A.N.: ...:Does the happy 'I got reviews' dance: thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: TLA...sheesh...
Chapter 9: Trial and Error
Lyra now sat in one of the oak trees; she'd been awake for around an hour now. The sun was beginning to peek over the edge of the now-distant ocean. There was a soft stirring in the camp below, so she glanced down; Katara was sitting up.
Lyra sighed and jumped down from her perch in one of the upper branches. A breeze fluttered in from the north, causing a slight chill to become apparent in the early morning air.
"Good morning Katara," Lyra greeted as she walked forward, cautiously stepping over Sokka and Aang.
"So far," Katara yawned.
"Why are you up so early?" Lyra asked.
"It's my turn to fix breakfast," Katara shrugged because she'd become so used to the routine.
"No it's not," Lyra said with a grin.
"Then who's is it?" Katara asked curiously.
"Mine!" Lyra seemed ecstatic about this.
Katara rolled her eyes, "Okay.."
"Your what?" Sokka grumbled sleepily.
Lyra laughed and started to gather the stuff she needed to fix breakfast.
:Zuko's ship:
Keely stood on the ship in the early morning light; she was recalling last night's events. The warm glow of the sun banished darkness from her, yet all-the-while it created more. She touched her fingers to her lips as she let her thoughts rest on Zuko's kiss.
"I can't believe it..." Keely murmured.
"Believe what?" Uncle asked from behind her.
Keely jumped in surprise, "How the hell do you always do that!"
"Practice," Iroh shrugged, "now what is it that you can't believe?"
"Nothing, just forget it," Keely replied evasively.
"He's going to find out anyway Keely," Uncle Iroh said.
"Who's going to find out what?" Keely asked suspiciously.
"Zuko's going to find out what it is that you claim is nothing," Uncle Iroh replied.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Keely denied.
Uncle Iroh said, "I'm not going to tell him."
Keely was averting her eyes, "You'd better not."
"So you admit it?" Uncle asked.
"Yes, but I can't tell him yet," Keely replied with a sigh.
"Tell who what?" a familiar voice said from her right.
"Never mind you that," Keely blushed, but it wasn't noticeable, at least not to Zuko.
:Back with the Avatar group:
They were now back to traveling by air, and Lyra was bored again. A light breeze hung in the mildly warm air that blew a few strands of her hair about lazily.
"Hey Aang," Lyra tried to get the young Avatar's attention.
"What?" was his reply.
"Would you care to try your luck at light-bending?" Lyra asked.
She had his undivided attention, "Sure!"
Lyra grinned, "Okay, we'll start with just the formation of a small ball of light in the palm of your hand."
"Okay," Aang replies as he held out his palm face-up, mimicking Lyra's movements.
"Now focus on the fact that it moves in every direction, but doesn't. It's flowing and forever moving," Lyra said in a teacher's voice, "Imagine that light forming a ball in the very center of your palm."
Aang looked slightly confused, "Uh ...I'll try," then a small ball of light gathered, but soon dissipated.
Lyra sighed, "Good first try, but you're only grasping the parts that resemble airbending and waterbending. That alone isn't enough to bend light."
"But light appeared in his hand!" Sokka exclaimed from behind them; he'd obviously been watching.
"Yeah," Katara added, "Wouldn't that be considered light-bending?"
"In a way, yes," Lyra replied, "But he didn't fully capture the true embodiment of the element he was trying to bend."
Lyra allowed a ball of light to gather in her palm; it was brighter than Aang's and it help a definite shape. She allowed rays of light to escape, which gave the affect of her holding a miniature version of the sun.
"Wow," Sokka said in awe.
"Do you see what I'm talking about now?" Lyra asked.
:Zuko's ship (again):
"Hey Uncle Iroh! Do you have any flutes on the ship?" Keely tapped on Iroh's shoulder, trying to get his attention.
"Wha...? Oh yes," Uncle replied, "In one of the storage rooms.."
"And how exactly do I get there?" Keely asked.
"I'll get Zuko to escort you down to the room," Uncle Iroh replied with a knowing grin.
Keely punched him lightly in the arm and rolled her eyes.
"Nephew!" Uncle called out, too lazy to get up to actually look for Zuko.
Zuko walked up, shirtless, with an irritated look on his face, "What do you want?"
"Miss. Keely needs someone to show her where we keep the musical instruments," Uncle Iroh replied.
"Why don't you take her?" Zuko asked suspiciously.
"Because I...," Uncle began.
Keely snickered.
Then a member of the cooking staff came up, "General Iroh, your roast duck is ready."
"Excellent," Iroh replied, having found his excuse.
"So are you going to take me or not?" Keely asked Zuko.
"Alright," Zuko replied and headed to the stairs that would lead them in the right direction.
They arrived infront of a steel door.
"Can I go back to training now?" Zuko asked.
Keely turned back, using all the self-restraint she had to stop herself from ogling his chest, and replied, "Sure, but if I get lost it's your fault."
She opened the heavy door, "Nice..."
Keely gathered up a flute and a piccolo, then she left the room.
Zuko was still standing there, "That's all you wanted to get?"
"Yup," Keely replied happily.
Zuko sighed and shook his head at her.
:After the walk back to the upper deck:
Keely was debating on which instrument to play, so she just closed her eyes and grabbed one. It turned out to be the flute.
She played a b-flat scale on it and grimaced, "Man this thing is out of tune."
"Well I don't think that particular one has been played before," Uncle Iroh said, appearing beside her yet again.
"Figures," Keely grumbled and started to tune the flute.
When she was finally satisfied she began to play a rather hauntingly beautiful melody.
A.N.: I think it's obvious that I still have writers block...yeah...that's it for this chapter...:sigh:..it didn't turn out all that great...oh in case you're wondering, the song that Keely began playing is 'Alan's flute song' from Sailor Moon..yes I still watch that show...