Here is the 27th full chapter in Book 5, released on time as promised. There really isn't much to say about this chapter as it is known what is going on as it is time to lay to rest a fallen member of Team Avatar and remember all that she has done before we move on and into the final stages of Book 5 because this war stops for no one, only pauses, and we are nearing the end of it in the wake of what has recently happened. As such that is all I have for here though so I will leave this pre chapter note off here and as there isn't anything to respond to that means that it time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 27th full installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 5: Duty.
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.
Chapter 27
Luna's funeral was different from Remus's had been a little over two years earlier. This was due to the war limiting who could come to it as there was a need to continue defending the Southern Air Temple just in case and because the World Leaders were currently gathering for the upcoming meeting in Republic City to end the war. That limited the attendance to the funeral, so it was a much simpler affair just as Luna would have liked though it wasn't what she deserved given what she'd done in her long life.
As with Remus's, the Head Abbots, naturally minus Brocklehurst and Edgecombe, along with Bexley and Wroxton at each end, were in a line behind Luna's body. Behind them though only the two remaining Elders on the Western Council of Elders sat as the Elders in the Southern Air Temple and on Air Temple Island had remained at their respective Temples to oversee them and their protection.
Luna's family, including Ginny and Harry, sat to one side. With the World Leaders not present, they couldn't sit on the other side as some had at Remus's funeral, so all the remaining space was filled with the airbenders of the Western Air Temple who had survived the attack and wished to pay their respects to the fallen Archabbot.
It was time and as with Remus's funeral, Harry had been asked to serve as the master of the ceremony though this time it had been by Gabrielle as she was the Head Abbess of the Western Air Temple thus the one technically in charge of it. Standing from his chair as the time came, Harry made his way to the speaking spot to indicated that the funeral was about to begin.
"I never expected to be here so soon after Remus's." Harry began somberly. "But alas we didn't expect this war to break out so soon after the last Conclave or for Ekrizdis to break the ceasefire and strike when we least expected it. However, he did and one of my oldest friends and the symbol of the Air Nation in this terrible time for all airbenders has paid the ultimate price because of the evil of a delusional man."
Harry paused to let his words sink in but also because he was unsure how to proceed. They had never really been able to have a funeral for Neville, though they did find his remains buried in the Crypt of Leaders in Republic City after the Principate and burnt them in the Fire Sage's Temple as was his wish as soon as they could, so it was hard for Harry to talk but he knew that he had to.
"I will save my own words about Luna for when I speak later, this is just to open the funeral." Harry continued when he was ready. "With the time and the war, this will be a little abridged and less formal, but I know that is what Luna would have wanted, she truly took the simplicity of the Air Nomadic way of life to heart even if she couldn't always live like that. I now turn over to Head Abbess Gabrielle, the Head of Luna's home Temple to give the first eulogy."
Harry took a moment but when he was ready he turned and headed back to his seat. As soon as he was seated, Gabrielle got up from her seat in the middle of the row behind Luna and walked forward to the speaking spot.
"I am not sure what to say here as this is much sooner than I expected to be here." Gabrielle began. "But I will do my best. I have known Luna all my life though our chosen paths have separated us for many years at a time so this will be brief. We were both born here in the Western Air Temple though I am several years younger, more so that Luna was closer to my elder sister in terms of age. However, Luna knew her well and through Fleur she knew me as well."
Gabrielle paused for a moment as she composed herself. Harry knew that it was more than about Luna but her older sister as well as she wasn't here anymore either. Fleur had been broken by Bill's death and the events of the Principate War. She lived long enough to see her daughter crowned Chief of the Southern Water Tribe and to see Dominique become the ruler that she was born to be, but Fleur had lost the will to live by then. She'd passed 14 years ago so talking about her and the connection Fleur provided would be hard, but Gabrielle plowed on.
"I was too young to join Luna or my sister in the Battle of the Elemental Academy back when it occurred, but I know that both served the forces of good with distinction in it, along with many airbenders who fought by the Avatar's side to defeat Voldemort." Gabrielle said. "And I know my sister always loved Luna for taking out Fenrir during that battle because of what he did to the man Fleur loved. That would turn out to be the other major connection between me and Luna that we both bonded over, we both ended up in the vast, tangled, web that is the Southern Royal Family."
Gabrielle took a break and Harry could see that she was trying to figure out where to go from there. It seemed that she had some idea and continued with her speech a moment later.
"First it was Fleur, she had fallen for the Crown Prince, and they were married a few years after the Second Purity War ended when Luna was about to start her last year at the Elemental Academy." Gabrielle said. "I will always remember Luna at that wedding, the Southern Royal Wedding on Air Temple Island due to Bill and Fleur living in Republic City at the time, because she wore this yellow dress that shone brighter than the sun. Seriously it was painful to look at and I was wearing a dress of shinning gold."
There was a series of chuckles from those who remembered Luna's taste in wedding attire as she and her father always insisted on wearing what they deemed to be summer colors at weddings. Harry remembered it as well, Luna had stubbornly refused to wear anything else at his own wedding to Ginny despite being the Maid of Honor at it.
"I can see who has been to wedding with Luna by your reactions to it." Gabrielle said with a small smile. "It was always memorable, both her and her father as he was often more colorful than she was. That wedding was also the day I knew for certain that Luna and I would, in some odd way, become family more than the way all airbenders are. I saw her with her boyfriend at the time, my sister's brother-in-law Ron and I saw the love between, a love that never diminished."
Gabrielle paused and Harry glanced at Ron. There were tears in his best friend's eyes and Rose, who'd taken her father's hand, was openly crying at Gabrielle's kind words about Luna's love for Ron that had continued until her dying breath and beyond.
"We spoke about it a bit from time to time." Gabrielle said though Harry could tell that she was leaving out Luna's habit of being extremely graphic when discussing relationships. "I was at the Academy then and Luna recently graduated but she came back from time to time to instruct the first years as a guest teacher in spiritual matters. Then she disappeared for several months, officially to explore the Spirit World, but we all knew that it was to join the Avatar in liberating the Fire Nation from arguably the greatest evil that has arisen in my lifetime, Hermione."
There were a series of nods from the older airbenders at this though Harry wasn't sure. Hermione was evil but she wasn't born that way, she was made it by a mix of abuse, brainwashing, and her own arrogance and twisted views. Once she had power she became the monster they knew because she believed she was always right and did whatever was necessary to hold it because to her the ends justified the means.
Voldemort by comparison seemed to have been born that way but the debate between the two of them had never been resolved. However, Voldemort had arisen before Gabrielle's time, and Harry's for that matter though as Korra's last enemy he was part of Harry's past life, so Harry didn't see it that way, so for her Hermione made sense.
"What few know was that during that mission Luna stopped off here along the way." Gabrielle said continuing her speech and causing Harry to refocus on it. "And it was while she was here that Ron finally proposed to her, though I think Harry's proposal to Princess Ginny in Ba Sing Se helped speed it up. I know that Luna was so happy that she'd gotten engaged at her home Temple though I will spare the details of that, Luna told me them once and was so detailed that I have never forgotten them. Sorry Ron."
There was a polite amount of chuckles at this, but Ron just smiled, and Harry remembered that day well. It had been their last meal before going behind enemy lines to free the Fire Nation from Hermione's tyranny. It was just the 5 of them on top of the cliff above the Temple and Ron had finally done it. Course afterwards Harry, Ginny, and Neville had fled as fast as possible as Luna had jumped Ron almost as soon as she'd said yes.
"That was how I ended up tangentially related to Luna by marriage though I am not sure what the term in." Gabrielle said. "And that was a wedding to remember. It was held in the Southern Water Tribe during the Winter Solstice and while it was freezing there it was so much fun. It was also the only time I saw her at a wedding in white and she was radiant the same way Fleur had been several years earlier. It was a lot of fun but those who knew Luna and Ron would know that they always were."
Harry recalled that wedding fondly, it had been wild. The prep alone had been almost as bad as Harry's own wedding as every World Leader wanted to honor Ron and Luna just as much as they had honored Harry and Ginny. Add in that it took chi blocking Luna to get her to wear white for it, though she'd at least been allowed to avoid the furs in keeping with her vegetarian lifestyle, and it was a miracle that the service went off without a hitch. The reception however, well they ended up with Chief Arthur having to reconstruct a whole wing of the Palace.
"After that though I didn't see Luna much for several decades." Gabrielle said. "While I liked the South and was offered positions at the embassy there to be close to my sister when Bill became Chief, I never liked the cold. I had always loved it here in the Western Air Temple, so I returned here after graduating from the Academy. My only regret is that I never tried to get a position at Air Temple Island where I could be close to my sister and my nieces and nephew while they were there, though I was there for them when they needed me the most, but you all know what Victoire and Dominique had to go through."
Gabrielle again took a moment to compose herself and because she'd gotten off topic a little. Harry could see that she needed a moment to get back on track and finish up her speech.
"I will save Luna's service in those decades to Ron and Harry as they knew her best then." Gabrielle said. "But the next time I truly saw Luna for longer than a brief moment at family gatherings or public events was during the Principate War. Despite my desire to live here and be a monk, I always knew that I was unfortunately more than I wanted to be due to how the world works and my connections to it. When your sister is the Princess-consort to the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe and your niece the next Chief you become a potential target. That is why, when the Principate attack here, my father who was the Head Abbot at the time told me to flee to the Fire Nation right away."
Gabrielle paused and Harry knew that she was taking a moment to remember all those who had died or been captured when the Western Air Temple fell to James, which had included her own parents. Gabrielle had done the right thing, but it was always hard to know that you survived when others didn't.
"I spent some time there helping in the free northern islands, but my sister wanted me with her and our family." Gabrielle said. "Her husband had been killed in front of his daughter and heir's eyes and I had to be in the North for them. That was when I met up with Luna again. She was there to help as well so I did my part, though she did go to the Northern Air Temple for a bit. It wasn't until after it fell that Luna and I spent more time together. She offered to help with Victoire's recovery after she was gravely injured in in the war. Together we helped get her back on her feet and helped where we could in the Second Siege though I wasn't on the frontlines."
Gabrielle took another breath and Harry knew that as meandering as this was Gabrielle was getting to her final point. No one minded though as the events had been global in nature and Luna was a global person whether she had wanted to be or not.
"In the aftermath of the battle, the cleanup began." Gabrielle said. "But with the Princeps dead and all but one Unique was as well, the only survivor had been captured, so the Principate fell quickly. The moment the Western Air Temple was liberated Remus named Luna Head Abbess and there was no one better than her for the roll. She knew how to run something from her days as First Lady and as Head of Air Temple Island. However, I was surprised when she appointed me to the Council of Elders with special permission from Remus because I was too young at the time."
Harry remembered that. It had been a surprise to all that Luna had requested Gabrielle for the Council as it was rare to go for someone so young, but Luna had wanted someone younger than her who she could trust and who was both from the Temple and had spent her life here to be her final appointee to the Council. Gabrielle was perfect and Luna groomed her for the Head Abbess spot as much as Remus groomed her to be the next Archabbot knowing that regardless of what happened that Gabrielle was likely to succeed her as Head Abbess.
"Since that day until a week ago I worked alongside Luna almost every day and learned so much from her as she mentored me to be a leader." Gabrielle continued. "For over 20 years, through peace and this war, Luna showed me how amazing she was in ways I hadn't realized until then. She was the rightfully elected Archabbot, a position she never wanted but one she deserved, and she should have had a long and peaceful tenure as our leader. That has been taken from us by a man who can't accept that we don't want him to lead us. Luna will always be remembered for her many accomplishments, a great woman who led a noble life seeking to better everyone. You will always be missed my friend."
Gabrielle bowed her head and they all sat there in silence for a moment as her speech came to an end. Gabrielle then looked up to show that the moment was over and that it was time to move on with the ceremony.
"I now turn over to her husband of more than 60 years to tell more about Archabbot Luna from the perspective of the person who knew her best." Gabrielle said as she took a step back and took her seat.
Ron then got up and walked to the speaking spot. Harry could see that he was composed and ready, just as he always was, and it was one of the many things that Luna had always loved about him. She wouldn't want him to cry for her in this moment and Harry knew that he wouldn't.
"Thank you Gabrielle for your touching words, I know Luna would have like them." Ron said with a smile at the Head Abbess. "I know she always saw you as a younger sister and looked out for you so that when the day came for you to succeed her that you would be in the best position you could be. You were and Luna told me as such over the last two years so thank you."
Ron turned back as Harry saw Gabrielle smile and dab her eyes before returning to look at his best friend as he in turn looked at the shrouded figure before him. Harry knew this would be hard for all of them, but they owed it to Luna to properly remember her.
"There is so much to say about my wife, more than either Harry or I could say in our brief speeches about her." Ron began. "She deserves the effort though. After all, what can be said about a woman who played a pivotal role in ending three tyrants and bringing peace to the globe multiple times over."
All this was true, and Harry knew that the gathered crowd knew it. Luna was a member of Team Avatar, she'd been in the thick of the world's problems since Harry's discovery so naturally she'd played a key role, one that Ron would now remind everyone of one more time.
"How can I begin." Ron continued. "Luna is the only airbender to be awarded the Roku Cross, the highest honor of bravery above and beyond the call of duty in service to the Fire Nation for her actions in bringing Hermione to justice. The same with the Kyoshi Medal of Freedom, the Order of Korra First Class, membership in the Clan of the Southern Wolf, and the Northern Star, all the highest awards in their respective nations that Luna has received in her time, but she would hate me for talking about them, so I won't. Instead, I will tell you about the Luna I knew, the woman I have loved for almost all my life."
Ron paused and took a breath to compose himself. Harry knew what was coming and prepared for it, Ron was going to take them back to the very beginning.
"I first met Luna when we were 10 in our first year of the Elemental Academy and from the first time I saw her she intrigued me with how she saw the world." Ron said with a smile. "Those who know Luna know that she was a rather eccentric individual though normal compared to her father but one who didn't see things the way the rest of us do. Even back then she was like that, and I didn't know she'd only recently lost her mother. I just saw a shy little blond girl with some rather strange glasses and odd claims. Those died down over the years as she learned more, but I never did find out what a Nargle was."
There was a chuckle at this. Luna had been very strange when they first met but given her father and the trauma of seeing her mother die when she was 9 it all made sense. Over the years Luna had mellowed out somewhat, though her lack of a filter remained, and she did still hold a few odder beliefs that she'd never been able to shake.
"However, I was a 10-year-old boy, so I never approached her at first." Ron said. "I was the last of my family to attend the academy, well tied with my twin sister Ginny. We were the lowest rung of the Southern Royal Family and already my brothers had a reputation that we had to live up to. Bill had been Head Boy, Charlie a great probending prodigy who decided to become a dragon trainer, Percy was our prefect and two years later Head Boy, and Fred and George were infamous pranksters and entrepreneurs even back then. We were just the last of the family and had nothing to our claim at the time."
Ron took a breath and Harry remembered that well, they had met back then and knew how Ron felt being the youngest brother in the large, successful, Southern Royal Family. Even Ginny had something going for her as she was the only daughter. How things had changed.
"I did have one friend from the start." Ron said with a smile. "A young earthbender prodigy from Omashu who I sat next to on our first day at the Academy. We instantly became friends because we were both already masters in our elements, the only ones in our class, and it was both our first time away from home. Course this was before Harry was revealed to be the Avatar."
Ron paused and Harry could see the surprise on some faces. It was true, that was how they had met, and Harry had become friends with Ron and Ginny long before he'd realized that he was Korra's reincarnation.
"Of course, that was just the start." Ron said. "Over the next few weeks, we got to know people both in and out of our houses due to normal classes and training. That was where Harry and I met Neville in the sword class as he was there to master the Jian sword while I was there to improve my other weapons that the South had yet to teach me, and Harry was learning to use his off hand. At the same time, Ginny properly met Luna. We knew who she was, but it wasn't until Ginny and Luna were in the same class on spirit connection that they met and became fast friends."
Harry took Ginny's hand next to him as she dabbed her eyes. He remembered the day well but decided to let Ron talk about it as once they got together Ron was Luna's rock, so he was the best to give this speech.
"We all knew of Luna of course, who didn't." Ron said. "The more mean-spirited girls called her loony because of her views but Ginny has always had a kind heart and decided to talk to her when they were in class together. Turns out Luna didn't care what others thought of her, she just wanted to be accepted for who she was, and Ginny did that before she introduced her to our little group. I know Neville was a little taken aback by her attitude and Harry was confused but she fascinated me. Luna always had this unique way of seeing the world that no one else could do so I and wanted to learn more about her and how she saw things."
Ron was smiling as he recalled the memory and Harry had to admit it was correct. He had been so confused by the odd little airbender Ginny had brought into the group, but he had accepted her at once. She was who she was and didn't change for anyone or expect them to change for her. Luna accepted people as they were, good or bad, and they did the same with her.
"We became firm friends despite the 5 of us being in different houses, well other than me and Ginny of course." Ron continued. "And by the end of our first year we were inseparable. We even formed a probending team for the competition as we had all the elements represented so why not. We weren't great at first but made it to the semifinals our first year to the surprise of all. We then made it to the finals our second year before winning it every year until graduation after that but that's not what is important now. No, what is was that by the time we won the tournament I knew that I was falling for Luna."
Again Ron took a break to look at Luna's body and Harry saw he was remembering back to those days and drawing strength from it. Spirits know they were young and dumb back then when it came to the feelings within their little group.
"I already knew Ginny had a massive crush on Harry by the end of our second year, we all did." Ron said. "Even I could see it and apparently Harry has bent rocks less dense than me which I believe. I didn't care though. My best friend and my sister would be perfect for each other and them sure were when they finally got together at the end of our third year and still are. Watching them dance around each other had made me realize that I was falling for Luna during my third year. She was, and I am sorry for this terrible pun, a breath of fresh air to me. She was special, unique, and most of all sure of who she was without compromising for anyone."
Ron's smile was sad and fond at the same time. Harry recalled how they'd been back then when he had realized he liked Ginny but didn't know how to tell her and she didn't know how to tell him until they just did at the end of third year at the same time. Ron and Luna were a little different.
"I had a crush, and I knew it." Ron said. "And so did Ginny and Harry, they made sure I never forgot it. What they, or no one else told me, was that Luna had a massive crush on me at the same time because I was the first person to truly see her for who she was and embrace it as part of what made her special. That and other factors that I won't say."
This caused another round of laughter from the room at Ron's words. Luna did love Ron for who he was and how he always understood and accepted her no matter what she said or believed. The other stuff was, to Luna, just a bonus.
"In hindsight it was rather obvious so I can see why my friends thought I was dense." Ron said with a chuckle of his own. "And I was. Luna has always been blunt and open, too much so for her own good at times as many of you well know, and I just couldn't accept that a girl like her could like me back like that. Then, after Harry was revealed to be the Avatar much to our shock, and after an attempt to kidnap him was thwarted by us in our first real act as Team Avatar, Luna finally put me out of my misery. She'd just created a new move and incapacitated Rookwood and fell into my arms. She kissed me for my actions and well we were together from that day on."
Ron took a moment and Harry briefly went back to that battle with the four wanted Death Eaters. It was the first time they had faced any threat and they handled it well and caught the Death Eaters. How much simpler things had been back then.
"I won't go into the events of the Second Purity War, though that was the first and only time Luna crossed paths with Pansy before Pansy murdered her." Ron said. "They are well documented, and I know that Luna never forgot the horrors she saw during the Battle of the Elemental Academy, none of us did, but she got it worst. It was thanks to that battle though that Luna decided to dedicate her life to helping others and to preserving peace in our world."
Harry knew what Ron was talking about. The Battle of the Elemental Academy had been their first full scale battle and the horrors of it stuck with them, but Luna had seen the worst of them while defending the Air House when she came across Fenrir during it. She did what was right, but Harry knew that she'd been haunted by that sight for years.
"The rest of our time at the Academy was relatively normal." Ron said. "We were a normal couple, our bending team won, I was a Pai Sho master, and of course we helped clean up the Purist remnants when we had the time to do so. Luna was going down a path that led her to working in human/spirit relations while I was destined for the RCPD, so we were staying in the United Republic. Of course, the dark cloud of the Fire Utopia and the horrors that Hermione was inflicting upon her own nation at the time always loomed over us during that period. That was why we had to do something about it when the last of the Purists had been dealt with."
Ron took another moment. The 5 years between Harry's victory over Voldemort and his ending of Hermione were years that still haunted all of them because of how much suffering Hermione had caused in that time that they hadn't been able to stop. It was a failure that Harry still bore to this day, one of his greatest along with his failure to see the dark path his eldest son walked until it was too late.
"Finally, though, we got desperate, and the Purist mess was cleaned up, so Harry devised a plan to use an asset we'd made during the Second Purity War, and his own sense of self preservation, to take down Hermione." Ron continued bringing Harry's attention back to the situation at hand. "It was the right call and one we don't regret. One thing was certain though, the mission was going to be dangerous as it would be just the 5 of us behind enemy lines for months as we tried to take down a ruthless tyrant. That was why both Harry and I knew that it was time. I had been with Luna for 8 years by then and we may die in the Fire Nation, I loved her, so I had it made."
Ron paused and looked at Luna's body and Harry knew what he was looking at. Luna still wore it even in death, she never took it off unless absolutely necessary because it had meant that much to her as it was the betrothal necklace that Ron had given her.
"Well actually I had it made several months prior I was just waiting for the right moment." Ron said with a sheepish look. "And then Harry beat me in Ba Sing Se before we collected Pyrites, so I had to do it as well. I waited until we were here, partly because it was her home Temple and partly to tell her dad that I was going to propose. I never did get a straight answer out of Xenophilius but then again anyone who knew him knew that you couldn't get one no matter how innocuous the question was. Still, I am sure I got his blessing and so I presented the necklace to her was atop the cliff before we left for the Fire Nation, and it is a night I will never forget because Luna said yes to marrying me."
Ron again took a moment and Harry knew he was thinking back on that night. Hopefully only to the proposal part but, well, they had heard Luna from the Temple that night as she'd been very loud and enthusiastic, more so than usual given what had happened.
"Thankfully we survived the Fire Nation liberation, though both Luna and Ginny were injured in various events during it." Ron said. "And as Gabrielle mentioned, we were married almost 2 years after Hermione's defeat. For decades after that we had a happy and good life. Luna gave me 4 wonderful children and was a doating mother and teacher, while I did my best and kept climbing at the RCPD. For over 20 years we had peace as we raised a family and made a life for ourselves in Republic City. Of course, there was a little blip coming up."
Ron again paused and Harry knew what was coming, well two things. Luna had been there for it all and Harry knew she played a key role in one of them.
"I didn't expect things to happen together, but I should have seen it coming in hindsight as we were due for something like that." Ron said. "I had been named Chief of Police by President Shacklebolt some years prior and honestly expected to do my job and help the world as part of Team Avatar until it was time to retire. There were some minor things to deal with, Chosen to catch, and a crisis in South over succession that I got roped into at times despite being really low in the line by that point. All that was normal, and Luna was there for me if I needed her but then Shacklebolt announced he wasn't running again."
This was it, the end of the peace. Harry knew that not much other than catching criminals and maintaining the peace had been going on then but Shackelbolt's retirement had started some change that led to the brief issue of the day.
"At first it seemed like the successor would be Oliver or maybe Cho but then two nonbenders with polarizing views came to the front and took over the election." Ron said. "That was when Shacklebolt came to me and asked me to run. I was hesitant at first, but it was Luna who made me see reason in her usual blunt way. She pointed out that I was the only one who could win over either of the polarizing candidates and keep the peace. Harry agreed and when Luna said she was fine being First Lady and quitting her work for me I accepted and ran. Without her by my side I wouldn't have run, nor would I have won."
Ron paused again. Harry was uncertain what he was going to say regarding the Unholy Triumvirate but likely it was something though the role that Luna had played in that situation had been minimal at best.
"It was also around the time that the last two Enlightened and the last true Purist combined forces to take out the Avatar." Ron said. "Luna naturally was with us when we went to try and catch Leach, Myrtle and Cresswell thanks to a tip though that failed, and she was with us as we investigated Johannes to confirm he was the Water Enlightened when he emerged as a suspect. Though she wasn't on the frontlines when we confront the Triumvirate, she was there for support and helped where she could. Thankfully, we dealt with them without a major crisis and minimum loss of life thus preserving the peace that had existed since Hermione's defeat."
Now came the big thing, the Principate War. This was the hardest for all of them given who was behind it, but Harry knew that Ron was going to plow through it regardless.
"The Unholy Triumvirate were but a blip though, nothing but three lunatics from a forgotten time out for revenge." Ron said. "But we had no idea what was on the horizon. The 17 years of peace was great, and I did my part, but we should have seen the signs of what was to come. James's crimes shortly after my third term began were bad but we thought they were isolated. Even when Luna helped catch the rogue airbender Arncliffe right before I finished my final term it looked like we'd have peace. That meant that I could retire, and Luna agreed. I had done 3 terms and it was time to let the next generation take over and for Luna to rise up as I took a back seat at last."
Ron again took a moment. This was the slight shift where Luna ended up on her path to the Archabbot position and what had happened but back then none of them could have seen what had been about to come.
"I retired and almost as soon as I was out of office Archabbot Filius offered Luna the Head Abbess spot on Air Temple Island." Ron said. "She was actually too young for the role, but Filius made an exception as it was Air Temple Island, and no one complained that Luna was taking the position. I had retired though I was still an instructor to any who needed it and our kids were all grown up and doing their own things so I could relax and let Luna shine the way she had done for me for 15 years as First Lady. We expected peace, maybe Luna becoming Head Abbess of the Western Air Temple when it was time, but that was it. We didn't expect the Princeps and what he brought with him."
Again Ron paused and there was a moment of silence, this time for the memory of the Global Coup. That had been a bad day for all and deserved the respect of remembering those murdered that day.
"It was a normal day until the explosions went off." Ron said with a sigh when it was time to continue. "I hadn't had a fight in years, but it was still there and when we encountered Arncliffe's astral projection and her unit I did just that to give Luna the time to get Neville and the others from the Academy before meeting up at the Spirit Portal. It wasn't the only time she'd be the evacuation for me, she did that during the Assault on the Northern Air Temple as well, and she did it as well as she could despite the losses and sacrifices that day."
Ron pause and they all took a moment to remember the war. Many present had been around when it had happened and knew the horrors of it though not all had served in the battles.
"The Principate War is still fresh in our minds, so I won't go into it as we all had close losses in it." Ron said the sadness clear in his voice. "I will only say one thing about it, it was Luna who took Harry to the Princeps's airship and allowed Harry to end the war despite the Second Siege raging all around them. That was just who Luna was. After the war she helped with all the relief efforts and reestablishing peace in a war-ravaged world. She was already going to be the Head Abbess here and many of you know how well she did at that. It is in part thanks to Luna that we had another long period of peace."
They all knew that it was true. While Harry and Ron had been fighting to end it, it was people like Luna and Ginny who had led the relief efforts that had preserved the peace. Their compassion and experience had been vital in limiting the bloodshed after James's death.
"We should have seen something coming after more peace following the Principate War but the chances of what this war is about and who started it were beyond what anyone could have predicted." Ron said. "It was why we returned to our peace and enjoyed it. Luna was going to be the next Archabbot; it was just a matter of time, and everyone knew it. Of course, the moment Ekrizdis revealed himself things changed. Remus's sudden death was too coincidental for many and Luna had to take over when she was needed the most. Alas, despite wanting peace, Ekrizdis refused it and chose war."
Ron stopped and Harry knew that he was coming to the end of his speech. Ron had said a lot and Harry knew there was little he could add, which was good as he didn't know what more was needed after all that had already been said.
"Luna loved peace and hated conflict." Ron said. "Unlike Ekrizdis, she did honor the peaceful and pacifistic ways of the Air Nomads of old, to the best of her abilities in the modern, connected world we live in."
That was true and was what made all this so hard. Luna was a creature of peace and prosperity so for her to reign in a time of war and meet such a violent end was something she hadn't deserved.
"In her whole life, Luna recorded 5 confirmed kills and all in the Battle of the Elemental Academy." Ron continued. "As a member of Team Avatar and a veteran of all the major conflicts until now that is unprecedented and shows just how amazing she was. The rest of us in the Team have eclipsed that number in a single engagement on multiple occasions showing that she was the best of us. That is why it is such a travesty that her entire tenure as Archabbot was during war and division within the nation she loved so much that she gave her life for it in the end before it could be healed."
Ron swallowed and took a shaky breath and Harry knew that this was the end of the speech. Ron was done and Harry would just wrap it all up, there was little more that needed to be said about someone as amazing as Luna before she was finally laid to rest.
"Luna didn't deserve any of this, none of the fallen in this war did." Ron said. "But she knew her duty and did it to the very end, all any of us can do is emulate her as best as possible and bring this war to a close quickly now that we can bring the full weight of the world to bear against those who murdered Luna and countless others recently. Goodbye Luna, I will always love you and your life will be remembered by the world for generations to come."
With that Ron ended and after a brief pause returned to his seat. Harry rose and embraced his best friend before he sat and his children came to be with him, as did Ginny in this time of need. Harry just walked back to the speaker's spot.
"Thank you Ron for remembering Luna the way she would have wanted to be remembered." Harry said. "There really isn't much else for me to add after that. Luna was one of my best friends and family to me long before she married my wife's brother and actually became family. She was a valued member of Team Avatar and my first airbending instructor. She lived a long, great, life that impacted countless people all over the world with her good heart and kindness. She will be missed."
Harry took a breath and paused for a moment. He didn't have anything more to say, he just felt that Luna deserved a final moment before he closed the ceremony, and they began to move on with the war.
"That is all I really have to add to what Ron said which means that the funeral is over." Harry said when he was ready. "Due to the war the Conclave will begin right away so if the 5 electors could head to the Council chamber as soon as possible, we can make sure that all those who have died so far didn't do so in vain. Anyone needing any last moments please take them now as Luna's family will take her to her final resting place tonight. Thank you for coming and honoring not just Luna but all who have died in this needless war."
Harry was done and he turned to rejoin his wife, best friend, and their family. He would stay with them and help them with the preparations while Conclave was going on, the electors having already left the moment Harry was done speaking, but then he had his duty. He'd see at least Ron and Ginny again soon, but once the new Archabbot was chosen, they would head to the United Republic for the meeting there. It was time to finally end this war and make sure that Ekrizdis paid for all he done.
Well, there it is, the funeral for Luna and a chance to remember her long life in a way Neville or the others during the Principate War got. Next up is of course the coming Conclave to replace Luna with a new Archabbot and that will be end the post Battle of the West arc before we move onto the penultimate arc of the final book in this long series. That is all I have however so I will leave this chapter here. As always any questions in PMs or reviews will be answered before the start of the next chapter (as well as replied to if possible). Please follow, favorite and review, all are greatly appreciated. Until next week.
Stringdog