In the morning as Aang and Zuko made their way out on the roof as usual. Aang brightened up as he looked down and saw the figure of an older man who had stepped out as well in the early morning.
Aang grinned as he raised his hand and started to wave. Catching Irohs eye as Iroh looked up and then smiled as he waved back up.
"Hey Mr. Iroh!" Aang suddenly shouted. "You're out for morning meditation too right? You should join us!"
"Up there?" Iroh asked as he pointed up. "Even though Zuko is wise to take you to a place where the sun is the most likely to shine. I fear my old bones wouldn't agree with that climb. You just enjoy your morning." he asked.
"Then we'll just come down to you!" Aang grinned. "Right Zuko?"
"Sure." Zuko said and Aang grinned as he stood up and simply jumped down. Easily breaking his fall with a bit of air bending and landed easily on his feet in front of Iroh.
Zuko shook his head as he stood up. And then jumped down too, needing no bending to land firmly on the ground.
Iroh smiled warmly by the sight of the two young ones now standing in front of him. "You honour me." he said. "Then Zuko. How do we proceed?" he asked.
"You're asking… Me?" Zuko asked.
"Yes. You are the avatars fire bending teacher." Iroh said. "I think you should teach the lesson."
"Oh… Okay. Errhm." Zuko swallowed suddenly nervous.
Aang glanced up at Zuko. Looking a little bit concerned.
"The suns rays only reaches this city in the middle of the day." Zuko commented as he glanced up. "I think it would be a good thing to use some candles." he said as he pulled some out from his pocket. "I got these from the lower ring yesterday." he told Aang.
Aang looked at the candles.
"Usually fire benders meditate with the sun. But in lack of the sun. If you are somewhere where the sun don't reach. Or if the clouds cover the sky. Candles is a good substitute and a good way to practise your breathing." he said.
Then Zuko looked at Iroh, as if questioning if he was doing the right thing.
Iroh lifted an eyebrow not replying. And Zuko cleared his throat.
"Okay let's sit down. There." Zuko pointed to the middle of the field. "If there are going to be any sun rays at all. It will be there." he pointed and they all walked over and sat down with crossed legs while Zuko put up the candles. One in front of each one.
Then gently with a finger Zuko lightened his own candle and looked at Aang. "Now you."
Aang nodded and lighted his own candle as well while Iroh mirrored the motion and smiled.
Zuko looked at Iroh, still feeling awkward and nervous. "Right." he said. "So Aang. Remember how we have practised our breathing so much. And how your inner flame has moved with your breath as the air you breath feeds that flame. You felt it. Now with this candle. You can see it too." he closed his eyes and put his hands together. "Watch." he breathed deeply in and out. Slowly and as he did. The candle pulsed with his breath.
"Wow." Aang gasped.
"See. That flame is a reflection of what is going on inside of you while breathing." Zuko explained.
Aang nodded intensely.
"That's also why… To be able to control fire bending. You need to be able to control yourself. In the past as I lost my temper. I ended up burning things even though I didn't mean to. Being able to breath, to control. Is very important. In all given situations." Zuko stated.
"Like when you make tea!" Aang grinned. "When you were upset. You made tea to get back in control."
Iroh looked up at Zuko. His eyes were pretty questioning. But he didn't say anything.
"Yeah erhm." Zuko blushed deeply. "I… I had to find an alternative to. You know… Yell and… Send fireballs into the air. That was all well and good when I was on an iron ship in the middle of the ocean. Ahem." he coughed into his hand. "And even then it probably wasn't… That well and good." he glanced away.
Aang swallowed. "The first time I entered the Avatar state… I didn't mean to do it. I got mad." he said. "I got so mad. That I just released it all and I… I almost hurt Katara and Sokka. I could have killed them." he whispered.
Zuko looked at Aang with sad eyes. "In my experience you can't really stop yourself from being mad. Trying to suppress it doesn't help, it'll just make it even more uncontrollable. All you can do is realize that you are indeed mad. And when you realize that, find a way to work through it. Then you can better control your actions or at least. Realize that anything you do now will be actions based on emotion. So it's time to calm down first. And give it the time it takes…. It is indeed a burden of a bender. Any bender really if you ask me. That our abilities are dangerous if we are not in control of them. And well the first step to be in control of our bending. Is to be in control of ourselves."
Aang closed his eyes and nodded.
"I'm not going to tell you things that aren't true Aang." Zuko said. "What we can do. And you especially. Is very dangerous when not understood probably."
"I know. And I really appreciate your honesty." Aang stated.
Zuko smiled and first then was reminded that Iroh was there to. He turned his head and saw that Iroh was sitting quietly with closed eyes. He was smiling though.
"Right." Zuko said. "Remember what I taught you about breathing." he said. "Now… Feel the flame in front of you. And breath deeply, into the stomach." he began.
By the time they had finished Katara's head popped out of the window. "Break fast will be ready in ten minutes! Zuko if you want to make tea it's now!"
"Thank you I'll be right there." Zuko called back and he opened his eyes.
Aang opened his eyes to and grinned at Zuko as he stood up and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the lesson Shifu Zuko!" he grinned.
"Thank you for the lesson." Iroh bowed for Zuko as well.
"But… But." Zuko stammered. This was backwards! This wasn't how it worked.
"The Avatar has found himself quite the teacher it seems." Iroh continued smiling.
When would people stop this nonsense! This constant… It was so weird! The world had gone insane. That was the only explanation.
Zuko shook his head.
"Do you have the time after break fast?" Iroh asked. "I don't expect it will take you long to get the idea of how to re-direct lightning. And after that. I thought maybe we could practise a few basics. I will admit as your teacher I am very curious to see how you have evolved."
"Yes of course." Zuko said thankful to finally be back at familiar grounds. "Maybe Aang should join us."
"He would be more than welcome. Teaching the avatar himself would indeed be an honour." Iroh smiled.
"Well in a way you already have." Zuko commented. "I mean. Most of what I did was just repeating the things you told me. It's not like it was me."
Iroh looked at Zuko. "From where do you think I know the things I taught you?"
"Eerh." Zuko halted
"My own fire bending teachers and people I met over the years!" Iroh chuckled. "I didn't know any of these things when I were your age. I had to be taught as well. That's how it works. We get knowledge and learn from others and our experiences and then we pass it on. The role of a teacher is merely, to pass it on." he said. "And you make quite the teacher Prince Zuko."
Zukos cheeks as always seemed to be in constant heat mode as he turned his head away. "I should go make that tea." he said as he stood up.
"Zuko. I could.." Iroh began as he lifted a hand.
But Zuko was already gone. Really looking like he was fleeing the scene.
"I also enjoy making the tea…" Iroh muttered as he crossed his arms.
After breakfast as promised. Iroh, Zuko and Aang were back in the garden.
This time they were not alone though as Katara, Sokka and Toph were sitting in the grass not very far away from them to observe.
This of course… Wasn't unusual. In their time together training Aang, they had joined each others training sessions. Tried to observe each other and so on.
It was Zuko himself who had introduced the idea in the first place.
Yet now it felt different somehow. Zuko felt kind of on display now that Iroh was here to give him a new lesson.
Like he had done a thousand times in the past. Often observed by members of the crew because… What else was there to do on a ship stuck in the middle of the ocean?
So why did it feel so different now? Why was Zuko so afraid of screwing up? He was used to screw up in Iroh's lessons.
And not because Iroh was an impatient teacher. It was because he was an impatient student.
Zuko closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply and then exhaled. Trying to ignore the people just relaxing in the grass. Complete with flying lemur and turtle duck chilling out with them.
"Zuko. Would you mind give us a demonstration of how you managed to absorb fire?" Iroh asked kindly.
"What?" Zuko asked not having counted on being put on display that quick.
"I'm rather curious." Iroh said. "Would you mind trying to show me? No fire involved. Just try to explain."
"Erhm. Right." Zuko said and Aang sat down with crossed legs as he wide-eyed looked up at Zuko. "Well. It's like I said. I observed Katara water bend. And joined her and Aang for a few lessons. Trying to get a feeling of how she moves. Water is fluent, so what Katara needs to do is create a natural path for it." he took a stands. Slightly different from fire bending and moved. "And the body must be in a constant flow." he said. "Then it occurred to me. Fire in its most basic form is energy. Energy we pull from within ourselves and release." he said. "So what I did was simple." he closed his eyes as he held out a hand. "I created a new path for that energy. The fire coming to me." he held out his hand. "My body had to move with the energy coming towards me so I stood ready. The fire was headed one direction and instead of blocking I was leading it. Then inhaled as the flames came to attract the fire to me. The energy, going from my hand here." he showed. "In a flow to my stomach where my own inner flame is and it added to it." he said. "I could not keep so much energy inside of me though. So now I made the kata's you taught me for fire breathing." he made the correct katas. "And exhaled finishing this new path."
Aang gaped as he looked up and then clapped.
Iroh nodded. "Re-directing lightning is very similar." he said. "The first part is exactly the same. Your stands is the right one. And your observation correct to. Fire and lightning. Are merely different forms of energy." he said as he took the first stands. "And energy is always flowing through our bodies so it is about creating this flow. As lightning comes towards you. You must create this path through your body. Inhale and catch with your hand. How-ever, it is from this point on that it becomes different." Iroh showed with his hands. "Lightning is far more destructive than regular fire. It must never touch your heart. That will kill you. You have to create a path that goes beneath your heart and to your other hand." he showed the path. "You cannot breath lightning. It must travel from one hand and down this path." he gestured. "To the other." he showed. "Please join me and practise this move set." he asked.
Zuko nodded as he took a stands and Aang jumped up as well.
It didn't take very long before Iroh smiled warmly. "I should have figured this wouldn't take either of you long. The Avatar can already water bend and you dear nephew. Already figured out half of it all by yourself. Though I must insist you keep practising this move some more." he asked. "Remember what I always taught you nephew."
"Repetition." Zuko smiled. "Keep doing it until it becomes second nature. And then still keep doing it. It never hurts going over basics again."
"Speaking of which. Show me a basic first stand." Iroh asked and at ones Zuko and Aang fell in line.
Iroh glanced at them then put a hand under Zukos chin lifting it a bit. Then nudged his arm into place before he turned to Aang and frowned. He put his own foot on the inside of Aangs foot and pushed Aangs feet a bit further apart.
Then he put a hand on Aangs back making him stand straighter and at last adjusted Aangs elbow.
After that Iroh had them both show him some very basic moves, the first ones Zuko had taught Aang and he nodded approvingly.
"Now. Let's try something fun." Iroh smiled.
"Yeah?" Aang asked hopefully.
Zuko blinked. He wasn't really sure what Iroh had in mind.
"I have a challenge for you." Iroh smiled as he opened his right hand to allow a little flame to light up in his balm. "Extinguish this flame." he asked.
Aang blinked and so did Zuko.
"Of course young Avatar. I would like to ask that you refrain from using Water or air bending. Just blowing it out from a distance seems rather like cheating doesn't it?" Iroh asked.
"What about earth and fire bending?" Aang asked.
"I would like for you to stick to just fire bending and your none bending abilities if you please." Iroh asked.
"Okay." Aang nodded. "Still. Two against one… That's not really fair." he said a bit sheepishly.
Zuko how-ever frowned as he stood with crossed arms.
"Humour me." Iroh smiled warmly.
The people in the grass all blinked. Iroh seemed very relaxed and they were all questioning what he had in mind.
Aang shrugged. "Well okay." he said as he came rushing forward grabbing for the flame only for Iroh to step back and Aang landed flat on his face.
"I feel like you're not taking me very seriously Young Avatar." Iroh commented. Just as Zuko came from the other side and Iroh began to dodge. Smiling amused as Zuko attempted a swipe kick and Iroh jumped aside.
Now Aang came. Reaching a hand for the flame only for Iroh to grab his arm with his free hand and pushed Aang away making him tumble down on the ground.
"Darn." Aang blinked as he sat up. "For a guy who thought he was to old to get up on the roof. He's kind of spry."
"He's the dragon of the west Aang." Zuko pointed out. "He may not look like much. But uncle Iroh might be the most powerful fire bender in the world."
"Oh Zuko. You flatter me." Iroh smiled what looked like such an innocent smile.
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Trying to use fire bending here is a trick. It wont work. Look!" he made a quick surprise stand and at fast speed the fire was send directly towards Iroh who held up his free hand and dispelled the fire easily by impact. He didn't even drop a sweat.
"Azula only got her hit in because she cheated." Zuko stated.
"She re-directed our attention nephew." Iroh sighed deeply. "Created an opening by making us relax to soon. Myself included. That was terrible embarrising. I really should have been much better than that. I suppose the lesson here is to never drop your guard when Azula is concerned."
Just as Aang send another fireball at Iroh now that he was busy talking to Zuko. Iroh how-ever sweeped his hand and the fire was gone.
"I wont make that mistake again." Iroh smirked.
"Woooow." Aang gaped as the rest wide-eyed looked as well. And Iroh. Iroh was smilling his best innocent grandfather smile. "He's like Bumi!" Aang cheered as he jumped up.
Zuko blinked as he looked at Aang. "Who?" he asked.
"The king of Omashi." Aang grinned. "He doesn't look like much either. Well when wearing his cloak that is. But he is the worlds greatest earth bender."
"Second greatest!" It suddenly sounded from Toph on the grass.
"Right. Even he said he wasn't the one supposed to be my teacher." Aang admitted in a grin. "Still… If Iroh is like a fire bender version of Bumi." he looked at the smiling older man with new eyes.
"Aang… We need to work together on this one." Zuko whispered.
"Oh what's this? Are you conspiring against me?" Iroh asked. "Two young people aspiring against one old man? What has the world become?" he asked in a sigh.
"Bumi is one of the strongest benders I have yet to meet and he's 112." Aang pointed out. "I'm not falling for this again." he smirked.
"Oh well. When you put it like that. It sounds like I'm still a young man. That's a relief." Iroh chuckled.
Zuko looked at Aang. "Together?" he asked and Aang grinned.
"Together!"
And they both ran forward with Iroh waiting for them.
It quickly evolved to a dance with Aang and Zuko moving around and Iroh moved as little as possible while avoiding their attacks.
"Look! There's tea!" Aang suddenly shouted pointing to the left.
"Where?" Iroh asked and Aang launched forward only for Iroh to bow down and Aang tripped.
"Nice try Avatar." Iroh smirked. "But I can smell tea from a mile away. Clearly there was no tea."
"HAHAHAHA!" Sokka screamed from laughter as he pointed. "That's funny!"
"I'm enjoying this a lot." Toph smirked.
Okay Zuko decided. Clearly Iroh was making fun of them. It was time for Iroh to go down.
"Aang." Zuko exclaimed. "Go low!" he shouted.
"Got it!" Aang shouted as he came from below and Iroh jumped clearly knowing where Aang was.
How-ever as he was in the air. He couldn't move and that's when Zuko came in. Iroh though twisted his body and kept the flame out of reach. Only for Zuko get on Irohs other side and force him to step towards Aang that now came from behind. Barely did Iroh dodge that to but Zuko was already all over him and that's when it happened.
For the first time, it was only a second. But Iroh lost footing.
It was the first time Zuko had ever seen Iroh loose footing. And he knew it would never happen again. It was his only chance! He launched forward. Reaching his hand for the flame in Irohs palm and then managed to slap his hand against Iroh like a high five that distinguished the flame.
How-ever what came after that should have been obvious.
Iroh who had lost his footing and Zuko who only had eyes for the flame and then they both fell down in a pile with Zuko on top of Iroh.
"Uff." Zuko hissed then his eyes widened. "Uncle." he gasped. "Uncle!" he turned to Irohs face.
How-ever then Iroh opened his mouth and he laughed. A loud ringing laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA!" Iroh laughed loudly. "That really was fun!"
"HAHAHAHA!" Aang jumped up and down. "We did it! We did it!"
Zuko didn't know if he should smile, laugh or be embarrassed. So he did his usual thing of just being embarrassed as he removed himself from Iroh and sat up next to the older.
Then Iroh sat up next to him. Still laughing as he dried his eyes with his finger. "Your forms are good." he said. "And you certainly don't lack creativity."
"It wasn't that easy though." Aang said. "We're clearly not that great."
"I have fifty years of practise." Iroh replied calmly. "Also… I am the one who taught Zuko so I already know exactly how he fights. Which is an unfair advantage." he said. "All though. There were definetely some changes in your fighting style Zuko."
Zuko croached an eyebrow in question.
"You were less agressive and more calculating." Iroh smiled. "You were patient and waited for your opening, knowing that pushing forward would get you no-where. As well did you work well in sync with Aang." Iroh smiled warmly. "You did well. Both of you. And yes. They key was indeed working together." he said.
Aang beamed and then he clasped his hands together as he bowed. "Thank you for the lesson Shifu Iroh!" he said. "You were right! That was a lot of fun!"
Zuko shook his head. Part of him questioned how much of this had been for training and how much it had been Iroh honestly just wanting to have fun with them.
Well… Either way Zuko could grant him that. Iroh had always wanted Zuko to try and have fun. And Zuko would always reply that he had no time for fun.
And Iroh… Iroh said. There is always time for fun. Yes, even in the darkest of times. Perhaps that is the time where it's the most important.
"Phew." Iroh wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "I haven't moved around like that for years."
"You can handle it. You're not that old." Zuko smirked. "Beside that's a lie. You moved plenty around when those earth kingdom soldiers caught you."
"Did I?" Iroh asked. "Well I suppose." he commented.
"You were smashing rocks with a chain." Zuko exclaimed. "You are not at all as weak or feeble as you make yourself out to be!… Wait." he halted.
Iroh looked away.
"If you had been more active and actually tried to help capture Aang before. He would have been captured." Zuko realized. "You clearly never wanted me to capture him. Were you sabotaging me?" he asked.
"Well it all worked out didn't it?" Iroh asked in his best innocent smile. "Capturing the Avatar wouldn't have made you happy. I mean." he scratched his cheek then he looked at Zuko and Zuko smirked.
"Must have been a difficult position for you." Zuko commented. "Trying to help a nephew who only wanted to capture the Avatar. But also knowing that the world needs the avatar so you can't allow said nephew to capture him."
"It had its challenges." Iroh smiled clearly relieved that Zuko hadn't gotten angry. "But it was worth it." he said padding Zuko on the arm.
Zuko frowned. "Can I ask you something."
"Anything Nephew." Iroh said.
"The north pole." Zuko said. "Why..."
Iroh sighed deeply. "Well Zuko. Given the choice if Zhao should get to the avatar first or you... That really isn't even a competetion. Also." he looked down. "There was no stopping you. At least... I could try and make sure you would be safe. Try." he closed his eyes.
Zuko halted as he swallowed. "Uncle I..."
"You've always been walking your own path Zuko. And there was never any stopping you." Iroh smiled a little fondly. "I suppose all I could really do... Was to try and keep you safe."
"What an unthankful job huh?" Zuko asked a little ashamed.
"No." Iroh shook his head. "That's not how it works Zuko. You remember what I told you. On Zhao's ship?" he asked. "I think of you as my own."
"I... I know." Zuko swallowed.
"I meant it." Iroh said. "Then and now. I could never bear it if anything happened to you."
Zuko closed his eyes as he swallowed. He took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself down.
"I havn't done much to deserve it." Zuko commented.
"Again. That's not how it works." Iroh smirked amused. "Beside. You are doing plenty now. So what's the issue?" he asked in a warm smile.
Zuko smiled warmly back then he halted. "Uncle... There are still things you are not telling me aren't there?" Zuko asked. "Just how much do you actually know? Old friends you contacted. Who are they?" he asked. "I mean I understand why you wouldn't tell me back then. I really do! But... What about now?" he asked.
"All in due time dear nephew." Iroh assured. "Sometimes though. It's the insignificant looking tile that is worth looking out for." he smirked as he pulled out a familiar Pai-Sho tile.
Zuko frowned as he looked at the infamous white Lotus tile in Irohs hand. How could he forget their little side trip which Zuko now was absolutely sure had been Irohs attempt on distracting him from trying to capture to Avatar. He had been doing all of that on purpose. Still though... There it was again. The same damn tile.
Iroh shook his head. "It's more than what it looks. Here." he put it into Zukos hand. "Just. Keep it on hand. Just in case."
Zuko halted but then nodded. "Erhm. Thank you." he said feeling kind of confused.
Iroh just offered Zuko a last pointed look and a warm smile before he stood up and walked back to the house.
Leaving Zuko who looked confused at the tile in his hand.
Yup… There was a lot of things Iroh hadn't been telling him.