Timeline: 12 to 69 years after the end of the war
Yes, my life indeed still had much in stock for me, but the days of my big adventures seemed to be over for good with the start of my family.
Because even though a lot of things happened over the course of the next years and decades, I only had to dig out my Assassin robe one last time, for an adventure that eventually showed me the true values of my calm and quiet family life and made it clear to me that my time as a warrior truly was over.
But as I slowly but surely began to retire, my succession was already in the making.
I trained Jin by myself for about two years. When he turned twelve years old and thus reached the required age for the official joining of the Assassin Order I took him to the monastery with me for the first time and there performed his initiation together with the other Grand Masters.
I had to shed a little tear when I saw him in his white recruit robe for the first time, he reminded me of myself on the day of my own initiation just too much.
Although the Order's rules usually dictated that recruits had to be trained directly in the monastery, the Grand Masters turned a blind eye to the rules in Jin's case and endowed me with all the necessary privileges to train Jin in all aspects of the Assassins at home on the island.
We were both very happy about this decision since a separation would have been very difficult for our entire family.
When the ceremony was finished I had said to my son: ''Prepare yourself, the serious side of your life begins today!''
''I am ready!'', had been his short and precise answer.
I was really pleased with him, his determination was very distinctive, he would definitely become a good Assassin.
After our return to the island we almost immediately began with Jin's training.
I had made it clear to him from the beginning that this part of the training wouldn't have much in common with the previous way of my teaching anymore, I would be much more strict and diligent from now on, during the training hours I would not be his father but his master, which meant that he had to follow every single one of my commands.
Jin had agreed uncomplainingly, I was pleased with that because it was sign that he truly was taking the entire thing thoroughly seriously.
Since he already knew the basic knowledge and abilities we immediately could proceed to the more advanced techniques, this included the art of fire bending, more precisely the mastery of the white flames and the purple lightning.
During his preliminary training I had always denied Jin to teach him fire bending with the reason: ''You're not officially an Assassin yet, therefore I'm not allowed to teach it to you.''
He had accepted this circumstance but I had always noticed that it practically preyed on his mind the entire time.
That's why he was all the happier and more focused when I eventually said that he was now ready for the first couple of fire bending lessons.
Just like the countless combat techniques he already had mastered, Jin also learned the basics of fire bending amazingly well and fast.
A large portion of this training also consisted of the two of us travelling to various places and locations that all had some relation to fire together so that Jin could study the fire's characteristics to learn to understand it better. Those places included volcanoes, hot springs, mountains with frequent thunderstorms and others.
If I had to document the progression of Jin's training, I probably would equate it with my own training, my son learned neither faster nor slower than I myself had.
For this reason his training continued without any problems until the big day finally came after six years.
We traveled to the monastery a couple of weeks after Jin's eighteenth birthday so that Jin could take the exam that would grant him the rank of Master.
And although he, in my eyes, struggled a little more than me when I had taken the exam myself all those years ago, he still passed the whole thing with flying colors.
I was allowed to appoint him as Master myself, I had to visibly hold back my emotions, also when Jin received the ritual tattoos.
He chose the following creed: ''The greatest strength is achieved through inner balance'', this underlined his level-headed personality, he always acted with caution and looked for the deeper meaning of battle.
I had always wondered what exactly Jin planned to do with his newly-acquired abilities and rank, but the answer followed much sooner than I had thought, because after we had returned home to the island Jin told me that he wanted to travel the world and further extend his knowledge and abilities now.
He said: ''Do you remember? All these years ago you have told me that you did the exact same thing.''
I countered: ''Yes, but unlike you I didn't have a family that could have worried about me anymore. I had no home, where exactly should I have gone to?''
Jin laughed softly, put his arm over my shoulders and said: ''Don't worry about me, dad, I will come back in one piece.''
''I hope you will, otherwise your mother will bite my head off.''
We both laughed heartily, despite everything I of course was incredibly proud of my son and what had become of him. I was sure that these journeys would eventually mold him into a true Assassin.
And Miya? What had happened with her during all the years in which Jin had become an Assassin?
Well, as I had foreseen, Miya did not possess any bending abilities, thus, even if she had wanted to, it would have been very difficult for her to become an Assassin, but this wasn't the path she eventually chose anyway.
Over the years Miya mainly retained her personality from her childhood, she still was a little bundle of energy that had to be in motion almost the entire time, a smaller second version of her mother if you will.
She also retained her closeness to the latter which is why it was no wonder that Ty Lee inducted Miya into the Order of the Kyoshi Warriors when she turned twelve years old and began to train her all the important aspects in the time that followed, just like I had done with Jin.
Soon Miya was able to wield the Kyoshi Warrior fan excellently, her mother even taught her the chi blockade ability, something she of course wanted to try out on Jin or me immediately, but it of course never worked, though it really reminded of when Ty Lee and I had first met all those years ago.
It was around the same time when Jin was appointed Master Assassin that Miya also became a full-fledged member of the Kyoshi Warriors and started to go on all sorts of missions with all the new members who also had joined over the years.
For this reason Ty Lee and I now had the house for ourselves with increasing frequency, a fact that came in quite handy, because even though we may had grown older, our love was still burning as strong as during our youth and we used every given opportunity to live it out.
One day I said to Ty Lee: ''You know, it's kind of crazy to think that we already have two adult children, isn't it?''
She laughed and said: ''Yeah, it kind of is. But now that you mentioned it, I have to say that the two really start to remind me of ourselves when we were their age.''
I answered with a feigned reproachful tone in my voice: ''You sound like we are already old as dirt, now really! Jin is twenty-two, Miya is eighteen, you are thirty-seven and I'm forty-one, we're still more than far away from the scrap heap! We could even become parents one more time if we wanted.''
Ty Lee laughed, I laughed with her. But if I had known at that time what would happen in the next few years I probably would have reconsidered my choice of words again...
Because three years later, in the year 126 AG, my words actually became reality. Ty Lee became pregnant one more time, we had a third child, I became a father once again at age forty-four.
Although all of this was completely unplanned, we of course took the consequences upon ourselves without any doubts or the likes.
Ty Lee's now third pregnancy once again proceeded without any major problems despite her now quite advanced age for a mother, she eventually gave birth to a healthy boy.
Thus we now had a second son, Jin and Miya were incredibly happy about the new addition to our family since they had never really gotten to experience the baby and infant years of a little sibling.
Our choice of name was a little more liberal this time, we named our new son Chang, a name quite untypical for the Fire Nation, but it soon became apparent that ''untypical'' seemed to be the perfect word.
Because Chang was different from his siblings, at least in certain areas.
While he was just as calm and quiet as Jin and Miya had been, his interests were quite special.
From his earliest years, Chang was incredibly fascinated by water. As soon as he was able to walk on his own, he always wanted to go to the beach or the harbor, better said the sea.
I have had a hunch regarding the reason for this strange behavior for quite a long time but still had to wait until one of our many trips to the beach to get the absolute certainty: Chang was a water bender!
At the first moment I asked myself how this was possible since there weren't any water benders in my family as far as I could remember and Ty Lee's family tree didn't include any representatives of the liquid element either.
Thereupon I began to look into our families' histories to check if I had overseen something.
And I actually found something. It was so incredibly obvious and yet I still had always missed it: My maternal grandfather! He had not only been a sailor, but also an actual water bender!
''I should have realized this much sooner!'', were my words after I had made this interesting find.
Thus there really weren't any doubts anymore: Our youngest son really was a water bender!
But this now presented me with a problem: How should I train him to become an Assassin? The only possibility that come to my mind was to send him to the monastery to train under one of the water bending Masters, but this was something that I really could not see myself doing, I loved my son way too much to just send him away like this for weeks or even years!
But thankfully I didn't actually need to make a decision on this whole matter, because when he was nine years old Chang came to me and said:
''Dad, when I'm older I want to have a real big ship and sail around the sea with it!''
With a surprised look in my eyes I asked my son: ''So you want to become a sailor?''
''Yes!'', Chang replied with a face that was practically glowing with happiness.
I smiled and said: ''You know, your great-grandpa was a sailor as well. He took me on a couple of trips when I was your age. Do you want me to tell you a story about this?''
''Yes, please!''
Thereupon I told Chang the story about one of the trips my grandfather had taken me on with his ship; when I was finished I was sure that I had sparked his interest in seafaring even more.
But I was by no means sad that Chang didn't want to become an Assassin since his generation had already given rise to an Assassin in Jin, it was the next generation that had to give rise to the next Assassin of the family.
And it would be a very special one as we eventually would realize...
''Next generation'' was the perfect keyword because my children had not been inactive in the field of family planning.
Jin had met and fell in love with a nice girl named Lira on his travels through the Earth Kingdom, the two married in the year 123 AG and four years later had twin girls, Tamiko and Hana, both non-benders.
Miya also found her love in the Earth Kingdom, in form of Hong, the son of a wealthy merchant. The two married in the year 127 AG and only a year later had a daughter, Natsuki, also a non-bender.
Although I of course loved all my three granddaughters, there still was some tension starting to grow within me, I didn't want the line of Assassins in my family to die out.
Therefore my hopes were pinned on Chang. He fulfilled his dream, signed up for a ship for the first time when he was seventeen and went to sea from that moment on.
Three years later he had saved up enough money to buy himself his own ship. This now became his source of income, he became a merchant and delivered all sorts of goods to everywhere in the world with his ship.
In the year 149 AG, he eventually met Sumire, daughter of a tearoom owner, in the Fire Nation, fell in love with her and married her.
And in the year 152 AG my prayers were finally answered, my daughter-in-law gave birth to a son who also was a bender, I had sensed this immediately when I had held him in my arms for the first time, something that was harder than one might imagine at first, I was already seventy years old after all.
My first grandson was given the name Razo, ''the Strong'', a very good name as I found, he had to be strong for the career that I had planned for him.
The following year was heavily split between light and darkness. Light because Chang and Sumire became parents for a second time, a second son named Hiru who in contrast to his brother was a non-bender. Shadow because deep grief struck us all when the news of the death of Aang reached us.
I was devastated when I learned of the Avatar's death, with his existence the final piece of Assassin honor that had remained with me now faded away as well, my task was finished, I had protected the Avatar to the end, the Spirits would be happy with me when they would welcome me in the Spirit World, an event that, as I felt, wouldn't be long in coming anymore.
Although it wasn't known yet who exactly the new Avatar was, at least we knew that, according to the cycle, it had to be a water bender.
While the other Grand Masters already philosophized about how and to whom exactly the position of the Protector would be assigned, I increasingly attended to Razo, my grandson.
I was able to convince Chang to let Razo spend as much time as possible with me and his uncle Jin so that he could come into contact with the work of the Assassins as early as possible.
At the same time, Chang often took him out to sea on his ship, thus my grandson was basically influenced from two different sides simultaneously.
Both seemed to be of avail, because just like Jin before him Razo also voiced his wish to become an Assassin, like his uncle and grandfather, for the first time when he was ten years old. I was incredibly delighted to hear this, the continuation of the tradition was secured!
Two years later Razo was inducted into the Order by me and Jin, who in the meantime also had been appointed the rank of Grand Master, we also conducted his training during the next couple of years.
Razo was a very good student, just like his uncle, but whenever I watched him train I couldn't escape the feeling that he was hiding something. I never followed up on these feelings and thoughts, probably also because of my old age.
The years passed and I felt that my big clock of life slowly but surely approached its final stroke.
I became weaker and weaker over time until I was almost completely confined to my bed.
But I regretted nothing. I had led a wonderful, eventful life, I had experienced things that other people couldn't even dream about.
Now the year is 169 AG, I am eighty-seven years old. My time in this world is as good as over.
I noticed that my family seemed to have realized the same, they all came together on Kyoshi Island to be by my side during my last days and I was deeply grateful for this.
Although most people probably didn't like to do it, I admitted that I had become old, sick and weak; I was able to amuse my family one last time with this.
I sat in my bed and saw them all standing or sitting around me.
My beloved Ty Lee, the ravages of time had visibly touched her as well albeit her health was in much better condition than mine.
My three wonderful children, my everything.
Jin, who had become an Assassin and had succeeded me in the Order.
Miya, who had followed her mother's footsteps and had become a Warrior of Kyoshi.
And Chang, the ''maverick'' of the family, the sailor.
I was proud that I had been able to give all three of them such a good life.
And finally, my five grandchildren, the crowning achievement of my life, they would make sure that the line of our family would continue for many years to come.
I gathered up some of the sparse energy that had remained me and said quietly:
''Would you please all leave the room for a minute, except for you, Razo, I want to talk with you alone.''
I coughed as the rest of the family left the room, only my grandson stayed with me.
I said quietly: ''Razo ... come here ... and take my hand.''
My grandson did as he was told.
I looked into his blue-grayish eyes, which he definitely had inherited from me and his grandmother, and said:
''Listen closely, Razo, what I will tell you now is very important. When I'm gone, you have to carry on the honor of our family, you have to become as good an Assassin as I was.''
''Grandfather, I will never be as good as you, you are the best Assassin of all time!''
I laughed softly for a short moment, coughed afterwards and said:
''I was good but definitely not the best. And you will become a very good Assassin as well, I just know it. But you have to promise me that you will always honor the Order, just like I did. You are my heir, Razo, so make it count. Promise it to me.''
My grandson held my hand a little firmer and said: ''I promise.''
I smiled and said: ''Good, very good. Then please go and let the others in again.''
Razo stood up and walked over to the door.
I looked after him for a short moment, then I suddenly heard the sound of wings flapping in front of the window. I may have been very old but my senses were still just as sharp as they had been in my youth.
I knew this sound only too well, his head appeared in front of the big window and he smiled at me with his big green eyes.
I smiled back: ''Hello Pagan, my friend. It's good to see you.''
Pagan looked at me and said with a slight hint of sadness in his voice: ''Is it what it looks like? Is this the end?''
I nodded and said: ''Unfortunately yes. I have grown old and when man grows old ... you know. But you, my friend, you as a dragon still have almost your entire life ahead of you. But I know the commandments of a dragon rider, that is why I now tell you the following: I hereby release you from my command, you now can go wherever you want. But if one day a member of my family should find you, you have serve him or her just like you have served me, you understand?''
Pagan nodded, I continued to smile.
My dragon friend said: ''Well, I guess this is it now. Goodbye, Yulizan, I will never forget you, my master, my friend.''
Tears started to run down Pagan's scaly snout when I said: ''Goodbye, Pagan, my best friend, I will never forget you and all the adventures we've been through together. Be safe and take care of yourself.''
Pagan breathed one final little cloud of fire out of his nostrils, then he rose to the air and flew away towards the evening horizon.
I looked after him until I had lost sight of him, I would never forget just how good of a friend the dragon had been to me.
At the same moment the rest of my family returned to the room, they gathered around me once again, Ty Lee sat down on the edge of the bed and took my hand.
I looked her in the eyes with a smile on my face and asked:
''Do you still remember what I had promised you at our wedding? I would always love you, to the last breath. Now the time has come and I still love you, I will always love you, whether in life or in death.''
I saw the tears running down Ty Lee's beautiful face but I couldn't do anything, my time had come.
I looked around in the circle of my family one last time and said with a quiet and weak voice:
''Goodbye, I love you all.''
After that my head sank down into my pillow, I thought of my parents and my siblings.
My last words were: ''I'm coming...'', then my eyes closed.
The next thing I heard were friendly calls.
It took me a short moment to realize what was going on.
I was back in the house of my childhood and not only that but I also had my adolescent body again!
I of course knew that I now thoroughly was a part of the Spirit World, finally reunited with my family.
And there they were: My father, my mother, my sisters and my brother.
I walked towards them, my father said: ''Welcome, my son, we have been waiting for me. Come, we have a lot of catching up to do.''
I smiled as my sisters grabbed my arms and started to pull me forward.
I was happy, I was finally reunited with my family. Now we could all rest in peace here together.
My time on earth was over, my destiny had fulfilled itself.
But I knew one thing: There were loads of adventures lying ahead of my descendants, but they would emerge successful from every single one of them, because I was there and would watch over them all the time.
Especially over Razo. I already have had the feeling during my lifetime that my grandson would most likely succeed me in more aspects than we may have thought.
But no matter what would happen, I would watch over him, stay by his side the entire time.
I am Yulizan Huyan, the Flame in the Dark!
Next chapter: A new hero
