Pema

Pema

Last edited on November 8, 2014

by Firetornado3006

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"I remember when I moved out of my parents' house to become an Air Acolyte. That first night I was so scared and lonely ... I really wanted to be there, but it still took time for me to adjust and feel like I was a part of it all."

— Pema to Tenzin.[1]

PemaPema

Pema

Biographical information

Nationality

Republic City, United Republic

Ethnicity

United Republic

Age

35 in Book One: Air[2]

36 in Book Two: Spirits

39 in Book Four: Balance[3]

Born

135 AG

Physical description

Gender

Female

Hair color

Brown

Pema is the wife of Tenzin and the mother of their four children: Jinora, Ikki, Meelo, and Rohan. She is a nonbending Air Acolyte who lives with her family on Air Temple Island. She is significantly younger than Tenzin and is kind and compassionate, with a lovely sense of humor. She enjoys spending time with spiritual endeavors and at times feels overwhelmed by her rambunctious children's airbending abilities.[2]

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History

Early life

At some point in her life, Pema left her parents and pursued her desire to become an Air Acolyte. Initially, she struggled to adjust to her new life, feeling scared and alone on her first night. Over time, however, she adjusted and settled in as she grew to feel like part of the group.[1]

Prior to 160 AG, Pema fell in love with Tenzin. At that time, he was in a romantic relationship with Lin Beifong, though their relationship began to falter due to their different goals in life. Unable to bear seeing her true love spend his life with another woman, Pema confessed her love to the airbender, who broke off his relationship with Lin. In a fit of rage, the police chief attempted to incarcerate Pema following this, but was unsuccessful.[4] Pema and Tenzin later married and started their own family.[5]

170 AG

Supporting her family and Korra

When Pema traveled to the South Pole with her family to see Katara and Avatar Korra, she expressed to her mother-in-law her frustration about having only airbender children, as well as her desire for her fourth child to be a nonbender.[6]

Pregnant PemaPema was pregnant with her fourth child when she and her family traveled to the Southern Water Tribe.

Later, Korra journeyed to Pema's family's home and stayed with them for several months in order to complete her airbending training. The impetuous teenager turned Pema's quiet life upside down.[7]

When Korra did not come to dinner one night, a frustrated Tenzin confessed to Pema that he did not know how to get through to Korra. She comforted her husband by telling him that the best thing he could do for Korra at the time was to give her some space.[8]

When Councilman Tarrlok visited Pema and her family at dinner, she gave her husband a look of irritation, but after the waterbender noted that airbenders never send away a hungry guest, Tenzin reluctantly allowed him stay, much to Pema's discontent. She later attended a gala Tarrlok threw in honor of Korra along with her family at City Hall.[9]

While Korra was talking with Jinora and Ikki about how to approach Mako, Pema appeared from behind. Korra asked her how long she had been there, to which Pema replied that it had been enough time to understand the situation. She went on to tell Korra the story behind herself and Tenzin's relationship, and advised the Avatar to be honest about her feelings, as she had been with Tenzin.[5]

Anti-bending Revolution

Pema with Tenzin after giving birthPema and Tenzin admired Rohan upon his birth.

After Korra escaped from Tarrlok's hideout, she returned to Air Temple Island where Pema welcomed her with a hearty meal. After the dinner, Pema and Asami washed the dishes, and when Mako entered requesting more tea for Korra, Asami seemed angry with him, urging Pema to leave to allow them to talk things over. Later, as the Equalists began attacking Republic City, Pema gave birth to her fourth child, naming him Rohan. The family fled Air Temple Island minutes after the birth, heading to safety away from the city in order to preserve the Air Nomad race.[10]

Pema was later imprisoned by Amon along with the baby, while her husband and children were captured. She was later rescued and reunited with her family, after which they welcomed Tenzin's brother, Bumi. She joined her family and friends in a journey to the South Pole in hopes that Katara could restore Korra's bending, and eventually spectated Korra restoring Lin's earthbending at the Avatar Temple.[11]

171 AG

Journey to the air temples

Pema returned to the South Pole with her family, this time for the Glacier Spirits Festival. Once Tenzin was relieved of his post as instructor to the Avatar,[12] she traveled with him, their children, and her siblings-in-law to the Southern Air Temple, where she was greeted with great respect. Pema was bewildered when Abbot Shung, the head caretaker of the temple, showered her family with gifts, expressing their respect for the mother of the next generation of airbenders.[13]

Pema hugging IkkiRelieved over Ikki's return, Pema rushed over to her daughter to hug away her worry.

Some time later, Pema was relaxing with Tenzin, listening in as her husband talked with his siblings about childhood vacations. When Jinora and Meelo arrived, Pema noticed that Ikki was not with them. After Pema asked about their sister, the young airbenders reluctantly revealed that they had been teasing her and that Ikki had run away. Pema scolded both children, angrily asking the two why they could not get along better.[14] When Tenzin returned with her youngest daughter the following evening, she rushed over to hug Ikki, expressing her relief over her return. She immediately directed her attention to Jinora and Meelo, sternly asking whether or not there was something they wanted to tell Ikki, forcing them to apologize.[15] A few days later, she witnessed in awe as her oldest son orchestrated a ring-tailed winged lemur air show.[16]

Having arrived at the Eastern Air Temple, Pema was relaxing with Rohan and the rest of her family in the temple's courtyard, until Tenzin arrived and announced their itinerary for the day. Before they could embark on the tour of the temple, Korra arrived, pleasantly surprising everyone. However, as the Avatar recalled the events they had missed by being

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