AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 16

Katara walked in the door and Zuko stiffened, and Athlea let go of his shirt, falling onto her back, but Katara had walked to her room, yawning, not even glancing at them. Zuko looked down at Athlea again, laughing somewhat nervously. "Someone's tired," he said, casting a glance after Katara.

"Hmm... that was... interesting," she said, clearing her throat.

As soon as Katara moved away, Zuko burst out laughing. "Laying down in front of me? How is that less suspicious?" he asked, laughing even harder.

At the same time Aang came inside, too, and noticed the two. Zuko's head jerked toward him. He scratched the back of his neck, nervously laughing. "Aha... ha... ha. I'll leave you two... to your private business." He quickly moved upstairs to his room.

"Uh, thanks," Zuko muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Athlea watched and smiled as she laid there, still facing the ceiling. "He's too innocent, I swear." She sat up to face the prince again, stretching her arms above her head before letting them down.

Zuko looked Athlea up and down as she stretched. He hooked his fingers in her belt loops, pulling her closer again, smirking as her eyes widened. "Is he?" he asked, pressing a quick kiss to her neck. Her hands moved to rest on his shoulders.

"Unlike you. You're like a little devil." She smirked playfully.

Zuko raised his eyebrows. "A devil, huh? How so?" His eyes glittered. He rubbed his thumb against the spot he'd kissed on her neck and she giggled, her hand resting on his. Their gazes met and she blushed. His eyes followed her hand and he exhaled softly, smiling.

"Oh, I don't know, just from the way your eyes shine, and that smirk of yours." Athlea pointed out, leaning closer and grabbing his shirt again. His cheeks turned as red as hers.

Zuko smiled, playing with a strand of her hair between his fingers. She was watching him steadily, her eyes not leaving him. "I think I know why we get along better than... my ex and I." He didn't want to say Mai's name in front of her for some reason. "Sometimes it's nice to not make the decisions. My uncle never did. I always have. It's nice to just have someone tell you what to do. Especially someone who avoids dramatic battles. Her goal was basically to make Azula queen, and once I was back in the palace, she just wanted me to flex that I had power over our cooks and servants."

Athlea raised an eyebrow and slightly tilted her head to the side, looking at him. "It's not a power to be royalty..." she started. "Power is to give kindness to everyone, and kindness to yourself--that's how I view someone who claims to be Royal. Your status doesn't define you. Your actions do." She nodded to herself. "My dad went against the entire Fire Nation policy, and especially your father, to be with my mother, as well as countless other selfless things he did that your father might or might have not known. The fact that he was a Royal commander gave him an advantage. An advantage he used to do some good while he could," she explained calmly.

Zuko shook his head. "Look at my father. It is power. It should turned into kindness, yes. Either way, Mai wasn't... like this." His last two words came as little more than a breath. He leaned forward, kissing her, clutching the back of her shirt. Athlea's eyes closed, her hands moving to cup the back of his neck. After a moment he pulled away from her, holding her head in both his hands, using his thumbs to brush her hair back. "We should sleep," he sighed. "Master Athlea is supposed to force flame from me tomorrow." She rolled her eyes. He bit his lip, grinning, and her cheeks broke into a blush again.

"Oh... I will force the flame out of you," she promised, looking at him, determined.

Athlea woke Aang and Zuko early. They started their training together, then she separated them, leaving Aang to practice moves on one side of the garden and working with Zuko on his flame on the other. Sokka and the others gathered one by one, waking on their own, watching.

"Harder!" Athlea said, raising her voice at Zuko. He sat meditating, a flame in his hands. It flickered but didn't grow. "What's this little flame? I want an entire big one!" she demanded, crossing her arms as she stood there watching him. "Think of something that would make your blood boil, something that would require your determination and motivation. Something to make that fire come out!" Her voice was strict and serious.

"I'm working on it," Zuko told her, pushing his arms out in front of him as if to prove his point. He narrowed his eyes at her, then looked at his flame. The flame blew like it was windy for a second, but that was it.

Aang's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm slightly terrified," he mumbled to himself.

"Get back to work!" Athlea snapped, noticing Aang slacking. The Avatar immediately turned and went back to work.

Katara glanced at Athlea, her eyes narrowed. "Aang doesn't work well under aggression," she told Athlea. She brushed her arm against Toph.

Toph giggled. "It's funny seeing Twinkle Toes and Zuko struggling and getting yelled at," she said. Katara rolled her eyes and stepped away from Toph.

"It's funny seeing Zuko getting shouted at," Sokka commented with a chuckle. "Ey yo! Zuko! How's it going? Any dragon fire coming out?" he teased.

"Meanie," Toph said, laughing.

Zuko's head snapped toward Sokka, his eyes already burning with anger, narrowed. "Shut up!" he finally screamed. The flame in his hands swelled for half a second. It exploded with a loud pop, then returned to its former, smaller size.

Sokka sat there silently for a moment. "Well... hehe, I'mma go... See ya!" he said, immediately standing up and leaving the garden. Katara smirked.

"Can we take a break?" Aang asked.

Athlea furrowed her eyebrows as if thinking. "Okay, let's take a break," she said calmly.

Aang let out a sigh and sat down on the grass. "Phew, finally." He laid down and smiled, watching the sky. Zuko flicked his wrist and cut the flame off, sighing.

Katara settled next to him. "You're getting a lot better," she encouraged him.

He looked at Katara and he gave her a big bright smile. "Thanks Katara! I think so, too! But I can't wait for Zuko to teach me as well." He nodded.

Athlea looked at Zuko, and she raised an eyebrow. "I want you to fight me," she stated bluntly.

***

A/N soo... yeah. Athlea. crazy. also, can we appreciate the cover for this chapter? eh? see-through background? eh?