parallel lines

extra.

Word Count: 5,796 words

EXTRA. 空っぽのポケットほど、人生を冒険的にするものはない

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A lot could happen in a year. One would meet new people, explore new places, try new things, imprisonment.

After the great comet arrived and the coronation of Fire Lord Zuko, as well as celebrating the movement whatnot, Natsuko had already bolted away from the comfortable tea shop and to wherever she first sees interesting. And what first came to mind was the nearest other nation near them.

So she headed for the Northern Water Tribe, there she met Ren who was learning to be the next chief of the Northern Water Tribes. The residents there weren't particularly fond of having a firebender who wasn't even from their tribe but with them heirless and her close threads to ancestral monarchy, it left them no choice.

Natsuko was within the Water Temples where she was welcomed as an esteemed guest when Ren began spilling her problems to her hearts content.

Governing a more modernized version of the swamp, the coldness of the place and the people, the countless of lessons she should know for etiquette alone then effective leading, in addition to being of both Fire Nation and Water Tribe descent and a woman which wasn't heard of quite enough before.

Natsuko placed a cup of tea on Ren's soon to be desk as she scans the whole surface of it, the many scribblings she was barely accustomed to overwhelming her, "Did you know that Avatar Kyoshi's parents were of Earth Kingdom and Air Nomad criminals?"

Ren sighed as she remained unmoving with the exception of her eyes strolling the words in a fast pace, "What difference does it make?"

"She went through rough times, abandoned by her parents and eating trash on the streets, her best friend was falsely announced as the Avatar. But it didn't stop her from being an effective peacemaker and leader to her people." Natsuko took a cup for herself, "One of your ancestors became the Avatar too."

With a smile plastered, she continued on story telling the many Avatars that had come and go in the duration of 10,000 years. She could remember almost every detail of every one of them.

From the Fire Nation admiral who saved the moon and ocean spirit once, the person who first wielded the first blue flame and became insane, her Air Nomad mentor who battled others in the tip of her toes, the Avatar who was betrothed to the first royalty of all nations, the first resident of Old Ba Sing Se, and of course, the first Ren to have ever lived in the Lie family.

"He was the only son of the well-known lion turtle hunters, also the last person to face the lion turtle until now."

"But didn't he try to kill you too?"

"He was the reason why I had to transcend to the Spirit World but as you can see, I'm back and staying." she nodded before she asked her companion in a curious tone, "What are you gonna do now? You know, other than being chieftain?"

"First thing that comes to mind is finding someone, have a child."

Natsuko smiled, "I should start waiting for a little Ren to arrive then?"

"I think I'll break tradition for them, Tonraq is first what comes to mind." the future chieftain averts the topic, "What will you be doing?"

"I'll do a little exploring before settling down."

She held onto that promise as she travelled with Pakku who was now returning to the Southern Water Tribe after the abdication of the now former chieftain and acknowledging Ren as their new ruler.