A/N: It's part two of the chapter and Jen LuXian meets Aang and Katara's kids and grandkids.
Chapter Five – The Forthcoming (2):
"I'm glad you are faring well, after what happened in the South Pole." Master Tenzin, the only airbending master in the world said, sitting at the head of the wide-squared table. The central house was full of people, with the beige and peach coloured walls, and the thick rectangular windows had spirals patterned all over, with dark blue calligraphic art. It was kind of Master Tenzin to invite Jen LuXian and his retinue to stay on the island and only invite him personally to have tea with his family.
Young Master Jen was sitting there, surrounded by familiar faces, during his two-year tenure in the Southern Water Tribe. The man's inner robes was a light green, his outer robes were forest green with alabaster white flowery patterns all over the cloth, his boots were black with silver decorative detailing on the shoes. Jen LuXian was a nobleman and dressed for his status, a folding fan was in his hand, whilst surrounded by the adult children of Avatar Aang and Master Katara. He wasn't daunted as other people would be, because he ran in similar circles, when he was a teenager, meeting other young masters and ladies in Omashu. Times were great, when Jen LuXian was still the earthbending prodigy on the rise; he never made the enemies he made and was still being praised for being gifted, despite his parents being dead and him being a lonely boy.
On the young master's left side was Master Tenzin's sister Kya, a renowned waterbending master and healer, who looked traditional water tribe, with the exception of her silvery ponytail. On her neck was a crescent decorated betrothal necklace, which indicated the being engaged or married to someone from the Northern Water Tribe, as it's symbol was the moon. Jen LuXian had seen Master Kya around the south pole and he found her an exquisite woman of unorthodox wisdom, due to her carefree lifestyle of travelling the world and taking care of her mother. He had a tinge of envy of who was going to be, or was Master Kya's spouse because she was a caring woman, who had a soft spot for children and a strong sense of esteem in herself and others.
Jen LuXian was also in the company of the airbending master's older brother Commander Bumi, who was retired from the United Forces, by the darkened maroon jacket he wore. Unlike his brother and sister, the senior commander looked a mixture between Air Nomad and Water Tribe descent, with a wolfish beard around his face. His personality was over-exuberant to the point Jen LuXian considered him mad. The man wondered, if the former officer's decades in the military had damaged the older man to the point, of not taking anything seriously. Commander Bumi reminded Jen LuXian of his uncle Jen Xizuan, when it came to refusal to be respectable and burdening others with the responsiblity. The commander's younger brother, was the picture a respectable man, a leader in society and someone, who cared for the consequences of politics and did his duty well.
From behind, the young master motioned his hand in command of Daiya and Jei, who were in their plain robes, helping Madam Pema, Master Tenzin's wife and the acolytes serve the tea and the small sweetened rice balls, covered in honey in small plates. He knew Avatar Korra and her friends were not in the room, having left to go to the mainland, whilst the adults were at the tea, Maybe it was beneficial for Korra to be here and learn something from the adults. An infant boy was in the arms of Master Kya, who looked wide-eyed at Jen LuXian and it was an uncomfortable situation to be in, as Jen LuXian had limited experience with infants, knowing his cousin's wife was with child and the last infant he had seen was Jen Meiling, in the arms of her mother Madam Jen.
The earthbending master had his claim to fame, from almost killing a man Master Tenzin's age in Gaoling's fighting ring. Jen LuXian was never proud of it, it made him look dishonourable, breaking every rule the Jen Clan had written for hundreds of years just for glory. He grasped the teacup, which was empty, until A-Jei filled it with a liquid, which looked green and brown to the man's eye, but no one knew what the colour really was. His stomach was full, from the congee eaten before arrival. Jen LuXian was fortunate Shai cooked the congee and not Daiya, who had a habit of overcooking it sometimes. He knew Kumi had harsh criticism towards Daiya's cooking, but he himself never said anything, to hurt Daiya's feelings and be conscious of her harsh temperament, which made her the head servant of his retinue and keeping things in order.
"I was glad to go home; the southern cold did not agree with my body." The earthbending master replied dully.
"It's a shame, you didn't have a professional fighting career, you were good against The Strowman." Commander Bumi chuffed.
Master Tenzin's eyebrow was raised, knowing he had a difficult relationship with his laid-back older brother. "Bumi….I can't believe you and Tarrick went to that savage fighting match in Gaoling."
"Everyone in the Earth Kingdom was talking about this kid prodigy fighting that washed up earthbender at the end of his career. Open challenge and he never expected a kid to stand in his face."
"I wonder how Cousin Koda felt, knowing Tarrick was wounded in battle against the Equalists, knowing our cousin and he blamed you for it." Master Kya said, in a coy manner.
"I'm surprised, the kid is still alive and got to grow up."
The comment made Jen LuXian sink deeply into his thoughts, knowing the duel in Gaoling would have been the last time, he would have been able to live, seeing the blood scattered in the ring. Jen LuXian never wanted to give up, on his chance in breaking Long Shu Po's undefeated streak and taking the gold betted on the match. The young master had no idea Commander Bumi and Chief Hakoda's eldest son Tarrick were there, and watched him nearly be killed, by the heavyweight earthbender. It seemed, the traditionalist Master Tenzin disapproved of bending being used for glory, such as the fighting rings or what people in Republic City call pro-bending. Jen LuXian was told about this strange game, by His Imperial Highness, Prince Iroh years ago; it was a sporting game, where complex bending movements were scaled down, from learning from martial and old techniques, into cheap tricks that insulted and spat on the noble art of bending.
"The bruises are ones that will last a lifetime, Commander." Jen LuXian said, rubbing the upper part of his arm, where most of his bruises disappeared years ago.
"You don't have to call me that anymore, since I'm retired now." Commander Bumi replied, raising a hand up.
"It's a formality, sir."
"It seems the kid finds airbending too hard, or maybe my little brother is too much of a stiff to engage her."
"It's a wonder the Avatar was able to master earthbending, the most stubborn of the elements. She had a good foundation, and Master Jen has an unorthodox method of teaching, maybe you should learn something from him, Tenzin." Master Kya chattered on, rocking the infant in her arms.
Jen LuXian could tell, even by his own traditionalist standards, Master Tenzin was a stickler for doing things his way and he taught his children airbending this way. The man wondered, if the airbending master's infant son could be another airbender, a non-bender like his mother or even a surprise waterbender from his grandmother. The tea was satisfactory, but Jen LuXian always surrounded himself with company, that understood his speech and used refined language, that was only taught to the noble and royal class. He was sure the last Avatar and Master Katara taught their adult children about language and how to navigate themselves in the political sphere. The same political sphere, Jen LuXian's paternal family avoided after Earth King Kuei disrespected Jen LuXian's late grandfather and his maternal aunt, Madam Teng was always in conflict with her cousin, the Earth Queen; over trade routes in the west and political influence in the royal court. The royal court of Ba Sing Se, where the Teng Clan were always favourites and were more beloved than the earth monarchs, after the passing of Tian the Great.
The master's teaching style was picked up, from a lot of the shifus Jen LuXian had in the past. He focused on application and theory, since the current generation of young benders have no idea about the cultural heritage of their bending. Jen LuXian blamed Earth King Kuei, for allowing the cultural degradation of his country to go on, in a bid to befriend Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko, boys young enough to be his sons, than political equals in the world. The man had no nice words for the old king, because Master Daojing's first name was Kuei, named after the 52nd Earth King, which was normal for the Daojings, to name their clan members after previous monarchs. The serpent of Gaoling, even named one of his daughters after Hou-Ting, in order to gain some favour from an already agitated queen, already suspicious of the noble families in her kingdom.
"Master Jen…..how did you get Avatar Korra to listen to you, when it came to earthbending." Master Tenzin asked.
Jen LuXian's fingers were tapping on the table, it was a cognitive habit of his, even though it was terrible habit, for a young master to have. "The reason why you have trouble with Korra is her mentality. It took me weeks to get her out of the mentality of waterbender, which was the first element she mastered and she grew comfortable in waterbending techniques. Her current mentality is of a firebender; the last conflict never got her out of the mentality, of what it took to be a firebender and settling into the peaceful and patient mindset of an airbender."
"I never thought of it that way, Master Jen."
"Teaching is a complicated occupation. I love it more than I had any joy in the fighting rings. It gives me joy, to teach the next generation about their heritage and not be culturally bankrupt."
"I understand you got to know Bumi and Tarrick, a few years ago." Master Kya asked.
"….I did and along with other familiar faces in the United Forces. I remember that one colonel, because she came from Zaofu and helped me improve my metalbending and Lieutenant Tarrick from the two years in the Southern Water Tribe. We all had a similar goal, which was to rescue the waterbenders, who had not fled from the Crimson Matron and her cult's grasp from the north."
"And us heroes accepted rewards from the King of Omashu and you rejected your own reward." The retried commander said, wondering why Jen LuXian did not accept anything from the current ruler of Omashu, after the last of the waterbenders were delivered to their homes and reunited with their emotionally-elated families in Omashu.
"I rescued the waterbenders, because I wanted to. For the sake of one girl, who travelled all the way to Jinshu City to find someone, who cared enough to rescue her older brother. A rescue is its own reward, commander and I never wanted anything for just helping people, a smile from one family is enough for me."
"After she masters airbending, will you be teaching her metalbending by any chance."
"My visit is for leisure purposes, just to stay with family friends and to learn more about the city; the Avatar, the Fire Lord and the Earth King built together."
"I'm glad if it gets the good general off the desk, if you know what I mean."
"Bumi…can you be any more shameless." Master Tenzin exclaimed.
"It's not a secret amongst us, in the United Forces. Izumi's kid works too hard for the good of the forces, but he is not interested in courting any girl in Republic City.
"We could give him a hand, if he asks for it." Master Kya said, with a coy smile on her face.
"The kid won't listen, lucky I stayed in the forces to watch over him, or I would have given up the gig long ago."
"You have a decorated career, commander. You are respected amongst your soldiers and fellow non-benders. Why did you retire?" Jen LuXian asked.
"Achieved everything I had in my career. I wanted to spend time with my family."
"I'm young enough to not retire from teaching, like my great uncle did. I have a few decades left, before I am in your place."
The young master never thought of retiring, but got out of his brief stint in the fighting rings. Luckily, Jen LuXian didn't wear bandages anymore, after his injuries against a firebender in Jinshu City's ring, before a woman with water tribe colouring put him on the path towards the Crimson Matron, a cruel and sadistic old woman, who liked evolving bloodbending for her own sick pleasures. He sunk within himself, when Commander Bumi made light of the Crimson Matron, being stopped with metalbending. It was the only way, to disarm the matron's bending, apart from her limbs because her eyes were a weapon. From stories, Jen LuXian heard from His Royal Highness, Prince Iroh. There had been a bloodbender, who could bend the same way, the Crimson Matron did years ago, and he was a crime lord in Republic City and ended up fathering two bloodbenders himself.
What Jen LuXian never did, was make light of a sadist. He thought it was Commander Bumi's way of coping, with the mind illness that came from seeing so much death and devastation. Jen LuXian's teacup was poured with tea again, but this time it was A-Jei, who poured his tea. His eye caught Daiya and Shai, sitting with their heads lowered, as servants were supposed to in a tea room in the Earth Kingdom. He heard servants stood outside the tea rooms in the Fire Nation and were only allowed, when their employers called for them. Jen LuXian enjoyed the fine company, despite it being people old enough, to be the same age as Uncle Han or how old his parents would have been, if they were still alive and never went to Ba Sing Se to visit the Teng Mansion and caught the wasting sickness that killed them.
Jen LuXian was in the western courtyard for the remainder of the day, knowing the mid-afternoon meal was eaten in the same room he had tea in. As a guest, the young master was jittered by the Avatar, after her airbending theory lessons, which she never liked at all. The White Lotus never bothered to make sure, Avatar Korra was literate enough to navigate a world, where she will have to interact with political figures, nobility and royalty. The master left his maids in the hands of Madam Pema, knowing it was the norm amongst the nobility. Whenever he was staying in the residence of another family, the servants were given over to the madam of the household. Jen LuXian was glad to see Daiya, Jei and Shai adjusting, to the minimalist space of Air Temple Island were stuck into their new duties, knowing Madam Pema had an infant son to care for. Madam Pema appreciated the extra help, even though Daiya was barred from the kitchen, because of her cooking skills and a certain kyoshi warrior telling everyone about it.
The bushy trees on the island were on the wild side, as it was the first bit of greenery Jen LuXian has seen away from home, and the tranquillity left the man with clear thoughts. Jen LuXian strolled outside the main courtyard knowing Kumi was somewhere down the steps, beneath the quarters on the island's right side, which used to belong to White Lotus sentries who stayed here. Young Master Jen needed his space, never being the talker that Cousin Chou was, when it came to saying the right things to impress people. It reminded Jen LuXian, how shy he was compared to the other young masters of the Earth Kingdom. He was sure his shyness was something, he inherited from his father Master Kuen, an average earthbender from a noble family, a second son who was never expected to be married to the most beautiful maiden from Ba Sing Se's royal court. Jen LuXian smiled, knowing every part of him was his mother, but his personality and the colour of his eyes were most like his father.
"I hope Avatar Korra is paying attention to the airbending theory, she never liked it when I made her study earthbending theory. The gift of bending is more than just throwing things around; it's understanding how it's a part of you and the culture around it. The Avatar's preferred element was used as a weapon for a hundred years of war. Before Fire Lord Sozin's takeover, firebending was energy and the people drew their energy, and strength from the sun and the Fire God Agni. It was the same way with earthbending, as few places in the Earth Kingdom still worshipped the Tiger God, even after the badgermole became the symbol of the Earth Kingdom, after seeing badgermoles in caves in parts of the kingdom."
The man pulled out his folding fan and waved it over his face. It was warmer on this side of the United Republic, a difference to the mild cold temperature in his homeland. A sense of emptiness was on the island, since the young men, Bolin and Mako returned to the mainland, being of employable age and living in their own home in the city. Jen LuXian had seen the southern chief's daughter Lady Anika walking around with Avatar Korra chatting, the two were inseparable as best friends, coming from the same tribe and becoming blood sisters. He had the same thing with Cousin Chou, who was raised as his brother, in blood and in arms, before Chou's sister Meiling was born into the Jen Clan.
The shallow wind lifted the master's robes, but underneath Jen LuXian's eyes a red blush appeared, from the shameless thing Commander Bumi said about His Imperial Highness at the table. The older gentleman was fortunate to be childhood friends with the Fire Lord, to be allowed to speak of royalty that way. Jen LuXian never allowed shameless behaviour to be around him, knowing it was the reason why Daiya was harsh and militant, when it came to doing her job. As a child, Jen LuXian was taught never to badmouth or any anything less than pleasing about royalty, which was the way he was raised and how noble society was. Jen LuXian had sympathy for Master Katara, for how shameless her firstborn was in front of him and spoke filth about royalty, but he could get away with such behaviour, being a decorated commander and the previous Avatar's son.
A metal coin was between the master's fingers, he spun it through his fingers. It was the first lesson of metalbending Jen LuXian learned, with a single coin to learn application and how to find the impurities of earth within the metal. Jen LuXian had something in the pit of his stomach, when he bent the metal for the first time. The noble and martial Jen Clan were traditionalist earthbenders, who turned their noses up at metalbending and his late grandfather had forbidden the practice within the family. Jen LuXian was thankful, the bitter Old Master Jen died, before his curiosity for metal had even come to existence. He couldn't let go of the curiosity and he knew the next thing to do. After Jen LuXian had become a fully realised earthbending master at eighteen years old, he wanted to further the curiosity in his mind into action and learn metalbending as a student.
The mid-afternoon rays of the sun reflected Jen LuXian's face, the same face the Earth Kingdom complimented as beautiful as a spring flower. As he paced the western courtyard, the metal coin between the young master's fingers was bent backwards, as a sign of how he progressed in metalbending, under harsher discipline than earthbending. Jen LuXian knew he had to find a master at the time, there was no way he would go to Zaofu because Suyin Beifong and his aunt Madam Teng were bitter enemies. After his maternal aunt tried to propose a marriage between Suyin's firstborn son and Jen LuXian's maternal cousin Teng Feixing, but the marriage was rejected. Jen LuXian understood why his aunt never liked Suyin. She was a spoiled child-woman, self-centred and egotistical, even for a mother of five and a leader of her own independent city. Suyin's arrogance and disrespect towards the other clans made Kuei Daojing look like the most honest man in the world.
From the corner of his eye, Jen LuXian saw airballs being maneuvered by the children of Master Tenzin, using careful concentration to keep the air in its circular motion. He remembered the names of the children because Chief Hakoda and his wife, Madam Mika speaking about them, during Jen LuXian's residence in the Southern Water Tribe. Jen LuXian's element, earthbending was the opposite to airbending, as earthbending was about being unrelenting in your stance, whereas airbending is about being a leaf in the wind. His heart sank, when the young master turned around to see Kumi wasn't there, as she was usually behind him. Kumi wasn't there and he was alone, for the first time in a long time and it was hard to get used to the idea of Kumi not being around to always protect him.
The earthbending master's feet appreciated being on dry land, after days of being at sea. Jen LuXian was never seasick, but he got over the initial nerves of being an earthbender above land for many days. He was happy to leave the town of Tuji, knowing the local waterbenders were back home with their families because of Jen LuXian's actions years ago. People thanked him, but Jen LuXian didn't want the glory of heroism, only to help as he wanted to, not because of a reward, and any reward he got was given to those poorer than himself. He wore his black boots, because the young master was comfortable in wearing them, on the island and to stop Daiya's disapproving look. Whenever Jen LuXian walked around barefooted, Daiya was only concerned for him out of duty and what people would think of him; to see a noble gentleman of the Earth Kingdom barefooted like a peasant and not a reputable young master of his clan.
A couple of footsteps were gaining on the master, but Jen LuXian was not blind, as he saw through his bending. His right hand folded the fan back in it's unfolded form, but he knew he was being followed and he didn't mind it. The sizes of trees from the large ones with bushy greenery, to the small ones in marble pottery and were spread out, like the trees of Kyoshi Island's northern villages, which were unique to the Earth Kingdom. It was warmer on this side of the bay, Jen LuXian was fortunate to wear only two layers of robes, as a third later would have caused him discomfort from the changing weather and sweating under his clothes, was not homely for a noble gentleman such as himself.
A smile appeared on Jen LuXian's face, knowing his followers were only small children. "Are your mother and father aware of you following me, instead of meditation or studying?" Young Master Jen said, turned around to see the three airbenders, with their hands behind their backs. They wore the yellow and red clothing of their nationality and were adorable to the eye. Unlike other nobility of his rank, Jen LuXian had experience with children, from teaching them in Bao Yun to comforting scared children wanting to go home from Gu Village.
"How did you know, we were here?" The young boy, Meelo exclaimed.
"Meelo…he's an earthbender, they have eyes at the back of their heads." The middle girl Ikki said, in a manner that befitted a daydreamer.
"We should be more careful; we could have been hit by a rock." The oldest Jinora interjected.
"The library is boring."
The master chuckled, knowing the child Meelo was just as stubborn as Chou was. The heir to the Jen Clan hated the library too, not a fan of reading anything other than books on political and war strategies in history. "It may be boring now, but the library has knowledge, you will need for the rest of your lives." The spring lord said, kneeling to get on the level of the children, as it was what he always did. When he spoke to children, by getting down on their level. Being the tall man he was, Jen LuXian could look intimidating to children, by the way he stood as a noble gentleman.
"Jinora….didn't Auntie Kya say he smelled like an Earth Kingdom princess."
The same red blush appeared on Jen LuXian's face. When did child airbenders know of such things? Maybe Master Kya was as equally as shameless as Commander Bumi, and Master Tenzin was the only force of order in the family, knowing Avatar Aang and Master Katara did not raise their children to become shameless and loose-tongued. Jen LuXian shook his head. He did not blame children for what they hear from adults. He didn't appreciate being put in the same sentence, as Earth Princess Pei-Ling, a shy and flighty girl, who didn't know what life was like outside the Upper Ring, because the Earth Queen kept her heirs under her control.
"Ikki….you shouldn't say that in front of guests. You'll get in trouble."
From initial assessment, Jen LuXian realised the middle child, Ikki was hyperactive and had a lot of energy to spare, but her father and relatives leave her with nothing to disperse that energy pent up inside and airbending made things chaotic around here. "That's not fair. You are always nice, Jinora, it's why daddy wants you to greet the guests first. "
"Master Jen has nice hair, like that pretty Asami lady." The little boy said, in a dreaming tone.
"All rich people have nice hair, Meelo. They have servants to clean it and make them look pretty and nice."
"….I was wondering where my retinue and I will be sleeping for our stay. I would like to see the library in the meantime. One of the acolytes said, they have new edition books from the Earth Kingdom." Jen LuXian asked. It was awkward to ask small children these things, but the children and their father were the last airbenders in the world.
"Jinora knows where the library is, reading all the books and the new ones, the King of Omashu gifted to daddy as a present."
"One of the new books is about Tian the Great, known as the last great Earth Kingdom monarch to rule." Jinora said clearly.
"I would love to see it, knowing I have read all the texts available on her in my homeland, since I am banned from Ba Sing Se."
"Banned…what did you do. Did you upset the queen? Did you tell the princess she was ugly?"
"My family had a disagreement with the royal family and being banned from the royal palace, is the lightest punishment given to me." Young Master Jen said calmly, not minding the children knowing why he was banned from the royal palace. Jen LuXian was never allowed to return in this lifetime, or else the Dai Li were within their rights to arrest Jen LuXian and throw him in the palace dungeons.
"Uncle Bumi said you were a fighter, and you beat that mean earthbender."
"I had no idea your uncle and cousin were watching the match."
"Cousin Tarrick is coming to bring presents from Kyoshi Island."
The earthbending master's eyes were stilled, knowing the implications of what the girls had spoken about. He wasn't going to miss the opportunity, to see the Air Temple Island Library, as it was different to the traditionally styled library pavillion in his family home, and the library in Omashu's royal palace. Jen LuXian always had his nose in a book, whilst Cousin Chou had a sword in his hand and trained his body to be an efficient warrior. The Second Young Master of the Jen Clan had gotten ahead, in his earthbending training and strict disciplinal education, when it came to learning how to navigate noble society and its political complexities. Jen LuXian was grateful young Jinora stepped forward to volunteer to be his escort, in finding where he and his retinue will be sleeping, for the days they were staying on the island, instead of her hyperactive brother and sister.
Jen LuXian sensed the sun on his face, but he was thankful Master Tenzin's children were better mannered than his brother and sister. He had a liking to the tranquillity on the island, he could see himself living in a place like this, without the world suffocating him with traditional rules and the constant fear of being banished from his clan. Jen LuXian's heart ached, but he knew what hurt his heart and he could not say it. Being here could be a new chance for him, to leave his tattered past in the Gu Village and search for a brighter future. His eyes widened at the thought of waking up, to such a transient sunrise and not hearing the sounds of the animals of Bao Yun in the morning.
Young Master Jen was the kind to never waste an opportunity, as this was a chance in getting to know an airbender, since they were not many of them in the world. He wasn't sure what staying on a secluded island, populated by the last airbenders and their disciples would teach Jen LuXian. It didn't hurt to try and learn and appreciate a different experience than his own, as Jen LuXian didn't know when he would get this opportunity to learn about a different culture and to redeem himself for his sins.
PS: Off-screen, Bumi and Kya know Iroh is in love with Jen LuXian, but make such comments because Tenzin doesn't get what they are talking about, because Kya is a lesbian and Bumi had brief experiences with men, during his time in the United Forces. The two know Iroh works too hard in the United Forces and uses work to ignore his yearning for that pretty boy, who used to teach the Avatar.
- The story is set two years after the Equalist civil war and there is peace in Republic City with the democratic government. The United Republic of Nations, as a whole will be a cultural and enviromental shock for Jen LuXian, who has only been in places in the Earth Kingdom and the Southern Water Tribe.