Disclaimer – all original Avatar: The Last Airbender characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Bryana Konietzko and Michaela Dante DiMartino.

Chapter 32. His First Agni Kai – part 1

Sometime later – Fire Nation Capital, Hari Bulkan, Ukano's Residence.

Huo quickly learned that Mai's family also lived across the Royal Palace, just like Weng, and a walk to her house from his would take him only a couple of minutes. It was a good thing to know. Like any other house that belonged to a noble, Ukano's residence was elegant and fancy. Surrounded by a tall wall, the two-story house had a terraced stairway leading to the red-colored front door.

"Come on!" Ty Lee rushed up the stairs towards the front door and knocked while Huo followed her, chuckling under his nose. Ty Lee's energy and enthusiasm were contagious.

A male servant opened the door and let the two inside. The residence had a full staff of servants catering to her family and visitors' every whim. The fact that the residence was located right across from the palace emphasizes the family's wealth and prestige.

As Huo looked around the foyer, a woman clad in elegant red-colored robes entered the room, holding a bouquet. She had fair skin, brown-colored eyes, and brown shoulder-length hair with a top knot.

"Hello, Mrs. Michi," Ty Lee greeted Mai's mother, bowing and making the Fire Nation gesture. Huo quickly followed suit.

"Hello, Ty Lee," the woman replied and stooped upon looking closely at Huo. "And who's this characteristic, young boy?"

"My name is Huo," Huo answered. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Michi."

"Likewise, Huo," Michi replied with a slight nod. "If you're looking for Mai, she's currently in the garden, reading a book."

"Thank you!" Ty Lee smiled and grabbed Huo by the arm. "Let's go!" she said, pulling the boy with her. Michi smiled and narrowed her eyes, looking at Huo's headpiece.

"Hey, Mai!" Ty Lee waved to the girl, who sat under a tree with a book in her hands. She had light skin and tawny eyes, and her black hair was evenly combed into straight, blunt bangs with two buns on each side, which were tied with red-colored ribbons.

Huo noticed that she was clad in clothes similar to Ty Lee's. She had a detachable triangular cloud shoulder collar just like Ty Lee, but it was dark red with a white brim. She wore a deep-red tunic with red oversleeves and a wide black sash, and her red pants weren't as baggy, which indicated that the girl didn't jump around, doing flips as much as Ty Lee.

Mai turned her head towards Ty Lee and stood up, placing the book on the grass. She narrowed her tawny eyes when she noticed Huo, but before she could ask anything, Ty Lee rushed forward and hugged her tightly while Huo stopped and smiled. "Ughh, I told you many times, I'm not a fan of hugs, Ty Lee," Mai complained, rolling her eyes, quickly focusing back on Huo. "And who's this?"

Ty Lee pulled away, smiling widely. "This is, Huo, my new friend," she answered, turning to look at the boy. "I meet him in the park during a picnic."

"Oh yeah, she made quite an 'impact' on me," Huo stated with a smile, making Ty Lee chuckle.

Mai arched her eyebrow, and Ty Lee turned her back to look at her. "Please can he stay and play with us?" she asked with puppy eyes.

"Fine... whatever," Mai shrugged. "The book was boring anyway and at least he looks like he could be fun."

Huo noted the girl was gloomy, brooding, and really stoic. She almost seemed emotionless. A complete opposite of Ty Lee's cheerfulness and enthusiasm. Maybe that was the reason they were friends.

"You'll like him," Ty Lee assured. "Huo is funny, kind, and he does awesome stuff with his fire. He's even a better firebender than Zuko and even Azula!"

"Better if you don't repeat that in front of her," Mai warned.

"Okie-dokie!" Ty Lee agreed. "So what will we play?!"

The three kids decided to play hide-and-seek, with Mai commenting that the game would be more fun without Azula. Since it was a big residence, they all had many hiding places. Huo had the most difficulty finding the girls since he didn't know the house's layout. Still, he had fun and even found Ty Lee, who hid atop a three in the garden.

Ty Lee managed to find Huo, who hid in the kitchen, but neither of them found Mai, who managed to find both, so she was declared the winner. After the hide-and-seek, the three went to Mai's bedroom, where the servants prepared some sweets, snacks, and drinks. Huo, Mai, and Ty Lee sat down on comfy pillows at the low table and enjoyed the treats.

"Why did you say earlier that hide-and-seek would be more fun without Azula?" Huo asked, taking a sip of a freshly-squizzed grape juice.

"Because when we play at the palace, Azula always wins due to knowing secret passageways," Ty Lee explained. "She never told us about them. Playing hide-and-seek with her it's just no fun anymore."

"Ah, so she's a member of the royal family?" Huo asked, and Mai nodded. "Yes, the three of us attended the Royal Fire Academy for Girls. She approached us, we began to hang out together, and became friends."

"We were permitted to visit Azula and that's how we've meet her older brother, Zuko," Ty Lee added after finishing her mochi, a chewy rice cake, and washing it down with the grape juice.

"Wait, from what you said earlier, I'm assuming Azula is a better firebender than Zuko," Huo stated, arching his black eyebrow. "So she's younger and yet better than him?"

"Uh-huh," Ty Lee nodded. "Zuko is ten-years-old and Azula is eight-years-old like me, and Mai is nine."

"I don't think telling him my age was important, Ty Lee," Mai replied, rolling her eyes and making Ty Lee grin innocently.

"Huh, so Zuko is my age," Huo noted. "I'm actually curious to see his firebending skills."

"Oh! Speaking of firebending, can you show more of your flames?" Ty Lee asked. "Mai haven't seen them yet."

"I saw Azula and Zuko firebending countless times," Mai stated. "What's so different about his firebending?"

"You tell me," Huo replied, creating a blue-colored flame in his palm. Mai went silent, and her eyes widened. "It's blue," she stated.

"Cool, right?!" Ty Lee chuckled. "Huo can also firebend with his tattoo, but he doesn't want to show it."

"Because it's a dangerous type of bending, Ty Lee," Huo replied. "And I don't think Mai's mom would appreciate if I'd start blowing things up in her house."

"Yeah, I second that," Mai replied.

"However..." Huo closed his palm, snuffing out the blue flame. "...I could show you how I generate lightning from my fingertips." Ty Lee gasped and looked at Mai, who arched her eyebrows and asked. "So instead of exploding things you want to create a lightning in my room?"

"It will be a small lightning bolt, nothing dangerous or loud," Huo reassured. "I would be good to have a target though."

Mai sighed. "Fine, at least it won't be boring," she agreed, pointing at a hand-carved cabinet. "You can pick one of the dolls. Doesn't matter which." Huo turned his head and noticed a bunch of dolls on top of it. He got up and approached the cabinet.

"Are you certain?" Huo asked, wanting to make sure. "It won't be powerful, but the lightning will set the doll aflame, and I don't wanna destroy your things."

"It's fine, I don't exactly play with dolls," Mai assured.

"Okay then," Huo replied. Upon grabbing one of the dolls, the boy noticed that the area on the wall next to the cabinet was full of holes and cut marks.

"Huh? Do you use this wall for practice or something?" Huo asked, turning to look at Mai.

"Mai is good at throwing knives and uses that spot for practice!" Ty Lee replied, and Mai gave her a slightly annoyed glance, which Huo noticed, realizing the girl didn't want other people to know.

"A useful talent," he stated. "It's a good thing to have a way to defend yourself so I see no reason to hide it."

"If the people will start spreading rumors that a daughter of a noble plays with knives, it could have a bad influence on my father's reputation and he'd be angry with me," Mai explained.

"Don't worry, Mai, I'm not a prattler and I can keep a secret," Huo reassured with a smile. "Do your parents know about your 'talent?'"

"Yes, they do," Mai answered. "As long as I stay silent and behave perfectly, I get anything I want. Anything. Even sharp knives or other weapons. When important guest come to visit us, I cover the marks with a painting. Just to be sure."

"I see, well like I said, I'm not going to tell anyone that you play with knives," Huo promised and showed Mai the doll he picked. "Can I use this one?"

"Sure," Mai allowed.

Huo returned to the girls and placed the doll on the tabletop, moving the plates and cups aside. "Alright," he rolled his shoulders and took a step back. "Better if you two take a step back as well for safety."

The girls stood up and moved away from the low table. Mai moved to the side while Ty Lee quickly moved behind Huo and curiously observed the doll. With minimal motion, not wanting to create a large and potentially deadly attack, Huo prepared his index and middle finger, aiming at the doll. With a crackling sound, a small, continuous bolt of lightning was shot at it.

"Whooa!" Ty Lee's grey-colored eyes widened as the bolt hit the doll and, just like Huo said, set it on fire. He quickly opened his palm and closed it, snuffing out the flames.

"There," Huo nodded, glad that everything went as planned without accidents. "Not the most impressive display of lightning generation, but at least you saw how it works. A real attack during a fight is much bigger, louder, and deadlier."

All three of them suddenly heard a knock on the door and turned their heads toward it. Mai's eyes widened slightly. She moved towards the low table, grabbed the burned doll, and tossed it back at the cabinet. Huo immediately noticed that the doll landed perfectly in its former place. "Enter!" Mai said.

The door opened, and a male servant entered the room. "I'm sorry for interrupting," he bowed his head, after which he looked at Huo. "Your father has come to pick you up."

"Oh!" Huo's eyes widened. He didn't expect Weng to know where he was, much less come to take him home personally. "Thank you!"

Huo, Mai, and Ty Lee went downstairs to the foyer, where Weng was in the middle of a conversation with Michi. "Ah! There he is," Weng said with a smile after he noticed Huo.

"Hello, father," Huo replied, approaching Weng while Mai and Ty Lee made Fire Nation hand gestures.

"Huo, why didn't you tell me mister Weng was your father?" Michi asked. "I suspected that you were a member of his family, but I didn't expect that you're his son. I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother and I hope my daughter was kind to you."

"Thank you," Huo nodded. "And you don't need to worry about Mai. I had a great time with her and Ty Lee."

"I'm glad to hear that," Michi smiled and looked at Weng. "I'll inform my husband and we'll be sure to come over to pay our respects," she assured.

"Much appreciated," Weng nodded and placed a hand on Huo's shoulder. "Now if you don't mind, it's time for us to go."

Huo looked at Mai and Ty Lee, who smiled widely. Mai only nodded, but Huo did notice a slight smile on her face.

After Weng and Huo said their goodbyes, the servant opened the door for them, and they left Ukano's residence. Huo wasn't happy when he saw the palanquin at the bottom of the terraced stairway, but Weng insisted that his son needed to learn to use the privileges that came with being a noble. Begrudgingly, Huo agreed and entered the mode of transportation with Weng.

As they rode the palanquin, sitting on red, comfy pillows, Huo decided to ask. "How did you know where I was anyway?"

"I have my ways," Weng replied, earning a suspicious glare from Huo.

"You have some men in Hari Bulkan and you told them to follow me," the boy guessed, lowering his voice.

"Actually, when you went to Ukano's residence with Ty Lee's family, I saw you from the window," Weng stated with a smirk and quickly added with a lowered voice as well. "But yes, I have some helping hands who work for me in this city."

"Of course, you have," Huo sighed.

"You're the key to my success so I have to make sure you're safe," Weng explained. "Still, I must admit it was extremely lucky that you managed to meet and befriend both Mai and Ty Lee in such a short time. That's perfect."

"Why?" Huo asked, narrowing his orange-colored eyes. Suddenly, he realized something, and his eyes widened. "Wait... they're friends with Azula and Zuko. Is that why? "

Weng arched his black eyebrows and smiled. "You're deduction skills are remarkable," he commented. "Yes, their connection to the royal family is very important. That's why you need to remain their friend."

Huo didn't fully understand, but he nodded. No matter if they knew the royal family or not, he liked Mai and Ty Lee and had no problems with meeting them again.

A few days later – Fire Nation, Hari Bulkan, Weng's Residence.

Just like he planned, Weng ordered his staff to organize and prepare a consolation feast and a memorial. One of the rooms in the residence was entirely dedicated to it. An altar was made in the middle of the room with an elaborate portrait of Li Un placed on a table covered by a white tablecloth. Two plaques were placed on each side of the portrait. One showed Li Un's name, and the other, a larger one, showed her family name. Naturally, bowls with fruits and food were placed in front of the portrait, along with incense. Right next to them, there was a stack of gold pieces, the most valuable coins in the Fire Nation.

Many families visited to pay their respect and offer condolences. Ty Lee and Mai also arrived with their families, not to mention a few of Weng's and Li Un's more distant relatives. Never before in his life was Huo hugged so many times by women who were supposedly his aunts and grandmothers. Luckily, just like Weng said, he could act naturally since even real Zeyun wouldn't know them.

Commander Hen Shei arrived as well. During the feast, the woman shared a few stories with Huo and told him about some of her and Li Un's adventures.

After the consolation feast, everyone started to return home. Huo knew that after this, the majority of people living in Hari Bulkan would know who he was. The boy had a strange hunch that it was also a part of Weng's plan.

From the moment the altar was made, Huo got up early and always lit the incase first thing in the morning. Even though she wasn't his real mother, the boy showed proper respect by bringing fresh fruits and food, even before the servants had the chance to.

"You know our staff is getting worried that you're doing all this instead of them," Weng stated, entering the room with the memorial altar early morning. Huo stood in front of the altar with his hands clasped and his eyes closed.

"This is something a son should do, not the staff," the boy replied with his eyes closed.

Weng smirked and moved closer to Huo. "I hope you're well-rested because today, we're making our next move," the man said, making Huo open his eyes. The boy lowered his hands and turned around to face Weng.

"The majority of people living in Hari Bulkan know who you are," Weng stated. "I can assume even the royal family knows about your existence, but we need to pick their interest, and in order to do that, you need to show your power and skill."

"So what's your plan?" Huo asked.

"Before I married Li Un, there was a guy who also was interested in her as well," Weng began to explain. "His name is Donjin, and he was a Fire Nation colonel. You could say that, in a way, we were bitter rivals, and the fact that I'm not a firebender angered him since he couldn't challenge me to an Agni Kai. Like many of the corrupted high-ranking officers, Donjin focuses only on gaining more power. He's quick to anger, self-centered, sadistic, and ruthless. In the end, Li Un chose me instead of him, and he never excepted that."

"So he hates you?" Huo asked.

"That's an understatement," Weng replied with a slight chuckle. "And because you're my son, he'll hate you as well."

"You want me to fight him?" Huo asked, but Weng shook his head. "No, he's now a general in his prime with many years of battle experience. His son, on the other hand, is only three years older than you and I'm sure with your skills, you can defeat him with no problems."

"So what, you want me to challenge his son out of the blue?" Huo narrowed his eyes.

"Donjin surely already knows about you and that you're a firebender," Weng stated. "Since he can't challenge me, he'll want nothing more than to prove that his son is a better firebender than mine. He won't simply come to our house to demand a fight; he knows better. Instead, he'll send his son to provoke you so that you will be the one who challenges him. You need to stay on your guard since I don't know when they'll make their move, but when it happens, take the bait and challenge him to an Agni Kai. Make sure to have the duel on the square in front of the Fire Nation Royal Palace. It will be the perfect place for humiliating Donjin's son."

"So our next move is to wait for someone else's move?" Huo asked.

"Pretty much," Weng confirmed. "We can't rush this. It has to be done... naturally."

"Okay," Huo nodded. "I'll be ready."

Two days later – Fire Nation, Hari Bulkan.

The days kept going, and Huo simply lived as a member of the Fire Nation's upper class. He didn't pay attention to the luxuries, but what made him happy were his new friends. Playing with Ty Lee and Mai reminded him of when he played with Eilu and Shaku. Huo felt like a normal kid again, which was something he almost forgot due to the years of living in the Spirit World.

After dinner, Huo left the residence since he promised to pick up Ty Lee, and they planned to visit Mai. Ty Lee's mom knew Huo was a responsible boy, so she allowed him to pick up her daughter and go with her to Ukano's residence.

"You know, I convinced Mai to show you her knife-throwing skills!" Ty Lee announced happily as the two walked down the pavement.

"Really? I hope I won't be a practise dummy, holes don't look good on me," Huo replied, making Ty Lee chuckle and reply. "No silly, she wouldn't do such a thing."

"You can't never be too sure," Huo said with a smile, clearly jesting.

"Maybe you can try it afterward," Ty Lee suggested, but Huo shook his head and waved his hand. "Nah, I'm good. The last thing I want is too destroy something and I would feel horrible if I'd injure one of you. I'll stick to firebending. That's something I can do very well."

"We can find you a hobby!" Ty Lee stated enthusiastically and did a front flip. "Maybe acrobatics?"

"Ha! I can't imagine myself doing flips and cartwheels all over the place," Huo replied. "I don't want to hit someone in the forehead by doing backflips."

"Hey!" Ty Lee smacked Huo playfully on the shoulder, causing the boy to chuckle.

As they continued to walk and talk, Huo heard someone speaking up to him. "Hey! Are you Weng's son?"

Huo stooped and turned his head, noticing a boy, who was a head taller than him, leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. "Yes, I am," he confirmed. "And you are?"

"My name is Genjei," the boy replied. "I'm the son of General Donjin."

Huo narrowed his eyes and took a good look at the boy. He didn't look anything special. He was a somewhat bulky kid with black hair tied into a top knot with a red-colored ribbon, amber-colored eyes, and fair skin. He wore a sleeveless red tunic, dark pants with a black belt, and dark boots with raised curved tips.

"So, how can I help you?" Huo asked while Ty Lee stood beside him.

"Everyone in the city is talking about you," Genjei replied and arched his black eyebrows. "To be honest, I don't understand why. You're just another weak and talentless member of that family."

Genjei began to provoke him just like Weng told him he would. Huo needed to play this right and make sure his anger wouldn't look like an act.

"What would you say that?" Ty Lee asked, defending Huo, which was something the boy didn't account for. "You don't know him."

"His father couldn't save his mother from being kidnapped because he was a coward, and he, on the other hand, was so weak, his mother needed to die for him," Genjei stated, earning a shocking glare from Ty Lee. "Don't say such rude things!"

"Why not? It's the truth," Genjei shrugged. "He's pathetic, just like his father. All they can do is talk."

"Wanna bet?" Huo asked with a frown, taking a step forward. "How about I prove to you just how skillful I am?"

"Don't fight!" Ty Lee jumped between the two, facing Huo. She didn't want him to get hurt. "Please don't fight!"

Huo couldn't pretend to be angry and look into Ty Lee's pleading eyes at the same time. Her grey-colored eyes were full of concern, and it made Huo feel bad.

"Back off, girl!" Genjei growled and threw a punch, creating an orange flame that burned Ty Lee's sleeve. "Ahhh!" the girl screamed.

"Ty Lee!" Huo cried out, quickly putting out the flame. "Are you okay?!"

"Y-Yes," Ty Lee answered, slightly startled. Only her sleeve was burned, not her skin, but it didn't matter to Huo. It was one thing to provoke him, but Ty Lee had nothing to do with this. Any problems with pretending to be angry were gone since Huo was now angry for real.

"Mai's home is not far," Huo said, clenching his fists as he began to tremble. "Go and tell Mai's father what happened. I need to teach this bully a lesson."

"But what about you?" Ty Lee asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine, Ty Lee," Huo promised with a somewhat strange smile. Although she didn't want to leave Huo alone, Ty Lee nodded and began to run to Ukano's residence.

"What's the matter? Are you going to cry?" Genjei asked mockingly.

Huo slowly turned towards Genjei with a chuckle and a sinister grin. "No," he replied. "I'm going to challenge you to an Agni Kai."

Please R&R ;)