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

Chapter 7 - Secret Truths

Secret Truths  

A Heritage Unveiled

When I opened the door and entered the room, with Aunt Yen following closely behind me, I saw that the Avatar was also waiting with his friends. I stopped dead in my tracks, as shyness and uneasiness filled me. Iroh nodded his head, and gestured with his hand, for me to come inside. I sat on a couch opposite the Avatar and his friends.

I automatically looked down; a habit of mine. Aunt Yen gently lifted my chin, reminding me that it was fine to look up now. I nodded slightly, and turned to look at the Avatar and his friends. I searched the room; I had expected Zuko to be here too, but he was absent.

Then, as though he had read my mind, Uncle Iroh said, "Zuko isn't here. He left this morning, to pay his father a visit, on Roku's Island," he stated casually. I nodded, understanding. I returned my attention to the Avatar and his friends, who gazed at me with genuine curiosity. They were all silent, which made me even more uncomfortable. Then Iroh broke the silence,

"Everyone, this here, is Mi Li. She is here because she has a story that she needs the Avatar to hear; a story which she will explain in a short moment. Please, the rest of you, introduce yourselves to her. Mi Li is just a very shy girl, so I would appreciate if you didn't ask too many questions at the moment," he announced. I gave him a thankful look, by which he returned with a nod.

The Avatar spoke first, "Well, I'm Aang, pleased to meet you. These are my friends Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki and this is my pet, Momo," he introduced, gesturing towards his friends as he named them. I smiled weakly and bowed my head in respect, "I'm honoured to meet you all," I exhaled softly. I supposed then, it was my turn to speak. But my thoughts just got tied into a knot, and I didn't know where to begin. I looked at Iroh, then Aunt Yen, hoping they'd suggest how I should begin. But they remained silent; it was my responsibility to tell my story, I had to do it myself.

I looked up, and gazed directly into the Avatar's eyes. I knew how I'd begin. I put one palm facing up and produced a bright flame. I then opened my other palm, and bended the tea that was in one of the cups, moving it over my palm so that it levitated there; a ball of liquid. I maintained my concentration as I looked up at the small group. They sat there stunned, eye's wide and curious, even confused. "Um, excuse me? I can't see!" exclaimed an irritated Toph. "You can bend water and fire?" asked Aang, answering Toph's question.

"But I thought only the Avatar can bend more than one element," Katara spoke out, confused. "I know, but I'm not the Avatar. I don't know what I am," I replied sadly, returning the tea to its cup and making the flame disappear. I looked at the Avatar; he was deep in thought now. I had presented the issue of the discussion; now I would tell my story, from the beginning.

"I was born in this palace. My parents were Kanari of the Southern Water Tribe and General Ming of the Fire Nation. My mother was a water-bender and she was taken away during a raid by the Fire Nation. Azulon was still Fire Lord at this point in time, and made the order to execute all captured water-benders. So when she arrived in the Fire Nation Capital, she was automatically sentenced to execution. The prison cells had gotten too overcrowded and they could no longer afford the space. But my father, Jeom, he didn't agree with the new law, and only managed to save my mother, by taking her in as a slave. He didn't treat her like a slave, though; he was kind and caring to her."

"Anyway, they fell in love, and I was born shortly after. But it wasn't allowed; my birth, my life, my very existence... was prohibited by the law. I was practically an illegal half-cast, and there was no way Fire Lord Azulon was going to accept me. They tried to hide me; keep me secret. But my parents knew that sooner or later, I would have to run away; it was just too dangerous living right under the Fire Lord's nose. That time came; I was only five and we were celebrating the New Year in the streets of the city."