Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

In history, when the Avatar was born to the Earth Nation, it was difficult to find them because the Earth Nation was a large continent with an even larger population. Oftentimes families would claim their child was the Avatar for money and fame. The last Earth Avatar, Kyoshi, was proof of that. Since the days of Avatar Aang, more families have become multicultural. 

More times than not, a member of the Fire Nation would marry a member of the Earth Nation due to the colonization during The Hundred Year War. Avatar Aang, a member of the Air Nation, had his own multicultural family as he married Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. Originally their eldest son Bumi was a non-bender but later gained air bending after Harmonic Convergence. Their only daughter, Kya was a water bender, and the youngest son, Tenzin was born an air bender and for a time, the last air bender as his father once was.

As migration became more common, finding the Avatar was now more difficult than ever. During the time of Avatar Aang, the Order of the White Lotus came out of the shadows to find, protect, and train the next Avatar. Thus ensuring the balance the Avatar provides between the mortal world and the spirit world. The White Lotus searched the world for the next Avatar while a small portion remained in Republic City and vetted the families who claimed their child to be the next Avatar.

It took some seven years before the Avatar was found in the Southern Water Tribe to an earth bending father and non-bending mother whose origins went back to the former Fire Nation colonies during The Hundred Year War. The next Avatar took a while to be discovered as he did not show signs of mastering more than one element. Despite multicultural families being the new normal, they had to look in the Earth Nation first before expanding to the other nations. Even then, members of the White Lotus were skeptical about the boy because he had trouble mastering the sub-elements of earth bending, his natural element.

At five years old, Avatar Korra possessed the elements of water, earth, and fire. Later she unlocked air bending but the young boy had much difficulty reaching his fullest potential. Even then, he could not metal like his predecessor Korra nor could her lava bend as the previous Avatars, Kyoshi, Roku, and Szeto. To many, the child was proving to be a disappointment and he felt it everywhere he went.

Avatars Korra and Aang left their mark on the world and it would prove to be a daunting task for the next Avatar to live up to it. Zian and his parents moved to start his training with the White Lotus in the Southern Water Tribe compound when he was seven. It had been the same place Avatar Korra was trained and only an hour away from his home. But the idea of training a child prodigy could lead the young Avatar into two directions, one being the disaster Princess of Azula almost a hundred years ago or the greatness Avatar Aang, Sifu Toph Beifong, and Master Katara experienced. 

Shortly after the death of Avatar Korra, the White Lotus and others were looking to the future and planned ahead for the sake of efficiency. Which masters would train the next Avatar and who would accompany him was the most daunting question. Korra had several masters and it was known that the next Avatar would have the same. It seemed inevitable that the families of Avatar Aang, Toph Beifong, and Firelord Zuko would serve the next Avatar.

The air benders who would help Zian would be the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of his past life. The earth and water benders would be the great-grandchildren of Toph Beifong, the founder of metal bending and the fire benders would be the great-grandchildren of Firelord Zuko. Except, life never goes to plan and people change. The era of Avatar Aang was long gone while the age of Avatar Korra held on. Jinora, Iroh, Suyin, and Eska would train the next Avatar in the four elements. 

From ages seven to ten, Zian stayed in the Southern Water Tribe before leaving for Air Temple Island to start his air bending training. Zian was a timid boy who took years to process that he was the new Avatar. At the age of ten, his family left their home in the South to a new place where he knew people were disappointed in him.

It was either he was not studying enough for the future or he was not mastering an element to his fullest potential. Avatar Korra possessed most of the elements by age five and Avatar Aang mastered most of the elements and defeated Firelord Ozai at the age of thirteen. As Zian got older, the whispers grew to the point they were screaming at him day and night. 

When Zian turned sixteen it was decided he would leave Air Temple Island and travel the world beginning his time as the Avatar. Historically, the children would find out they were the next Avatar around that age and traveled the world finding masters and learning the elements. Avatars Aang and Korra were special circumstances but Zian was a new era, a new world where the mortal and spirit world was closer than ever in thousands of years.

Except, Zian did not want to leave Air Temple Island because his heart was there. The young Avatar fell in love with Toph Beifong’s great-granddaughter Nima. Nima’s mother Opal was the daughter of Suyin Beifong, a master of Avatar Korra, and granddaughter of Toph Beifong, a master of Avatar Aang. Her father Bolin gave up his life in pro-bending for Avatar Korra, it was hoped that Nima would do the same and become a master to Avatar Zian.

When it was time for him to leave Air Temple Island, Zian, thinking love would conquer all, asked Nima to go with him. The young woman said no and said she would not leave her home and family to travel the world with him. It was a devastating blow to the young man and everyone else in the world, as they compared Nima to Katara. Of course, the comparison proved to be more of a burden than a compliment.

Holding the Avatar’s love was not the easiest thing in the world. Asami Sato, wife of Avatar Korra was widowed. Katara, the wife of Avatar Aang was widowed. Ta Min, the wife of Avatar Roku, was widowed. Rangi died before Avatar Kyoshi but it did not change the fact that Rangi experienced the best and worst of life with the woman she loved. Dying before the Avatar seemed like a blessing in disguise.

Then there was Ummi, the fiance of Avatar Kuruk who was dragged to the Spirit world and had her face stolen before the wedding could even take place. Loving the Avatar was not for the weak, it would break you if you weren’t strong enough. Nima ended things with Zian the day he left Air Temple Island and almost a year later, he would return for the first time since then. 

The world had high hopes for a happy reunion between the two but those closest to the former couple knew the truth, there would not be a happy reunion between Zian and Nima. It would be one of yearning and regret as the two still loved each other deeply but understood that the responsibility of being the Avatar came first. Avatars in the past learned to balance duty and love but Nima was too impatient for such a thing. They were both young and many believed they would come back together.

Zian found someone else days after their breakup, an Air Acolyte who did what Nima could not, leave her home and family, and followed him around the world. It was painful to watch as two lovers went their separate ways, but it was for the best in their eyes. If Zian was to become the very Avatar he was meant to be, then love would have to be forgotten for a time.

As Zian stood out in front of the temple, dozens of people stood to greet him and his friends. The first to greet him was Jinora, the successor to her father Tenzin as leader of the fluid Air Nation. Jinora had long been married to her childhood sweetheart, Kai, another master air bender, and had two daughters, nineteen-year-old Tashi and sixteen-year-old Dechen. 

Jinora had a big smile on her face as she hugged the young Avatar. “Welcome back Zian.”

Zian would have said ‘It’s good to be back’ and it almost slipped out, but in truth, he wanted to avoid this place as much as possible. Nima, the daughter of an air bender, had spent her whole life on Air Temple Island and in Zaofu where her grandmother, the famous Metal Clan matriarch Suyin Beifong resided. Instead, Zian smiled and nodded as he reunited with the rest of Master Tenzin’s children and grandchildren.

Ikki was the one Jinora relied on the most after their father passed. It was a stark difference from their childhood of two fighting siblings, but Ikki had stepped up. She took charge of the Western Air Temple while Meelo had looked after the Southern Air Temple and Rohan in the East. The four siblings were separated for most of the year, but on many occasions, the four got together as if they had never left Air Temple Island in the first place. The return of Avatar Zian to the island was one of those occasions.

The children and grandchildren and Master Tenzin counted the days until they would be together again. The children and grandchildren of Suyin Beifong were no different. Long passed the days of Avatar Aang and friends, and the new generation had much to learn from those who came before them. Lin and Suyin Beifong, at the request of Jinora, scheduled their visit to Air Temple Island with Suyin’s sons and grandchildren to coincide with Zian’s.

Over the years Opal’s presence at Air Temple Island had allowed her to get close to her aunt and in turn, her own children would have the same bond with the famous Lin Beifong, former Chief of Police. Lin lived in Republic City, but after Master Tenzin’s death, two years before Avatar Korra had relocated to the island. A year ago she left for Zaofu and stayed with her sister as old age was finally catching up with the two.

Opal and Bolin, friends of Zian’s previous life, had gotten married and had five children. Twenty-four-year old Ru was the eldest of five and an air bender like her mother. Then came twenty-two-year-old Wangchuk, another air bender. Ping was born two years later and a skilled metal bender like his uncles. Next came Nima, who at eighteen years old had become a master metal bender and even succeeded in lava bending like her father Bolin, the only two known to possess such abilities. The youngest at age sixteen was Palden, who was neither an air bender nor a metal bender.

While the Avatar was welcomed with smiles from the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Avatar Aang and Master Katara, the same could not be said for Toph Beifong’s lot, after all, Avatar Zian was no longer dating Nima. Lin Beifong gave the Avatar a nod of acknowledgment and that was as far as many people got from the former Chief of Police. While Suyin and Baatar gave smiles and even hugs, Bataar Jr, Bolin, and Wei gave the classic unimpressed Beifong greeting to the Avatar.

Behind Zian was Rinchen, an Air Acolyte, and non-bender who for the past year, had followed the Avatar around the world. Rinchen was a bright-eyed seventeen-year-old from the Southern Air Temple. On his way to the Southern Water Tribe to find a water bender who would travel with him, Zian visited Meelo and ended up leaving with Rinchen who wanted to see the world and aid the Avatar. Next to Rinchen was the eldest of the group, twenty-five-year-old Prince Zuko, great-grandson of Firelord Zuko.

Prince Zuko was the youngest son of Firelord Iroh, the natural successor to his mother Firelord Izumi. Zuko had an older brother Crown Prince Lu Ten who stands first in line to become Firelord one day. His aunt, Princess Ursa was married to Wing, Suyin Beifong’s youngest child. Together, the two had two sons, Kenji, a fire bender, and Takashi, a metal bender.

Life had not been kind to the Fire Royal Family, but something in the world was correcting past mistakes. An Iroh was named Firelord, a Lu Ten was named Crown Prince and expected to become Firelord, a Prince Zuko was raised by a loving father, and an Ursa was married to someone who loved and admired her. As the youngest son, Prince Zuko had more freedom than his older brother was ever granted. 

Completing the group was Arnaq, an eighteen-year-old girl from the Southern Water Tribe. Arnaq’s grandparents had come from the Northern Water Tribe as young adults to help their sister tribe rebuild. They stayed and raised their children in the South and were happy to find out Arnaq was a strong water bender. 

Once the acknowledgments were done, Zian’s smile dropped, “I wish I were here with good news but I’m afraid we all need to talk in private.”

“Follow me.” nodded Jinora.

The group followed Jinora up the stairs and into the temple, which was empty in a rare occurrence. Everyone faced Jinora and Zian waiting for someone to speak. “I wish I were here under better circumstances, but we have been getting reports of assassination attempts that will happen soon,” spoke Zian.

Unfortunately, he was not clear and everyone in the room looked around believing one or the other would be the victim. “It’s Kenji and Takashi.” clarified Prince Zuko.

The Beifong women were not to be messed with, and messing with the grandsons of Suyin would not end kindly. History had already shown what would happen if you messed with the family of Toph Beifong and this was no exception.

“What do they want with my grandsons Zuko?” asked Suyin.

“There are nobles in the Fire Nation who are advocating for what they call ‘One Nation Families’. They do not believe in multicultural families.”

“That type of thinking is a thing of the past. Multicultural families are normal,” said Ikki.

“You are right but Kenji could become the leader of the Fire Nation if anything happens to my brother and me, or if we do not have children. While he is a fire bender, his father is a metal bender. If nobles are pushing for pure blood of some kind for their rulers, their lives are in danger.” explained Zuko.

“Then that’s the end of the line,” added Nima.

“If they kill us all, that’s the end of the Fire Nation Royal Family and it would lead to complete chaos. Enough chaos where any one of the nobles can claim the throne or several, possibly leading to a civil war.” ended Zuko.

“Then we kill them.” 

“We must not be brash with our decisions. We must plan this out,” suggested Jinora.

“They plan on killing two innocent children in the name of this stupid ‘One Nation’ idea for their rulers. If we allow them to live then their ideology will spread and who knows what will happen. There is no other option.” fought Nima.

“There are always other options Nima.” disputed Opal. The older woman’s voice also had a hint of scolding but Nima chose to ignore.

“I am heading to the Fire Nation and meeting with Firelord Iroh tomorrow.”

“Kenji and Takashi can come to Zaofu. They will be protected there. I will have Lin and my children for help in case anyone comes after them.”

“I ask that Bolin and I be able to go as well. My daughters can choose if they want to stay or leave but I’d like to be there for my nephews,” asked Opal.

Jinora nodded, “Your family should be together during this time.”

“I will go to the Fire Nation to escort the princes to Zaofu. Firelord Iroh has agreed to give them extra protection and called on Kyoshi warriors until there is no longer a threat,” said Zian.

“Nobles have been flocking to the Royal Palace for the past couple of days showing their loyalty to the crown. They want to prove they are not behind the assassination threats although some may be buying time to eliminate themselves as suspects.” scoffed Zuko. These were the times he resented being royalty.

“When do we ride out?” asked Nima.

“Oh, well… tomorrow morning. I wanted to ask if Ru would come. I thought all the Beifongs would be here.” stumbled Zian.

“Ru is in the Eastern Air Temple until I return,” spoke Meelo.

“I’ll go. Besides, you don’t have an earth bender in your ranks. I can be useful.”

“Nima, I am an earth bender.”

“You cannot metal bend and you cannot lava bend. I can.”

The room grew stiff as Zian and Nima looked at each other waiting for the other to respond. Quick to ease the tension and save his daughter, Bolin clapped his hands, drawing attention to himself, “If you all plan on leaving tomorrow morning, then you all must get your rest. Especially after the ride over here. I can lead everyone to their rooms.”

The older generation had chosen not to medal in their relationship unless it disrupted Zian’s Avatar duties, and so far, the breakup had not caused a large rift. There could even be a comparison between Nima and Zian to Lin and Tenzin. Lin and Tenzin grew up together, dated for a time, but ultimately went their separate ways. Nima inherited some of her aunt’s qualities but not enough that the comparison was so forthcoming.

Zian and Tenzin had similar qualities as well, but Zian could only agree from word of mouth. The famous master air bender and son of Avatar Aang had died two years before his birth. Jinora had been Zian’s air bending master since he was a child and said Zian reminded her of her own father. The weight of the world was on his shoulders, for Tenzin it was the future of the Air Nation, and for Zian, the balance between the human world and the spirit world as the duty of being the Avatar.

“Who else will go with them?”

“Tashi,” answered Jinora.

Tashi was the nineteen-year-old daughter of Master Jinora and Master Kai, and Tenzin and Pema’s oldest grandchild. Tashi resembled her father with her darker skin color and had her mother’s brown eyes. She was a powerful air bender and was on her way to share her mother’s duties to aid the Avatar and the entire Air Nation. It was expected that she would take over after her mother’s retirement as she had done for her father shortly before his death.

Tashi had a strong legacy to uphold as the eldest great-grandchild of Avatar Aang. For a long time, Tashi’s family were the last of the Air Nation and had kept the culture alive even escaping extinction on multiple occasions. Unlike her own grandfather, Tashi could withstand the weight of the world thanks to her many air bending relatives who would not hesitate to offer their help and of course the hundreds of Air benders running around the world since Harmonic Convergence. 

For Avatar Aang, the last air bender for over a hundred years, he bared it all alone. Tenzin too, for a time, was the last air bender after his father’s death and before the birth of his children. Then Harmonic Convergence which produced more air benders, even giving Tenzin’s older brother Bumi air bending.

“Tashi?” asked Zian.

“Yes, I will go.”

“Now I wish I was going on that trip.” joked Palden, Nima’s sixteen-year-old sister. Had Palden been an air bender she would probably be going on the trip. Instead, she would leave for Zaofu with the rest of her family.

“Zian, I would like to have a word with you before you leave for the Fire Nation, “ said Suyin.

“Nevermind, I wish to be in that room,” whispered Palden. While Opal visually disapproved of her youngest daughter’s comments, Bolin agreed with a smile and well-hidden thumbs up.

The group semi-disbanded as the air benders entered their own conversation while the metal clan had turned to their matriarch. “I will not have my grandsons become motherless because a group of people have these crazy beliefs. Ursa will take priority after the boy. I know Wing can hold his own, but Ursa is not a fighter,” spoke Suyin.

“She will not leave if she believes her brother or nephew are in danger.”

“Then Nima will just have to convince her,” argued Wei, Suyin’s third son, and Wing’s twin brother.

“But Iroh married a fire bender? Lu Ten looks to be engaged to one soon? Why would they go after them?” asked Baatar Jr.

“Because Iroh allowed Ursa to marry Wing. You know how upset the nobles were and with Firelord Izumi’s abdication. Some felt betrayed that the Royal Family would sneak in a wedding during Iroh’s festivities.” answered Suyin.

“Can we trust the Avatar to do what is necessary to protect Kenji and Takashi?” asked Opal.

The metal clan looked at each other not knowing the answer. Zian was a strong earth bender with training under Suyin and her children and grandchildren but could not master any of the sub elements. He could fire and air bend, but again they were not the strongest of his elements. As far as everyone was concerned, Zian had not mastered water bending but that might have changed because of Arnaq’s presence from a year ago.

changed because of Arnaq’s presence from a year ago.

“I am… I have carried Kenji and Takashi in my arms when they were babies and loved them like my own family. I will bring them to you safely.” interrupted Zian.

“You have to understand where we are coming from,” said Baatar Jr.

“They are your family, I understand that.” Zian paused for a bit before turning his body towards Suyin, the Metal Clan matriarch who was already in her early 80’s. “Sifu Suyin, if you would join me in the hallway.”

Suyin nodded and left her family talking amongst themselves. She would never confess it, but at her age, she did expect to live long enough to see another Avatar be born. It hurt her heart to live long enough to see three Avatars.

“What would you like to talk about?” asked Zian

“My granddaughter.”

“Oh.” Zian let out an awkward laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck and now refused to look the older woman in the eyes.

“To put this in the easiest way possible, no messing around during the trip.”

“What? Oh. No, no I would never - we aren’t even. I’m sorry.” blushed Zian.

“You don’t think I see the way you look at each other? Baatar and Kuvira had it for years before he could forgive her for everything. Even then, they never returned to the same relationship they once shared. I saw it with my own sister and Tenzin for years too. Nima has potential that I have yet to see in anyone else and that means a lot when you come from a family like ours. She must not get distracted with feelings now. All that can come later.”

“I understand.”

“Holding the Avatar’s love is a reality that few will ever experience. I have seen it twice in my life and learned about it five more times before that. This is only the beginning of your story and hers.”

There was this long silence between them as Zian continued to think.“Can I ask you something?” asked Zian.

“Of course.”

“Is it true about Nima and some air bender?”

“Do not believe everything you hear… especially across the waters.” smiled Suyin.

Zian returned to the special chambers on Air Temple Island designated for the Avatar late at night when most had gone to sleep. He spoke with almost everyone and insured the Beifongs that he would bring the family to safety. In truth, this would perhaps be his biggest quest yet. He had spent the last year learning water bending and trying to master the sub elements of fire bending under Prince Zuko but to little satisfaction. Arnaq was patient with him and Zuko sat with him for hours to control his breathing. Zian could not metal bend, lava bend, heal, produce lightning, redirect lightning, fire breathe, spirit projection, or anything spiritual. 

The feeling of disappointment that had plagued him in his childhood never seemed to go away even when he was surrounded by friends who only wanted to help him. It did not help his confidence that he was surrounded by masters of the four elements and the famous families of Avatar Aang, Toph Beifong, and Firelord Zuko. The need to measure himself up to all those all around him was something he wished would go away.

Zian could not go to sleep but instead wandered around the island until he found water. Walking into the water Zian took a deep breath in and the feeling he got reminded him of his grandparents and parents whom he had not seen in over a year. Once he left Air Temple Island, his family returned to the Southern Water Tribe. He tried to call home whenever he could but most times he got distracted with other things, not to his own fault.

“Not surprised to see you here.” Zian had thrown ice blades that Nima had blocked with a sheet of rock. As she flicked her wrist the rock returned to where it belonged, she gave him a small smile in response to the bending. 

“Sorry I didn’t know it was you,” said Zian in embarrassment.

“No apology needed. It’s nice to know you are working on your water bending. You did not hesitate… that is good. It means you might live longer.”

“Why are you here?” asked Zian.

“I couldn’t sleep either. I keep thinking about Aunt Ursa and how scared she must be for her sons and family. Uncle Wing probably already has dozens of people protecting his family day and night… so I came here.”

“You Beifongs are all about family.”

“I am not a Beifong,” argued Nima as she got in the water like him, only she went waist deep compared to him who stayed at a knee-high level.

“Do you think your cousins are going to be assassinated?”

“If we do not intervene, yes. When Ursa married my uncle, it upset a lot of people in the Fire Nation. There were even protests to stop the marriage for weeks before and after the wedding but that was kept a secret from everyone except for family. Firelord Iroh did his best to shut down the protests with the public's interest at heart.”

“I didn’t know that,” said Zian. As the Avatar, he thought he knew everything although Princess Ursa and Wing Beifong’s marriage occurred when he was young.

“Wing is a metal bender, with no fire benders in his family history. The Fire Royal Family is supposed to have the most powerful fire benders in their ranks. It’s how they kept their image up for so many years. My grandfather Baatar is a non-bender and well, who Toph Beifong chose as the father to her second daughter remains a mystery to this day. Kenji is a fire bender with great potential but Takashi is a metal bender. I think the Fire Nation could accept a non-bender in the Royal Family, but a metal bender who has a chance at the throne? I don’t think they can accept that.” explained Nima.

“I thought things had changed in the Fire Nation since Firelord Zuko deposed his father. I guess it was foolish to think that.” chuckled Zian.

“The Fire Nation accepted Firelord Zuko’s abdication and undisputed reign of his daughter Firelord Izumi. In some way’s things did change, just not fast enough for others.”

“Zuko thought part of my training should include almost four hundred years of Fire Nation history. Sometimes I thought about fire bending and lighting myself on fire to get out of that stuff. Zuko gave Arnaq some inspiration and I had hundreds of years worth of Water Tribe history to learn. The Southern Water Tribe had most of its history wiped out and so did the Air Nomads, so there was little to memorize. The former Earth Kingdom, well it would take me years to make a dent in those books.”

“It sounds like things are going well then.”

“I guess. Since I can’t talk to my past lives, I have to rely on the history books to know what they would have done in certain situations but so many things are forgotten. I don’t think anyone ever expected the connection to my past lives would be destroyed.”

“You’re lying about things being well,” said Nima.

“Am I? And how would you know?”

“I can tell you’re lying. I know you.”

“What else have you picked up since the last time I saw you?” smiled Zian.

“Nothing besides that. I’m trying to learn seismic sense so I can find secret tunnels like my aunt Lin and my great-grandma. Turns out seeing by touch is a bit more difficult than it sounds. You’d think being related to them would help.”

“How is training going?” 

“I started meditating… dad said I needed to learn to be calm or something. He and my mom just didn’t want me to rely on anger to bend like some fire benders can lose the fire within them. Iroh said his grandfather experienced something similar after joining Avatar Aang. It’s some spiritual stuff but I never could finish listening. Hard to pay attention to something else when you're constantly being compared to Toph Beifong, the literal inventor of metal bending.”

“A strong legacy to live up to… I understand that feeling.”

“Look, I know you are hard on yourself about bending. Especially since Avatars Korra and Aang were exceptionally talented at a young age-”

“Thanks for that.” It was just another reminder of how much of a bad Avatar he was. He accepted this type of talk from everyone else but never Nima. 

“You didn’t let me finish. Avatars Roku and Kyoshi were older. The same age as you actually.”

“There really is no point in lying to you,” said Zian in defeat, he would have lied and agreed that him being older was a good thing, but he couldn’t.

“If it makes you feel better, dad hated the fact that he could not metal bend when he was surrounded by them for years. He doesn’t really talk about it but everyone loves to mention his lava bending as if to cover up the awkwardness about it. Even after he discovered he could lava bend, he was still going on about metal bending. Lava bending is still one of the rarest bendings in the world, but it bugs him more than he lets on, I can at least tell that.”

“Lava bending is pretty cool. Only you and your dad are known to have it.” smiled Zian.

“Yeah, no doubt in a decade or less, it might be common like metal bending is.” shrugged Nima.

“Your grandmother told me she sees great things ahead for you. I have no doubt you will change the world. Maybe even be the first to bend platinum.”

“No one can bend platinum.”

“A hundred years ago people said the same thing about metal bending and blood bending but we know they exist now. If anyone can bend platinum, it would be a Beifong.”

“I’m not a Beifong.”

Nima said goodnight to Zian after that and returned to her bed. The ease she felt in the pit of her stomach when talking to Zian made her feel guilty. She remembered that she was still in love with him and that was not fair to the next person either would see. Words were never Nima’s strong suit, but when she said the right thing, it was like a sweet tea that makes you feel all warm inside.

When the morning came there were two planes ready for different destinations. One plane was headed to Zaofu with the Beifongs and another plane was for the group headed to the Fire Nation.

“We are not going in that.”

“They are perfectly safe,” said Rinchen.

“That is not the issue. If we are going to get my cousins and keep them safe from assassins, I don’t think a plane would be the safest way.”

“What else are we supposed to go on? A boat?” asked Arnaq.
“Kiki,” answered Tashi.

“It would take longer for us to travel,” argued Zian.

“With a plane, we could get caught easily. We can hide better on Kiki.”

“A flying bison in an age of planes would hardly mean hiding.”

“They would simply think we are just air benders and friends traveling. With more air benders now, it wouldn’t look out of place,” said Tashi.

“If you four go on the plane, then Tashi and I will meet you there.”

Zian looked at Nima knowing she would not budge. “Fine, the flying bison it is.”

“Good. I’ll take the reins and take the first shift. You all can get rest because we won’t be stopping unless Kiki needs a break.”

While Zian and his friends walked to the bison opposite of the planes, Tashi stayed behind to talk with Nima. “I know you want to protect your cousins, but you have to promise you will be careful on this trip. You could put us all in danger if you make the wrong move.”

“I promise not to do anything stupid.”

“Good.”

Tashi and Nima started walking towards the group just as Zian got comfortable in the saddle. Tashi used her air bending to go up in the air and help Nima on Kiki’s neck before gently walking up to the saddle.

“Kiki, yip yip.”

Upon their arrival at the Fire Nation Capital, there was no formal greeting to ensure no one knew they had arrived. Firelord Iroh and Crown Prince Lu Ten greeted them in the middle of the night with a handful of close advisors. The plan was that they would leave the following day before sunrise to give Avatar and company rest alongside their flying bison. The plan was to take Ursa, Wing, Kenji, and Takashi to Zaofu and remain there until it was safe. Lu Ten had given them an estimate of a couple of months before the family could come back.

When Wing and Ursa came into the room Nima shot up and ran into her uncle's arms. It had been a while since they had seen each other. Upon Wing’s marriage to a Fire Nation princess, he moved to the capital and raised his children there. Ursa, as the only female born in the royal family in her generation, performed duties around the nation. Promoting cultural events and even being the occasional diplomat with the other nations was part of those said duties. 

Once Wing had let go of his niece, Nima immediately hugged her aunt, Princess Ursa. “I’ve missed you two.”

“We’ve missed you too. Thank you for coming.” smiled Ursa.

“Where are Kenji and Takashi ?” asked Zian.

“They are sleeping. We wanted to give them enough rest before the trip,” answered Wing.

“Are they in separate rooms?” asked Nima.

“No, I had two beds brought into our room so we are all together. I have guards day and night standing guard and patrolling our wing of the palace.”

“How many?” asked Tashi.

“Five outside the door and a couple of dozen patrolling but those don’t include the Kyoshi warriors and the guards we already had before this all started,” answered Wing.

“Nima and I can stand guard as well,” suggested Tashi.

“I can help as well,” added Zian. There was a brief pause where he looked at Rinchen knowing she was the only non-bender in the group. As an Air Acolyte, Rinchen was not one to know how to fight. “I ask that the rest of the group be put in rooms nearby.”

“A room is set up with beds for everyone right next door. Do not hesitate to ask for anything else,” said Ursa.

“Zuko, Nima, if we can just set aside,” said Wing as he put his hand out.

Ursa talked with Zian and the rest of the group while Wing had a worried look on his face. It concerned Zuko and Nima as they had never seen that look on the older man. Wing was a very confident man who knew his abilities when fighting and trusts his family to protect each other in bad circumstances. 

“If anything happens to me, I want my brothers to protect Ursa and the boys. I want them away from the Fire Nation and in safety at Zaofu and I need you two to promise me.”

“I promise.” agreed Nima and Zuko.

“What… what if something happens to the both of you?” asked Nima.

“Then my brothers will protect them.”

Prince Kenji and Prince Takashi were the fifteen-year-old twin boys of Princess Ursa and Prince Wing. Abiding by customs, upon Wing’s marriage to Ursa, he was given the title Prince of the Fire Nation. Their sons were also given the titles Prince of the Fire Nation as grandsons of Firelord Izumi. Despite Wing having a legendary reputation as the grandson of Toph Beifong and a master metal bender, the nobles of the Fire Nation had not accepted him.

Those men and women believed Princess Ursa should have married a nobleman, a fire bender to secure the tradition of the Fire Nation Royal Family producing strong fire benders. When the court was filled with rumors that Ursa and Wing might marry, his legitimacy became an issue for the first time in his life. Who Suyin’s father was, came into question for the fire time in years amongst court members, until Firelord Iroh had put his foot down and announced the marriage of his sister.

Keeping with her father’s example, Firelord Izumi abdicated in 190AG, and with her mother and brother’s acceptance, Ursa married Wing. Princess Ursa was in her late thirties at the time of her marriage and many believed she would never have any children of her own thus not having multicultural children. Except, Ursa did get pregnant and gave birth the day after her mother’s death that same year.

Again Nima could not sleep as she constantly worried about her family being killed in front of her. As the sunrise came up, Nima barely had an hour of sleep. Rinchen, Arnaq, and Zuko had commented on her looking as if she was about to pass out any second. And she did, right after breakfast, Naoki collapsed from exhaustion. The next thing she knew, Zian was shaking her and whispering for her to wake up as he hovered over her body. It’s the middle of the night and everyone else is asleep from what she can tell.

“What’s going on?” asked Nima, careful not to wake anyone else up.

“I heard something.”

Nima got up and followed Zian out of the room. Part of Nima was hoping he was just hearing things, “How long was I out for?” 

“Long time. Your uncle wanted you to rest.”

Slowly opening the door, Zian and Nima could not see in the darkness. Nima took a deep breath in hoping seismic sense would kick in and save the day, it didn’t. Taking her stance, Nima lifted the ground underneath the beds. The movement startled Zian and the guards outside, who busted in a second later. 

The guards, using fire bending, lit up the room to find several men in all black standing above the sleeping family. As far as they know, the family of four was safe high off the ground but had not made a sound. The guards began attacking the mystery men but were chi blocked. Nima used metal bending to try to apprehend one of the men but they also used metal bending to cut the wires.

Those men barely put up a fight and just left at the first sign of a fight, which was different. What shocked Nima the most was the man she tried to capture had used metal bending against her instead of the expected fire bending. This pureblood idea reached beyond the Fire Nation and it could lead to war if no one was careful. Nima looked around as Zian made the ground underneath the beds disappear. “Something is not right.”

Zian rushed to Kenji and Takashi’s side confused, “They’re… asleep? How did they sleep through that?”

“That was too easy. They barely fought us and one of them used metal bending.”

“Nima they aren’t waking up!”

The guards got up and rushed to the family’s side as Nima had done. They were still breathing but they weren’t waking up. As Nima tried shaking the boys awake, Zian went to Wing and Ursa who were also unconscious. The Kyoshi warriors, with Tashi and Arnaq, come into the room preparing for the worst situation possible. “We were able to follow them, but they were skilled fighters. They escaped.” spoke one of the Kyoshi warriors.

“What about Firelord Iroh and his sons? Are they okay?” asked Nima.

“They are fine.”

“This doesn’t make any sense. They were sloppy, they didn’t fight us, and they drugged them for some reason.”

“Someone in the palace is working with those men. Wing is cautious, he wouldn’t just allow this to happen. They must have ingested something like food or water to knock them out, how else would this remain undetected?”

“Then we have to question all those servants close to the family.” agreed Zian.

“You heard something. How?” asked Nima, looking skeptical at Zian.

“I just did… you don’t think I have something to do with this?” argued Zian.

“I’m just trying to think!”

“I heard something so that’s why I woke you up. Besides, I don’t think they wanted to kill them; I think this was a kidnapping.”

“Kidnapping? For ransom or something?”

“You should talk to Firelord Iroh.”

Speaking in the middle of the night with the Firelord was easier said than done. Everyone was on lockdown until there was a full sweep of the palace. It took hours before the sweep was done, even then everyone was to remain in their room for the time being. Only a selected few were let out, and the Royal Family was kept away from everyone. Because there were dozens of nobles that had been flocking to the Royal Palace, it was another reason to be on high alert. Kidnapping or possible assassination of a noble would cause panic throughout the Fire Nation.

The Avatar and group were the only ones allowed near the royal family. Even then, there were many guards around them at all times. Ursa and her family were still unconscious with healers being led by Arnaq to try and wake them up.

“Firelord Iroh, is there something you need to tell us?” asked Zian.

“For the past couple of years, I have been trying to change my nation into a constitutional monarchy,” confessed Iroh.

“Years?” asked Nima in a bit of shock.

“I had plans since before I was Firelord and I had planned to make changes within the first couple of years of my reign. Unfortunately, I failed to consider the exact amount of support I would need to make a big change. I am supreme ruler, but a decision like this required many more minds and bodies.”

“But now your plans are becoming a reality,” spoke Rinchen.

“Did you know about this?” asked Zian to Zuko.

“No! No I didn’t!” Zuko did know what to be more hurt by. The fact that his father did not tell him about this big change to the Fire Nation or the fact that Zian, whom he spent the last year teaching and traveling around the world with, would think he would lie.

“So your nobles are upset. You are weakening the foundation of the monarchy and thus weakening them in the process.” thought Nima.

“No, the nobles would not lose power. They would get stronger because the monarchy would rely on them to survive. You didn’t even tell me.” Zuko was hurt by the secrecy and no one could blame him.

“I never thought I would get this far so soon. I believed this idea would die with me but there are some nobles and their allies who have sided with me. Marriages like the ones to your mother, my parent’s marriage, and my grandfather Firelord Zuko’s marriage have allowed my plans to come forth sooner.” explained Firelord Iroh, although it was mostly to his son.

“What is the final step? If you are this close and nobles are attacking your family then you must be close,” asked Zian.

“The marriages of my sons and nephews to women from noble families is the last thing I needed to do,” answered Iroh.

“Kenji and Takashi are just fifteen! That is too young, Ursa and Wing would never have agreed to that.” fought Nima.

“For them, it would be a simple betrothal, years before they would marry but a promise was enough to get me more allies. They are already very fond of the girls so I did not think they would mind.”

“Were you ever going to tell me?” asked Zuko.

“I was but it never felt like the right time, especially after you left with the Avatar.”

“Who else knows about these plans?” asked Nima.

“A handful of nobles related by marriage and blood as well as those who are to be welcomed by marriage to the next generation.”

“You are upsetting the balance,” spoke Nima, when no one else would.

“He is not, he is merely evening out the field for everyone else. Since the days of Firelord Sozin, the Firelord’s have ruled with absolute power. Firelords Zuko and Izumi were fair and just during their times as supreme rulers. The nation was healing from two wars during their reigns but we cannot say the same for those who will come in the future. Firelord Iroh and Crown Prince Lu Ten are good men who will rule with their subject’s best interest, but we cannot, with all due respect Firelord, be assured your descendants will be the same. We are very aware of the Earth Kingdom monarchs and their competence or lack thereof. Even then we all know about the aftermath of Wu’s abdication” explained Zian.

“Madness and greatness run the family.” interrupted Zuko.

“The royal family has had a complicated history of two siblings ever getting along for a lack of better words. Until my sister and I, there has never been a known time where two siblings didn’t try and kill each other. Ozai and Iroh, Zuko and Azula… we have a difficult history when it comes to family but as Uncle Iroh explained, we have cleansed the sins of our family a generation ago.” answered Firelord Iroh.

“So who is doing all of this? What nobles are willing to go this far from seeing this constitutional monarchy.”

“My biggest threat to everything would be Aki, his family has been gaining influence since the establishment of the colonies during The Hundred Year War. Avatar Aang’s United Republic diminished their influence until a couple of years ago when his daughter married one of the richest noblemen in the Fire Nation.”

“Then we go to him first and find out what he knows,” suggested Nima.

“No,” replied Zian.

“And why not? We have a name and now all we have to do is go and talk to him.”

“You cannot and will not go around intimidating people of the Fire Nation!” yelled Zian, slamming his hand against the wall. Unknowingly to the rest of the people in the room, the avatar nearly destroyed the entire wall.

“It is late, we shall talk at sunrise,” said Iroh. Team Avatar was escorted back to their room while Firelord Iroh had stayed behind. Zian and Iroh stared at each other in silence for a couple of seconds before Iroh had patted the Avatar on the shoulder. “Nima has always been about action first and dealing with the consequences later.”

“She used to tell me it’s better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. Then she would get scolded by the acolytes for being a bad influence on the Avatar.” laughed Zian.

“Bad influence? I think she gives you a different perspective on things, just as my grandfather did for Avatar Aang during their time. There will be times when you will have to act beyond what you want.”

“Jinora tried her best to help but these are the times where I wish I could talk to the past Avatars. I wish my past lives weren’t destroyed by Unalaq and Vaatu.”

“You are afraid of taking a life?”

“It probably sounds stupid since I’m the Avatar… but with Nima, she has never had a problem with it. If it came between someone she loved and some random man trying to kill them, she used to say she would not hesitate. None of the Beifongs do and it didn’t help that I was raised with them and the air benders. I think it messed with my head. It pulled my two different directions, two ideologies.”

“It does not sound stupid. Avatar Aang was the same way when he defeated my great-grandfather Ozai and with Yakone many years later. There is no shame in being hesitant about your actions when it comes to life and death. After all, the Avatar must hold value in all life no matter what people do with their actions.”

“Everyone is capable of great good and great evil and has to be treated like their worth giving a chance.” agreed Zian.

Iroh felt a swell of warmth in his stomach and gave Zian a smile, “That is exactly what Aang would have said. I understand being pulled in two different directions… by the Air benders and the Beifongs. My family history is an example of that... Firelord Zuko, Firelord Ozai, Firelord Sozin, Avatar Roku. It all leaves a complicated history only a few understand.”

“There are only a few of you left who knew my past two lives… I feel very honored to have you all around,” confessed Zian.

“And I am sure we all feel honored to serve the Avatar, even after all this time. We are also family after all… you are my great-great… great-grandfather three lifetimes ago.” laughed Iroh.

“I can’t get used to that idea, even after all these years. Especially since I was taught by Avatar Aang’s grandchildren and your family.”

“Have you spoken to Asami Sato?” 

“No, it’s been… a year since I’ve seen her. Even before I left Republic City, Asami was busy with Future Industries and her family. I thought I might see her when I visited Air Temple Island…”

“I’m sure when you return home you will see her.” smiled Iroh.

Even with some of the most skilled healers, it took a full day for Wing, Ursa, and their sons to wake up. Kenji and Takashi woke up within an hour of each other with Ursa waking up next. Wing was the last to wake up and he did so in anger and confusion. After the family had a couple of minutes to console each other, Wing grabbed Nima, taking her into a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you.” At that moment, Nima realized she had never lost a family member who wasn’t of old age. It made her angry that she could lose a family member so quickly, but also in such close proximity where she could do nothing. “What happened?” asked Wing.

“In the middle of the night, Zian heard a noise. We found you all unconscious with men surrounding you. They escaped and didn’t really fight us.” explained Nima.
“How long were we out for? How long was I out for?” 

“A day.”

“What about the plans to leave?” 

“We could not risk transporting the four of you unconscious. We had to delay our trip for another day. Word was sent for Zaofu and to Air Temple Island about what has happened.”

“We leave now.”

“Wing, you need more rest,” argued Ursa.

“I need you three safe. We must get to Zaofu as fast as possible.”

“Dad, we can wait until sunset tomorrow so we can travel together,” added Kenji.

“Use a plane and get there in a couple of hours rather than a couple of days. I know we traveled here by Kiki but with plans already a day behind, getting to Zaofu as fast as possible would be better,” said Rinchen.

“Rinchen is right.”

Everyone looked around the room waiting for someone to agree or disagree but the silence was an answer enough, “I will leave Kiki in the hands of the Fire Nation… never thought I would say that.” chuckled Tashi.

“She will be in good hands at the stables here. I will talk to Lu Ten and ask him to personally take care of Kiki.” smiled Ursa.

“Thank you, Princess Ursa.”

“Dad you can rest on the plane,” spoke Takashi.

All eyes were on the Avatar by then, “We leave as soon as the plane is ready. Call for Asami Sato and ask for one of her planes. She is the only one I could trust to transport such a group like this,” ordered Zian.

By sunrise, the large group had left Fire Nation capital and was on their way to Zaofu. It was a tense couple of hours since Wing had woken up as everyone was on edge. It would not take much to shoot the plane out of the air or cut off the air from the plane at such a high altitude. Zian’s mind was going through so many scenarios in his head and he was not alone.

While Zian paced around the plane, Nima was busy looking through the windows, and Wing was standing by his family with Tashi right by his side. Ursa was comforting her sons, but the fifteen-year-old twins wanted nothing more than their mother to stop fussing over them. While Kenji and Takashi were powerful benders in their own right, they were not as skilled as other family members who had years on them.

Nima stopped looking out the windows to walk up to Zian. “You know Tashi leaving Kiki in the Fire Nation breaks her heart even if she doesn’t say it. Now if memory serves me correct, you have a platypus bear by the name of Jasmine. Where is she?”

“Zaofu.”

To say Nima was taken back was an understatement, “Really?” Perhaps she needed to visit her grandmother more often.

“She needed to roam around and be with people I know will love her. Zaofu seemed like a good option.”

Nima smiled at him, “Is my grandmother taking care of her?”

“Yes, her and Wei. When I left Air Temple Island about a year ago I knew traveling with Jasmine would be difficult. I had to leave her but I wanted her to be somewhere safe.”

“We’re landing soon!”

Fastening in their seat belts, Wing grabbed onto Nima and whispered, “I forgot to ask since when are you working with Zian?”

“Since your lives were in danger.”

“Are you going to go with him after this is over?”

“No… I think that position is taken,” said Nima as her eyes went to Rinchen and Wing followed suit. 

“Our family has served the Avatar for generations. Beifongs have long been masters to the Avatar since the days before Avatar Yangchen.”

“I am not a master or a Beifong.”

“You are both, you just have to accept it. Lava bending and metal bending are enough, you just deny it because you feel the need to measure yourself up to everyone around you. And being in a family like this, it’s hard sometimes, even I can admit that.”

“Says the metal bender who helped save Republic City, aided the Avatar from saving the world on multiple occasions, and somehow ended up marrying the most eligible princess in the world then had two powerful bender children.” laughed Nima.

“My story is mine, but you are young and you will have years to go. Men and women will go to extreme lengths to write about a woman like you.”

Before Nima could counter her uncle, the plane had already landed and it was time to exist. Zian and Arnaq were the first to get out of the plane followed by Rinchen, Wing and family, and some of the Kyoshi warriors and Fire Nation guards. Tashi and Nima were the last to get out but Tashi went into an air vortex to look around the area. 

Wing and his family were rushed into a car, one of a dozen, while the others were filled with guards. Tashi returned to the ground with such delicacy that Nima barely noticed her by her side again. “Everything looks clear.”

“I’m going to go ahead and leave ahead of the rest of the group. Stay with my uncle and look after them.”

“Stay safe.”

Tashi stayed by Ursa's side until they were greeted by the matriarch of Zaofu. Suyin brought her son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons into a long hug. “I heard what happened. I wish I was there to protect you all.”

“The Avatar and friends were there. We were in safe hands.”

The rest of Suyin’s children gave hugs to their brother and his family welcoming them back to Zaofu. It had been some time since they saw Wing and his family, but to the Beifong family, it felt like years. Since Harmonic Convergence decades ago, most of the Beifongs had rarely spent a couple of weeks away from each other. 

“Where is aunt Lin?” asked Wing.

“Seeing to the Kyoshi Warriors and Fire Nation guards. She will be with us soon. I know she would love to be here to greet you all but she wanted to take the lead in your protection until you return back to the Fire Nation.” explained Suyin.

“Is Jasmine here?” asked Zian, eager to get to his animal companion.

“Someone will show you to Jasmine,” said Suyin as she gestured to one of the servants to take him. Rinchen and Arnaq followed him outside as Tashi and Nima stayed behind with their family.

“I forgot how big the Beifong family is,” commented Arnaq.

“There is more. Nima has three older siblings you haven’t met and two other cousins but they spend their time in the Northern Water Tribe helping their mom and uncle,” replied Zian.

“Wait, Nima is related to the Chiefs of the Northern Water Tribe?” asked Rinchen.

“Chief Eska is Nima’s aunt,” answered Arnaq.

“I should have remembered that,” said Rinchen more to herself than to the others.

“The Beifongs are a large family. Baatar Jr and Wei are the only ones without kids, but Baatar is married to this engineer woman he met in Ba Sing Se. Wei had a husband but he died from sickness a couple of years back.”

“If Kenji somehow becomes Firelord… that would make Nima cousins to the Firelord of the Fire Nation and Chief of the Northern Water Tribe. That’s a lot of influence and power for one family.”

“And they had the Avatar for a time. You dated Nima for years,” added Arnaq.

Zian blushed, “We broke up a while back… and they didn’t have me.” The last part was more like a snap and rushed which made Arnaq laugh.

“You two were raised together and you dated for years. Also doesn’t change the fact that the Beifongs had their hands in so many jars. I mean come on, they are kind of unstoppable before and after you.” spoke Arnaq.

They finally were greeted with Jasmine who in excitement had laid an egg which the group smiled at. Zian wrapped his arms around the platypus bear's neck in pure happiness. “If you think they care about world domination or something like that, you're wrong. Their family has served the Avatar for generations.”

“Toph Beifong and Avatar Aang. They are all in the history books about ending the Hundred Year War,” said Rinchen

“Before Aang, that’s like… over five hundred years. I’m bad with numbers so it’s probably more.”

“Do you think our friendship will continue on after we are gone?” asked Rinchen.

“No doubt. Beifongs and the Fire Royal Family are proof of that,” answered Arnaq.

“I’m not a bender or a fighter,” argued Rinchen.

“Uncle Sokka was not a bender.”

“Uncle Sokka?” asked Arnaq.

“What? I was raised by the children of Toph Beifong and Avatar Aang and they called him Uncle Sokka. I never knew him… well I did in my past life, but not now in this life. Anyways, he died protecting Korra from the Red Lotus when they tried to kidnap her… or me, depending on how you see it, but I grew up with a lot of stories about him.” smiled Zian.

Rinchen was confused and so was Arnaq. They believed the Avatar was trained by the White Lotus. “Exactly how much time did you spend with them? I’m not your first master water bender am I?” asked Arnaq.

“My first water bender teacher was Chiefs Eska and Desna but water is not the strongest of my elements and they aren’t exactly the most encouraging people. Nima’s cousins would teach me whatever their mother and uncle were too busy, but it wasn’t often.”

“That answers my element, what about air bending?”

“Jinora has been the only master air bender I had but I had help from Ikki, Meelo, Rohan, and Opal.”

“Fire bending?” asked Rinchen.

“Zuko, he was taught by his father and would help me when he could. It wasn’t often, but I learned a lot of history from him and before you ask I had many earth bending masters. Suyin, Lin, Wei, Bolin, and Nima all taught me. I had to rely on Lin for seismic sense and Nima and Bolin, mostly Nima for lava bending, but I can’t do either.”

“How did Nima learn metal and lava bending?” asked Rinchen.

Before Zian could even answer Rinchen, Nima’s voice rang out, “I’m not gone for long and you all are already talking about me?”

Nima carefully landed on her feet after spiraling out of the ground.  “Did you just come out from under the ground?” asked Arnaq.

Nima smiled, “Yes.” 

“How?” asked Rinchen.

“Simple earth bending technique, but using a form the air benders use when tunneling yourself out. I learned it from my mother in case I ever needed to sneak up on someone during a fight. So what exactly were you guys talking about?” answered Nima.

“I was asking how you learned to metal and lava bend.” blushed Rinchen.

“I could metal bend since I could walk and I had the greatest metal benders in the world to nurture my talent. You can imagine the pressure that puts on a child when you barely understand what your body is doing and then you’ll be asked… or told what to do with such talents. The whole lava bending came later and that was fueled by anger actually. I almost burned my aunt Lin when she put me on my ass after a whole day of training and I tore open the ground. Firelord Iroh said that my lava bending is fueled by anger which can be dangerous because I can’t rely on anger to fuel my bending.” explained Nima.

“Why haven’t you mastered more skills?” asked Arnaq. Zian and Rinchen gave the water bender a particular look as if she shouldn’t have asked that. “What? Rinchen got to ask her questions, now I have some of my own.”

“What can I say? I’m a complicated girl.”

“I like you. It’s a shame you didn’t leave Air Temple Island with Zian in the first place,” said Arnaq, unaware that mentioning that would make things awkward.

Zian awkwardly laughed, “Maybe we should head back to the house now.”

“We could’ve been best friends,” added Arnaq.

“We can still be best friends,” said Nima.