"The Avatar does not need to bow to me," said the Fire Lord. "You are an honored guest."
"Thank you, sir. It's great to finally be here," Aang replied respectfully. The sight of the man calmed him – he looked stern but strong, with a fire in his eyes that signified him as a worthy leader of these people. His black hair was tied back in a topknot like the others, but he only had a triple-pronged red headpiece, different than the five-pronged gold one that Aang normally saw on Ozai. Suddenly, the Fire Lord's eyes widened.
"What is it, Fire Lord?" Aang asked him, trying to follow his gaze. Was he looking at... Azula?
"I am not the Fire Lord," the leader said, glancing back at Aang. "I am simply High Chief Fhuzaz ... but that girl is more royalty than I am." And then... he bowed to Azula, closely imitated by Jeong Jeong and the two or three other men and women behind him. "She is the rightful heir of the Fire Nation."
Azula yawned. "No I'm not, my father is. How did you know?"
"Your golden headpiece," the High Chief said. "It was the symbol of royalty in the old Fire Nation."
"Yes, now it's simply a family heirloom and unfortunately I am not a Princess," said Azula. "And my brother isn't a Prince." Aang remembered them mentioning this to him before, several weeks ago when he first learned of her headpiece ... In a different world, if things happened a certain way, Azula would have been a royal tyrant... "This thing means nothing now. Our place is not in the Golden City to rule."
"An interesting group was brought before us..." the High Chief mused. "The Avatar, the rightful Prince and Princess... and a hooded figure. I will not allow such rudeness in my throne room." Ty Lee froze in place.
Azula laughed and crossed her arms. "Just do it and listen to him," she said to the other girl. "Stop being a wimp. I bet they won't even know or care who you are."
"If you say so, Azula..." Ty Lee sighed, lifting off her hood.
There was silence.
"See? I told you she was nobody important," Azula said smugly to nobody in particular.
"Princess Ty Lee!"
Three sets of eyes widened and turned to their companion as one. Ty Lee fidgeted under their gaze.
"...Hi, Dad," she said meekly.
Zuko grasped his forehead, unable to comprehend the words circling around him. "Ty Lee is a Princess?" Aang's own head was spinning with the irony of the situation.
"I did not expect to see you return," Fhuzaz said, his visage suddenly becoming cold and detached. Jeong Jeong and the others were silent, calmly regarding the Princess before them. "Why did you run away?"
"The same reason all my other sisters did!" she shouted at the older man, standing at her full height. "I didn't want to rule! I wasn't ready! I was never ready!"
"That is your duty, Ty Lee," Jeong Jeong finally spoke. "As a Princess and heir, your duty is to your people."
"But I was the youngest of seven!" Her body was quivering again, trying to suppress her conflicting emotions and pains, finally fighting to come to the surface. "I never expected having to rule... but when everyone else ran away from home..."
"The responsibility was suddenly thrust on you," Zuko realized, staring at Ty Lee with realization and understanding. "It was the same for me and Azula once Mom died and Dad went away..."
"Why did all your other sisters run away?" Aang asked softly.
"Same reason I did... they weren't ready to rule. First my oldest sister ran away, and the responsibility kept getting passed on to each of us down the line... until it came to me. I couldn't handle it." Hot tears were streaming down her face. Her head was bowed, trying to hide them from her father.
"But then you wanted to come back... with us," Azula said. "That doesn't make sense."
"I don't know... I didn't think about what I did until after I left with you guys. It seemed like a perfect opportunity at the time... go home, see if any of my sisters returned... try to fix things with Dad..." Her voice faltered. "But I knew it was a mistake." She ran from the chamber.
"Ty Lee, wait!" Zuko shouted, running after her.
Aang turned back to High Chief Fhuzaz and his Fire Sages. "I'm sorry... we didn't know she even lived in the Golden City."
"That is quite alright," the High Chief said with a sigh, rubbing his temples. "I just hope she doesn't run away again..." His voice trailed off. "Perhaps I was being unfair to her. Thank you for returning her home."
"Well, enough of that," Azula said, waving her hand dismissively in Ty Lee's vague direction. "Aang and I came to find a firebending teacher. Have any in mind?"
"Well..." Fhuzaz started.
"How about him?" Aang questioned, pointing directly at Jeong Jeong. "He seems powerful."
"Master Jeong Jeong is the strongest firebender in the whole city," the High Chief said. Azula's eyes lit up. "But he does not teach."
"Doesn't teach who?" Aang asked, worried. Would he get into the same fiasco as he did with Pakku and Katara...?
"I do not teach anybody," Jeong Jeong spoke, his voice as tense as ever.
"Why not?" Azula asked, sounding somewhat insulted.
"I have not yet found a worthy student," said the master firebender.
"Well, he's the Avatar," Azula gestured to Aang, "And I'm his best friend," she reasoned. Aang inwardly chuckled. He decided to sit back and let this event run its course. "We are quite worthy."
"No," Jeong Jeong said flatly.
Azula sent one of her piercing gazes at the master. She opened her mouth to speak. "As Princess of the Fire Nation – "
"You are no Princess," Jeong Jeong interrupted. "You have admitted as much."
Now Azula was starting to get angry. "Fhuzaz, command him to teach me!"
"I am sure you can find another teacher," the High Chief tried to reconcile.
"I will only learn from the best," said Azula determinedly.
"You lack patience and discipline," said Jeong Jeong. "Go with the other trainees and learn simple breathing and meditation exercises first."
Azula fully glared at the firebending master. "Very well," she said tensely. "I will dominate all the other competition and then return for your further judgment." She turned around briskly and left the throne room without a backwards glance.
"Sorry about her, too," Aang said with a grin. Fhuzaz chuckled.
"Be sure to return to the Palace tonight... a festival will be thrown in your honor," the High Chief replied. "We'll find you a master."
"Actually, I share Azula's state of mind," Aang stated. "I think only Jeong Jeong will do." He noticed the master's slightly amused expression, but he didn't comment. "Until tonight, sir, Master," Aang said to the Chief and the firebender. They nodded and he left.
He made a mental note to praise Azula later.
🌊 🌳 🔥 🌪
"Ty Lee!"
Zuko sprinted down the grand stone steps in front of the Palace after the distraught girl. "Ty Lee, wait!"
She finally stopped at the base of the steps and sat down, putting her head in her hands. "You probably think I'm just a spoiled little rich kid now, don't you?"
Zuko came to a stop and sat down at her side. "That's not true."
She laughed. "Look at me! I'm crying over nothing. This whole city would be mine!" She held out her hands as if to encompass the sea of gold before her. "I'm supposed to be happy."
"But instead you ran away," said Zuko. "It's okay... I kind of understand where you're coming from."
"You do?"
"It was like I said inside," he continued. "After Mom died and Dad went off to war, all the responsibility of the village was thrust on the two of us. We had to do all the hunting, the protecting, and even the leading... all we had to help us was our Uncle Iroh."
"Yes, but apparently you two were doing fine," said Ty Lee. "I lived a sheltered Palace life ever since I was born... I don't really know how to lead such a huge city."
"At least you caught a glimpse of the real world," Zuko said. "How long ago did you run away?"
"It's almost a year now..." she said. "And I guess I was the first one to come back. Maybe I was a little homesick."
"How many sisters do you have? Did they all go?" Zuko asked, surprise edging its way into his voice.
"Yes... The oldest was Ty Lokka... She ran away first. Then it was Ty Luko, and Ty Zula followed her. Next was Ty Ding, and Mai Lee, and then ... Susan."
"Do you know where any of them are?" Zuko asked with a frown.
"No..." She curled up into a ball. He put his arm around her as a source of comfort.
"Well... Maybe you can stay with us until it's time for you to rule... then we'll come back and support you," he whispered into her ear. She got caught up into his words and turned her head to look into his sincere eyes. They moved as one to kiss each other.
Before their lips touched, she pulled away. "No, I can't."
"Why not? I thought you liked me," he said. He couldn't pretend that he wasn't hurt.
"I do, Zuko..."
"Then why can't we be together? Everything was fine before we came here!"
"Because... I'm engaged. I'm going to get married!"
And then she ran away again, but he was unable to follow.
🌊 🌳 🔥 🌪
The half-metal figure released smashing sounds with every one of his steps, crushing twigs and stone underneath his feet. He walked calmly and openly under the cover of night, ready to complete his assignment. His mission led him to a port city on the edge of the Fire Nation – specifically, a Water Tribe navy dock.
He stopped in front of Prince Sokka's ship.
And suddenly, from the eye-shaped tattoo on his forehead, a single ray of light shot to the wooden ship, obliterating a large part of it in an explosion. A second and a third ray followed, reducing the ship and anyone on it to ashes and fire.
His mission completed, the Combustion Man left the scene to collect his pay.
🌊 🌳 🔥 🌪
The entire Golden City was alive under the nighttime sky, celebrating a festival in honor of the Avatar and their kin from the south. The golden rooftops were glittering from the light of the numerous fires, lighting up the city even when the sky was dark.
Fhuzaz, Aang, Ty Lee, Zuko, and Azula were sitting at the head of a gigantic table filled with the exotic, spicy foods of the Fire Nation. Master Jeong Jeong and two Sun Warriors were performing a three-way duel on a raised platform. Azula was entranced by their firebending might.
Rings of fire circled around each of the three benders. There were theatric flares and sparks, fireballs, acrobatic maneuvers, and up-close punches and kicks. They ended the display by feeding streams of fire into the center of the platform, causing them to clash in a fiery red inferno.
Azula ignored Zuko's brooding, Aang's careful observations, and Ty Lee's uncharacteristic depression. The Princess and the High Chief's relationship seemed to be detached and polite in wake of the recent events. They no longer spoke of Ty Lee's runaway or ascension to the throne when she came of age.
As Azula watched the mock fire duel on the platform, her eyes widened as she came up with a sudden, if crazy, idea. Unable to wait for the duel to end, she stood up from her seat and approached the platform, speaking loudly to Jeong Jeong and interrupting the duel.
"I challenge you to a duel!" she bellowed. Everything became silent as the firebenders halted their performance and looked at the young girl below them. Ty Lee dropped her fork into her dish.
"Azula, don't!" she called to her friend.
"Are you aware of the rules of an Agni Kai?" Jeong Jeong spoke to her coldly. Azula didn't answer, having never heard of the term. "In an Agni Kai, we fight to the death. They are not taken lightly."
"If I win, I only want you to teach Aang and me," Azula said proudly. "However, if you are the victor, you may uphold the rules as you wish." Zuko slapped his forehead.
"My sister is an idiot..."
Aang rose and jumped clear over the table, appearing at Azula's side. "Azula, I'm not letting you fight a battle for me. We'll duel him together."
"Aang, this is a battle of honor. You don't understand our customs – stay out of it," she said to him a bit harshly, her eyes fixed on the firebending master.
"Very well," said Jeong Jeong, gesturing to the other Sun Warriors to clear the platform. Azula jumped up to take their place, falling into a firebending stance. "I accept your challenge. If I lose, I will take on firebending students again." The man's face was hard. "Begin."
Azula wasted no time, immediately becoming aggressive with two quick punches and a kick, releasing two fireballs and an arc of flames. Jeong Jeong bent below the balls and cleaved the arc in half with his hand, consecutively releasing a constant stream of fire that circled around Azula and enshrouded her in flames. She thrust her joined hands into the inferno and spread them out, dispersing the attack as she ran closer to her opponent, firing a wave from her palms.
Jeong Jeong answered with a colossal wall of fire that covered the whole arena and more, easily absorbing the attack. His younger opponent took him by surprise when she jumped through the wall with a fist of flame, nearly striking him in the face, but he redirected her arm and pushed her to the side. He sent a sweeping kick of fire at her as she fumbled, but she pushed herself off the ground and spun her legs in the air, almost blasting him with a windmill of fire.
"Training with her paid off, Aang," Zuko said to the amused Avatar.
"Has that been enough to show you how good I am?" Azula asked the old man, smirking.
"No," he answered flatly. "You do not exert any control – several times you came close to harming our audience. Fire is – "
"Alive, I know that," she interrupted him. He cupped a ball of fire in his hands and hurled it at Azula, who crossed her arms to block the attack, which succeeded in pushing her back. Jeong Jeong tucked his arms into his body for a moment and gathered an immense amount of heat, releasing a spinning inferno that covered him in a shield of fire and shot a bolt of heat at Azula. She summoned enough fire to protect her from the bulk of the attack, but the force still pushed her back and she went tumbling off of the platform. However, she recovered quickly and jumped back at him, shooting a continuous blaze from her joined fists. Her topknot was undone and her headpiece clattered to the ground. The firebending master held both of his hands in front of him, protecting him from the power of the attack as the fire streamed to his sides, making him feel the heat of her attack.
Azula didn't stop with the stream of fire, so Jeong Jeong walked closer to her. The heat was becoming more intense as he came, but he pushed against her power with fire of his own. She finally cut off the surge of energy as he neared, but he gathered a fireball in his hands from the remnants of her attack and hurled it at her.
The concussive attack struck and blew her backwards again, but this time she was in too much pain to stand and fight more. She groaned from on the ground, expecting him to deal the finishing blow.
Instead, the firebending master was distracted by a glint of gold on the ground and knelt to pick up her headpiece. His eyes widened as he recognized the artifact.
"I don't believe it," Jeong Jeong said, his voice full of shock.
"What don't you believe? You already know about my heritage," Azula shot at him. She slowly sat up, cringing in pain.
"You are not only descended from Fire Nation royalty... I know the last person that this headpiece belonged to. I've seen it before."
"Yeah, earlier, when we first entered the Palace," she said scathingly. "Are you going to kill me or not?"
He ignored her. "This headpiece used to belong to a man named Iroh."
"What? You know my Uncle?" the young firebender asked. Aang's eyes widened as he recognized the scene. Surely Iroh and Jeong Jeong weren't – ?
"I lived in your village many years ago. Iroh was my best friend when we were young, but when it was time for us to go off to war when we became of age, I was afraid. I did not believe in the war or the reason for fighting," said Jeong Jeong, staring at the golden headpiece. Aang sighed with relief.
"What happened?" Azula asked, standing. Zuko, Ty Lee, Fhuzaz, and all the other people at the party were transfixed and silent.
"Iroh helped me escape and come here," Jeong Jeong continued. "I owe him my life... the soldiers in the village would have beaten me if I refused to join them."
"I never knew Uncle fought in the war..." Zuko said, awed.
"I have decided," Jeong Jeong said, standing up straight. "I will teach you, Azula. I owe your Uncle that much. And Aang, if he still desires to learn from me."
"Of course, Master Jeong Jeong," Aang said, bowing respectfully to the man. Jeong Jeong's fiery death was reigning heavily on his mind. He died in the battle on the day of Sozin's Comet, but he had slain many firebenders with his power.
Azula accepted her headpiece from the man, and surprisingly, she also bowed low.
"It will be an honor to learn under you."
🌊 🌳 🔥 🌪
Kanna was let into Bato's chambers in his ship with a mournful expression on her face. The male waterbender was seated at a small table sipping tea as she arrived.
"Lady Kanna, it is a pleasure," he said. "Have you accepted my offer?"
She made a show of sniffling into her handkerchief. "I'm sorry, Sir Bato," she croaked. "The grief from Sokka's death is still heavy on me..."
"Then you should join the invasion and witness my glorious victory over the remnants of the Fire Nation. Your healing skills are renown throughout the Water Tribes, and your help would be imperative to victory. Heal all of our wounded and prevent any lives from being lost, in honor of our venerable Prince," he said silkily as she sat down at the table. She drank a warm cup of tea which helped to settle her nerves. "Do you know anything of the attack?" he asked her.
"Yes... The assassin known as the Combustion Man was behind it. We've run into him before," she said softly. "However, I will help you in your conquest." She raised her cup of tea in a toast. "To the Water Nation."
"To victory."
🌊 🌳 🔥 🌪
Aang and Jeong Jeong were in silent meditation as the sun rose, centering the heat in their bodies. Aang enjoyed being in the master's presence – he would be able to complete training with the man for the first time.
Azula burst onto the scene with fire raging on her hands, shouting out a greeting to the Avatar and her master.
"You are late," the master said monotonously.
"You ready for real firebending training, Aang?" she asked excitedly.
"Definitely," he said, opening one eye. "But right after meditation."
She grinned, and sat down with them, closing her eyes.
"When are we starting with complex firebending forms?"
🌊 🌳 🔥 🌪
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net