Jasmine Tea - An Avatar the Last Airbender Fan fiction

2 - New Beginnings

Zia woke up to the first few rays of sun peaking in through her window hitting her eyes. Groaning, she slowly got out of bed and went to her water basin, which had a mirror above it. She washed her face and inspected her appearance, which was a little wild considering she fell asleep with her hair still done and in her normal clothes. She stared at herself and smiled, she felt good. Zia had a several beauty marks on her face and all over her body.

Sighing, she brushed out the knots in her hair and redid her traditional half up half down bun look. Then she walked to the dresser, frowning when she realized it was filled with spare mens uniforms. Luckily, she had an extra outfit in her bag she brought. It was a fire nation outfit, too, a hand me down from her mother but it fit nonetheless.

I should go start the tea. She thought to herself, leaving her room and heading upstairs where General Iroh told her the kitchen was.

She eventually found it, the chef was already preparing breakfast for the crew when she walked in. She quietly made the tea and brought out the tea set to the deck of the ship. She poured herself a cup and looked out at the sea. She wasn't sure where they were headed but she couldn't see land anymore so they must have traveled pretty far overnight.

She relished the moment she was having, grateful to finally be traveling the world.

"Ah, Miss Zialoya." General Iroh walked out on deck over to where Zia was standing. "Hope you had a nice rest." He smiled.

"I did, thank you." She returned his smile, "And you came just in time, I just finished the tea!"

She poured him a cup which he took excitedly.

"Mm! You have a real talent for making tea young lady." He said warmly, Zia just smiled in response.

"So, what are you running from?" He asked casually.

"Uh- what?"

"I'm only asking because most people who desperately want to leave their life behind are running from the past or themselves." Iroh said in a wise tone.

"Hmm... Well I truly don't think I'm running from anything. I see this as my opportunity to run towards something. I don't know what it is yet but I will find it, somewhere out there. I will find my calling and I will have many adventures to tell the tale of when I do." Zia told him in a very optimistic tone.

"I do appreciate your positive attitude, young Zia, if only my nephew had a similar outlook on life as you." Iroh sighed, taking another sip from his cup.

"In my experience, sometimes positivity is the only thing you have left to cling onto. You have to manifest and hope things improve in order for them to do so. I've been on my own for a few months now, and it hasn't been easy but I know I must do this to find my destiny." Zia explained, smiling at Iroh.

"A destiny is what you make of it, it is your choice. From that choice you can change it, it's never too late to find a new destiny." Iroh advised, finishing his tea.

"Thank you for the advice, General Iroh."

"Oh that was nothing." Iroh chuckled, "And if you don't mind me asking, why have you been on your own? You're no older than my nephew."

"Uhm... My parents never really had a good relationship, I was very much unplanned and unwanted by both of then - which I don't blame them, I mean having an unexpected baby at 18 with the 25 year old man your mom forbade you from seeing? Yeah I'll pass." Zia laughed lightly.

"My father convinced my mom to move into his house in the fire nation so she could have the baby there instead of the earth kingdom where she lived, which he thought was sooo disgusting. Anyway I was born and for a few years we managed to get by on the scraps we had, but then my father ranked up in the military - General Akoh. He let the newfound power get to his head and soon lost control over anger, which was his source of firebending." Zia cringed at the memory of her firebender father losing his temper.