It was a particularly nice day, and sixteen year old Opal had taken advantage of the warm weather to sit under a shade tree with her newest book. Her mother and Kuvira were off somewhere with the rest of the dance troupe practicing for their next performance, Huan was in the backyard working on his next sculpture, and Wing and Wei were playing a game of power disc a few yards away from her. Bataar Jr. and her father were probably somewhere inside poring over their ridiculously thick architectural books and pondering the newest edition to Zaofu.
She was just getting to a particularly good spot in the story when Wing and Wei's shouting broke her concentration. "Opal!" Wing yelped at the same time Wei warned, "Watch out!" She looked up in time to see the heavy metal disc hurtling towards her, and only had time to bring up her hands to shield her face, hoping she could duck low enough to avoid the impact. She waited for the whizzing of the disc, but it never came. When she slowly opened her eyes, Wing and Wei stood slack-jawed and the metal disc was gently spinning in a perfect globe of air. Opal jumped back and when she did the disc fell to the ground before her.
"What was that?!" Wing yelled as he and Wei ran to her. "I was sure you were gonna be beaned right in the head! Did you…" He paused, almost not believing what he had seen with his own eyes. "Did you just air bend?"
"I don't know!" Opal's voice shook to match her hands, which she clenched together in her lap to keep them still.
"I'm gonna get Mom." Wing ran off as Wei knelt in the grass next to her.
"Are you okay, Opal?" The concern was evident in his face.
"Just a little shook up." She shrugged. "I have no idea how that happened. Really." She looked at her hands in disbelief. They'd heard the news of random people around the world suddenly being able to air bend, but she'd never have guessed that she would be one of them.
"Opal, honey!" Her mother was gathering her up in her arms like she was a little girl again.
"I'm fine, Mom," She said, suddenly embarrassed. She looked up and saw Kuvira standing a few feet away, watching silently.
"Sweetie, did you really air bend?" Her mother's gaze was intent on her face.
"I – I guess so," Opal nodded. The rest of the afternoon passed in a whirlwind. Her mother insisted on calling Tenzin in Republic City, and as it turned out, he and Avatar Korra herself were already traveling the world in search of new air benders. Pema had promised to contact him and said he just might make a special trip to come see Opal. Excitement and nerves swirled in Opal's stomach and she almost felt this was too good to be true.
"You're actually a bender," Kuvira lightly elbowed her arm.
"Yeah." Opal gave a weak smile. It still hadn't fully sunken in. "It's so… weird."
"You're actually going to get to meet the Avatar!" Kuvira grinned.
"We all are," Opal reminded. In her opinion, everyone was making a much bigger fuss about this than necessary.
"Hey Opal." Bataar Jr. came up beside her, meeting Kuvira's gaze for a quick moment with a slight blush before glancing back at Opal. "This is really exciting. Are you going to go back to the air temple with Tenzin and Korra?" Opal hadn't even thought about that yet. "That's what they're doing, you know. Inviting all the new air benders to go back with them and learn air bending."
"I – I don't know."
"You should, Opal." Kuvira spoke up. "It's the only way to develop your skill. If that's what you want, then this could be your only chance. I know you have a lot to think about right now, but I really think you should consider it." Kuvira was brusque but completely sincere. Before Opal could answer, her mother stepped up and asked to speak with Opal alone.
"Honey," she began once the rest of the family had vacated the living room, "I know this has been a long day for you."
"Yeah," Opal agreed.
"I just want you to know that I love you very much, bender or not, and I hope you already knew that, but I'm so very proud that air bending chose you. Hopefully Master Tenzin and Avatar Korra can help you get off to a good start. I've already ordered some books on the history and philosophies of air benders that I'm sure you'll enjoy. I know you always loved your storybooks about Avatar Aang when you were younger… maybe it was a sign." She smiled warmly as she pulled Opal into a hug. Opal felt like her heart might burst as she melted into her mother's embrace. At last she was a bender like her siblings, though not in the way she'd always hoped. At last she could make her mother proud.
"Opal!" Kuvira was still in her dance uniform when she found Opal reading by the fountains. "Avatar Korra is here! Your mom is talking to her right now." Kuvira paused. "She doesn't want you to go with them, does she?"
"Well, she never said that exactly but… well she did mention something about Korra giving me some pointers to get started. I can practice here just as well." Opal shrugged.
"Opal, this is your life! If going to the air temple is what you want, then you should be able to go. Is it what you want?" Kuvira's gaze was intense.
"I did think it might be kind of nice. Being with other air benders. Learning from Master Tenzin himself… but I'm happy here too."
"Zaofu will always be here." Kuvira frowned. "I think you should go with them. Tell Su you're a big girl now. You can make your own decisions."
Opal's brow furrowed. "I'll think about it," was all she could promise. Kuvira nodded and was off to change, so Opal returned to her book, but she found it difficult to concentrate on the words on the page.
"This is my daughter, Opal." Opal looked up quickly at the sound of her mother's voice, and there was Avatar Korra standing before her. After a round of introductions including, to her surprise, Aunt Lin, her mother began to explain her plans to the group.
"I have you all situated in the guest houses where you'll stay while Korra trains Opal." Opal cringed inwardly at that. Kuvira had been right.
"Oh. Well, we were kind of hoping she could come with us to the Northern Air Temple to train with the other air benders." Korra explained hesitantly.
"That sounds amazing!" Opal glanced hopefully at her mother, thinking that perhaps Avatar Korra's words had enough weight to convince her.
Instead of agreeing, her mother insisted that Opal's life and family were here in Zaofu and this was where she would stay. After a short exchange with Korra, her mother got her way as usual. Opal couldn't deny the disappointment that had settled in the pit of her stomach at her mother's determined tone of voice.
After supper, Korra met her in the courtyard to begin her lessons. She'd expected to be nervous, but the Avatar was so easy-going that Opal was quickly put at ease. "Show me what you've got," Korra prompted, and Opal moved her hands in the form she'd been practicing, producing the familiar steady stream of air. "You're a natural!" Opal flushed at Korra's praise.
"Thanks." The way it felt to work with another air bender only added to Opal's disappointment at not being allowed to go with them to the Northern Air Temple. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before.
Later that night she heard Kuvira's familiar whisper outside her bedroom door. She let the older girl in and the two sat cross-legged on her bed in what had become somewhat of a ritual.
"I think you need to talk to your mom," were the first words out of Kuvira's mouth. "This is a really big deal for you. She of all people should understand that. You're an air bender now! She lives here surrounded by her metal city and her earth benders. Shouldn't you be in an air temple with other air benders?" Kuvira's words had hit closer to home than she'd perhaps even intended, and Opal sat in silence, brow creased in though. "Well?" Kuvira prompted after a few minutes had passed.
"I really don't belong here, do I?" Opal asked softly. "Now less than ever. She wants to keep me here, but it would probably be best if I went with Korra."
"Woah. That's not exactly what I meant." Kuvira frowned. "Zaofu will always be your home, right? But your mom got her chance to go out into the world and find herself. All I'm saying is that you deserve the same chance."
"I guess," Opal softly agreed.
"I know you have a lot to think about. I just want to be sure that you're making the right decision for you." Kuvira rested a hand on Opal's shoulder and met her gaze for a few moments before standing to go, bidding a quiet good night. Long after Kuvira had slipped out, Opal lay staring up at the ceiling, wondering why her life had suddenly become so complicated.
"Mom, Dad? Can I talk to you?" Opal took a deep breath, entering the room and taking a seat across from her parents. Their soft smiles were reassuring, but Opal wondered how much longer they'd wear them after she began speaking.
"What is it, dear?" Her mother prompted, clasping her hands in her lap and giving Opal her full attention. Opal glanced between her parents, taking another deep breath before beginning.
"Mom, I know what you said to Avatar Korra about wanting me to stay here in Zaofu. Part of me wants that too, because it's safe and familiar here. Because my family is here. But I also really want to go to the Northern Air Temple with Korra to train with the other air benders." Suyin opened her mouth to speak, but Opal rushed on before she had the chance. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I had a talk with Kuvira, with Bolin, and even with Aunt Lin. I know that you just want to keep me safe, but I know I'll be in good hands with Tenzin. I just want the chance to find my place in the world like you did." Having said her piece, Opal sat back and watched her parents, trying unsuccessfully to read their expressions. Finally, her mother spoke up.
"It just so happens that your father and I have been discussing the matter as well." She shared a quick glance with Bataar, drawing in a quick breath before continuing. "You'll never understand how hard it is to watch your children grow up and leave home until you become a parent yourself. I'll admit that I was perhaps a bit stubborn, but please know that I held your best interests at heart." Opal began to brace herself for the refusal she sensed coming on, trying her best to hold back the tears that smarted in the corners of her eyes.
"But," her mother continued, taking and squeezing the hand her husband offered, "With everything that's happened in the last few days, I've come to realize that you are a smart, strong, beautiful young woman who deserves her chance to go out into the world and find her place in it. I was hesitant because when I left home around your age, it was because I was running from something. You are running to something, and there's a big difference. Your father and I will support you in whatever you do." Opal felt one of the tears that had been gathering in her eyes slide down her cheek.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad." She choked out, blinking quickly to clear her eyes and grinning widely. "I promise I won't let you down."
"Just remember that home will always be here to come back to," her father reminded gently with a soft smile.
"Zaofu will always be my home," Opal replied firmly, pulling both of her parents into a tight hug. "I love you guys."
"And we love you, Opal. Never forget that." Her mother's soft words warmed Opal to her core.
Opal waved from the window of the airship, taking in the smiling faces of her family and friends. She felt a gnawing in her middle as she looked at her parents' faces for the last time in who knew how long, and she couldn't place whether the emotion was apprehension or excitement. Perhaps it was a bit of both. She felt her cheeks warm when she caught sight of Bolin waving wildly, mouth forming words of farewell she couldn't make out. Opal was about to embark on the biggest adventure of her life.
A/N: This story is definitely getting bigger than I planned! I'm sorry but I really can't say when the next update will be...