WE SHARE OUR MOTHERS' HEALTH
Chapter 1
Every firebender is a veritable well of pure solar energy. Without the sun, it is not long before power disappears. It is common knowledge that at night, while by no means powerless, the firebender finds herself at a distinct disadvantage. Even for the heir of the Fire Nation there was no exception.
So, it was always a source of amusement for Azula that she and her brothers and sisters of the sun should be so strikingly pale, almost unnaturally so. During the full moon, on nights such as this, this fact became much more apparent. She noticed, as she gazed upon her own reflection in the surface of the lake before her, how at the moment her skin seemed to glow almost as bright as the moon behind her. Her thoughts drifted idly to the water peasants of the north and south; children of the moon with their skin, dark and bronzed. The irony was not lost on her.
Slowly, Azula raised her hand in front of her face, holding it steady, blocking herself from view. A smirk crept over her that she was thankful she could not see. With an almost inaudible, sardonic chuckle she sent a thin stream of fire through the base of her palm, but with energy so concentrated it sent water bursting high over her body. She did not move as the drops fell back down around her and upon her, becoming steam as soon as they hit her skin.
In just three days time she would be bringing the Earth capital of Ba Sing Se to ruin, yet another genius plan finally coming to its glorious crescendo; and meanwhile, here she was, in quite literally the middle of nowhere, entertaining silly thoughts of sun and moon. She knew it wasn't exactly considered "healthy" for a firebender to use so much energy awake and about at night, but she had always been a nocturnal creature. She'd been scolded for it often as a child.
She grinned again, finally bring her arms to her side. The water still hadn't calmed enough for her to see her face again. Azula closed her eyes, drawing a breath to gather her chi. She began to feel that familiar tingle, starting in her hands and toes and the crown of her head, flowing through her limbs to gather in her chest and stomach, meeting in her core. She held it there for a moment. Just breathe. Now hold it; feel it grow. Push it down again. Exhale. Now hold it...
It takes a very, very specific kind of soul to bend with fire. Light as air, supple as water, dense as earth; in order work with fire, one must burn as the fire. This is a metaphor lost on most people, even many firebenders themselves. But this understanding is what sets them apart from even from one another. It is not a lesson that may be learned intellectually.
Oxygen combusting inside the human body. How can this happen? How else may fire be contained, but by the soul ready not only to receive it, but to create it? Fire is most often understood as the force of destruction. The wise know better.
Anyone with at least a meager education knows that it is impossible to have something, from nothing. Water, earth, even air - these exist all around us, preformed, powerful forces ready to be tapped into by those who understand them. Azula never underestimated the others or their greatness, their strength. But for their powers of creation, the firebenders are special kind. She truly believes this, and her belief may not be reduced so easily to a matter of bias.
Who but a firebender, can seem to create something, from nothing? From whence is the true source of their power? The firebender draws their strength absolutely, purely from within. Look deeper, beneath the flame rising before you, and will see the truth of the element.
Fire is life. Fire is spirit.
The firebender is a special kind of soul. The firebender burns, and burns, and burns. She knows no other way. She has no other option. Night may be a time of weakness for some, for those who have never known what it truly means to live ablaze. But for she who lives not merely with fire, but as fire, perpetually burning; carrying with her always the power of the sun -
Azula let go of her breath.
Nothing; bliss.
A/N: So. I know it's not much yet, but I think I'd like to continue. I need a few moments to put myself in a Katara frame of mind. ^_^ Also, the fic title comes from a song by a band called "The Knife".