Wandering Firebender

One: Elio

"Fire. The element of power. It is marked by the ambition and drive to succeed that its benders have. While other elements adapt, fire overcomes." Elio recited, getting into his stance and practicing his formations.

Year after year, his teachers in school and in training had reiterated this to him again and again. It was the creed of his academy. It was the first thing he was taught to memorize in school…

It was the only thing about the Fire Nation that he truly believed in.

"Very good, son. Now, show me your strongest dragon punch."

Elio turned towards the setting sun where there was nothing that could be burned by his strike. Taking a strong forward step, he punched forward, releasing a huge burst of fire that quickly roared in a flume. His father smiled approvingly.

"Well done, son. You will make a fine soldier soon enough." He said, standing up from the bench where he was observing. Elio turned back towards his father.

"Will I serve in your battalion, father, under your command?" Elio asked curiously. His father shook his head.

"No, that would be against regulations, I'm afraid. Nevertheless, I'm confident that you will be successful regardless of your commanding officer." His father smiled kindly, optimistic about his son's future.

"Elio! Dad! Mom says that dinner is ready!" Elio's younger sister, Taiga, called from the back door of their home.

"Ah, finally! Come inside, Elio, get yourself cleaned up." His father gestured with a wave of his hand, turning around and walking inside. Elio sighed and went inside.

Elio went to his room, quickly washing his face of the smoke and changing out of his uniform. He threw on a long sleeve shirt and some old pants he only ever wore around the house. He went to the mirror to take his hair out of the Fire Nation braid.

"Elio," His mother spoke to him, entering into his room. "Everyone's waiting for you."

"Sorry, mom, I was just finishing up. Dad wanted me to show him some more formations." He explained himself quickly. His mother nodded in understanding.

"I see. It's alright," She smiled kindly and helped him arrange his hair the way he liked it, brushed and swept backwards on top while neatly trimmed and cut short on the sides.

"You know, Elio, when you join the army, you'll have to cut your hair. Perhaps it's time you let this backwards flame style you have go?" She suggested. Elio shook his head.

"I don't have to get rid of it yet. I like my hair this way." He insisted. His mother sighed and nodded.

"Very well, you can keep it until graduation. However, after that, it'll have to be cut properly." She stipulated. Elio nodded.

"Fine, I guess."

"Good. Now let's go have dinner, dear." She said, giving him a hug before heading back to the dining room. Elio followed her there, and they sat down to eat.

"I saw your dragon punch, Elio," Taiga brought up, sipping her water. "You're getting really strong!"

"Thanks," He said with a smile and a chuckle. "Your form has been getting better too, Taiga. Pretty soon you'll be almost as good as me." He teased her lightly. She giggled.

"Just you wait! Soon you'll be nothing but ashes next to me!" She vowed proudly.

"Settle down now, you two," Their mother chuckled. "You both are fine firebenders in your own rights, and soon the two of you will both serve Fire Lord Ozai well, in your own ways."

"You'll be graduating very soon, Elio," His father pointed out. "I know these things are usually meant to be a surprise, but I've already set the wheels in motion for your graduation party. You should start thinking about who you want to invite." He said with a smile.

"A graduation party? Dad, you don't have to-"

"Of course I do!" His father interrupted him with a happy tone. "My son is graduating school and soon will be off serving our great nation! Is that not a great cause for celebration?" He said proudly. Elio blushed and looked down.

"It does sound fun." He agreed.

"Woohoo, party!" Taiga cheered, "Maybe you can invite your girlfriend Princess Azula." She teased Elio. Elio groaned and rolled his eyes at her.

Elio was a student at the most esteemed school in the Fire Nation capital. The Fire Lord's son, Zuko, was one of his classmates, although they didn't share any classes together. As for Azula, the Fire Lord's daughter, he had seen her a few times from a distance, in the schoolyard for the girls' academy.

"What?" Their mother giggled, looking at Elio in confusion. Just the nerve of Taiga to bring her up made Elio hot with embarrassment.

"I said she was pretty one time to her and she doesn't shut up about it."

"Mind your manners at the dinner table, young man. And Taiga, stop teasing your brother." Their mother instructed them.

"Sorry, mother." They both said, resuming their eating.

"As much of an honor as it would be to have royalty at my son's party, I think they'll be pretty busy with their own affairs," His father laughed. "However, you're welcome to try if you want."

"That's alright. I don't really know them. I'll just stick with my friends, thank you." Elio quickly backed away from the idea.

Elio stood in the kitchen later that evening doing dishes in silence. He kept his ear trained on his parents conversing in the next room…

"Something seems to be the matter with Elio, my love," His mother spoke to his father. "I think that the oncoming day of his enlistment is weighing on his mind in a not so positive way." She expressed her observations.

"I've sensed it too, Rue," He admitted. "I've done my best to be positive, encouraging, and upbuilding to him, but something is holding him back, I can feel it."

"If I might make a suggestion, Sol, maybe you could pull some strings for him, have him drafted into your unit? It could ease his mind about the whole thing." Rue suggested. Sol shook his head.

"I can't do that, honey. Even if I wanted to, it would create a conflict of interest. My desire to protect him would only prevent him from growing into the man I know he can be. He has to go out on his own." Sol made clear.

"You shouldn't listen in on mother and father, you know." Taiga whispered to him, making him jump in surprise. He quickly put a finger to his lips, sneaking away and pulling her along.

"They were talking about me, Taiga, I needed to hear what they were saying."

"Trying to find out what your graduation gift is gonna be?" She asked with a giggle.

"No, Taiga. Ugh, I graduate in a few days and then they want me to join the military. I'm trying to hear what they're saying about my future, duh." He groaned.

"Ohh I see. Man, you're really nervous about it, huh? Why?" She asked. Elio sighed and shook his head.

"I don't really know," He said, not being fully truthful about his feelings. "It's just… I'm not sure it's all gonna work out, you know?"

"You'll do fine! You're a great firebender!" She said, doing her best to be encouraging to him.

"There's more to being a soldier than just being a good firebender, Taiga. The Fire Nation is everywhere, and all the stuff they do… I don't know if that's for me." He finally admitted.

"What're you talking about?" Taiga asked obliviously. Elio had forgotten that she was 12 and was yet to be exposed to some of the harsh realities behind what they teach in school.

"I guess you'll understand when you get older. Just please don't tell mom and dad what I told you, and please don't tell them that I was listening to their conversation." Elio requested earnestly.

"Alright, alright. I won't tell…if you promise to teach me some of your firebending tricks." She stipulated. Elio chuckled and rubbed her head.

"Fine, you've got a deal. Just promise not to burn down anymore of our trees." He teased her lightly.

"Hey, that was an accident!" Taiga defensively shouted. Elio just laughed, and she began to giggle as well.

The day of his graduation party finally rolled around. The ceremony itself was pretty boring and typical; words of encouragement, lots of rambling about the greatness of the nation, promising futures all around, et cetera.

Elio gave invitations out to his friends in his classes, and let them know that they could bring some of their friends too. By the time the evening of the party rolled around, there was a nice, sizeable crowd gathered in their yard.

His father had prepared for the party very well. There was music and dancing, suitable refreshments and snacks. Despite everything, Elio was having a very good time. These were the sort of things he was going to miss the most.

However, that mood grew sour when his father made an announcement.

"Everyone, everyone, I'd like to thank you all for coming to my son's graduation party," He graciously thanked the guests with his trademark warm smile. "This is a big milestone for him, and I think it's only right that such a thing be celebrated with family and friends.

"Now, to symbolize my son's momentous transition, I'm going to make good on a deal we made with him. Please come forward, Elio." He requested. Elio swallowed, awkwardly looking around at all of the eyes on him as he stepped before his father.

"Dad, what are you doing?" He asked quietly.

"Take a knee for me, son," He directed. Elio did so, keeping his head down.

"You see, my son is quite fond of his hair," His dad said with a laugh. "However, it is not quite in line with military regulations. So! We agreed that he could keep it until his graduation came," He explained to the crowd as he pulled out a ceremonial knife.

"So, to mark this big step in his life, it's time for his haircut," He said. The crowd laughed and applauded him lightly. "To my son! To Elio!" He said, reaching down and taking a gentle handhold of his hair.

"Dad, no! This is embarrassing!" Elio whispered harshly.

"It'll just be a minute, son, don't protest. I don't want to mess this up." He said lightly, bending forward a bit and getting ready to cut the first clump of his hair.

"Stop it!" Elio pulled himself free of his dad's grip. He got up and grunted in frustration, storming away from the party. He didn't dare look back; he could only imagine the shock on his guests' faces, and the look of disappointment his father no doubt had on his face…

Elio sat by the edge of a steep hill just off from their house, overlooking some of the capital. He could see the Fire Lord's house in the distance, but his eyes were directed towards the beaches to the west. He curled his legs up and wrapped his arms around his knees.

He knew he had dishonored his family by his actions, but he couldn't yet accept what was being thrust upon him, at least not in front of everyone he knew. Either way, this disrespect was sure to be held against him for a long time.

"Son, it's getting dark. It's time for you to come inside." His mother's voice called to him soothingly as she approached him. He sighed sadly, not moving.

"The party was really great… I'm sorry I ruined it." He said.

"The haircut thing was your father's idea. He thought it would make the occasion more special and impress on you how proud we are that you are taking such a big step." She explained, crouching down by him and placing a hand on his back.

"Why do I have to be a soldier? There's plenty of soldiers. Surely there's something else that I could do." He brought up.

"Like what, dear?" She asked.

"I-I don't know. I…like the performance techniques. I've been practicing things like Taming The Dragon and the Phoenix Flight. But dad only ever wants to see my fighting formations."

"He just wants you to be ready, dear."

"But I'm not ready! I-I don't even know if I want to be a soldier." He finally admitted. He heard his mother sigh deeply and rub his back comfortingly.

"Just please come home, son. We can deal with this in the morning." She pleaded. He rubbed his eyes and stood up, walking back home with her and saying nothing else.

The sun set in silence over Elio's home. No one spoke anything more. Even his sister, who often tried to comfort him in situations like this, had stayed away to give him room to breathe. Later that night, while Elio laid in his bed with his back to the door, his father did come to speak to him.

"Hi, son. I…realize that you might not be ready to talk to me right now, and that's alright. I just ask that you listen to me…

"I realize that perhaps I come off a bit strong in my pride. I love serving my country, but more than that, I love you, son. The journey you're about embark on may be treacherous, but it is one of honor, and one day you'll look back and realize that your life was given rich meaning.

"That's all I want for you, Elio. I want you to have a happy life and to be happy. But I won't push you to accept this role any sooner than you're ready to accept it. So you can stay silent for now, but when you're ready, I'll be happy to resume your training and preparations…

"I love you, Elio." He said before closing the door and walking away.

"I love you too." Elio said in a whisper, wiping his tears away. He knew his father didn't hear him, but he could only hope that his father knew he loved him.

Finally, Elio stood up. He couldn't take this pressure anymore, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to take the path his father had chosen for him. So he took out some paper, wrote out his thoughts in a letter, and packed up some clothes in a bag.

When the dead of night came, Elio climbed out of the window. He hurried down to the beaches where merchant sailors departed from him. He quietly snuck into the cargo hold of one of the ships, keeping silent as the boat quietly sailed away from the Fire Nation.

He looked down at his personal copy of his family portrait. He rubbed his thumb over the faces of his father, his mother, and his little sister. He then wiped away the tears from his eyes.

He couldn't imagine how they would feel when they would discover what he'd done. Maybe he'd never know. Considering their loyalty to the Fire Nation, maybe they would never understand why he'd run away.

But he still hoped that one day they would…

To my mother and father,

By the time you read this letter, I'll most likely be far away from the Fire Nation. I'm sorry that things had to be this way, but I know that you would not let me leave if I had tried to say a proper goodbye. So instead, I'm leaving this brief message to explain why I've done this.

I suppose I never could find the courage to tell you this face to face, but I truthfully never wanted to be a soldier. The Fire Nation spreads and takes over city after city at the expense of other people. I can't in good conscience be a part of that.

I would rather live a life in exile than participate in the Fire Lord's global conquest. I have no interest in fighting anyone on either side. Forgive me, father, I know how proud you would have been…

With love, Elio