she quieted down.
Ursa was shocked but also proud. Her baby was a waterbender. Then she realized what that meant and cried herself to sleep.
Katara was excited. Her little sister could waterbend with her. She wasn’t alone anymore. She couldn’t stop saying how great it was that Kiyi could bend.
Hakoda was both heartbroken that he missed it but glad that Kiyi had a way to defend herself. When he returned, she could show him everything she learned to do.
Sokka didn’t know what to feel except scared. Another gifted sister. Another sister that the Fire Nation wanted dead.
Kiyi found her way to her 13 year old brother that night after a long day of questioning and everyone wanting to see her bend. She knew everything was changing and she didn’t like it. That night, she just wanted her brother.
—————————
A few months after Kiyi turned four, Ursa took her, Katara and Sokka to the ports to talk while she traded with the Earth Kingdom merchants. Usually Kiyi stayed in the village with Kanna but the woman suggested that it was time to take Kiyi outside the village. Ursa had been uncertain about it because she didn’t want her to waterbend. Kiyi had promised her that she wouldn’t and begged for weeks to be allowed to go. Finally, Ursa allowed it.
The ports themselves weren’t very big. There was only space for two ships and the docks were creaking badly. Kiyi loved it though. She had arrived on her mother’s shoulders and tried to stand on them when she saw the green of the Earth Kingdom ships.
“Why don’t you go play with your sister and brother? I have to do some boring stuff.”
“Okay, mama!”
“Be safe and remember the rules.”
“We’ll be fine, mom.” Katara told her while Sokka scooped up his youngest sister.
“How about we play hide and seek?” Sokka suggested.
“Yes!”
“You and Katara hide and I’ll count.”
The two girls did as they were told while Sokka covered his eyes. Once he had loudly counted to twenty he removed his hands and started looking for his sisters.
“Found you!” Katara’s blue coat was sticking out of the snow hill she had buried herself in and had given her away.
“Where’s Kiyi?”
“How should I know? The game is called hide and seek.”
After a few more minutes of searching, they found nothing. Now the two were starting to panic.
“Kiyi! Kiyi!”
“What’s going on?” Ursa asked.
“Oh! Mom! You’re here.” The two had the largest fake smiles on their faces which made Ursa suspicious.
Ursa narrowed her eyes, “What happened?”
“We were playing hide and seek with Kiyi and now we can’t find her.”
“Kiyi!” Ursa yelled, “It’s time to go home! You’ve won!”
“We’ll get you some moon cake if you come out.” Sokka yelled.
Kiyi’s laughter could be heard near the merchants. Relief fell on everyone. She had been hiding next to an Earth Kingdom trader's vegetables which had been why the two couldn’t find her.
“There you are.” Katara whispered.
The relief may have been premature because when Kiyi was heading over to them she tripped and sent one of the trader’s foods falling into the ocean.
“War baby!” The trader yelled.
Ursa bolted over and scooped up her daughter, “Get you brat under control, ashmaker!” She snapped.
“Don’t you dare talk about me or my daughter that way!”
“Your brat just destroyed my merchandise! I’ll talk to this little mistake however I want!” By now Kiyi was crying in her mother’s arms.
“Katara, Sokka, take your sister back to the house.”
“Mom. Shouldn’t we wait for-“
“I just need to finish something here. Go and I’ll catch up.”
The next time they saw Ursa her coat was torn and she had a black eye, but, according to her, the trader walked away with a limp.
“Mama? What’s a war baby? ” Kiyi asked that night as she was being tucked in.
Ursa sighed, “A war child is someone who’s…typically the child of a soldier and someone native to the area.” Kiyi looked at her in confusion.
“It’s a bad word, sweetie, and I’m so sorry that she said that to you.”
Kiyi began to play with the plushie in her hands, “Is that why I don’t look like Katara, Sokka and Gran-Gran?”
“What do you mean? You have the same beautiful blue eyes and brown hair they do.”
She saw by her daughter’s look that that wasn’t the answer she wanted. However, Ursa didn’t feel like explaining the real meaning behind war children to her four year old daughter.
“Sweetie, war child just means something bad. I don’t want you to ever use that word.”
“But-“
“The reason you don’t look exactly like your brother and sister is because I’m your mother. You look a little like me and a little like you dad. Your brother and sister had another mom so they look like your dad and her.”
Kiyi wrapped her hands around her wolf plushie, “Okay, mama.”
“I promise I’ll tell you more when you’re older but, for now, can you trust me?”
She nodded.
“That’s my girl.”
———————————-
When Kiyi was five, her brother and sister returned from a fishing trip with a boy named Aang. Kiyi thought he was interesting but his giant furry animal was better.
“Aang, entire village.” She heard Katara say, “This is my mom Ursa, my grandmother Kanna, and my little sister Kiyi is currently climbing Appa.”
“Kiyi! Get down from there!” Sokka yelled.
“Awww.”
“She’s fine. Appa loves kids.” Aang said.
“Yay!”
“We don’t know who or what that thing is.” Sokka argued, grabbing Kiyi, “I’m not letting my little sister climb on it.”
Kiyi thought Aang was a lot of fun. She knew Katara did too because her sister hardly left Aang’s side.
“Kiyi, come on. You should be starting class with Sokka.”
“While you go off with your boyfriend?” Kiyi asked, a giant smile on her face.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“But you love him! You love him! You love him!”
“Go to class.” Katara said, the faintest hint of a smile on her face.
When class finished, Kiyi didn’t even know why her brother was teaching her how to defend the village, Katara and Aang were gone.
“They went to go penguin sledding.” Her mother told her.
“Without me?”
“Baby, Katara’s going to want to do stuff on her own. Aang is the first new thing the village has seen in years and she’s just excited.”
“I still want to go.” Kiyi mumbled.
“I’ll take you tomorrow, how about that?”
“Okay.”
“Come on. It’s time for your nap.”
When Kiyi went to bed her village was safe, her brother and sister had no plans of leaving the South Pole and her mom was only a few feet away from her. When she woke up, Ursa was forcing her under the bed.
“Mom?”
“Stay here and do not come out. No matter what.”
“Mom-“
“Kiyi. This is serious. Do not move.”
She did as she was told. She didn’t move but could hear something happening outside. People were talking and screaming and it didn’t sound good. After a few minutes of silence, someone came into her room.
“Kiyi!” Sokka!
“Sokka!” She cried, coming out from under the bed.
“Kiyi! Thank the spirits you’re okay!”
“What happened? Where’s mom?”
“The Fire Nation came.” Kiyi’s eyes filled with fear. Even as a five year old she knew what that meant.
“Are they here for me and Katara?”
“No, but they took mom and Aang.” Tears filled Kiyi’s eyes and she began to sob, “Hey. It’s okay. It’s okay. We’ll get mom back.”
“Why’d they take her?”
“The jerkbender who attacked us thought she was his mother too. It doesn’t matter why. We’ll get her back.”
“We?” Kiyi asked.
“Me and Katara. You will stay here.”
“No! I wanna come!” Her hands balled up into fists.
“You can’t, Kiyi. You’re too young.”
“I’m a bender!”
“Exactly why you should stay here. It’s too dangerous plus the village needs someone to look over it while we’re all gone.” Sokka knew it was difficult to reason with a five year old but he did his best.
“I wanna go with you!”
“I said no. You need to stay here with Gran-Gran.” With that he left to go pack his bag.
Kiyi grabbed the wolf plushie off her bed and stared at it, “I can help.” She mumbled to her wolf.
When Sokka stepped away from his bag, he didn’t notice Kiyi run into his room and hide in the large bag. It was a tight fit but she managed and there was room for her wolf. Sokka finished packing, thankfully not putting anything too heavy on her, and she felt herself getting lifted off the ground.
“What did I put in this bag?” She heard him say. It took everything in her not to laugh.
Now she was finally on her way. They’d go, free mom, with Kiyi’s help, and return home. She didn’t know why Sokka was so against her coming. Another bender on their side would only make this easier. It wasn’t like this was a long trip or anything. It would be over by the end of the day.