Chapter 4: A Prodigy's Failure
By: RebLaw
Disclaimer: I still don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, and probably never will.
A/N: Wow, I sure got a lot of comments on chapter three. :-)
Lil' Pup – I'm sorry it took me so long to update, I hit a bit of a writer's block, thank you for your patience.
Xgamerkf – It's okay, it bothers me a little bit too (I feel so bad for making the Earth King be around the young lady who brought down his kingdom!) But it seemed the most logical place to put it, it's setting is going to become less relevant in future chapters.
Kai Dragoon – Yeah, the Avatar fandom needs more shoujo-ai. I'm glad you agree with my characterization of Aang.
crazyhorse – Thank you again for your comments. Again, the future chapters will have less and less to do with the end of season 2.
Demon Pyromaniac – I'm a big fan of Fuseki too! Unfortunately I believe grad school and other things are occupying the author's time.
Blade100 – I could tell you what she's planning… but then she'd kill me 0.o (j/k) Some things are best left unrevealed.
Roxius – I'm glad you enjoy it! I think Aang'll wise up eventually. He's naïve, but not stupid.
This chapter is going to be a bit rougher than the others, because I really need a beta reader.
-.-.-.-.-
"Aang, you can't really tell me that you believe her," Sokka said, when they were in their room and the Earth King had fallen asleep. "I mean, she's AZULA, even Zuko's afraid of her!"
"I know Sokka," Aang said, a hint of resentment in his voice. "It's just not that easy. It would be very easy to just say 'Azula's evil, let's destroy her!' but it wouldn't be right. The monks always taught me that there is both good and evil in everyone. And that the good should always be cultivated. That's what I'm trying to do. She's having her father killed for us. We owe her a chance."
It was silent.
Sokka sighed and said, "Look, I don't mean to argue with you, but I really think you're being way too trusting here. Azula is not a normal person, she shot lightening at her very own uncle, that's something normal people don't do!"
"She's very talented," Aang pointed out. "I'm sure she'll be an amazing teacher. How cool would it be if I could defeat Ozai with lightening?"
"I'd have to agree, that would be cool," Sokka agreed.
Aang nodded, which was followed by a somewhat awkward silence
"I don't think we should bring Azula with us when we take the Earth King to the Northern Water Tribe," Sokka said plainly. "And I think we should get him up there sooner rather than later. It's one thing for us to trust her. We can't ask the Earth King to. I mean, she dethroned him."
"Alright," Aang agreed.
"Do you think you could handle Azula on your own?" Sokka asked.
---
Katara woke up early, as she always did. She was surprised to see not Aang or Sokka, but Azula sleeping in the other bed. She had been hoping the whole last day had just been a dream induced by some exotic food she had eaten.
The waterbender had to admit that Azula looked angelic when she was sleeping, but she didn't let herself forget what a demon-spawn the girl was when awake. She stared at the sleeping princess, reminding herself what a bother she was, how she almost killed Aang, who was her best friend.
She got dressed quietly and decided to tiptoe out of the room. She did not want to wake Azula. Judging by how oddly the girl had behaved the pervious day Katara doubted Azula would let them leave without her if she were awake. And every bone in Katara's body told her that they should leave without her, as soon as possible.
She stepped off the bed and onto the floor. Creeeak. Katara's face winched, as it slowly turned to see if that had awoken the princess. She slowly stepped a good distance, onto a board that didn't squeak. But this time she heard sheets ruffle. Azula had turned over onto her side. Katara held her breath, unsure if Azula had awoken or not.
After about a minute Katara realized that, yes, indeed, she had to resume breathing at some point, or she would collapse on the floor, which would certainly wake Azula up. The princess hadn't moved since she turned over, Katara quietly began to breathe again and to plan her next step.
She made it to the door. Now for the hard part. She grabbed the handle and slowly turned it, she could hear the mechanisms moving. Just a little further. Clink. Okay, now for the hard part, opening the door slowly enough so it doesn't disturb the room, but not so slowly it squeaks.
Katara slowly opened the door, just a half a foot, just enough so she could squeeze out. Just when she had turned to close the door, the worst possible thing happened.
"Good morning Katara!" a familiar cheeful voice rang through the hallway.
Katara's eyes widened and she made motions to hush him, but it was already too late, she could hear Azula stirring.
"Are you ready to get breakfast?" Aang said.
"Sure," Katara said sighing, as she closed the door, not caring how loudly it shut.
---
"Good morning," Azula said dressed in her normal deep red attire, which she wore on purpose.
It looked like everyone was just finishing breakfast. Katara and Sokka both looked disappointed to see her.
Apparently it was going to be harder than she thought, Azula realized. The waterbender wasn't half as stupid and trusting as the Avatar. But, she had to admit, that made her an even better prize to be won.
"Good morning Azula," Aang said happily.
The patrons of the tavern began to whisper among each other and seemed to fairly unanimously agree that leaving would be a good idea. Azula did stick out, and there was no hiding that she was Fire Nation.
"Are you ready to learn firebending Aang?" Azula asked, pronouncing the word "firebending" a bit too loudly, her eyes staring into Katara's in a way that sent shivers down Katara's spine.
"You bet," Aang said cheerfully.
"I-I'm going to have to respectfully a-ask you folks to leave," the tavern owner stammered as he slowly approached their table. "D-don't worry about the bill, j-just go, a-and d-don't come back."
"But -," Aang began but the man had quickly walked away, leaving him and his friends alone in the tavern.
Azula looked around putting on an innocent face but smiling on the inside, "Maybe I should, I don't know, change back into that clothes I wore in Ba Sing Se."
"That would be a good idea," Sokka said, wondering if maybe he overestimated her ability. "Anyway, I'm going to take the king to the Northern Water Tribe."
"What?" Aang, Katara and Toph asked. Aang knew that was an idea thrown around, but this was the first the two girls had heard of it.
The Earth King nodded. "It would be a good idea."
"But didn't you just want to stay with us?" Aang asked, feeling very confused.
The Earth King paused, considering how to explain that he didn't want to be in Azula's company, even if it meant flying half-way across the world. "I've reconsidered Sokka's proposal, and I agree that for the time being, it would be safest if I were among my Northern Water Tribe allies."
Azula smirked; she understood what the Earth King was really thinking, it was nice to see that even with her goody-two-shoes performance, she was till intimidating. Fair enough, anything that got rid of the ever skeptical Sokka suited her purpose.
"I should go with Sokka," Toph announced. "I don't want to be stuck here with Azula."
Katara knew that Toph liked her brother. She smiled, "I guess it'd be nice for Toph to get a chance to visit the Northern Water Tribe. But hurry back, Aang still hasn't mastered earthbending."
And that was that, Sokka, Toph, and the Earth King left on Appa for the Northern Water Tribe. Aang and Katara stayed behind with Azula, who was to teach Aang firebending.
---
"Okay, so you know some of the basics of firebending," Azula said, her posture stiff as she looked down at her pupil from a bounder.
They had found some uninhabited land a bit North of Milltown. Katara had come to watch, her brother had made her swear never to leave Aang alone with Azula before he left.
Aang nodded. Azula was beginning to remind him of the strict Master Pakku who taught him waterbending at the North Pole.
"I'm going to demonstrate the first routine a firebending child is taught. I mastered this set at age 4," Azula said, her face emotionless, and her voice harsh. "I expect, as the Avatar, this won't be terribly difficult for you."
Azula preformed a set which included on punch and a round kick. Katara couldn't help but notice how effortless it looked; it was if the flames Azula created were merely an extension of herself. Katara had not really gotten a chance to watch Azula firebend closely before, previously she had only seen the princess firebend while she was fighting the princess. Now that she could just sit and observe, Katara was awed at how artful and smooth Azula's motions were, especially compared to other firebenders who always seem to be fighting their own element, forcing it out of themselves.
Aang watched intensely. On his first try he couldn't get the punch very well, or the kick at all, he almost fell down.
Azula sighed and told him to try again. It would've been bad to let Katara see her lose her temper this early.
On the second try, Aang mastered the punch and the kick, only there was no fire.
"That was, better," Azula said, biting her tongue. "But not good. You have to focus on the energy of your movements. Fire is the heat in your body, just as your bone are made of minerals from the earth, your movements guided by air, and the fluids are made from water."
She looked over to notice Katara looked impressed with her knowledge. She was the top student at the Royal Fire Nation Academy for Girls, after all, and she saw no reason not to flaunt it.
"It's too hard," Aang said. "When Jeong Jeong taught me, he had me just doing breathing and posturing. I could just barely summon fire by the time I had to leave him."
Azula rolled her eyes. She had no idea where to start with him. She hadn't really needed to go over the basics too much even when she just started out learning when she was really young.
"Try it again," Azula said, in a harsher tone. She didn't think it could get any simpler than that.
Aang tried it again, and again, until he got the movements down to being pretty close to perfect. Azula was beginning to show her temper, commanding Aang to do it again and again in a harsh tone.
"Maybe you should try to break it down further?" Katara suggested, when Aang looked exhausted, and Azula looked very frustrated.
"It doesn't get any simpler than this!" Azula exclaimed, before she was able to catch herself.
Katara sighed at looked at Aang and Azula. She wondered if she should tell Azula why Aang refused to learn anymore firebending after the incident.
"Maybe Aang should take a break from firebending and practice some waterbending?" Katara suggested. "A change of pace might help him get out of his rut."
"Sure," Azula said after she realized that it was expected that she agree.
"Come on Aang," Katara said motioning to the tired boy, who followed her. "There was a stream a little bit back towards the town."
"Katara," Azula called. "Do you mind if I watch?"
Katara shook her head no, but made a mental note that she wasn't going to strip down to her underclothes and bindings like she normally did.
---
Azula had never seen waterbending outside of combat before. She was impressed by its graceful movements, and its beauty, its peace. She was impressed at how good Aang was at it. Maybe her old fuddy-duddy uncle had something going when he spoke of learning from all four of the elements.
Katara looked very much at peace as she bended the water around in slow circles, froze it, melted it, and summoned large waves of it. Aang looked slightly less so, but he was definitely getting here.
