Fire & Rain: Book 1

The Firebending Masters

Y/N's POV
I stood staring in the mirror at myself, rubbing my temples.

Everything makes sense now.

I don't look anything like my parents.

This is why they had me work so hard, they didn't want the best for me, they didn't look at me and see greatness- they wanted me to make up for my impurity...

I am from the Water Tribe, I am a water bender... I wasn't born here, I wasn't from the Fire Nation...

I always thought that being a water bender meant that one of my parents was a liar- but it turns out they were both liars.

They let me think that I belonged, they let me think that I was going to grow up to be a great general for my country- this isn't even my country, I'm just a low-life from the Water Tribe.

Everything I worked for, everything I've dedicated my entire life to, it's meaningless.

My mind was loud, but it was so loud that I could barely hear it- the sound rung into the deepest depths of my soul and I felt like everything inside me, everything that made me who I am, was crumbling, this facade that I had unknowingly created of myself had been revealed, and I have been reduced to nothing.

Zuko's POV
"I know you're nervous, but remember, fire bending in and of itself is not something to fear."

Aang exhaled and looked up at me,

"Okay. Not something to fear."

I folded my arms and sternly stated,

"But if you don't respect it, it'll chew you up and spit you out like an angry komodo rhino. Now, show me what you've got. Any amount of fire you can make."

He inhaled before taking his stance and throwing his arm out, but all that he created was a measly puff of smoke.

He awkwardly turned back to me and hung his head,

"Maybe I need a little more instruction. Perhaps a demonstration?"

"Good idea. You might wanna take a couple steps back."

I inhaled before punching forward, but my flame was... tiny.

I stepped back, puzzled,

"What was that? That was the worst fire bending I've ever seen."

"I thought it was nice."

I ignored him and tried again, but again, I produced the tiniest flame.

I groaned and gritted my teeth,

"Why is this happening!?"

Aang scratched his head and suggested,

"Maybe it's the altitude."

I turned away from him,

"Yeah, could be..."

We went lower down in the temple and I tried again, but again, only produced a tiny flame.

"Just breathe and..."

I punched, but I was only producing the tiniest flames I had ever seen a fire bender create.

Aang looked up at me,

"That one kind of felt hot."

I snapped back,

"Don't patronise me! You know what it's supposed to look like!"

"Sorry, sifu hotman."

"And stop calling me that!"