Title: 火 水 地球 空気 Danse Avec Le Feu
Author: Nim Fea Edainme
Rating: K
Summary: Zuko meets a strange girl from his past. How will it help him over come his pride and face his father?
Zuko and Azula were hidden by the curtain. They could hear their father speaking to their grandfather. They peeked through a gap in the curtain. A young girl, bound and gagged was on the floor, her dark hair done into a bun. From what the children could see, she was a dancer.
"I assure you, my father, that she will amaze you," said Ozia. He unbound the girl. She flexed her wrists and stood, brushing off her clothes.
"Dance," Ozia said. The girl stared at him defiantly.
"Do not make a fool of me girl! Dance!" Ozia said, giving her a light kick. The girl gasped with the sudden pain and crossed her wrists above her head. She twirled about, fire exploding from her hands. Then she suddenly fell. Ozia kicked her in the ribs.
"Stop your act," Ozia growled. The girl's eyes flashed red. She stood and resumed the starting position. She took a graceful step and a large dragon of fire erupted from her hands and flew above everyone's heads, guided by the girl. It came down in a spiral as she twirled. It filled the whole room with a blinding heat and hot light.
The girl bolted, heading into the curtain where the two children looked on. The girl stopped to look at them. She was around Zuko's age. She raised a hand to her lips. Azula shouted. The girl ran, setting fire to the curtain as she ran.
"Zuko! Wake up, nephew, and go serve that young lady over there," Iroh said, giving the teenager a tray. Zuko nodded. He went over to the table where the woman was sitting. She smiled at him, taking the tray.
"Thank you," she said simply. Her voice awakened something deep within his mind.
"Y-your welcome," Zuko stuttered and left briskly. Iroh smiled.
"It seems you have taken to the dancer," he said. Zuko glared.
"I'm not. She just seems familiar," he whispered, leaving. Iroh smiled and went back to making tea.
"Excuse me, sir," said a soft voice. "I am leaving. This is what I owe."
Iroh turned, taking the money. He watched the girl leave. The way she walked struck a chord in his memory. He shook it off and went to the next customer.