Chapter 9: Aang's Lessons
The rest of the night passed without further incident, with the exception that Zuko felt he was back to square one with Katara. He had no idea what had been out there last night, but the incident had stirred up the suspicions in her mind again.
And the truth be told, Zuko wasn't exactly sure the Fire Nation wasn't close by. Though he was certain he hadn't been followed, he still could never underestimate his sister Azula's ability to track a scent.
Determined to be extra vigilant, Zuko headed for the courtyard garden where he was to meet Aang for his next firebending lesson.
As he quietly rounded the corner of a stone pillar leading into the courtyard, he saw Aang sitting on a small stone platform next to a tranquil pond full of lily pads. But he wasn't alone. Katara sat next to him. Both had their backs to him.
About to approach, he heard Katara. "But Aang, can't you even consider the possibility that he's just trying to get you to let your guard down long enough for the Fire Nation to find us, if they haven't already?"
"Of course I've considered that possibility. But I still believe Zuko's reasons for coming here are sincere. That he has changed."
"I thought he was sincere too, once," Katara said. "When the two of us were trapped in those caves beneath Ba Sing Se, Zuko and I had plenty of time to talk. He told me stuff that made me think he wasn't such a bad guy, either. I even felt pretty sorry for him. But we both know what happened next."
"I know," Aang sighed.
"So why be so willing to trust him?"
"Because, at some point, Katara, even the Avatar, needs to have hope."
Zuko quietly retreated, leaving the two alone.
Over the next several days somewhat of a pattern followed as Aang resumed his firebending lessons, despite Katara's reservations.
For the most part, Zuko had little trouble finding Aang in the mornings. Most of the time, the Avatar could be found meditating in the Air Nomad Sanctuary. But Aang had been unable to gain much insight on solving the problem about his Avatar State.
However, the firebending sessions seemed to cheer him up. And Zuko was surprised to see just how hard the Avatar was willing to work.
As Zuko took Aang through basic drills, he continued to emphasize that the true power of firebending came from control of breathing more than one's physical strength or size. He also reminded Aang that a Firebender's moves were always meant to be direct and forceful, even in defense.
"The mindset of a Firebender is always to win. There is no other option," Zuko said.
He demonstrated specific breathing techniques, and when combined with certain striking movements of the hand or foot, would yield a specific kind of fire. A quick kick or jab, for instance, created a burst of flame, but fast punches released fireballs. Whirlwind kicks generated a blazing arc of flame, while spinning kicks created a ring of fire.
Aang's eyes widened with growing interest.
Zuko also explained that when Firebenders combined their energy together they could shoot missiles of flame that could travel a greater distance than a single Firebender alone could project.
Though Aang was eager to learn everything at once, Zuko started with basic drills which emphasized accuracy and proper control of breathing. And as he worked diligently with Aang, he began to notice a certain familiarity in the phrases he used and instructions he gave, until he realized with a shudder he was starting to sound like Uncle.
In one exercise Zuko set up a series of poles of varying heights and distances, while Aang curiously watched from the sidelines. He then instructed Aang to practice trying to ignite the tops of each one over and over, without touching the others or setting the ground on fire.
Aang looked at the poles. "No problem. Piece of cake!"
Aang took the stance Zuko worked with him on earlier. However when he released his blast of flame, he ended up igniting all of the poles at once and then had to air blast them all out.
Sokka, who had been sitting on the sidelines with The Duke, burst into laughter. "So what did you wish for, Aang?"
The Avatar threw Sokka an annoyed look.
"You're not using the proper breathing technique," Zuko reminded him.
"I'm an Airbender! I know how to breathe!" Aang insisted impatiently.
"You know how to breathe like an Airbender, not a Firebender. Do the drill again, and this time focus on your target!"
Aang glared irritably at Zuko, but Zuko made him repeat the exercise over and over until he was finally able to tighten his control.
Though Katara was still openly concerned about Zuko training Aang, she still went along with Aang's decision. Of course, that didn't stop her from popping in unexpectedly to check on his progress. Zuko got the distinct feeling though her visits were more to keep a suspicious eye on him.
Twice more, Katara had to use her water healing abilities to treat some minor burns Aang had inflicted upon himself as Zuko advanced the drills. And though her temper flared each time, Aang insisted on continuing.
Once he got the control and accuracy down a little better, Zuko had Aang fire several blasts at him, while he produced a fire shield to block it.
He showed Aang how to create the shield, explaining it had to produce enough energy to block his opponent, but had to be maintained in tight control to keep the shield from fanning back on its creator.
Aang took his stance. "Ok, I think I got it! Fire a blast at me!"
"No. You need to practice making the shield first until I'm sure you know how to control it."
"Aw!"
They practiced for a few hours until Zuko was finally satisfied Aang had the technique down before giving in to Aang's nagging insistence for Zuko to attack him.
Aang and Zuko faced off. The Avatar bowed in the traditional Fire Nation manner, and placed his right fist against the open palm of his left hand to show his respect. Zuko returned the bow in a similar manner.
Sokka, Haru and Teo, who happened to be walking by at that moment, stopped to watch.
Aang crouched down and took his position, his eyes intently focused. Standing sideways about fifteen feet away, Zuko bent his knees, brought his arms into the correct position and nodded. Then with lightning speed, he brought his right leg up in a swift extended kick. A jet of flame shot from his foot.
The Avatar quickly produced the fire shield. But he apparently miscalculated the force of Zuko's flame and had to take several steps back to compensate. Unfortunately he'd taken one step too many and cried out in alarm as he lost his balance and fell backwards into the pond. A large cloud of steam billowed up followed by the sizzling sound of flame meeting water.
Zuko, Sokka, Teo and Haru all raced over to the pond.
The Avatar was on his back, knees bent. Slowly his head broke the surface as he leveraged himself up onto his elbows. A lily pad was stuck to the top of his head. He spit out a mouthful of muddy water and then looked up at Zuko with a lopsided boyish grin. "Uh…I'm okay."
Zuko let out a sigh of relief.
A frog, which had apparently been on top of the lily pad, croaked loudly, and then jumped off Aang's head and back into the water.
Haru, Teo and Sokka just looked at each other, eyes wide. "Not one word to Katara," Sokka whispered as he steered his friends away.
Over the next few days Aang and Zuko trained hard for several hours each morning. But in the afternoons, Aang usually took time off to relax with his friends. Zuko found it interesting to see just how intense the Avatar could be during his training drills and how…well utterly goofy he could be a few hours later.
Since the afternoons were particularly hot, Aang and his friends liked to cool off by swimming in the pool by the ruins. To amuse his friends, he would sometimes make an ice slide for them to all play on, or manage to coax a brooding Katara into a game of water octopus tag. The result of the latter usually left anyone within the vicinity and Zuko no matter the distance, soaking wet.
Zuko also discovered the little Air Nomad monk was a bit of a prankster. And Sokka, unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for Zuko, was usually the main target.
One morning Sokka woke up to discover his fancy sword was firmly embedded in a rather large stone. He stormed over to Toph accusing her, rather insistently, of putting it there.
Aang busied himself with stuffing a bunch of fruit in his mouth and tried to look innocent. A few minutes later Sokka found himself hanging twenty feet up in the air, the nap of his shirt snagged on the tip of a cone shaped rock pillar as Toph stood irritably at its base with her arms crossed. Katara sighed and just rolled her eyes at Aang.
On their sixth day of training they were interrupted in the middle of practicing kick strikes by Haru stumbling in and clutching an injured arm.
Aang raced over to his friend. "Haru! What is it?"
"Toph and The Duke," Haru said breathlessly. "Hurry! You've got to help them!"
"What happened?" Aang demanded.
Above they heard Toph screaming. They looked up and saw three giant reptilian birds, which looked like a cross between a condor and a komodo dragon, fly by with the blind Earthbender and The Duke clutched in two of their massive hind claws. Toph was struggling to free herself as the birds gained altitude and banked behind the uppermost tower of the Western Air Temple, and then disappeared from sight.
Aang grabbed his staff, popping it open. "I'm going after them! You guys find Katara, Sokka and Teo, and hurry!" Aang leapt into the air.
Holding his injured arm, Haru shouted. "I think Katara is by pools, come on!" He ran with Zuko on his heels.
"What happened?" Zuko asked as they ran.
"Toph and The Duke and I were just coming back from the East Gardens when those things just swooped down from out of nowhere. One grabbed Toph before she even had a chance to react, the second one snatched up The Duke. A third one grabbed me, but I was able to bend a rock up at it and it released me. When I fell, I think I broke my arm."
As they rounded the corner, Zuko spotted Katara pulling on her clothes over her bathing attire as she ran towards them.
"What's going on? I heard Toph screaming." It was then she saw the Earthbender's arm. "Haru, you're hurt!"
"Forget about me!" Haru quickly explained what happened. "Aang's gone after them alone!"
Katara gasped. "We need to get to Appa!" She grabbed her water satchel and the three raced back towards the compound where Appa had been napping earlier.
The massive bison was already on his feet when they arrived, agitated and growling. Katara wasted no time and hopped aboard Appa and grabbed the reins.
"Haru, find Sokka!" she told him. "He was with Teo earlier."
Haru nodded and took off.
As Katara turned Appa about, Zuko jumped on board.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"I'm coming with you."
"Listen here, I don't have time…"
"We can argue about this later," Zuko snapped. "Right now the Avatar and your friends need all the help they can get."
Katara glared angrily at him but nodded her head. "Then hold on tight!" She snapped the reins. "Appa! Yip-Yip!"
The bison needed little prodding and shot up into the air. Zuko gripped the edges of the saddle and hung on tight.