Avatar The Last Airbender: Water and Fire [ON HOLD]

Chapter 18 - The Avatar

The Avatar

A Spiritual Journey Begins

The next day, Mr Yen and Mrs Yen were ready to return home. I hugged them both affectionately, and watched as Appa took off into the sky. Aunt Nina finished the dress that day, and she urged me to try it on. Of course, with her accurate measurements and experienced hands, it fitted me perfectly. Nina gasped, “Oh, you look beautiful!” She sounded out of breath. I giggled at her reaction, and gazed into the mirror.

In the mirror, I saw a girl, who was young yet old. Her dark hair, fair complexion, and curvaceous figure, exhibited her youth. But her facial expression and tired eyes suggested otherwise – she seemed to be weighed down by a deep sadness, which was reflected in her movements. Realising that it was me in the mirror, I became slightly worried. I tried to smile, but it didn’t feel real and natural. I had changed so much, in ways I hadn’t noticed.

Desperately, I thought of the positives; growing up has turned me into an elegant young lady; I was proud about that. Finally, I managed to conjure the facade that I fumbled to find. I looked happy, and it only complemented the rest of my features. Nina continued to gaze at me adoringly, and I felt my face flush with warmth. We shared an affectionate cuddle, “Thank you Aunt Nina, it’s beautiful. I like it very much,” I said over her shoulder.

She chuckled lightly, “Oh, you’re welcome. Besides, it’s the least I could do for you,” she said as she pulled me out of her embrace. “Come, let’s go downstairs to show everyone else,” she said, towing me out of the room. I moaned pleadingly at her, “No, Aunt Nina! I don’t want to go downstairs, let me change first,” I begged. She huffed at my request, “Then what would be the point of me putting all that effort into making that beautiful dress?” she argued definitively.

But by then, we were at the bottom of the stairs. Everyone was in the living room and had heard the commotion. They glanced curiously at us, but smiled when they saw me. I smiled back shyly, trying to move out of view. But Aunt Nina’s firm grasp kept me still, as I was exhibited to our home audience. I mentally whined and moaned, but to no avail, as everyone’s gazed remained hard-stuck on me. I heard giggles, gasps and groans, but one voice caught my attention. “You’re beautiful!” Haru whispered, but his voice was loud in contrast to the silence that dominated the room.

At hearing his voice, I glanced up, and our gazes locked. It was the first time he had spoken directly to me in days. He just sat dumbstruck, and completely frozen. Were it not for his deep breathing, I would have thought he was a statue! I must have blushed, because I heard more giggles in the background. But our gazes remained fixed, and for the first time in days, the anger melted away and I saw the guilt and longing take over his expression. I grinned as cheerfully as I could, and he returned a mesmerised smile.

Aunt Nina led me to the middle of the living area, and I twirled a full circle so that everyone could see the dress. I heard Katara and Suki share a gasp of “It’s so pretty!” and I giggled. I turned to look at Tyro and he gave me an approving smile, “Well done, Nina. You’ve made a very wonderful dress, to suit a very wonderful girl,” he said nodding, before turning to glance at Nina affectionately. I was glad that the dress was drawing good spirits into the room. I smiled gladly at Tyro and Nina as they shared a loving moment, just as I felt a hand grasping mine.

I looked down to the point of contact, and found Haru’s hand in mine. I looked up from our entwined fingers, to glance at him. His eyes bore into my own, as he slowly rose from the couch. When he was completely standing, he towered above me, forcing me to have to turn my head up to the sky. As I gazed up, he gazed down, and I instantly anticipated what he wanted. To my surprise, he engulfed me in his arms, and I gratefully accepted his embrace. In his firm hold, I could feel my heart pounding like a Bull-Antelope in flight.