Chapter 11

Inconvenient Truths, Part I

"Well, this should be interesting," Sokka said as he made his way out of the concession lines and into the competitors' viewing box, both fists filled with so many meat skewers that it seemed like every fauna species in the Four Nations was represented. Inside, Brad raised an eyebrow at the sheer amount of meat the older Water Tribesman held, but both Katara and Kei ignored it, long used to Sokka's dietary habits.

"You mean two former friends of Azula, now facing each other in the ring?" Brad asked, eyes darting briefly towards an otter-seal skewer.

"No, he means something deeper than that," Kei said. "The Fire Lady excels at long-range combat using her throwing weapons, and she has taught Qing to do the same. Ty Lee, on the other hand, specializes in melee, and the Ouyang have a predilection for getting close and personal." She plucked an otter-seal skewer from Sokka's hands and handed it to Brad. "So, basically, it's the classic infighter versus outfighter dilemma. I daresay that's what my carnivorous colleague means."

"Yeah, pretty much," Sokka replied. "Oh, hey, looks like they're about to enter."

"Okay, I get that it's the same stage for all three matches," Katara said, "but the implications of this match seems a little…unfortunate. I'm not the only one getting that feeling, right? Two of what were formerly Azula's most competent allies fighting it out in a mock-up of the place where she solidified her capture of this city?"

"We must move past our history in order to move forward, Katara," a wizened old voice said beside her, and Katara smiled as she turned to greet Iroh, who had come with Piandao and Kazuma. "Look, my nephew's wife is appearing just now."

Qing took note of the surroundings as the team of earthbenders lowered them into the arena's starting area. Rectangular moat feeding into a river cutting through the middle. Plenty of water to use. Chest-high clumps of rock, steel, and crystal to either side. A fair sprint from one clump to the next. Symmetrical layout across the river. Both sides equally usable. Mai taught her well, and they had a decent gameplan for winning this. But Mai was no longer the only one to whom she would have to answer for her performance, and as she looked up to the viewing box for the other competitors and their relations, amidst the auras of support from Katara and her students and the auras of neutral interest from the others, there was a cluster of animosity that could only belong to Nukilik.

Qing stifled a gulp as Mai signed to her. Mai wanted her to fight one way, Nukilik wanted her to fight another way, and the two were largely incompatible. If she was to represent her tribe properly, her performance would fall. If she was to win, she would no longer represent her tribe properly.

Qing sighed. She was caught between an iceberg and a tidal wave, and she shuddered.

Move past our history. Lin scoffed at the thought. As if the thousands upon thousands dead could be buried so easily.

"The Royal Uncle has a tendency to spout quotations as empty as his head," Lan-Feng whispered in his ear, the malice in the words contrasting sharply with her pleasant expression that was intended to give the appearance of a doting lover nibbling at her other half's ear.

"Mind yourself," Lin hissed back. "Now is not the time."

"Whatever happened to all that defiance at the giant centipede from earlier?" Lan-Feng cooed, never changing the expression on her face. "Afraid, are you?"

"I could stop this now. Call it off at any time. What will you do then?"

"But you won't. You've grown too addicted to the power to stop, and after all, this is your chance for the vengeance you crave." The pleasant demeanor upon Lan-Feng's countenance still did not change. "You won't give up on that now, will you?"

Lin did not answer this. Instead he turned to the arena and watched, silently, as Ty Lee and Ouyang Yunfei appeared onstage. Ty Lee wore her acrobat outfit this time, apparently preferring additional mobility to the improved protection of Kyoshi gear as she flipped and tumbled into the staging area. Yunfei, however, was clad simply in an all-concealing cloak as he paused before the edge of the steps that led up to the arena, seemingly preparing to walk up.

"What is he doing?" Lin murmured. Cloaks looked cool and all, especially when billowing in the wind, but it also made moving around highly difficult, and for a fight like this, provided a large target by which he may be pinned.

And then Ouyang Yunfei stripped off the cloak with a flourish, hurling it with such force as to land in the nosebleed section of the stands, revealing him to be dressed in nothing more than a leather neckring, riding boots, vambraces adorned with bronze bells, and a pair of briefs. Rather than the standard topknot, his hair was now braided and tied back on top of his head. Lin saw that rather than walk, Yunfei elected to take hopping steps toward the staging area instead, waving his arms about like the wings of some predatory bird.

He looked utterly ridiculous.

"Ouyang," Lan-Feng scoffed. "For such a prominent clan, they rather enjoy going out of their way to behave like savages."

"What is he doing?" Lin asked. Lan-Feng rolled her eyes.

"The steppe warriors have four 'manly arts' they esteem above others," she explained. "Firebending, archery, riding, and wrestling. They hold a festival every summer in which everyone competes in these four events. This is a pre-bout ritual for wrestlers, before they enter the ring. It appeases their ancestor spirits-" she added a dismissive sneer on the last word "-and is meant to evoke strength. Really, all it does is warm up the muscles before they bump their lumps all over each other like sexually confused moose-lions."

"Strangeness," Lin said, shaking his head. "Does he really think that will help? Surely he must realize that all this would do is force her to aim for him instead of his clothes?" Lan-Feng shrugged.

"Maybe he is hoping that mercy will prevent Mai from putting a knife in his back," she replied. "To which I say…good luck with that."

Ty Lee inwardly facepalmed at Yunfei's choice of attire. She's specifically told him not to wear so little. The whole reason she wore her old acrobat outfit, complete with trailing skirt tassels, so Mai's daggers would still have a target, even if that target was suboptimal. The way Yunfei was dressed, she would have no place to aim but at him.

Sure enough, right as Xin Fu signaled the match to begin, there was a flash and a clang as Yunfei's sword struck a throwing dagger out of the air.

"For Khan and Fire Lord!" Yunfei shouted as he and Ty Lee blitzed forward, even as Mai and Qing took cover. It was relatively simple for both sides to anticipate the other would attempt to play to their strengths, the Northern Water Tribe team seeking to get distance and lay down fire, the Fire Nation team seeking to close to melee. Indeed, Ty Lee saw that Mai and Qing were also dressed for the part, Mai wearing the light padded armor of the female Home Guard for its increased protection, Qing wearing a coat of leather scales and leather battleskirt over the form-fitting light blue shirt-leggings-mukluks ensemble she normally sported. Indeed, for both teams, the question was less "how to fight" and more whether they would be able to keep the fight at their respective preferred ranges.

Yunfei's sword was a bright blur as it lashed forth in blinding arcs all around him, deflecting the torrent of projectiles coming at him, an ice spear or a throwing knife here, a shuriken or a water bullet there. Ty Lee kept pace, similar parrying what projectiles she could not dodge outright with the two fans that were the only weapons she carried into the fight. But while Qing's barrage was less than it had been in her previous match, Mai's hailstorm of weapons was slowing Ty Lee's pace.

All the while, the temperature was getting ever colder.

"Yunfei! A little help here!" Ty Lee called out, and Yunfei's sword flashed again, this time sending an arc of flame that cleaved through the air and sailed right for Mai. The Fire Lady's eyes widened, and she quickly dove for a different clump of crystals as Yunfei's attack shattered the clump she had formerly been hiding behind. In the meantime, Ty Lee had regained her pace.

"Didn't know you had that in you," Ty Lee heard Mai call out. "I've heard the rumors."

"Base lies and slander, Your Grace," Yunfei called back. "Anyone says we can't throw fire I'll challenge to Agni Kai right after, see how they like our supposed inability to do so then."

They were almost at the river separating them from the Northern Water Tribe team, now.

In the stands, Piandao raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't know you could do that," the swordmaster said.

"There a lot about us you don't know, Piandao," Ouyang Leng replied.

"You never did that back in the Swordbreakers."

"Wasn't necessary when we have all them other firebenders, and my skills were better put coordinating and buffing their fire anyway," Ouyang Leng replied. "You just here to make small talk?"

"He's here on my behalf," Kazuma said. "Leng, I just want to formally say, I'm sorry for what happened back with Fang-lin and-"

"You're sorry?"

"I shouldn't have rushed in-"

"And killed the slaver? It was going to have been a fight regardless, pup. All you did was hasten the two or so seconds that Yunfei would have taken to get the hint. We are warriors, pup. We fight the enemies of the Fire Nation, foreign or domestic, and we either kill them or die trying."

"I see…" Kazuma said hesitantly, with the look of one who actually didn't see at all.

"Go watch the match, pup," Leng growled, then looked back at Piandao. "Is that all, Piandao?"

Piandao's eyes narrowed. "I'm trying to mend fences here, Leng. Do not mistake my tolerance for weakness. You know what I can do when provoked, but I'd rather let past unpleasantness remain in the past. Can we do that at least?"

"Fine. Mend away," Leng replied, shrugging. He gestured towards the arena. "So, look at that. Our Fire Lady leading a woman waterbender into battle. Who would have imagined it?"

"Yes. Inspiring, is it not?"

"You approve?"

"Why would I not?"

Leng barked out a laugh. "So the Order of the White Lotus's vaunted respect for the traditions of the Four Nations does have limits, I see. And after all that stink you made all those years ago, and me losing an eye for it."

"Leng, that is not-"

"Oh but it is, but it is." Leng rose from his seat. "You sought to get my measure, Piandao. But now I think I've seen yours, and I find it wanting." The First Sword shook his head. "Your hypocrisy disgusts me, Piandao. I'm getting a bloody drink."

Well, this was annoying, Mai thought as knife after dart after needle after shuriken after knife was avoided by Ty Lee. She didn't want to hurt her friend who had saved her from Azula all those years ago, not if she could avoid it, and so she was glad – at least, a little – that Ty Lee's dress had tassels. If she could get a kunai into those, then she could pin Ty Lee down and take her out of commission with a reasonable amount of gentleness.

If.

Kyoshi training had heightened her friend's acrobatics even further, and only twice had Mai been able to get close to pinning her down. The first time, Yunfei had shot another arc of flame at her and given his fiancée time to cut herself loose with the sharpened edges of her fans. The second time it was a late hit, and Mai's shuriken simply ripped through the dress's edge instead of getting a solid hook into its center.

More perplexingly, Qing wasn't using the "waterbending" that Mai had taught her. Rather than the quick bursts that was her forte, the girl was trying – and failing – at more conventional waterbending. Despite Mai's flashing battlesigns, Qing had acted like she hadn't seen them.

Which led to the situation now, where Yunfei and Ty Lee were about to cross the river. Mai grit her teeth and palmed a Dragontusk from her ammo pack. It was a cluster shot, one that would hopefully distract the pair as they leaped across the river and allow Qing to pull a freeze. The multistage weapon loosed from her hand, the force of her throw quickly allowing it to reach its maximum physical velocity. Delicately crafted catches broke off due to air resistance, causing the dart to spin, stabilizing its trajectory and more importantly exposing the two treated stripes inside the weapon's base to air. They ignited, priming the blasting jelly chamber inside to provide one final boost to the Dragontusk's velocity, and with a deafening crack, loosed its payload even as the Fire Nation pair split up in an attempt to present a more difficult target.

The blast caught them mid-leap, and Ty Lee's attempts to dodge resulted in her losing her momentum and falling right in the middle of the river. Yunfei faired a little better, utilizing the "Morning Breeze" technique of the Raging Wind Swordplay to cover himself in a ball of defensive slashes, but his momentum was also effectively killed, and out of the corner of her eye Mai saw Qing turn her attentions to him, the river rising and solidifying, reaching for Yunfei's foot to freeze. But suddenly a chill permeated the surrounding air, and evidently Qing missed her mark, the tentacle freezing solid just a split-second early. Instead of being trapped by the ice, Yunfei used it as a foothold to bound over to Ty Lee and with a spinning flaming sword slice break her free.

So that's Clan Ouyang firebending. Clever.

Out of the corner of her eye, Mai also saw Qing's look of confusion and allowed a rare look of anger cross her face. The poor girl was probably doubting her own skills and asking herself what went wrong. The groans coming from the stands, mostly centered along the Northern Water Tribe section, were not helping in that regard. Mai knew it was likely not intentional, but Yunfei's little stunt had injected yet another dose of self-doubt in Qing, and the girl did not need more much of that.

"Qing!" Mai shouted. "It's fine! Pull yourself together!"

But she had to turn her attention back as Ty Lee closed in, leaving Mai with the unpleasant mental image of Yunfei bearing down on the young waterbender, sword in hand.

"Unimpressive," Nukilik of the Northern Water Tribe scoffed as he watched the proceedings. "A proper waterbender not out of his second month would not have missed the timing of a basic freeze as badly as that." He looked closer at the bout unfolding below him. "A simple Stroking the Peacock's Tail, followed by Parting the Wild Horse's Mane would have reversed her fortunes."

"But she wasn't taught properly, was she?" Katara interjected, more than a little miffed at the dismissive way the Northerners were speaking about their representative. She, too, was watching, and winced a little every time Yunfei's sword veered too close to Qing.

"She was taught like everyone else," Nukilik replied. "They failed to advance beyond 24-Step." He turned back to the stage. "Defend with Cloud Hands, retreat into White Crane Spreads Its Wings, recover and retake initiative with White Ape Presents Fruit."

"Perhaps if she had proper instruction, rather than being left to practice a form alone, she would," Katara said, her voice rising just by a decibel or ten. Her students, Brad included, turned to look at her, but she motioned for Sokka to come take charge of them. "And White Ape Presents Fruit isn't present in the 24-Step Form."

"With all due respect, Katara," Nukilik said, his tone of voice and the failure to append the "Master" honorific to her name indicating that he meant everything but, "I find myself wondering why you feel that despite being not of the North, not having been there, and not having taught any of the classes on a daily basis, you feel qualified to comment on our methods of instruction."

"Because despite these things, I've somehow managed to know more about your student in two hours of supplemental instruction than you have in years of classes," Katara shot back. "Qing's a bright young woman who learns quickly if lot if someone would teach her properly." She shot a glance down at the ring, then turned back to Nukilik. "And if someone would have showed her, say, the rightful application of the Single Whip and how to transition from that to Pushing The Mountains, she'd be whipping Ouyang's flaming butt all over the arena right now."

"Ah, yes. Your little lessons. Qing is of the North, Katara. Who she is to receive instruction from is a matter reserved for her current masters, and you have overstepped your bounds. As her senior, I am ranking disciple, and my responsibility-"

"With all due respect, Nukilik, your responsibility has been wanting. The only reason she would even try a more orthodox waterbending move than the ones she had been using is due to my tutelage, because your people taught her nothing."

"You go too far, Katara."

"Oh believe me, Nukilik, I haven't gone far enough."

"Really, Master Katara?" another of the Northern Tribesman said. Katara mentally placed him as Chugach. "There is a reason and a place for all, as the Great Manitou tells us. Enough of our traditions have been lost already from the decades of war. Will you cost us more of them?"

"I can tell you that she knows how to Pluck the Needle From the Seabed," Nukilik grunted. "I caught her skipping healing class to watch me teach applications. Lot of good that did her just now."

Katara looked down at the arena, and her heart sank. Qing was breathing heavily on the ground, knocked down by a pommel strike to hear Xin Fu call it. A bruise was rapidly forming below her left eye, and now she was barely dodging the cascade of cuts that fell all around her amidst calls from Yunfei to yield. Still she put up a spirited effort, even as the combination of Ouyang steel and swordsmanship all but rent the leather armor she wore to pieces, and several slashes that landed too close for comfort drew blood from shallow cuts. The crowd was going wild at this turn of events, and Katara had to will herself to not wish icy murder upon all of them, for they could not have known what Qing had gone through. So she instead wished it upon Nukilik, Chugach, and everyone like them, who wanted a scared little girl to get hurt just to prove their philosophy right.

"Your traditions," Katara replied between clenched teeth, "can go drown themselves in a ten-foot puddle."

Stunned silence fell upon the competitors box. Kei, Sokka, Lin, Lan-Feng, Brad, her students, Kazuma, Iroh, Piandao, Yunteng, Yunteng's family, Leng, and several other White Lotus and Ouyang she did not know turned their heads to her, looks of varying degrees of surprise on their faces. Out of the corner of her eye Katara saw Yunteng's wife cover up little Ouyang Kaili's ears. Leng bared his teeth in a grin and punch Piandao lightly on the shoulder, to which Piandao responded with a look of utter consternation. Nukilik slapped his hand upon a table, and hot tea streamed forth from unfinished cups and pots all around them, darting for Katara.

"That was a mistake," Katara spat, her eyes narrowing as she turned in a circle, drew the tea into a globe as she chambered her palms at her waist, and pushed it back at Nukilik. The older waterbender moved to counter, but right as the tea stream reached him, it suddenly dissipated into a blast of hot steam, and Nukilik would have been scalded had Chugach not stepped in and froze it into a neatly flat pane of tan ice. He took a stance, and-

"Now, now, children, you spilled your tea," Iroh said, suddenly slipping between them with unexpected agility, a freshly brewed teapot dangling from his hands. "This is a time for peace and unity, and I think we should all calm down and discuss our differences over a refill."

"I meant what I said, Iroh," Katara replied, not taking her eyes off Nukilik and the others. "I – we did not fight this war so these cretins could treat their own people this way."

"And we fought this war to protect our culture and our way of life," Nukilik added. "Not to let it be worn away by foreign influence like an aging glacier. There is nothing to discuss."

"Then perhaps we might agree to disagree, and let the results of the match play out," announced Kei, walking over from her seat to the two waterbenders. She placed a conciliatory hand upon their shoulders, gave a reassuring rub, and then smiled. "Social issues are…complex things, and it's unlikely we will reach any kind of consensus like this. Why don't we turn our attentions to the matter at hand?"

"…very well," Nukilik said, turning his head aside. "I suppose my reaction was somewhat unbecoming for one of my position."

"I'll accept that, for now," Katara replied, then looked back up at Kei. "That feels strangely comfortable."

"Thank you, Miss Mallari," Iroh added, turning back to the arena just in time as the crowd roared. While Mai and Ty Lee were still maneuvering around and trading attacks, the former trying to keep the latter at bay and out of paralysis range, Ouyang Yunfei was quite obviously down on the ground.

Katara looked back up to Nukilik.

"I think this team may just drag you into modernity whether you like it or not."

Nukilik harrumphed, sat back down, picked up the cup of tea that a serving girl had recently refilled, and dunked it into his throat like a shot of firewhiskey.

Qing was scared.

She had a lot of reason to be. Narrowly dodging – and in some cases not dodging – hundreds of cuts by one of the more renowned Fire Nation swordsmen was a terrifying prospect for anyone, but that was not why she was afraid. Having the pride of your entire nation on your shoulders would be considered frightening by many, but that was not why she was afraid.

It all happened so fast. One minute, Yunfei was bearing down upon her, blood in his eyes.

And then she froze, instinct took over, and she'd lashed out with a low kick, one of the first things Mai had taught her. It was originally meant for non-benders, using the sharp bones of the upper shin to drive into the sensitive nerves of the inner thigh, bruising muscle, interrupting circulation, and causing the nerves to ring with pain. Applied to her skills, the resulting stream of water from the skins on her back clocked the young Ouyang right on the chin, and he crumpled to the ground, sword still in hand.

It was also most definitely not part of the Northern style waterbending repertory. She would pay for that later.

That was why she was scared.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

Qing quickly took cover behind a crystal cluster.

"How so, Katara? By brawling like a common plebian?" Nukilik grunted. He turned to Katara and Sokka. "That is what your meddling has done. This is what the world will see as the prowess of Northern waterbending. Are you happy now?"

Nukilik, you are not making this easy, Iroh thought. He knew, based on decades of experience, that the Northern Water Tribe would rival the Fire Nation in terms of their resistance to changes in the world order. He had hoped that the tournament, and especially Qing and Mai's involvement, could demonstrate everything the North stood to gain from cultural integration, yet it appeared that he had vastly underestimated their resistance to such changes.

"Actually, can you explain something to me, Master Nukilik?" an Earth Kingdom woman said, her soft voice cutting off the beginnings of a conciliatory remark from Iroh and an angry retort from Katara. "I was watching their previous match, and Qing was doing quite well fighting like that. In fact, she still fights better that way. Of course, I am but a housewife, uneducated in the martial ways, so perhaps I am missing something. Perhaps the master Northern style waterbender can illuminate me as to why she should use what seems like an inferior style?"

And that is exactly the opposite reaction I was hoping for.

"Watch your tone with me, woman," Nukilik snarled, turning on the interloper. "Katara has been given Master status by my own master, and I must acknowledge her as such. I have no such reservations where you are concerned."

"Might be a good idea to have them anyway," Ouyang Yunteng drawled, getting up and walking slowly, deliberately towards Nukilik, fingers lightly tapping on the hilts of Jade Maiden and All-Truth, the two straightswords that rested at his belt. "For the very simple reason that Dee's a nice gal with whom I've fallen in love, and I rather don't care for her to be spoken sharply to." By this time he had interspersed himself between Nukilik and the Earth Kingdom woman, staring right into Nukilik's eyes. "I believe in the White Lotus dream of harmony between the Four Nations. But you so much as raise your voice at the love of my life and mother of my child again, and I will gut you like a fish."

"Now, now, Young Lord Ouyang, I'm sure you did not mean to threaten our guest from the north," Iroh interjected. "And Master Nukilik, I understand that it is the way of the Northern Water Tribe that the women are to be kept inside the house, but you must understand that the ways of the North are not the ways others. In the Fire Nation, especially, it is common for free women to give their opinions in public."

"Yes, well, opinions have consequences, Royal Uncle," Nukilik replied. "Or am I to say nothing when my style is being insulted?"

"My wife may have spoken out of ignorance, and I may have acted out of rash instinct. I recognize my failing and will be sure to correct it," Yunteng said, and Iroh noticed a slight smirk from Dee at this. "However, Royal Uncle…something confuses me. Obviously we were partially wrong about the Tribesmen, if Master Katara's presence is any indication. But obviously not completely wrong, as Nukilik's actions have demonstrated. Do you truly believe we are to let this slide? That honor is satisfied by inaction, when inaction does not appear to help anyone?"

"It is…complicated," Iroh replied, sighing. It was true; he couldn't very well just say outright that this was because forcing change upon other societies almost never works, because for any change to stick, the society must embrace it organically from within. That would, quite simply, spoil the secret and cause even greater reactionary sentiment. "If I may ask you to trust me on this matter…"

"Very well," Yunteng said, then turned to Nukilik. "Understand, sir, that I hold my tongue for now, out of deference for the Royal Uncle, not for you."

"Being that all we seek is to be left alone, I do not mind."

Iroh sighed, as yet another crisis was averted.

Alright, that was not supposed to happen, Yunfei thought. Or at least, it was as close as he came to thinking under the circumstances.

One minute he was about to take Qing out of the fight, and then that water stream came from nowhere and clocked him on the chin. It struck him at just the right angle, such that it twisted his head sharply to the side, pinching for a very brief instant his carotid arteries and cutting off bloodflow to the brain. Everything went black, and the next thing he knew he was groggily picking himself back up. It was unexpected, but that was no excuse.

For whatever reason, Qing had not moved to finish him off, instead retreating further. Yunfei shook his head to clear his thoughts. At least I didn't drop my sword this time, he thought as he advanced towards Qing.

Then a searing pain exploded into his shoulder, and his sword clattered to the ground.

Dammit!

"I'm not apologizing," Mai said, Yunfei's cry of pain still ringing in her ears as she ducked under a flurry of acupoint strikes.

"No, it's fine. Really, it's his fault anyway," Ty Lee said, shrugging as she flipped over a brace of shuriken. "He wanted to wear that because he didn't want to get pinned, I specifically told him to wear more clothes because getting pinned down hurts a lot less than actually getting stabbed."

"Thanks. I knew you would understand," Mai replied, retreating to put more distance between herself and Ty Lee's paralyzing knuckles. It had been a risk to take her attention off Ty Lee for the second-and-a-half needed to embed those three sleeve-arrows in Yunfei's right shoulder. Qing was safe for now, which left Mai scrabbling for position.

"So, how are you and Zuko? Am I going to be an auntie soon?"

"Ty Lee, if you were, do you think I would be fighting in this tournament?"

Sometimes, the more things changed, the more things stayed the same, Mai mused as she continued to maneuver about, trading blows with Ty Lee. Despite the circumstances of her joining the Kyoshi Warriors, actually making good on the arranged marriage that led her to run off, and now fighting in this tournament, Ty Lee was still just as friendly as ever.

Which would be why the girl was making small talk even as a kunai barely zipped by her shoulder, and Mai had to duck back under a paralyzing strike. And which was also why Mai was replying in kind.

"So how are you and Yunfei?" Another brace of kunai went flying by, and Ty Lee barely dodged them as she cartwheeled aside. "Making up? Or out?"

"Slowly," Ty Lee answered, catching up and kicking at Mai's leg acupoints. "I really don't know how much of it he's doing for me and how much is him really changing. Or if it really matters that much."

"It does, somewhat. If he's only doing it for you, then eventually you'll only fight about it again," Mai replied, jumping over the kick and keeping a follow-up strike at bay with a handful of shuriken. "Don't feel pressured into it, Ty Lee. Hanako was happy, but that doesn't necessarily mean you will be in the same circumstance. You don't owe her anything, least of all your own happiness. Do what your heart tells you."

"I see," Ty Lee said, nodding. Suddenly she shuddered, and Mai paused out of concern for her friend.

"What's wrong?" Mai asked, hand full of throwing knives still raised.

"Ah, it's nothing. I'm just really cold, because Yunfei's literally stealing every last bit of heat from the air at this point," Ty Lee replied. "This acrobat outfit? Not the best insulation. Anyways, you ready?"

Mai didn't answer.

"Mai, are you okay?"

"Ty Lee?"

"Hmm?"

"Dodge this."

"Yield?"

Ximen Qing was in a world of pain.

It was no use. Her normal waterbending just wasn't strong enough, and even without the use of an arm, Yunfei was still pushing her all over the arena until they'd finally ended up at the river surrounding the arena's edge. His last kick to the gut felt like a hammer blow, sending Qing reeling until she collapsed at the riverbank. She'd heard his repeated requests to yield, but she couldn't, not without dishonoring her tribe. And so she'd gotten up again, assuming a low stance, circling her arms in an attempt at setting up the octopus technique, but Yunfei's own strangely circular fireblast had dissipated it, and his follow-up kick knocked her down again.

"Yield?"

Qing shook her head, clawing at the ground and pushing herself back up, spitting out a wad of blood in the process. She saw hesitation flash across Yunfei's face, but it quickly disappeared once she'd assumed a fighting stance, and this time she only had time to begin forming a set of ice gauntlets before Yunfei launched his attack. His arms circled again, and a flaming punch shattered her gauntlets while a subsequent knee and forearm smash sent her tumbling with a sprained wrist this time.

Strange, that almost looked like Titan Pounding Mortar…

"Look, just yield. I don't like doing this," she heard Yunfei say, every word punctuated by approaching footsteps, but her mind was elsewhere. It sudden occurred to her that many of Yunfei's firebending techniques seemed strangely similar to what she had observed her seniors do. "And what you're doing now, it's just making it harder on you."

Shame washed over her. Even a firebender imitating the movements was still better at waterbending than she was. Still, there was honor to be satisfied.

"I can't," Qing said weakly, struggling to her feet again.

"I'm sorry, then. You fought well, and I'll try to make it painless."

Qing suddenly found herself starting at the ceiling, the wind knocked out of her. Belatedly she remembered how it happened; she had raised her hands in a fighting stance again, only for Yunfei to dump her to the ground once more. Her ears vaguely caught the announcement that it was some kind of leg trip, commonly employed by the Fire Nation's steppe tribes. Now she fought for breath, his knee upon her throat, her vision blurring. She briefly heard something whistling through the air, followed by a thud and a splash.

Then it suddenly became easier to breathe.

Qing fought through the aches and shook her head to clear it. There Yunfei lay, out like a candle, with a peculiar dart sticking out of his neck, the tan fletching identifying it as laced with shirshu venom. Mai. Qing looked over to where her mentor was still engaging Ty Lee, then glanced back to Yunfei. The firebender had landed with his head partially in the river, and the first thing Qing did was stagger to where he lay and drag him safely away – after all, every Water Tribesman knew that it takes only a few centimeters of water to drown someone. The next thing to do was to help Mai, but she couldn't do it in this state.

Qing entered the river, which began to glow.

"In hindsight, that was actually a really obvious tactic that we somehow missed," Yunteng mused. "Ah well, live some and learn some."

"What, Mai being able to attack Ty Lee and Yunfei at once?" Dee asked.

"No, that was anticipated, and Yunfei getting tagged the first time was his fault. We did not, however, anticipate that because Yunfei relies on his swordsmanship to deflect projectiles, while Ty Lee relies on her agility to dodge them, an opponent may position herself so that Ty Lee would dodge over a projectile that was aimed at Yunfei in the first place," Yunteng answered. "Now, if you will excuse me, my dear, there is something else I must see to. Take Kaili home with my cousins, I will join you later."

"Don't start any trouble, dear," his wife said.

"No need to worry," Yunteng replied. "Besides, we all know that between my brother and me, I'm the responsible one." With that, he made his way to where Nukilik was currently grandstanding, accepting cursory congratulations as the other spectators filtered out of the viewing box.

"You see," Nukilik said, gesturing to the arena. "She should have been a healer, like we have been saying all along."

Katara opened her mouth to say something, but it was hard to argue with the results. Qing had emerged from the river, the bruises dropping to a quarter of their original size, the cuts knitted over. Revitalized, she had jumped in, and soon Ty Lee had avoided a series of kunai, only to dodge right into a freezing water whip that immobilized her for a victory by submission. The other Northern waterbenders stood and received curt congratulations from the other competitors and their accompanying guests, hearts settled at the retort that never came.

At least, not from Katara.

Nukilik of the Northern Water Tribe became aware of a pair of eyes looking upon him.

Yunteng stood there, uncomfortably close, starting at Nukilik and doing his best to imitate Shijie's signature cheese-eating grin.

"Have I a stain on my shirt, Young Lord Ouyang?" the Northern waterbender asked, right when awkwardness reached its peak.

"Not at all," Yunteng replied, smiling. "I merely wish to express congratulations on Ximen Qing's victory."

"It is good to know that we will receive proper recognition, yet surprising coming from you," Nukilik said. "Might I ask what prompted this attitude change?"

"Who said anything about you? I was congratulating her. It's pretty obvious you had nothing to do with her victory."

"Jealousy in defeat does not suit you, Young Lord Ouyang."

"Master Nukilik, we have walked our share of the warriors' road," Yunteng said. "The uninitiated masses in the audience may not know the difference, but do you really think you could fool all of us? Obviously she was fighting differently compared to her first match, as my lovely wife noticed. Obviously, that was due to your influence. Now, the others here, they are polite, which is why I am still here, arguing the point with you. Although, come to think of it," he added, stroking his chin, "I do not know why Master Katara isn't doing the same."

"Because you know nothing, Ouyang Yunteng. The people of the Water Tribes have always had a deep sense of community, one that has held us together through many moons," Nukilik replied, smirking. "Apparently, for all Clan Ouyang's talk of family, you are unable to understand that part of this community is a duty to do what is best for the Tribe. Qing is an excellent healer and serves her Tribe best in that role. Master Katara here, she understands this, which is why she isn't saying anything – she can't."

"Oh, I understand that," Yunteng replied. "We, too, swear an oath to serve our Fire Lord Zuko with all the strength of our two hands, but therein lies the rub - this was to be a contest of skill between our champion and yours, and you took steps to interfere in its outcome." His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms and continued. "You dishonored Clan Ouyang, Nukilik. Expect a challenge shortly."

"A challenge? From who, you? I know what happened during Black Sun, Ouyang," Nukilik replied, laughing. "You are not as you were, and while nothing would please me more than to dismantle one of you for the mockery your clan has made of the exquisite art of waterbending, I am not in the habit of fighting cripples." His hand came up to rest on Yunteng's shoulder. "Stay away from forces beyond your control, Ouyang."

"Sir, I am Fire Nation," Yunteng said, smiling as he turned smoothly, dropping his hands as he did so. Nukilik's hand rolled off like snow from a hanging tree branch. "I do not believe in the existence of forces beyond my control." Firebender and waterbender locked eyes, and then Yunteng tilted his head ever so slightly, intimating that Nukilik should look down. The waterbender did so and scowled, for the fire dagger in Yunteng's tightly clenched fist, hidden from view by their own bodies, hovered a centimeter from his groin.

"You know where to find me, Nukilik," Yunteng said, dispelling the flame and exiting the viewing box.

Yunfei awoke to a pleasant soothing sensation in his shoulder, which confused him because he distinctly remembered that was the shoulder that ate one of Mai's projectiles. He looked to the right, saw the wad of glowing water and gentle hands around it, and considered the mystery solved. He then looked to his left, and there was Ty Lee, smiling lightly at him once she saw his eyes open.

"So, after I got knocked out," Yunfei began, "you were a total badass and defeated both of our opponents by yourself, right?"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but no," Ty Lee replied. "By the way, you should look right again."

"Highness. And Qing?" Surprise filled Yunfei's voice as the identity of his healer sank in, along with the fact that Mai was sitting next to her. "You didn't have to – I mean they have healers – er, thanks for doing this. That actually feels really good."

"You're welcome," Qing replied softly, continuing to work.

"Qing has a talent for this," Mai said. "Also, that was one of your clan's Dragontusks I threw at you. Trust me, you want her to heal you after that. Oh, come off it," she added, noting the look of dismay on Yunfei's face. "If you had dressed more sensibly, I would have just tried to pin you down by your clothes."

"Sheesh, talk about blaming the victim," Yunfei mumbled, sinking into his cot.

"Whine, whine. Besides, it was an armor-piercing variant. All it did was leave a nice clean hole in your arm which, again, is nothing that Qing can't heal."

"Fair enough. Congratulations, by the way. Although…was it just me, or did Qing seem like she was using extremely different techniques compared to last round? I mean, I was watching and remember it being super direct and efficient, and now it seemed a lot more circular."

"Yes," Qing replied. "I was not using my traditional waterbending as I should have been. I have since been made aware of my mistake and will represent my tribe authentically in the future."

"Qing, we've been through this," Mai interjected. "The style I taught you fits the best with your current skill level. Once you get some decent training with Katara, or with anyone who will actually teach you, then you can start messing with the more traditional techniques, but this…this isn't worth getting unnecessarily hurt over."

"Well, more to the point, picking a fighting style is all about going with what works and leaving out what doesn't," Yunfei added. "I mean, if something's not working for you, it's perfectly normal to try something else, that's how styles…evolve, you know. I mean, I'm here representing my family's style too, but we're also here to look for anything that can add to it." He paused, suddenly realizing that something was off about something Mai said. "Wait, what do you mean, someone who will actually teach you-"

"Your arm is healed," Qing replied, standing abruptly. "Just rest it and get regular healing sessions in the morning and night and it should be back to normal in three days. I…I have to go."

"Qing, wait," Mai called, but the Water Tribe girl was already halfway to the exit. "Look, before you go, Yunfei here has something to explain."

"Er, I do?"

"Just bear with me, Ouyang," Mai hissed. Sure enough, her words had an effect, and Qing stopped and looked back. "Back in the ring, there were several times where Qing was trying to tag you, but froze early. Or she would hit you with water bursts, but then they'd freeze and you'd parry or block. Now, I know she has better timing than that. Care to explain?"

"Uh…these ladykillers I got here?" Yunfei replied, grinning as he bounced his pecs. Qing blushed, and Ty Lee facepalmed. "I mean, there was a reason I came in wearing what I did – ow!"

"Not the time for stupid jokes, Yunfei," Ty Lee said, folding her arms upon completion of the dope slap. "Be serious."

"Well, it's kind of a family secret…" Yunfei paused in thought. "Alright, I think I can tell you this much. Fire Lady-"

"Jusy call me Mai. Ty Lee does, you're close enough to her that you've earned that privilege."

"Alright, Mai. As you know, Clan Ouyang specializes in the heat control aspect of firebending. Qing, basically it lets us take a hot thing and make it less hot, or take a cold thing and make it less cold, or take a hot and a cold thing and even out their temperatures. We use that in our forges, and that's why Ouyang blades are both the best and the most numerous in the Fire Nation. Anyways, solid metal to liquid metal by heating, liquid metal to solid metal by cooling…you see where I'm going?"

"You didn't spend the whole fight mistiming your waterbending attacks, Qing," Mai said. "He was just messing with you."

"I see." Qing turned to Yunfei and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Yunfei. And thank you, Mai. You've…you've given me a lot to think about, but I truly need to be alone for a moment." And with that, Qing left the room. Mai started to follow, but a cough from Ty Lee stopped her.

"Mai, I think she really does need to find out for herself."

"Um, someone want to fill me in on what that was all about?" Yunfei asked, looking first at Ty Lee, then to Mai, then back to Ty Lee.

"Unperceptive as ever," Ty Lee replied, sighing.

"Well, I'm sorry that I can't read auras like you, okay?"

"Fair enough," Ty Lee said. "I've been wondering myself. Mai?"

It was all just too much pressure.

Qing sighed as she idly drew and returned water from the meditation pond in the Northern Water Tribe embassy. It had seemed like such a great idea, trying out. She knew the boys were humoring her, that they never expected her to improve that much simply from a few days with Mai. But where was the harm in trying? Winning the competitor spot was an unexpected bonus, and she'd been happy about that. She just never expected it to bring all this drama.

Maybe the others were right. Maybe there was a reason for the traditions being what they are, and she should never have tried to buck them.

"You know, you cost a lot of people a lot of money today."

Qing sat up, alarmed at the voice. Usually, she could tell by aura that someone was coming, from Nukilik's angry orange to Katara's impassioned indigo to Mai's dingy gray, but she had felt absolutely nothing from the woman standing beside her now.

"Like, really, the odds were favoring Ouyang, eight to one. Figures, he's a known quantity, and you're not, but yeah, that was quite the upset."

"Can I help you?" Qing asked tentatively as she got a better look at her unexpected guest. "You're…Sokka's partner, right? Kei?"

"Right on. How are you feeling? Ouyang put quite a hurting on you, as I recall."

"Oh, I'm fine. Um, how did you get in here?" Qing asked, biting her lip. "It's way past opening hours, and Nukilik usually doesn't allow visitors…"

"Girl, you're hanging out with some of the best up-and-coming fighters in the world. Do you really think your senior – especially one so undeserving of that title – can keep me out? Anyways, I'm really here because, well, us girls have to stick together, you know? Lean in, build up, support and collaborate, all that jazz?"

"Thanks," Qing said slowly. She was still a little unsure about this whole thing, and then a thought struck her. "Hey, Kei? You're an Earth Kingdom woman. What do you think about…well, about me competing?"

"I think it's great," Kei answered, smiling as she sat down next to the waterbender. "You have to realize, though, that the Earth Kingdom's a big place, and each city-state more or less has its own rules and social mores on what women are supposed to be like. And we in the gypsy tribes, we have a more…relaxed outlook than most. And really, that's why I came here," Kei said, reaching out and holding Qing's hand. "Know this, Qing – you have a lot more people in your corner than you think. Any time you're feeling down, just reach out, and I guarantee you'll find a hand somewhere."

This feels strangely comfortable, Qing thought, even as Kei bowed, bid her good night, and left as silently as she came.

Codex

Legends and folklore

Subsection: Water Tribes

The Great Manitou had a warning for the people of the Water Tribe. A great sicknesshas spread over the land because of man's greed. The Elder had aremedy for the plague: a chief's daughter must throw herself from thecliffs to the rocks below. The Snow Raven tribe chief ruled against this, but in the dead of night his own daughter leaps to her death to cure herpeople. In memory of her sacrifice, a glorious waterfall flows fromthe cliffs high above the village.

~Oral transcription, original source unknown