History of Kyoshi (295 BG)

The year 295 BG saw Kyoshi prove her worth to the world as she began to be acknowledged as the true Avatar. In this year, her most important accomplishments included the resolution of the Camellia-Peony War, and putting a final end to Yun's threat to the world.
== The Festival of Szeto ==
By 295 BG, Kyoshi was in Ba Sing Se when she learned of Mok's reemergence as the leader of the Triad of the Golden Wing and easily defeated the criminal group. To her annoyance, however, she realized that both the triad and the city's police were used by a corrupt minister, Wo, who intended to take control of the critical city block of Loongkau for a profitable building project. In hopes of combating the injustice, Kyoshi not just apprehended the triad's members but also prevented the eviction of Loongkau's residents and exposed the police's corrupt connections. When she returned to Jinpa, she learned that Fire Lord Zoryu had invited her to the Fire Nation Capital to celebrate the Festival of Szeto, an invitation she accepted after learning that Rangi and Hei-Ran had returned to the Fire Nation.
Kyoshi and Jinpa journeyed to the Fire Nation on the latter's flying bison, Yingyong. During the voyage, they flew over the ruins of an island in the Mo Ce Sea, where Kuruk's voice rang out to her. She was seized by a bolt of pain, falling off the bison into the cold seawater. As Kuruk began to materialize, Jinpa attempted to drag her to the surface. Kuruk dissipated, and Kyoshi bent them to the surface. She revealed a series of failures to contact her predecessor over the past year and his plea for help, snapping out to her secretary when he reminded her of the great importance of visions from one's past lives. After she apologized, they proceeded to the Fire Nation Capital. When the pair reached the city, they landed at the main gate to the Fire Nation Royal Palace, where Rangi stood there waiting for her, greeting the Avatar with a passionate kiss.
Kyoshi was greeted by Chancellor Dairin, who told her that the Fire Lord would not be able to meet with her until the evening. She was given a tour of the palace, starting with the Royal Gallery, where she learned about the life and accomplishments of Avatar Szeto. The Avatar inspected the portrait of the late Fire Lord Chaeryu and asked about the flower arrangement beneath his portrait. Dairin paled and informed the Avatar not to mention it to anyone, bringing an abrupt end to the tour. She was shown to her accommodations, where Rangi and Jinpa disciplined her about her poor eating and sleeping habits over the past year. After Jinpa left, the couple talked about the search for Yun, and Kyoshi voiced her determination to find him. Rangi proposed cheering her up, and began to run her fingers across Kyoshi's tunic, only to disappoint her by having the Avatar practice her stance training.
Hours later, the pair began to prepare for the garden party, with Rangi disapproving of Kyoshi wearing her regular fighting clothes and armor. She was told not to wear her iconic makeup, disappointing the Avatar, but Rangi reminded her that it was for daofei missions, not mingling with abiders. As Rangi began to explain the rules of decorum, Jinpa informed them both that the party was beginning. The pair was surprised to find that five hundred guests were in attendance instead of the expected twenty to thirty, aggravating Kyoshi. After the group watched a short musical performance, Dairin told her to mingle in the direction of the Fire Lord, and Rangi explained who she was expected to talk to according to rank. The Earth Kingdom delegation approached Governor Shing angry at Kyoshi's decision to tell his indentured servants that they were free after she defeated daofei in the province. Kyoshi humiliated him by asking him for a bill for her hard work in Shing's territories, departing with Lu Beifong.
Hei-Ran approached at that moment, meeting Kyoshi again for the first time in a year. Kyoshi was glad to see the former headmistress in better health and resolved to find who was responsible for the poisoning. Hei-Ran responded that it was Jianzhu, and Kyoshi took a moment to consider the long-lasting effects of the earthbending master's decisions. She apologized for not being able to firebend the day Hei-Ran tested her in Yokoya, but Hei-Ran declared that she was the one who needed to apologize. Kyoshi told her that her recovery was a good start to atoning for her mistakes. After Rangi departed to leave the pair alone, Hei-Ran clarified that she would have killed Jianzhu if she knew what he did, and Kyoshi affirmed that she also would have done so. Hei-Ran told Kyoshi that no matter what, Rangi was kind at heart and that the Avatar would have to go to moral lengths that Rangi never could. Atuat arrived on the scene shortly after, and Kyoshi appreciated the skill of the renowned healer. Hei-Ran left to see to Atuat's antics, leaving Rangi and Kyoshi alone once more. Believing that she had finally reached the Fire Lord, Kyoshi introduced herself to Chaejin, who confused her with his regal attire and resemblance to Chaeryu. Beginning to compliment the supposed Fire Lord and wish him a glorious reign, she was kicked by Rangi in shock, who informed her that the man was not Zoryu. The crowd froze in shock, and Chaejin introduced himself as Zoryu's half-brother. Zoryu arrived on the scene, and Chaejin began to talk at length about the poor harvests that the Fire Nation suffered. Kyoshi resolved to fix the nation's problems and asked Chaejin to leave. The man was shocked but left seemingly overjoyed instead of humiliated.
Hei-Ran took everyone to a side, wishing to stop a diplomatic catastrophe from escalating. Kyoshi apologized for insulting Chaejin, but Rangi told her that she had insulted the Fire Lord by making him appear weak, and attempting to use the right of dismissal in his presence. Rangi told her that she had no self-control, but Zoryu apologized for having organized a larger reception. Hei-Ran began to chide the Fire Lord for making himself seem weaker still, and blame Rangi for not doing something to avert the situation. Zoryu began to explain the situation, that Chaejin had been embittered by his years away at the Fire Sages, and was backed at court by the Saowon clan of his maternal heritage. Kyoshi noted that Chaejin could not claim the laws of succession, but Zoryu explained that he appeared cursed thanks to the poor fortunes of the country. Hei-Ran, Atuat, and Jinpa left when the firebending master felt unwell, leaving the youths alone. Zoryu began to reminisce about Yun's aptitude for court politics, and Kyoshi informed Zoryu about the addition to Chaeryu's portrait in the Royal Gallery. Zoryu began to bemoan the fierce devotion of the Keohso clan to him, and that he could not even consider abdicating. The pair began to adopt a more informal tone, Kyoshi bonding with Zoryu in spite of her blunder. Rangi told them both to start behaving as they headed back to the party, but the trio was shocked to see nobles held hostage in the palace grounds by Yun.
Yun began to give a speech about the compliant nature of Fire Nationals, and Rangi shot Kyoshi a look, telling her to take Yun down. Her body froze, but she managed to chase after Yun, trying to hit him with her war fans but missed. Yun gleefully reminded Kyoshi about Jianzhu's death, telling her that he would take down everyone who lied to him. He told Kyoshi he was going after an old sifu and tunneled down, Kyoshi frantically rushing to Rangi and telling her that Hei-Ran was in danger. They rushed to Hei-Ran's chambers, but no one there had seen Yun. The other earthbender never arrived, however, and she made her way to a portrait gallery after hearing a scream, finding Yun holding Lu Beifong's corpse. She told Yun to stop, and Dairin and his men arrived on the scene. Yun was told to stand down but instead bent the earth-based paint in the Fire Avatars' portraits, launching shards at Kyoshi and the others. The chancellor was already dead when Atuat arrived on the scene, and the healer shoved her a water skin, letting Kyoshi treat minor injuries.
Kyoshi was led to Zoryu's war room, finding the Fire Lord in shock at why Yun would commit such an act. Kyoshi told him that he was seeking revenge on everyone who wronged him, and Chaejin began to bemoan the effects of Yun's attacks, noting that some even wanted war with the Earth Kingdom. Kyoshi asked to speak with Chaejin alone and proposed that Chaejin take the throne. She asked him what he would do, and he responded that the natural order of things would be restored once he was on the throne. He asked if he was being played, but Kyoshi told him she was forming an opinion. Chaejin departed, noting that not even the Avatar could fight history.
The following morning, Kyoshi took breakfast with Rangi and Hei-Ran. Hei-Ran noted that Kyoshi believed that Father Glowworm had possessed Yun in some manner. Hei-Ran noted that she had never heard of the name, and Kyoshi should as Kuruk knew about it. Kyoshi responded that she could not commune with her past lives yet, but Hei-Ran proposed meeting with Nyahitha in North Chung-Ling so Kyoshi could commune with the Avatar. Kyoshi was determined to go to the city, but Rangi grew angry at them going away just after the palace was attacked. Rangi could not figure out why Yun killed people so methodically, but Hei-Ran explained Yun's assassination lessons. Rangi told Hei-Ran she was responsible for turning Yun into a monster, threw a table over the balcony, and stormed off. Kyoshi found Rangi in the stables, upset that she did not try to use her bending against Yun the previous night, and expressing worry that Yun would hurt Kyoshi. They laughed about Rangi's serious breach of manners, the firebender kissing the Avatar's scarred knuckles. Zoryu arrived on the scene, apologizing for the prior night, but explained he was also there for Hei-Ran's ceremony of acknowledging her dishonor. The firebending master ritualistically cut off her top-knot, noting that, among other failings, she had not recognized the true Avatar. Afterward, they began making preparations to go to North Chung-Ling. Hei-Ran explained privately to Kyoshi that she was coming along to act as bait, and that Kyoshi would not have a good chance at capturing Yun without a sacrifice. She told Kyoshi that her death even might put an end to the succession crisis. Kyoshi did not object to the plan, and Hei-Ran took her silence as acceptance.
== Traveling to North Chung-Ling ==
Kyoshi arrived in North Chung-Ling on Yingyong with her companions, scouting ahead with Rangi while the firebender bickered with her mother. She picked Rangi up by the waist and whirled her around, embarrassing the other woman. The group made their way into town, Rangi disapproving of the nascent poverty and the city's black reputation as a gambling den. She asked Rangi about her own clan, the Sei'naka, and promised to visit her girlfriend's home island someday. As Jinpa and Atuat distracted the locals, Kyoshi, Rangi, and Hei-Ran entered Nyahitha's tent. Hei-Ran explained Kyoshi's predicament, and Rangi disapproved of having Kyoshi work with a scam artist. Nyahitha warned of the curse of all who learned of Father Glowworm's name, to the skepticism of Rangi. Angry when the adults began to make excuses for Kuruk, Kyoshi pled with Nyahitha for help, who tried to discern what could be wrong with Yun. He told her he had little knowledge of wrathful spirits but could help her commune with Kuruk that evening.
Outside, a commotion began as members of the Saowon arrived in the city. The group observed an altercation between Lady Huazo and Sanshur Keohso, intervening as soon as a member of Huazo's van spat on the ground, causing the Keohso to throw rocks at her. Kyoshi earthbent the rocks away, while Hei-Ran distracted the noblewoman. Huazo patted Hei-Ran on the head, considered a grave insult, before introducing herself to the Avatar. Rangi embraced a Saowon woman, who Huazo introduced as Koulin, Rangi's friend from the academy. Before departing, Kyoshi warned the Keohso from instigating a fight, though they stated that as loyalists, they should not be disciplined. They returned to the stalls, and Rangi explained that she had in fact been miserable at the academy. Before Kyoshi set out to meet Nyahitha, her group encountered a Keohso merchant who had been beaten bloody by his relatives for doing business with the Saowon, and hauled the offenders to the town jail.
Kyoshi and Nyahitha reached a bluff in the hills of North Chung-Ling, the sage growing disgruntled after learning that they had not made use of Yingyong. She asked if she could commune with Yangchen instead of Kuruk, but Nyahitha told her that he believed she had to reach her immediate predecessor before the other Avatars. Kyoshi began to disparage Kuruk, but Nyahitha told her they were more alike than they thought, both being stubborn, idolizing Yangchen, and having little emotional control. Focusing on Nyahitha's flame as she meditated, Kyoshi experienced an extended vision of Kuruk's life from his discovery as Avatar up to his first experience meditating to the Spirit World. She told Nyahitha that the memories were not those she was looking for, and Nyahitha cautioned her from her resentments toward Kuruk. As the pair looked down on the city, they were shocked to find a large message supporting Chaejin as Fire Lord.
Kyoshi and Nyahitha rushed to the village square, where Saowon and Keohso clansmen had lined up to fight. She asked the sage to find her friends, and a smug Huazo asked her to decipher the supposedly spiritual message. Kyoshi ordered the fighters to stand down, but Sanshur asked the foreigner to keep out of their business, as such insults had to be answered. Rangi arrived on the scene, telling the clansmen to listen to Kyoshi, as she had the final authority on spiritual matters. However, the fight truly began after Rangi punched Koulin across the jaw after she viciously insulted Hei-Ran. The Saowon guard was beaten bloody, and a shocked Kyoshi ordered her to be brought to Atuat. At that moment, she realized the entire fight was a diversion and rushed to Hei-Ran's inn just as the firebending master was stabbed through the throat with a ceramic spike by Yun. Hei-Ran managed to burn Yun's torso with a fireball, but the earthbender escaped, and Kyoshi decided to prioritize Hei-Ran's life over capturing Yun, holding her sleeves to the former headmistress's throat to stop the bleeding and dragging her across the city to be healed by Atuat.
As Nyahitha and Jinpa discussed the escalating tensions, Atuat informed Kyoshi that both Rangi and Hei-Ran were livid with her. Rangi was furious to have learned of Hei-Ran's plan and angrily stormed off, declaring that she would have nothing to do with Kyoshi after she had used her mother as bait. Kyoshi began to panic, but Hei-Ran, knowing her daughter better, told Kyoshi that Rangi would soon show the Avatar that she still cared. Kyoshi let Hei-Ran know that she still could not find Yun, to which she noted that Kyoshi had missed her opportunity and that the clans would use their fight in the town square to justify war. Kyoshi proposed that Yun and the Saowon were working together, as every move he made had benefitted the clan. Hei-Ran noted that such evidence would disgrace the Saowon for good, as none of the other clans wanted to be associated with those that had invited a foreign attack on the nation. At that moment, Rangi arrived with noodles cooked with her own firebending to show she still cared for Kyoshi, and Hei-Ran told her to eat up, as the Avatar needed her strength. She told Kyoshi that since her daughter loved her, she considered her to also be her own daughter.
Kyoshi confirmed that the crops in the town's melonyam fields had been poisoned with salt, remembering that Huazo had recently purchased a salt-making operation. Hei-Ran believed Kyoshi but told her that the current evidence was circumstantial. Noting that they needed a confession from the Saowon, Hei-Ran, Kyoshi, Jinpa, and Atuat began to formulate a plan to kidnap Huazo and Chaejin and make them confess. Kyoshi confronted Huazo at the docks, asking her where Yun was. When the noblewoman denied any connection with him, Kyoshi intimidated her by bending her ferry in the air with a giant wave, which she proceeded to freeze. Still not complying, Kyoshi told Huazo to come with her on a visit to Capital Island. Huazo gleefully agreed, believing that Kyoshi was making a colossal mistake, and asked her guards to send word to the other clans. Returning to the inn for takeoff, she asked Hei-Ran if her honor would be tarnished, but the woman responded that honor had to sometimes be laid down for the sake of others. At that moment, Rangi unexpectedly arrived, shocked at what Kyoshi was doing. Kyoshi gently bent Rangi into the ground to immobilize her and gave her a kiss on the forehead, apologizing before she took off on Yingyong.
== End of the Camellia-Peony War ==
Jinpa and Kyoshi flew to Capital Island with Huazo, the noblewoman complaining about her hunger. On the way, Huazo explained the history of her relationship with Chaeryu, and her political motivations to see her son on the throne. Kyoshi realized that under different circumstances, Huazo would have been a brilliant Fire Lady and mentor, but was still determined to bring her to justice. She confused Huazo by bringing her to a safe house near the capital instead of the palace itself. She and Jinpa had a brief discussion about why he never encouraged the path of nonviolence before she took off and informed Zoryu of the situation. The Fire Lord was shocked, but Kyoshi told him that they had to take a risk to prevent war, and he allowed her to kidnap Chaejin.
As Kyoshi flew to the safehouse with the Fire Lord's half-brother, he gleefully believed that his kidnapping would only strengthen the glory of his future reign. As they reached the house, she revealed Huazo was inside, ripping away the foundations of the hut with earthbending to reveal Chaejin's shocked mother. She asked her where Yun was and rumbled the foundations of the building to intimidate them. Chaejin cried that they had never dealt with Yun, and she grabbed the man by the throat and dangled him over Yingyong's saddle, threatening to drop Chaejin and his mother both. When she finally asked where Yun was, Kuruk's voice rang out, reminding her that taking intimidation this far was not who she was. She realized that they truly did not know, and put Chaejin on the platform and raised it up, letting them go free. She was in shock at her own actions and did not know how she would explain the situation to the court.
When they arrived at the palace, Kyoshi attended Zoryu's assembly in the Fire Lord's private theater. Zoryu announced that the traitor had been found, and "Yun" confessed to conspiring with the Saowon. At once, the clans all turned on the Saowon in the room, and an immediate purge began. Kyoshi chased after the Fire Lord's prisoner and managed to take down the guards, revealing that the Yun was actually a decoy, ready to die to clear his debt. She reached Zoryu in the war room, who confirmed that the Saowon clan was to die. She pointed out that the ruse would be exposed if the real Yun showed up, and Zoryu agreed, telling her that he had bought the Avatar more time to bring Yun to justice. Kyoshi demanded clemency for the Saowon and the false Yun if the real one was to be dealt with, although her intimidation did not faze the Fire Lord. Zoryu advised Kyoshi that Yun truly hated them, and was driven by his revenge for his stolen Avatarhood. He told her to accept the truth, before dismissing her to plan the future of his country. She departed the capital on a small royal pleasure craft, Sulan's Smile.
==== Connecting with Kuruk ====
When the ship reached the ruins of Yangchen's island, Kyoshi plunged into the water. Almost drowning in the seawater, Kyoshi managed to cross over to a beautiful green field in the Spirit World. Kuruk told her that he could help guide her to Yun and Father Glowworm, but he needed her help to do so. Kyoshi asked where the spirits were, and Kuruk told her that they avoided him, as he used to hunt spirits. Kyoshi grew disgusted upon learning about this fact and angrily told him that his name belonged in the gutter with hers. The Spirit World responded to her emotional state, the ground cracking beneath her. She screamed at Kuruk, threatening to fall into an abyss, and Kuruk told her she had every right to hate him. At that moment, the crumbling paused as Kyoshi reminded herself of her obligation to the world, and to be more than the sum of her grievances. The Spirit World reconstructed itself, and Kuruk motioned to touch Kyoshi. She received an extensive vision of his life after he first crossed over to the Spirit World up to his battle with Father Glowworm.
When she stepped away from Kuruk's memories, Kyoshi had a newfound respect for her predecessor. She asked about the rest of his memories, but Kuruk dourly told her there was little else to see. Kyoshi expressed her gratitude for reaching him, but he showed her another area of the Spirit World: a drained, dead swamp that had been formed out of Yun's anger. Kuruk told her that spirits could not possess people's thoughts, and Kyoshi realized that Yun had been acting freely the entire time during his quest for vengeance. When the meeting came to an end, Captain Joonho dragged her out of the water, saving her life.
== Final confrontation with Yun ==
After spending a month learning advanced healing arts from Atuat, Kyoshi managed to make her way to Yokoya. She found a message leading Kyoshi to the mansion, where Mui was serving a plate of food for Yun, overjoyed to see both of the youths for the first time in over a year. The pair found an excuse to dismiss Mui and began to confront one another. Kyoshi resolved to put Yun away, stating that if he resurfaced, the Fire Nation would fall into chaos again. Yun responded that he did not care about the state of the world, and was determined to kill all the liars who had sought his favor while he was believed to be the Avatar. Not wishing to be locked up by Kyoshi, he told her he was not being given much of a choice to fight her or not, and Kyoshi responded that she was not giving him a choice.
Yun bent up a stone pillar between him and Kyoshi, providing ample bendable earth for the two of them. The two benders started punching bullets and fist-sized rocks at each other from the monolith, both sides managing to avoid attack until Kyoshi shoved the entire pillar at Yun, ripping up the dining room. Yun escaped from the area, earthbending spikes at Kyoshi from the central part of the estate while not letting himself be seen, the Avatar scouting the main hall of the mansion. As Yun emerged from an alcove, Kyoshi asked him to let go of his pain, which he refused.
Kyoshi was caught off guard when Yun managed to liquefy the stone floor without heat, bringing it up to trap and encase Kyoshi. He explained that he never intended to hurt her, as she was the only one innocent in the entire affair. Pointing out her heavy armor, he believed that she had been cursed by her newfound Avatar duties. Kyoshi proudly responded that she wore her makeup and armor because she chose to, and she had much truer friends than Yun, as the Flying Opera Company arrived on the scene.
Kirima's attacks allowed enough time for Wong to successfully earthbend Kyoshi out of Yun's trap. Caught off-guard by Kyoshi's friends, he asked if Rangi was here, which the firebender confirmed, as Jinpa circled above the mansion. Kyoshi tried to drag Yun down with earthbending, but he easily escaped from the ground. Rangi stepped forward with a ferocious fire attack that startled everyone present. In response, Yun violently shook the earth, sending Kyoshi and Rangi flying. As he liquified the very foundations of the mansion, Wong and Kirima were forced from the roof, while Jinpa finally came in from above to rescue the combatants. Yun launched a hedge of stone spears, launching them at the airbender and managing to run him through the shoulder, pinning him to his bison's saddle horn. Kirima and Wong rushed to Yun, trying to attack him from a blind spot, but he created large pitfalls that broke their legs.
Yun hurled broken earth discs at Kyoshi and Rangi, now attempting to chastise them instead of truly wound them. The pair then crudely put on a substitution of their signature makeup with blood, and began to jet-step with firebending, propelling them forward to Yun without touching the earth. Kyoshi shot a huge fireball in Yun's direction but he dodged it, while Rangi managed to redirect the flame's course and hurled it back around, causing Yun's earthen barrier to explode. Yun tunneled down and made his way up to Rangi, stabbing her through the back with an earthen spike. Kyoshi caught Rangi in her arms, knowing she was about to enter the Avatar State.
Yun warned Kyoshi that situations would keep occurring if she tried to stop him. Kyoshi began to apologize for stealing Yun's Avatarhood, bringing a hand to his chest to seemingly comfort him. Finally, she used an advanced healing technique to drastically lower his body temperature, freezing his heart and lungs solid and killing him. She moved her other hand to Rangi to heal her, using the Avatar State to lift up a sliver of water to treat her grievous injury.
She brought her friends to the mansion's standing infirmary, constantly healing Rangi, and managing to give Jinpa some medicine for the pain. She informed them that Atuat would be arriving soon, as well as Hei-Ran. When Rangi asked if it was truly over with Yun, Kyoshi confirmed that it was, and the couple cried for their friend.
Kyoshi buried Yun on a hill above Yokoya, personally engraving his name and place of origin on the stone marker. Kyoshi and Rangi were the last to linger by Yun's grave after a small funeral. Feeling immense grief, the Avatar asked her lover if she was right to kill her friend because she could not save him. Rangi said she did not know, but she would always be there by Kyoshi's side. After Rangi left, Kyoshi gave Yun a final farewell. At that moment, a fox appeared from a nearby bush, guiding Kyoshi to a spring in a nearby forest.
Kyoshi saw a stone tablet, and began to meditate on the spiritual grounds, expecting to meet with Kuruk. Instead, she saw Yangchen, and gasped in shock, believing her to be Jesa's ghost. Once she got over her surprise, she said how thankful she was to reach the Air Avatar. Kyoshi voiced her doubts about Kuruk being a good mentor, but Yangchen explained that the spirits turned dark in his lifetime because of her own agreements with the humans. With Kyoshi confused, Yangchen explained that she must forgo the easy answers, as even if she spent a thousand years talking to the past Avatar, only she could make the right decision. Before dissipating, Yangchen advised her to replace the clay turtle relic she had broken after she escaped Jianzhu's mansion and tried to practice earthbending with it. When she came to her senses, the fox was still there, and guided her back to her friends, later becoming her animal guide.
Following her battle with Yun, she sent Lao Ge to intimidate Zoryu into keeping his promise to spare the Saowon and the false Yun.
== References ==
Category:A to Z
Category:Character histories
Category:Kyoshi