I open my eyes, then close them again due to harshness of the light. I heard someone calling my name. I opened them again to see Zuko.
"Zuko?" I asked
Zuko turned his head.
"Uncle she's awake?" Zuko yelled
I heard a door open and close. I see Iroh walk up.
"What happened?" I asked
"You were hit by lighting. Azula was aiming for me, and you pushed me out of the way. The lighting hit your side and arm." Iroh said
I nodded my head. Zuko hands me a cup of tea. I start to drinking some of the tea, while Zuko and Iroh talk.
"So Uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before we 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." Zuko said
"No, she's crazy, and she needs to go down." Iroh said
I start to laugh but turns into a cough then a moan of pain.
"Kida are you okay?" Zuko asked
"Yeah, just don't make laugh." I said
"Zuko, it's time to resume your training. And Kida if you are feeling up to it you should start training in fire bending." Iroh said
"I would love to learn from you." I said
Zuko helped me stand.
"Later you can go down to the river if you feel up to it. Also later I would like to talk to you." Zuko said
"Okay." I said
Zuko helped me out of the little house. I sat down and leaned back against the rock and watched while drinking my cup of tea.
"Lightning is a pure form of firebending, without aggression. It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lighting the cold-blooded fire. It is precise and deadly, like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind." Iroh said
"I see. That's why we're drinking tea, to calm the mind." Zuko said
"Oh yeah, good point! I mean, yes. There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang. Positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few firebender 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, you provide release and guidance, creating lighting." Iroh said
Iroh steps up, and generates lighting, and shoots it away from us.
"I'm ready to try it!" Zuko said
I stand up and hobble over to them.
"Please don't." I said
"Remember, once you separate the energy, you do not command it. You are simply its humble guide. Breathe first." Iroh said
"This isn't going to be good." I whispered
Zuko takes a deep breath. He tries to generate lighting, but instead an explosion haunches him back. Iroh and I both shake our head. Zuko has attempted to create lighting a couple more times.
"Why can't I do it? Instead of lighting it keeps exploding in my face…like everything always does." Zuko said
"I was afraid this might happen. You will not be able to master lighting until you have dealt with that turmoil inside you." Iroh said
"What turmoil?" Zuko asked
"Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away." Iroh said
"But I don't feel any shame. I'm as proud as ever." Zuko said
"Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame." Iroh said
"Well, my life has been nothing but humbling lately." Zuko said
"I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself." Iroh said
That made a huge smile come across Zuko's face. Iroh sits down, list down next to him, and Zuko sits down next to me.
"Fire is the element of power." Iroh said
Iroh draws the firebending insignia in the dirt.
"The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy to drive and achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. (draws Earth symbol) The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom. (draws air symbol) the Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humor! Water is the element of change. (draws water symbol) 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." Iroh said
"Why are you telling us these things?" Zuko asked
"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it become rigid and stale." Iroh said
He divides the four symbols into separate sections.
"Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole." Iroh said
Iroh then draws a circle around the symbols that he had divide.
"Why do I get the feeling that Aang should be here to hear this." I said
"I agree with Kida, all this four element talk is sounding like Avatar stuff." Zuko said
"It is the combination of four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful, too. You see the technique I'm about to teach you is one I learned by studying Kida's people, the waterbenders." Iroh said
"Really?" I asked
"Yes. 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 lighting." Iroh said
"You can teach us how to redirect lighting?" I asked
"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lighting will flow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your 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. From the stomach, you direct it up again, and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical. You must not let lighting pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly. You may wish to try a physical motion, to get a feel for the pathways' flow like this." Iroh said
Iroh and Zuko begin to practice the redirection motion. I simple stand to the side and watch.
"Now, are you focusing your energy? Can you feel your own chi flowing in, down, up, and out?" Iroh asked
"I think so." Zuko said
"Come on, you've got to feel the flow…Excellent! You've got it!" Iroh said
"Great, I'm ready to try it with real lighting!" Zuko said
"What?" I asked
"Are you crazy? Lighting is very lighting!" Iroh said
"I totally agree with Iroh. I've felt lighting it hurts and is very hot." I said
"I thought that was the point! You teaching me to protect myself from it." Zuko said
"Yeah! But I'm not going to shoot lighting at you! If you're lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all." Iroh said
"Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning." Zuko said
"Zuko wait." I said
He just ignored me and rode off. I shook my head.
"Iroh can you help me back into the house, I'm not and lightheaded." I said
"Of course Kida." Iroh said
Once we get inside the room begins to spin, and black spots take over my visons. I feel myself fall, and I hear Iroh yell my name.
Zuko's Pov:
I have found a storm. I stand in it, and yell up at the sky.
"You're always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it, and now I can give it back! Come on, strike! You've never held back before!" I yelled
No lighting strikes. Tears are streaming down my face, and I yell at the top of my lungs.
By the time I made it back to Uncle and was fussing over Kida.
"Uncle what happened?" I asked
"After you left she said she was hot and lightheaded. Then we got in hear she just collapsed." Uncle said
I moved over to her.
"What do you think is wrong?" I asked
"She is running a fever. I was going to go look for a plant that can help, but I had to wait till you got back." Uncle said
"Okay, I'll stay." I said
Uncle nodded. Then turned and left.
"It's okay, it's going to be okay. I won't leave again." I said
