Pengpeng was a flying bison loyal to Kelsang. After her master's death, Pengpeng temporarily chose Kelsang's adoptive daughter, Avatar Kyoshi, to be her next companion.
History[]
As Kelsang's companion[]
During Jianzhu and Kelsang's tenure as Yun's teachers, they would regularly take the prospective Avatar on journeys across the world on Pengpeng's back; while such trips primarily included visiting dignitaries and urban centers, the party also surveyed the Earth Kingdom's southeastern coastline from above following the Fifth Nation's raid on the area.[1] After the pirates' leader, Tagaka, had agreed to treat with the Avatar, both Kelsang and Yun traveled to the Fifth Nation's headquarters on Pengpeng, bringing Kyoshi and Rangi along as part of the Avatar's retinue. Though Tagaka later attempted to kill her guests and make off with Yun, Pengpeng joined with the rest of the Avatar's companions to resist her, flying sorties against the Fifth Nation pirates and ships at Jianzhu's direction, while Rangi and Hei-Ran launched fire blasts atop the bison's saddle.[2]
When Jianzhu orchestrated a test to find out whether Kyoshi or Yun was the true Avatar, he stole Pengpeng, forcing Kelsang to travel by his airbender staff.[3] After Kelsang was killed by Jianzhu, Pengpeng mourned for him as Kyoshi flew on her back to Yun's mansion near Yokoya.[4]
As Kyoshi's companion[]
After Kyoshi fled Yokoya, she and Rangi flew to Chameleon Bay with Pengpeng, landing the bison on the town's outskirts. Kyoshi and Rangi gained some level of respect among the Flying Opera Company for their access to a flying bison, ultimately convincing the daofei into entering a partnership with the Avatar.[5] Though Pengpeng initially reacted to the Avatar's new companions poorly, blasting Lek away with airbending, she ultimately accepted Lek, Wong, Kirima, and Lao Ge at Kyoshi's assurance, escorting the group away as they escaped from local law enforcement.[6]
With Kyoshi agreeing to aid the Flying Opera Company in their criminal endeavors, the group flew on Pengpeng to Hujiang, the bison easily avoiding the daofei haven's natural defenses.[7][8] Once again, Pengpeng rested outside the settlement, as the members of the Flying Opera Company knew their criminal brethren would like nothing more than to poach a flying bison from their possession.[8] Following the arrival of a shirshu in Hujiang, supposedly in pursuit of the Avatar, Kyoshi and her companions fled the settlement, flying away on Pengpeng to escape the beast as well as the Autumn Bloom Society's wroth.[9]
Due to the Flying Opera Company being ordered by their superiors to head to Governor Te Sihung's palace near Zigan Village for a rescue mission, Pengpeng spent the next month transporting her companions across the continent. Having revealed her status as the Avatar to her sworn brothers and sisters, Kyoshi spent her time mastering the four elements under their guidance, with any moment she was not flying on Pengpeng being dedicated to training.[10]
Though the Flying Opera Company successfully rescued a prisoner from Governor Te Sihung's palace, they later discovered the captive was Xu Ping An, leader of the Yellow Necks.[11] Unsure whether to fight or flee, Kyoshi instead decided to watch and track Xu's army from above while riding Pengpeng, with Kirima creating a cloud around the bison to conceal their presence. Seeing Xu's men approach a farmhouse, and realizing that the daofei intended to massacre the populace in the outlying countryside, Kyoshi elected to confront Xu head-on, with Lek directing Pengpeng toward the ground at great speed.[12]
After Kyoshi parted with the Flying Opera Company and with Rangi following her final confrontation with Jianzhu, Pengpeng stayed by Kyoshi's side as she traveled to the Southern Air Temple to seek sanctuary.[13] Soon after, Pengpeng retired to the temple and began raising calves of her own.[14]
Personality[]
As Kelsang and Kyoshi's companion, Pengpeng cared deeply for her partners and their well-being. After Kyoshi approached the bison following Kelsang's death, Pengpeng was near inconsolable, only being coaxed out of her mourning at Kyoshi's pleas for help.[4] Later, when Kyoshi assured Pengpeng that she would return from Chameleon Bay, the bison nuzzled the Avatar, concerned for her safety.[5] Kyoshi herself viewed it as a miracle Pengpeng had elected to stay and help her in her mission to bring down Jianzhu, as in most cases, flying bison would join their fellows in wild herds after their original companion had passed on.[8]
Abilities[]
Airbending[]
Like most flying bison, Pengpeng possessed the ability to fly using airbending. Utilizing her tail, Pengpeng was capable of creating winds strong enough to blow away thrown projectiles like arrows and spears.[2]
Stamina[]
As her main method of transport, Kyoshi relied on Pengpeng's ability to fly great distances in order to achieve her objectives. During Kyoshi's flight from Jianzhu, Pengpeng managed to make several successive trips across the Earth Kingdom with minimal rest, flying from Yokoya to the Xishaan Mountains and back,[3][4] then traveling from Yokoya to Chameleon Bay, all while flying through a storm in the latter two trips.[4][15]
Other skills[]
While lacking the ability to speak it, Pengpeng does understand human language.[5]
Appearances[]
Chronicles of the AvatarThe Rise of Kyoshi
Avatar games |
Trivia[]
- Despite being her animal companion, Kyoshi refused to take up Pengpeng's reins while the bison was in flight, not wanting to replace Kelsang in such a regard.[4] In most instances, Rangi and Lek directed Pengpeng while sitting on her withers.[15][12]
References[]
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