The next few days turned into weeks as they continued to track Zuko and train. On this particular day, Iroh took Azula and Harry aside to work with them on some of the more difficult aspects of Firebending. "Your power is most impressive, but power is not everything in a fight," Iroh remarked as they walked.
Harry hummed, "It helps, for sure."
Iroh smirked, "Most certainly, but why trade blows when you can simply not get hit?" he replied before taking up a stance facing them, "And, as our Flame comes from within, conserving your strength for one decisive blow rather than a thousand withering hits is a valid strategy. Let's see you two face me if I just focus on my defence while you both focus on the attack."
Harry and Azula shared a moment of silent communication as they locked eyes. Without a word, they both shifted into an aggressive stance before going on the attack, harmonising each other's movements with uncanny precision. It was as though they were connected on a deeper level, anticipating each other's every move before it even happened.
As the spar unfolded, Harry and Azula seamlessly integrated each other into their attacks, using the other's movements to their advantage. Azula would use Harry's position to launch herself into a surprise attack, while Harry would leverage Azula's presence to propel himself towards Iroh. The air crackled with the energy of emerald and azure flames, occasionally mingling with Iroh's Firebending as he dodged their relentless onslaught.
Despite Iroh's initial intentions to subdue the pair with a well-placed blast, probably redirected from themselves, the spar took an unexpected turn. Azula and Harry moved as one, their movements perfectly synchronized as they unleashed a powerful blast of flame that combined the colours of their respective flames. The force of their attack was almost completely overwhelming, sending Iroh hurtling through the air before he managed to land on his back.
In the end, Harry and Azula stood side by side, their breaths coming into sync as they surveyed the aftermath of their combined efforts in some shock. Neither of them quite knew what had happened, just that they seemed to meld together in their final move. "Well, that was a bit more than I expected," Iroh remarked, rubbing his head bashfully as he picked himself up off the ground.
That was enough of a kick that got them out of their shock and rushing to Iroh's side, "Are you hurt?" they both shouted.
Iroh chuckled as he dusted himself off, "No, I'm fine." he replied before patting them both on the shoulder, "That was just more than I expected out of a pair of teenagers. Never in my life have I seen a pair of Firebenders so in tune with each other. It's incredible."
That restored their faith that Iroh was actually alright and not just allaying their concerns. "I am now not that sure how much I can teach you two any more." he continued, "I learn more from you than I impart." he said before rubbing his chin, "Perhaps it is time to teach you two the technique that no one else knows. Because I invented it!"
That certainly piqued their curiosity and they looked at him in eager anticipation. "I learned this on my rediscovery of myself after my son, Lu Ten died." he said, drawing himself tall, "Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy. A Waterbender lets their defence become their offence, turning their opponents' energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning. If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your stomach. 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" he said, laughing at his own expense.
Both Azula and Harry smiled at Iroh's joke, "If you're an ocean, then mine must be a rain droplet!" Harry fired back in jest.
Azula didn't find it as amusing, and Iroh noticed, figuring to ask her about it another time. "The size does not matter, just the destination. From the stomach, you direct it up again, and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly. Try a physical motion, it may help you two get a feel for the pathways' flow, like this." he said, going through a motion.
Azula and Harry began mimicking him and immediately, Iroh thought that they had a better grasp on it than anyone else would have. "Let it flow. Don't try to force things." he gently reminded them.
They continued at it for a while longer before Iroh stopped them, "I think you've both got it! Well done."
Azula smiled, but Harry turned thoughtful, "How do we even test that notion?" he asked, drawing raised eyebrows from Azula and Iroh, "Well, the only real test to see if we've got it down is to shoot lightning at each other, and I doubt that any of us are willing to do that."
Iroh hummed, "That is true. But, hopefully, neither of you will have to use this technique. There are only three lightning benders in the world and two of them are right here."
Harry raised his eyebrow before extending his hand skywards and conjuring lightning. Iroh looked up, then back to Harry, "Alright, add one to those numbers, but the sentiment is the same." he said before looking both of them in the eye, "I hope you will never have to use this technique, not because it is so terrible, but because if you do, it means that something has gone terribly wrong."
Harry smirked sardonically, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Except that our preparations will be wholly inadequate for the worst because we did not think that things could get that bad." he remarked, "Story of my life."
Iroh looked at Azula, openly wearing his concern. Azula just shook her head and mouthed "later", knowing that he would come looking for her when Harry wasn't around to get answers. She just hoped that he would be able to sit on his questions until then.
The next morning, Harry watched as Mai and Ty Lee worked with Ron and Luna in their areas of expertise. As it turned out, Ron could be quite scary when it came to throwing knives. Harry swore that some of them sparked when they hit the target, they were that close to the other knives.
Whenever Ty Lee and Luna needed a body to help Luna master Chi Blocking, he was volunteered, Azula was always tactically catching up with her uncle when they needed help, not that Harry was complaining. It was a surprise how quickly Luna picked up on the technique, but one that only seemed to strengthen her bond with the acrobat. But whenever he wasn't being rendered numb, he was watching over Tom-Tom while Ron trained with Mai.
Just then, Azula rejoined him and leaned over to lay her head on his shoulder, "You're really good with Tom-Tom," she remarked.
Harry smiled, "It helps that he is so calm." he replied, "Stoicism must be a family trait."
Azula snorted, "If so, I have no idea where it's coming from. Certainly not their parents." she retorted.
Harry chuckled, that was true. Before he could reply, however, they both noticed Luna suddenly, and for no apparent reason, stop training with Ty Lee and start clutching her head. Both Azula and Harry rushed over, Harry carrying Tom-Tom when Ron and Mai stopped what they were doing before rushing to join them. "Luna! What's wrong?" Ty Lee cried.
Luna, still clutching her head like it was going to explode if she didn't, spoke in a voice that none of them recognised, "The Cave. They must go into the Cave."
They all turned, looking at the cave near their camp. It was the only one around, so it was logical to assume that was the one that she was referring to. Azula raised an eyebrow though while she helped to guide Luna into a seated position, "Who? Who must enter the cave?" she asked.
Still speaking in that voice, almost ethereal in nature, Luna answered: "The Princess and the Emerald Dragon must enter the Cave. They will find answers inside. The Dragon of the West must not follow them."
They wanted to ask most questions of the spirit that had seemed to possess Luna, but they couldn't. As soon as Luna's lips closed, she collapsed into unconsciousness. Neither Azula nor Harry were that comfortable with it, but they also had no reason to doubt it. "Ron." Harry said, voice as hard as granite, "Watch over her for us."
Ron nodded and watched as Harry and Azula walked into the Cave. He wasn't sure why, he wasn't as attuned to the Spirit World as Luna was, evidently, but he had a feeling that they wouldn't leave the Cave the same.
Azula drew close to him as they made their way through the Cave, Azure and Emerald light illuminating the walls of the seemingly never-ending tunnel. "Has Luna ever done that before?" she quietly asked.
Harry thought hard for a few moments, "She would always say things that were a little strange, at least to some, but never anything like this. At least, not that I am aware of." he replied just as quietly. "Remember, I only met her this last year."
Azula hummed, now that he mentioned it, she did remember that conversation. "You know, if you hadn't arrived, I would have suggested you talk to her about a date," she remarked.
Harry held back a snort, "She's the closest thing I've got to a little sister. Spirits help the first boy who attempts to court her."
Azula raised an eyebrow, "You sure about that?" she asked, drawing a surprised look from Harry, "She and Ty Lee seem pretty close if you know what I mean."
Harry thought for a moment before grinning, "Now that you mention it." he replied, not paying attention to the fog forming at their feet. "Well, that's one thing I don't have to worry about."
Azula huffed, "Mother Hen." she muttered.
Now it was Harry's turn to huff, "Not like the adults in my life have given me much reason to trust them. Except General Iroh, he's the exception." he replied, "I'll worry about all of my friends, it's just in my nature."
Azula smirked, "I recall that you said that Hermione would say that you had a "saving people" thing." she remarked before her grin turned mischievous, "Maybe I should look at turning that into something else. Something for me."
Harry grinned, "A "pleasing Azula" thing?" he murmured before nudging her with his elbow, "I can do that."
Azula grinned, but before she could respond, another female voice spoke up, "Well, I see you didn't get your charm from your father!"
Azula and Harry spun to look upon a slightly translucent red-headed woman. It took Harry a moment, but he was the first to regain his senses, "It can't be!" he whispered.
Azula turned and looked at Harry, "You know this woman?" She asked.
Harry, tearfully, nodded, in disbelief himself, "Mum?"
Lily Potter smiled, "Come here, Harry." She said, arms open wide.
That was all the invitation that Harry needed as mother and son embraced. For a brief second, jealousy flared in Azula's heart before it was quickly quashed. She, at the very least, had been shown a modicum of love and affection. Harry had not. Any further chance of it sprouting again was dashed when Lily held up one of her arms, "He needs your support as well, Your Highness. And I'd like to hug my future daughter-in-law at least once."
Like a shot, Azula was hugging Harry while his mother hugged the both of them. They stayed like that for a few moments before they reluctantly pulled back. Lily was still smiling brightly, and she was the one to break the silence, "You have questions, I'm sure, but I'll try and answer them before you can ask them." she said, "I trust you've uncovered some more of what that shard of Riddle was blocking?" she asked, getting confused nods from them, "Good. You'll need the full breadth of your powers by the end of things, but remember the basics: Fire is drawn from emotion, use your love for each other to fuel your flame and I doubt there will be anything aside from maybe the Avatar who could stop you."
Harry blinked, "Mum? How do you know about my Firebending? Or Firebending in general?"
Lily smirked before lifting her arms, "Why do you think I've chosen to appear in full Fire Nation regalia?" she asked back, "And why do you think you can Firebend, my son, but none of your friends can?"
Harry's eyes widened, "You came from this world!"
Lily nodded before she smiled again, "For my own safety, I was sent to Britain through a ritual. One does not survive the gaze of a future Fire Lord, after all." she replied before looking at Azula, "Your father was a creep, even at seven. I'm glad that you've not gone down his path, though I know my son has had something to do with that."
They both had so many questions, but Lily sadly tilted her head, "I've used all my time for now, I'm afraid." she whispered before wrapping them both up in a tight hug, "I'll come to you in your Mindscape as soon as I can. Never doubt my love for you, or your love for each other. It is stronger than your enemies can possibly imagine." she said before she faded away.
Azula looked at Harry and her heart ached at the sight of sadness on his face. She wrapped him in a hug of her own and they stayed like that for a while. Neither were quite able to comprehend what just happened, but all too aware that it couldn't have been anything other than the truth, Lily just knew too much to be anything else.
Outside the cave, Ty Lee had Luna's head in her lap as Mai and Ron kept Tom-Tom entertained. Iroh had just come back and was watching the cave entrance like a hawk. He hadn't been that pleased at the Spirit's command, but he held enough respect for them to adhere to them.
The sun had just gone below the horizon when the pair emerged from the cave, puffy-eyed and tired, but in one piece. "Princess Azula! Harry!" Ty Lee called, drawing the pair's attention, "Are you two alright?"
Azula answered for the both of them as they sat around the campfire, "In a sense. Though I feel as though I've found more questions than answers."
The others all looked at each other as Iroh handed the pair a cup of lavender tea. "That is how things go with Spirits, in my experience," he remarked.
Harry hummed as he sipped his tea, "Did anything happen while we were in there?" he asked.
Ron shook his head while absent-mindedly pulling Tom-Tom back from the fire, "Not really, Luna settled down about an hour ago, and we kept Iroh from entering the cave, as we were told to. But other than that, it's been quiet. Nice and different from a normal adventure with you, Harry."
Harry laughed, it might have been jest, but there was truth in it. "Yes, I suppose it would be compared to our normal adventures," he replied.
Ty Lee and Mai were about to ask what they meant by that when Luna groaned as she stirred. "Did someone catch whatever ran me over?" she moaned.
Harry and Azula looked at each other while Ty Lee helped Luna into an upright position, "We're not about to go chasing down a specific spirit when we don't know who they were." Harry joked, "Though we did as you told us to do under their influence."
Luna looked at him strangely but shook her head clear. She then turned to Iroh, "Would you mind if Ron used your Pipa?"
Both Harry and Ron knew what she was asking for and could only grin. Iroh, on the other hand, was utterly confused, but not against the idea of some music for the night, "Of course not." he replied before handing over the instrument over to Ron.
Ron took a couple of strums to get a feel for how it was tuned before he nodded to Luna. Luna, for her part, merely smiled at Harry and nodded with her chin before pulling up Ty Lee and beginning a song that had almost everyone on their feet and dancing: "Sha ta co-ti os cum-na ridh na/Sha ta co-ti o nu-ga Tír na nÓg/Sha ta co-ti os cum-na-ridh na/Nu-ga Tír na nÓg…"
It may have been a couple of minutes long, but for everyone, it was a much-needed boost. Even if most didn't understand some of the words, the effect it had on everyone's hearts was profound. It even got everyone to share a song that they knew, leading to over an hour of song and dance for the group. Finally, after they all had worn themselves down, and were sat around the fire, Iroh turned to look at Azula, who was cuddling with Harry, "Well, I see I don't have to worry about you on the Day of the Comet, we just need to intercept any boy who thinks they have a chance to save their lives."
Harry looked at Azula with a raised eyebrow, and she answered the unspoken question, "Fifteenth birthday. I will become a legal option for bachelors looking for a wife then."
Harry hummed, "Oh come now, General." he replied, "I'm not that bad."
Iroh just raised an eyebrow and Harry flushed red with embarrassment, "Well… I'd try to just maim them." he sheepishly said.
Iroh shook his head, "Somehow, that makes me more uneasy, not less." he muttered.
Both Azula and Harry flushed an even brighter red colour before they made their excuses to retire for the evening. The others all smirked as they waved them off, knowing full well that the two of them would retire to the same tent.
In the morning, they eventually came across an abandoned town when they came across a sight none of them expected to, "Avatar?" Azula exclaimed.
The Avatar turned to look at them, more dead on his feet than anyone expected. "Are you the ones following us?" he asked through a yawn.
They all looked at each other confused, "I can assure you," Harry began, "If it appears that we've been following you, it's purely accidental."
Azula nodded, "We've been on the trail of my brother. So, we may have, in a roundabout way, considering he wants to capture you."
The Avatar nodded, but before he could say another word, the object of their hunt jumped into view with fists aimed at both them and the Avatar. "You have got to be kidding me," Harry grumbled.
Ron leaned over to Mai with a look of concern on his face, "When you said that Prince Zuko was stubborn, I think you forgot to mention that he was also suicidal." he remarked, drawing a hum from the girl.
Iroh, on the other hand, tried to intervene, "Prince Zuko! Stop this madness! You are horrendously outnumbered and outmatched!"
Prince Zuko growled, "I have no quarrel with any of you! I just want the Avatar and my Honour! But I will defend myself if you interfere!"
Mai rolled her eyes, "He always was overly dramatic." she mumbled as she passed Tom-Tom to Luna. They had predetermined that Luna would look after Tom-Tom if they encountered Zuko and it boiled down to a fight.
By the time they turned around, ready to back their friends up, the fight had begun. Azula and Harry stood shoulder to shoulder with the Avatar, covering for what was an obviously exhausted Airbender who was having many issues staying upright, but still fighting. Iroh, on the other hand, was staying on the defensive, obviously uncomfortable with this whole thing, but able to assist. "You know," Ron remarked as they moved forward, "I don't think there was an agreement on how to approach this."
Mai sighed as she unsheathed a knife, she may have been brushing off her skills these last few weeks with the knowledge that she may well have to use them against Zuko, but it still hurt to think about it. "Try to pin him to a wall. We'll sort it out then," she replied tightly.
Ty Lee was doing her best, though the walls of fire were making things difficult, even though she was able to flip over Zuko's flames. There was no way she would ever attempt the same if it had been either Harry or Azula's flames instead. Those were much too tall and wide. Unfortunately, her ability to contribute to this fight was limited to getting right close to Zuko, something he knew and was actively and expertly avoiding. "Ugh!" she grunted as a ball of flame contacted her, not powerful enough to burn her, but powerful enough to send her to the ground and keep her down for a while.
Azula and Harry noticed, but they couldn't spare themselves to check on her. Zuko was Bending like how Harry assumed a feral animal might Bend. It was wild, untamed, and unfocused. It was dangerous, for everyone. Even Zuko had to dodge his own fire's backdraft. It was a great relief, therefore, when help arrived, even though that help came in the form of a pair of exhausted Water Tribe siblings and a similarly tired Earthbender. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd show up!" the Avatar called out.
The boy stayed back while unsheathing his boomerang, "Oh, you know, had to find you first!" he called back.
The pair of benders began lending their aid to the fight and it seemed Zuko began to understand that he was outnumbered, as he went more on the defensive. Eventually, though, all of the benders, minus Iroh, were standing shoulder to shoulder and throwing what they had at him, demanding that he throw up a shield of fire. Air, Water, Earth and the combined Flames of Azure and Emerald hurled at him. When they let up, however, he was nowhere to be found. "Where did that bugger go?" Harry muttered.
The Earthbender slammed her foot into the ground before grimacing, "Out of my range." she grumbled.
Harry turned and looked at the girl with a curious expression on his face, though the Waterbender spoke up, "We owe you some thanks, you were right about Gaoling."
Harry waved her concern off, "Think nothing of it, I knew you'd be disappointed by King Bumi not joining you guys, so I just remembered a story from the Tavern my friends and I ran." he replied before smirking, "If anything, I'd lay good money on those stories underselling the Blind Bandit's abilities."
The Earthbender smirked, "Totally." she remarked before turning to face both Azula and Harry, her expression curious. "Why would Firebenders help us? Aang is trying to bring down the Fire Lord after all."
Harry looked at Azula, who had turned to him, silently conveying with her eyes that he should take the lead. "Well, our Tavern was in Blacktown in Caldera." he began, drawing grimaces from all of them, "Since our reputation precedes us, perhaps you might understand why we're a little peeved with our "high and mighty" Fire Lord."
They didn't know it, but the Earthbender was a lie detector and she could sense that, while true, the story wasn't the whole truth. However, something stopped her from pressing forward, outwardly appearing to accept the story. Harry, on the other hand, looked between all of them, "Do you think we could or should stop our pursuit for a day or two? They all look more dead than alive." he whispered to Azula.
Azula shrugged, "I don't see why not. It should be pretty easy to catch back up to him and it would give Ty Lee a chance to rest, considering she took one of Zuko's fireballs to the chest."
That all but banished the sleep from the Waterbender's eyes and she hurriedly scanned over everyone, "Where is she? I can heal her!"
Ty Lee, having been helped to her feet by Ron while Mai got Luna over to the group, waved her hand, "No burns, just sore." she replied before coughing slightly.
Regardless of the assurance, the Waterbender shot towards her. Water began swirling around Ty Lee while the others watched. After a moment, Harry thought of something, "You know, I get the feeling that we'll be running into each other a lot and yet we don't know anyone's names!" he remarked, drawing surprised looks from everyone. "I'm Harry, with me are Azula, Iroh, Ty Lee, Ron, Luna, Mai and Tom-Tom, though I'm sure you remember those two," he said, pointing out everyone.
The Avatar smiled, "I'm Aang, the Avatar. Sokka and his sister Katara have been with me since the start and Toph here joined us thanks to your suggestion, Harry."
Harry nodded to the other members of the Avatar's party, but Azula spoke up. "We got lucky today. There were no other Fire Nationals nearby."
Harry hummed, but Aang looked confused, until Azula spelt it out, "If there are other members of the Fire Nation around, then any time that we encounter each other, we'll have to have a convincing fight." she said, "It would look rather strange if the Princess of the Fire Nation didn't fight the one group who are the most hunted by the Fire Nation."
Everyone nodded, though the Avatar's group all looked ready to sleep standing up. Harry noticed and rested his hand on Aang's shoulder, "Go ahead and get some rest. In the morning, we'll go our separate ways, though I'm sure we'll see each other again."
Aang looked to be quite happy with that, though nowhere near as happy as Sokka, who just flopped onto the ground and started snoring. Toph, on the other hand, bent herself a tent made of earth before doing the exact same thing, though with her feet off the ground. Harry looked over to Azula with more than a touch of concern. They all were just kids! This was no better than his own experiences, just with more drastic consequences for failure. Azula caught his look and knew that it was going to be a long discussion the next time they entered their Mindscape. Not that she could blame him. She just hoped he remembered that she was on his side in this. That she hoped that the adults would be able to sort out their mess.
Oh how wrong she would be.
