The Fatal Fall

His father lifted his collar a little higher to hide the scars, and helped his wife from the gondola. Zuko stood before the school's outer ring: the wall to the bending arena. He marvelled at the ice sculptures of the bending greats of the ages and knew he could name every one of them. Avatar Kuruk. Avatar Barta. He froze when he caught sight of Pakku's statue. His mother took his hand and pulled him along.

Councilmen and their families swarmed from the gondolas while the regular citizens strode in from the streets. The smells of ocean spices and perfume filled the air. The electric excitement was palpable, even to the eleven-year-old boy, charging the air with anticipation. With a glance back, he could easily pick out Noktul and Asiaka amongst the gathering. His father waved to them, then continued toward the gates.

"They'll catch up soon," he explained with Zuko's mother.

Zuko admired the craftsmanship as they led him into the broad, expansive arena. The seats filled with hundreds of spectators, while a field of snow and ice spread in a neat oval before them. The bending zone. A small, thin wall separated the action from the crowd.

The waterbenders warmed up, twisting and manoeuvring around jets and spikes and great waves of water that flew faster than Zuko thought possible.

The benders themselves varied in shape and size: the tallest was a handsome youth with a strong, determined look. He commanded the stage with a charismatic presence and a crooked grin. Zuko thought he'd be the kind of bender the girls would cheer for. With one wave of his hands, the ground upended and surged, twisting back down in a spiral before evaporating. The crowd cheered, and the bender smiled and waved. Zuko already had bets on him.

Zuko sat next to his father on the highest section of seats, reserved for the hierarchy of the bending families. Asiaka and Noktul sat on his father's left. His mother leaned in, watching with keen enchantment. Zuko followed her gaze and scanned the crowd, and noticed the row of proud men by the edge of the arena, on standby.

"Waterbending masters," Zuko realised, and pointed them out to his mother. "Look, there they are!"

She smiled. "Yes, the defenders of the city," she agreed. "Right now, they're making sure nothing gets in the way of the students."

"Like what?" Zuko frowned.

She thought for a moment then shrugged. "...Slippery ice?"

Zuko giggled, then fell quiet and watched. Spears of solid ice whistled through the air and staked the ground with a bone-breaking whack. Ribbons of water shimmered and caught the light as they undulated around the waterbenders.

"Look!" Noktul called, broad smile widening. He stood and waved. "Peti! Peti! SON! WE'RE OVER HERE! HEY! PETI! HEY!"

"He's not deaf," his father winced, rubbing his ear. His mother laughed. Aunt Asiaka only rolled her eyes, but gave a small smile as her son strode out from the gateway onto the field, dressed boldly and determined.

Zuko squinted to see his expression. His cousin merely nodded at his schoolmates. The crowd seemed to notice as he began to warm up, swift and fluid as he flipped in the air, his masterful octopus form rising from the ground to surround him. The other students stopped and stared as the arms wove, threatening and great in the cold air, and the crowd swelled in a soft applause.

Zuko's heart squeezed. He sometimes forgot what a powerful bender Peti was, and how hard he had worked to become so. The hopes of his parents, Noktul and Asiaka, were all riding on his ability to one day serve the Chief as part of the royal elite of waterbenders, a prestigious title reserved for only the best. He would protect and serve his country as a symbol of hope and strength in a time of war, and he would be unstoppable against the Fire Nation armies. Every young boy wanted to be like him, and it was a long, lonely road that Peti had chosen to walk.

But Zuko agreed that Peti had it in the bag.

He felt someone tug his sleeve. "Zuko, look," his mother smiled. The boy looked up, jaw dropping. "The Chief."

The Chief was a grand, long-faced man, taking his seat in his special reserve at the top of the stands. His royal robes gleamed in the sunlight, furs and colours rich and deep.

"He's bound to notice your cousin now," she encouraged.

A horn sounded and the crowd went silent. The benders immediately formed a long, silent line. The drums began beating, and the anticipation rose, the audience shifting as the official bending masters strode to take their seats at the judges' panel. Pakku stepped into the light from the gate to beneath the arena, bald crown gleaming, and the crowd hushed, basking in awe.

Zuko's stomach pitted and he hid his blushing cheeks in his hands. His mother noticed and placed an arm around her son. "Peti will be fine," she encouraged, and Zuko's heart sank, unable to look away from the waterbending master. His eyes stung. He cuddled into her side.

The drumming ended and the crowd sat silent. A young master stood forward, large and round and friendly, dark hair braided away from his face. His hands shot in the air as he announced in a booming voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this year's final bending trials!"

The crowd applauded. "We have an impressive crop of students this year, all eager for a chance to prove their worth and ascend to the highest level of their training! But only three can receive this honour, and only three can learn from the best of the best, Master Pakku!"

Reminded, the crowd's applause became more nervous than exhilarated.

"With that in mind, we at the Northern Waterbending School would like to extend our most sincere wishes of luck! Everyone auditioning today has earned their right to it!" He spread his arms and beamed. "Let the trials begin!"

The crowd erupted in applause and the master bowed, taking a seat with the others. The waterbending students marched off to the sidelines to wait patiently while the first took his place at the centre of the arena, waiting to be given the signal.

The heralds announced from the sidelines: "Arno, of the Mursok family!"

There was faint, respectful applause. Arno bowed to the masters. A hush overcame the crowd as the gong sounded. The first of the hopefuls began. Zuko watched and waited as his routine progressed, eager to observe new moves despite the lump in his throat and the stone in his stomach.

Arno's routine was rushed and sloppy, droplets raining from his tendrils of water. The front row became a splash zone: Zuko almost felt sorry for them. Arno coiled and turned, fighting his imaginary enemies. The water streamed and rivered and surged, but his technique failed under his clear anxiety. His moves weren't juvenile, Zuko admitted, but no amount of talent could save sloppy execution.

With a final flourish, his routine ended. The waves breaking around him collapsed and froze, once more becoming part of the ground. The audience clapped and the masters joined in, all except Pakku. The older master sat with his back to the crowd: unmoving and, likely, unimpressed.

Many of the other boys followed in the same vein, some better than others, some worse, all showcasing their clear talents to an eager and absorbed audience.

Koluk, the pretty one, was one of the highlights, pulling off some of the hardest techniques Zuko had seen. He watched the cocky and arrogant waterbender leap between the springing towers of ice he conjured before flattening the last into a slide that sent him barreling towards the ground. He landed, knees giving beneath him into a tucked roll. He rose in a graceful, smiling finish.

The audience applauded hard for him. The swaggering youth grinned, bowing and waving like the celebrity he knew he was. Some of the guards had to show him from the stadium. Spirits knew he would keep the audience cheering for him for hours if he wanted.

"Cheeky bastard," Zuko's father grinned. Zuko steeped in a quiet moment of envy. What he would give to be down there with those boys, displaying his talent for water and his courage to the Northern Water Tribe.

The audience quieted as the final waterbender walked into the light. At last, it was Peti's turn.

The noble teenager bowed to his master, then set his opening stance, waiting for the drums to sound. "Peti of the Keeran family!" the herald called.

The audience quieted in a deep, collective breath. Noktul leaned forward, gloved fingers crossed.

Zuko didn't dare look away. "You can do it," he whispered. "You were meant for this." Someone from the back shushed him.

The gong sounded and Peti was off, sliding sideways and pulling forth a great burst of water from the ground, almost floating as he spiralled and circled, his impressive whip snapping in the air, daring any opponent to challenge him.

Confident and swift, the boy danced, striking invisible enemies as the ground beneath him rose, providing a platform as he stepped carefully, attacking with a ferocity unparalleled in his peers. Zuko could almost feel the energy channeling inside him. Fountains of water cracked from the ground of the arena. A huge volley of water flew then split into spears. The spears impacted the ground, then melted off into a flowing, perfect circle. They divided again to reveal a ginormous octopus form before the entire platform dissipated beneath the teen's feet, giving way into a pulsing cloud of steam that spread in a hot wave throughout the arena.

The crowd leaned forward, squinting. A dark figure appeared in the mist, walking calmly forward. The steam evaporated with a simple wave of Peti's hand, and the storm of power ended. Peti bowed. His audition was over.

There was a deep, stunned moment. Jaws agog. Peti had always been gifted, and Zuko looked up to him during their every practice as his master, but he had never seen his solo work before. His secret teacher was suddenly so much more.

Noktul rose to his feet and began furiously clapping. "THAT'S MY SON!" he laughed, and the crowd took up his applause. "THAT'S MY SON!" The rest of Zuko's family stood, and soon all the nobles were swept into the ovation of support for one of their own. Zuko rose and clapped as Peti walked off to joins his school mates in a line before the judges.

"Congratulations," Zuko's father said.

His mother gave his father a reproachful look. "He hasn't gotten it yet, Kanook," she pointed out, but the men didn't hear her, shouting their support. She looked down at Zuko and gave a twisted smile. "Men," she sighed. Zuko didn't quite understand, but nodded anyway.

The drums began beating and the horn sounded once more. The audience sat as the masters rose. Pakku stepped forward to address the audience, requiring no solemn moment of deliberation. It was time to announce his decisions.

"Esteemed and honoured guests," he began, and Zuko stiffened. Firebender still rang all too clearly in his ears. "It has been a pleasure to view all of the hopeful candidates of this year. I thank everyone for coming and pretending like some of their children can waterbend."

Some of the crowd sounded affronted. The arrogant master grinned. "I can choose from any whose bending I have witnessed today," he reminded. "And the three that I choose will have the opportunity to duel me for their spot in my elite training program. This is a rare opportunity, and I do not bestow it upon the unworthy."

The stakes set, Pakku rolled his shoulders back, the audience quiet and anxious. "Now, my choices for the apprenticeship." He turned and pointed towards the line of benders.

"Koluk of the Hagran family." Cheering came from the audience as Koluk fist pumped the air.

"Obvious choice," his father commented with a smile, and Zuko agreed.

Pakku turned to Koluk's left, still pointing. "Peti, of the Keeran family."

Noktul burst out in a shrill cry. "YEAH! THAT'S MY SON! WOOH! THAT'S MY SON!"

"We know!" half of the annoyed nobles chorused. His father made Noktul sit down.

The applause quieted as Pakku's hand fell and he turned to the audience. Zuko fidgeted in anticipation. The third choice had yet to be revealed.

The old waterbending master stood still as ice as he scanned the stands, blue eyes sailing to the section of nobles to meet Zuko's wide, fearful gaze. Zuko paled, lips parting. He suddenly felt cold.

Slowly, Pakku lifted his finger, and the entire audience turned to see. "And the firebender who sits amongst the council elders in secret."