Book 2 Chapter 2
Fight Fire with Fire
Mako slid Korra's room door open and stepped in very quietly. He tip toed over to the side of her bed, crouched down and looked at the avatar as she was asleep. Korra was all snuggled up in her blanket, obviously in a deep sleep. Mako rested his hand on the side of her face, debating on whether or not he should wake her or let her sleep a little longer.
"... Korra" he whispered "Korra it's time to get up, Pema will have breakfast ready shortly."
"'... nnnnn.. no..." Korra said groggily.
"Come on Korra" he shook her shoulder "fine... if you're not going to wake up then I guess I'll just have to tickle you until you get up." Mako brought his hand close to her stomach, Korra quickly opened her eyes "Mako!.. don't.. Ahhhh!... hahahaha... Mako-oooo! Okay! Okayyyy! I'm gettin-ahhhahaa I'm getting up! Now stop!"
Korra pushed Mako away with a gust of air. He fell on his back with a thud.
"Hmm, I'm really glad I learned air bending haha."
Mako rubbed his back and got up "ha I'm glad you learned air bending too." He bent over and gave Korra a kiss on her forehead. "I'll meet you downstairs" and with that he was gone.
Everyone gathered downstairs for breakfast. Pema made pancakes and maple berry syrup. "Mmm.. everything smells delicious Pema" Korra said taking in the aroma of the fresh syrup, the pancakes looked so fluffy.
Bolin took two plates full, "Bo, you really gonna eat all those" Mako glared at his younger brother.
"What? I'm a growing boy!" Bolin said staring at his brother with a pout.
"Okay, eat up then, we're gonna train after this" Mako said sternly.
"Mako, Bolin, Korra.. any plans to start up your probending again?" Tenzin asked the kids.
"Yeah that would be great guys! You should totally do it" Asami said excitedly.
"Probending, oh right that's the sport you guys play here. Sounds kind of boring if you ask me" Iroh said with a dull look on his face.
"Compared to what?! Probending is awesome!" Korra, Mako, and Bolin said in unison.
"Compared to Kuai ball, my team is composed of the most highly skilled and trained athletes in the fire nation. My grandfather's trained me in the art of Kuai ball himself" the general said with utmost pride.
"Sounds interesting, I'd love to see your team play some time" Asami said trying not to sound too flirtatious.
Mako glared at the man dissing the very sport that's become a way of life for him. "What would you know about probending anyways? I doubt you'd be any good at it."
Korra turned to face the boy next to him, "It's not that deep Mako, Iroh you should come watch us play sometime."
"I'd love to Korra, and Mako.. was that a.. Challenge?" Iroh said with a smirk on his face.
"You know what? It is!" Mako said standing up now.
"Mako, sit down. Iroh doesn't have a team to challenge. It can't be 3 on 1." Korra said glaring up at him.
He's clearly getting too worked up over this. "Fine, then it'll be 1 on 1. What do you say general?" Mako still standing, now crossing his arms waiting for a response.
"Alright" Iroh said calmly taking a sip of his tea. Korra and Asami took one glance at each other and rolled their eyes.
"Now kids, don't go getting hurt. Just a friendly match alright" Tenzin interrupted.
The kids got up and started to make their way outside.
"Lin, I'm going to head over to city hall. Care to join me? We've got to start a plan of action."
"Sorry little bro, Lin's going to have to take a rain check. We have plans to catch up. It's been like years since the last time we've talked" Bumi said leaning against the table close to Lin.
"Oh, of course" Tenzin said flustered. "Let's start our plan of action tomorrow, Tenzin" Lin spoke. Tenzin nodded, he kissed Pema and the children goodbye before he was on his way. "I'll be back before dinner" he said holding baby Rohan.
Meanwhile, outside things were getting tense between the two fire benders. They were standing in the training area on the island. There was a big air symbol painted on the ground. Iroh took off his black and gold jacket leaving him in a loose dark blue shirt that accented his toned upper body, and black pants tucked in his pointy fire nation boots that came up right below his knees. The scar that he got from the war was still noticeable on his left arm, slightly hidden by the sleeve of his shirt. Asami, Korra, and Bolin took a seat on the edge of the arena.
"Bro, you sure you wanna do this?" Bolin said a little worried his brother maybe getting a little worked up. Mako nodded
"We're gonna be going by probending rules. Korra, you're the ref."
"Ooooo..Ooooo.. Can I be the bell?" Bolin said with his hand waving in the air.
Mako rolled his eyes. "Sure. Anyway, the zones are outlined with chalk. You ready?" Mako said glaring at the slightly older boy in front of him.
"Absolutely." Iroh's stance reminded Korra of Zuko's fire bending when she met him when she was very young. She assumed he would have taught Iroh his fighting styles, so she wasn't too surprised. But, there was just something about Zuko's elegance that day that intrigued her, and is hoping Iroh will show some of that as well. She was watching Iroh very intently, wanting to see and learn every move he makes. Korra wasn't the only one watching Iroh. Asami's gaze couldn't be broken, she was waiting in anticipation to see what this general was made of. Mako brought his fists close to his face in his usual cool under fire fighting stance.
Bolin stood up and brought his hand around his mouth, "DING DING DING!"
Mako through the first punch, the flame headed straight for Iroh's torso, who immediately turned and brought his hand around to swipe the flame away.
"That the best you got?" Iroh said taunting Mako.
Mako's face turned angry and quickly sent three more flames at his opponent in all directions. Iroh back flipped, kicked the fire sending it to the ground, and stopped the last one right in his tracks with his fist.
"What are you afraid of general? You have yet to throw a punch! Scared?" Mako yelled.
"Not scared, just.. patient." Iroh said calmly. "A wise man once told me, fire shouldn't stem from anger and frustration, but from time and patience."
"Oh and who was this old man?" Mako said as he sent an inferno of waves of flames crossing Iroh's path. It took great strength and diligence to dodge each attack, flipping over and under each wave without getting singed.
"Not really an old man.. more of an old dragon." Mako looked up in surprise, and so did Korra, Bolin, and Asami. "My grandfather took me to visit the very first fire benders, the dragon's, to teach me the true ways of fire bending."
"Doesn't seem like they taught you well. You haven't shot a single flame" Mako said with disbelief that Iroh has actually seen a dragon.
"You wanna see fire. I'll show you real fire" Iroh raised his leg straight up and shot it back down sending a giant blue flame straight at Mako. Mako jumped out of the way. Everyone's eyes widened, including Mako's. Iroh punched multiple blue flames at Mako, and each one of them hit him and pushed him back into zone 2. Iroh took his time walking into Mako's zone 1. Iroh threw multiple shots again, his attacks were quick and fierce. Too quick even for Mako to dodge, getting hit in the process and getting knocked down teetering on the edge of the zone 3.
The blue flames burned in a way his orange ones didn't. They felt as though the sun itself was touching his flesh. And before he knew it, he was lying on the ground in zone 3. It was hard to keep up with Iroh's attacks, he was fighting in a way he's never seen before. Mako stood up and as a last ditch effort sent a large ring of fire straight at Iroh, who managed to split the ring in half with both his hands sending the flames flying in opposite directions as he jumped and kicked three fire blasts that headed straight for Mako. The first knocked him to the ground and the other two pushed him outside of zone three.
"Knock out!" Korra declared.
"DING DING DING and the winner is General Iroh, of the United Forces!" Bolin said in his best announcer voice.
The three got up and joined Iroh in the ring. Korra went over to help Mako up and dusted off any grass of the back of his jacket.
"Looks like you could learn a few things from him" Korra said softly not wanting to make Mako seem inferior to Iroh. Mako walked over to Iroh, and stuck his hand out. Iroh looked surprised, but shook his hand with pleasure.
"You're a great fire bender Iroh. That was a good match. I'll beat you next time though" Mako said with a smirk on his face.
"I'll look forward to it" Iroh retorted.