Hello everybody. A new little chapter for this story. Until now it's fun to write it, so I have managed to finish this little chapter this day.

Azula had never expected, that of all people in the world Aang would be the one, who came to her and had started to care for her. In this chapter he'll continue to help Azula finding new aspects of her fire, but Azula doesn't understand why he has chosen this cryptic way to help her. And she's still puzzled, why he has started to help her.

I wish all of you a lot of fun with this new chapter.

The Elements of Life

It was the next morning, when Aang returned. He came with her breakfast. She greeted him with a simple nod and he gave her the tablet. Azula observed Aang while she was eating. He had taken place on the floor again and it seemed that he was meditating. He still hasn't answered her question. Why did he do this? If he wasn't her enemy, what else could he be. But it seemed, that he had decided to avoid direct answers. She would have to ask the right questions and would have to listen carefully to find out his reasons. As she was finished with breakfast, Aang took out a candle again from his robe and lighted it up with a blue flame. It still surprised Azula, that he was able to crate blue fire. She took seat in front of him and focused on the candle.

"Have you ever seen fire as the element of life, Azula?"

This question came out of nowhere for her. She had planned to ask him more questions, but this act from Aang was unexpected.

"Fire is the element of power. That's what I was taught."

Aang smiled at her answer. He shook his head a bit.

"I haven't asked you about your former lessons. I want to know, if you have ever seen fire as the element of life?"

Azula was annoyed about his question. She had learned the classifications of the elements long ago. Her teachers, her uncle and her father had given her these instructions over and over again. The Avatar should know better. Why did he ask her such a stupid question?

"So you want me to believe, that water is the element of death? It's the logical consequence, because water and fire are opposing elements."

Her voice was a bit angry and obviously annoyed. But her eyes widened in surprise as Aang nodded at her.

"I wouldn't deny your classification."

He recognized her confusion and chuckled a bit. But his look returned to a serious one.

"Have you ever been outside in a ice desert at a blizzard? A burning and warming fire means life out there. Have you ever seen a tsunami crushing a town? Could you imagine being alone in the ocean, forced to swim for your life, only to know, that you wouldn't ever reach land, feeling the cold of the water crawling under your skin? I know that water could be the element of death."

She opened her mouth to protest but instead she shut it again. She had never thought about water this way. He continued with his explanation.

"But water is the element of life at the same time. No life could exist without water, but also no life could exist without fire. It would be a freezing dark and cold world without the sun, which fuels the fire, which could be found in life."

Azula watched him with a new interest. Why did he came up with this? And how should this help her to find the role, she wanted to play. But her new interest had convinced her to think about his former question again. Had she ever seen fire as an element of life? She closed her eyes. She could still feel the candle burning, steady and without a flicker. Like a little... heartbeat. She opened her eyes and her excitement let the flame grew higher for a second. She watched him with a victorious smile.

"In fact twice I have seen it as an element of life. The first time was, when I was a little kid and when I managed firebending for the first time. I remember how warm and comforting and beautiful my fire was. It shared its strength and its life with me."

Aang nodded with a warm smile. Azula wasn't sure, but it seemed, that her joy was warming him.

"And the second time was... was..."

She hesitated. She has felt it as he had lighted up the first candle in her cell. And even more yesterday, as his fire had warmed her and had comforted her. But she wouldn't show her weakness again. How had it happened, that she has forgotten the beauty and the life her fire had shared with her, that every fire was able to share with her. Her face was sad and she stared at the burning candle.

"The second time was much later."

She expected, that Aang would push her further, but he didn't He simply nodded at her again.

"Life needs all the elements to exist. Without the fire and the sun we won't have a place to live. No plants would grow, no animal could exist. But without water, this world would be a hot and dry place. Without the earth no tree could set roots and nothing would have any substance but only earth would just exist without any changing, only hard and solid. And without air no life would exist, because all living creatures are breathing and needs air to live, but only air is insubstantial, with no ground, no rest, rapidly changing with no chance to settle down and let things just be."

Azula knew what he tried to explain. She had heard similar lessons from her uncle and she had always discarded it. But now she dared to take a closer look on it. Aang had showed her a long forgotten aspect of her element, so a closer look on the other wouldn't hurt, in her opinion. She thought about his explanation and closed her eyes. Aang kept quiet and waited, what her next step would be. She was rolling some new questions in her mind.

"So if life needs all elements, does that mean every element need all the other elements too?"

She saw Aang beaming at her as she opened her eyes again. It was obvious for her that he would agree to this suggestion, but she was curious, how he would argue about that.

"Every element is perfect for itself. But every one of them are perfect extremes, always searching for dominance. They could tolerate two other element at their side but also two of them are completely opposites. The balance between all elements is the tricky part. Only if all elements arr balanced, life could exist. They are soothing and moderating between each other and are also setting absolute limits to stop each other. If one element gets lost, then all balance will be gone. Life would end."

Azula frowned at his explanation. This was a bit too much of her uncle, in her opinion. But somehow it was also different. Nevertheless it wasn't an answer, why he cares for her. She stood up and Aang did the same.

"I haven't expected another answer from you, Avatar. Far tto obvious, in my opinion. But I have to admit, you have chosen an interesting way to share your so called wisdom with me. Until now, I have heard nothing, I haven't learned before."

She crossed her arms before her chest. But to her surprise did Aand nothing more but shrugging shoulders.

"Then what about this. How could a fire burn, when there is nothing left to burn? When any substance is gone? When the fire had consumed everything? How should it burn on?"

This question caught her off guard. She watched him with a lack of understanding. Suddenly he took a fast step in her direction and gave her a hug. She felt his warmth again and this bright fire, which was burning in him. He whispered in her ear as his head was close at hers.

"Or how could a fire burn on, when there is no air left?"

Her eyes widened as the hint, he had given her, reached her mind. A slight sadness and bitterness had been in his voice. She understood the reference and for the first time she started to watch the history of her Nation from a new point of view. Aang released her from his hug and walked back to the door.

"Until next time, Princess."