The next morning as the entire team finished their sunrise meditation Zuko came with a loud announcement. "I am going to need Aang for the entire day today." he stated. "We need to do physical training, stances and movements."
Katara nodded. "Makes sense. He's all yours."
"Have at it Sparky." Toph smirked.
"Sokka you're going to join us." Zuko stated making Sokkas eyes widen.
"What?" Sokka asked. "But it's fire bending training right?"
"I thought about how best to get around this. You want to learn better combat right Sokka?" Zuko asked. "Well, what we are going today will be beneficial to both fire bending and none bending combat! We will train foot work, punching and strength!" he stated. "And this way, we'll get two birds with one stone. Also you two can benefit from each while training."
Sokka blinked. "Admittedly all of that sounds pretty good to me. I'm in."
"You're the boss Shifu Hotman!" Aang grinned.
Zuko blinked as he turned to Aang. "What… What did you just call me?"
"Shifu Hotman." Aang said innocently. "You don't use that in the fire nation any more? A hundred years ago it was a normal title for fire nation teachers you respected."
"Please don't call me that again." Zuko asked. "ever."
"Oh." Aang blinked. "I'm sorry erhm… Shifu Zuko?" he tried.
Zuko frowned deeply and Aang shifted uncomfortable.
"Shifu?" Katara asked.
"It means teacher." Zuko explained.
"Well, you are a teacher." Katara pointed out.
"I'm… Really not though." Zuko fidgeted a little nervously.
Toph rolled her eyes. "We only been together for a few days and you already taught all of us new stuff. You're a teacher. Take it or leave it Sparky."
Zuko opened his mouth, then closed it again. Then finally he sighed. "Can we please not?" he asked. "I don't really feel like I deserve that title."
Katara looked up at Zuko, then smiled a little lightly. "What-ever you feel comfortable with. Right Aang?" she asked.
Aang nodded. "Of course. I only tried to be polite." he said. "Maybe later I can call you it."
"Don't count on it." Zuko pouted.
After breakfast Aang and Sokka was dragged out on the highest point of the mountain they were on so the sun would be on them at all times. Then Zuko pulled off his tunic revealing his naked torso.
Which didn't have a single gram of fat on it but lots of pure muscle.
Sokka gasped then looked at his own skinny arm. It wasn't weak looking at all but… There wasn't any visible bulge either like on Zuko. "Aww man." Sokka muttered disappointed.
Well, at least Aang was even skinnier than he was.
"Should I also take off my tunic?" Aang asked.
"That's your own decision." Zuko said as he started to stretch. "A fair warning though. If you do this right, you are going to sweat. A lot. What-ever you wear you will want to wash."
"Sounds like a mans work out!" Sokka grinned pulling off his own tunic and Aang sighed doing the same.
"Good decision." Zuko stated. "First. We need to stretch." he informed.
"But I thought we were going to do fighting moves." Sokka pouted.
"Trust me." Zuko said. "If you don't stretch you are going to regret it tomorrow."
"What-ever you say Zuko." Sokka rolled his eyes but followed along. Following Zukos instructions which amazingly. Sokka ended up feeling the stretch in places he didn't even know was stretchable.
Something Sokka also discovered was that some of the positions Zuko got into were really… really hard and Sokka fell down more than ones as he simply lacked the strength to do it.
Aang didn't fall down quite as often, but something told Sokka that was because Aang was smaller and lighter.
Finally they were done… and already Sokka was sweating all over.
"Okay." Zuko stated. "Let's start with your stance! That is the foundation for everything when it comes to fighting!" he stated. "Remember. We need to concentrate on our breath." he lifted his hands taking in a deep breath and lowered again as he exhaled. "As you are constantly aware of your breath. Take a fighting stance." he said.
Both Aang and Sokka did as was told and Zuko looked up. He glanced at the bend knees Sokka had, something he had learned from the Kyoshi warriors and then at Aang doing the same and he nodded.
"Not bad. But it could be better to." Zuko stated as he bend his knees and spread out his legs. "Stance is everything! It controls the power of your attacks as well as your ability to block and dodge! Observe!" he walked to Sokka and took a stance. "Hit me." he asked.
Sokka blinked but then raised a fist aiming at Zukos face. Easily Zuko dodged moving his body to the side. Sokka tried again and again but not one single hit reached the target. Only finally Zuko reached up and grabbed Sokkas fist stopping it. And Zuko didn't even move. "My stance allowed me the fast movement." Zuko instructed. "My legs were already bend, so I didn't need to waste time getting into position. And in combat half a second can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Also due to my bend legs, I can better absorb blows. When you stand straight, you have no connection to the ground and will easily be toppled over. Watch." Zuko put a flat hand on Sokkas chest and lightly pushed him.
All that happened was that Sokka lightly bounced a little bit back and then back into position again.
"Now stand up straight." Zuko asked and Sokka did. Only for Zuko to push him again in the exact same way. This time Sokka lost balance as he screamed and fell down on the ground. "See." Zuko smirked as he stood up. "You have your stance down when the opponent don't. You already won the fight." he offered Sokka and a hand and Sokka groaned as he accepted allowing Zuko to pull him back up.
"Urgh. Why did I need to be the example here?" Sokka asked.
"Aang already has it down." Zuko commented.
"It's not that different from earth bending and water bending. Bend legs." Aang grinned.
"From what I have observing. Bending stances are indeed all very similar… When you are standing still." Zuko smirked suddenly looking a little more evil. "It's when you move things are going to be different! And with fire!" he pulled down his arms as he grinned. "We need fast and preciese movements. Powerful punches, powerful kicks and steady footwork so you don't fall down! Fall and you get burned!" he stated. "Unlike water… Unlike wind! Fire is unforgiving. And your control of your breath and your body must be absolute!" he stated. "When you punch. Your entire body must be used to lend it strenght. When you kick, you use your body and your breath." he cracked his neck. "Now… Let's do some punching." he stated.
"YES! This is what I have been waiting for!" Sokka grinned.
It didn't take long for Sokka to absolutely regret his earlier enthusiasm. At the end of the day. Sokka had been punching out in the air at least three thousand times. Not to mention the kicks, at least two thousand and when-ever he faltered his stance or did something wrong. Zuko was over him like a hawk! Berating him and getting him to stand correctly again. The worst part was, the more they got into it the more assertive Zuko became.
"You think the fire lord is going to hesitate and have mercy so you can spend time finding your stance?" Zuko asked. "Again!" he demanded. "The fire nation army never hesitates. You can't afford mistakes! Do again and do it right this time!" he demanded. And as Sokka did it correctly? "Good job. Now do it again!"
As the sun was setting. Sokka and Aang could barely drag themselves back to the camp.
"Sokka." Katara gasped as Sokka fell down on the ground not far from the fireplace. "Are you all right?"
"He's a monster… He's an absolute monster." Sokka gasped.
Aang to fell down on his back gasping for air. "I just… need a bit of rest."
Finally Zuko himself came and he looked absolutely fine as he looked down at the two. "Those stances. You will do them every day Sokka!" he stated. "Even when I am not there. And you will do at least a hundred punches and a hundred kicks! Every single day!"
"WHAT!" Sokka shouted as he sat up.
"And I will be able to tell if you didn't." Zuko snorted. "You want to learn how to fight right? Then stop being a wimp! Get up and fight back!"
Toph laughed from her spot. "HAHAHAHAHA!" she cried in laughter wiping her eye. "This is to good! I knew there was a reason I liked this guy."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Make sure to get some sleep. We'll need to be up for sunrise tomorrow."
"I assure you. I will have no issue sleeping tonight." Sokka gasped. "Man I'm starving." he said.
"Me to." Aang swallowed holding his stomach. "I can't remember ever having felt this hungry before."
Katara smirked. "Then it's a good thing I cooked plenty of rice. All though, we'll soon have to restock. We're almost out." she sighed.
"Sweet. We can visit a town. Maybe look for a sword." Sokka commented.
Zuko nodded. "Then you can do a hundred punches, a hundred kicks and a hundred sword slashes."
Sokkas eyes widened as he turned to Zuko.
Zuko looked at Sokka. "The best way to master these things. Is by practising, and keep doing it. Every single day. Never give up." he said.
Sokka gulped a little intimidated.
"You did really well today. You both did." Zuko said. "You never gave up. You didn't lay down and said you couldn't do it. You continued even when it was hard. You got this. And you can definitely learn how to use a sword if that is what you want."
Sokka gasped as he heard that, then finally said up. Happiness surging through his chest. "Thank you Zuko."
"Remember. I can only do that much." Zuko stated. "It has to come from you. Your inner fire pushing you forward." he pointed at Sokka. "And you. Aang." he looked at Aang. "I can only try to teach. You are the one who has to learn!"
Aang nodded as he sat on his knees. Then clapped his hands together bowing his head for Zuko. "Thank you Shifu."
Zuko frowned as his brow furrowed. Then finally exhaled deeply as it looked like he had finally just accepted the title. Then moved to make some tea to help him unwind after a long day of training. First now realizing what a helpful thing tea was to decouple after that kind of training. He made sure that Sokka and Aang also got some.
