Avatar: The Red Dragon

Chapter 15: The Journey

Nanami stared at the ceiling in her room. Ever since she had discovered her firebending, her life had been filled with twists and turns. It was too much for an eleven year old girl like her.

She couldn't reply to Avatar Aang's proposition the other day. She felt conflicted about leaving her family, even though it was only for a short while. Luckily, the Avatar had been nice enough to give her some time – two weeks exactly – to think about it and make up her mind. But the allotted time would end tomorrow evening, and she would have to give her response.

It would be really cool to travel and learn more about my power, but I've never left the shopping district, let alone the Fire Nation. Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko will accompany me, but I'll be on my own, and I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go.

She sighed, rolled over in her bed, and laid on her stomach, her face buried in the pillow. Her thoughts were all over the place.

What should I do? Mom, Dad and everyone told me I should go but I'm still anxious... Aaaaaah, get yourself together Nanami! You can do it. Go and find the truth behind your firebending!

After nearly two weeks of inner debate and seeking advice from family and friends, Nanami still hadn't come up with an answer. She would start doubting herself each time she thought she had made up her mind, and would give up thinking seriously about the question because of a headache – and also because she's the number one procrastinator in her family.

It was an unusual situation for her. Of course, she had always been indecisive, but it had never been so hard for her to make a decision. She was thrilled at the idea of exploring more of the world; it was her dream. However, she couldn't help but feel insecure about leaving her family and friends and traveling with amazing people, such as the Avatar and the Fire Lord. She felt intimidated, despite Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko being so nice, and didn't consider herself ready for this trip yet.

However, a choice had to be made, and the deadline had already arrived at her doorstep. Nanami got up and sat on the edge of her bed, her face looking serious. She recalled everyone's words and advice. Grandma Masuko told her to follow the path she had chosen for herself, her parents said to believe in herself, and the others encouraged her to follow her heart.

I promised Grandma I wouldn't let them down. I've got to do this. I'm going to find the Red Dragon!

❁

A sky bison flew over the starry night of Capital Island and landed in front of the Royal Palace. Tenzin's bison, Oogi, picked up two additional passengers in his saddle, and took off again at a slow pace for his voyagers to admire the city at night. They alighted a few minutes later in front of a famous old tea shop and entered one by one.

"Iroh? You came?" Nanami ran to him, excited to welcome the prince for the first time in her home. "Welcome to the Red Dragon!"

"Thanks, Nanami. I wanted to see you," he replies, smiling at her. "Good evening," he greeted her family.

"Oh my spirits! Is he the prince?" Manami whispered into her older brother's ear. Shuu nodded and the young girl squealed as quietly as she could from excitement. "He's so cute!! Nanami has an eye for men."

The visitors sat down as their hosts came with several platters of sweets and different varieties of tea to enjoy with the snacks. Nanami and Iroh continued to chat together, completely forgetting the main reason for their presence there. Zuko, who was not a big fan of tea despite spending his youth drinking his uncle's tea, brought the teacup to his mouth and opened his eyes wide after swallowing down the first sip.