Thanks to my life-savers, Elvira and Alena.
Everything has been perfect since they left Ba Sing Se. Ming Hua has never had such a unique lifestyle before – living out of a backpack, camping, working random jobs for meager wage, witnessing the beauty the Earth Kingdom had to offer. The weeks flew by like days. For the first time in her life, she truly belonged. They liked her, appreciated her and enjoyed her company. They laughed, bickered and teased each other. Her dark times in the Pole seemed like nothing but a bad dream when she was with them.
One of these nights, Ghazan went off on his own to some tavern, and Zaheer secluded himself in order to try and enter the Spirit World, leaving her all alone with P'li for the first time since they met.
"Well, Ming Hua, I finally have you all to myself," the firebender smiled at her. "You've always been so mysterious. Where did you run away from?"
"I didn't run away," she said a bit too quickly. "I left. There's a difference."
"Uh huh," she raised an eyebrow. "Come on, we're all runaways here. You can tell me."
"I ran from the South Pole."
"I already know where you're from. You could share a little bit more details than that."
What could Ming Hua say? I left my home after I killed my father and made it seem like a botched burglery? "Maybe you should go first, if you're a runaway too."
"I don't like talking about it. It's the sort of memories I try to burry," her usually-cheerful expression darkened. "I've… done things. And then Zaheer set me free. There was this warlord, near Ba Sing Se. You could say he owned me. Zaheer helped me get away from him – he bribed some guards, and then… I'm not sure, it's all still blurry. Then he just told me to come with him, and I did. It used to be so obvious that I would do everything anyone tells me."
"P'li," she mumbled, completely baffled by her confession. She had no idea how to respond in this kind of situation. It took her long enough to figure out ordinary friendly conversations, what is she supposed to reply to that? "Umm. I'm sorry. I had no idea that's what you've been through."
"I'm okay," she smiled, though it indicated she wasn't okay at all. "That's how I met Zaheer. He changed my life. I've never known anyone this brave and selfless before."
Ming Hua sent her water-arms to embrace her friend – it seemed like the appropriate thing to do. She didn't know if those watery hugs are as comforting as real ones, but that's all she could give.
"Now it's your turn."
P'li exposed her heart and soul to her, but how could Ming Hua confess a murder to someone she's only known for so little time? She truly loved her new friend, yet she doubted their relationship could withstand such a confession, not to mention the risks.
"I just… had a really crappy father."
"Seriously?" She scowled. "Must have been pretty bad if that's all you're willing to say."
"It was." Then she suddenly noticed something in P'li's story doesn't add up. "Say, where did Zaheer get enough money to bribe all these guards?" She asked eventually. They were all working at lousy jobs to afford their trip, doing grunt work for random farmers or millers, occasionally stealing. They weren't exactly swimming in cash.
"He never told you? He was filthy rich once. His parents were investors in Cabbage Corp. Or maybe they were executives in Cabbage Corp? I'm not sure, but they were loaded. You know Zaheer, though. It didn't add up with his philosophies, so he ran away to the Lower Ring. Do you see how amazing he is? Not only does he care about others, he's also the most spiritual person in the world. How many people would walk away from a life of wealth to go live in a slum? All be brought with him was some books. Isn't he incredible?" Her eyes glinted when she spoke of him. The previous murkiness that took over her was long gone, making its way for admiration and love.
Ming Hua hoped that someday, she could feel this way for someone as well.