Heart's Inferno
After breakfast, there was a knock at the door. "Ugh," Masanori groaned, "I'll handle it, Cat." He walked from the dining room to the front door. When he opened it, he was blitz-hugged by a small person.
"Masa!"
"Hi, Amaya." He set her down. "Good to see you."
"She couldn't wait." This was a different female voice.
"Hello, Mother Ursa," Masanori said pleasantly.
"Hello, my dear. I hope this isn't a bad time?"
"Um...we'll let Azula decide that. Come in, please." They made their way to the parlor. "Is Pai coming?"
"He'll be along. He and Zuko have some business to take care of."
"I see," Masanori said. But he didn't really.
"What is it, Masa?" Azula called from the dining room. "For that matter, who is it?"
Amaya didn't wait. She ran toward her sister's voice, Masanori and Ursa following. She burst into the dining room and grabbed Azula's hand, jumping up and down. "Sister Dragon! Sister Dragon! I did it!"
"Calm down, Amaya," Azula said firmly, pulling her hand away. Amaya stopped jumping and pulling, but was quivering with excitement. "Now, what have you done?"
"Look!" Before their eyes, Amaya conjured a small flame in her hands. "I can do it!"
"She couldn't wait to show you both, especially you, Azula."
Despite herself, Azula knelt and hugged the little girl. "It's in your blood, kid." She stood and met Ursa's eyes. "That's not the only reason you came, is it?"
Ursa winced at Azula's question. Not just because her oldest daughter was still suspicious of her, but because she was right. But Ursa did not look away. "Yes. Now that Amaya is a firebender, she'll need a good instructor. And I couldn't think of anyone better than you, baby."
"You're right about that," Azula said confidently, brushing her hair back. "Even assuming I want to do it, I've never trained anyone before."
"Please, Sister Dragon?" Amaya said with big eyes. "I want to be good, like you."
"You are a firebender, Amaya. Don't ever beg. And I never said I wouldn't do it. But it's going to be hard. It's not for quitters."
"I'm not afraid," Amaya said brightly.
Azula's eyes narrowed. "You will be."
"Amaya," Ursa said, kneeling, "come here please."
"Yes, Mommy?" Amaya faced her mother.
"Firebending is wonderful, but it can be dangerous. Big sister knows how to do it. Listen to her. Do what she tells you."
"Okay, Mommy."
Ursa looked up. "And Azula-"
"Be gentle," the princess snarked. "Okay, Mommy."
Ursa smiled, but it was a lopsided smile. Azula's sense of humor was still hard to take.
"First rule," Azula said, "is we firebend outside. Come with me." They all followed her to the garden out back of the beach house. "Let me show you what I can do." She made a fast figure-8 motion with her arms and blasted her lightning into the sky.
"WOW!" Amaya was hopping with excitement. "Did you see, Mommy?!"
"You..." Ursa gulped. "You know the lightning?"
"I have mastered the lightning, Mother." Azula softened to assuage Ursa's concerns. "I don't use it often. But mastery means complete mastery." She brushed back her hair again. "Let's find a good spot, kid. We don't need people gawking at us." She and Amaya went to find a secluded space. Azula-somewhat grudgingly-held her sister's hand.
"Well, that went better than I'd hoped," Ursa said proudly.
Masanori did not take that comment well. "You have a lot of faith in Azula, don't you?" he said with heavy sarcasm.
"Oh..." Ursa was shaken with embarrassment. "I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry."
"It seems like you always want something from her."
Ursa was hurt by that. "It was the best choice, Masanori. She is the best firebender I know, maybe the best in the world. And Amaya thinks the world of her." Ursa's gaze became far away. "It's good for both of them to spend time together as sisters."
"I'm fine with that," the young man replied. "But it couldn't have waited?"
"Masa," Ursa said with urgency, "Amaya is the same age Azula was when she showed signs of having the gift. If Amaya is that strong, it's best for her to start training now. And I do have faith in Azula. Not just her abilities, but in her heart as well."
"Ursa, she's due to give birth in six weeks, maybe less. She won't have much time to teach Amaya."
"Zuko said the same thing, but even he agreed. We took everything into account."
"You discussed it with Zuko, but not her? Or me?"
"Masa, despite what you might think, I trust Azula. She knows her firebending." Ursa was becoming frustrated.
So was Masanori. "I don't mean to seem hostile. But Amaya is smart. If you asked her to wait-"
"She wouldn't, Masa. She was so excited when she found out she could barely breathe. She couldn't wait to show her big brother and sister. Anyone can see she has the same love for it that Azula does."
Masanori softened. "You're right about that. Every time I see Azula bending, I'm taken with how much she loves doing it."
Ursa took her new son's hand. "I never thought of letting Azula do this all on her own. Your firebending skill and gentle nature would make an excellent teacher as well."
"And I'd do it. I love Amaya. But there's more to consider than just her needs. And I-" That was as far as he got. He was cut off by a terrifying scream, which was followed by another, more high-pitched shriek. Masanori and Ursa took off in the direction of the screams. When they reached the source, they were met with a frightening sight. Azula was on her knees, hyperventilating, twisting her long hair in her hands. Close by, Amaya was seated awkwardly. She was sobbing hysterically, holding her hands over her eyes.
Ursa now had two daughters in distress. Which to help first? And what was that smell? "Girls, what is it? What's wrong?"
"Mommy! I hurt Sister Dragon!"
As Ursa held Amaya, Masanori did the same to his wife. "Breathe gently, honey. Tell me what's wrong." He had an idea already, but Kuma had told him to encourage Azula to express herself verbally.
When Azula regained enough wits to speak, all she could say was, "my hair. She burned my hair."
"I'm sorry! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRYYY!" Amaya wailed. "I didn't mean to!"
"It will be all right, baby," Ursa said to both daughters. "It's just singed a bit. We'll trim it good as new."
"No!" Azula screamed. She reared up, breaking free of Masanori's grip and backing against a tree. Blue flames blazed in her hands. "No one is getting anywhere near my hair with anything sharp! In the asylum, they had to shave my head!" She started crying. "Because it was falling out!" She fell back against the tree, sobbing.
"Baby..." Ursa's guilt flared into full blaze.
Masanori took his princess gently into his arms. "It's okay, Cat," he whispered. "It's okay. Amaya didn't mean it. She loves you like I do, and she needs you." That seemed to do the trick.
"My hair, Masa..."
"I know. Nobody's going to cut it off. We'll just trim the singed bits and you'll look great."
Amaya was also calming. "I didn't mean to, Mommy!"
"How did it happen, sweetie?"
"I didn't think she was that powerful," Azula said in a low voice. "I suppose I...miscalculated again."
"We were doing breathing, Mommy. I thought I could do more."
"I told you it was dangerous, honey."
"I know!" Amaya wriggled free of her mother's embrace and approached Azula. "I'm sorry, Sister Dragon. I love you."
Azula looked down and made a fist. Everyone tensed. But Azula took her half-sister's hand instead. "I'll be all right. Everyone makes mistakes." Everybody relaxed.
"You're not mad?"
"Yes, I am." But before Amaya could become too crestfallen, she added, "But you're still my sister."
