Avatar The Last Airbender: "Touched By Fire And Earth" (Toph Beifong)

S3Ep12: The Firebending Masters

I stood by, ready to observe Zuko's first lesson with Aang. As a stand-in master, I had no issue with this arrangement, especially since my Firebending abilities were gradually returning, making me feel more like my old self.

"I understand you're feeling nervous, but it's important to remember that Firebending itself is not something to be afraid of," Zuko began, initiating the lesson.

Aang let out a relieved sigh and rubbed his hands together. "Okay," he muttered, trying to reassure himself. "Not something to fear."

Suddenly, Zuko interjected with a cautionary statement. "However, if you don't show it the proper respect, Firebending can overpower you and leave you vulnerable, much like an enraged Komodo Rhino."

Aang gasped at Zuko's words, causing me to step in and fulfil my role. "Let's begin by having you demonstrate what you can currently do with fire. Show us any amount of fire you can produce," I urged.

Aang stood up, took a deep breath, and assumed a Firebending stance. He thrust his hand forward, but instead of fire, only a cloud of black smoke emerged. Aang turned to us, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Perhaps I require further instruction. Maybe a demonstration would help?" he suggested.

Zuko took charge of the situation, suggesting, "That's a good idea. You might want to take a couple of steps back."

Assuming his Firebending stance, Zuko inhaled and exhaled, thrusting his hand forward, but to everyone's surprise, only a small flicker of fire emerged. It was underwhelming, and Zuko expressed his disappointment. "What was that? That was the worst Firebending I've ever seen," he exclaimed, clearly dissatisfied with his performance.

Aang attempted to offer some reassurance. "I thought it was nice," he said, trying to uplift Zuko's spirits.

I couldn't help but chuckle, looking at Aang. "Don't sugar-coat it, Aang. That was terrible," I remarked, unable to hold back my amusement.

Zuko shot me a glare. "Fine then, show us how it's done," he challenged me.

Stepping forward, I positioned myself in my Firebending stance. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing, inhaling and exhaling deliberately. Then, with a swift motion, I thrust my arms forward, unleashing a burst of fire. However, my limited abilities quickly became apparent, and the flames dissipated after just a few seconds.

Over the course of the next few hours, Zuko made numerous attempts at Firebending, but to no avail. It was becoming increasingly perplexing, and I couldn't help but wonder why he was facing such difficulties. We all gathered around a crackling fire, seeking warmth and solace.

Zuko decided to present his predicament to the group, expressing his frustration and seeking advice. It was then that Toph chimed in, suggesting that Zuko needed to rediscover the true essence of Firebending, which lay in the knowledge of the dragons. However, Zuko quickly added that this was impossible since the dragons were extinct.

At that moment, an idea sparked in my mind. I brought up the Sun Warriors, another ancient civilization closely tied to Firebending. While they too were extinct, I believed that there might still be remnants of their knowledge and teachings that we could uncover and learn from.

As the morning sun bathed us in warm light, I found myself comfortably seated on the saddle, with Aang confidently guiding Appa through the skies.

Zuko leaned against the side, lost in his own thoughts. I took a moment to indulge in a daydream, my mind wandering to thoughts of Toph, relishing the brief escape from reality. However, my daydream was abruptly interrupted by Zuko's voice.

"We've been riding for hours," Zuko complained, his impatience evident. "I don't know why, but I expected this 'thing' to be a lot faster." He let out a sigh of frustration.