Book 1 - Air

Chapter 1 Epilogue

Welcome Back to Republic City

Fei left Air Temple Island at the break of dawn, when light barely shimmered in the bay. He went undetected as not even the most diligent of the Air Acolytes had yet awoken for their rituals. He remembered leaving his childhood home with unbridled purpose and determination, a reflection of the stories of his two most esteemed grandparents when they left their own homes. It was this parallel that shielded his heart from the pain of separating from his loved ones.

Tears threatened to drop then and make him lose his courage, but as the sun rose from under the horizon to bask Republic City in its splendor did the shine and gleam of grandfather's statute caught his notice. There, standing with self-assurance and true understanding, was Avatar Aang looking forward to a future even he couldn't predict but held every bit of optimism that progressing was the correct course to take.

Fei glided through the air, smiling, and truly did he leave home then.

Now he was returning home. It was twilight, and, instead of being in the air, he was on a ferry back to Air Temple Island moving opposite of his grandfather's statue. There were some that adhered to superstitious beliefs and, if Fei was honest, he fell prey to those thoughts on occasions. Would those that did believe this was a regression of his journey? Going back on the choice he made nearly a decade ago?

Nah, that was stupid.

Fei felt his father approach him on the railing he was leaning over. "Pops," he called out to him as he stared transfixed on the ocean.

"Fei," he said, joining him in his idleness. "I admit of all the surprises I've had today, your return was the least I expected."

He chuckled, shrugging. There was humor to be found in how he reacted. "Hmm, well, it wasn't how I would've liked to have done it, but forcing you to interact with mom more than made up for it."

Father frowned and rolled his eyes. "You've always been a handful."

"It's the spirits' way of getting back at you. Grandfather and grams had stern, serious kids like you and mom, so, in turn you both get the most rambunctious kids that you can barely handle."

"Jinora behaves herself quite well, thank you very much."

"Wait until she becomes a teenager and learns about boys."

Father groaned and shook his head. "You're doing it again. I don't know how you're so good at that!"

"Doing what?" Fei smirked.

"That! You! Changing the subject!"

He burst out laughing, a smile never leaving his face as he did so. Fei looked to his father and noticed that he shared a similar smile.

"I'm glad you've come back home, son," father said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I never thought… after how we fought and all the troubles that follow our family, I never thought I would see you again."

Fei snorted, but didn't move away. "Geez, pops. Dramatic much?" He slowly turned his head to face him. "It's not like I hated or resented you these past few years."

"But…"

Fei sighed and pushed himself off the rail and leaned the side of his waist against it as he crossed his arms. With a casual wave of his hand, he said with a smirk, "Don't dwell on it, pops. Besides, shouldn't we be talking about how you shoved training duty onto me?"

Father straightened his back and nodded solemnly, his face turning to stone instead of the tender expression he had a moment ago. "Yes. I didn't make decision lightly."

"I know." Fei nodded. "Mom likes to rant about how wishy-washy you can get, but you're pretty decisive, pops. I was just teasing."

"In any case, I don't have time to give my undivided attention on Korra to train her in airbending. I'm sure you've heard of the troubles that the city is currently facing?"

His grin vanished. Images of men and women being forced to live out on the streets captured in his mind. He watched as thugs blatantly harassed people in broad daylight in spite of the notoriety of the police force. Fei heard and felt the discontent in the air, the passionate speeches of those of the Equalist Movement creating a narrative of persecution of non-benders from benders. Digging closer, perhaps unseen by several, was the corruption that was spreading in the bureaucracy and management of those in power. Fei knew he was part of that corruption as well—nepotism, after all, could be often dressed as just.

Worst of all, the air just stank.

"I have," he stated plainly.

"Then you know that my duty is to be a councilman and ensure that the vision of this city's founders would not be lost."

Fei knitted his eyebrows as he stared at his father. "I'm a bit worried you're outnumbered in that dumb council of ours." He clicked his tongue. "I don't think they're quite honest and good intentioned as you."

Father laughed, but though he appeared cheerful Fei caught that sly glint in his eyes. "I'm more than aware of that, son."

He smiled then, his relief plain to see.

"Good to know you haven't lost your edge, old man. I'll train Korra on your behalf then."

Father sighed in relief. "Thank you—"

"Hold up," Fei interrupted. "I got conditions though."

Fei chuckled as he watched his father frown, open his mouth seemingly to say something, and then let out another breath, this time in resignation. "I should have known there was something suspicious with you accepting it so quickly. Well, what is it?"

He lifted his hand and held up his index finger. "One, let's not announce the Avatar's presence in Republic City."

"How did—"

"Come on, I just established how honest you are. I know you wanted to restore public order by reassuring folks that the Avatar is here."

"What's wrong with that?"

He clicked his tongue and pointed over at Korra with his thumb. He and father turned to look at the younger girl looking at the city lights behind them in awe. Her blue eyes sparkled and shined with the innocence of a child, an unfortunate naiveté cultivated by no doubt overprotection. How his elders didn't see it, Fei would never know.

"Just look at her," he said. "She's a bit reckless, with a feisty temper, and a bit too overeager."

"Sounds like a certain someone I raised…"

Fei rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but I'm not The Avatar. You show her off to the masses too soon, you'll overwhelm her. It'll paint a giant target on her back. Worst of all, there are plenty of folks on the council probably itching to use her for their own means."

"You have a point." Father acknowledged with a nod, and he proceeded to rub his temples. "I don't want what happened to you when you were young to happen to her."

He beamed, also nodding. "Great. It's decided then."

"Is that all?"

"Oh," he paused, rubbing the back of his neck, "I did mention conditions as in plural. Well, since you just asked, I'll ask you don't interfere with how I train her."

"Fei…" Father's voice took on a warning tone.

"Do you want her to learning airbending or not? I don't see orthodox methods exactly working on her."

"It worked on you."

"Yeah, well, that's because I'm the greatest bender alive."

Father paused for a long time, even going as far as to turn away from him as he cupped his own chin in thought. Fei knew he was swerving dangerously close to the core of their fight all those years ago, but he hoped that his father's willingness to reconnect will outweigh the vehement disagreement he had in his approach to airbending.

"I'll allow it." Father's words sliced through the air. "However, you will not teach her the more… lethal elements of what you know. It's a perversion of…" He shook his head. "No, never mind."

Fei was just as eager to drop the subject as well.

"So what do you think of her? Korra, I mean."

He looked to his father oddly. "What do you mean?"

"I had… difficulty, in the beginning, not seeing her as my father. I know how close you were to him and—"

Fei burst out laughing, catching the attention of Korra and her polar bear dog. He laughed so much that tears welled up in his eyes and some were even spilled. His father turned red from the laughter and palmed his face.

"Oh, never mind!" He shouted, throwing his arms up in frustration.

Fei turned over to Korra who looked at the father-son pair quizzically. He waved at her nonchalantly, giving her a casual smile. Sunshine turned away, her cheeks blossom red and an irritated frown on her face. Ha!

"Pops, she's the Avatar and she's Korra. One facet makes her linked to grandfather, but she's not like him in any way. Now I understand why grams decided to live out in the swamp. She got fed up with people overcomplicating things."

"Regardless, I'm glad you see her as her own person. This will no doubt help you with her training."

"I already know how I'm going to start her training."

"Oh?"

Fei smirked.

"I think I'll take her on a date around town."