"Ming, can you make this thing go faster?"
"I'm driving as fast as I can without risking the jeep to flip over. These aren't Republic City's paved streets you know!"
Kuvira arched an eyebrow at the chauffeur's cheeky response. But instead of lashing out, she instead bit her lip, fuming inwardly. He was right, of course. To hurry, they had chosen the straightest route, which meant traversing seldom-used rural roads and rickety bridges that hadn't seen proper maintenance decades ago. Kuvira's increasing frustration was making it harder and harder for her to keep a composed disposition. Not when she should have been ready to march down the aisle in less than an hour.
"Of all the days, of all the fucking days, this had to happen today. What the hell was I thinking?"
"C'mon boss, don't be so hard on yourself. Nobody could have expected this," Amir dared to observe. He had kept his mouth tightly shut since he witnessed how his superior officer almost ripped the Maglev tracks off the ground when she realized what it meant for her plans.
"I shouldn't have accepted the invitation. I know it meant disappointing children but what other options did I have? Instead of being stranded in the middle of nowhere, I should be at Ba Sing Se right now preparing for my wedding!"
"Kuvira, your future wife was the one who told you to go. You wanted to stay, remember?" calmly reminded Baatar.
"And now you know why. I had a premonition something bad was about to happen. I should have stood my ground. I knew this was a bad idea," the metalbender grumbled, between clenched teeth.
"You won't solve anything by punishing yourself like this. We've done everything we could under the circumstances. Now, let Ming drive and allow me to fix this transmitter so we can report our location. If we head towards the nearest airship port, I could ask for an airship to rendezvous with us at that location."
"No. Requesting an airship and have it prepped for takeoff will only steal precious time. If we change course towards the nearest port, it would mean adding an extra hour to our already tight schedule," Kuvira retorted, as she traced with her index finger their present route. She bit her lip, her narrowed eyes switching between the map and her wristwatch. Suddenly, her face brightened.
"I have a better idea," she announced. "Do you think you can send a message when we get some connection once we leave behind this forest? There's a valley ahead. We should get better reception there," Kuvira added, as she searched for a pen and paper in the glove compartment.
"I can try. It's better than nothing," sighed Baatar as he snipped some wires. "I can encode it in Morse to make it shorter. What do you want me to say?"
"Here," Kuvira finished scribbling. "Send this exactly as it is written."
Baatar adjusted his glasses as he read the note. Like most of Kuvira's solutions, it was simple yet efficient and it went straight to the point, just like he liked it. He smiled inwardly.
"So, what do you think?" she inquired expectantly.
He cracked his knuckles as he picked up his pliers
"That you'd better save me a dance because we'll do this."
It was a most auspicious day for a wedding in Ba Sing Se. Years of strife and struggle seemed like a thing of a distant past as the city that once teetered on the edge of collapse came together to rejoice in the celebration of what was dubbed by many as the wedding of the decade. A holiday for the momentous occasion was declared and a festive mood permeated throughout the walled metropolis, as citizens of all walks of life prepared to witness the union between the United Earth Province's president and Republic City's most prominent titan of industry. Paper cuttings and fine silken banners could be spotted everywhere from house doors to storefronts to public buildings, with messages of prosperity and good omens from a grateful nation scribed in the finest calligraphy. From the most humble neighborhoods at the Lower Ring to the Upper Ring's most exclusive districts, people gathered around radio sets to listen to the ceremony. Inns and hotels were packed to the brim with visitors, and from every corner, the city bustled with jubilant energy rarely seen since, perhaps, the end of the Hundred Year War.
As the city came together as one in celebration, a woman paced alone in a discreet room. Notes of jubilant music played in the distance could be heard, but concern hung in the downward turn of the woman's lips. Her eyes fell over a square jade clock and she grimaced. She wrung her hands nervously before reading for the umpteenth time the message that had been rushed to her almost three hours ago.
"A mudslide damaged the Maglev tracks on our way from Dong Zhi. Kuvira cleared the way, but the tracks were damaged beyond immediate repair. We're now traveling by jeep. ETA to Ba Sing Se: 3 hrs. Tell Opal to ready her Air Bison for our arrival. Baatar."
Asami brought the note over her chest as she recited the last sentence, the words already branded on her memory:
"PS, I swear I won't let you down. Love, Veera."
The last line made Asami's heart beat faster, sensing Kuvira's conviction distilled in every syllable. She was still pondering on her fiancee's words when a knock on the door pulled her out of her introspection.
"Sami, it's me, Korra. May I come in?"
The door opened, and the Avatar couldn't suppress the admiring gasp that escaped her lips. The last time she had checked on Asami, she was still wearing a robe. Half an hour ago, Asami had been surrounded by a small contingent of hairdressers and stylists that took over the room to work on the bride's hair and makeup, so Korra allowed them the space to operate. Now that she was back, the Asami that was in front of her was impeccably dressed in her mother's bridal gown, a crimson silk qipao embroidered with a delicate pattern of cherry blossoms. The twin slits at each leg and a long train completed the stunning vision. Asami's statuesque figure, made even taller by matching high-heeled shoes, served as the perfect showcase for the exquisite dress. Her back was exposed by a low cut that plunged just above the waist. Asami's abundant raven-black hair was arranged up with a pin made of a string of white pearls. Shimmering ruby earrings and a bracelet with a stylized motif of the Future Industries logo provided the subtle last touches to the ensemble.
"Blessed be Yangchen. Asami, you look simply breathtaking!" Korra exclaimed.
"Thank you," Asami smiled despite her nerves.
"I just wanted to let you know Opal is outside the city walls and is waiting for Kuvira's party. They will let us know the moment they arrive. The local police have already been posted to escort them as soon as they spot the jeep. They should be soon within radio range too. The comm room notified they attempted radio contact again after the last message but the signal was too weak and it got cut off before we could confirm it was them."
"It should be them. Almost three hours have gone by already."
"That's why you should get ready as planned. Hiroshi is waiting for you at the temple, along with Tenzin and the others. Suyin is staying back to help prepare Kuvira when she arrives," Korra stated.
"She must hate every second of this. She loathes not having control over things," Asami observed.
"If I were in her shoes, I'd be frantic. I think I understand how she must feel right now."
"This is all my fault, you know," Asami lamented. "I convinced her to go to that inauguration. She had her reservations, but I told her she had enough time to make it back. Besides, how could we say no when it was the kids who planned everything? We just couldn't disappoint them after all their hard work." The public provincial school system was one of the flagship projects of Kuvira's government, and both women felt immensely proud of it. The school that Kuvira visited was located in a remote rural community, where education had been an impossible luxury until now. When the news of the nuptials was announced, the children sent an emotive congratulatory banner, along with an invitation, so they could witness the success of the school first hand. Asami had been so touched by the gesture that she finally persuaded her fiancé to go.
"Asami, neither of you could have expected that a freak storm would end up unleashing a destructive mudslide. It was a fortunate coincidence that Kuvira was there at the right moment to stop it before it reached the populated areas. She did the right thing, and you'll see that soon she'll make it, and we will have ourselves a wedding."
"Korra, I don't know what I would do without you."
"You did well during the three years I was away," Korra observed. Asami sensed a hint of melancholy lacing her words. Both were painfully aware of the things left unsaid, for their friendship's sake, the feelings that could have become something else. None of that mattered now. While Korra recovered, life moved on as did her friends, especially Asami. But the question would remain a thorn on their sides, haunting them forever.
Korra caught a slight tremble in Asami's mouth. Her left hand reached for her opposite upper arm as if looking for support. Her eyes darted around the room, refusing to meet Korra's intense gaze. Korra perceived the change of mood and the subtle tension, and then it dawned upon her.
"What am I doing?" she recriminated herself inwardly, wishing she could kick herself mentally. She had no right to make her best friend feel uncomfortable and regretful of what could've been but wasn't between them. Nothing and no one would tarnish Asami's special day. Especially her.
"Anyway," Korra exclaimed, breaking the silence. "You owe us a dinner. You lost the bet, remember?" she reminded as she playfully elbowed Asami.
Asami stood pensively for a moment before chuckling. "Spirits, I had completely forgotten about that! We all thought Bolin was going to be the first one."
"Your example might finally give him the courage to finally propose to Opal."
"Don't you mean to gather the courage to face Su?"
Both friends exchanged a knowing look and laughed.
"Yeah, you're right. He's been ready to talk to Opal for a long time, but that also means telling Suyin. He finds her a bit intimidating."
"He's not wrong though. I think I'll talk with him after I come back from the honeymoon."
"I think he'll be most grateful about that, he's…"
Before Korra could continue, the door opened wide open with a slam and as if summoned, Bolin rushed towards Asami.
"They're coming!" Bolin exclaimed, shaking Asami by the shoulders. "The jeep was spotted outside the city and Opal is flying to pick up Kuvira."
Korra's mouth curved into a grin. "You know what that means."
"I do," she said. Determination was etched on her face. Asami closed her eyes. She let out a long sigh as she glanced at her reflection in front of the mirror. As if in cue, Korra and Bolin came close, and the friends came together in an effusive hug.
"Are you ready?" Korra inquired as she pushed back a loose tendril from Asami's forehead.
Asami replied without hesitation:
"I am."
Surprised gasps erupted from both women as they found each other embraced again by a very excited Bolin.
"Nnghh, Asami's getting married! This is so exciting and you look so beautiful and I'm getting all emotional now! You know, I packed my pockets with extra handkerchiefs. I just know Pabu and I will cry during the whole ceremony."
"Bo, don't you dare to cry now because then I will cry too and my makeup is going to get all messed up," Asami warned.
"Guys, we'd better hurry. Let's go!" Korra urged.
And as Team Avatar left the room and made their way towards the palace temple, the voice of Bolin rippled down the long corridor:
"It's showtime!"
While Asami was making her entrance to the temple, in another room, Kuvira observed from the corner of her eye how several pairs of hands worked around her with dizzying precision. The room was like a beehive, abuzz with frantic activity, and Kuvira was in its apex.
Immediately after Opal's Air Bison, Juicy, landed outside the palace grounds, Kuvira had rushed her way inside, bending the doors wide open with the airbender trailing close behind. When she finally reached the room assigned for her to change, she was immediately swarmed by an eager contingent of aides led by Zaofu's founder, Suyin Beifong.
"Su, what's the meaning of this?" the metalbender protested when she felt herself being literally stripped off her traveling clothes and led to the bathroom before she could even register what was happening.
"What do you think it is? Silly girl, we're going to make you look presentable!" Su replied in an irritated tone as if what she had been asked was the most obvious thing in the world. "Opal dear, would you get us some jasmine tea? I believe the bride is a tad nervous."
Opal chuckled as she directed a pitying glance at Kuvira before departing to comply with her errand.
"I'm not ner...nevermind. Just do what you have to do. I need to look good," Kuvira sighed, wincing as she sat in a large bathtub filled with hot water to the brim.
"And you will," Suyin affirmed confidently with a flourish of her hand. "We're going to make you look so beautiful, Asami is going to faint. Just leave everything to me." And without losing a beat, Suyin began imparting instructions to the staff.
After the bath, the metalbender put herself at the mercy of the army of seamstresses, hairdressers, and aides who waged a battle against time to prepare the leader of the nation for her nuptials.
Kuvira usually thrived on stressful situations but this was different. She felt oddly self-conscious, every minute detail of her appearance was assessed until deemed acceptable to Su's standards.
"Well, no one will suspect we did this in record time," the matriarch declared. "It would have been better if you could have gotten the spa treatment I had planned, but it is what it is."
"The things we do for love," Kuvira muttered, resignedly.
"Believe me, this is just the beginning, but that's something you will soon find out for yourself."
"Tell me Su, what's the secret?"
"The secret to what?" Suyin took a small sip from her teacup.
"To a good marriage. You and Baatar have been together for a long time, so obviously you must have mastered it."
An amiable smile tugged at Suyin's lips as she put her cup down.
"Kuvira, there is no big secret. What has allowed me and Baatar to enjoy a good, long-lasting marriage is what I've noticed you and Asami already have."
"And what is that?"
"Trust, respect, commitment, good communication, and of course, love."
Kuvira's immediate reaction was to stare at Suyin with incredulity that soon gave way to bewilderment. "Is it really this simple?" she questioned herself inwardly. The matriarch let out a chuckle at her reaction.
"I believe you were expecting a deep, philosophical explanation, but after all these years, these are the things that have provided my marriage with a strong foundation."
The metalbender stood pensive for a moment, allowing for the meaning of Su's words to sink in. They became a soothing balm to the bout of self-doubt that momentarily stirred inside her heart.
"It's okay to be nervous. Don't feel bad about questioning yourself because it is completely normal, but you know what? You've already proven you have what it takes to make your marriage work. Both of you committed to each other despite all the challenges. Do you realize how hard it is to make a long-distance relationship work? And yet, you succeeded."
"I just don't want to disappoint her. She means so much to me, you know…"
"You can't expect perfection. No one is perfect. In a healthy relationship, you will have good days, and you will have bad ones too. But you know what? In the end, you will still have each other, and that's all that matters."
Kuvira let out a long exhale. "You're right. I'm worrying too much."
"That's okay. You don't get married every day. Speaking of which, you should take a look at yourself."
Kuvira offered Su a quizzical glance, and the matriarch pointed at the mirror.
"Wow, you outdid yourself, Su," she exclaimed, visibly impressed by the result. She almost didn't recognize herself in the figure-hugging emerald dress.
Suyin moved behind the metalbender, resting her hands over her shoulders."Not me, us. The team deserves most of the credit. I just helped them to sort things out a bit."
"I think we're done then. We should get going."
"Not yet, here, let me put this on," Suyin retorted, her right hand moving gracefully as she bent an object towards her palm.
"What's that?"
"Your family token. It is tradition to exchange family heirlooms with your partner in the ceremony."
"I know. I had one made with the traditional Earth Kingdom symbol," Kuvira replied somewhat confused.
"I know, but this one represents your family…" Suyin smiled as she affixed a silver and green-hued brooch with the Beifong's winged boar on Kuvira's qipao. It also featured the Earth Kingdom logo in the background. Kuvira felt a lump form in her throat.
"Su, this is lovely," her voice trembled.
The matriarch smoothed a wrinkle over Kuvira's dress. "We might not be blood and we might have had our struggles in the past, but I want you to know I'm really proud of you, and the rest of the family, and I wish you and Asami a life together filled with love and prosperity."
Kuvira looked at her reflection again, her fingers tracing the exquisitely crafted broach. She took a deep breath as she attempted to hold back the tears about to escape her eyes.
"I don't know what to say," Kuvira admitted.
Suyin brought her in for a quick embrace. "A simple thank you should be enough, but right now we should get going. Baatar must be a nervous wreck right now."
"Right," the metalbender nodded when all of a sudden, she let out a startled yelp. Her eyebrows furrowed deeply as she began searching the pockets of the jacket she had been wearing under Suyin's perplexed gaze.
"I almost forgot this," she clarified, holding up a small envelope in front of her.
"Let's go then, your bride awaits."
After months of enraptured anticipation and speculation, the wait was finally over. The unexpected crisis that filled the last few hours with heart-stopping uncertainty dissolved with the arrival of Kuvira to the temple in the company of Baatar Sr. and Suyin Beifong. Tension melted away from Asami's face the instant she made eye contact with Kuvira. An audible sigh of relief escaped her lips, a gesture mimicked by her father at her side. She turned around, seeking the answer to the question she posited in silence. Hiroshi rested his hands over her shoulders reassuringly and with a smile, nodded in approval.
Asami walked two steps away from her father, her gaze now locking with Kuvira's who stood with the Beifongs at the door. Without hesitation, the metalbender rushed to her side and the temple erupted in spontaneous applause when the couple met in an embrace. When they pulled apart, Asami took a moment to appraise her partner. Her eyes shimmered as she took in a most unusual sight of Kuvira in an elegant dress that accentuated every inch of the metalbender's sculpted figure. The rich emerald hue of her qipao highlighted the deep green of her eyes, and Asami agreed wholeheartedly on the subtle touch of color on her lips that drew attention to her firm jawline.
Kuvira seemed literally entranced by Asami. She had seen pictures of the dress but that fact hadn't prepared her for what she was witnessing now, and she had to consciously refrain from gawking. They would have probably stood there just contemplating each other hadn't Baatar Jr. and the twins cleared their throats in a not so subtle manner to catch their attention. After a brief verbal exchange that made Kuvira's eyebrows arch noticeably, the brides walked down the aisle side by side with an assured stride. Happy smiles perched their lips, a hint of crimson coloring on their cheeks, their fingers subtly brushing on the way towards the raised dais where Hiroshi, Baatar Sr., and Suyin waited. Tenzin was to officiate the ceremony in the custom of the Air Nomads. Korra was at his side, dressed in her formal Southern Water Tribe attire. This was going to be her first official act as Avatar in a wedding and she couldn't be happier that it was for her best friend.
Everything was set up for the traditional nuptial rites. A low table was placed at the center facing the platform with cushions at each side. An exquisitely crafted porcelain teapot with matching cups had been placed over the table. Tenzin approached the couple and both women took a bow towards him and then towards their respective relatives.
"Welcome, everyone to this most auspicious day. We will start with the traditional ceremony of the tea," announced Tenzin.
Asami and Kuvira took their places at the table facing each other, kneeling with their legs folded underneath. After Suyin prepared the tea, with the assistance of Korra and a touch of her firebending, both Hiroshi and Baatar offered a cup to each bride. They took one sip and as tradition established, they offered their cups to each other as Tenzin began a not so brief explanation of the origin of the ceremony and its meaning to the Air Nomads over the centuries. Kuvira yawned and a panicked look crossed Asami's face. The beverage had gone lukewarm. Upon a quick glance at the scroll the master airbender was reading, Korra realized he was barely halfway through his lecture. Uttering an apology to Aang and the other avatars under her breath, Korra flicked her wrist behind her back. A sudden wind gust blew and the parchment flew away from Tenzin's hands, cutting his speech short. The master airbender yelped in panic when he realized it had fallen near the array of votive candles, but he managed to save it from its demise with a quick feat of airbending.
"I think we should move forward with the family heirlooms exchange," suggested Korra with a seemingly innocent smirk. Tenzin's left eye twitched as he put the precious parchment away.
"I agree," he muttered and the audience let out a relieved sigh in unison, making Tenzin's eye spasm even more noticeably.
The couple stood up facing each other. Asami placed her bracelet on Kuvira's forearm and Kuvira pinned her brooch on her dress. The sight of the winged boar elicited a tender smile to curve on her lips, the profound significance of Kuvira wearing the Beifong family symbol dawning upon her.
"And now is the exchange of vows. Asami has requested to say hers first," announced Tenzin solemnly.
Hiroshi approached his daughter, and after a brief embrace, he put a paper on her hands.
"This, Kuvira," she began, her voice drenched with emotion, "is the prayer that my parents recited to each other on their wedding day. Let this be my promise to you."
Stepping forward, she clasped Kuvira's hand tightly as she began to read:
Let us vow to bear witness to the wholeness of life,
realizing the completeness of each and every thing.
Embracing our differences,
I shall know myself as you,
and you as myself.
May we serve each other
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere.
Let us vow to open ourselves to the abundance of life.
Freely giving and receiving, I shall care for you,
for the trees and stars,
as treasures of my very own.
May we be grateful
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere.
Let us vow to forgive all hurt,
caused by ourselves and others,
and to never condone hurtful ways.
Being responsible for my actions,
I shall free myself and you.
Will you free me, too?
May we be kind
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere.
Let us vow to remember that all that appears will disappear.
In the midst of uncertainty,
I shall sow love.
Here! Now! I call to you:
Let us together live
The Great Peace that we are.
May we give no fear
for all our days,
here, there, and everywhere.
Kuvira's eyes moistened as she lifted their linked hands and brushed her lips over Asami's knuckles. The engineer's eyes were also brimming with tears of joy, but the sound of someone blowing their nose rather loudly unexpectedly cut the moment short, interrupting the solemn and emotive moment.
"I'm sorry, it's just that this is so beautiful!" exclaimed Bolin as he bawled against Opal's shoulder, making Pabu chirp in protest as he sought refuge on her lap. The airbender shrugged, embarrassed, and both Kuvira and Asami chuckled along with Korra. Tenzin rolled his eyes as he uttered a long sigh.
"Go on, I'll be fine," the lavabender urged between hiccups and a melodramatic gesture.
"Kuvira, your turn," reminded Korra when she finally regained her composure. Suyin offered the metalbender the envelope she had left in her care.
"I don't have a prayer as eloquent as Asami's," Kuvira declared as she cleared her throat. "I wanted something special that could convey my feelings, so I wrote this poem."
"The best thing to happen to me," Kuvira affirmed as she locked glances with her bride. Her characteristic alto, rich and vibrant, successfully commanded the attention of everyone gathered at the temple.
One glimpse of you,
A desire to pursue.
Green-eyed cocktail,
Leaving a raven trail.
The untouchable heir,
Walked into my lair.
An opportunity, unique,
A chance to speak.
You shone so bright,
Enlightening the night.
A figure, like a prayer,
Lips, to shiver.
This first nightfall,
Led to my downfall.
Each day, yearning,
Our flame, ever-growing.
From brilliant partner,
To attentionate lover,
You are my tower,
My light forever.
Time swiftly flew,
My love to you, I renew.
My devotion, undying,
You are my eternal blessing.
I love you
Asami stared at Kuvira, awestruck. For a moment, she feared her chest would burst wide open, that her heart would be incapable of containing the joy that moved her to the tears she could no longer hold back. Through her poem, she could feel how Kuvira's love engulfed her with a pure, warm light that made her spirit soar. After all these years together, the ironclad certainty of Kuvira's feelings towards her still amazed her, and it made her love for her grow stronger every day.
Kuvira was now staring at her with bated breath.
"So, what do you think?" she queried cautiously as she wrung her hands.
Asami threw her arms around Kuvira's neck, their closeness allowing her to sense how the metalbender's body relaxed against her.
"You're such a dork. What else would I think? I love it!" Asami whispered against her ear. "But not as much as I love you."
"I love you too," Kuvira replied softly as she rested her forehead against Asami's.
Korra approached the couple as she finished drying her tears with one of Bolin's handy handkerchiefs. Expectation hung in the air like an electric current. A big smile brightening her face as she readied to say what everyone in attendance, but especially the brides, waited to hear.
"When Asami and Kuvira asked me to bless their wedding, I couldn't be happier. I'm deeply honored to fulfill one of the most important and gratifying roles for an Avatar. This is my first time doing so and the occasion is even more memorable because it is for a person who is very special to me."
Korra bowed her head as she clasped their hands.
"So, to you Asami, my best friend, and you Kuvira, the woman she's chosen as her wife and life companion, may Raava forever fill your lives with love and happiness, and may you serve as a balance to each other as it is my call to bring balance to the world." Upon saying this, Korra brought their hands together and proclaimed:
"I, Avatar Korra, am honored to introduce Asami and Kuvira as wife and wife."
And as she leaned towards Asami, Korra added with a sheepish grin and a wink:
"You may kiss the bride now."
And kissed they did under a rousing round of applause and cheers from the guests.
To be continued...