"I'm sorry – I have to go," he apologized as he weaved through the people seated at the patron's box at the Republic City Metropolitan Theater. People cast him confused looks, but Tenzin didn't mind. I have to be there for them – for her.
"Councilman Tenzin, where are you going? The theater troupe will host a gala dinner after –"
Tenzin looked back. "I am so sorry, but I have a prior engagement to go to, and I am running quite late. Please send my regards to the director – it was a wonderful play and I regret not being able to attend their party," he mumbled quickly and closed the door behind him.
With his glider secure behind him, Tenzin flew through the city skies, straight to Air Temple Island where Oogi was all geared up and waiting.
"And do you remember how Lin was so frightened of Melon Lord?" Toph laughed. Everyone was assembled at the family dining room, enjoying a fusion of cuisine from the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. Unlike the day's earlier celebration, tonight's dinner was an affair reserved only for family and close friends. Everyone, even the twins, was in a light, jolly mood. Presently, Toph thought it was a good idea to "entertain" the guests with Lin's childhood stories.
"Mother, I was three, okay? And besides, you weren't using a melon to scare me – it was a coconut," Lin replied, laughing. "Who would be scared of a coconut?"
"Why, you, of course!" Toph laughed hysterically.
"Or how about that summer in Ember Island?" Bumi chimed in.
Zuko's face lightened up. "Which summer? You know how Lin loves summers at Ember Island," he teased. "Are you talking about the one where she tried to fly Druk and ended up toasting the front porch?"
Suyin looked at her sister in disbelief. "Oh no, you didn't – Lin!"
"Baatar, don't believe everything you hear," said Lin, waving her chopsticks at Suyin's boyfriend.
"Well I always found Lin to be a good girl," Aang piped.
Lin sent a kiss flying towards the Avatar. "Thank you, Uncle Aang – there you go guys, the Avatar himself said it – I'm a good girl."
"When you're asleep, that is," Kya quipped, earning huge peals of laughter from everyone else. "Anyway, Lin – what are your plans? I mean, you can't stay here forever, right?"
She drew a deep breath. "Well, Mom's leaving in a week, so I'm planning to leave with her – but I won't go to work right away, I have to stay with the babies to get them settled in the new environment. I'll probably be back to work by the time they turn two months old."
"Speaking of Republic City – I was listening to the radio one time and apparently somebody let it slip that you're hosting a party for your twins," Bumi told her.
"Really?"
Bumi refilled his wine glass. "Yeah – Tenzin was quite upset, too."
Lin just shrugged. "Let them talk. It's true, so why keep denying it, right? They're just mad because they weren't invited to the party."
"Wow – did you guys hear what I just heard?" Kya asked. "You're not gonna give them a piece of your mind, Lin? There won't be flying fists of fury? That's certainly something new."
"What – I did the same thing," Toph said. "Just let them talk – they'll get tired eventually."
Katara put a hand on Kya's shoulder, "Motherhood changes how we perceive the world, sweetie. You'll understand it soon."
Suyin looked at Kya knowingly. "Yeah, as soon as you and –"
"OH SHUT UP, Su! Can we just talk about Lin?"
"Come on, buddy, you can do this," Tenzin cheered Oogi on as he manipulated the winds to give the beast better lift and less drag. "Just help me get to Gaoling before the celebration ends, and then you'd get all the hay you could ever want."
Bonded since they were both young, Oogi sensed the urgency in his master's voice. Soon enough, they were sailing smoothly among the clouds, with Tenzin bending the wind in their favor and Oogi taking advantage and going faster than ever.
Tenzin held on tightly to a small bag where the ring was. Somehow, he had a feeling that if he made it to the Beifong home by midnight, things would finally take a turn for the better.
The jovial mood of the family dinner soon gave way to a more relaxed, leisurely pace – the members of the so-called Team Avatar gathered by the soft glow of a bonfire, fondly exchanging memories of times gone by. Lin watched in amused silence as her mother animatedly told her friends about the unbeatable Blind Bandit, only to stop mid-sentence when Aang reminded her that it was he who beat her in Earth Rumble VI.
Suyin and Baatar disappeared somewhere in the gardens, ostensibly for a walk; Kya – where was she anyway?
Lin was seated on a plush divan near Bumi, who was playing a game of paisho with the Fire Lord's grandson. There wasn't much playing going on, though – Bumi was telling his tall tales as usual, and Lin could tell that Iroh was caught between suspending disbelief and completely agreeing with everything Bumi said.
"So, Iroh – what keeps you busy?" he asked. "I bet someone of your status is much occupied with affairs of state."
Iroh smiled. "Actually, no. It's mostly my grandfather and my mother who handle politics. All I do is study and train."
Bumi raised an eyebrow. "Train, you say? Firebending?"
"Yes, sir – I'm focusing on advanced forms at the time. When I'm not busy I do train in sword fighting and kickboxing," he replied. "Ah, looks like I win."
Bumi looked at the board in dismay. "This is the sixth time you beat me! Lin – look at this kid!"
"Everyone beats you at paisho, Bumi," Lin deadpanned, making Iroh laugh.
"I- I'm sorry, I –"
Bumi patted the boy's shoulder. "That's actually true- anyway, if ever you want a career outside of your royal duties, you could reach me anytime. The United Forces could use young men like you among our ranks."
"United Forces?"
"Yes – you're talking to Commander Bumi, the Avatar's firstborn son, and naval officer extraordinaire," Bumi grinned at him proudly.
Lin giggled. "Also part-time drunk and self-declared ladies' man."
"Shut up, Lin – you're making me look bad! Now you stay there Iroh, I'll go get us some drinks," he said, making a face at Lin as he walked by.
"It must be great, huh?" Iroh asked her.
"What is?"
"Growing up with living legends as parents," the boy said as he cleared the game board.
Lin smiled at him. "When I was a kid, it was. Everyone thought I was badass because I am the Toph Beifong's daughter – my ability to metalbend at a young age added to the prestige – but as I grew up, I found myself struggling – you know – trying to find an identity beyond being Toph Beifong's daughter. So I entered the police academy at fifteen, worked my ass off to top all my classes, and I graduated a year earlier. And you know what they said?"
Iroh looked at her expectantly.
"They said, 'That's Toph Beifong's kid'," she paused. "You won't believe how much it pissed me off at the time. When I became a police officer, everyone thought it was because my mom put me there – no one took me seriously until I proved myself – I'm sorry, am I boring you with all my babble?"
"No," Iroh replied. "What you're telling me is very relatable. I grew up believing I should follow in my mother's footsteps, too. From the time I was three, they groomed me to be a ruler – now I can't help but think there's something more to life than what they have planned out for me."
"Don't worry – everything would be clear to you soon. For the meantime, you should try doing other things, perhaps consider Bumi's offer? My mother wasn't grooming me for any role - in fact she gave Su and me free rein over our careers - and look at me now – I'm Captain of the Metalbending Police. It will grow on you, Iroh. Soon you'll realize what your real calling is."
Bumi came back with a bottle of warm sake. "Did I miss anything?"
"Perhaps a chance to win paisho?" Iroh teased. "About that offer…"
Lin rose from the divan and limped towards the gramophone. "Do you guys mind if I play some music?" she asked.
"There's a new record I brought with me – you might wanna check it out," Bumi told her, pointing beside the gramophone. "It's been making waves at Republic City airwaves –" Lin was pouting (she never really liked Bumi's taste in music, "- come on, Lin, it's really good! I think you'll like it."
"Fine." Lin picked the record up. The Brightest Star in the Night Sky, it read. She smiled. Cheesy.
The first few notes of the song blared out as Lin settled in the divan to read a book. Although she tried to deny it (just to spite Bumi), the song actually sounded good.
The brightest star in the night sky, can you hear?
Deep in the heart of those gazing above, the sighs of loneliness
The brightest star in the night sky can you remember
Those who walked with me
the shapes that disappeared in the wind
I pray to have a clear spirit and eyes that cry
to give me the audacity to believe again
to cross the lies to embrace you
whenever I can't find the meaning of existence
whenever I'm lost in the dark
oh, the brightest star in the night sky please lead me to you
"See? I told you it's a good song," Bumi said, flashing Lin an I-told-you-so look.
The brightest star in the night sky, do you know
where the figure who shared her heart with me is today?
The brightest star in the night sky, do you care
whether I wait for the sun to rise again
or if I'll be first caught by surprise
I would rather keep all the sorrow in my heart than forget your eyes
that gave me the audacity to believe again
to cross the lies to embrace you
whenever I can't find the meaning of existence
whenever I'm lost in the dark
oh, the brightest star in the night sky please light my way
I pray to have a clear spirit and eyes that cry
to give me the audacity to believe again
to cross the lies to embrace you
whenever I can't find the meaning of existence
whenever I'm lost in the dark
oh, the brightest star in the night sky, please lead me to you.
A/N: If you're interested, the song I featured here is called "The Brightest Star in the Night Sky" by Chinese indie group Escape Plan. It's a relly good song, I thought I might share it to you guys so I translated the lyrics into English!
