Chapter 20:
Freya moved through the rock and over to where Toph, Katara and Aang were standing as Toph began to teach Aang something new.
"Sorry to interrupt." she said and the three turned to her "But Aang can I please borrow Appa?" they looked surprised
"Why?" he asked
"Collect some supplies from around, it'd be quicker that way."
"What if something happens?" Katara asked. Freya brought the bison whistle from her pocket.
"You guys keep this."She chucked it to Katara who caught it. "Besides, we have protection on all sides, I'm not really worried about someone spotting us down here." she said motioning to the cliff walls that surrounded them. She looked at them and Aang looked at Katara before he shrugged.
"I guess I don't see why not."
"Great!" Freya turned and ran off towards the bison excitedly.
Appa took some convincing but Freya managed to get the bison into the air and she talked to him as they flew.
"I know you're not going to be very happy with this but I need to find some people you're not going to like. But that's alright, I wont make you get close." Freya said as they flew back towards the village where they'd last seen Iroh, Zuko and Azula. "And if Aang calls you back I'd appreciate it if you came and got me first." she added.
As the girl flew she made a few dips towards the ground when she saw some fruits and stocked up on food like she's said she would, making sure to not give the others any reason to be suspicious of her when she returned without them. This slowed her progress but she wasn't worried about the others missing her any time soon.
They found the village easily, most of it burnt from the previous fight and Freya then turned to flying the bison around, looking across the mountain for some clue of the two fire benders. She couldn't see any smoke for a fire but started with the trees, which would give shade and cover.
It didn't take long for her attention to be caught when something sparked and the girl turned to see two figures on a cliff. Around one of them was light and Freya could feel the heat. She turned the bison before suddenly lightning went flying across the sky, turning everything darker for a second as though the sun had been blocked out.
Appa freaked and Freya calmed him down from the sudden crack that echoed all through the canyons. She pat his fear on his head, shushing him until he felt calmer again.
"Well… that was easy." she mumbled as she stared at the two figures on the cliff. The duo bender flicked the reins in her hands and moved the bison in their direction.
Appa landed and Freya patted him before running through the trees in the direction she'd spotted Iroh and Zuko. She emerged from the trees to find the two facing the cliff still. Behind them was a rather broken hut, but still providing enough shelter to house the two. Iroh was watching Zuko and Freya watched as she noticed him using the same motions Azula had when she'd created the lightning. She watched excitedly but there was no sparking of the energy. When Zuko pointed his finger forwards to shoot off the lightning, fire suddenly appeared and an explosion went off, sending Zuko flying backwards.
Freya frowned and the boy skidded until he landed at her feet.
"Are you alright?" she said and Zuko blinked up at her surprised for a second.
"Freya, what a surprise to see you here." Iroh grinned, glancing at his nephew
"I was making sure you were alright." Freya smiled at him as Zuko blinked at her, comprehending her appearance.
"I am, thank you." Iroh responded, bowing to her and she returned it.
"How did you find us?" Zuko asked from his spot on the floor, still surprised.
"Well with Iroh unconscious I doubted you'd have gone very far from the village so I came back here and had a look around. Iroh sent lightning into the sky, which is a bit of a give away as to your position." Freya admitted. Zuko's expression contorted.
"Why are you here!?" Zuko suddenly demanded as he got to his feet.
"Wow, I save you at the North Pole, help you escape, heal your uncle and still get treated with hostility." Freya mumbled crossing her arms.
"Thank you for all of that my dear." Iroh smiled. "But is that really all? I doubt you'd have sought us of all people out just for thanks?" Freya opened her mouth to respond by Zuko didn't give her the chance.
"Is the avatar with you!?" Zuko demanded
"You think I'm an idiot? Like I'd bring him near you. They don't even know where I've gone. They don't exactly like you Zuko." Freya said obviously.
"Then why seek us out?"
Freya bit her lip.
"Well, I'm at a bit of a stand still." she turned to Iroh. "Iroh, are you teaching Zuko that lighting move Azula did?" she asked
"We have continued his fire bending training." Iroh nodded "After what happened with Azula, it is time for him to move forth."
"Yeah, you two really don't get along do you." Freya mumbled to Zuko. He was still staring at her. "Okay. So can I watch?" she asked and Zuko looked surprised
"Watch what?"
"You're training." Freya said obviously.
Iroh chuckled. "Well, so that's why you went to the trouble to seek us out."
"What is?" Zuko asked.
"I told you, I'm at a standstill and I need help." Freya frowned. "We're not all blessed with a teacher like you are Zuko." he blinked before he seemed to understand.
"You need a fire bending teacher."
"I've been trying but I don't know how to advance beside copying what I've seen. I can remember some of your lessons I saw, and copy how I've seen you and now Azula move, as well as other benders, but…" she sighed "You said yourself it needs work, I can't do that when I've got nothing to help me, not even a scroll." she shrugged
"You want us to teach you firebending?" Zuko asked
"No. To advance my firebending. I already know how to. I've definitely got the basics down. But I've spent a hundred years suppressing and not using it. It's not nearly as good as my water bending and that has it's downfalls. Like against Azula, there wasn't much water around to help. Besides, someone's going to have to teach Aang fire bending eventually and it's not like fire bending masters that'll help the avatar are easy to come by." she explained before turning to Iroh "I really need to learn. I don't like how I can't continue. I've always enjoyed learning and advancing my bending."
"Why would we help you just so you can help the avatar learn another element?" Zuko questioned
"Azula called you traitors right? I'm guessing the Fire Nation's after you just as much as they're after Aang. I'm likely to run into her again at some point. For one, if she shoots lightning at me I'm kinda screwed." Freya explained "Besides, a bender without a teacher is just preposterous."
Zuko did not looked convinced and he looked at her annoyed as Iroh smiled.
"So, was that move to harness lightning?" Freya asked smiling at Iroh from around Zuko. He chuckled. "How does it work?"
"Are you even experienced enough for that?" Zuko snapped
"I don't know, but I wont unless I give it a try." Freya grumbled, annoyed at the boy's attitude.
"That is very true." Iroh nodded. "Alright my dear, I will do my best to help you move forwards in your fire bending training." she grinned at him before doing around Zuko and over to Iroh, taking her position before him as he faced her. "As I have just told Zuko, there is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang; positive energy and negative energy."
"So, lightning it created by tapping into that energy?" Freya asked and Iroh nodded smiling
"Lightning comes from separating the positive and negative energies and very few fire benders are capable of doing so. It's the separation of these energies thatcreates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance and in a moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together. You provide release and guidance, creating lightning."
"Well that explains it." Freya mumbled "I gave it a go by copying what I saw Azula doing but nothing happened. I knew it had to do with energies but I didn't know you had to separate them." Iroh nodded. "So you create lightning but can you really just control it? Lightnings rather unpredictable after all."
"Lightning is not controlled it is simply guided." Iroh explained "However it can only be used with peace of mind. One who is in turmoil or at war within themselves will not be able to calm themselves enough to separate the energies."
"All fire should be like that, keeps control." Freya mumbled and Zuko scowled at her annoyed as she glanced at him behind her.
"It is a rather high technique and you should not be surprised if you either cannot succeed or it takes a while to master." Iroh warned and Freya nodded as Zuko stepped away to try again.
The two watched as he did the movements before there was another explosion.
Freya winced. The prince just got back to his feet and with a clenching of his jaw he started again.
"So my dear, why don't you show me some of the bending you have done?" Iroh asked Freya. She nodded and the two moved away from Zuko as he was sent flying backwards again.
Freya began to move with the old man and he gave her pointers and instructed her through her stances. Iroh complimented her on her movements and was impressed as to how much she was able to accomplish while Zuko continued to be exploded off his feet as he tried to make lightning.
"I must say my dear, I am impressed how you've managed to include some of your water bending stances into your firebending." Iroh smiled and Freya looked at him surprised
"What?"
"As a water bender you have a natural elegance to you, your stances flow together gracefully. Firebenders are usually a lot more direct and move from stance to stance, but you have learnt to incorporate the two of them together."
"I have?" she asked and he nodded. "Does that limit my firebending?"
"It allows you to move more swiftly through your stances and gives you more agility. Fire benders rely on their offence and there is little defence, where as Waterbenders are the opposite. It seems you have incorporated the two to compensate for that."
Freya hummed interested before there was a groan and Zuko was thrown backwards again. Iroh and Freya turned to him, both frowning.
"You said lightning needs peace of mind right?" Freya asked watching the boy "If that's the case, Zuko wont be able to do it, will he?" Iroh said nothing but he walked over to approach his nephew.
"Why can't I do it?" he complained frustratedly "Instead of lightning, it keeps exploding in my face! Like everything always does!" Freya frowned. He had a point, he never seemed to be able to get where he needed to be, of course she hadn't helped.
Perhaps this just isn't what he's meant to be doing? she wondered.
What else would the fire prince do than chase the avatar? Freya asked herself.
"I was afraid this might happen." Iroh sighed "You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you."
"What turmoil?" Zuko demanded
"Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away."
"But I don't feel any shame at all! I'm as proud as ever!" Freya looked between the two.
"Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame."
"Well… my life has been nothing but humbling lately."
"Then you're surrounding yourself with and listening to the wrong people." Freya said
"What would you know about it!?" he snapped
"Zuko I spent several weeks with you remember. I learnt enough about you to know you're strong, determined, a little headstrong and forceful. You never give up once you have your eyes set on something. The fact that you can prevail despite everything is one of your greatest gifts. You have a goal and it drives you." Freya said "With that, I can promise that you will achieve what you need most to move forwards. If that includes lightning then I know it'll work for you eventually."
"You've seen to that not happening!" he shouted at her
"I didn't say what you needed was what you wanted." Freya admitted "I don't know what you need right now and I doubt anyone does, but I'm sure once you find it, this wont be a problem anymore. You'll produce lightning with a click of your fingers." she smiled and clicked her own.
"If it's so easy why don't you give it a try!" he hissed at her.
Freya faltered. "Oh, no, that's alright." she said taking a step backwards.
"Why not!?" he demanded of her
"No reason, I don't want to interfere with your training any more than I have, it's okay, I'll try another time." she said awkwardly
"Just do it!" Zuko shouted. Freya actually jumped and she bit her lip before looking at Iroh, he understood her hesitation but did not stop her.
Freya sighed. "Fine." she mumbled But I doubt you'll feel better.
Freya moved to face off the cliff and she closed her eyes. She felt her chi, felt the sun fuelling her fire, felt her inner flame flicker and with a breath in and out she cleared her mind.
Separate the energies. Feel them. Freya felt the wind as it ruffled her brown hair and blue clothes. She could feel the water in the clouds above her like she could feel the warmth in the two fire benders around her. Beyond that, she could feel the buzzing that surrounded her and everything nearby.
Freya moved her hands, two fingers on each one pointed and blue lightning began to spark around her. She kept her eyes closed and Zuko looked surprised as she circled her arms and then, with a flash of her eyes opening, she sent the lightning shooting out into the air and up towards the clouds.
Iroh smiled and nodded, impressed. Zuko looked both upset and frustrated.
Freya beamed, staring at her hand that had produced the lightning before she relaxed her stance feeling rather proud of herself. She suddenly felt much more confident and with Iroh's pointers she felt like she had somewhere to head while training by herself. Iroh wouldn't always be there. No fire bender would. She had to return Appa and couldn't stay with the two fire benders, nor could she do so even if she wanted to. She had a job to do and it wasn't with the prince and his nephew. She wouldn't be surprised if she ran into them again along their track but there was no guarantee. This was her only chance to learn something and she was proud she'd accomplished that.
She didn't however jump around and admit that. She knew Zuko was fuming behind her with annoyance, frustration and jealousy. She'd accomplished what he couldn't in one try. She knew giving it a shot wouldn't have been good if she could do it. And with her being able to clear her mind and calm herself so well, she hadn't been worried that anything would stop her. She knew Zuko wouldn't have felt any better if she did succeed where he couldn't.
She chanced a glance and she was right, he was turned away, his jaw clenched in anger and Iroh sighed as he followed the girl's look.
He broke the silence.
"I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself!" Iroh grinned and Zuko, despite his frustration, turned to smile at his uncle.
Freya said nothing, she was going to stay and watch but did not say that incase she angered Zuko some more.
Zuko took a seat on the ground and Iroh collected a stick, he began to draw in the dirt as he spoke and instructed Zuko. Freya took a seat behind the prince, watching silently and out of the way, her curiosity and excitement building.
"Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want." Iroh drew the fire symbol into the ground. "Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring." the earth symbol was drawn above the fire one. "Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humour!" Iroh smiled widely at Zuko who didn't react, Freya chuckled however as the air symbol was drawn beside the fire.
"Well, they were very fun to be around that's for sure." Freya agreed as she sat behind Zuko.
"Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything." Iroh finished, drawing the water symbol last next to the earth symbol.
"Why are you telling me these things?" Zuko wondered and Freya was also curious, though she was aware of many difference and similarities between the elements.
"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale." He drew two lines horizontally and vertically in the ground, separating the four symbols in the dirt. "Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole." he circled the symbols.
"All this four elements talk is sounding like Avatar stuff." Zuko thought
"It is important to know their differences in order to master them." Freya mumbled, as she'd told Aang these things many times.
"It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But, it can make you more powerful too." Iroh poked Zuko in the chest with his stick. "You see, the technique I am about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders." Zuko smiled as he looked at the symbols and Freya beamed.
"That's amazing." Freya smiled and Zuko turned to smile at her, surprising her slightly but she smiled back excitedly.
Iroh instructed Zuko to stand and Freya watched as they faced one another. The girl watched the two before she felt the sun on her and turned to see it setting. She bit her lip, knowing everyone would be wondering where she was by now but she continued to watch the two fire benders.
"Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy. A waterbender lets their defence become their offence, turning their opponents' energy against them." Zuko looked at Freya who nodded smiling. Iroh began to move his hands and he circled them, pushing his hands out, around and back to his chest before completing the circle. Zuko copied him as he listened.
"It's all about push and pull, moving the energy not just around you but within you too." Freya smiled "Master water benders can use their own energy to give them a deeper connection with water, like that time we sparred and I used the water to feel where you were." she explained.
"I learned a way to do this with lightning." Iroh smiled
"You can teach me to redirect lightning?" Zuko asked excitedly.
"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it." Iroh pointed at his right arm which he rose to point slightly towards the setting sun. "You must create a pathway from your fingertips up your arm to your shoulder and down into your stomach." he moved his finer down his arm and to his stomach as he spoke. "The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the sea of chi. Only in my case, it is more like a vast ocean." Iroh laughed at himself and Freya chuckled as Zuko did not react. "You direct it up again and out the other arm." he continued to follow the path. "The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart or the damage could be deadly." Iroh warned as Freya placed a hand on her heart biting her lip. "You may wish to try a physical motion to get a feel for the pathway's flow. Like this." Iroh pointed to the left with both his arms and Zuko mimicked the then took his right arm and travelled it along the path he'd created before pointing it in the other direction, making sure to pass by his stomach. Zuko copied this move as well. Iroh and Zuko moved their left arms to the right and back again. "Now, are you focusing your energy? Can you feel your own chi flowing in, down, up, and out?" Freya had closed her eyes and she could feel the energy moving within her, following the path.
"I think so." Zuko resounded as he continued with the motion.
"Come on. You've got to feel the flow." Iroh smirked as he wove his arms. They continued with the movement a few more times before Iroh grinned.
"Excellent! You've got it!" he decided.
"Great! I'm ready to try it with real lightning!" Zuko decided
"What?" Freya asked surprised as she still sat on the ground but now got to her feet.
"What, are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous." Iroh reminded him
"I thought that was the point: you teaching me how to protect myself from it." Zuko said annoyed as Iroh's eye twitched.
"But I'm not going to shoot lightning at you!" he said frantically. He turned away from Zuko after waving his arms around. "If you are lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all." and Iroh moved away from the boy. Zuko turned annoyed to look over the mountain ranges.
"Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning." Freya looked at him with wide eyes.
"Zuko, don't, you're just gonna get hurt." she believed but the boy ignored her as he got onto the Ostrich horse and ran off towards the rumbling clouds a few peaks over.
Freya looked at Iroh who frowned. The girl huffed. He was running headstrong into trouble again and was just going to get hurt.
"He's such an idiot." Freya complained and she ran off into the trees to find Appa.
The girl flew off towards the storm and soon was covered in rain. It wasn't hard to find the prince, he was in the middle of it all were lightning flashed and thunder cracked above him. He'd gone to the highest peak he could.
She landed the bison who growled and hid against the raging wind and rain before Freya created a water barrier from the pelting drops to shield him. She fought through the water towards the prince who was already drenched.
"You've always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it! And now I can give it back!" Zuko shouted at the sky and lightning flashed. "Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!" nothing happened and Zuko suddenly screamed at the sky.
"Zuko!" Freya grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "Stop it! You're just gonna hurt yourself!"
"What would you know!?" he shoved her hand off and Freya looked annoyed
"If you give me the life-so-hard again speech I may just shoot you with lightning after all!" she shouted. "You might not be able to produce lightning but that doesn't mean you're weak or useless." she called over the wind. "You're stronger than so many people because you've survived so much, so many would have been beaten down or given up but you don't!"
"And where's it gotten me!?" he returned "All I ever do is fail! No matter what I do!" Freya ground her teeth before she spun around and shot her arms out to her side. To Zuko's amazement the two were surrounded in a dome of water that pushed out the rain. Freya had water running down her face and her blue clothes were drenched as she stared at Zuko.
"Zuko. You're gonna fail. You're probably going to fail again and again. But regardless of that you cannot let that stop you from trying! If the fear of failure holds you back, how can you ever succeed?" she demanded of him and Zuko looked surprised "By failing you learn from your mistakes. You learn so many lessons and grow into the person you're supposed to be. If you sit down and never try anything how can you ever move forward?" she questioned.
"I have been left alone in my life. Katara teaches Aang water bending and to be honest I spent some of today wondering what purpose I even provided for my friends. Toph, Katara and Aang are good enough benders that they can get by without my help, they did it while I was on your ship. Why do they need me?" Zuko looked surprised "But there is something only I can do even if I do not know what it is yet and so I will continue to move forwards until I accomplish it. I will try, I will learn, I will fall and I'll rise back up again because that's what life is! Because of my struggles, I'll come out on top and successful. Because I haven't given up even if I have doubted myself." she explained "So why should you?"
Zuko was silent as he stared at her. She stared at him and Appa growled behind her, causing her to turn to him and then back to Zuko.
"I know you can succeed. Whether that's in getting home, or proving yourself, or being happy with who you are regardless of whether you're at home, in the earth kingdom or even just accepting yourself. You can do it. You're a firebender, you've got the drive to succeed. You've got the determination. So stop coming up here and looking for unnecessary trouble." she pointed to the sky that flashed beyond them. "What are you going to gain by having lightning strike you?"
Zuko stared at her still and she had no idea what more to say. All she wanted was him away from the storm and back with Iroh, someone who cared about him regardless of what he did and who guided him as he needed. He needed someone like that.
"Why are you always here helping me?" Zuko questioned
"Well who else is gonna do it? No one seems to be stubborn enough to make you listen." she confessed obviously.
"I just don't understand why you continue to come back after everything." Zuko admitted.
Freya blinked and frowned slightly.
"Well, why don't you chase me away whenever I come back?" she returned and now Zuko was silent.
"Come on, let's get you back." she said and she took Zuko's hand to pull him towards the waiting bison.
The fire Prince didn't argue and he climbed up behind the girl looking somewhat surprised.
"Yip-yip!" they launched through the storm and soon had left the rain behind. Iroh was waiting as the sun began to disappear and Zuko jumped off of the bison.
"I'm sorry uncle." Zuko admitted and Iroh nodded.
Freya smiled the reins still in her hands before she turned to leave, only to be stopped.
"Wait, where are you going?" Zuko asked as he'd turned to her.
"As much as I'd like to stay and train, and train, and train, I stole the Avatar's bison remember. Besides, I can't stay." she frowned.
"So you're leaving again." Freya looked surprised
"Did you want me to stay?" she asked the prince.
Zuko paused.
"It doesn't matter." he went with and turned away. Freya actually frowned. She contemplated for a moment before sighing. She jumped down from the bison.
"I'm sure I'll see you again." she promised walking towards the fire prince who gazed away. "We have a knack for always running into one another." she smiled and Zuko turned to her before he did the same. "Until then, try not to get caught by Azula." she smiled and chuckling slightly looking at Iroh. "I don't want to have heard about it and have to break into the Fire Nation to save you."
"Like we'd need your help." Zuko huffed
"You never know, after all someone who can wield two elements who's not the avatar could be quite the secret weapon." she shrugged and Zuko smirked ever so slightly.
"You take care Iroh." Freya said before she ran and jumped up onto the bison's back, taking the reins. "Thanks for your help."
"The pleasure's all mine." he assured "Take care my dear."
"I will." she nodded before smiling at Zuko and flicking the reins. "Yip-yip." Appa took off and the two disappeared into the distance as she moved away. She moved in a different direction and arched back towards where the others were just so Zuko couldn't follow her later on when he got his determination back.
"Thanks for your help Appa, but let's maybe not tell Aang and the others about my day today." Freya smiled and Appa growled in response.
The canyon came into view and Freya saw Katara, Toph and Momo watching Aang as he suddenly bended a rock off of it's post. Sokka stood slightly behind them with his hair frazzled and pulled from it's wolf tail. She landed the bison near them and looked surprised as everyone turned to her while Appa growled.
"What's going on here?" Freya asked as she rose an eyebrow. Sokka was covered in dirt and Aang looked overly giddy.
"Where have you been?" Katara demanded, her hands on her hips.
"I told you, supply run." Freya took a fruit from a basket and she chuckled it at Katara who caught it.
"Did you get meat!?" Sokka demanded.
Freya responded by throwing some of that down as well and Sokka chomped down on it happily, smiling like he was in heaven.
"Appa! Appa!" Aang ran over to the bison as Freya jumped down. "I can earthbend now!" Aang turned his back on the bison grinning as he took his stance. "The key is being completely rooted! Physically and mentally unmovable!" Appa responded by licking Aang and sending him flying to the ground.
Sokka started laughing first.
"Oh, so he conquered his block?" Freya asked as she moved over to the two girls.
"Yeah, he had to face an angry beast to save Sokka instead of fleeing." Toph responded as Katara looked over Freya. "He stood his ground like an earthbender.
Freya nodded. "I knew he could do it. Just gotta give him the confidence."
"What happened to you? You're soaking wet?" Katara noticed, touching the girl's sleeve.
"Oh I just flew through a storm that's all." Freya shrugged as Appa shook his fur and water sprayed everywhere. "So, can I get some help with this food?" she asked smiling and moved back towards the bison.