Avatar: The Red Dragon

Chapter 1: The Awakening

145 AG

Capital Island, Fire Nation

On an ordinary spring night, at an hour when all the shops were already closed, the lights were still on in an old tea shop. The Red Dragon was the oldest tea shop in the shopping district. Two dragon statues were standing guard at the entrance of the two-level house, the upper level being the living area with the lower level being the shop floor.

The interior was spacious, and many tables were scattered around the plainly decorated space. Located at the back of the room stood a counter with two small red dragon statues standing on it. Behind the counter was a massive cupboard that stored all varieties of tea served in the shop.

Opened just after the coronation of Fire Lord Zuko, the shop was considered one of the best tea shops in town and had been serving tea and sweets since then.

On this peaceful night, The Red Dragon tea shop was still lively. Nanami was celebrating her eleventh birthday with her family and the young girl was sitting at one of the round tables, between her older brother and sister, Shuu and Manami.

"You're a big girl now Nanami!" Shuu exclaimed, ruffling his youngest sister's hair.

Her grandmother Masuko, elegantly dressed as always, came through a passage that connected the customers' area to the kitchen. She placed the jasmine tea she had brought on the turntable and sat next to her oldest granddaughter.

Her grandfather Nobuo came next, whistling and dancing, with seven teacups and poured each person their tea before taking a seat next to his wife. Her mother Akemi brought in the cutlery and crockery, while her father KOuichi brought in the birthday cake.

"Happy birthday Nanami!" they all sang together, clapping their hands to the rhythm of the song.

The whole family was enjoying the party and the sound of cutlery clattering on the plates accompanied the lively conversations.

"So, Nanami. What did you plan for your future?" Her grandfather asked her, as he served himself a second slice of cake.

"I don't know Grandpa! I didn't even think about it to be honest." She confessed.

Nanami was one of those who often rushed things at the last minute.

"Nobuo! Stop eating too much cake! Your belly is already big enough like that!" Masuko scolded her voracious husband.

"It's only the second slice! I can't only drink tea like you. It's not, well, my cup of tea!" He laughed at his own joke.

"You're not funny Grandpa!" Manami told him, despite clearly giggling.

They continued to talk and laugh for a while before Akemi stood up to begin clearing the table.

"Time to go to bed, everyone!" she said. "Don't forget to brush your teeth!" she added, looking pointedly at her three children.

The party ended and Nanami went to bed after wishing everyone a good night – and brushing her teeth of course. Her bedroom was small, with just a single bed, a desk, a mirror and a wardrobe in it. She laid down on her bed, thinking back to her grandfather's question.