“To be honest, I didn’t really, er, pack much when I went to Republic City.”

“So I guess the most prized thing I have is the pendant on Naga’s saddle. My dad gave it to me, and it’s the same crest he wears as a warrior of our tribe.”

“I don’t know, it just kind of reminds me of where I came from. And that I’m already a warrior in his eyes no matter how my Avatar journey goes.”

She’d needed that kind of reminder during the more trying days of airbending, that was for sure.

“The first time I broke a hole in the wall at home. Mom burst into tears and Dad spanked me so hard I swear I felt it for weeks.”

“But that’s how we all knew I was the Avatar, so I guess it wasn’t all bad.”

“He’s doing great, but, uh, no, I haven’t held him yet.”

“Someone told Master Tenzin about the time I dropped this little kid from the village when I was carrying him out of the healing hut. He was super wiggly, okay? It was not my fault.”

Master Katara.

“Well, my mom always loved to tell about the Northern princess who became the moon to save all the Water Tribes the world over, even though she had to give up her one true love or something…”

“But my favorite was always when my dad would sneak in to tell me about the great warriors of our tribe, and his own ice dodging trial! I think he almost died like four times, but he came through it without a single scratch on his boat! Can you believe it?”

That was a tough one. Of all the things she could choose, of all the experiences she’d already had—

The whole world had opened when she’d come to Republic City. But more than that, there was one significant event in particular that had changed everything.

“The first time I saw the Fire Ferrets in the ring.”

Without that, where would they all be now?

“She didn’t really listen to me back then.”

“So, uh… bumpy? Ha.”

“Just one? Let’s see…”

“With Jinora, I guess it’d have to be listening to her talk about what she’d read in one of her history books this one night. It wasn’t like it was anything special, but everything I’d always thought was so boring really… you know, came to life when she was talking about. You could see she found it all so exciting. And she’s so smart, too!”

“This one night Ikki was there for me when I couldn’t sleep. She was so great, just wanted to cheer me up. I can already tell she’s gonna be just like her mom, always caring about everyone around her.”

“And Meelo— Well, there was the time we played hide and seek all over the island and just had a lot of fun. They’re all great kids. I mean, as far as kids go.”

Not that she had that much experience with any.

“Well, I’ve broken plenty of bones over the years.”

“There was the time I tried to climb up the roof of the guard tower and slipped and broke my arm. Or the time I thought ice surfing across the compound wall would be a good idea. And one time I just misjudged my earthbending and ended up breaking my knuckles instead of punching through a slab of rock.”

“But the only time they really worried was when I fell in the water this one time…”

“Naga saved my life. But I don’t really like to talk about it.” She made a stupid mistake and it almost cost everyone everything.

[ More on the story is told here. ^^ ]

There were so many little things.

Yelling at her mother when she was on a miniature power trip as a toddler running around wrecking the house. Accidentally starting a fire in the compound when all she wanted to do was burn the history book her teacher was forcing her to read from cover to cover. Anytime she gave anyone a fright by breaking a limb or getting knocked out cold.

But those were the regrets of a fiercely headstrong girl. Small. Trivial. Of little consequence when the world opened and became more than just ice and snow and the glow of an igloo or the wall of an Avatar’s prison.

Here, in Republic City, there were much bigger things to regret.

Letting Bo go off without any support or help when he was captured and forced through that harrowing ordeal. Challenging Amon to a duel. Kissing Mako when he wasn’t hers to kiss. Sowing seeds of jealousy in her heart instead of compassion. Wanting to be right so badly that she destroyed Asami’s family in the process.

The look on Bolin’s face when she broke his heart. The look on Asami’s when hers was broken.

Being afraid of being afraid.

“Underestimating Amon.”

But more than that, underestimating herself—in that she needed the support of the people who loved her to have the strength to do whatever she would have to in order to stop him.

It was a mistake she would never make again.

“Meat! Any kind of meat, really. But she does love sea prunes like I do.”

“And I can’t say she’s ever eaten a brick, but this one time she swallowed a whole salt lick right down without batting an eye. I don’t know, is that weird? They’re supposed to be good for animals…”