Avatar The Last Airbender: Water and Fire [ON HOLD]

Chapter 22 - Waterbending

Waterbending

Mastering Water

The next morning, Azula, Zuko and Ursa, were pleading me to stay longer, but I declined. “I’d like to, but I have larger commitments now. I need to play my role as the Avatar’s Disciple, and master my bending skills,” I said firmly. “Well, why can’t you learn here? You are a fire-bender too, Mi Li. Stay with us; I’ll be your teacher,” Azula offered. But I shook my head, “Not now, Azula. I will return to the Southern Water Tribe to master water-bending first. But also, I have to master the Spiritual State, which means I need to be with Aang – and he’s going to stay in the Southern Water Tribe for some time,” I said apologetically. She sighed disappointedly.

“It is fine children. Let Mi Li go; she has a destiny to fulfil,” Lady Ursa said, to hush Azula. But Zuko was hesitant, “Well, if you need any help, feel free to come to us,” he said graciously. I nodded my thanks, and Aang jumped onto Appa. I climbed aboard, and the both of us waved goodbye. There, stood friends that I would truly treasure and miss while I tended to my duties. There was Mr and Mrs Yen – my surrogate parents, Azula – my first ever fire-bender friend, Zuko – whose courage and strength I admired significantly, and Lady Ursa – whose sacrifice reflected the love I saw in my own parents.

The journey back to the Southern Water Tribe was tranquil. We were no longer in any hurry to get anywhere, and I enjoyed the flight much more than in the last few trips. The long journey gave me time to reflect on recent events - so much had occurred since the day I openly revealed my past. I definitely felt proud about myself, and equally glad that my parents’ sacrifices would not be squandered. By carrying out my significant role, I would be making a positive difference, but most importantly I’d make my parents proud. I knew I couldn’t physically see them, but they could well and truly see me; and that was enough to keep me living.

Our return to the Southern Water Tribe sparked much excitement in the citizens, but the celebrations were not as formal. Immediately the next day, Katara and I began training. We started with the basic movements to build my foundation. But when Katara noticed that my right wrist was weaker than my left, she asked me why. “Oh, it’s just an old injury – a Fire Nation soldier broke my wrist as punishment,” I said quickly, wanting to change the subject. I didn’t want to let my injury hinder my potential. “Didn’t you heal it using water-bending?” she asked, holding my hand to inspect my wrist.

“I tried, but I wasn’t very experienced with healing using water, and it never fully recovered. I practice healing, to ease the pain that sometimes comes, but it’s been too severely injured. There’s nothing I can do to fix it now,” I said without much hope. “Are you sure about that?” Katara asked worriedly. I nodded, “I’m sure. But it’s fine; I’ve learned to live with it. I can still water-bend quite well. I’m not going to let this stop me,” I said firmly, giving her a reassuring smile. Katara stared at me quizzically, ultimately deciding to give me a chance.

“Would you like to challenge me to a duel then?” she asked confidently. I smiled, “Sure!” I replied excitedly. She smiled, “Very well, I’ll make sure to go easy on you. But pay attention – a good fighter isn’t only skilled, but resourceful,” she advised. I nodded and moved into my stance. She stood a few metres away, and readied herself. She gestured for me to attack first, so I sent a torrent of water in her direction. She easily redirected the wave, and sent it curving towards me. I felt the adrenaline rush, and merely dodged the counter-strike.

She gestured for me to attack her again, so I tried melting the ice below her feet. I moved the water up to engulf her figure, and tried freezing it to form an icy cage. But Katara had other plans, as she redirected the flow of the water behind her, immediately preventing me from freezing it. Then, with lithe she seized the opportunity to attack me. I heard a deep creaking in the ice beneath my feet, and before I knew it, I was submerged in freezing cold water.

As quickly as I had fallen in, I was pulled to the surface. I stood soaking wet, shivering from head to toe. “That is resourcefulness. You were only thinking of attacking, and didn’t prepare to defend,” she stated in a teacher-like tone. I nodded in understanding, and bowed respectfully to her – I had lost the duel, but gained knowledge from the experience. Bottom line – you don’t want to get wet out here, so do whatever you can to avoid it, I said mentally, as I quivered uncontrollably.

For four long months, I trained relentlessly. As time passed, my wrist seemed to adapt to the fluid movements of water-bending, and it no longer ached at the slightest rotation. With every stroke I performed, I grew stronger and more experienced. My weakness became my strength, and the fluctuating heat in my life settled to become cool and calm. For so long I had been under the influence of fire-bending – it was warm and full of energy. Now that I connected with water, the dichotomy between the two elements was outstandingly clear. Water was cold and flowing; intense practicing of water-bending, for months on end, offered me internal peace.

But finally, after five complete months of training by Katara, she labelled me as a master. “What? No way! I can’t be a master so soon,” I argued in disbelief. But she gave me a humoured smile, “Of course you can! You are naturally talented. Besides, you’ve worked vigorously the entire time, and what I’ve been teaching you is no different to what you’ve been practicing your entire life. It is only the incorporation of basic skills, and evolving them into the more advanced moves that I taught you. But frankly, your foundation was already quite sound, before we began training,” she said. I still couldn’t believe it.

“So, I’m a master now?” I asked in astonishment. She only nodded positively, and I was immediately elated. We had one last duel, as a final test of my skills. Once more, Katara gestured for me to begin, so I did. I launched a fury of attacks, throwing ice shards and hurling huge waves. She successfully diverted all my attacks, but seemed astounded by the speed of which I performed my moves. I ceased my frenzy, and indicated for her to attack. She complied without hesitation, and tried once more, to divide the ice shelf that we fought on. The ice divided into individual platforms, and that became our new battle ground.

We leapt from one ice float to another, whilst attacking at the same time. I chose a small ice float to make my stand. I stopped, turned to face her, and stood in a stable stance. She also stopped on a platform, but hers was considerably smaller than mine. I saw that her platform was not very stable, and decided to use it to my advantage. She launched a robust wave, in an attempt to sweep me off my platform, but I had learned my lesson. I easily froze the wave before it could touch me, and concurrently made the water under Katara’s platform rise like a geyser.

Not suspecting my simultaneous attack and defence, she was flipped off her icy platform and hurled into the water. I quickly moved to her position, and helped her to climb out of the freezing water. When I had brought her safely to the surface, she laid down on the ice, wet and breathless. I giggled, “Sorry about that, I thought you saw that coming,” I apologized light-heartedly. “That’s okay, I should’ve known better. But I must say – you are really good at performing simultaneous moves,” she managed to say, between chattering teeth and deep breaths. “Thanks Katara,” I said smiling proudly. She laughed, “I suppose that makes us even then, huh?” she stated loudly. I giggled and helped her stand.

“Wow, Mi Li, that was amazing!” shouted someone familiar. We both turned towards the voice, and saw Aang standing on the shore, where the ice was thicker. “Aang!” Katara exclaimed, as she hopped onto platforms of ice to get to the shore. Once there, she tackled Aang with a huge hug. “I’m so glad you’re back; I’ve really missed you,” she said sweetly. Aang blushed slightly, “I’m glad to be back too,” he said as he shifted closer into their embrace. I giggled at the sweet couple, and also made my way onto the shore.