Hot Leaf Juice

SCRAPPED CHAPTER

Chapter 14: trying to get stronger

I didn't sleep that night, I spent all night working on my bending; improving, learning, working until I get strong enough to be known as someone else. I am not just Azula's sister, I am zora. I am strong and kind; smart and funny. I am not just a runaway or Zuko's baby sister. A tool for Azula's training. I have to be more than that. I will be more than that. Even if it kills me. I sat on deck meditating until the sun rose. I stood and started bending again. Going through every single combo I know. Over and over again, I was going to do this until I mastered them and was ready for every advance set.

I kept going for hours past sunrise. I'm sure I looked like a mess and several crew members walked by. Not one of them questioned me. Some stopped to watch but no one intervened. That is until my hand was grabbed stopping my flow. I growled in irritation before looking up. Uncle stood in front of me, Zuko slightly behind. Uncle Iroh looked concerned while Zuko looked pissed. I shrugged Uncle off before turning, continuing to bend until I was tackled to the ground. I growled out in frustration again shoving whoever was holding me down before giving up. Glaring up I finally realized who was holding me down, Zuko, no wonder I wasn't able to shove him off. I'm never strong enough.

"How long have you been at this?" came Uncle's calm voice.

"Not long." I lied looking away.

"Enough! What's gotten into you? It's been all night" Zuko replied irritated.

"How would you know"

"If you had slept you would've ended up in my room" I rolled my eyes at his response.

"Maybe I didn't have a nightmare."

"You've had nightmares every single night for over five years," he said glaring straight at me.

"Enough" Uncle stated, still calm as ever before gently pulling on Zuko's shoulder. Zuko grunted before standing and Uncle offered me a hand. "Why don't you eat some breakfast and after you can show me what you were working on. From there I can assess what to teach you next and we can then talk about why" I let out a small noise of agreement before walking off to the dining room. Ignoring the glare and Zuko's obvious disagreement.

The food was served and I picked at it; I wasn't hungry. All I could keep thinking about is bending. I was powerless against Zhao's stupid soldiers. The pirates almost beat me even though I should have been able to handle it. Azula always is able to outsmart me in training and beat the ever living crap out of me. I even got outsmarted by the water tribe teen. Zuko wouldn't have been, Azula wouldn't have been but I was. I took a few bites of food when I noticed my Uncle staring at me intently. I ate a few more bites before pushing the food away.

"Are you finished," Uncle asked me as he sipped some tea having already finished his food. I nodded once.

"You barely ate anything," Zuko pointed out annoyed.

"So what? You skip meals all the time"

"That's different!"

"How so?"

"It's just different!" He exclaimed before shoving back from the table and stalking off. I rolled my eyes and Uncle Iroh let out a sigh.

"You know he's just worried"

"If he's so worried he wouldn't be acting the way he is" I replied stubbornly.

"Zora, his anger gets the better of him, you know this." I felt myself getting angrier and I stood up from the table stalking off to the deck again to continue training. Zuko wasn't present which means he probably stomped off to his room to meditate. I heard footsteps behind me and saw that Uncle had followed me.

"Excuse me, bring me a table and some tea please," Uncle asked a guard who was walking by.

"Right away sir" the guard replied before rushing off.

"Hey Uncle, isn't the point of mediation to calm the mind and bring peace?"

"Yes it can be about that, why do you ask?"

"Because Zuko must be doing it wrong." Uncle laughed at that and I started my bending. Not waiting for instruction. I started through the warm-up stances and easily breezed through them. I let out a breath of air before angrily bending through the different sets I knew. Shooting fire out towards the horizon. I started to zone out and think about that stupid water tribe boy and how he outsmarted me. My bending getting stronger with my rage before my arm was grabbed gently stopping my flow and making me come back to focus.

"Anger shouldn't be the thing fueling your bending Zora" Uncle stated. I pulled my arm out of his grasp, turning to face him.

"I know that Uncle! But I'm so angry that it's just sort of happening."

"Why don't we talk for a bit and drink some tea" I let out a sigh before nodding knowing it wasn't a suggestion. I made my way over to Uncle Iroh and took a seat next to him as he handed me a cup of tea.