CHAPTER 12

Playing, Training, and Fighting with Fire

If Aang and his group were going to bring the war to the Fire Nation's shores then Aang had to

finish his training. He had pretty much mastered the discipline of Water Bending, one aspect of his

training accomplished. He was still having trouble with Earth Bending but Toph said he was

improving everyday. Aang could tell that she really meant it, because she hardly ever gave out

compliments. Now all that was left to be done was to finish his training in Fire Bending. He had

trained in Fire Bending before, but his training had barely started before it ended in near disaster.

He had been fooling around after he had made fire, when he gave Kattara some serious burns

luckily Kattara discovered that she had the rare gift of healing.

Aang promised that he would never again Fire Bend; but in order to become a full grown Avatar

he had to master this last ancient art. Aang's only instructor thus far had been Jeong Jeong a

formal Admiral of the Fire Nation Navy. Jeong Jeong was now hunted like a traitor like Iroh and

Zuko. Aang hadn't seen Jeong Jeong in a while and hoped he was all right. "Of course he's all

right!" Aang chided himself. "If he wasn't then I wouldn't be seeing posters of his face everywhere

I go." Still Aang had doubts that this was true. Jeong Jeong would come in handy in tight

situations. Aang wished that he was still under Jeong Jeong's instruction even though he was one

of the most difficult teachers Aang had to train under. Aang would now have three new instructors

former Fire Sage Shyu and the banished Princes of the Fire Nation. General Iroh and his nephew

Prince Zuko.

Lessons began early, way too early for Aang's liking. His primary instructors were Shyu and Iroh

who both had conflicting styles of teaching Shyu was a gentle man and was therefore gentle and

kind in his instruction hardly ever giving out criticism and constantly handing out praise. Iroh who

was also a gentle man was surprisingly harsh in his methods of teaching. He was almost as strict as

Jeong Jeong constantly pushing Aang's nose to the grind stone and pushing him farther and harder.

Zuko who still had a little mean streak despite being kinder and more polite since he had been

healed loved to watch Aang in his training especially if it was Iroh who was teaching. Zuko

remembered his own training difficulties with Iroh and couldn't resist to watch the Avatar train.

While Aang would train he would often fail to do what Iroh would ask him; and Zuko was there to

laugh at his mistakes. More than once Iroh would send Zuko away with a stern warning saying

"Zuko, Aang needs to concentrate on his training and he can't do it if you are taunting him."

Aang was beginning to regret that he had twice saved Zuko's life, if he hadn't saved Zuko's life

than Zuko wouldn't be taunting him now, and Kattara wouldn't have fallen in love with him.

'Kattara' Aang thought savagely to himself, how could she do this to him, how could she fall in

love with the man who had been chasing them all this time. After many weeks of training Aang

wasn't progressing in his Fire Bending training. Iroh decided it was time for Aang to use what ever

he had learned in a practical way. Iroh had decided it was time for Aang to combat in an Agni

Kai. Aang's partner would be none other than Zuko, because Iroh felt that they were at about the

same level even though Zuko was an expert Fire Bender and Aang was not. However because

Aang was the Avatar Iroh felt that they were equally matched.

The rules of the match were simple, once you had successfully defeated your opponent you went

no farther than was necessary. After all this was only for training. For Aang he could not use Air

or any other of the elements that he had already learned he could only use fire. Aang and Zuko

faced each other in the traditional Agni Kai way. Before the duel Iroh told both of them to

remember the basics "they are your greatest weapon he said."

Zuko attacked first sending a fire ball at Aang who immediately dodged it with Air Bending. "Use

only fire, Iroh scolded." Zuko laughed which only infuriated Aang. Zuko struck again and this time

Aang caught the blast and sent it straight back to Zuko. Who easily blocked it. Zuko kept taunting

Aang making him angrier by the second. This time Aang conjured up his own fire and sent a huge

flaming ball at Zuko who was rendered speechless. Zuko and Aang sparred for nearly five

minutes causing Aang's hatred to grow stronger and course through him like poison until he finally

struck with such ferocity that Zuko went hurtling into the ground like a comet. Aang was about to

deliver a fatal blow when he felt Kattara's water whip wrap around his wrist and slap against his

body. When Kattara had Aang's attention she shouted "This was for training only, you have gone

too far." Aang was so mad he couldn't speak, he whipped out his glider and went soaring off into

the sky.

Kattara then rounded on Zuko ferociously scolding him. "You made him so angry he couldn't

control himself!" Zuko countered "Fire Bending is all about aggression, he won't be able to master

fire bending if he doesn't learn how to preemptively strike first. I was only helping him." "I don't

call that helping!" Kattara spat and then she stomped off. Zuko wanted to go after her, but he

knew that she did not want to talk to him and so stayed where he was. After the duel and the

arguments were over everyone went off to be by themselves. Nobody said anything and nobody

wanted to talk. After awhile Kattara decided to try and go looking for Aang. "He'll come back on

his own" Sokka indifferently replied. "I just want to know if he's all right." Kattara sadly answered.

But Aang was not all right, he was in an intense emotional upheaval. And as the Avatar that can

have serious repercussions for everyone; and this time Kattara was not there to calm him down.