I trained with Suki and the other warriors until the moon was high in the sky. She told me to meet her when I woke up. I wished I could tell the time like back home. I knew I'd get used to this eventually, but it was so frustrating for me. That night I dreamt about clocks circling me, too fast for me to read. Ozai laughing at me with a pocket watch.
As soon as I got up, I grabbed some food and made my way out of the door. We have been training for three hours before Sokka walked into the gym.
"Sorry ladies didn't mean to interrupt your dance lesson –"
"Sokka," I said sharply.
"What?" he said. I sighed, looking towards the group.
"I'm going to get a snack, I'll be soon," I walked out, I didn't want to see him get his butt kicked. Even if he defiantly deserved it. By the time I returned, Sokka was gone and the warriors' were still giggling.
We trained for another few hours. My muscles aching from both the amount of exercise I had done in the last two days; and the fact I have been hit and slammed to the floor so many times, but I knew I only had a few days to learn as much as I could. We didn't have anything super physical coming up adventure wise for a while. I was practicing opening the fans quickly as I saw a familiar figure walk back into the gym.
"Uh hey Suki," Sokka said.
"Hoping for another dance lesson?"
"No, I… well. Let me explain." He said.
"Spit it out, what do you want?" she said. Sokka kneeled in front of her his head bowed.
"I would be honoured if you would teach me."
"Even if I'm a girl." She said, her arms crossed.
"I'm sorry if I insulted you earlier, I was wrong."
"We normally don't teach outsiders, let alone boys."
"Please make an exception, I won't let you down."
"Alright, but you have to follow all of your traditions."
I covered my mouth, hiding my smirk.
"Of course,"
"And I mean all of them."
"Do I really have to wear this it feels a little… girly."
"It's a warrior's uniform. You should be proud. The silk thread symbolises the brave blood that flows through our veins. The gold insignia represents the honour of the warrior's heart."
Sokka's chest puffs up as I see Aang in the corner of my eye. 'Keep walking,' I mouth to him, he grins, but does.
"Bravery and honour," Sokka said. I smiled at him; glad we had begun his 'respect women juice' part of this growth. I had forgot how sexist the young WaterTribe member could be in the earlier episodes.
"Suki how about you give him private lesson, girls why don't we go outside?" I ask, trying to keep my face from giving anything away.
The other Kyoshi warriors and I continued to train, and chat as the day continued. I got to learn all of their names and learn a little bit about them. I wished we could stay on Kyoshi for a little longer, but I knew that wasn't possible, and sure enough. As the sun began to fall, I began to hear the screams from the village. We all rushed towards the village, as we began to work on a strategy, Suki and Sokka caught up with us.
"Ok girls, we have trained for this, the priority is to protect the villagers. Sue, June and Mine get people to safety the rest of us distract and fight."
"Suki," I said, everyone turned at my tone. "The guy with the scar needs to corner me, let him. Don't let it look like it's on purpose."
She looked at me concerned.
"Trust me," I insisted.
She nodded, Sokka looked at me concerned, but I just smiled at him.
"Come out Avatar, you can't hide from me forever." Zuko said. He must have said find him to his men as they moved. As the girls started to take down the other rhinos, I made my way towards Zuko, but Suki ran a head. He shot at her, she dodged falling to the side. Sokka defended her, as Zuko aimed his fire at her again. I ran after Zuko, I got him off the rhino I landed sideways. He fell gracefully to the floor his arm pointed at me.
"You wouldn't," I said looking into his eyes.
"Oh, wouldn't I? Why not?"
"Because it is savage and unnecessary cruelty to burn children," I said, his eyes widened.
"Some deserve it," he said widening his stance.
"No Prince Zuko. No one deserves it," I said gently. He looked at me for a moment I could see the pain in his face, it tilted slightly.
"How did you–?"
"Hey, over here!" Aang yelled. Zuko's head turned.
"Finally," he said, he glanced at me once more before turning his full attention to Aang. They started to fight. One of his soldiers went to stab me I rolled over dodging him. He tried again, I caught his hand pushing it to the side, then moved so he would trip over my calf as he tried to regain his balance. A firebender, shot flames to my side, I moved my upper body out the way.
Ok, I thought. Remember your training, and remember what Suki's taught you. As I knocked down the second guy I could see Aang and Katara out of the corner of my eye talking, we were leaving. Ok here goes nothing. I ran towards my attacker taking a deep breath I saw the wooden post, grabbing it with two hand I caused enough momentum to swing around and hit him in the face. I ran towards them. Wow pole dancing and gymnastics were really going to come in handy in this world. I laughed as I cartwheeled away from the fire using one of my legs to kick the guard in the face. Then used the wooden beam to spin round keeping my legs straight I knocked the wind out of another flipping midair I ran towards one of the rhinos. This was kind of fun, I'd never thought to combine my hobbies to this level before.
"Alice!" I turned to see Aang. "Go with Katara," I did as he told me.
After getting everything onboard we flew to get Sokka.
It was a heart clenching feeling to see the village of fire, we were all watching it.
"I know it's hard," Katara said, "but you did the right thing. Zuko would have destroyed the whole place if we stayed. They're going to be ok, Aang." Katara said to Aang, I knew what came next. He jumped down.
"What are you doing?" Katara yelled.
"Don't worry Katara he's fine," I said, we looked down to see the Aang using the Unagi to put out the fire. It flipped him up and Appa caught him. Leaning back in Appa's saddle I watched the clouds get closer. My first big change, I hoped it paid off.
"I know, I know that was stupid and dangerous." Aang said.
"Yes, it was," Katara said. She hugged him, I tried not to smile at his excited expression.
"You were incredible!" Sokka said, gesturing to me. "The way you went whoosh!" he mimed the way I'd moved my arm to stop the guy from stabbing me. "And then the spin on the bean like WHAM"
"Thanks I am just glad that I can be useful when we have to fight,"
"Useful!" Sokka said aspirated, throwing his hands out and gesturing to me. "When we get in trouble next time, do all of that and you'll be great!"
I smiled proud of myself a little. Appa continued to fly, Kyoshi Island getting smaller and smaller. I wondered what my words would do to Zuko. How much would he listen?
She has now met Zuko! What do you think? Let me know! Xx
