Burning Soul (Avatar Fanfic)

Chapter 1

The morning air is chill, wind entering through every open crevice in the home. The slab I sit on is dirty and nearly frozen. Ignoring the cold I take a deep breath, I feel the air going into my lungs and focus on making it warmer and warmer. I let the heat escape my body and let it flow around me. Warm, turns into hot, it becomes more and more intense by the second. Until I feel the entire area around me set a blaze. I kept blazing the fire as I felt the corridors of the house getting warmer.

When I feel the blistering cold die down I focus my attention on what's in front of me. An old lady waiting patiently with a smile on her face. "Madam Omoiyari, why are you up so early? It's before sunrise," I asked. "I could ask you the same thing, you should be sleeping before your long day. I came down because these old bones were freezing. Wanted to toss down some firewood but instead I found you in the fireplace" She responded with a look of concern. I quickly try to scramble off the fireplace floor, but end up hitting my head on the overhang in the process. Mrs.Omoiyari contains her laughter as I finally pop out. "Yeah I couldn't really sleep tonight, and I thought that I should practice my fire bending before training." I responded. She placed her hand on my shoulder. "You know it's quite impressive to heat up an entire house by yourself being so young." I wave to her of "I'm sure others could have done it better" . I don't mean to be so standoffish but I don't like to talk about my bending ability. She picks up on this and quickly tries to change the subject. "Well dear you still have about a couple hours before the fire soldiers round you up, you want to enjoy some tea with me before the other children are awake, well if you can heat the kettle for me dearie." She places a kettle of room temperature water in my hand. I sigh, "is there any way to get her to give up."

Focusing on my palm I let loose a small amount of heat, in a few seconds I hear the kettles spout whistling. I carefully place the kettle on the counter. She pours us both a cup while I grab a log for the fire. I try to shoot a small fire ball towards the log but the flame refuses to leave my finger, each time I try to shoot it the fireball instead gets larger. With The flame enveloping my entire hand at this point I give up and simply touch my hand to the log. I sit back down at the table and start to enjoy my tea. Mrs.Omoiyari is chatting away with me, stories of the children and all the fun they have had at the house. I try my best to focus but my mind keeps wavering and I only hear snippets. Somehow she picks up on it "Mithius what is bothering you?" I sigh and let out what's been on my mind. " Princess Azula is evaluating my section today, looking for someone to join her personal guard." Mrs.Omoiyari thinks for a moment before responding "Well you shouldn't worry you'll perform just fine, you're a hard working soldier she'll be impressed." I gesture toward my hung uniform "She won't be impressed with a common swordsmen" "Well Mithius you're more than just a swordsmen you're a talented fire bender for your age despite your......." She is cut off by the morning Military horn. "We'll looks like you should get ready" I quickly adorn my fire nation uniform, In it I feel so powerful the symbols

All over me indicating I am a powerful member of the fire nation. I feel incredible.... Until it's time to put on the mask, the piece of white metal indicating that I'm nothing more than a common foot soldier, simple cannon fodder and nothing else.

I walk over to Omoiyari who is cutting bread for the morning breakfast. 6 slim pieces are laid out, from the looks of it it was from half a loaf "did our rations get cut again?" I wondered. I picked up a knife and sliced the end of the heel and took it for myself. "Mithius wait you can't just eat a scrap of crust, that wouldn't even feed a mouse." Without responding I headed to the door. I waved her goodbye and put on the mask that I hated so much. But I vowed to make it the last time, today at training I was going to make my mark.

The walk to the training grounds was typically very short. The district I live in is at the very edge of the city's border. However today the path seemed to stretch infinitely as my nervousness grew, and it wasn't just me soldiers who were typically loud and rowdy as quiet as mice. While our unit was very skilled and have won many battles we never would've expected the government to take much interest in us. The princess herself wanted to find her next champion among our ranks.

As I started to arrive at the training grounds I noticed 3 large seats perched on high stilts. I can only make out 2 figures on top of the platform, I tried moving to see if I could get a better view. I feel something bump into my chest, quickly I look down and grab the falling figure. ''Sorry about that I was just trying too........" Immediately I realized who I just ran into. Pink outfit? Brown hair in a ponytail? Someone who clearly doesn't belong on a battleground? I just ran into Ty Lee Azula's right hand man. "Lady Ty Lee?!I'm so sorry I wasn't paying attention. I didn't mean to disrespect you in such a fashion." While I was writing my will in my mind she let out a giggle "No it's my fault, I was distracted looking for a hot guard to talk too. But it seems you found me first." I didn't know how to respond. Is she really hitting on me? 'Oh? Really well.... it s...well..... I uh......." She giggles more "It's a shame that Azula isn't looking for a swordsmen, you would make a great addition to the team. Well who knows you seem like you're brimming with potential, speaking of Azula I should get back to her, so you can have this back." She tossed something to me quickly and I caught it, it was my mask?! How did I notice it, did it fall off? That thing has stayed on during intense battles! Ty Lee giggles as she hops away "Sorry I could help it I had to see your face" Quickly I blurted out my burning question before it was too late " Wait why are you reviewing our unit?!" Ty Lee without stopping yells back "Azula is interested in the warrior from the Omashu ambush" My body froze completely This Can't Be Happening!!!!!!! Why did that grab their attention? Why is Azula looking for me?