| "I have to do what's right, and what's right is not hiding behind a wall of ice like cowards! This life of isolation is only going to be our downfall. So, will we join our brothers and sisters from the South Pole and aid them like we were meant to, or are we going to become like Ursa and ignore how much the war is causing all of us to suffer?" |
| — Marissa rallying her tribe into taking a stand |
| By Cangse Sanren | Part of the Phoenix Rising, Dying Embers continuity. |
Marissa Aquarius is a submissive waterbender born as the second princess of the Northern Water Tribe. She was the younger daughter of Chief Arnook and Coral, the younger sister of Yue, the aunt of Glacier and Amara, sister-in-law of Suki, the love interest of Ty Lee, and the mother of Azulana and Phoebe. Two years before her birth, Marissa had an older brother named Acheron, who died as a baby. To keep her from feeling guilt over someone she didn't know, Marissa's parents forbade Yue and anybody else to tell her about Acheron.
During her childhood, Marissa was the only female waterbender living in the Northern Water Tribe that had a will to fight and a rebellious streak. She was regarded as brave, strong, and smart by her older sister, but unlike Yue, Marissa refused to be married to someone that she didn't love and following the failed Siege of the North, Mari ran away with Team Avatar to further her bending skills and escape being married to a total stranger.