A/N: This particular chapter begins about a year after Kuvira left Zaofu. Since it has not been confirmed on how old she is, I am assuming Kuvira is 25 at the end of Book 4. So, in 172 AG, she would be about 22 or 23. In 157 AG, she is obviously only 8.
Enjoy!

172 AG

"What do you mean the railways might not be finished in time"? Kuvira dryly asked, as she remained perfectly still. Her attention was focused on her map that took the entire surface of a wall, displaying the progress of her annexation. Only a portion of the map had pieces put together; Ba Sing Se and surrounding cities were the only to have signed under her orders thus far.

One of the army men stumbled around for words. "Kuvira, we are making faster progress than what was expected. I was only-"

"I don't believe I made myself clear," she interrupted, unmoved. "The railways will be finished long before we need them."

"I'm not sure that will be-"

Kuvira sharply waved her arm, sending the man flying until his back hit the wall of the traincar. The wind was knocked out of him, and he found it difficult to find air to breathe. His shoulders were pinned to the wall. His feet were suspended in the air.

"I'm not sure you can be trusted with this sort of importance," Kuvira broke her calm posture and loomed towards him, arm still raised. "I will not allow you to slow our progress down. The railway will be built and finished."

He stared at her with a wide set of eyes. He breathed heavily, unsure on how to respond to her.

Kuvira rolled her eyes slightly and moved as if she was slamming an invisible door. The man was sent across the room, and hit the floor hard. "You can easily be replaced. Now go do your job and get out." Her eyebrows furrowed together and her voice turned dark. "Everyone, get out."

Compliantly, all who were standing in the room, witnessing what had just occurred, had bowed out. The air felt still. Kuvira's hands were shaking as she exhaled deeply. So much had happened in the recent year, and she felt completely overwhelmed. But she could not stop, at least not at the point the Earth Kingdom was at. The turning point for the nation had been met, because of her. She sat down at the small table with a pair of chairs. She buried her face into her hands, groaning. Kuvira shook her head, looking back at her most recent actions. If she was ever going to think of reuniting the Earth Kingdom, she could not allow stress to shadow her thought process.

She heard the chair across from her drag against the metal floor. Her hands shifted from covering most of her face to massaging her temples as her gaze slowly drifted up. Kuvira's harsh glare softened almost immediately.

"I can leave, too," Bataar slowly stated, his eyes wide.

"No!" Kuvira exclaimed, her head lifting completely away from her hands. "I mean," she sighed and looked away. "How much of that did you see?"

"Enough," he replied, relaxing. "Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine," Kuvira told him dismissively.

"Because if something was wrong, you know I would-"

"Bataar, I'm fine," she repeated, louder and sterner. After seeing his face fall, she buried her own in her hands again. "Sometimes I just wonder if I can actually do this," she finally said in a near whisper.

"Do you ever think about how we first met?" Bataar asked in a reminiscing voice.

She lifted her head and glared at him. Her hands were a few inches away from her face. "What?" Kuvira asked with irritation.

"How we met – do you remember?"

She lifted a brow. "Yeah, you were that little brat who was so rude to me."

"And you were that brat who just walked in like she owned the place," he smiled at her in a challenging sort of way.

Kuvira sighed as she smiled back at him.

157 AG
Zaofu was a world the young Kuvira could only image about. Everything in the city was pure elegance. High ceilings were paired with endless windows. She had been given clothes worth more than she could possibly have fathomed. A rich green pair of pants paired well with the long tunic that flowed as the outermost layer. Gawking at herself in the mirror, she noticed how the emerald-colored clothes brightened her matching eyes.

Suyin appeared in the reflection behind her, with a brilliant smile on her face. Quietly, she suspended a fragile necklace in front the girl. She locked the clasp behind her neck. "There, now you're ready," she assured her sweetly.

The necklace was beautiful, but was also awfully heavy. Kuvira felt her small frame being forced forward and down. Metal pieces varied in length, increasing towards the middle and were shorter towards her shoulders. She gave Suyin a worried look in the mirror.

"You'll get used to it. I promise." Su kneeled down to be closer in height with the girl.

"Do I have to wear it, Miss Su?" Kuvira sounded very apprehensive.

"Please, call me Su," she had to remind the girl of this a few times already. But the matriarch had yet to run low on patience. "And I'm afraid so; it shows the world Zaofu is your home." She tucked a piece of hair behind one of the girl's ears. When she noticed Kuvira's gaze falter a little, she lifted her chin delicately. "Zaofu is your home, Kuvira."

Kuvira had not been in the city for more than a day or two. She still could not comprehend her real mother was no longer with her. More often than not, she found herself hoping to find her mother running through the doors with open arms. She just wanted her mom to take her back. She wanted to tell her she was sorry for whatever bad thing she had done. Without noticing, her eyes began to well up with tears.

"Oh, Kuvira," Suyin wiped her eyes carefully. "I didn't mean to upset you." She had to think quickly on her feet. "I have someone I would like you to meet, actually." Su rose to her feet and held the girl's hand.

They soon found a boy, around Kuvira's age, busy with schoolwork at a long dining room table. Papers were scattered all over the table, and a few books were opened. He had similar clothes other people of Zaofu wore. His glasses seemed a size too big, as they hung low on his nose.

"Kuvira, this is my son, Baatar Jr.," Suyin introduced proudly, interrupting her son's work. "Baatar, this is Kuvira."

The boy stopped his writing almost immediately to look up. He locked eyes right onto the girl who his mother identified as Kuvira. His cheeks felt warm. She looked like a typical Zaofu citizen, but something about her was off. She seemed overly frightened, as she stood behind his mother, peaking at him. He shifted his attention from her to his mother. After a moment, he returned back to his homework.

"Baatar Jr.," Suyin spoke with more authority, raising her eyebrows at him.

As if he had been verbally reprimanded, he dropped his pencil on the floor and leaped to his feet. Pushing his glasses up, he looked back to Kuvira.
Suyin stepped aside, leaving Kuvira frozen in her tracks. Her eyes widened.

"Pleased to meet you, Kuvira," the boy said to her, as if it had been practiced thousands of times in front of a mirror. He offered his hand to her, leaning slightly forward. When she just stood there for a few seconds, Baatar looked to his mother and was frozen. He had this now what, Mom? sort of expression on his face.

Kuvira glanced at Suyin as well, but gave her a what am I supposed to do with this? look. Su nodded slightly at her, remaining quiet. The girl creased her eyebrows in nervousness as she turned to Baatar. She hesitantly gave him her hand.

After feeling her palm on his, Baatar looked back up at his mother. Do I really have to do this?

Suyin folded her arms and gave him a tired expression. Yes, you do her eyes read.

Baatar made a faced and gulped. To get it over with as soon as possible, he closed his eyes and kissed the back of Kuvira's hand. He soon got rid of her hand and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

Kuvira scowled at him. After rubbing the back of her hand for a few moments, she tugged on Suyin's tunic. "Miss Su, can I go home now?"

Suyin simply sighed, exasperatedly.