Ling was eating breakfast with Korra, nearly four weeks after she had arrived on the island.
"So," Korra said, her mouth full. "You're fourteen, right?"
"Fifteen," Ling corrected.
"Since when?"
Before she even had a second to think about it, the words flew out of her lips. "Today,"
"Wait, what?" Korra said so loudly the Air Acolytes nearby turned to stare. "You should have said something!"
Ling shrugged. "We never really celebrated my birthday in my family. I mean, my mom didn't die right on the day I was born, a few days after, but still. Wasn't a happy time for my family."
"Okay, that settles it," Korra said, leaning back. "We're celebrating."
Ling shook her head "No, don't make a fuss-"
"Come on!" Korra insisted. "Birthday parties are always fun, even if it's just a cake and people singing to you."
"Yeah, but you're the Avatar. You're, y'know," she struggled to find the right word. "Important."
"And you're not?" Korra said. "You're one of, what, six airbenders in the world? And think about it: what would your Grandpa Aang want?"
"No idea. Didn't even know he was my grandfather until a month ago."
"Well, believe me, he loved to celebrate. And he didn't think that anyone in the world was unimportant."
"Okay, okay, fine," Ling finally caved in. "You can get me a cake and have the family sing happy birthday"
"Awesome!" Korra exclaimed, already planning a celebration worthy of a girl who had never had one.
"Tenzin, can I interrupt and talk to Ling for a moment?" Bumi asked. It was later that morning, and Ling was training with her cousins. Tenzin nodded, and then Ling's father turned to her. "That's okay with you too, kiddo, right?"
"Um, sure, yeah," Ling said. She followed Bumi down a rocky path, until they reached a clump of trees situated on a small cliff. Below them, they could hear the sounds of the waves lapping against the crags that stood out from the water.
Bumi sat down on one of the boulders, indicating that she should do the same.
Bumi sighed. "I should have asked you what your birthday was earlier,"
"Oh, no, you're not going to give me something too, are you?"
Bumi looked at her, smiling a little. "What kind of father would I be if I didn't? Besides, think of those fourteen other birthdays I missed."
He reached into his coat pocket and took out a small green box. "Open it," he told her.
Ling took it from his hand, and took off the lid. Inside, there was a pin bearing a symbol Ling vaguely recognized.
"It's the highest honor awarded in the army for bravery," Bumi explained. "Got it when I saved my entire platoon plus civilians after Ba Sing Se separatists attempted to bomb us. Really, I shouldn't have gotten to share the honor with the woman who defused the bomb- all I did was get everyone out safely. But nevertheless, here it is. Now that I'm retired, I thought it would be nice to pass it on to you."
"I… I don't know what to say," Ling finally said.
"Just thought it was an interesting piece of history I had. Plus, you've been pretty brave so far, leaving the Earth Kingdom for the big city," Bumi told her. "Why don't you pin it onto your robes?"
"I'm not sure Tenzin will be okay with that," Ling explained. "You know him, with the 'we-must-always-honor-our-ancestors-and-their-traditions-including-traditional-airbending-attire' attitude he has."
Bumi laughed. "Fair enough, kid. I guess it'll be something to keep in your room then. But look back into the box, there's something else."
In the box, Ling saw what she previously thought was just paper surrounding the pin. Looking closer, she saw that it was a letter. Picking up the first one, she saw the envelope was addressed to Bumi, and the signature signed at the bottom- Avatar Aang's.
"Your grandfather gave that to me when his health was declining. He didn't have any grandkids yet- which was a problem for Tenzin and the whole airbending thing, but anyway- my dad loved kids, and I could tell he was sad that Kya and Tenzin and I hadn't gotten around to having any yet by the time he died. So he gave each of us a letter to be handed to our future children. Here's the one I got."
Ling opened thee envelope and, flattening out the yellowed letter, began to read the looping handwriting:
Dear Bumi's children,
Hey there! Grandpa Aang here! You don't know me, of course, but I bet you've heard of me from all of the lessons from school and stories from your Gran Gran! I just wish I could have stuck around a little longer to meet you guys. Have you played any tricks on your Uncle Tenzin yet? I've always told him he's too serious and should loosen up. Hopefully you kids and your cousins will lighten him up a little.
Do any of you have bending, or are you like your Dad and Great Uncle Sokka and have a different destiny in mind? Maybe you'll be a great commander or councilman like they are. Or any of you benders could be a great master like your Gran Gran or Great Aunt Toph. By the way, tell Toph and Sokka and all of my old friends and relatives hello from me. And next time you see Gran Gran, be sure to give her a big hug and a kiss from me. Tell her that I still miss her.
Love,
Your Grandfather, Avatar Aang.
Ling carefully folded up the letter, looking back up to her father.
"You were born a few years after he died," he said. "Your mom and I had been together, but we kept it on the down low, and nobody in the family knew about it until you were born and I told your Gran Gran. But go on, read the next."
The second letter was not in an envelope, and did not show the signs of aging as the other did. Looking at the signature, Ling saw it was signed as being from "Gran Gran."
Dear Ling,
Fifteen years ago, when your father came to me, with the news of his widowhood and newborn child, I immediately wished to meet you, my first grandchild. But that occasion has not come until now, when you were brought to Air Temple Island. I am writing as soon as I received my son's messenger hawk that flew in from the Earth Kingdom. After all of these years, I am finally going to be able to talk to my granddaughter. How your grandfather would have loved to me you, and of course, be surprised that not only his first son had an airbending daughter, but managed to hide her and a wife from our knowledge! From what Bumi has written, you are a resourceful, beautiful girl, if a little shaken by the news of your new family and now-explained bending. But I am confident that you will one day become a bending master in your own right and being a part of this family will feel natural. I cannot wait to finally meet you after all of these years of wondering.
With Love,
Gran Gran Katara
Bumi smiled at his daughter. "Even though she doesn't usually leave the South Pole, she'll probably come up soon to visit. We usually go down to her, but Tenzin doesn't want you to leave your training behind here."
The thought of meeting Master Katara, the woman she had learned about as one of the saviors of world long ago, not to mention the wife of Avatar Aang, shook Ling up. It was one thing meeting her father, a well-known commander in the United Forces, or even to meet her uncle and cousins, the last airbenders (or at least, before Ling herself was discovered). But meeting a woman she had only known as a historical figure made Ling nervous. Even though, as she was trying to get herself to believe, this woman is her grandmother!
"I- I better go," Ling said, standing up. "I'm so far behind on training. Thank you, though"
"No problem," Bumi said. There was an awkward pause when they were unsure of whether to hug or not. Finally, Bumi stuck his hand out for her to shake, and then raised his hand in salute.
Ling laughed. "Alright, Commander Bumi, I better go."
Walking back to the training pavilion, Ling was starting to feel, just a little bit, like she belonged in this family.
After training had ended for the day, Ling and her cousins were walking up to the house, where, upon opening the door leading up to the kitchen, they were nearly ambushed by Korra, yelling, "Happy Birthday, Ling!" Bumi and Pema were close behind, the latter holding up a homemade cake.
"Do I get a cake?" Ikki asked, bouncing up and down.
"In three weeks, when it's your birthday," her mother answered. "But today we're celebrating Ling."
She set the cake down on the table, and motioned for Ling to come forward. The frosting was white, with orange letters reading, "Happy 15th!"
Carefully, Korra lit the candles using firebending, and then everyone started singing (or yelling, as in the case of Ikki and Meelo) "Happy Birthday."
It felt a bit awkward for Ling, who wasn't used to this much attention, especially from people she hadn't known very long. But it felt wonderful to be celebrated, and to feel like a part of something.
"Make a wish and blow out the candles!" Meelo told her once the song ended.
After pausing for a moment, Ling blew out the candles, but underestimated her airbender abilities; the cake flew off of the table and was only saved after Korra dove down and caught it. "Well," Korra said, trying not to crack up. "I'm surprised nobody figured out your bending beforehand."
Everyone was laughing, and as Pema cut up the cake and handed slices to everyone, Ling was smiling despite her embarrassment.
Bumi put his arm around his daughter. "I hope that this was the best fifteenth birthday anyone could ask for."
And to Ling, it felt like nothing in the world could top this.