The Headmistress

"The Headmistress" is the seventh chapter of The Shadow of Kyoshi.
== Overview ==
Kyoshi reunites with Hei-Ran and speaks with her privately as Rangi fetches Sifu Atuat. After they return, the Avatar is introduced to Atuat. Later, Kyoshi meets a man who she assumes is the Fire Lord. After a conversation during which Kyoshi treats him as the Fire Lord, Rangi finally alerts Kyoshi of her mistake.
== Synopsis ==
Lower-ranking nobles clear a path for Hei-Ran as she makes her way toward Kyoshi. The Avatar notices how much older the woman now looks as she slowly walks with a cane. Kyoshi bows to Hei-Ran and says she is glad to see she is in better health. Hei-Ran asks if Kyoshi is surprised by her recovery. Kyoshi realizes that she gave the Headmistress the wrong facial expression and wishes that she had her war paint to cover the unintended nuances of her face. Hei-Ran admits that she is just as surprised by her recovery but she owes it to the talented healers in the Northern Water Tribe. Hei-Ran informs Kyoshi that her firebending is still limited and she is having to relearn it all again, a fitting punishment for how she treated Yun and Kyoshi. The Avatar recoils at the tragic loss of a firebending master losing her abilities. Kyoshi says that she still is not sure who poisoned Hei-Ran but that she intends to find out. Hei-Ran reveals to Kyoshi that Jianzhu is the one to blame and explains why he did it.
Kyoshi grows emotional as she realizes that to this day those she loves are effected by Jianzhu's vile actions. A part of Kyoshi blames herself for that which has been lost and she apologizes to Hei-Ran for being unable to produce a flame during her test. Hei-Ran lets out a short laugh before holding herself back and says that she is the one that should say sorry. Hei-Ran repents of everything that she put Kyoshi and Yun through as well as everything that she allowed Jianzhu to do. The headmistress relents that she can never make it right; Kyoshi says that Hei-Ran's recovery is a good start. Hei-Ran gives her a puzzled expression, so Kyoshi explains that all she demands of the firebender is continued good health. Hei-Ran warns Kyoshi not to joke with her, but Rangi clarifies that the Avatar is being completely serious and asks her mother to humbly accept her decree. Hei-Ran asks Rangi to go find Sifu Atuat so that she can privately speak with Kyoshi.
Rangi goes to retrieve Atuat while Hei-Ran stares down Kyoshi. Hei-Ran's voice is stripped of its earlier emotion as she coldly tells Kyoshi that if he were still alive, she would kill Jianzhu right now in front of everyone; she desperately wants Kyoshi to believe her words so that they can finally reconcile. Kyoshi says that she would do the same and Hei-Ran admires that. Hei-Ran says that Rangi is ultimately kind and will never be able to do certain things, so Kyoshi needs to do them in order to protect her. Kyoshi carefully chooses her response and says that she knows exactly what to do with people that attempt to hurt Rangi.
Kyoshi and Hei-Ran stare at each other with mutual understanding as Atuat and Rangi approach them. Atuat holds a glass in each hand as she expresses that she cannot remember which drink Hei-Ran prefers so she brought her both. Rangi introduces Atuat as the greatest healer in the Northern Water Tribe and the woman responsible for her mother's recovery. Hei-Ran pushes the glass from her face and reminds the waterbender that drinking will set back her recovery. Atuat tells Hei-Ran that if the alcohol shuts down her organs, she will simply bring her back to life like she had to before. Atuat boasts to Kyoshi about her healing talents, noting that Hei-Ran was practically delivered to her as a corpse. Kyoshi realizes that the Water Tribe woman is not yet drunk but just has a lively personality. The Avatar compliments Atuat by saying that the must be one of the best benders in the world, which the healer confirms. Atuat asks Kyoshi why she thinks the women in Agna Qel'a are not allowed to study the fighting forms of waterbending. Before Kyoshi has a chance to respond, Atuat boasts that it is actually the men who are not allowed to learn healing from her since anyone can slap someone with water, but healing takes true talent. Hei-Ran warns Kyoshi that Atuat is already arrogant enough and flattery from the Avatar will only make it worse.
Kyoshi observes Atuat and tries to place why she seems so familiar. Rangi takes notice and explains that Sifu Atuat is Master Amak's sister. Though Kyoshi was not personally close with Amak, she was there when Tagaka impaled him; the Avatar apologizes to Atuat regarding the loss of her brother. Atuat thanks Kyoshi for her regards and states that Amak died protecting people, which is far more honorable than many of his past actions.
In an effort to change the topic, Hei-Ran expresses her desire to meet the airbender friend of Kyoshi's. The Avatar glances around for Jinpa and spots him entertaining a crowd with airbending tricks. Kyoshi is glad to see her secretary finally enjoying himself. He asks for a volunteer for his party trick and Atuat eagerly runs over to participate.
Hei-Ran pinches the bridge of her nose as a gesture of frustration as she relents that Atuat is like a sister with no boundaries. The former headmistress suddenly limps after Atuat. Kyoshi enjoys watching the effect that Sifu Atuat has on Hei-Ran. Rangi expresses that her mother's friendship with Atuat has been greatly beneficial for her. Kyoshi asks if Rangi's mother knows about them dating. The firebender confirms it and asks if that was what Kyoshi and her talked about when they were left alone. Kyoshi does not respond since she does not want to expose what they had actually discussed.
Suddenly, a confident man addresses Kyoshi from behind her. She turns to see a young man dressed in regal garments. She refers to him as the Fire Lord while thanking him for his hospitality and complimenting the skill of Fire Nation artisans. The man asks if Kyoshi has visited the Royal Gallery, which he notes is their national pride. Kyoshi ignores the tug on the back of her dress as she answers his question and wishes that his reign be as glorious as his departed father, Chaeryu. Rangi kicks the back of Kyoshi's calf and squeals that the man she is talking to is not Fire Lord Zoryu.
== Production notes ==
=== Series continuity ===
* Atuat, the best healer in the world, claims she brought Hei-Ran back to life after Jianzhu's poison rendered her practically a corpse by "pick[ing] the pocket of Death itself", akin to how Katara, who similarly becomes the greatest healer of her generation, resurrects Aang in "The Crossroads of Destiny" after Azula kills him with lightning.
* Atuat explains that Aqna Qel'a bars women from learning the fighting forms of waterbending, a prohibition the capital lifts in the aftermath of Katara's confrontation with Pakku in "The Waterbending Master" regarding the rule.
=== Character revelations ===
* Atuat is Amak's sister from the Northern Water Tribe.
* Rangi revealed her romantic involvement with Kyoshi to Hei-Ran.
== References ==
Category:A to Z
Category:Kyoshi novels chapters
Category:Real world
Category:The Shadow of Kyoshi chapters