Fight 20: Baptism of Fire
It was late afternoon. Momo landed on the forest floor and looked around. He spotted nothing suspicious and took off, failing to notice a blurry shadow that scurried along among the trees, in the same direction he had taken. The lemur regrouped with everyone, who, for once, had decided to walk.
"No, Aang. I won't teach you firebending yet. You're not ready. Ask me again once you've properly learned waterbending and earthbending." Chenlian declared adamantly.
"But why?"
"If you don't shape air or water into a blade, those elements will simply brush against people, or knock them if they have enough strength. But fire..." She took a branch and burned it to ashes. "...will just as simply destroy you. It hasn't been long since you've started learning waterbending, and without the stability and firmness earthbending will bring you, someone like you, without a shred of restraint or self-control, would only become a danger for everyone... and especially those closest to him... if he tried to firebend. And I can't let that happen. I won't teach you now." The firebender asserted again resolutely. "And you guys, and especially you, Aang-" She poked her index finger against his chest. "- are forbidden to go into town. The pursuit is hot on our trail and I don't want you to make a scene, attract unwanted attention, and near capture again like you always do. I know we're short on food so I'll be handling this issue right now. But you must stay put! Is that understood?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." The airbender reluctantly agreed. And so Chenlian entrusted the two over-optimists to Sokka while she left to gather some food in the forest.
The youngsters arrived at a crossroad where stood a four-sided notice board. Katara commented this should give them a good idea of what was around here. Aang saw a flyer that particularly interested him about the Fire Days Festival where there would be Fire Nation cultural exhibits... jugglers, benders, magicians... He said he wanted to 'study firebenders' since Chenlian wouldn't let him 'study' her (but the truth was he just wanted to have fun at the festival). Sokka argued that Chenlian must know better than him since she was a great firebender, and they should listen to her and he completely agreed with her. And he also asked him to think twice about going to the festival and showed him the wanted posters on the other side. There were seven: one of Aang, one of Chenlian, one of the Blue Spirit, one of the Dragon Empress (dressed in rich robes), and one of the Dragon Princess (dressed in an outfit similar to the Blue Spirit's but with the same mask as the Dragon Empress) and two others that featured deserters. Aang declared that he was the Avatar so it was up to him to decide. Katara wasn't sure but in the end she sided with the airbender: it wouldn't hurt to check, they would go disguised and if it looked like trouble, they would leave.
"Yeah, because we always leave before we get into trouble. Hey, wait! Didn't you hear what Chenlian said?! It's too dangerous to walk into a Fire Nation town, especially when they're all fired up with their... you know... fire."
"She didn't say that last part... and I never thought I'd see you side with a firebender to that extent..." His sister voiced her surprise, although from her tone it was obvious she didn't view that as a bad thing.
"You know that she's not just some firebender, she's Chenlian, and if we agree so often that's because we're the only two sensible people in the group! Huh? Hey!" And he ran after the others who had gone on ahead and completely ignored him.
As soon as she had left them, Chenlian had gone to catch her first game: a man who had been tailing them for some time. She fell on her prey like a leopard and immobilised it. She demanded to know who he was and why he had been following them. He introduced himself as Chey. He had deserted the Fire Nation and now served a man, a firebending genius, a myth, the first to have deserted and lived, and he wanted to guide them to him so he could teach the Avatar as he had taught Chenlian. Chey knew about her since that man had once told him about her. It would be perfect, wouldn't it?
As the young girl detected no lie, she let him go but told him it was no use. If he really served him, he should know that. That man would never teach him anyway. He would say the same thing as her: not until the Avatar has learned the two other bending styles. He was not ready. And she told him to leave and return to that person and not to go to the Avatar and to forget he had seen them. Chey left and the firebender started her real hunt for food, animals, wild herbs, berries, tubers, mushrooms, nuts...
It was dusk when the teens and Appa came out of the forest on a slight hill. In the distance, a walled Fire Nation town could be seen. Aang told Appa and Momo to stay out of sight here while they went to the festival. The lemur flew up and then dropped down into a small bush. Appa followed and tried to hide behind the bush, which was about two feet tall and barely hid his muzzle and eyes. Then the Avatar told his human friends to ready disguises. Sokka and Katara pulled the hood of their dark cloaks over their heads. And at last, Aang, pulled his red hood up over the top of his head in a completely ineffective and silly attempt to change his appearance. He grinned in some embarrassment at his friends.
"It's like you're a whole different person." Sokka commented sarcastically, his arms folded. Katara giggled. In the end, the young warrior could not overturn their decision but if he went with them, he could try to bring the damage down to a minimum.
"Let's go." The airbender decided. They walked down the hill towards the town, unaware that they were being followed by a masked man, the same shadow from earlier.
The three entered the main square. Above them were colorful fireworks, around them were frolicking children, before them a colorful dragon was slithering around on its many human legs, and a number of people wore colorful masks... As Katara noticed, they would need new disguises if they wanted to better sneak into the crowd. Sokka was skeptical and annoyed. Where were they gonna get masks like that? And as if a stroke of fate, they heard a merchant calling "Get your genuine Fire Festival masks here!" The two benders rushed over. The ponytailed warrior commented (not very happily) it had been surprisingly easy. The trio took a mask each. Sokka had a happy mask and Aang a sad one. Katara switched them, revealing Sokka's sour face and Aang's wide smile, the masks now matching the temperament of their owner. They walked into the square. The little monk pointed at a food stall. Sokka impatiently ran to the stall and asked the seller what he had. Now that he was here, might as well enjoy it and not waste this occasion, right? The man answered he had the best flaming fire flares in town. The young man grabbed a small bag and the still steamy and pipping hot flakes and started stuffing himself before screaming and blowing steam from his mouth. He partially removed his mask to cool his tongue.
"Aaahhh! Hot! Hot!"
"'Flaming fire flakes' hot? What do you know." His sister crossed her arms. Next, Aang took them to a puppet show where a number of children were sitting on benches and avidly watching the booth. A puppet of the Fire Lord appeared and the youthful audience cheered.
"Don't worry loyal citizens! No one can surprise the Fire Lord!" Behind him an earthbender puppet rose up, with a rock at the ready. The children in the audience who start to cry out warnings or showing fear for their lord. But then the Fire Lord puppet turned suddenly and torched the earthbender puppet. The youngsters cheered. The three teens turned away from the puppet show and headed towards another stage where was a single performer watched by a large crowd. The performer was a young and handsome firebender who was manipulating fire from large basins sitting atop four pillars for the crowd's delight. He concluded by extinguishing his fire and producing a small flock of white birds who flew off the stage. Aang partially removed his mask for a better view. He was grinning broadly and absolutely wanted to learn that trick. The magician thanked the crowd and asked for a volunteer from the audience. The Avatar excitedly raised his hand and offered his services (he wanted to get a closer look... or so he said...) but the siblings were against it, even Katara thought they shouldn't attract attention... but just as she said that the performer pointed at her and asked whether she wanted to participate. She backed away and shook her head negatively.
"Awww, she's shy. Leeet's give her some encouragement, folks!" People clapped their hands and one even pushed Katara over to the edge of the stage where the magician grabbed her hand and hauled her up. Aang was disappointed that he had not been chosen. The prestidigitator sat the girl on a chair at the center of the stage. "This next trick is called 'Taming the Dragon.'" Then he added to Katara. "You will be my captured princess!" He tied her up with a maroon ribbon he had 'magically' produced (from his sleeve) and bended a dragon shaped flame that would fly in circles above them. "Don't worry, young maiden! I will tame this fiery beast!" He attached a fiery rope around the beast's neck. "It's too strong, I can't hold it!" Of course, it was only an act, but Aang took it seriously and wanted to help Katara. Sokka stopped him.
"No, we don't want to make a scene!"
"The rope, it's breaking!" The performer exclaimed.
Chenlian found Appa lying behind a bush, and Momo hiding in that same bush. She also found a message pinned to a tree, and that Momo had been charged with a message for her. Aang's letter read that they had also gone to look for food. The other was from Chey, that they had gone to the festival. One letter in each hand she looked from one to the other to the city below. She hung her head, trembling, crumpled the papers in her fists that started burning to ashes.
"Those... damned... rascals!" She suddenly shouted at the sky, angry flames burning around her fists and in her eyes. "Momo, Appa, come on!" The firebender jumped on Appa's head, Momo flew on her shoulder. "Yip yip!" Chenlian snapped the reins and the bison took off with a grunt even as she kept ranting. After what happened to their people, and to them on this journey, you'd think they'd be more careful! You'd think they'd respect her and her opinion as an expert! Didn't they learn any sense of danger?! Escaping as soon as she was out of sight... were they damn brats on a field trip?! Surely she hadn't been strict enough and properly insisted on the risks...
On the stage the rope dissolved and the fire dragon charged right at Katara, who cringed and cries out. Before Sokka and the masked man could restrain him, Aang leapt in front of Katara, his mask falling, and he bended a whirlwind that dissipated the flames in a shower of confetti.
"Hey, you tryin' to upstage me, kid?" The performer asked in a low voice from the stage floor where he had fallen. The crowd started booing. The airbender attempted to amuse them with a lame dance while Sokka untied his sister. Suddenly, someone from the audience recognised the kid as the Avatar who froze, a look of horror on this face. Three Fire Nation guards came running at the mention of his name and began muscling through the crowd to the stage. The siblings had taken off their masks.
"I think it's time to go." The warrior commented wisely.
"Follow me! I can get ya outta here!" A man in dark clothing beckoned them from behind, prompting them to follow. They ran through the broken wall just as the guards burst onstage. The masked man threw a smoke bomb at the guards' feet, obscuring the view. The four ran through squared and alley, hotly pursued by groups of guards. Aang called Appa with his bison whistle. They followed the stranger into an alley whose other entrance was blocked by soldiers that ran in after them. The unknown man threw another exploding smoke bomb and then run past the teens into another alley, which was in fact a dead end. They looked up and saw Chenlian and Appa flying toward them. They had arrived just in time!
The bison landed between the kids and the guards, and flapped his beaver tail. The resulting gale blew the soldiers far out of the alley to land in a confused heap. They ran back in too late: the flying animal was already airborne. The man bit the top off a bomb-like object, whose fuse lit, and he threw it at the fireworks supply... fireworks that shot up and blew in an awesome display of colors and sounds, much to the unknowing crowd's delight. Appa's tail caught a line of red triangular flags that fell atop a pillar with the Fire Nation emblem which immediately caught fire, giving rise to another round of applause and cheers. On Appa, the masked man removed his hood. Chenlian got angry at him for being here but the others asked her to forgive him since he had saved them. She sharply told them to keep quiet as such a thing would have never happened and they wouldn't have been in danger in the first place if they had simply listened to her and stayed put like she had instructed them. This wasn't a field trip! They were on the run from the Fire Nation! There was a time for fun and a time for caution! How stupid were they to increase and the risks and attract attention like that! It was like they wanted to be captured! Was that it?! They looked sheepish and sincerely apologetic for a time before Aang and Sokka complimented the man for his idea to set off the firewords and his skills with explosives who shortly responded that he was familiar.
"You're a Fire Nation soldier!" Sokka exclaimed, surprised.
"Was. My name's Chey."
Night had completely fallen. Appa was dozing. Everyone had gathered around a campfire (lit by the firebender of course). Chey began talking.
"I serve a man. More than a man really, he's a myth, but he's real, a living legend, Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general, or wait, was he an admiral?"
"He was an admiral." Chenlian precised, her arms crossed, a little away from the others. It was obvious she didn't want to be here but had decided to comply with the majority.
"Yeah! Way up there! But he couldn't take the madness any more. He's the first person ever to leave the army - and live. I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a firebending genius. Some say he's mad - but he's not! He's enlightened."
Aang was ecstatic that there was another firebender out there who was not with the Fire Lord. And a master who could train him at that! Sokka didn't want to go find some crazy firebender and thought they should listen to Chenlian and trust her concerning his training. Chey disagreed. Jeong Jeong was not crazy! He was a genius! And the perfect person to train the Avatar! That's why he had followed them into the festival.
"No, I'm sorry to break it to you, but that's impossible. He will definitely refuse so it's no use to go. On the contrary, I think he'll be very angry if we go see him. He will say the exact same thing I did. Besides, Aang, how can you expect to learn anything if you don't listen to people? And more importantly, because of your stunt at the village now Zhao will soon be informed of our location if he doesn't already know so we should hit the road as fast as possible." Chenlian affirmed with strong convinction. Exasperated by her know-it-all and overbearing attitude, the airbender snapped. Just because she refused to teach him didn't mean that man would too! He was ready, he was the Avatar, it was her who said he should get stronger as fast as possible and yet she refused to teach him and wouldn't let someone else do it either?! He was going! Beside, how could you know that person wouldn't see him!? "Because Jeong Jeong is my grandfather... and my firebending master. He wouldn't even teach ME unless I studied the other bending disciplines and mastered discipline itself. Do you think you know him better than I do? Do you really think someone like that will teach you just because you ask?"
"But I'm the Avatar!" Everyone was shocked but Aang still wanted to go and try.
"All the more reason not to! That guy's even stricter than me. If something as dangerous as fire found its way into the hands of a bender with your inexperience and sheer raw power and ability, it would be the end of it all! You don't go giving double-edged swords to toddlers, do you?! That's exactly the same!"
However, the little monk was still angry. He thought she was belittling him and wanted to prove her wrong. And he stubbornly declared that he would go. And naturally, Katara, feeling sorry for him, and wishing to cool things down, said that it couldn't hurt just to talk to him. Her brother pointed out that that was what she had said about going to the festival and resented the fact that nobody listened to him or Chenlian. It was then that they were surrounded by men wearing straw hats and armor and wielding spears, and obviously belonging to an Earth Kingdom tribe. They were captured... and led them through the forest. The leader, Lin Yi, berated Chey. Jeong Jeong had told him not to look for Avatar! Sokka was surprised that he knew these guys. The former Fire Nation soldier reassured them as Lin Yi was an old buddy. Lin Yi merely poked his back with his spear, and told him to shut up and keep moving.
Some time later, Appa and Momo were made to wait at the edge of the woods while the humans walked down the slope and stopped near a shack. Below them, built on a rock on the river, was another shack.
"Go on. He sees you only." Lin Yi ordered Chey.
"Oh that's okay, we can chat later." The ex-soldier said again in a reassuring tone.
"Is that where Jeong Jeong is? I need to talk to him right away." Aang exclaimed cheerfully. He began to move forward, but was blocked by a spear shaft across his path.
"No! You wait there." The leader stopped the child before pushing Chey forward roughly. "Go now!"
"Don't worry! Everything'll be fine. He's a great man, great man!" And Chey walked toward Jeong Jeong's while the youths entered the other shack.
In the Fire Nation town the teens just visited. Local guards were being interrogated by Admiral Zhao, flanked by a few guards, in the deserted central square...
"So, the Avatar was here and you let him slip away?"
"Yes, sir, but other than that the festival went off without a hitch!" And just as the words fell from his lips, a huge burning pillar fell right behind them with a massive crash. They jumped, startled. "No fights. Theft was way down."
"I don't care about your local crime rates!" The admiral bellowed. "Which way did they go?"
"They headed into the forest, up the river I suspect." The officer pointed. Zhao ordered his subordinates to ready the river boats. They were going after the Avatar...
Chey left Jeong Jeong's hut and arrived where Aang and the others were sleeping. The monk woke up instantly and energetically asked what happened and if he could see Jeong Jeong now? The man sat down glumly.
"He won't see you. He's very angry that I brought you here. He wants you to leave immediately."
"See, I told you so. Now let's go." They heard Chenlian say.
"Yes, finally! Let's hit the road." Sokka got up on his elbows but seeing as his friend glared at the firebender, he stretched back out again, a rather sour expression on his face.
"Why won't he see me?"
"He says you're not ready. Says you haven't mastered waterbending and earthbending yet."
"Wait, how does he know that?" Aang questioned before looking at Chenlian suspiciously.
"I haven't budged from this place. How could I have told him beforehand? Besides, he's my master... as if he needs ME telling him anything..." The girl waved her arm dismissively.
"He saw the way you walked into camp. He can tell." Chey explained. And the boy stubbornly decided to go in anyway...
Aang walked over to the entrance to Jeong Jeong's hut, took a deep breath, parted the curtain, and walked into the darkness. Against the opposite wall was a dark figure seated cross legged amidst a semicircle of candles, his back to Aang. The man told him to get out. The child hesitated before gathering his courage and approaching resolutely.
"Master, I need to learn firebending." He humbly requested.
"Only a fool seeks his own destruction." Jeong Jeong bluntly answered. The monk sat down.
"I'm the Avatar. It's my destiny to-"
"Destiny!? What would a boy know of destiny?" The master sharply shot back. "If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control! He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean."
"Oookay, but it's the Avatar's duty to master all of the bending disciplines."
"To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself. But you have no interest in this, so I have no interest in you! Now, get out." The firebender ordered harshly. Aang was unpleasantly reminded of Chenlian's warning. Really, these two were exactly the same. And the worst was that he felt it was only the beginning. Everything was happening exactly as she had said it would.
"Please, I have to learn. This could be my only chance." He begged againg. The man turned to him in anger.
"Are you deaf! How can I teach you if you refuse to listen? Before learning firebending you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing, earth is steady and stable, but fire, fire is alive! It breathes, it grows, without a bender, a rock will not throw itself! But fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it! That is its destiny! You are not ready! You are too weak!" Really, it was just as Chenlian had said. At this final pronouncement the candles flared up around Jeong Jeong to illuminate the entire tent and he suddenly froze. The flames went out, and only one candle was lit again. The others had disappeared. Instead of the tent, a tree was in the background behind the deserter... and in front of him, stood Avatar Roku.
"You think I am weak?" He asked menacingly.
"Avatar Roku! No! No!" The former admiral inclined his head in respect. "I did not mean that!"
"I have mastered the elements a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes. Now, I must do it once again. You will teach the Avatar firebending." Roku raises his left hand and the tree behind Jeong Jeong burst into flame. Cut to a close of Jeong Jeong as the vision ends.
"Yes, yes, I will teach you." The deserter said, coming out of his trance.
"Really? That's great!" Aang exclaimed, ecstatic. Jeong Jeong looked at the child's enormous, cheesy smile and groaned. The Avatar returned to the shack he shared with his friends for night and taunted Chenlian about how he had got Jeong Jeong to teach him with a few comments about how the grandfather and master was more sensible than the granddaughter and student.
"Then I am sorry for you. You will definitely regret it but as it seems that some people can only learn by making mistakes, I won't say anything anymore and let you see for yourself." She told him after a time. Then she turned to Sokka. "Sokka, once Aang starts making fire, make sure you and your sister stay at least ten yards away from him, and I will ask you to be extra careful."
"Alright." The water tribe warrior agreed.
"You still think I can't-"
"I don't think, I KNOW you can't. You will understand soon enough..."
"No, YOU will understand!" Aang shot back. Chenlian did not say a single word but merely stared back at him with her strong yet sad, amber eyes that seemed to burn dimly under the moon and the stars. And her honesty and forthrightness made him waver. He knew he was being stubborn, but he could not stop now.
"Good morning master." Chenlian greeted Jeong Jeong the next morning with her usual, polite and respectful phrase.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me grandfather now? I'm no longer your firebending master!"
"At least a few million times, master, since whether you want it or not, you will always be my firebending teacher." The mahogany-haired girl replied bluntly.
"And I will always be your grandfather too!"
"That may be, but I still won't call you grandfather, master. Well, then, I will go meditate." She bowed and left, ignoring the scowl on her teacher's face. It had sounded like a parent/child quarrel, with the adult appearing to be the one making 'unreasonable' demands like a child, and the teen coolly and firmly telling him off like a mother her son. The siblings went with her. Katara asked why she couldn't call him grandfather.
"Yeah, he was really upset, the poor old man." Sokka agreed with his sister.
"Because he has always been more of a master than a grandfather to me. I know what he's trying to do. He's been like that since my parents died. Before, he did not mind it much. But I don't need him to be like this. It's enough for me if he's the same as before."
"But maybe it is something HE needs..."
"Then he must wait until I am ready." The firebender concluded. The siblings looked at each other and sighed. She too was stubborn and did not listen to others. She could easily give off the impression of being as closed and unsympathetic as a sealed chest. However, they had learnt not to take it to heart as they knew of the treasures buried inside. So they decided to trust her and give her time until she decided to come out on her own as she usually did. Besides, it was better than trying to open her forcefully and clumsily and trigger her defense mecanisms. They left and returned to Aang.
Sokka was sitting on a boulder by the river, fishing, Katara was practicing waterbending on the shore, and Aang was standing bandy legged on a flat stone in front of Jeong Jeong's hut. His teacher who was standing a foot or two away on the bank in front of his hut told him to widen his stance, bend his knees and concentrate. The boy complied until his master was satisfied.
"Wait! What do I do now?" The Avatar questioned as Jeong Jeong began to walk away. The latter whipped around.
"Silence! Talking is not concentrating! Look at your friend, is she talking?" He then pointed at Sokka. "Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing!"
"Hey!" Sokka yelled. Aang asked what he should be concentrating on. The firebender enjoined him to feel the heat of the sun as it was the greatest source of fire and yet in complete balance with nature. The child looked at the sun then turned back to Jeong Jeong with a large smile on his face and inquired about when he could get to make some fire... which only made the old man yell at him to concentrate. Aang breathed deeply, and then he heard his friends laughing at him from behind. He turned to look at them, but they stopped instantly, vainly trying to look innocent. He flushed in embarrassment.
Jeong Jeong arrived in a small clearing where, as he had expected, he saw Chenlian meditating before a little lotus pond. He approached.
"You got scared of Avatar Roku?" The girl said, her eyes still closed, and after a pause, "That's the only thing that could have made you teach Aang."
"You've gotten sharper over the years."
"Well, one thing leads to another..."
"Avatar Roku also asked you to teach Aang, didn't he?"
"Yeah, and I told him to get lost. Avatar Roku was Avatar Roku. Aang is Aang. Even if they're both Avatars, they're entirely different people. And Avatars make mistakes too, that's why they need teachers. And their powers and status make them conceited, that's why they need people at their side impervious to their powers and status."
"Do you know why I called you 'morning lotus'?" Jeong Jeong asked after a long pause. "And it's not just because it blooms at dawn!" He quickly added before his wise granddaughter could crack it herself. "The lotus grows out of the mud and rises through the water to bloom pure, beautiful, and clean. Likewise, I wanted you to inspire people by continuing to strive through the difficulties, no matter how bad, and rise to show your best part to the outside world. I wanted you to bring beauty and light from the darkness and murkiness of the current Fire Nation 'philosophy'." The deserter crouched down, took a lotus stalk, split it, and slowly drew the two parts away, and still, the silk-like fibers of the plant did not break and kept stretching and linking them. "Just like its stalk is easy to bend in two but very difficult to break because of its strong sinuous fibers that keep connecting the two parts even if they're far away, your bonds with your family and those you love shall never break." Then he grabbed a small handful of dirt he dropped on a leaf before scooping water and letting it wash it away. Not a single speck remained on the leaf. "Just like dirt and dust can never cling to the lotus flower and leaves, I wanted you to be able to repel evil and remain virtuous. Just like all of its parts are edible and used in many medicines, I wanted you to be of help to those around you and provide them with your protection. I wanted you to be the dawn to light and warm people after a long and cold night, someone who gives hope and strength, a bringer of change for our decadent country, someone who would break its fall..." He had put all of his hopes and prayers into that name he had entrusted to her...
"Humph, none of that matters. Now that you've gotten old and sentimental, you seem to feel guilty for having pinned all your hopes on me but you really don't have to. I've never once felt as if you, father, or mother, had ever burdened me with anything. Everything I did, I did them because they were my choices, and mine only. My parents and you taught me how to think, judge, and decide for myself and you've given me the strength to see through my decisions, whatever they were. And that's all I ever did. And I'm pretty sure father and mother would have said the same. You don't have to worry or feel guilty about anything." There was a small smile on Chenlian's lips, a warm, kind, and confident smile. "Of course I resented you for many things at first, but now I think I understand a bit..." Why he disagreed with the Fire Lord, of course, but also why he had deserted and not chosen to stay and fight from within, why he hadn't budged all this time... charging head first was not necessarily a good thing, often, it was better to wait and bid your time, and it also required courage. Also, sooner or later, their family would have been targeted. If he left, he could arrange things for when the time was ripe. There were things that became possible only when you were far away.
"You've really become sharper..." A faint smile curved the old man's lips as he stood up and walked away.
"One thing leads to another you know..." The girl smirked back.
Aang and his master walked up the path to a mountain's summit. The boy asked whether they had come up here so he wouldn't burn anything with my fire blasts, but he had misunderstood. There would be no fire yet. He groaned, clearly disappointed and impatient. Like Iroh had told Zuko weeks earlier, Jeong Jeong explained that power in firebending came from the breath. That was why he had to master proper breath control. The Avatar couldn't believe he had brought him up here to breathe. He was ignored and instructed to assume his stance. The firebender turned away from him as Aang complied. Once more, the child was told to widen his stance.
"You're not even look-" He tried to protest but before he could finish his sentence, the old man harshly repeated his order.
"Wider! Now, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth - without talking." Aang obeyed. "Good. Keep going." The firebending master walked down the path as the Avatar continued to practice, a look of fierce concentration on his face.
Later, he returned to Jeong Jeong's candle lit hut only to be scolded by the old man as he had not told him to stop. The child complained he had been breathing for hours. Jeong Jeong sharply asked whether he wanted to stop breathing. The boy angrily threw his hands wide in frustration: he wanted him to stop wasting his time. He already knew how to squat and breathe and feel the sun! He wanted to know how to shoot fire out of his fingertips! The master sighed heavily.
"I had a pupil once who had no interest in learning discipline. He was only concerned with the power of fire - how he could use it to destroy his opponents and wipe out the obstacles in his path., but fire is a horrible burden to bear. Its nature is to consume and without control it destroys everything around it. Learn restraint, or risk destroying yourself and everything you love." He declared implacably. Aang left the tent. At the same time, Zhao and his men moving up the river on three boats. They were attacked by some of Jeong Jeong's rebels, but the admiral drove them away with a ball of flame that set the wood ablaze and a cruel smile.
Jeong Jeong exited his hut and saw Aang sitting lotus style on a stone before him, his head lowered. He had reflected, and now he promised to be more patient. The teacher they were going to start working with fire. The boy immediately exploded in excitement. He airbended himself in a quick loop in the air before freezing, remembering his promise. He put his hands behind his back and assumed a serious expression. Jeong Jeong caught one of the falling leaves between his thumb and forefinger and began to burn a tiny hole in it at the point of contact. Aang had to concentrate on the fire to keep this flame from reaching the edges of the leaf for as long as he could. The hole was spreading with the flame even as the Avatar assumed his stance and concentrated. Suddenly, a rebel guard approached and warned the master. The firebender told the monk to concentrate on his leaf while he went with the guard. Aang petulantly whined about this being the worst firebending instruction ever. All Jeong Jeong did was leave him alone for hours to concentrate or breathe. Katata tried to soothe him saying there must be a good reason. But he was ready to do so much more. Then, Aang's face lit up with an idea. He squatted and began to breathe exactly as he had learned. Suddenly, the leaf burst into flame and disintegrated. The Avatar was now holding a fireball in his hand.
"I did it! I made fire!"
"Aang, that's great, but you should take it slow." Katara approached and attempted to mollify him. The airbender got annoyed at this comment, and the flame instantly got bigger. They were both surprised. "Careful!" She exclaimed. Aang retained control and reduced the flame to its former size, but not before almost falling into the river.
"Now that's firebending!" He shot a whip of flame and began to juggle his ball of flame happily. The water tried to warn him that he was going to hurt himself but he wouldn't listen. Even worst, he attempted to emulate the juggler. He extended the flame into an arch around him that formed a complete circle and pushed it outward. The 'shockwave' of flame grazed Katara, burning her hands which she had raised to protect her face. She cried out in pain and crumpled to her knees. "Katara! I'm so sorry!" The boy screamed as he leapt to her.
"Katara, what's wrong!?" Having heard his sister scream, Sokka had rushed in. He angrily turned to Aang. "What did you do?"
"Iiiit was an accident! I was... Katara, I'm so-" But before he could finish, Sokka tackled him to the ground just as he tried to put a hand on Katara's shoulder.
"I told you we shouldn't mess around with this! Look what you did! You burned my sister!" The older boy yelled, furious. Katara stood up and ran away. Aang looked stunned and lost. Sokka turned to Jeong Jeong and glared at him accusingly. "This is all your fault!"
"I know. Now pack your things. You must leave immediately."
"I'm sorry, I didn't... I'm sorry!" The child repeated helplessly as Sokka walked away. And then he saw the sadness and disappointment in his master's eyes, and exactly the same in Chenlian's gaze. She had also come as soon as she had heard the scream and stopped at the edge of the wood. They walked away too, leaving Aang alone.
Katara was crying by the river bank. She looked at her burnt hands and put them in the water. The pain intensified momentarily when suddenly she felt nothing. Surprised, she looked down. Her hands glowed white underneath the water and when they stopped glowing, she was completely healed and the burns were gone. She stared at her hands in amazement. Jeong Jeong arrived and told her she had healing abilities as the great benders of the water tribe sometimes did. He had always wished to be blessed like her - free from this burning curse... Once more, Chenlian stopped at the edge of the woods and listened, the remedies she had brought now useless.
"But you're a great master. You have powers I'll never know."
"Water brings healing and life. But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery. Eventually, we are torn apart." Suddenly the water in front of them was blasted with balls of flame. The master rose quickly to a defensive bending stance and broke the flames that washed over him and Katara. Zhao and his men had spotted them and attacked. Jeong Jeong told the waterbender to get her friends and flee and to not come back here or they would all be destroyed. She complied. But not Chenlian who had stayed, ready to fight.
"You too, hurry! If I am your master then obey me!"
"You may be my master but I am also my own master!"
"But now your duty is to your friends and to the Avatar! Soldiers might have snuck in the woods! Go!"
Chenlian hesitated. As always he had grasped her strong but also weak point: her loyalty to her friends and those she had chosen to serve and protect. He was right. She gave in and dashed back in the forest. If it was him he would be fine. Jeong Jeong turned back to face the boats. Fireballs landed harmlessly all around him. Zhao lowered his telescope and smiled. On the shore, the old man, with a few powerful motions, produced a huge wall of fire a few dozens of feet tall that spanned across the entire river in front of the ships, forcing them to turn to starboard and dock. The admiral jumped into the water that only reached his knees and walked to the beach.
"Don't worry, men. My old teacher gave up fighting a long time ago." Zhao parted the wall like curtains just enough for him to walk through. "Haven't you, Master Jeong Jeong?" He stopped just before him. The deserter dropped the wall of fire.
Katara ran up to where Sokka was preparing Appa for the journey. He immediately asked whether she was alright. She reassured him and told him they needed to get out of here and asked about Aang. He pointed his thumb in the direction of the hut and in turn inquired about Chenlian. Katara entered the hut through the curtain. Inside, Aang was sitting amidst the candles, back to the entrance.
"Chenlian and Jeong Jeong tried to tell me that I wasn't ready. I wouldn't listen. I'm never going to firebend again."
"You'll have to eventually."
"No, never again." The boy insisted. The waterbender reassured him: she was healed. He couldn't believe it but now was not the time to explain. They had to get out of here. Zhao and his soldiers were attacking. They were by the river where Jeong Jeong and Chenlian still were. They might have been captured. Aang ran out of the hut. He had to help them!
"Look at you. You were once so great. I can't believe my former master has become nothing more than a simple savage." Zhao and his men stand against the lone old master. Indeed Jeong Jeong had become quite different from his wanted poster where he had been painted as a very dignified admiral in appearance and countenance. Now he wore ragged cloths and his hair was white shaggy mess and he seemed to have regressed to a wild and uncivilised peasant.
"It is you who have embraced savagery, Zhao." Jeong Jeong shot back. A 'savage' could also define a fierce, cruel, brutal, and merciless person.
"It's Admiral Zhao, now." The former student corrected.
"That title will not help you against the Avatar. Do not try to fight him! You're no match! And you're no match either for Chenlian!"
"Bragging about your granddaughter as always... But I think I can handle children. I will capture them both and bring them to the Fire Lord." The admiral leered.
"It's the first time I've seen such raw power since Chenlian. No, he holds even more potential, much more potential..." The deserter averted his eyes and looked down comtemplatively. Zhao growled angrily.
"Jeong Jeong!" A voice exclaimed. The admiral turned to see Aang who stopped dead upon seeing what he had run into. Now was Zhao's chance to prove this old fool wrong.
"We'll see. Men! Take the deserter!" And following his order, five spearmen and two firebenders surrounded the old master. Jeong Jeong smirked and wrapped himself in a massive sphere of flame, blocking his enemies' fireballs. When it dissipated, he was gone. "It's a trick! He's run off into the woods. Find him!" Zhao snarled angrily. He then turned to Aang. "Let's find out what my old master has taught you."
"YOU were Jeong Jeong's student?" The Avatar yelled in surprise.
"Until I got bored." The Fire Nation officer launched fireballs at Aang, who dodged them easily. "I see he taught you how to duck and run like a coward. But I doubt he showed you what a firebender is truly capable of!" He shot another fireball that flew over Aang's head as the airbender produced a flat, spinning whirlwind of air underneath him and balanced himself on top of it with one finger.
"Whoa! Wild shot!"
"I'll show you wild!" He fired several more volleys, all effortlessly evaded or broken with airbending. Zhao's blasts had torched much of the surrounding forest and the sky filled with smoke. Aang had remarked his opponent's complete lack of self control. He then looked at the boats... and back at Zhao... "Stand and fight, Avatar!"
"Oh, were we fighting? I thought you were just getting warmed up." The boy taunted and quite effectively as the admiral agreed and fired many more volleys, that all missed. "Is that all you got? Man, they'll make anyone an admiral these days!" The monk continued with his strategy. The officer roared in frustration and launched another blast. Aang airbended himself up onto one of the ships before sticking his butt out at the admiral and wiggling it suggestively. "I'm Admiral Zhao!" The child mocked again. Zhao growled again, jumped up onto the main deck and launched a strong blast of fire, setting the bridge ablaze, but Aang leapt off unharmed to the aft section and went on to the next ship. "I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko." The Avatar slumped in a disappointed position. His eyes went wide and he fell flat on the deck fast, though, as a jet of fire passed over him. Zhao had just blasted a hole through the guard rail of both ships. Aang stood up. "Sloppy. Very sloppy." He smirked back. The admiral cried in frustration again and chased the boy around the boats, spreading fire to each of them in his vain efforts to get the child. Momentarily out of Zhao's sight, Aang hid behind one of the deck cabins. Zhao landed behind him, however, having jumped down from the top of the deck cabin. Aang turned to face him.
"Nowhere to run now, you little smart mouth!" The firebender launched another bolt, which the Avatar dodged by flipping over his opponent's head to land behind him.
"You've lost this battle." Aang declared, standing on the third ship's prow.
"Are you crazy? You haven't thrown a single blow!"
"No, but you have." The child motioned to the three burning ships. They were beyond recovery. The first one was already crumbling and sinking. Zhao grimaced. "Jeong Jeong said you had no restraint." Aang hopped off the prow of the third ship. The admiral screamed in frustration. "Have a nice walk home!" Aang broke the surface of the water and shouted, cupping his hand to his mouth. He swam to Appa who had landed on the opposite beach.
"Aang, come on!" Sokka urged him from the driver's seat. Chenlian and Katara were on the saddle with Momo and all their stuff. The Avatar joined them. Sokka gave him the reins.
"Chenlian, where were you? And where's Jeong Jeong?"
"I took care of the soldiers who had followed on foot in the woods. As for Jeong Jeong, he went off somewhere. They all did. Don't worry about them. They'll be fine." She trusted her grandfather and his strength, as well as those who followed him. Like him they might have some attitude but they were not bad people. However, the true surprise was how the grandfather and granddaughter had been alike in attitude and skills concerning firebending. The only difference (true; that was a consequent difference) was that one hated their art and the other did not. Both were unbelievably perceptive, strict, sharp (in all possible meanings) and harsh. They were just like steel. But it was their mastery of themselves that drew people to them and deserved respect.
Chey arrived in his master's compound and found it empty. He wondered where everybody had gone and thought it was a prank. He felt really... lonely and abandoned. And there was another lonely person. Zhao was standing alone, waist deep in the river watching his ships burn. He lowered his chagrined face.
On Appa, Katara noticed Aang's right arm was burned and offered her help. She opened her water skin and wrapped some water around her hand. It glowed white again and she placed it over the burned area, breathed and focused. When she let go, the wound was healed. The Avatar commented about what good water it was and Sokka asked where she had learned how to do that. Chenlian said nothing but looked intently, deep in thought, at the place where the burn had been. Katara shrugged.
"I guess I always knew."
"Oh... well then thanks for all the first aid over the years. Like when I fell into the grease briar bramble and that time I had two fish hooks in my thumb!"
"Two?" Aang raised an eyebrow.
"He tried to get the first fish hook out with another fish hook." The brown haired girl explained.
"Oh, and the time that big snake bit me! Thanks for healing that up. That was great. Really helpful..." And Sokka kept complaining endlessly (as usual) as Appa flew away in the orange sky.
Author's note: I don't think I made the apple fall too far from the tree in this chapter. Next will be Northern Air Temple. And don't worry Gadget Boy, Chenlian won't get chi blocked in season 2 but things will also differ significantly from what you imagine ;)