Chapter 4

Fear

"Let your breathing become slow, focus on your breathing Avatar. A Firebender must learn to emulate the sun's balance before they are allowed to progress to the creation and manipulation of fire. Firebending features quick, successive, ferocious attacks that evoke the danger of fire. A Firebender's discipline stresses self-control and breath control as a means of directing and containing the fire inside them. Having poor breath control means dangerously poor control of any fire that you create. It is because of this that breathing exercises are one of the most important first steps for beginning firebenders. Remeber Avatar that firebenders use their internal body heat as a source of their bending to create fire. Always remember that firebending is very powerful, but very dangerous; Firebending is the most aggressive of the four bending arts." Iroh explained as Aang and Zuko sat down meditating. Each time they inhaled the flames grew larger and each time they exhaled the flames dimmed. Iroh watch the boys concentration. Zuko sat perfectly still, knowing that he needed perfect concentration, Aang however could not sit still for the life of him. Then losing his concentration, Aang's eyes shot open and the flames completely blew out.

"Opps" muttered Aang

"We've done this like 8 times already!" Zuko exclaimed jumping up. "By Angi's name can't you do anything right!"

"Now Prince Zuko, calm down these things take time, the Avatar is doing the best he can. Even you did not sit still when i first started training you." Iroh said trying to calm his nephew down.

"No he's not! Why are we wasting our time here." He cried out.

Sokka and Toph poked their heads into the room, wanting to see what all the commotion was about. "HEY! You can't talk to Aang like that! He's the Avatar!" Sokka shouted

"So, he's a really slow Avatar!" Zuko yelled.

"Hey watch it man! Didn't your mother teach you respect?!" Sokka said narrowing his eyes at the Fire Prince.

Iroh's eyes widened as he noticed his nephew's temper beginning to flare. Zuko felt his face getting hot and he clenched his fists. "Don't you ever mention my mother! You know nothing about me or my family." He pushed his way past Sokka and Toph, needing to get out, to get away. He was almost out of the door when he bumped into the Katara. Who stopped him before he could push past her.

"Zuko? Hey what's wrong?" Katara asked concern written all over her face.

"Nothing! It doesn't concern you! Just leave me alone! I don't need you concern or your pity! I don't care what you think!" he yelled waving his hands in front of his face.

"Hey! I'm just trying to help you!" Katara shouted back at him

She couldnt believe he was yelling at her like this, did they almost kissing mean nothing to him, did she mean nothing to him. "But what about earlier?" tears were tugging at her eyes.

"That was nothing, it shouldn't have even started. You're nothing but a seducing peasant! Now just leave me alone." Zuko said storming off to his and his Uncle's apartment. Katara said nothing but just watched him leave, a tear streamed down her face. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. Katara felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Miss Katara, I'll talk to him." Iroh told her reassuringly. Katara looked at Iroh with sad eyes. Her lip quivered before she buried her head into his shoulder and began to cry.

Iroh found his nephew at they're apartment, sitting on his bed. "I think you owe Miss Katara an apology." He said rather sternly. Zuko lifted his head to meet his Uncle's face. Zuko's hard, angry eyes met his Uncle's stern but understanding eyes.

"I know, I just couldn't take it." Zuko sad burring his face in his hands.

"I know Zuko, but If you care for you someone you must apologize or things will never be right…you do care for her don't you?" Iroh asked.

Zuko sighed and looked at his uncle, a tear or two falling from his face. "yes, but I cared for my mother and I lost her. I'm afraid of losing what I care for."

"Fear is a funny thing Prince Zuko; it is life's only true opponent. It is a clever, treacherous adversary. It has no decency, it respects no law or convention, and it shows no mercy. It goes for your weakest spot, which is in your case, is your mother's memory and miss katara. It starts in your head, one minute you are feeling great, happy and confident and then doubt slips in; doubt becomes disbelief. You become anxious and apprehensive. You try to reason with yourself; you feel yourself weakening, becoming indecisive. You begin to discharge your greatest allies: hope and trust. Then your anxiety becomes dread. For fear…real fear shakes you to your foundation. But fear is only an impression, and the way to beat real fear is to know yourself, really know yourself Zuko." Iroh placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "I'll be spending the night at the Avatar's so I can help him with proper breathing. Don't worry Prince Zuko, it will be alright."

Iroh got up and left the room. Zuko laid back on his bed and shut his eyes. Thinking about what a mess he had just made. Katara made him feel things he had never felt before. These feelings both aroused and scared him. Ever since Zuko was little his father had drilled the idea that to have feelings was to be weak. But the feelings he had for Katara were different, he never felt weak around her, it was almost as if those feeling for Katara made him stronger. He was startled by a knock on the door. Reluctantly he got up and answered it.

"Katara?"

ok so here is chapter four, now i dont know how long this is going to be, so far i thinks its only like one more chapter but idk anyways i probably wont update for a little while im kinda sick so yeah, anyways please review that would make me feel better. hope you enjoyed it :-)