Fourteen

"Zuko," Maya said, as he put a metal ring around his upper arm. It was part of the outfit worn by the two people competing in the Agni Kai. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Do you doubt my skill?" he asked her. "The other day you were telling me that you enjoyed watching me firebend."

"I – no, that's not what I meant. I have no doubt that you can beat him. But… If you do beat him, then he'll be your enemy for the rest of your life."

Zuko waved her off. "I don't think you understand how Agni Kais work. It's a fight to the death. If I beat Zhiao, then he'll be dead and I won't have to worry about him anymore."

"To the death?" she asked. He gave a single nod. She suddenly wished they'd been nicer to each other. Because they might never have a chance to be nice to each other again. As annoying as Zuko had been, she didn't want to have to witness him die. She shuddered and looked at the ground. "Maybe I won't watch."

"Don't worry," he said. "I will win."

She looked up again. "Please do."

Maya and Uncle Iroh stood off to the side as the Agni Kai raged on. She was so focused on it that she hardly heard Uncle, who was right next to her, shouting encouragements to Zuko. She watched in fascinated horror – and admiration – as Commander Zhiao and Prince Zuko duked it out.

At first, Zuko had just done his regular routine – angrily and aimlessly flinging fireballs towards his opponent, all of which Zhiao had easily evaded. Next, Zuko tried a fire whip, sending down a line of flames directly at him. Zhiao parted the flames with his hands and they passed by harmlessly to either side.

Zhiao sent his own fireball at Zuko, which caused him to jump back. Zhiao smiled and did it again. Zuko stumbled, trying to get away from the flames. Zhiao did it once more, and finally, Zuko tripped over his own feet and fell onto the ground. With a shout, Zhiao jumped across the arena and landed right next to Zuko, with every intent of blasting his face full of fire.

At the last second, Zuko got onto his hands and spun in a low circle, staying close to the ground and using his foot to knock Zhiao to the ground. Zhiao rolled away and got back up. As if from far away, Maya heard Uncle shouting something to Zuko. "Basics, Prince Zuko! Break his root!"

Maya wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but it seemed to help Zuko. Suddenly he was sending attack after attack at Zhiao without mercy. He was doing exactly what Zhiao had done to him. He sent spurts of flame from his feet, making the older man scuttle back to avoid being burned. And after two or three more attacks, Zhiao stumbled and fell onto his back, whacking his head into the ground. By the time he looked up, Zuko was standing over the top of him, fists ready.

"What are you waiting for?" Zhiao taunted. "Do it!"

Maya turned away, flinching when she heard the grunt of exertion from Zuko, and the sound of flames bursting from his fist. But there was no scream. Slowly, she looked up. The ground beside Zhiao's head was smoking, but the man himself was unharmed. Zuko had purposefully missed. Maya smiled, just a little, hoping that maybe he had thought about their earlier conversation, and had decided that killing Zhiao was maybe not the best choice.

"That's it?" Commander Zhiao shouted, staring at Zuko angrily. "Your father raised a coward."

Prince Zuko put his arms at his sides. The duel was over. "Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back," he said. And then he turned away from Zhiao, Uncle and Maya going over to greet him.

Suddenly Maya heard an angry shout come from Zhiao, and before she knew what was going on, Uncle had grabbed the man by his foot and pushed him to the ground with it. Zhiao had just tried to send a fireball at Zuko when his back was turned. Zuko ran forward, teeth grit in anger, but Uncle caught him.

"No, Prince Zuko! Do not taint your victory." After Zuko relaxed, Uncle let go of him and turned to look at Zhiao. "So this is how the great Commander Zhiao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you." He paused, and then added as an afterthought, "Thanks for the tea. It was delicious."

The three of them left Zhiao on the ground and headed back into town. When they were out of earshot, Zuko said quietly, "Did you really mean that, Uncle?"

"Of course," the old man said. "I told you ginseng tea was my favorite."

Maya smiled. She knew what Zuko had been asking about, and she knew Uncle did, too. Zuko looked startled at first, since that wasn't the answer he had been expecting. And then he realized that Uncle had still answered his question, and he smiled.

That was the first time Maya had ever seen him smile. It made her smile, just looking at him. He was finally happy for once. She hoped it would last.