Chapter 5

Disclaimer: See the Prologue for disclaimer.

Reminder: This chapter and the three previous ones are set 2 weeks apart. SO by now 6 weeks have passed for Simba and his friends.

Author's note: For those who do not understand the cycle of elements, in avatar, the elements go in a circle, that in Simba's case, starts with air and ends with fire. Ex: Air, Water, Earth and Fire. In this story, Simba will go through four different cycles. Each one will start with a different element in the circle and end with the first of the last circle.

I can't

*Two weeks later*

*Simba *

"Here it comes Simba." Said Tama as she thrust a rock at me. I immediately countered by arching my paw and shattering it with my wrist.

"Nice, but how about this?" she said as she slammed her paw against the ground and made a pillar of stone push out from underneath me. I responded by raising my paws sharply and caused two angled pillars to form and collide with hers to make it stop.

"Not so easy Simba." My Dad said as he shot a wave of flames at me. As I saw the color red, I thrust my paws upward and forced a wall of stone to rise and deflect the flame.

I then thrust my paws down against my floating rock, caused a fragment to rise, then whipped it at Dad, with my tail. Ow, I really shouldn't do that too often cause my tail feels like I hit Tama's head. Dad turned the flame to dust with a flame and proceeded to up the heat. I decided to smirk at this.

"If you can't take the heat, stay out of the savannah." I said cockily.

Dad shot a huge fireball at me which I retaliated by using my water bending and forming a geyser of water to block some of it while extinguishing the remaining flame with a blast of air. To make sure Dad could not shoot another flame at me, I tried his paws into the sand to immobilize him. I then saw a shadow appear and turned to see a huge boulder coming right at me. I repeated what I did with the first boulder and shattered it with my paw. I then found a smaller bolder and launched it at Tama, which knocked her to the ground. I smiled as I saw the dumbfounded expressions on their muzzles.

"Shall we continue?" I asked with a cheeky smile.

"No, I think that is good enough for now Simba." Dad said as the restraints fell away.

"Not bad Twinkle Toes. To pin your dad was impressive, but to pin me was just plain amazing. You have become a skilled earth bender." Said Tama with obvious praise in her voice.

"Thank you Sifu Tama. I think I am ready for the final element ." I said, with anticipation apparent in the seriousness of my voice. Even though Air is my birth element, I could not help but feel a special connection with fire. After all, I hated feeling left out when my Dad and Kopa would practice together.

"Are you sure you are ready Simba?" asked Dad, which was proceeded with a wink.

"You bet I am! Come on let's go!" I said as I ran up and began head-butting my father's hind legs.

"Ok son! But let's not forget your brother when we go to the Fire District."

"Yeah don't forget me!" said Kopa who had a semi-smile, on his face as he was also ready for his lessons. His scar was lighter, but it was starting to become clear that it would never completely fade. Kopa's personality had also changed after he got his scar. For one thing, he wasn't as outspoken around our friends, and rarely expressed his thoughts or feelings. I guess the trauma he felt that day was more than physical.I have heard Dad say that a fire burns inside each of us, and it looks like Kopa's flames are catching.

"We are ready to go as well, your majesty!" said Tojo and Nala who were psyched for the trip. I also noticed Tama, Kula and Chumvi were standing by Rafiki's side, in the direction of the Earth Pride. I felt a little hurt. Didn't they want to come with us?

"What about you guys?" I asked. I hoped they were just sitting around waiting for to finish my conversation.

"We would love to Simba, but we also have to continue our own training. I gotta get some more practice with my earth bending." Said Tama.

"Yeah. I am going with her, so I can watch the Kyoshi warriors and see if I can learn some moves from observing them." Said Kula.

"What about you Chumvi?" Nala asked the young brown cub.

"I am going to learn some combat skills from Master Rafiki and his trusty stick." Said Chumvi, obviously excited.
"Ok well see you!" I said as myself, Kopa and the bickering water pride duo followed Dad to the fire district.

"So Dad, what are you going to be teaching Kopa and I?" I asked with the hope to learn some of his signature moves.

"Sadly Simba I am not. I have a lot of duties I need to take care of ,so I am just dropping you and your friends off." Dad said sadly as my ears drooped.

"Oh Ok." I said disappointed.

"So who is teaching us dad?" asked Kopa.

"A very dear friend of mine named Jeong Jeong. He is a wise teacher, who I think will teach just what you need to know." Dad said with a smile. "Besides, I will eventually train you."

"Hello" Said a mysterious voice from behind a few trees. Out walked an elderly lion with a greying mane and a fierce glare that caused the cubs and even myself to freeze.

"Jeong Jeong. How have you been my friend?" Dad asked as he wrapped a paw around the other lion who returned the gesture.

"I am doing well. Are these the students you have brought?" he asked as he looked at us.

"Yes the one with the arrow on his head and the one with burn scar are my sons Simba & Kopa. They are here for their fire bending lessons."

"And the other two?"

"I am Nala and this is my brother Tojo. We came to give Simba & Kopa support as they learn their lessons." Nala said to the old master.

"And our parents are busy today." Added Tojo, who was quickly shoved by his sister.

"Alright. But you should stay back a ways. Fire bending is dangerous. Especially from two beginners who can't control it." Jeong Jeong stated.

"Well Simba, Kopa, I wish you luck!" I said this as I nuzzled my sons before I left to attend my kingly duties.

*Kopa *

"Alright you two time to begin your training. Are you ready?"

"Yes Master Jeong Jeong!" answered Simba and I as we tensed up into attention.

"Good now can either of you tell me: What is fire?" He eyed us and I am sure he noticed my paw shoot up. "Kopa?"

"Fire is the element of power. The creatures of the Fire district have desire, will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want." I said proudly.

"Very good Kopa! Now can either of you tell me what about fire is different from the other elements?" Jeong Jeong asked. This question stumped even me. But in my defence, I did not know much about the other 3 elements. When neither of us gave an answer, he continued.

"Fire is alive, it breathes, it grows. Without the bender, a rock will not throw itself, but fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it. THAT is its destiny! So you must be focused to master fire or be burned. Understand?" asked Jeong Jeong with a commanding tone. We nodded, but felt a slight fear from this lion. Oh, how I wish it was Dad instead. "Good then your first lesson is deep breathing exercises."

"Breathing exercises?! I thought we were learning fire bending, not how to take a breath." Said Simba who was annoyed already.

"Yeah. Why can't you teach us fire bending?" I asked. After all, I have already had dozens of lessons from Dad and should not be in the same class as Simba anyway.

"Do you want to burn yourselves now? To harness flames requires being able to feel the fire within yourself. You tap into that fire when you calm yourself through deep breathing exercises. Now get to it!" He shouted and we immediately got into the center of the river and began their deep breathing while Jeong Jeong just walked off and left them to their exercise.

Hours seemed to pass as we just sat there breathing and doing nothing else. The water did not move as they continued to breathe. Not a single leaf danced in the wind as they sat there on two mounds of dirt in the pond. Nala and Tojo were pouncing on each other, but Simba and I just sat there, and focusing on breathing. Eventually Simba began to growl under his breath, and I knew he was about to do something rash. Simba then caught a leaf that had fallen from a tree and held it between his paws.

Simba then closed his eyes and immediately, a flame appeared. "Simba what are you doing? " I said annoyed. Sure, I might be reckless at times, but even I knew better than to start rushing through my lessons. I learned that the hard way with Uncle Scar. He was teaching me one day, and let me just say, I learned up close and personal, how hot my flames are.

"Relax Kopa! Jeong Jeong won't find out. And look, I made a flame appear!"

"That is great Simba, but you should really shouldn't get ahead of yourself!" I insisted, but Simba did not appear to be listening. Oh kings, did I just say that. I am starting to sound like Dad.

"I want to try this trick. I saw Dad use it once!" Simba said and then began balancing the flame in his paw and began circling and then released the spinning flame. The flame grew from the increase of air and the burning leaf started to travel with the breeze, I managed to duck as his flames came directly at me. Unfortunately,without caring what, or who was in its path it was traveling, Nala wasn't so lucky as the flames came near her.

*Nala*

"AHHH!" I screamed as I put my paws in front of my face and was quickly burned in the process.

"NALA!" I heard Simba & Kopa screams, who went over to me. Their faces contorted, as I can assume, they got a glimpse of my paw.

"Nala, I am so sorry! I did-didn't mean to! I-I" Simba said with a stutter as he looked at his paws. Then, he looked back at my burns and started trembling so much that I thought there was an earthquake below.

"Ow" I whined, as I tried to put my paw down on the ground."It is ok Simba! I am not hurt too bad." I said trying to reassure him, without much results. I knew how hard it was to control your new element, especially after splashing Tojo numerous times, when I was really aiming for a rock. But I must admit, on a few occasions, it was on purpose.

" I really am sorry Nala." He said while walking up to me. But then all of a sudden he hit the ground. When I turned to Tojo for help, knowing it would take me a while to get over their with a bad paw, I saw his claws unsheathed, hissing angrily at him.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Tojo roared as he advanced on Simba.

"Tojo it was an accident!" I pleaded with my brother. As he was older he always felt the need to protect me. But Kula insist that is what all brothers do. He started taking this role more seriously when Dad had to start doing border patrol on a daily basis, and in Mom's words, took over being the lion of the den while he was away.

"You just had to skip ahead a lesson didn't you?" Tojo roared and scratched Simba with his unsheathed claws. My mouth dropped in horror when I saw the blood start trickling and forming a small puddle below.

"TOJO! Stop!" I yelled, as helplessly I started limping towards them.

"Nala!" Simba gasped, obviously shocked from seeing the full on damaged he caused. I tried to stay strong, and not limp, but it proved impossible. As he trotted over to help me, he was cut short by another blow from Tojo as he tackled him to the ground.

"You've done enough damage! Just go away you jerk!" Tojo roared at Simba with pure malice in his voice. Hearing those words made Simba's eyes widen as I spotted a stain of tears, that greatly resembled dew drops, form. Simba then shoved him off, and ran into the tall grass. I have never heard or seen my brother act like this! It seriously scared me, and worse I could tell Simba took it to heart.

"SIMBA!" shouted Kopa as he tried to chase his brother, but was stopped by Tojo. "Get out of the way, Tojo!" He growled, as his claws unsheathed. This was madness. Where are those boring old teachers when you need them?

"Leave him! The little bastard deserved what he got!" Tojo said, as he tried to justify his actions. The two golden pelted lions noses were now only a tail tuft's width apart. Seeing how this went with Simba, I feared what was to come. Mom would not be happy knowing both her cubs were burned by the princes. If Kopa got hurt again, and Simba's wound was as bad as I feared, I could easily picture Dad and Mufasa starting a war over this.

"He is not a monster and he did not mean to hurt her! He just got a little carried away. You did not need to attack him out of nowhere like that." Kopa said darkly. My fear was compiling, and was soon distracted from the pain I felt by the scene that was still unfolding before me.

"Yes I did! And if he comes near her again! I will break his jaw!"

"Threaten my brother and I will break every bone in your body!" hissed Kopa with narrowed eyes, that burned like the fire within him.

"Why? Your brother is too undisciplined to deserve to be the avatar, or king. He might be nothing in my eyes. Don't you care that he is responsible for you getting roasted by Zira?"

"Tojo, stop it!" I screamed while I limped into the water that separated these two pile of dirt. Kopa and Tojo looked in my direction and started to visibly cool off. I let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly a light appeared in the water around my paw, and when I took them out, I gasped. My burns had healed, and the pain dulled. What was that?

"What just happened?" asked Tojo as he stared bewildered at the sight.

"Your sister is a blessed water bender, young one!" said a voice behind us. We all turned and saw Jeong Jeong appear out of the tall grass.

"Master Jeong Jeong. You saw everything?" Kopa said exasperated.

"I did and I must say I am not surprised Simba disobeyed me. He is a free spirit who learns from his consequences." Jeong Jeong sighs and shakes his head. Wait a minute! He could have stopped this. I was pissed, but knowing what happened to me was top priority.

"But what about my paw? How did it heal?"

"Young one, you have the gift of healing. Your skills with the water allow you to heal others of their injuries. Unlike me, who possesses a curse which can only destroy and harm others."

"But you are a master." Said Kopa.

"A master knows the true nature of something since he has been with it long enough. Simba and you have not had enough time to learn patience and discipline, which results in stuff like this."

"OH KINGS! Simba!" I said as began to run after my friend only to be blocked by Tojo. "Tojo move!" I am extremely upset with my brother right now. How dare he do that to Simba? If he wasn't my brother, I would whoop him right now. So he better get out of my way.

"Nala! No. If he hurts you again.."

"He won't. After all, it was an accident!" I hoped my pleading would get through to him, because right now my mind was on Simba who was bleeding when he ran off.

"The answer is n…" but he did not finish as Kopa pounced on him.

"Thanks Kopa!" I yelled as I ran after Simba. Following the trail of blood eventually lead me to a cave where I found Simba sulking. OH Kings! What has Tojo done?

"Simba? Are you ok?" I asked as I approached.

*Simba*

I was shocked to say the least when I heard Nala's sweet, angelic voice. I was at first happy to hear she had come to find me but at the same time I was confused. Why would she want to find a harbinger of pain like me?

"No. I hurt you Nala!"

"Simba I am fine. There are no burns now! Besides, you did not mean to!"

"But I still hurt you because I was too impatient; too stupid to know better." I shook my head.

"Everyone makes mistakes Simba! The only thing we can do is to learn from them."

"Well I definitely learned from mine."

"That is good. So let us go back and join the others."

"NO. I won't go back."

"But Simba. You have to finish your training."

"I am never fire bending again." I could already hear the gasp come from Nala as I said those words. But she doesn't get it. I hurt her, not the other way around.

"But I just told you I am fine."

"But what if next time I hurt my family, or one of our other friends? Then, everyone would see me the same way. Like I was Zira!"

"We would never see you that way!"

"Tojo already does!"

"He is just overprotective of me because I am his sister. He did not really mean it. He may not be fire bender, but is stubborn as a rino. Jest let him cool off for a while, and you'll see that everything will go back to normal."

"Even so, I will not fire bend."

Sighing, Nala rubbed her paw along my back and slowly I felt my heartbeat slowing down. She looked into my tear stained muzzle and licked off the blood. I could not help but feel more at ease in her presence.

"Just think about it, ok?" she said and we laid next to each other in the cave.

1) Two Lions in Lion King that you wished you could see interact?

2) DO you think that there should have been a scene where Iroh and Ozai engaged in an Agni Kai?