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

Chapter 9 - A Quest

A Quest

A New Journey Begins

I ran to find Aunt and Uncle Yen. I searched for Aunt Yen first; because she'd be in the kitchen preparing dinner with the other cooks. Surprisingly, Uncle Yen was also there. "Uncle Yen, what are you doing up here? Aren't you supposed to still be down in the stables?" I asked curiously. He chuckled, "Iroh gave me the rest of the day off. So I've come up to help serve the guests and you!" he smiled proudly and pulled me into an embrace.

I stood stunned for a moment, of course I was happy he had been allowed to leave work early, but his last few words caught me. "You'll serve the guests... and me?" I asked, almost dumbstruck. "Why, of course! Surely, you didn't think that we'd allow you to remain a maid forever," he gave me a humorous expression, but I didn't find it funny. What was he thinking? "B-but I'm not a guest or a... a princess for that matter," I stammered.

He laughed harder, "No... you're more than a guest or a princess! Mi Li, you are the daughter of a respected Fire Nation General, which practically makes you nobility, and you have a power that people can only dream of having; apart from the Avatar of course. You really are no house maid at all," he looked so proud that he seemed to be half-crazed. My jaw hung open; I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Well, I wanted to tell you that Fire Lord Zuko has officially released me from my duty as a maid," I paused searching for what to say next, "but that doesn't mean that I'll let you treat me like a guest!" I almost shouted the last part. Aunt Yen had been listening to our conversation the entire time, "What do you mean, Mi Li? I can understand you're not used to it, but it's only right; you deserve it," she encouraged and gave me a pleasant smile. "No! It's not right, you deserve to be free just as much as I do," I wanted to knock the silliness out of them.

Uncle Yen looked me in the eye, his face grave, and held my shoulders firmly, "Mi Li, we've told you before; Aunt Yen and I have accepted our places as workers of this palace. But this is not your place; you are destined for much more than just being a petty maid," he spoke calmly and quietly.

I gave up trying to argue, and accepted his words, nodding my head reluctantly. "Now go, find the Avatar and his friends, and tell them the good news. We'll be seeing you shortly," he gave me an assuring grin. He opened the door and I stepped out, heading for the guest rooms. I suppose, that was my weakness; I always did as I was told, and without questions.

When I had reached the guests' common room, I saw Sokka sitting alone on a couch, with an inscrutable frown etched in his brow - he was bored, very bored.  "Hello Sokka," I said trying to make conversation, "what are you doing?" He looked up from his boomerang, and answered, "Oh, nothing really. To be honest with you, I'm really hungry at the moment, but I have to wait for everyone else; because it's only polite," and he gave me a smirk. I sat down next to him.

"Oh, that's very considerate of you," I commented, and he responded with a chuckle. "So, tell me about yourself, Sokka," I continued. He was instantaneously absorbed in the conversation, "My father is Chief Hakoda, the leader of the Southern Water Tribe. Katara is my younger sister. We've been following Aang, ever since he emerged from the ice which had been holding him prisoner, for hundreds of years," he paused to take a breath.

"Years ago our mother was taken by the Fire Nation in one of their raids for water-benders. We still haven't found her, but we hope she's alive," he stopped after that last sentence. "Well, I'm very sorry about your mother, I understand what it feels like. But your father is the chief of the Southern Water Tribe?" I asked with interest. "Yes, he is, he's not here at the moment though. He left to head back home, so he could get things back into order sooner," he said casually. I supposed he was used to his father leaving a lot.