The Firebender

Azula Ruins My Shirt

"Element, element, element, go!" I yelled, shooting my hand out in a fist, for Earth. Looking through our hole in the wall, I could see Iroh's hand wiggling its fingers--fire. "Ha!" I laughed. "I win again." 

Iroh sighed dramatically, and I could hear him fall over in his cell. "Oh no! It seems I have been bested. Clearly, you are the Avatar here, Jiera." 

I laughed, ignoring the sun's heat as light poured into my cell. Why they couldn't afford actual roofs on these cells was beyond me. I still hadn't convinced myself to do my daily workout yet, since it was so hot. Iroh and I had been playing Elements Go!  for about an hour now, and we were both bored out of our minds. Whoever won the most rounds each day got to be called, "Most Might Avatar" by the loser for the rest of the day, and so far, things were looking up for me. On top of that, Iroh had been giving me firebending lessons everyday, just verbally, giving me movements to practice and techniques he used to increase his fighting capabilities. It was nice to finally have someone to teach me, rather than having to do it all myself.

Reminding myself of that mess was a bad idea, I realized, as anxiety rolled through my stomach again. Thinking of my past just reminded me of my brother, and that just brought up the fear of his fate. 

"You are thinking of him again." Iroh's voice suddenly sounded from the cell beside me. He was very perceptive of my mood changes. 

"How can I not?" I asked simply. "I left him alone in the time where he needs me the most." 

"You sacrificed your freedom for him, Jiera. That is the ultimate proof of love. You were nothing but brave and selfless."

I shook my head. "I don't feel  selfless. It feels like I'm obligated to rescue him. Like I have no choice. I can't tell why I'm doing it. Maybe I'm just too proud to admit I need him more than he needs me." With the the use of fingers back, I began trying to file my nails into a more manageable shape as Iroh thought of what to say.

"I have a feeling you both need one another desperately. When children are starved of love at a young age, they tend to rely on others to guide them. Perhaps without even knowing it, you guide your brother, and he guides you. And now you have both lost your guides, so you are searching for a path with no eyes. You both do not realize you could just open your own eyes."

Open my own eyes. I sighed. I wished desperately it was that simple, but it wasn't. As the door to my cell opened, I didn't bother to flinch as I'd become accustomed to the noise, and it helped that Zuko had kept his promise about Killie. The same guard who fed Iroh entered my room with a small smile, closing the door behind her quietly. 

"Hey Ming." I greeted, a small grin lighting up on my face. I was certainly glad I had her taking care of me now.

"Hey!" She smiled back, sliding the trey of food under my door and making sure no one was coming. "Sorry about the wait, Azula gave me some trouble on the way down." 

That was odd.

Seeing my look of confusion, Ming, sat cross legged in front of me. "She was telling General MingCheng that they're taking you out today. I don't know where, but the Agni Kai Prisoner Tournament is tonight and I'm assuming that's where they'll take you. So I'd stretch out if I were you."