~o~

Thank You

Fire Nation

Korra stared up at the building.

It wasn't a place she'd ever visited before, but she had heard was the best hospital for animals in the city and that the leading doctor was someone who spoke to the animals. Korra had been very interested in seeing how she did such a thing - it had been believed she was blessed by the spirits.

Mako and Bolin were at her side, tending to Naga who was sitting down on her backside, groaning unhappily. Her polar bear dog was sick, having eaten something she wasn't meant to eat.

"So this is it?" Mako asked, looking at the sign with the doctor's name. "Doctor Hina, Animal Whisperer. Are you sure you want to come here?"

Korra nodded. "She has a reputation for being the best animal doctor in the city." she told them, "And they say she can talk to the animals. If she's the best, then Naga's in good hands."

They entered the building, welcomed by the smell of soothing incense. There was a main room filled with others waiting to be seen by this doctor and with many animals of their own. They could see an old woman standing next to a family, talking to them and a crying child.

"Aww, don't worry, sweetheart," the old woman said, soothingly. "My staff will take good care of your pet. He'll be just fine."

She bent a little fiery moth and the child stopped crying, laughing with delight and trying to grab at it.

"Dr. Hina?" Korra approached the old woman.

Hina straightened, brightening at the sight of Naga. "Ah! A polar bear dog! I haven't seen one in a long time!"

She eagerly ran her hands through Naga's fur and the animal let out a few gurgles before leaning into her touch. Hina tilted her head and frowned curiously.

"Naga, is it?" she said. "Oh, you poor thing. You have a tummy ache, don't you?" She leaned in close and laughed softly. "Come on, tell me what you got into."

Everyone was surprised; normally, those who met Korra were taken first that she was the Avatar. But Hina seemed more interested in Naga.

A moment of silence and Hina looked at Korra. "She got into a pantry with your little pet there," She indicated Pabu who sat on Bolin's shoulder. "and ate a few things she shouldn't have."

Bolin's eyes lit up and he grinned. "You CAN talk to animals!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, I can." Hina replied, with amusement.

"Right now! Can you talk to Pabu?" He thrust the animal out to her. "Can you tell me what he's thinking of right now?"

Hina raised her eyebrows and Korra smiled, shaking her head. "Sorry about him."

"Oh, that's alright. He isn't the first to be that excited about my ability." Hina replied. She leaned in close to Pabu. "So, how are you doing, Pabu?"

Bolin eagerly waited while Hina watched the animal for a moment. She smirked and nodded once before looking up at Bolin.

"He's fine, but he doesn't understand why you have to hold him like that all the time." she said.

Bolin made a face. "Oops, sorry, buddy."

He let Pabu rest across his shoulders, embarrassed. Hina looked up at Korra now.

"Come. Let's bring Naga into my office," she said. "My staff will tend to the others."

Korra followed her to the back with Naga. But when Bolin and Mako started to follow, Hina turned to them.

"You two stay here." she said.

Bolin made a disappointed sound and slouched his shoulders.

O

Hina studied Naga's teeth with a note of approval.

"Ahh, you take good care of this one! Gums look healthy, no sign of decay on the teeth..." Hina said.

Korra beamed with pride. "Thank you. I've had Naga for a long time. We go everywhere together."

Hina grunted as she made her way to a table and bent a little flame to heat up a pot. "Yes, when I was young I had a Komodo Rhino named Minato. We went everywhere together."

Korra noticed a framed picture on Hina's table. It was of Sen and Azula posed perfectly together. She picked it up and her eyes widened in amazement.

"Wait, isn't this Princess Azula? Lord Zuko's sister?" she asked.

Hina looked back at her with a bright smile. "Yes, she was my mother."

Korra smiled, stunned by this information. "Really? I had no idea Azula was capable. Lord Zuko told me some crazy stories about her."

She chuckled, then paused when she noticed Hina's disappointed look. She felt guilty by it now.

"Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean - "

Hina sighed quietly. "No, I understand. Both my mothers have had reputations haunt them for years. It doesn't surprise me that you'd only hear the worst." She poured something in a large dish. "They adopted me after the war had ended. And despite what people have told you, they were good parents to me. Up until they died."

Korra tilted her head, watching as Hina placed the bowl below Naga. The large animal leaned her head down to drink from it and Hina smiled warmly, petting her sides.

"Good girl," she said. "Drink up. This will help you feel better."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Korra replied, kneeling down beside her. "I wouldn't mind knowing more. You probably met Aang, too. I bet you have lots of stories to tell."

Hina thought about this before smiling and nodding. "I'm going to visit my parent's tomb today. I wouldn't mind having the Avatar come along with me."

"Sure! That's be great!"

Naga slurped up the bowl's contents before barking and licking Hina's cheek. The old woman laughed and patted Naga's ears.

"See? I told you! It'll work wonders!" she said. A pause and she raised an eyebrow at Naga now. "No, you can't come back. While I do like you, I want you to stay out of trouble."

Korra gave Naga's ears a little scratch. "Thank you, Hina. I'll be sure to lock up our pantry next time."

"Good." Hina smiled her approval. "I simply need to finish with the remaining patients I have and we can set off. My satomobile is parked outside."

"Alright, sounds great!" Korra said.

O

Korra tried to help Hina into her vehicle, but the old woman batted her hands away.

"There's no need to fuss over me. I can take care of myself." Hina told her.

Korra made a face. "Sorry."

Naga squeezed her way into the back of the car. Hina took her place in the driver's seat and Korra sat in the passenger's seat. She sat there, glancing only slightly toward Hina, who worked to start the car. It took a few tries, it seemed as she struggled with the engine before it sputtered to life.

Hina beamed with pride and looked at Korra.

"See? Still good!" she said.

"Alright!" Korra laughed. "Hey, what about Bolin and Mako. Can they come?"

Hina glanced over to the two watching from outside the car; Bolin was grinning eagerly and she sighed, rolled her eyes before smiling. "Fine. They can come. But I better not see this one touching anything."

She pointed a finger at Bolin and he nodded, delighted to be joining. The two piled into the back of the car with Naga, squished rather uncomfortably close to the animal as Hina drove away.

"The temple where they rest isn't far," Hina told them. "I come to visit every weekend to pray and speak to them."

Korra looked at her. "I know I said some things back there, but I'd like to know about your parents from you." she offered, with a small smile.

"Oh. Of course." Hina glanced briefly at her before she began. "My mothers had always tried to integrate themselves into a normal life. They were children of war, you see. But my mother Sen took control of her father's Sky Metal empire and my mother Azula worked to find her own purpose. She struggled a bit with that and even lost her ability to bend lightning."

Korra looked shocked and Mako leaned forward, surprised as well. "Wait, how did she lose her bending?"

"We visited an old Fire Bending Master. He told her that she was unable to bend lighting because it comes from a place of clarity and calm. My mother struggled with that peace for a long time," Hina explained. She glanced up at Korra. "Did you hear about the Fog that Stilled the Night?"

Korra nodded. "Yeah, I think that was when the Fire Nation was enveloped by spirit fog. Some kind of revenge against the old Fire Lord?"

"Yes." Hina continued. "But my mother, Sen was also a target. There was a group called the New Ozai Society. Led by her grandmother, Cho. She had orchestrated many struggles to have Sen fall from grace once more. She wanted her to become the monster she used to be. And my mother Azula was tested just the same. But she saved kids who had been taken by spirits known as Kemurikage, myself included."

"Wait, Kemurikage?" Korra reacted to the name. "I've never heard of those spirits before."

"Not a surprise, really." Hina replied, "They were resting for thousands of years before being used as tools for Cho's revenge. They disappeared back to the spirit world once she was taken away. They haven't returned since that day. I'm glad of it."

"Wait, where are your parents buried, anyway?" Mako asked, leaning over to Hina.

"At the Fire Nation palace, of course." Hina reminded him. "Azula insisted that Sen be buried with her, despite having no royal bloodline. No one was willing to argue with her. My mother spoke words and people listened. Such was her way."

She stopped the vehicle in front of an elaborate temple and everyone filed their way out of it.

"Azula worked for a long time to prove herself," Hina continued to speak as she led them into the temple. "But she wanted to prove that she was capable of being better than both her parents. She visited the Fire Master and became one of the greatest firebenders in the world."

"I did hear about that!" Korra said, "But I never knew it was her."

"You didn't, though that isn't much of a surprise," Hina replied, "As my mother grew older, she wanted those to come to her because they wanted to learn from the best. When her lightning did come back, she trained men, women and children alike. She became a legend here and all came from around the world to learn from her. My mother Sen eventually took up the mantle of teacher at her side when she gave her Sky Metal empire to another."

"Really? Who?"

"Men named Goro and Gin. They were the few people she truested with her life. I understand they thrived for many years."

Korra looked up when they stopped at a stunning pair of statues made in the image of Sen and Azula. They were made standing side-by-side with their hands together where a single flame had been burning. Hina smiled up at it and gave a small bow.

"I come here once every week to visit them." Hina explained to the three, "I light the flame to keep it burning."

She bent a single jet of flame toward the statue's hands, igniting in a brilliant blaze. Korra beamed and Bolin clapped his approval.

Hina looked at Korra before kneeling before the statues. Korra did the same, sitting beside her.

Hina's features filled with sadness as she looked up at the statues.

"My mothers had grown old. Tired. But it was Azula who went first," Hina's voice was quieter now. "She fought it though. She didn't want to be seen as weak, you realize."

A strained laugh and her eyes misted. Korra looked at her sympathetically.

"She didn't want to go, but she finally gave out and Sen just...stopped. No one - not even me - could bring her back. She laid there and eventually followed Azula to the grave."

Hina's eyes filled with tears and she wiped them with one hand. Korra put an arm around her shoulders for comfort. Mako and Bolin watched them sadly, but said nothing.

"I only wish I could speak to them. Just once. I never told them..."

Korra smiled hopefully. "Maybe I can help with that."

She rose and Hina looked at her, amazed as she closed her eyes. She pressed her knuckles together before her eyes opened, glowing white. Hina watched her with awe before glancing up at the statue when the ghostly shapes of Sen and Azula eventually stepped out.

She rose, stunned and tearful before reaching out. Sen and Azula smiled briefly at each other before they put their arms around her.

Korra was proud of herself, putting her hands on her hips as she watched the sight. Mako looked at her and Bolin was already crying.

"That was nice of you to do that," Mako said.

"She misses her parents." Korra replied, with a nod. "She should get to see them one more time. Plus..."

She took a step toward them and looked at the two spirits, saluting them.

"Let me say it's an honor to meet you both. And speak to a firebending master."

Azula looked at her before smirking, raising her chin with pride. Sen looked at her before chuckling warmly. Some things never changed, even in death.

"Any advice you want to share with us?" Mako asked now.

Azula looked at him before nodding. "Yes. I have one. Be better than everyone else."

Mako blinked and Korra laughed. "Hey, I like her!"

Hina chuckled tearfully and looked at her parents. "I miss you both so much..."

Sen nodded sadly. "I know. I hope you can forgive me for leaving you. I..." She swallowed thickly, shut her eyes and struggled with her words.

Azula looked at Sen before sighing. "We're on the other side. We'll wait for you, Hina. When it's your time."

"I know I just..." Hina nodded sharply before putting her arms around them again. "Thank you. For letting me be your daughter."

Sen and Azula glanced briefly at each other before smiling down at her.

"Thank you for being our daughter, Hina." Sen told her. "You and Azula made me a better person. We were blessed to have you in our lives."

Hina laughed tearfully, nodding.

Azula sighed through her nose, looked at Sen and the other woman understood. She looked at Hina hesitantly.

"We will leave now, but we will wait for you. Like Azula said." she assured her. "Now live the rest of your life, Hina. Be happy in the time you have. That's all we want."

"And I hope you're showing them what I've taught you." Azula added, with a smirk.

Hina grinned at her. "I am. You'd be happy to know I've made you proud. Just last week, I was bending a fire dragon toward a mugger and he ran screaming."

Azula crowed with laughter and Sen raised an eyebrow, looking at her. "I didn't teach her that."

Korra saluted them both. "It was nice to meet you two."

"Likewise, Avatar." Azula replied. "Do give my regards to Zuzu should you see him. Tell him when his time comes, we can spend eternity seeing who has learned the most."

Korra chuckled. "I will."

And with that, Sen extended her arm to Azula and the other woman took it. They turned and walked back toward their statues before fading. Hina wiped her eyes before looking up at Korra.

"Thank you for this, Avatar Korra." she said.

"You're welcome." Korra replied, with a smile. Then, she tilted her head curiously. "What now?"

Hina thought about it before sighing. "I think I'm taking my mothers' advice. I will live the rest of my life."

And with that, they departed. But not before Hina stopped at the doors of the temple and looked back at the statues of her parents.

"Thank you."