p class="MsoNormal"Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko found me. Iroh had been hurt by Azula so we took him to a broken-down shack up on a hill from what is left of the burnt town. There we bandaged and treated Iroh the best we could. All we could do was wait for him to wake. Zuko insisted he makes the tea for when Iroh woke up. I tried to stop him, but he would just sit me down and tell me to rest. Iroh had then started to wake up./p
p class="MsoNormal""Uncle!" Zuko exclaimed with a look of concern on his face, "You were unconscious. Azula did this to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh attempted to get up but winced in pain which caused me to rush over to him in worry. The bandage covered the left side of his chest and shoulder. Zuko continued to speak, "It was a surprise attack."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Somehow, that's not so surprising." Iroh said before I helped him to sit up and lean against the wall as he grunts in pain./p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko picked up a steaming cup and handed it to Iroh saying, "I hope I made it the way you like it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI then quietly said to Iroh, "Fake it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhich caused Iroh to look at me questionably for a millisecond before he decides to actually drink some of the tea. All I could think was 'I tried to warn you' as I gave him a look that said as much as his eyes widened and he let out a cry of disgust but barely manage to mask it. "Mmm, good." Iroh said as Iroh took another drink and grunted, "That was very, uhh... bracing!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko handed him another cup and to which he tossed it out the window when his nephew wasn't looking. I started to giggle at the scene causing Zuko to look at me weirdly. I waved him off giggling more and mouthing 'I'll tell you later' that just made him shake is head muttering about pregnancy mood swings. Zuko looked back towards Iroh again to start ranting, "So uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No, she's crazy and she needs to go down." Iroh said as he put down is teacup. Zuko nodded slightly in reply. Iroh grunted as he attempted to stands up and once, he succeeds he said, "It's time to resume your training." I then attempt to stand as well but failed miserably with my pregnant stomach making it harder by the day which caused me to cross my arms and pout angrily. For some reason Zuko and Iroh found my situation hilarious and cute. "I am not cute." I huffed that caused them to go into a fit of laughter./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by Toph's 'gentle nudge' in the right direction~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh sat in front of Zuko. A pot of tea sits on a small fire between us that thankfully Iroh made after a I finally explained what was soon funny earlier. "Lightning is a pure expression of firebending, without aggression. It is not fuelled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire." Iroh spoke wisely as he took the tea kettle off the fire and poured its content into another pot. He then began to pour it into three cups before continuing, "It is precise and deadly, like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe handed two cups to Zuko who passed one to me carefully as to not spill the hot content onto my pregnant stomach as I used it to balance the cup on it. He then turned back to Iroh to say, "I see. That's why we're drinking tea: To calm the mind."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh smiles as the never came to him as he said, "Oh yeah, good point! I mean, yes." We finish our tea before making our way (slowly in my case) over near the cliff edge for Zuko's lesson to begin./p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh began it by saying, "There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang; positive energy and negative energy." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe held up one finger on each hand to stand for the two forms of energy, "Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and, in a moment, the positive and negative energy come crashing back together." He brought his hands together to illustrate the point, "You provide release and guidance, creating lightning."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh held out a hand, signalling for Zuko and I to step back with me behind Zuko who was in a protective stance from the possible danger of this demonstration. Iroh held his right hand to his side and with two fingers extended began to create lightning by rotating his arm in a circular motion around his body. He mimicked the motion with his left arm. Zuko looked impressed by this action. Me on the other hand could not see it behind this tall giant, I hate being only 5 foot 1. Iroh brought his two hands together and then lunged forward with his right hand extended and shot lightning into the distance./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm ready to try it!" Zuko said to Iroh who was rubbing his injured shoulder slightly. "Remember, once you separate the energy, you do not command it. You are simply its humble guide. Breathe first." Iroh instructed and I took this as my cue to get the agni out of there. I went over to the ostrich horse to wait for the inevitable to happen. Zuko getting angry./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko took a deep breath in and closed his eyes. He then began to mimic the motions that Iroh performed, except that he doesn't create traces of lightning. He shouted out and shoved his right hand forward, but it merely caused a fiery explosion that shoved him backward into the dry dirt. He fell on his back next to Iroh. Iroh shook his head slightly. I just petted the head of the slightly spooked animal beside me to calm not just it but me down./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by Aang splashing around until he feels better~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko was getting blown back by an explosion yet again. He had a frustrated look on his face and was clenching his fist. Iroh looked on while leaning against the building in the background next to me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;""Why can't I do it? Instead of lightning, it keeps exploding in my face! Like everything always does!" Zuko said angry to begin with then finished in a tone of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh and got up from our spot and walked over to Zuko as he stood up too. "I was afraid this might happen. You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko turned to him with an angry look on his face to say in frustration and rage, "What turmoil?" Iroh reply, "Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""But I don't feel any shame at all! I'm as proud as ever!" Zuko Exclaimed. "Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame." Iroh explained. "Well... my life has been nothing but humbling lately." Zuko said as I went over to awkwardly hugging him around my ever-growing bump in slight tears, empathising with his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIroh looked to the side thinking before speaking, "I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself!" He pointed a thumb toward himself and smirks slightly. This caused Zuko to smiles and hug me to him gently./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by a faulty boomeraang that will not come back~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh was drawing the symbols of each of the bending disciplines in the dirt with a stick as he explained them with Zuko sat cross-legged nearby, observing intently and me beside him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humour!" Iroh smiled widely, but Zuko doesn't react causing me to giggle and nod to how true that statement was as Iroh continued. "Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why are you telling me these things?" Zuko asked looking up at the standing Iroh./p
p class="MsoNormal""It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale." Iroh said as he draws lines separating the four symbols in the dirt as he said, "Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole."/p
p class="MsoNormal""All this four elements talk is sounding like Avatar stuff." Zuko stated./p
p class="MsoNormal""It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful too." Iroh said poking Zuko's chest with his stick before going on to say, "You see, the technique I am about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko looked intrigued. Then suddenly I gasped and clutched my swell. Zuko moved closer to me in worry alone with Iroh. "What wrong? Is it the baby? Do you need to see a healer? Is the baby coming? But it's too soon for it to come!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe have nowhere to live or too-ow!" Zuko shouted as I slapped him before guiding his hands with mine to a spot on my swollen stomach which caused both of us to come to tears./p
p class="MsoNormal""What is it? What has happened?" Iroh asked concerned looking between us. I repeated my previous action with Iroh's hand. It set off his water works too./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The baby was kicking. They could feel my baby (IES) kicking for the first time./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by Sokka's naming skill and knowing what it is like to be stuck between a rock and a hard place~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko and Iroh were practicing waterbending moves as I prepared some dinner for us all. "Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy. A waterbender lets their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning." Iroh spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko excitedly asked, "You can teach me to redirect lightning?" Iroh nods in reply./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it." Iroh pointed with his right arm at an angle into the air and pointed at it with his other hand as he spoke, "You must create a pathway from your fingertips up your arm to your shoulder and down into your stomach. "He moved his left hand from his arm, to his shoulder, and then to his stomach. "The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the sea of chi. Only in my case, it is more like a vast ocean." Iroh said laughing followed by my giggling but Zuko remained stoic./p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh then becomes serious again saying, "You direct it up again and out the other arm." He pointed off into the distance with his left arm. "The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart," he walked up to Zuko and pointed his fingers at his chest, "or the damage could be deadly. You may wish to try a physical motion to get a feel for the pathway's flow. Like this." He pointed to the left with both his arms and Zuko mimicked the motion./p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh then took his right arm and pointed it in the other direction. Zuko copied this move as well. Iroh and Zuko then moved their left arms to the right and back again. "Now, are you focusing your energy Can you feel your own chi flowing in, down, up, and out?" Iroh asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I think so." Zuko replied as he continued to mimic the motions Iroh showed him. Iroh began to move his arms in waving motions at his sides as he said, "Come on. You've got to feel the flow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"After that I went on with my cooking and once it was done the sun had almost fully set behind the mountains. Zuko and Iroh were still practicing the motions. Iroh suddenly stopped and stood in front of Zuko. "Excellent! You've got it!" Iroh exclaims./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko bowed slightly, putting his hands together before he spoke, "Great! I'm ready to try it with real lightning!" Iroh sent him a questioning look before asking, "What, are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko got annoyed and stated, "I thought that was the point," Iroh eyes twitched as Zuko continues, "you teaching me how to protect myself from it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh frantically answered, "But I'm not going to shoot lightning at you!" He waved his arms around defensively. He turned away from Zuko and looked at him out of the corner of his eye to say, "If you are lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko gazed off at dark clouds in the distance to say, "Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning." Iroh, who closed his eyes and trembled a bit as Zuko road off into the distance on his ostrich./p
p class="MsoNormal"I walked over to Iroh and began to lead him to the shack. "He'll come back when he is ready. Come, it's time for dinner." I said to Iroh./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"a name="_Hlk60049484"/a~Time skip brought to by Toph's 'positive reinforcement'~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"I was stood on top of a mountains peak during a rainstorm staring at the clouds. I defiantly shouted to them, "You've always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it! And now I can give it back!" Lightning strikes in the distance, rain poured off my face. I glanced back up at the sky shouting, "Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!" I just closed my eyes and a stream of tears began to flow from my good eye. I raised my arms and shouted before collapsing onto my hands and knees. What did I do to deserve this? What did my beautiful fire-lily do to deserve me? What did our baby? What agni? What?/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko found me. Iroh had been hurt by Azula so we took him to a broken-down shack up on a hill from what is left of the burnt town. There we bandaged and treated Iroh the best we could. All we could do was wait for him to wake. Zuko insisted he makes the tea for when Iroh woke up. I tried to stop him, but he would just sit me down and tell me to rest. Iroh had then started to wake up./p
p class="MsoNormal""Uncle!" Zuko exclaimed with a look of concern on his face, "You were unconscious. Azula did this to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh attempted to get up but winced in pain which caused me to rush over to him in worry. The bandage covered the left side of his chest and shoulder. Zuko continued to speak, "It was a surprise attack."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Somehow, that's not so surprising." Iroh said before I helped him to sit up and lean against the wall as he grunts in pain./p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko picked up a steaming cup and handed it to Iroh saying, "I hope I made it the way you like it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI then quietly said to Iroh, "Fake it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhich caused Iroh to look at me questionably for a millisecond before he decides to actually drink some of the tea. All I could think was 'I tried to warn you' as I gave him a look that said as much as his eyes widened and he let out a cry of disgust but barely manage to mask it. "Mmm, good." Iroh said as Iroh took another drink and grunted, "That was very, uhh... bracing!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko handed him another cup and to which he tossed it out the window when his nephew wasn't looking. I started to giggle at the scene causing Zuko to look at me weirdly. I waved him off giggling more and mouthing 'I'll tell you later' that just made him shake is head muttering about pregnancy mood swings. Zuko looked back towards Iroh again to start ranting, "So uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No, she's crazy and she needs to go down." Iroh said as he put down is teacup. Zuko nodded slightly in reply. Iroh grunted as he attempted to stands up and once, he succeeds he said, "It's time to resume your training." I then attempt to stand as well but failed miserably with my pregnant stomach making it harder by the day which caused me to cross my arms and pout angrily. For some reason Zuko and Iroh found my situation hilarious and cute. "I am not cute." I huffed that caused them to go into a fit of laughter./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by Toph's 'gentle nudge' in the right direction~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh sat in front of Zuko. A pot of tea sits on a small fire between us that thankfully Iroh made after a I finally explained what was soon funny earlier. "Lightning is a pure expression of firebending, without aggression. It is not fuelled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire." Iroh spoke wisely as he took the tea kettle off the fire and poured its content into another pot. He then began to pour it into three cups before continuing, "It is precise and deadly, like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe handed two cups to Zuko who passed one to me carefully as to not spill the hot content onto my pregnant stomach as I used it to balance the cup on it. He then turned back to Iroh to say, "I see. That's why we're drinking tea: To calm the mind."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh smiles as the never came to him as he said, "Oh yeah, good point! I mean, yes." We finish our tea before making our way (slowly in my case) over near the cliff edge for Zuko's lesson to begin./p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh began it by saying, "There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang; positive energy and negative energy." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe held up one finger on each hand to stand for the two forms of energy, "Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and, in a moment, the positive and negative energy come crashing back together." He brought his hands together to illustrate the point, "You provide release and guidance, creating lightning."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh held out a hand, signalling for Zuko and I to step back with me behind Zuko who was in a protective stance from the possible danger of this demonstration. Iroh held his right hand to his side and with two fingers extended began to create lightning by rotating his arm in a circular motion around his body. He mimicked the motion with his left arm. Zuko looked impressed by this action. Me on the other hand could not see it behind this tall giant, I hate being only 5 foot 1. Iroh brought his two hands together and then lunged forward with his right hand extended and shot lightning into the distance./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm ready to try it!" Zuko said to Iroh who was rubbing his injured shoulder slightly. "Remember, once you separate the energy, you do not command it. You are simply its humble guide. Breathe first." Iroh instructed and I took this as my cue to get the agni out of there. I went over to the ostrich horse to wait for the inevitable to happen. Zuko getting angry./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko took a deep breath in and closed his eyes. He then began to mimic the motions that Iroh performed, except that he doesn't create traces of lightning. He shouted out and shoved his right hand forward, but it merely caused a fiery explosion that shoved him backward into the dry dirt. He fell on his back next to Iroh. Iroh shook his head slightly. I just petted the head of the slightly spooked animal beside me to calm not just it but me down./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by Aang splashing around until he feels better~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko was getting blown back by an explosion yet again. He had a frustrated look on his face and was clenching his fist. Iroh looked on while leaning against the building in the background next to me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;""Why can't I do it? Instead of lightning, it keeps exploding in my face! Like everything always does!" Zuko said angry to begin with then finished in a tone of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh and got up from our spot and walked over to Zuko as he stood up too. "I was afraid this might happen. You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko turned to him with an angry look on his face to say in frustration and rage, "What turmoil?" Iroh reply, "Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""But I don't feel any shame at all! I'm as proud as ever!" Zuko Exclaimed. "Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame." Iroh explained. "Well... my life has been nothing but humbling lately." Zuko said as I went over to awkwardly hugging him around my ever-growing bump in slight tears, empathising with his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIroh looked to the side thinking before speaking, "I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself!" He pointed a thumb toward himself and smirks slightly. This caused Zuko to smiles and hug me to him gently./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by a faulty boomeraang that will not come back~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh was drawing the symbols of each of the bending disciplines in the dirt with a stick as he explained them with Zuko sat cross-legged nearby, observing intently and me beside him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humour!" Iroh smiled widely, but Zuko doesn't react causing me to giggle and nod to how true that statement was as Iroh continued. "Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why are you telling me these things?" Zuko asked looking up at the standing Iroh./p
p class="MsoNormal""It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale." Iroh said as he draws lines separating the four symbols in the dirt as he said, "Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole."/p
p class="MsoNormal""All this four elements talk is sounding like Avatar stuff." Zuko stated./p
p class="MsoNormal""It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful too." Iroh said poking Zuko's chest with his stick before going on to say, "You see, the technique I am about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko looked intrigued. Then suddenly I gasped and clutched my swell. Zuko moved closer to me in worry alone with Iroh. "What wrong? Is it the baby? Do you need to see a healer? Is the baby coming? But it's too soon for it to come!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe have nowhere to live or too-ow!" Zuko shouted as I slapped him before guiding his hands with mine to a spot on my swollen stomach which caused both of us to come to tears./p
p class="MsoNormal""What is it? What has happened?" Iroh asked concerned looking between us. I repeated my previous action with Iroh's hand. It set off his water works too./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The baby was kicking. They could feel my baby (IES) kicking for the first time./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"~This time skip is brought to you by Sokka's naming skill and knowing what it is like to be stuck between a rock and a hard place~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Still Sky's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko and Iroh were practicing waterbending moves as I prepared some dinner for us all. "Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy. A waterbender lets their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning." Iroh spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko excitedly asked, "You can teach me to redirect lightning?" Iroh nods in reply./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it." Iroh pointed with his right arm at an angle into the air and pointed at it with his other hand as he spoke, "You must create a pathway from your fingertips up your arm to your shoulder and down into your stomach. "He moved his left hand from his arm, to his shoulder, and then to his stomach. "The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the sea of chi. Only in my case, it is more like a vast ocean." Iroh said laughing followed by my giggling but Zuko remained stoic./p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh then becomes serious again saying, "You direct it up again and out the other arm." He pointed off into the distance with his left arm. "The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart," he walked up to Zuko and pointed his fingers at his chest, "or the damage could be deadly. You may wish to try a physical motion to get a feel for the pathway's flow. Like this." He pointed to the left with both his arms and Zuko mimicked the motion./p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh then took his right arm and pointed it in the other direction. Zuko copied this move as well. Iroh and Zuko then moved their left arms to the right and back again. "Now, are you focusing your energy Can you feel your own chi flowing in, down, up, and out?" Iroh asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I think so." Zuko replied as he continued to mimic the motions Iroh showed him. Iroh began to move his arms in waving motions at his sides as he said, "Come on. You've got to feel the flow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"After that I went on with my cooking and once it was done the sun had almost fully set behind the mountains. Zuko and Iroh were still practicing the motions. Iroh suddenly stopped and stood in front of Zuko. "Excellent! You've got it!" Iroh exclaims./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko bowed slightly, putting his hands together before he spoke, "Great! I'm ready to try it with real lightning!" Iroh sent him a questioning look before asking, "What, are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko got annoyed and stated, "I thought that was the point," Iroh eyes twitched as Zuko continues, "you teaching me how to protect myself from it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Iroh frantically answered, "But I'm not going to shoot lightning at you!" He waved his arms around defensively. He turned away from Zuko and looked at him out of the corner of his eye to say, "If you are lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko gazed off at dark clouds in the distance to say, "Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning." Iroh, who closed his eyes and trembled a bit as Zuko road off into the distance on his ostrich./p
p class="MsoNormal"I walked over to Iroh and began to lead him to the shack. "He'll come back when he is ready. Come, it's time for dinner." I said to Iroh./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"a name="_Hlk60049484"/a~Time skip brought to by Toph's 'positive reinforcement'~/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Zuko's POV/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"I was stood on top of a mountains peak during a rainstorm staring at the clouds. I defiantly shouted to them, "You've always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it! And now I can give it back!" Lightning strikes in the distance, rain poured off my face. I glanced back up at the sky shouting, "Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!" I just closed my eyes and a stream of tears began to flow from my good eye. I raised my arms and shouted before collapsing onto my hands and knees. What did I do to deserve this? What did my beautiful fire-lily do to deserve me? What did our baby? What agni? What?/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
