Ty Lee could feel her body rock rhythmically. The floor below her was moving. This gentle rocking urged her to open her eyes. A wooden cell came into view. It was dark, but some hints of orange light shone through: sunrise was soon.
A pain caused her to grab the back of her head. There was a small lump. She couldn't remember what caused it.
Pushing herself up, she moved herself to the edge of the cot, hanging her feet off the side. For a short while, she watched her feet sway. The prior day's events slowly came back piece by piece.
Master Piandao's gift.
Playing with kids.
Singing.
Surrounded by Confederates.
"They must have snuck up on me somehow.", Ty Lee rubbed the lump, "Unless that weapon returns to his hand or something."
Ty Lee chose to ignore the pain for now. It would go away on its own, rubbing was only making it worse. Jumping to her feet, she began to stretch.
Feeling limber, she noticed the cell door had a window. Walking towards it, she found two men standing guard at the door.
"Hello~!", Ty Lee popped her head next to the bars. The guards showed no response.
Ty Lee pouted. She looked at the back of the two guards' heads. Both wore a facsimile of a wolf's head. "Your hats are pretty cool.", she beamed, "I love dogwolves."
"It's a snow wolfdogs.", one guard grumbled.
"Oooh," she started, "I've never seen one in person before. What are they like?"
The two guards looked at each other.
The young one started, "I don't know. I have never been to a hunting party before."
The older one made a "so-so" grunt. "They're okay."
"You're a hunter?", Ty Lee asked, "I've never been a big fan of hunting. It seems cruel."
The older man chuckled. "It's not cruel: it's nature. The land provides and we hunt. The wolfdog is much the same way: a hunter."
The younger one butted in, "Besides, don't you like meat?"
"I'm vegan," Ty Lee said a little proudly, "I just hate hurting little animals."
The older one continued laughing, "Just like a woman."
Ty Lee interjected with an annoyed "Hey!"
"It's okay.", the younger one soothed, "My little sister is the same way. You'd probably get along well. She never lets me eat meat when I'm home."
"You're close with your sister?", Ty Lee leaned in a bit.
"Pretty close.", the younger man shrugged, "Ever since frost took dad back when we were kids. Had to look out for her and mom."
"You sound like a good big brother, mister…?", Ty Lee inquired.
"Amka.", the young guard answered, "And the old geezer is Nanouk."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Ty Lee." She reached her hands awkwardly through the window to shake. Both guards obliged with a little laugh.
"Didn't Prince Sokka say she was called Azula?", Amka was confused.
"That's my best friend!", Ty Lee shouted back.
Nanouk shook his head, "Amka, I keep telling you: military intelligence isn't intelligence. Someone must have got the names of the princess and her friend mixed up."
Ty Lee remembered now: they thought she was Azula. It probably wouldn't help to correct them right now. Not yet, at least.
Ty Lee heard her stomach rumble.
Nanouk jabbed Amka, "Get her something to eat."
"Are you sure? Commander Bato said not to feed her until he said so", Amka seemed a little nervous.
"It's fine.", Nanouk shrugged, "She's royalty after all."
"Vegan option, please!", Ty Lee burst in.
"We don't keep a lot of vegetables," Amka cupped his chin.
"Check Prince Sokka's cabin.", Nanouk chuckled, "Commander Bato's been trying to get the prince to eat vegetables for once. Should be a whole plate's worth leftover from dinner."
Aang was awakened by a strong hit to his shoulder. Jolted, he saw a figure looming over him. It was too big to be Azula, his first guess of who would kick him while he slept.
"Get up!", the figure barked, "The sun has been up for hours!"
As Aang lurched to a sitting position, there was some kinship between him and Azula. The princess was not pleased to be awakened so early either.
"Why do you wake me at such an hour?", Azula tried her best to get her hair under control.
"Your highness," General Jeong Jeong was respectful yet firm, "the sun is the source of all Firebending. A firebender should rise with the sun!"
Aang and Azula shared a quick look. "It's your turn to make breakfast, airhead.", Azula's voice struggled through the haze of sleep.
"No breakfast!", General Jeong Jeong barked, "You will earn your breakfast!"
The pair groaned.
Dragged from the inn in the village, the two were led to a boat. "You two row.", General Jeong Jeong barked, "You both need to learn to control your breath."
The two slugged their way into the ship. The exhausted teens were forced to grab the edge of the boat in a panic when Jeong Jeong jumped into the dinghy unexpectedly. "Do not let yourselves be so easily surprised!," General Jeong Jeong's voice was like a dragon's roar, "Firebending's worst aspect is defense: you must always be vigilant! Only then can you be the one who strike's fist!"
Without even pausing, he commanded them to row.
"Breath in when you move it towards you! Breathe out when you push away!", Jeong Jeong pointed to the shore.
"In!"
"Out!"
"In!"
"Out!"
"This was your choice in firebending teacher?", Aang whined to Azula.
"Shut up, airhead.", Azula shot back.
"No talking! Only breathe!", General Jeong Jeong shook the boat, almost capsizing the vessel, to get his student's attention.
The young benders were exhausted when their boat reached the shore. Controlled breathing proved difficult for the pair.
Huffing, Aang turned to the haggard Azula. "Shouldn't you already have breath control?" There was the spark of rivalry in his voice.
"Father was more focused on teaching us about power. Uncle was the one who cared so much about breath.", Azula turned to Aang, "Besides, shouldn't an airbender know all about breath?"
General Jeong Jeong walked past the huffing teens, embarking on shore. "The mark of Firebending mastery is endurance. Focusing on overwhelming force is a fool's errand!"
General Jeong Jeong pointed to his right. "Your highness, you and I will study some kata. I need to evaluate your ability in Firebending."
The wise general walked to a tree and pulled off a leaf, "As for the Avatar, take this leaf and focus your mind on heating its center."
"A leaf?", Aang questioned.
"Do not underestimate the importance of this method.", General Jeong Jeong spoke soft for the first time all morning, "This is how most noblemen make their first flame. It is an ancient technique that helps one take their first steps in manipulating their chi."
"But I already know how to use my chi.", Aang whined.
"Each element is unique.," General Jeong Jeong grew stern again, "You may know how to use your chi like an airbender, a waterbender, and an earthbender, but you must relearn your chi control all over again to learn firebending."
General Jeong Jeong handed the leaf with a huff, "You should be familiar with this by now from your other masters."
"Uh, right.", Aang nervously tried to cover his track, "Of course, I am familiar with relearning chi control. Done it twice already. No problem. Easy. Let's go, Flame-o!"
Not far from Aang, General Jeong Jeong stood behind Azula expectantly. "I do not know what your previous master taught you." General Jeong Jeong stroked his beard. "Let's start with some simple moves."
Azula looked serious, despite her exhaustion. General Jeong Jeong reminded the young princess of her father in many ways. Specifically how he would treat Zuko.
"Roar like a tigerdillo!", General Jeong Jeong blasted his order.
Azula outstretched her arms and took a deep breath. Screaming like a banshee, flames shot from her arms and mouth. The inferno stretched far beyond her. As the flames assaulted the sand, glass formed on the spot.
"All wrong!", General Jeong Jeong criticized.
Azula's flame vanished in an instant. "What did you say?", Azula was knocked off her footing.
"Your power and control is there," General Jeong Jeong paced, "but you lack restraint."
"Aren't 'restraint' and 'control' the same thing?", Azula wasn't convinced.
"No!", General Jeong Jeong shook his head disapprovingly, "Your flames spread in a controlled pattern, yes. I have no doubt you could control exactly where the fires went. That only makes it more worrying that your fire glassed the sand beneath. This was a training exercise. Had we done this in the village, the wooden town would have set a flame."
"The point of that exercise is to show off your power! Assert your dominance!", Azula pointed at the General.
"What fool filled your head with such falsehood!? The tigerdillo stance is to show one's mastery of all aspects of Firebending. How hot their flame grows. How far it can spread. How much you control its plume. How long you can release such a torrent." General Jeong Jeong paused. "The tigerdillo stance says everything about a firebender. You have power and control, but not restraint. You're strong and precise, but you will escalate a situation unnecessarily."
"What does escalation have to do with Firebending?", Azula crossed her arms, "This isn't a discussion of military strategy."
General Jeong Jeong shook his head, "I am sorry."
Azula raised her eyebrow.
"Whoever trained you did not teach you the most basic tenets of Firebending.", General Jeong Jeong paused, "For that, I am sorry."
Azula huffed smoke.
"We will begin from the basics.", General Jeong started.
Aang stared into his leef. His eyes dead set at its center. Burning a whole into the plant with his gaze, the monk could not shake the feeling this was pointless. What was he supposed to accomplish? Look at it until it burned?
Turning his gaze to the other side of the beach, the young airbender marvelled at Azula's display of Firebending.
"He probably thinks she's amazing.", Aang grumbled. "And I'm still stuck with this leaf."
Tired of fruitless staring, Aang called to the general. "General Jeong Jeong, I can't seem to get the leaf to burn!"
The General made his way back to his other student. "I suppose that is my own arrogance.", the master looked almost apologetic, "I assumed that mastering the other three elements would have prepared you. However, that is no excuse for poor directions."
Jeong Jeong took a leaf off the tree. "Think back to your training with Waterbending."
"Uh, I'll try."
"Waterbending involves manipulating a fluid element. It's not ephemeral air, but something solid you can touch. Do not forget your airbending either. Firebending is using your chi to burn the air." General Jeong Jeong spoke slow and clearly.
Aang tried his best to follow.
"Use what you learned from Waterbending and Airbending to draw your heat into the center. Like when you first learned to move water, you must push your chi like a wave through the leaf.", General Jeong Jeong started a small fire in the center of the leaf, "Remember your Earthbending as well. You must stand firm and fight back, not avoid and evade like an Airbender. Fire is alive. You must keep it in the center of the leaf like you are holding back a landslide. Otherwise, the entire leaf will burst into flame and burn your hands."
There was a silence.
"Understood?", General Jeong Jeong asked.
"Uh," Aang wasn't sure what to say. He had to keep the act going or he'd lose his teacher. It's not like he was going to be able to learn Waterbending first. Maybe Earthbending, but not Waterbending. He had to make due. "Yeah, got it. Clear as crystal." He beamed a wide smile.
General Jeong Jeong didn't say a word. With a nod, he returned to Azula.
Cleaning her plate, Ty Lee stifled her resulting burp. The grilled vegetables had gotten cold over the night, but it was filling for her empty stomach. Whipping her mouth clean, she snuck the plate back through the bars.
"Well, shift's over," Nanouk yawned.
"Try not to cause too much trouble for Aguta and Ujurak," Amka joked.
With that, the two guards went off for their cabins to sleep. Their long night of guarding was behind them. Moments later, two young guards took their place. They grumbled about how the two had left early, failing to be properly relieved of duty.
"Aren't they worried the princess would escape," one of the guards bemoaned.
The other guard shrugged, "I'd be more afraid of Commander Bato finding out, Aguta."
"Oh, I hope I didn't get them in trouble.", Ty Lee leaned into the bars, "They were both really nice."
"Get back.", Ty Lee assumed this guard must be Ujurak, "Prisoners are not supposed to touch the bars."
"But the other guys let me do it.", Ty Lee whined.
"I won't ask again!", Ujurak barked.
Ty Lee complied, letting the bars go and leaning back. The guards relaxed, returning to their ready position.
Some moments passed and Ty Lee was bored. That's when she heard the sound of footsteps. Looking back into the window, she saw a lovely woman walking past the cell. Aguta seemed unphased, but Ujurak was sweating so badly that Ty Lee could see it from behind.
"H-hi, Paka," Ujurak squeaked.
The young girl turned and gave a little nod before smiling. Without a word, she continued on her way.
With her out of earshot, Aguta turned to Ujurak with his tongue hanging out. "Oh, hi Paka~!", Aguta mocked, "Will you m-m-marry me~?"
Ujurak punched Aguta in the shoulder, telling the soldier to stop it and focus on his task. Aguta laughed off the hit.
"Aw," Ty Lee spoke through the bars, "You like her, don't you?"
Aguta was losing it.
"Don't get involved!", Ujurak shot back.
Ty Lee smiled at the embarrassed guard. "Have you told her how you feel?"
"N-no!", Ujurak blushed.
Aguta began to wheeze.
"I think she likes you.", Ty Lee giggled, "Maybe you should say something later."
"You think so!?", Ujurak became suddenly interested in what Ty Lee had to say.
"Her aura was red.", Ty Lee smiled, "She either loves you or hates you."
Augta nearly fell over laughing.
"D-don't mock me like that.", Ujurak blushed as he turned his head from Ty Lee.
"N-No!", Ty Lee was flustered, "I really did think she likes you. Red auras can just mean a lot of things."
Ujurak huffed. "It doesn't matter. I'm too afraid to tell her anyways."
"Why?", Ty Lee was confused.
"Well, what if she says no?", Ujurak turned back to the girl.
"Then you respect it.", Ty Lee smiled, "You can't make her like you. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't tell her." Ty Lee giggled. "Besides, it's important to be upfront with people. You can't expect someone to like you just by standing around and being nice. You have to be honest with them."
Ujurak seemed deep in contemplation. Aguta had stopped laughing a little while ago. The soldier actually seemed a bit interested in the conversation.
"Maybe you're right.", Ujurak finally let out, "How do I even talk to her, though?"
"Just go up to her, ask her how she's feeling, and ask her if she wants to go do something sometime. Like, like," Ty Lee put her finger to her chin, "Do you know what she likes?"
"Flowers.", Ujuruak blushed.
"Next time you go on shore, why not offer for her to go flower picking!", Ty Lee exclaimed.
"Maybe that isn't the best idea.", Ujurak was a little embarrassed, "I think you have the right idea, though. I think I'll take your advice."
Things quieted down for a bit. Ty Lee sighed with boredom.
Ujurak picked up on it. "Aguta, can you man the post on your own? I have a pai sho board in my cabin. Maybe the princess and I can play?"
Aguta rubbed his chin, "What about Commander Bato finding out?"
Ujurak waved it off, "He won't."
Aguta shot a smile and a wink.
"Oooh!", Ty Lee jumped in, "Can we play skud pai sho?"
"The flower arranging one?", Ujurak questioned, "I was more interested in vagabond pai sho."
"I don't like vagabond pai sho.", Ty Lee sighed, "Maybe we can do one game of both?"
"Sounds fair to me," Ujurak smiled as he left for his cabin.
Azula was frustrated. She could feel her blood boil. Why was she doing a basic routine like this? Horse stance? A few punches? She could throw a punch! She wasn't even lighting flame. Was the General mad?
"Keep going with your routine.", General Jeong Jeong seemed to sense the girl's annoyance. "Your stance is good. Your breathing is well. However, you need to control your aggression."
Was that a comment on her procedure? Or was it a comment on her attitude? Azula didn't know which annoyed her more.
"Bending is an augmentation of martial arts. I could teach a non-bender these techniques and they would be proficient in battle. I did so often in the army." General Jeong Jeong paced. "Your Firebending is an extension of these basic tenets. The core of its power originates in your form. Your martial prowess."
General Jeong Jeong tried to push Azula off balance. He was testing her horse stance. "You must master these basic moves first before you can truly appreciate Firebending for what it is."
Azula was on the verge of screaming. She had mastered basic punches when she was five years old. Why did this man doubt her?
"That's enough punching for now." General Jeong Jeong ordered. "Are you familiar with the Komodorhino's dance?"
Azula nodded. She noticed she was breathing heavy. It must have been the early morning tiring her out.
"It is a basic technique that focuses on aggressive strikes." General Jeong Jeong grabbed stone off the ground. "Enter the beginning stance."
Azula got into a cat stance. General Jeong Jeong Place a stone on the top of her head. "Perform the komodorhino's dance without the stone falling from your head."
"What?", she turned to her teacher.
"Do as I ask." General Jeong Jeong dismissed the question. "Use only the amount of force needed for the moves and the stone will not move."
Azula felt General Jeong Jeong was out to get her. He was mocking her. The komodorhino's dance involved a full turn. Not to mention a high kick that required tilting your body back. How was she going to keep the stone in place? This was nonsense.
Taking a breath, she moved from cat stance into the first strike.
"Stop!", the master shouted.
"What?", Azula was annoyed.
"The stone has fallen." General Jeong Jeong pointed to the ground.
"I barely moved!", Azula grabbed the stone off the ground.
"Your movement was too aggressive.", General Jeong Jeong shook his head.
"The komodorhino's dance is an aggressive form.", Azula countered the general's nonsense.
"This is a training exercise.", General Jeong Jeong let his implication sit.
"A training exercise made to practice for a real battle. Why would I hold back now if I won't in battle?", Azula could not understand this madness.
"Do you wish to kill every opponent you fight?", General Jeong Jeong gave her an intense glare.
Azula leaned back, not following her teacher's logic. Without a word, the general placed the stone on his head.
"You make every strike strong and precise, dripping with the intent to kill. It is as if you were trained by a murderer." General Jeong Jeong began to perform the khomodorhino's dance. His movements were precise. Every strike would hit its mark. There was clear strength in his movements. However, the performance was subtle. In many ways, it mirrored a dance.
"If you fight as you do, you will inevitably take life." General Jeong Jeong spoke as he continued the form. "That moment will not come when you expect it or when you wish it.
"Murderer is a grave act, one only taken in the most extreme of circumstances. Do not enter every fight like a soldier. Not every battle is a war." General Jeong Jeong exhaled as he finished the form. The stone had not moved on his head.
"I was raised to win a war.", Azula was flat. Not mocking, as she usually would be, but direct and clear.
"And you were born to live a fulfilling life.", General Jeong Jeong had a stare that went for miles. He wasn't talking just to Azula anymore. "Do not learn Firebending just to fight battles. It is a part of who you are. Learn it so you can live your life well and be at peace with who you are."
Azula scoffed. His words blew past her like ash in the wind. "I will keep trying with the rock. Maybe Aang needs help with the leaf. I don't see any smoke from here."
General Jeong Jeong gave her a steely gaze. He wished to say something, but knew it would only hurt his pupil's chance to grow if he did. Besides, she wasn't wrong. For someone who had mastered three elements, Jeong Jeong thought, this simple exercise was taking surprisingly long for the young Avatar.
Azula tried to hide her glare as General Jeong Jeong went off to check on Aang. What did he know about her, she thought? They had met only briefly in the past when Uncle had war meetings. He was just a foolish old man who didn't know what it took to win a war.
What is holding back? Weakness. What is being merciful? Weakness. What is kindness? Weakness!
She could hear her father's voice repeat that in her head.
Jeong Jeong was clearly jealous of her power. She was a young prodigy, like few before her. He hated her. He was treating her like her father treated Zuko. He thought she was weak. She would show him. She would do this task easily and show the old man how pathetic he really was. She would make him apologize. He would recognize her brilliance.
The stone fell from her head once more.
"Move chi. Move!", Aang muttered to himself. "Come on, chi, just burn the leaf."
"Talking to your chi will not get it to move.", an old voice surprised Aang.
"Oh, Jeong Jeong!", Aang was embarrassed. "I was just doing some...mental exercises. Helped me when learning Earthbending." He punctuated his sentence with his usual smile.
"Avatar Aang, I think it is time you dropped this charade.", General Jeong Jeong shook his head.
"Charade? What Chara-" Aang could feel General Jeong Jeong's disapproving stare. Letting out a sigh, the young Avatar slumped forward. "You figured it out?"
"I have known since the moment I gave you the leaf." General Jeong Jeong was flat and scolding.
"It was that obvious?", Aang sighed.
"You were too nervous to be found out that you didn't even ask me what I wanted you to do with the leaf.", General Jeong Jeong stroked his beard, "I had a feeling and my test proved it true."
"Why let me keep going?", Aang fell back, "I couldn't figure anything out."
"To teach you the importance of the Avatar cycle. Finding a Waterbending teacher will be near impossible. However, it will be your first obstacle on the path to being an Avatar." General Jeong Jeong paced. "If I told you that you had to master water first, you wouldn't believe me. You would find excuses. You would move on to Earthbending and waste even more fruitlessly."
"The cycle is not just tradition, it has a purpose. The disciplines of the preceding elements inform the abilities of the next. Had you begun to learn Waterbending, you would have been able to make a fire. You would be familiar with making a flame." General Jeong Jeong looked Aang in the eyes. "However, you wouldn't know how to hold fast against fire's onslaught. Only Earthbending could safely prepare you. You would lose control of the fire. You may even hurt someone you care for."
Aang went bug-eyed at the suggestion. The monk knew the cycle was important. It took until now for him to realize why. What could have happened.
"Any way you start the cycle, it prepares you for the next element. You can't skip any step, no matter how hard." General Jeong Jeong looked to the beach. "However, I did not expect to find someone in need of my immediate teachings."
Aang was puzzled. Who could need his teachings? Not Azula. She was just studying to hone her skills. She was an amazing firebender.
"I know you cannot see it." General Jeong Jeong spoke with dire seriousness. "To you, you see only a Firebending prodigy. To an experienced firebender, however, your friend is a wild dog."
"But Azula has great control of her Firebending!", Aang jumped to his friend's defense.
"Yes, she could very precisely aim a flame at someone's throat." General Jeong Jeong spoke with a dry wit. "Knowing that such actions are wrong? No, she would have trouble."
"She isn't a murder!", Aang was yelling louder than General Jeong Jeong did this morning.
"Not yet, no." General Jeong Jeong looked away from the girl. "Give her time, however. Whoever trained her did so with the intent of raising a murderer." The general paused. "Has she ever escalated a situation? Put others in danger?"
"No!"
Aang paused.
"S-she once threw a fireball at someone. I was trying to make peace with a confederate commander. She didn't want me to be taken prisoner so she attacked." Aang paused again. "It may have caused a volcano to go off...somehow."
General Jeong Jeong turned to the Avatar with a baffled look.
Aang shook away this line of thought. "You're wrong about her. She might be rough around the edges, but Azula isn't a 'wild dog.'
That's when the pair's attention was distracted by the orange glow of fire. Turning to the source of the light, the master and student were shocked to see the nearby forest caught ablaze. At the source of the inferno was Azula, trying her best to put the fire out.
