Balance | Old Version

Chapter 103 (The Firebending Masters)

Elua's POV.

Zuko had decided to show Aang the basics of firebending and seeing as I already know them, I don't need to relearn them. But, I had decided to watch anyway. Though, Zuko's firebending was...wimpy? He had tried to demonstrate how to create fire but when he did, not much happened. So, we've been here for a while watching Zuko try to firebend.
"Just breathe and..." Zuko trails off as he tries to firebend again, but only a tiny flame happens.
"That one kinda felt hot," Aang says.
"Don't patronize me. You know what it's supposed to look like!" Zuko shouts in annoyance.
"Sorry, Sifu Hotman," Aang says. I honestly have no idea where he got 'Hotman' from.
"And stop calling me that!" Zuko exclaims.

"You ever thought of, I don't know...calming down?" I ask as I sit on a rock beside Zuko and Aang.
"I don't need to calm down. I need my firebending to work!" Zuko exclaims as he tries to bend again, but the same thing happens.
"That was impressive," I say nodding, making him turn to me with a glare.
"Hey, jerks," I hear Sokka say from behind me. "Mind if I watch you two jerks do your jerk-bending?" He asks jokingly as he sits down beside me.
"Get out of here!" Zuko shouts in anger.

"Ok, take it easy. I was just kidding around," Sokka tells him as he stands back up. "Are you in on the Jerk bending lesson?" He asks me.
"No. I'm here for moral support," I tell him.
"Take her with you," Zuko tells Sokka.
"I am hurt, Zuko. Truly, truly hurt," I say jokingly as he stands with his arms crossed, glaring in annoyance. 
"Gladly," Sokka says as he grabs my hand and we begin to walk away from the other two. "Jerk bending. Still got it," He says with a laugh.
"Sokka..." I say with a smile on my face as I shake my head.

That Night.

Everyone was sitting around the campfire, eating dinner when Zuko finally decided to join us.
"Listen, everybody, I've got some pretty bad news," Zuko says. "I've lost my stuff," He states.
"Don't look at me. I didn't touch your stuff," Toph says as she holds up her hands.
"I'm talking about my firebending. It's gone," Zuko states. Suddenly, Katara laughs. We look at her confused. What could possibly be funny about that?
"I'm sorry. I'm just laughing at the irony. You know...how it would have been nice for us if you lost your firebending a long time ago?" Katara says with a smirk.
"Well, it's not lost. It's just weaker for some reason," Zuko says in confusion.

"Maybe you're just not as good as you think you are," Katara says as she sips her soup.
"Ouch," Toph says smiling in amusement.
"I bet it's because I changed sides," Zuko says, ignoring Katara's suggestion.
"That's ridiculous," Katara says
"No, it's not," I tell her. "Your firebending probably comes from rage, and you just don't have enough anger to fuel it the way you used to," I tell Zuko.
"So, all we need to do is make Zuko angry...easy enough," Sokka says as he stands up and nudges Zuko in the waist and head with the bottom of his sword several times.

"Ok, cut it out!" Zuko yells at Sokka. "Look...even if you're right, I don't want to rely on hate and anger anymore. There has to be another way," He says.
"You're gonna need to learn to draw your firebending from a different source. I recommend the original source," Toph tells him simply.
"How's he supposed to do that? By jumping into a volcano?" Sokka asks sarcastically.
"No. Zuko needs to go back to whatever the original source of firebending is," Toph states.
"So is it jumping into a volcano?" Sokka asks, almost sounding hopeful.
"No," I say shaking my head.
"For earthbending, the original benders were badger moles," Toph states.

"One day, when I was little, I ran away and hid in a cave. That's where I met them. They were blind, just like me, so we understood each other. I was able to learn earthbending, not just as a martial art, but as an extension of my senses. For them, the original earthbenders weren't just about fighting. It was their way of interacting with the World," Toph explains.
"That's amazing, Toph," Aang says smiling. "Elua and I learned from the monks, but the original airbenders were the Sky Bisons. Maybe you can give me a lesson sometime buddy," He says as he turns to Appa and smiles.
"Well, that doesn't help me," Zuko says as he crosses his arms. "The original firebenders were the dragons, and they're extinct," He states. I frown in confusion at his words.

"What do you mean? Roku had a dragon, so did Fire Lord Sozin. And there were plenty of dragons when I was a kid," I state with my head tilted in confusion.
"Well, they aren't around anymore, ok?" Zuko says harshly.
"Ok, ok. Sorry," I say calmly.
"But, maybe there's another way. The first people to learn from the dragons were the ancient Sun Warriors," Zuko says as he turns away from us and looks out at the night sky.
"Sun Warriors?" Aang asks in confusion as he walks over to Zuko. "Well, I know they weren't around when I was a kid," He states.

"No, they died off thousands of years ago, but their civilization wasn't too far from where we are now," Zuko states. "Maybe we can learn something by poking around their ruins," He suggests.
"It's like the monks used to tell me. Sometimes, the shadows of the past can be felt by the present," Aang says.
"So, what? Maybe you'll pick up some super old Sun Warrior energy just by standing where they stood 1000 years ago?" Sokka asks in disbelief.
"More or less," Zuko says with a nod. Either I find a new way to firebend or the Avatar and Nadir have to find a new teacher."

The next morning Aang and Zuko had decided to go where the Sun Warriors used to live, but I had made the decision to stay behind and I was beginning to regret it.
"Should I have gone with them?" I ask Sokka as I tap my foot nervously on the ground.
"Nah, they'll be okay," Sokka says, being completely chill about this.
"Are you sure?" I ask worriedly as I stand up and begin to pace.
"Okay, calm down," Sokka tells me as he grabs my hand as I walk past him. "Aang will be fine, don't worry," He reassures me as I sit back down beside him.
"Okay," I sigh, still worrying. Suddenly, Sokka stands up.

"Come on, let's go explore the temple," He says as he grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet and beginning to walk.
"Sokka, I've been here several times, there really isn't anywhere to go that I haven't been," I tell him with a soft smile as he drags be along with him.
"Well then, show me around," He tells me as he stops walking and motions for me to lead the way.
"Okay," I say as he lets go of my hand. "You gotta keep up though!" I tell him as I create an airball and begin to speed away laughing.

"Hey!"

The Next Morning.

Aang and Zuko had gotten back safely and they had told us all about their adventure. Apparently, the Sun Warriors were actually still around and helped Zuko get his firebending back. They both were now showing us their 'technique.'
"With this technique, the dragons showed us, Zuko and I would be unstoppable," Aang states as they finish their dance with their fists together and everyone claps.
"Yeah, that's a great dance you two learned there," Sokka says smugly.
"It's not a dance. It's a firebending form," Zuko corrects him.
"We'll just tap-dance our way to victory over the Fire Lord," Sokka says jokingly.
"It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old!" Zuko exclaims.
"Really? What's your form called?" I ask smirking. Zuko goes to speak but, stops. His shoulders drop and his face turns a light color of pink.

"The Dancing Dragon."