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Chapter Text

The pair continues their advance towards Yuze, calling her name. But the latter must still be trapped somewhere else, as she is not responding to them.

Just a few feet away from the white-haired woman, Lin noticed the teenager beside her was already at his limit. Also, the closer they get, the hotter the atmosphere is, which makes the teenager work ten times harder. Lin sighed.

"It's okay. You can stay here," Lin said reassuringly, "I got this."

The young firebender shook his head, "No, Chief Beifong, I can still—"

"Zhen, it's an order," Lin said sternly. She doesn't know what will happen to her after Zhen's protection is removed, but she can't in her conscience let anything bad happen to the young man. In her time of being an officer, she had already witnessed the consequences of energy depletion.

Zhen, though still determined to protect the older woman, knows his boundary, and he has already crossed it. He nodded reluctantly.

Lin continued walking, and once she left the young firebender refuge, the heat slammed into her all at once. She bit her lower lip to keep herself from screaming, her eyes welling with tears. For a brief moment, she reconsidered retreating, back to the safety where the heat couldn't reach her. But as fast as that thought came, she immediately tossed it aside.

She will not let anyone or anything stop her from going to her daughter.

Lin kept walking, ignoring the heat licking her skin through her sleeves. She didn't even bother to acknowledge that parts of her clothes were gradually melting, some patches decided to cling to her skin. It wasn't the first time she had experienced having some fabric stick to her, but dang it, that didn't mean she was used to it.

"Yuze!" and for the nth time of calling her, the young woman lifted up her head. For a while she is confused, but as she realizes her presence and who she was, the young woman begins to hysterical.

"What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here!" 

"Yuze—"

"No!" the younger woman stumbled back, falling on her bum. Eyes wide in alarm, "Don't come near me!"

Lin was at first hurt that her daughter seemed frightened to her, but when she truly looked closer, she realized her first impression was incorrect. 

Yuze is not frightened of her. She is frightened for her. 

She could see in her wild eyes that she thought—believed that she would hurt her... not that she doubted her daughter couldn't when she had just seen what happened to Amon. But she trusted her daughter. Call her stupid or what, she didn't care. She would stake everything she had; her daughter wasn't going to hurt her.

Well, you are bleeding.

Intentionally. Yuze will not hurt her intentionally.

"Hey," Lin kneels in front of the woman. When she moved closer and saw that her daughter flinched, she stopped, "Yuze. It's okay."

"It's not okay," she heard her mutter.

 "Yuze—"

"It will never be okay," Lin noticed the younger woman tremble, and the atmosphere got more heated. "Everything, everyone, is destroyed because of me," the mother felt her heart stop in pain as her daughter looked into her eyes. Haunted, "So, please, for your safety, leave me alone."

"No."

"Don't you understand?!" Lin felt the firebender was growing more agitated with each passing second. "Destruction follows me. Death follows me. Everyone dies because of me!" Tears continue falling from her eyes, "They died because of me! They are innocent. They have family. They still have a long way to go... but I took that away from them!" the young woman cried out. Voice full of pain, guilt, and despair, "I'm a monster."

She doesn't know what had happened in her daughter's past that left her scarred. She doesn't have the story, but from Yuze's words, she can draw the picture. And Lin's hurt for her daughter, tears escaping from her eyes.

"Oh, Yuze," Lin said in a low but soft voice, "You are not a monster. It's not your fault, bǎobèi."

"But it is! I..." Yuze paused for a moment before her hands went to cover her ears, "Please, stop. I didn't mean to do that. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." 

Lin watched as her daughter curled into a ball, repeating the same mantra again and again. 

Lin stared at her daughter, completely at a loss. Emotions had never been her strong suit, and comforting others even less. She wanted to help, to do something, anything, but didn't know how. Every instinct she has felt short. Her daughter wouldn't listen, wouldn't believe any word she said. Especially now that she's back there, reliving the memories over again. 

Then a thought came to Lin's mind. She wasn't sure if it would work, but something in her gut it might.

Lin took a deep breath...

Close your eyes
Have no fear

Lin heard the frantic murmuring gradually stop.

The monster's gone
He's on the run,
And your mama's here

Silver eyes peered through the curtain of her white hair. Lin slowly approached her daughter, and once she was near, her hand reached out and gently cupped the younger woman's cheeks, who flinched at first contact before relaxing. And though the skin is too hot to touch, she just ignores it.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful girl.

Lin wipes the tears with her thumb.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful girl.

Her other hand reached out to tuck in her daughter's hair behind her ear.

Out on the ocean

Sailing away can hardly wait

The mother felt the heat beneath her palm had dropped as she also did the same on the hair from the other side. She then rested both her hands on her daughter's cheeks.

'Cause it's a long way to go

A hard row to hoe
Yes, it's a long way to go

The once-wild flame that had surrounded them had calmed.

But in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand

Lin let out a smile as the younger woman put one of her hands on top of one of her hands. Gripping it like a lifeline. Her breathing slowed, just slightly, and her trembling eased.

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful girl
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful girl

She closed her eyes as she pressed her forehead together. Then she whispered the last few words of the song.

You are lovely, lovely
My little storm

"It will not be easy, Yuze," Lin whispered. She opened her eyes leaning back just enough to see her daughter's face, "Others might fear you. Your past may always haunt you, but always remember this. Look at me, bǎobèi," her daughter's eyes open revealing its beautiful eyes with unshed tears, "You are loved, and will always be. By the people around you, your friends, your family, and me—we will always be here for you," her eyes softened as the tears began to fall once again and the next thing she knew her daughter had wrapped her arms around her. Sobbing her heart out, "Oh, Yuze," Lin ran her fingers through the white hair softly, "I've got you. I'm here."

"I'm... I'm scared..." 

Lin's heart wrenched at her daughter's words. She held her closer, gently rocking her, "I know, darling. We will face this together."

And the two stay in that position for a long time. Yuze poured out all of her guilt, sadness, regrets, and anger that had been bottled for a long time while her mother continued to comb her hair in a soothing manner while also whispering nothing but comforting words.

Suddenly, Lin felt the younger woman's body slumped towards her. She adjusted her daughter on her arms into a cradle to check her. The younger woman's eyes were still half-open. Lin knows her daughter grew tired after all of what had happened and was just stubbornly fighting the sleep off.

"Rest, bǎobèi. Don't fight it."

"You... are hurt..." her daughter whispered in a low voice, eyes becoming misty again. Lin realizes that her daughter had noticed her bleeding arms, "I... hurt... you..."

"Shh, I'm okay," she gently assured the woman in her arms, "You don't have to worry about it. I'll let the healers treat it. Now, rest."

"Please... stay..."

"Of course, my love. I will be by your side when you wake up."

Satisfied, Yuze let herself surrender to the pull of sleep. Lin observed as the scales-like skin faded away and her white hair turned black once more, save for the strands that had always been there before. Her ghostly white complexion returned to its original color. Then Lin felt and saw the flame dissipating into thin air.

Lin heard footsteps approaching behind her, but she didn't bother looking back. 

"I can't believe this..." Tenzin stated. Astonishment was evident in his voice, "Korra was right. You really could pull this off."

Lin didn't respond to the airbender's words. Instead, she pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter's forehead before calling out to the teenagers, "Luhan, Zhen, can you carry her, please? I don't think I'm capable of that in my state."

"Of course, Miss Chief."

"Yes, Chief Beifong."

"Thank you," she responded as the two teenagers approached their teacher, delicately taking her in their arms.

Once her daughter had been taken from her arms, the fatigue hit her all at once. Lin felt her body give out and braced herself for the impact, but it never came. Rather, she felt two strong arms wrapped around her back and waist.

"That's too reckless, Lin," the low voice of Tenzin whispered in her ear, "Something bad might happen to you."

"I know," Lin whispered back, letting out a small smile before letting sleep consume her.

"Ahh... the air is so refreshing..." an earthbender sighed as he enjoyed the feeling of air brushing against his skin.

"Glad you... enjoy it— HURK!" another earthbender didn't finish the word he was saying as he leaned over the railing for the nth time, expelling his nearly empty stomach. After he finished, he slumped defeatedly down on the floor, back at the railing, "It's been days, when will we arrive at the Southern Water Tribe?"

"I honestly don't know," the older earthbender, Bolin, replied, looking down at Luhan, "You should ask Mako."

"Never mind," Luhan shuddered at the thought of even being close to the grumpy firebender. Then he covered his hand when he felt something rising at his throat once again.

"Quit talking, Luhan, it will just make you more sick!" Jiayi yelled from the other side of the ship. Then she turned to Zhen, who was quietly watching the vast ocean. "And you... You should sleep, Zhen."

"I can't."

The waterbender let out a deep sigh at the stubbornness of her friends. She left her firebender friend to his own thoughts, slipping quietly into her own. 

They have been traveling for three days now to go to the South Pole. The initial plan was to fly using the Sky Bisons. However, after knowing it's too risky for some— especially Yuze— they decided it would be much better to travel by sea. Fortunately, Asami, a very rich woman, generously lent one of her family's ship to them. 

Everyone came along, including the had just arrived brother of Master Tenzin, Bumi; the Prince of the Fire Nation, and also general of the United Forces, General Iroh; and the very handsome and hot police officer of the Republic City, Lieutenant Jin (whom Jiayi secretly had a crush on. He's just so dreamy).

The former two she could understand. Bumi for being, just like what had been said, Tenzin's brother and Master Katara's son. General Iroh for being a close friend, more of a family to Yuze. But she couldn't grasp why Lieutenant Jin tagged along... Well, perhaps he's there as moral support. Jiayi suspects the man knows about Lin and Yuze being a mother and daughter. 

Oh, why does she care?! As long as she could see her crush, she was fine with it!

The reason why they are going to the South Pole is because they are hoping that Katara can cure the Avatar, Korra, including Lin Beifong. Speaking of the two. Korra had locked herself in her bunk, closing herself off from anyone. She had seen the older woman leave her room a couple of times. Everyone was worried about Korra, especially the hot-tempered firebender, whom she knew as Mako.

But they are more concerned with the former-but-everyone-still-referred-to-as Chief Beifong. The woman never left her bunk, well, technically, Yuze's bunk. The firebender had still not woken up after what had happened, and ever since then, Lin never left her side. Okay, maybe that's a bit of a stretch. Lin had left Yuze's side, but only when others managed to convince her, which only happened twice. And the only one who ever succeeded in doing this is Lieutenant Jin (Oh, her poor broken heart. She knows she didn't stand a chance against Lin Beifong). And Lin would only leave to take a shower for twenty minutes before going back once again to Yuze's side.

Lin's action led to everyone's confusion and curiosity. They know that the two are close to each other, but they didn't expect that they are this close that the older woman wouldn't want to leave the younger woman. Except, of course, for the three, maybe four, of them who know the truth.

This even made Tenzin confront Lin, as he was a little suspicious. At first, the woman was just answering the man's question, albeit a little bit confused. But when Lin realized why Tenzin was asking, she was beyond furious and sent him away. Jiayi knows this. Everyone knows this because they all had heard the yelling, even through the walls and the roar of the ocean.

Then her thought went to her teacher, who was still unconscious. Others had said that their so much energy the firebender had used that it led her to a coma. Her body was reacting to the immense energy she had expelled.

Jiayi sighed. She prayed to the spirits that Yuze would wake up very soon. Everyone was greatly affected because of the firebender's coma. She's like a light that, if gone, the surroundings seem dark and dull.

Jiayi was pulled from her train of thought when an announcement echoed through the ship. 

"Prepare yourselves. We will touch down in five minutes."

Jiayi narrowed her eyes, and true to the words, she could see the nearing dock.

"Wait. What is that?" she heard Bolin say. She turned and saw multiple big red ships. As they came near, the symbol on the ships became clear.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw the symbol.

The symbol of the Fire Nation royal family.

"General Iroh?" Tenzin asked.

The General scratched his nape, looking sheepish, "Yeah, I forgot to tell you that I received a message from home. My mother, Firelord Izumi, had come."

"Izzy is here?" Bumi yelled excitedly, "Oh, yeah! The gang is back together!" Then he paused, "Oh, I forgot Suyin is not here... But yeah, the gang is back!"

The airbender rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Bumi..."

"What? Are you not excited, Tenz? It's been a while since we saw Izumi."

Tenzin shook his head and walked away, not wanting to hear his older brother's words anymore. He walked through the corridor, stopping at the front of one of the rooms. He knocked multiple times before opening the door.

"Lin?" the airbender's eyes immediately went to the woman who was currently sitting in a chair that was placed beside the bed where the still unconscious Yuze lay. The woman, in his opinion, is a mess. Dark circles under her eyes, hair was a little messy. Her emerald eyes didn't look up, but the slight turn of her head indicated she acknowledged his presence. "We will be arriving at the docks in a few minutes."

The woman didn't respond but just kept brushing her thumb on the younger woman's hand, which she had been holding for a very long time. When Tenzin realized he was not going to have any words from his old friend, he sighed and closed the door quietly. Leaving the two in the room.

"Hey, bǎobèi," Lin whispered, reaching out to gently brush her daughter's hair, "Rest as much as you want. Later, Kya will check on you," she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her daughter's forehead, "I love you, my little storm."

Katara, one of the living legends of the Hundred-Year War, and the greatest healer the world has ever known, said the words they are not expecting to hear, "I tried everything in my power. But... I cannot restore Korra's bending."

Lin's heart dropped into her stomach. "But you're the best healer in the world. You have to keep trying."

"I'm sorry there's nothing else I can do. Korra can still airbend, but her connections to other elements have been severed."

Lin looked down at the news. If Katara can't restore Korra's bending, then there's no chance for her own bending to be restored. Their only hope has been squashed. She stopped herself from breaking down on the spot because she didn't want to be vulnerable in front of the others. She curled her hand into a fist as she longed to feel her connection with the earth once more.

She felt Jin's eyes on her, but she didn't look at him. 

Everyone looked up towards the bedroom when the door opened, and Korra exited. They saw the hopelessness and defeat in the young woman's eyes.

"It's going to be alright, Korra," Tenzin said, trying to comfort the young woman.

Korra looked away and whispered, "It's not," before she went out of the house.

Everyone's eyes followed the retreating form of the Avatar, except for Lin, who was looking down. Trying to keep herself from falling out. 

That's when she heard another door open, her head snapped out to another healer, and the only daughter of Katara, Kya. 

"How is she?" she heard Izumi ask.

Lin was shocked when she saw the Firelord sitting in a chair the moment they entered the house. Apparently, the moment the royal family heard about what had happened to Yuze, Izumi didn't need to think twice before she called all of her guards and asked her father to be in charge while she was away, which the former Firelord agreed to. 

Honestly, she's a little bit jealous of her old friend. This is the woman who practically raised her daughter. Witnessed her daughter's growth. Izumi became the mother she couldn't be. And... Alright, it's not just a little bit. She's downright envious of Izumi. 

Lin pushed the emotions aside. It's not time for some petty feelings.

"Yuze is stable. Her body is healing well," Kya let out a smile. "In fact, I think she will wake up any minute now."

"Can I see her?" Lin asked in a hopeful tone, which surprised the others.

Kya blinked for a moment, before letting a smirk, "Well, would you look at that. Is the Lin Beifong getting soft? She's feeling concerned about her assistant?" she chuckled at the younger woman's glare, "Yes, yes. You can see her."

"Can I?" Izumi also asked.

"What's with Yuze, and many women want to be with her?" amusement dancing in the waterbender's eyes, "Lucky her. I want to be her."

Lin rolled her eyes, the pain of the news over not restoring her bending being forgotten for a moment, "Kya."

"Okay, okay. No need to be hostile, spirits," Kya waved her hands towards her friends, gesturing for them to follow her, "Come along, mamacitas."

The two sighed at their friend's attic and followed the waterbender inside. Once inside, they saw the young firebender lying on the bed, breathing in a steady pattern.

Lin wanted to sit beside her daughter, but Izumi had beaten her to it. She paused for a moment before deciding to stand beside Kya, who was watching her with curiosity over her reaction.

"How is she truly, Kya. Tell me the details," Izumi said, brushing a strand of hair from the face of the girl she had long ago come to see as her own daughter.

"Just like what I said earlier, Yuze's body is healing well. Her energy is also returning slowly but surely. Her body is also adjusting to the return of her full power after the seal has been broken."

The Firelord nodded, and their a silence in the room for a moment. "She looked so peaceful. It's been a while since I've seen her this relaxed," she let out a soft smile as she held her pseudo-daughter's hand. 

They suddenly heard commotion outside the room. Some yelling and shouting happily. They pick up some words like "Bending" and "Restore".

Lin sighed in relief, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Looks like there's some good news coming out there. It seems like the Avatar had found a way to restore your bending, Lin. Speaking of," Izumi she regarded the other woman inside the room, "I couldn't help but notice. You seem rather fond of Yuze, Lin."

Lin narrowed her eyes at the tone of accusation in the older woman's words but didn't reply.

"Is there perhaps a reason for this? Do tell me your relationship with my daughter?"

The former earthbender resisted the urge to correct her old friend. Instead, she rolled her eyes and sighed, "First, Tenzin, now you. Why does it seem everyone suspects that I have that type of relationship with Yuze? Is it bad that I'm concerned about her? She's my assistant after all."

"Don't you think your concern's a bit... excessive, Lin? Especially for a boss." 

Lin chuckled humorlessly, "Says the former boss."

Izumi looked over her shoulder, amber eyes piercing, "Well, I have come to see Yuze as my daughter. What about you?"

"Ahh... guys?"

Lin's brows met, hands tightened into fists, "Well, to inform you, Your Majesty, I am her—"

"Guys, stop! My goodness!" Kya yelled, interrupting the confrontation between the two and the celebration outside. Unfortunately, her outburst only redirected the anger of the two women onto her. But she didn't let their intimidating dagger look get on her and instead, met their sharp glares with one of her own, "You guys should stop for a moment and look at the woman you are talking about."

The two woman redirect their stare to the young firebender who is now frowning, head tossing, "No. Stop. Please."

Immediately, the three women looked at the young woman in concern. Izumi shook Yuze gently, "Yuze? Yuze, wake up. It's just a dream."

Suddenly, Yuze's eyes opened with a sharp gasp. Her chest heaved as her eyes darted around frantically, finding something... or someone.

"Yuze, I'm here. You don't have to worry."

The agitated firebender met Izumi's eyes and backed up a little. "No," she responded. She's not the one. Where is she?

"Yuze?"

The firebender paused at the sound of the familiar, low yet soothing voice. She turned, searching for its source, and her emerald eyes met with another pair. At the sight of the woman, like a switch flipping inside her, the walls crumbled. Her expression indicates she's close to breaking down. Her eyes turned misty as she reached out her hand.

"Mama..."

The single word of the firebender made everyone inside the room freeze. Shocked, though for completely different reasons. Izumi and Kya because... what the heck?

While Lin, on the other hand, was speechless as her daughter called her the word she longed to hear. Tears started to gather in her eyes, but she fought them. This is not the time to be emotional.

Lin snapped out of her thoughts when Yuze called her out again, much more desperate and agitated this time. She immediately walked towards the other side of the bed. Sitting beside her daughter and wrapping her in her arms.

"I'm here, bǎobèi. I've got you," Lin whispered, her hand rubbing her daughter's back in a soothing manner. The two other women looked at her questioningly, but she shot them a look that told them she would explain later.

"I'm scared... everyone died... even you," the young woman choked out between sobs, her words could barely be understood, "And it's because of... me."

"It's okay. I am okay. Everyone's okay. You don't have to worry," the mother reassured her daughter. She continued the quiet assurances while not stopping her soothing motion on the younger woman. Until she noticed that her breathing had slowed. She also noticed that in the middle of making her daughter calm, Kya had left the room. Maybe to reassure the people outside the room. She also noticed that Izumi was now staring at her like a hawk. But she ignores her and focuses on her daughter.

Once she was sure Yuze was in deep sleep, she tried to pull away but failed to do so as the hand gripping her clothes wouldn't let go. She tried once again, but the girl only whimpered and buried her face on her chest. 

Lin sighed. Guess she had no choice.

She stopped trying to pull away from the younger woman. Instead, shifted her carefully, adjusting her position so that her daughter was partially on top of her while she was sitting on the bed, leaning back against the headboard.

"Explain what happened, Lin," Kya demanded as she returned to the room. Bending some water on the door and wall, then freezing it to let them have a very private conversation.

"She is Yuze."

Kya rolled her eyes, "I know she is Yuze. What I want to know..." she paused at the knowing look her friend was giving her, "Holy shit... She is Yuze?"

Lin nodded while Kya's eyes widened, mouth agape.

Izumi frowned, confused at the interaction, "I don't follow. What do the two of you mean by 'She is Yuze'?"

The waterbender turned to her royal friend, "Izzy, why don't you understand? Izumi, she is— oh gosh, I forgot! You didn't know!"

"What?" the usual patient Firelord was getting impatient. If they do not give her the direct answer, she will fry them both. And the two must have seen the murderous look in her eyes as Kya turned to Lin, and the latter nodded. 

"Lin had once given birth to a baby girl. The baby girl has been named Yuze," at the information, Izumi was left stunned. Why didn't she know it before? "Don't worry," the woman continued, catching her expression, "Only a few knew this fact, so don't feel left out. It's for safety purposes, don't know why, ask Lin. Anyways, Lin's daughter was taken away twenty years ago by someone she thought could be trusted. And she searched everywhere... but she couldn't find her." 

Kya turned to her friend, who was cradling the firebender in her arms, "But now I think the search has come to an end. She has now been found."

Lin smiled as she looked down at the peaceful expression on her daughter's face, "No, you're wrong. It's the other way around," Then she looked at the other two women. "She was the one who found me. She had found her way back home."