AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 8

The next morning, Athlea was training both Zuko and Aang, but nothing too advanced. She was wearing a white sports bra with black hemming, black pants lined with pockets and clips. She had started with meditation--something she noticed Zuko struggling with. Next were the beginner fire moves that Aang needed to learn. Of course, Zuko knew them and didn't need to take part. He just watched. It didn't take long for Athlea to finish with Aang for the day.

"That wasn't too bad!" Aang said. "Easy--the movements are easy."

"I'm not going to throw you into the hard ones, am I? Firebending isn't as easy as it seems," Athlea explained.

"Of course it isn't. Remember when you were struggling with earthbending? Gosh, that was hilarious." Toph had a pleased, satisfied smile on her face and Sokka chuckled.

"Trying to carry that big rock. Ahh... good times," Sokka said.

Katara and Zuko exchanged a glance, and the firebender turned to Aang. "Remember that fire spreads. Firebending is dangerous and deadly."

Katara giggled. "Give him a break," she told Toph. "Earth bending is the complete opposite of air bending." Her face twisted as she tried not to smile. "But rescuing Sokka from getting stuck in a hole in the ground?" She covered her laugh with a hand.

Toph laughed at the reminder. "HEY!" Sokka protested and pouted, looking away with his eyes closed and arms crossed. "At least I made a friend!" he said.

Katara rolled her eyes at Sokka. "Your 'friend' was an animal you were oh-so-carefully hunting," she reminded him. "Didn't his mother try to kill you?"

Athlea looked at Zuko. "I kept you separate because we need to find out your ambition and drive first. Once that happens, you get your fire bending back."

Zuko turned his attention to Athlea as she spoke. He nodded in agreement. "I think my uncle and mother could be part of that," he admitted.

Athlea crossed her arms. "I also noticed your lack of focus during meditation. Or, lack of relaxation. You're too tense." She walked around him in a circle. "You know the basics, you know how to fight, you don't need to learn. You need to learn how to control your breathing. We need to find what drives you deep within." Athlea finally came to a stop behind him.

Zuko watched her circle him, back tensing. "I can't push away my thoughts," he told her. "I don't really... relax." He stopped talking as she stopped behind him, confused and anxious with someone behind him. "Uh... should I turn around, or...?"

Athlea remained behind him. "Exactly." she said. "You have to relax. Otherwise... I am going to force the fire out of you."

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A/N a pretty short chapter, but this gives us a good insight into Thea's character