Sorcerer (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 7: Bitter Work

*un-edited*
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(a/n): bonjour.
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Third person POV:

"Uncle, you were unconscious, Azula did this to you, Saori helped clean the wound and healed you." Zuko told Iroh. "It was a suprise attack."

"Somehow that is not suprising." Iroh sat up.

"Saori offered to make tea, but I wanted to make it for you. I hope I made it the way you like it." Zuko gave the cup to the man.

Iroh took a sip as the bitter tea made him frown. He tried his best to hold the expression in. "It's good. That was very, bracing." Iroh smiled as he threw refilled tea out the window.

"So uncle, I've been thinking, it's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I need to know more advanced firebending if I wanna stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say, she is my sister and I should be trying to get along with her."

"No, she's crazy and she needs to go down."

Iroh stood up with a little difficulty. "It's time to resume your training." He looked around the demolished structure before speaking again "Where is Saori?"

"I don't know.." Zuko looked down. "She told me that she would be gone for the next couple hours."

Time skip

"Lighting is a pure form of firebending. Without aggression, it is not fuelled by rage or emotion like other firebending is. Some call lighting the cold blooded fire, it is precise and deadly like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind." Iroh explained.

"I see, that's why we are drinking tea, to calm the mind." Zuko spoke.

"Oh yea, good point." Iroh smiled. "I mean, yes."

Time skip

"There is energy all around us, the energy is both yin and yang. Positive energy and negative energy. Only a select fer firebenders can seperate these energies. This creates an imbalance, the energy wants to restore balance. And in the moment the positive energy and the negative energy come crashing back together, you provide release and guidence creating lightning." Iroh spoke.

Zuko lightly stepped back as Iroh generated lightning. It hit a nearby cliff.

"I'm ready to try it."

"Remember, once you release the energy, you do not control it, you are simply it's humble guide." Iroh reminded. "Breath first."

Zuko did as told and followed the steps which Iroh had did. But instead of lightning, a explosion greeted the prince, throwing him back.

Time skip

"Why can't I do it?! Instead of lightning it's keeps exploding in my face! Like everything always does." Zuko shouted.

"I was afraid this might happen." Iroh walked to the prince. "You won't be able to master lightning until you've dealt with the turmoil inside you."

"What turmoil?!" Zuko shouted.

"Zuko you must let go of your feeling of shame if you want your anger to go away."

"But I don't feel any shame at all. I'm as proud as ever."

"Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame but, it's source. Through humility is the only antidote to shame."

"Well, my life has been nothing but humbling lately."

"I have another idea." Iroh spoke. "I'll teach you a firebending move even Azula doesn't know. Because I made it up myself."

Zuko turned to Iroh as he smiled.

Time skip

"Fire is the element of power, the people of the fire nation have the desire and will. And energy to achieve what they what. Earth is the element of substance, the people of the earth kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom, the air nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also apparently they had pretty good senses of humor! Water is the element of change. The people of the water tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of commity and love that holds them together through anything."

"Why are you telling me these things?"

"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements and the other nations will help you become whole."

"All this four elements talk is sounding like avatar stuff."

"It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful too." Iroh poked Zuko's chest with his stick. "You see the technique I am about to teach you is the one I learn by studying the waterbenders."

Time skip

"I think Saori will be better to teach you about waterbenders considering she is one." Iroh lightly pointed to Saori who was reading a scroll.

"Very well." She walked to Zuko. "Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy, a waterbender let's their defence become their offence. Turning the opponent's energy against them."

"Thank you Saori. I'll take it from here." Iroh smiled. "I learnt a way to do this, with lighting."

"You can teach me to redirect lightning?"

Iroh nodded. "If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips upto your arm, your shoulder, then down into your stomach. The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the sea of chi. Only in my case it is more like a vast ocean." Iroh rubbed his belly and laughed. "From the stomach you direct it out the other arm."

"The stomach detour is critical, you must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly. You may wish to try a physical motion to get the feel of the pathways flowing. Like this." Iroh took a stance as Zuko followed him.

"Now, are you focusing your energy? Can you feel the chi flowing in, down, up and out?"

"I think so.."

"Come on, you've got to feel the flow." Iroh waved his arms.

After a few more tries Iroh spoke out again. "Excellent. You've got it."

"Great. I'm ready to try with real lightning." Zuko smiled.

"What? Are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous."

"I thought that was the point. You teaching me how to protect myself from it."

"Yes! But I'm not going to shoot lightning at you!" Iroh protested. "If you're lucky, you may never have to use this technique at all."

"Well if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning."

Time skip

Saori found Zuko sobbing on a rock in the middle of a thunderstorm.

She jumped next to him and made a sheild to stop rain from soaking him any further. Bending as much water as she could off his cloths, she pulled him up and guided him back to Iroh.

Forcing him to take a bath she waited for him to finish outside. When Zuko opened the door she walked inside and dried his hair with a towel.

She sat down next to him when he flopped down onto her lap, the fatigue catching upto him.

He held onto her skirt and tightened his grip whenever she tried to leave. After multiple failed attempts she accepted defeat and lightly fiddled with his hair, drifting off to dreamland herself.

Unknowingly, seeds of love planted themselves into the teenagers hearts.

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Published- 24th May 2022
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1200< Words