The next day, after time practising basic forms, Tiku said it was time to begin sparring. 'Occasional sparring is important, and you are ready to begin learning. It is important to have your forms understood in a practical usage.'

Akmei and Lai stood at opposite ends of the training field. Lai took a stance, feeling uncertain. Akmei had an unusual smile on her face. 'Begin!' came a cry from Tiku.

Lai slammed forward with a flame blast. Akmei stood still and simply blocked it with a circular movement of her arms. Lai sent another two blasts, which Akmei blocked, catching the fire in her hands, and throwing them on the floor.

What's she doing? A normal firebender would be more aggressive, but Akmei was being as defensive as an Earthbender. Fine, I'll play to my strengths. She waited, feeling her movements with both eyes and feet. They starred at each other for a few moments, and then Akmei started to move.

She released a continual stream of flame, which Lai moved around in a small motion. Got you. She brought her foot up, to release another blast.

And then her other leg was blasted up. She looked down, and saw a fire whip in one of Akmei's hands, which had come up from her leg. She was smashed on the floor, with a grinning Akmei walking over to her. 'Need a hand?'

They sparred a few more times, each time Akmei humiliating Lai painfully. They stopped for lunch afterwards. As Lai nibbled on some food, she said 'That's an unusual fighting style for a firebending,'

Akmei shrugged. 'I've studied earthbending – it's techniques have a surprising use in firebending.'

'I just didn't see you use it yesterday.'

Akmei stopped, looked at her carefully, and said 'Call it revenge.' She walked off. Lai looked at Liko, who was standing behind, who just shrugged.

Akmei acted the same as normal, apart from this. This was something she didn't understand, until she spoke to Lee and Ki about it in the evening. 'It was just a random thing to say. I dunno what she was on about.'

Ki sighed. 'Look, Lai, you probably need to ask her about this. You're gonna be together for a while right? So you don't want something like this hanging over you.'

'But what if it was something really bad? Bringing it out might just make things worse.'

'Better you know about it. Still, I don't envy you having to deal with it. Maybe you should have taken up knitting for weekends instead.' Lee said.

'You know me so well. See you guys.' Lai closed her computer, and walked down to Akmei's room. She knocked, leading to a cry of 'just a minute!' A little later, Akmei opened the door, wearing a dressing-gown in various shades of red. 'What is it?' she asked cheerfully.

'I just, well, I wanted to ask about what you said at lunch today.'

'Oh, I see.' She was suddenly much less cheerful. 'You'd better come in.'

Lai shuffled in. 'I'm not sure what exactly I did, but I'm sorry for yesterday. I realise you weren't comfortable –'

'You think this was about me?' Akmei interrupted. She sat on her bed, looking tad stern.

'Huh? What then?'

'The Fire Nation is a monarchy. The people give the Fire Lord absolute respect, and in return they lead the Nation for the greater good of the Nation. They look to them for wisdom, for authority. Around the Fire Lord does the whole nation turn.

'So is this true for the Fire Lord's family – they are representation of the Fire Nation. We are its rulers and future rulers. And how they act and are seem to act effects the way the Fire Lord is seen, and so effects there respect. Without respect for the Fire Lord, the whole nation falls out of balance.'

'There's a parliament.'

'A system requires both freedom and authority. Parliament provides the former, the monarchy the latter.'

'If I'd been seen in some criminal game, then my family would have less respect. Who knows the effect? From the Fire Lord does all power come. If the Fire Lord can't control his family, how can he control a nation? That's why I didn't want to go. I only stayed because to run would be to lose another form of respect. The Fire Lords daughter cannot be a coward.'

I wonder how she thinks of me then – a girl who ran away from home to learn some lousy technique? This shook her.

As if knowing what she was thinking, and wanting to hammer it home, Akmei said 'At least only I have to worry about 150 million people. You have the whole world looking to you. They'll give you some time, but not much. Soon, they'll need the Avatar to be worthy of respect.'

Lai didn't know what to say. She wandered out the room, with a quiet 'Good night.'