I Don't Own Avatar the Last Airbender
"Get up" Wincing, I forced my sore body to my feet as I looked up at the man in front of me. This man was one of the more nicer ones that Dad brought in to train me. I was still getting use to being allowed moments to catch my breath, I think it's because breathing is so important to firebending that we have to have minor breaks just so I'm continually at the best peek I can be. It was the only thing I could think of as to why he allowed me these small moments to get myself together before the next sparring match.
Collecting myself was easy, breathing was the most important thing to a firebender, and I've gotten very good at it, I could feel my breath calming my chi as I slid back into a stance as I looked at the at ease man, knowing more than well enough that just because he didn't look ready didn't mean he couldn't beat me into the ground. My legs were aching as well... I'll have to rely more on my upper body for the rest of this training session. I'll have to be careful about runn-
I was snapped from my thoughts as the man blitzed into action. Flames bursting behind him as his form quickly approached me. On instinct I flung my hand up and blasts a fire ball at him, only for the trainer to jump over me in a burst up free from his legs. I barely was able to duck in time for his flying knee to not slam into my nose. Stumbling back was a back decision that I made, he had just landed behind me and my back was completely exposed to the man.
I knew it was a mistake, and yet I couldn't correct myself before a wave of fire slammed into my back, stopping me from falling backwards by instead I was flung forwards as I rolled against the floor. Rolling as quickly as I could to my feet, I jabbed a blast of fire at the flying form of the man making him falter off course as I blasted forwards in a lunching force of fire as I rushed at him, quickly swiping with almost pure goldish-yellow flames dancing off my limbs, trying to make contact with my opponent.
He managed to find his footing at the last moment and kicked out at my legs, knocking me just off balanced enough that he could grab a hold of my arm, forcing the flames away. A large knee was slammed into my stomach as I felt something surge up into my throat and was threatening to be released but I held my ground, and instead of puking up my breakfast, I barely managed to use the upward force to bring my legs up enough to catch up on his shoulders.
Igniting my arms, I ignored the fain burn of my own flames pressing against my skin as the man, not expecting it, had to let go to not burn his hands anymore that I already managed to already as I used my freedom to drag myself up on top of the man's shoulders using enough core strength to make the already stabbing pain in my stomach but I just ignored it, I had felt worst as I flung my hands around the man's head and growled out in a horse voice.
"Stop or I'll burn you're head down to the skull" I felt the man underneath me freeze as I felt an almost crazed smile tug on my lips. Finally! It took two weeks before I won, a new record for me and it was starting to make me angry. And yet as I looked down at the man underneath me, their form suddenly shifted as I found myself sitting down, I blinked to myself as I frowned sightly to myself as I felt my hand reach up to my side and poke at my ribs before wincing a tad.
Hey, Sho" I absently looked up at Inaru as she walked up to me before sitting down as I winced a bit as she dropped into the seat next to me as the vibrations seemed to wrack my hurting ribs. I tried to find it but I wasn't use to the feeling yet, and of course Inar noticed as she leaned in to look at me before asking curiously.
"You ok? You're looking a little tense" I just nodded at her with a smile, but it felt fake even to me. She frowned before leaning in a bit more to the point I had to lean back so she wasn't bumping into my forehead. The air between us felt so awkward to me as she stared into my eyes with worry marring her expression. After what felt like to long I finally said.
"Dad's started to train me harder. He hit me in the ribs really hard" I saw her expression suddenly seem to cloud over as I felt the sudden need to correct myself.
"No, it's ok! He didn't mean to, and after he even said he was proud that I was doing so well, so I can't complain. It only stings a little after all" I gave her a smile at that to which she frowned a bit before nodding at me. See, I knew she'd get it. Kids always seem to understand me better than the adults, and she's only like three years older than me, and while she is kind of old, eight isn't that high of a number to count to after five so I think I'm right.
"So what did you learn?" I just smiled, glad the topic was now on this, I was super excited about my progress, it had been kind of hard at first, the chi thingy made my chest feel all weird when I tried to mess with it but Dad didn't seem to understand what I was saying so it was a bit confusing but I figured it out after a few lessons. I just have to keep my breathing even. I think. It helped a lot when I was taught those exercise things with in through the nose out through the mouth so I think it's right. It didn't feel as weird anymore.
"Oh! Uh, I figured out how to do this!" And I quickly jumped up, wincing a bit at the pressure on my ribs as I held my hand out in front of Inar and we both watched as a small lick of red flames flickered for a moment before it held in place. I still couldn't do to much yet but just making the flames seemed easy. I was just admiring my own progress when I heard Inaru suddenly scream as I looked up and saw her shake around her hand. What happened?
"It burned me!" I could feel my eyes widen, uncomprehending at what I had heard, my little fire hurt her? How? I didn't want to hurt her so why did my fire hurt her. Did I do something wrong? I felt panic well up in me as she almost silently cried to herself as I just stood there so lost at what happened, with the fire still just lit in my hands. I didn't know how long I stood there before I looked down at my hand only to notice that I was standing over the form of a burning body. My confused expression becoming a faint scowl.
"Round the rest up, we need to get back before their cavalry gets here" That was my voice, I was yelling and bark out orders as I walked back in forth watching my men follow my orders. It was nice, years of training and learning and studying to be in command and here I was at the age of fourteen, the youngest ever Commander in the Fire Nation. So far, even though I know I'm being fast tracked, it'll still take about a year before I reach Captain, I wasn't planning on waiting that long though, if I play my cards right, with a few more of these raids I'll get that rank in at least half a year.
"Sir! We found some stragglers" I was forced out of my plans as I looked over at one of my men, I hadn't bothered to remember his name. Why bother? Infantry died off quickly and getting attached just made a weird feeling come back when they died under my command.
"Alright? If they're benders then kill them off, if not bring them with, some more forced hands in the fields will help our food supplies" The man frowned a moment before nodding after I had turned to look at him with a questioning eyebrow. I didn't appreciate other's questioning my orders. I don't care how young I am, I'm still in charge, I earned my rank and they better respect it.
Moving my eyes away from the foot solider as he walked away, I roamed my eyes over some of the captured men and women. A faint frown forced its way on my face even with my schooled stern expression that I spent time perfecting as I looked at the children in between the parents among the crowd. I didn't mind my job, I loved the respect and admiration I get for my skills, but the terrified faces of those kids... I forced my eyes away from the sight and took some time to do a few breathing exercises.
I'll request they get some education when they arrive... Once I reach Captain I'll have to power of rank to try and get them resorted in other families. It was the best I could for right now. I absently noted the sound of fire, the solider from before must have found a bender then.
"Sir, the bender has been killed and the others are now ready to be transported" I nodded to the solider I had spoken to a few minutes prior as I called out for everyone to get ready to travel. And as we all began to set out, I absently looked back behind me just to look at the town before my eye caught the sight of a burning body, to small to be an adult but too big to be anyone below ten. I felt my eyes widen as my mind connected the dots as bile began to rise up in my throat before-
"AAAh! ah...ah..." I looked around as my body flung itself upwards as I looked around wildly at my surrounding for a brief moment panic welling in my chest as I slowly took a shaking breath in and out. I could feel sweat dripping down the back of my shirt and down the sides of my face... No that wasn't sweat, those were tears, I could tell because my vision was so blurry at the moment, even as I hastily wiped at my eyes the water just came back just as fast.
The blurriness in my eyes didn't help me any as the images used my inability to grasp onto my surroundings to plague my mind of burning images. It felt like an eternity as I just sat there, alone, something that I couldn't help but feel like I deserved for my actions. Of course, just as those thoughts began to swim in the recess of my mind, I felt a form suddenly press against me as small arms wrapped around my side, it was quickly followed by another set as my hazy mind tried to grab onto what was happening, and then it hit me, I wasn't alone.
Of course I wasn't. I took a shaky breath before pulling my arms up then quickly wrapped both around my two beautiful kids and pulled them close to me. My breathing beginning to even out as the tears seemed to finally dry up as I, after what felt like to long, muttered into the top of my children's head.
"I love you two, so so much" I felt the two begin to hug me back even tighter.
Why angst? Eh, I don't know, I felt like trying my hand at comforting. This story is really just an experiment for me. All this touchy feely stuff is like the opposite of what I'm personally comfortable with, I hate being touched by people, end of story, I just find it uncomfortable and just awkward for everyone involved. But I'm like in .0001 percent of the population that's like that and so I figured I'd try out writing a family that's a lot more comfortable with touch and stuff. It's not like this is only time I've done this, but, well, this is a bit different so there's that. Onto the next part, bad parenting skills from Sho's dad, yeah I'm just guessing for what it's kind to have bad parents, it's mostly because I have almost no idea what or how I acted like as a kid. And since I'm naturally not emotional or even empathetic, it's hard to write a child's mind set, especially when they're like five years old.