Chapter 14: Initiation

After four hours of school following my job, I got home soon after dusk. My initiation into the Northern Water Tribe was in two days, and I had to be sure I past all the tests I would take tomorrow. While on the way home, many ideas on how to kill Yasei came into my mind. I could bloodbend the blood out of his body, give him a heart attack, stab him with my spears, etc. However, since coming here and working as a healer's aide, I had begun to think more rationally. Killing Yasei would probably have harsh repercussions on Kibou and Mujitsu. I'd also be the first suspect, considering I just moved here. Therefore, my plot would need to take place after the initiation ceremony and not have my name written all over it. However, that wasn't important now, so after some dinner, I sat on my couch and studied Water Nation history and such.

The next day, I didn't need to go to work. I headed street for the school and sat down to take my two hour exam. It was actually quite a challenge, since I'm sure I messed up some of the chiefs. After the exam, we were to sit outside the class in a small waiting room until we were given our results. An hour later, I was told I passed the exam and would not need to take any more classes. After a three hour rehearsal of the ceremony, I was finally released. Relieved, I headed to the farthest corner of the Tribe and practiced my waterbending. I had discovered this place a while ago; an iceberg that had floated from the ocean into a small cove. It was the perfect place to practice, since I was well shielded and had a decent amount of light.

That night, I got home quite early to write my speech. It would turn quite a few heads at the initiation ceremony, but I felt I needed to deliver it in order to be fully accepted. It was supposed to provide a history of my life and why I decided to come live here. However, I was sure to leave "unnecessary" parts out. Well, let's just say I exceeded expectations.

The next day, I headed to the palace to get ready for the ceremony. My hair was done, my face was washed, and I was given elegant clothes to wear. It was kind of odd dressing this fancy; it wasn't really my thing. Before dusk, people started coming to the outside of the palace, where my ceremony was to take place. I admit I was very nervous, especially since I had to deliver my speech, but right before the ceremony took place, a feeling came over me. I knew I had no choice but to go ahead with it, so I might as well do it.

I still remember everything perfectly. Around dusk, I entered the courtyard in front of the palace. Everyone in the whole tribe was there, seated in the audience, wanting to hear my history. Everyone who had asked about it, I denied saying they would learn at the ceremony. Master Pakku and his class were performing beautiful waterbending forms in back of us, while flutes hummed in the distance. I was led in by Chief Arnook, who would be leading the ceremony. My pale dress fluttered in the wind as I tightened my navy shawl. My high heels clicked as I walked on the ice, and my hair, up in a single bun, unlike my usual two, was tossed around in the wind. When I finally arrived at my seat, I sat down and watched as Chief Arnook and the rest of the government officials sat before me.

"We are gathered today to welcome a new person into our community…"

After Chief Arnook gave my introduction, I was called up to express some oaths to the Water Tribe.

"Hiuoko, do you swear to abide my Northern Water Tribe customs, politics, and law?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to be a hardworking citizen and defend your country in a time of need?"

"I do."

After a few more vows, I was sat down and clapped at. After the clapping ceased, I was taken to the pond where Master Pakku and students were performing. When I arrived, Master Pakku bent the water out of the pond while a few soldiers poured gallons of new water into the pond.

"Hiuoko, this pond has been filled with water from our sacred spirit oasis. By emerging yourself in the water, you will finally become a citizen of the Northern Water Tribe."

Arnook gently motioned me towards the water, as I stepped in and submerged. The water chilled me to the bone, yet I felt no pain. I felt more alive than ever and could feel the power of water rushing over my entire body. The moon and I seemed to be one for those few seconds. I had no desire to resurface, yet I knew I must and face the Northern Water Tribe, my home.

I finally emerged from the water to the sound of clapping and waterbenders immediately bending the water off me. Chief Arnook put the mark of the Northern Water Tribe on my face as the final seal to the initiation. He then announced that I would be giving a speech and asked everyone to be quiet. I approached the ice podium and set down my speech. I began to read it as my legs quaked.

"Thank you, fellow Water Tribe citizens for accepting me into your society. It is a great honor, and I promise to be a dutifully citizen. However, before this ceremony ends, I feel you should know why I came here and what my life was like before." I took a huge gulp and continued to speak.

"I was born in the Fire Nation capital city to a chief admiral and a Southern Water Tribe peasant."

"SO you are FIRE NATION!" someone from the crowd shouted as people's faces lit up with shock.

"No, I am from the Fire Nation, but that doesn't mean I am Fire Nation," I responded, having anticipated this response. "My mother was captured from the Southern Water Tribe and brought to the Fire Nation. My father took a liking to her and forced her to marry him. They had me as a child, and I grew up in the capital city. At age seven, I discovered I was a waterbender, and my mother taught me everything she knew, because in the Southern Water Tribe, the women can actually fight!" I said, looking at Muchi and Chief Arnook. "When my father learned of this, they got into a huge violent fight, and he told me he threw my mother in jail. He claimed to be stopping me from bending for my own good, but I still practiced. When I was fourteen, I went to go visit my mother. After sneaking into the prison, I learned my mother never went to prison; she was killed by my father. I decided to escape from the Fire Nation, since I couldn't take it anymore. I froze my dad in a block of ice and fled the city. After many layovers, I finally made it here, and I now stand before you today. Thank you for your time."

No one in the crowd said anything. They continued to stare at me, either marveling at what I had been through or cursing they had allowed a Fire Nation citizen into their society. After a few moments of quiet, someone began to clap; it was Kibou and her brother Mujitsu. Yasei quickly slapped their hands, but everyone had already begun to clap quite awkwardly. I descended from the podium when someone shouted, "It's a wonder you think you can waterbend. Your mother was from the Southern Water Tribe; she probably sucked ass at bending!"

Everyone in the crowd silenced, amazed by what this guy had said; it was Yasei. He had insulted my mother, and he would not get away with it.

"You think my mother sucked at bending? I could kick your preppy ass in waterbending any day of the week!" I responded viciously.

"You really think so? We're trained to fight the right way here. Our bending style doesn't incorporate helping weak women who can't defend themselves on the battlefield. If your mum was so good, why was she captured?"

"Do you really believe that?" I asked him, raising my voice, accumulating water from the ground. "My mom could do things with water you couldn't even dream of. If you really think you're so much better than me, we'll go right now. Hey, I'm just some defenseless women who would probably die in a second of your excellent waterbending prowess So, come on and fight me!"

"Umm, Hiuoko. Women, as you know, don't fight here," Chief Arnook told me. "You're going to have to take that back."

"Nah, I don't want everyone to see you begging for mercy," Yasei replied.

"I said, COME AND FIGHT ME!" I cried, ignoring Chief Arnook's comment. I threw the water onto Yasei, froze it, and bent him and the iceberg over to me, smashing it on the ground.

"Why you little bi- he shouted, running at me with a water whip above his head. I simply froze his feet to the ground and watched as he fell. I then shot a high pressure water stream at him, knocking him back. Before I could do anything else, my hands were restrained by two top benders, and I was told to stop moving.

"HE INSULTED MY MOTHER!" I shouted, as the guards drove me into the palace. Master Pakku followed close behind, and once we were in the palace, he said he wanted a word with me. The guards left, and I was alone with Pakku.

"Hiuoko, while I do admire your waterbending prowess, it has been made clear to you several times that women are forbidden to use waterbending in an offensive way. Now, I know Yasei insulted your mother, but that is no excuse to go berserk on him. However, seeing how today is your initiation day and the fact that you've been through a lot and are an emotionally unstable girl, I'll excuse this outburst. However, should you do anything like this again, you will be jailed for a month. If you further refuse to obey, you will be exiled. Do you understand me?" Pakku said, staring into my eyes.

"Yes, I do," I sighed, as Pakku walked away. He then snapped his fingers and two of his students came to my side, took my arms, and began to walk me home.

As we walked, I began to think of Yasei and how I abhorred him. How could he treat me, a fifteen year old girl, like trash? I remembered my previous plans to have him arrested, and decided that instead of arresting him, he would be exiled. Thus began my year-long plan to have Yasei exiled from the Northern Water Tribe.