Chapter 2 The Boy In The Iceberg & The Avatar Returns Part 2

Choosing to put your faith in something, a

symbol, something that would end the war-that could fix everything-

She wasn't sure she was selfless enough for

that.

But if she chose to stay, she knew she had a

home. Had a place here. These were the people she had known. The life that she had led. Was she truly ready to just let go of it? The seasons changed, but she always found herself unprepared for them.

Azira sat up, staring at the same four metal walls in front of her. This ship, her home, for the past two and a half years, it hadn't changed. Her room remained the same, modest and small.

A sword on the wall, a small drawer with her

clothes. The same three pairs of clothes,

including her pajamas that she was in. It was

just so-so mundane. If she stayed, if she chose this life, she would never be able to leave.

She stared at the water in a glass by her bed-

roll. She was alone. She could do it. Slowly,

stretching out a hand, Azira let the energy flow from her fingertips and down to her palm. The tug in her gut unfurled and the water curled upwards, flowing in a steady ball.

And she knew. She knew what she was going to

do.

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Dressed in the same drab gray and red uniform, Azira watched from the sidelines, sharpening her sword. Zuko stood on the deck of the ship,hands outstretched as he stared down the two guards in front of him.

"Again" Came the stern voice of Iroh.

Zuko moved first, as always. She had served

with him for two and a half years now. She knew his movement patterns before he did, half of the time. Fire spilled from his palms, shooting out in opposite directions towards the guards.

They turned, avoiding the heat of the flames.

The guard to the right blasted at him and Zuko jumped in the air, spinning to the side and blasting fire down as he retook their position.

Coming to a stop, Zuko moved to go again, but lroh was on his feet in seconds. "No!" He said firmly. "Power in firebending comes from the breath! Not the muscles! The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire!"

Iroh punched forward in the air, exhaling as he did. Fire puffed from his fist powerfully. When Iroh firebent, it was a dance. Part of art. At least, it was to Azira.

"Get it right this time!" Iroh commanded.

"No!" Zuko insisted. "It's enough. I've been

drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready."

"You have yet to master the basics. Drill it

again!" roh said in a steel tone.

Zuko just sneered and turned. He kicked with his leg powerfully, and a burst of flames licked forward, knocking one of the guards to the ground. He turned back to Iroh in annoyance.

"The sages tell us that the avatar is the last

airbender. He must be overa hundred years old right now! He's had more than enough time to master the four elements. I will need more than basic firebending to defeat him! You will teach me the next set!" Zuko snapped.

Iroh just exhaled, yet again. He had the patience of a god when it came to Zuko. "Very well. But first, I must finish my roast duck. Perhaps while you wait, you may finally try to beat Azira." He suggested, a smile appearing on his face.

Zuko let out a huff, side-eyeing his friend, who looked up from her sword. It was true, he was the firebender. But she always had his back, sword in hand and moving faster than anyone he had ever met.

Her talent was practically unmatched when it

came to battle. He had yet to stop her without using firebending. And he usually ended up losing control and trying to use firebending when it came to facing her.

"Well?" Zuko asked in a snappish tone.

She raised her eyebrows. "ls that how you ask me to spar with you?" She asked in a light tone.

The seventeen year old prince just let out a sigh of exasperation. Azira had never been afraid to call him out when he wasn't treating her like a friend should. Because he had been the one to insist they were friends, not just a prince and a soldier.

"Will you spar with me?" Zuko grumbled out,

gesturing at the deck.

At that, Azira rose to her feet, smiling lightly as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. "l'd be happy to, thank you."

Sword in hand, she walked forward to the center of the deck. Zuko backed up a few paces, features set as he stared her down. Iroh looked up from his duck, mouth full. "Make sure there's no firebending this time!" He said, although they mostly had to imply that that's what he had meant.

Rolling his eyes, Zuko looked back at Azira. Hesurged forward and she spun, slamming her sword towards his face. He ducked and she slashed downwards. Jumping back quickly, he narrowly avoiding having her slash through his head.

Staying low, Azira swept his leg with the edge of her sword, sending him flying in the air. Zuko managed to catch himself, kicking at her head. His foot connected with her jaw and she stumbled backwards, rubbing at the sore spot that was forming on her face.

She lunged forward, stabbing at him. He twisted to the side, then grabbed at her wrist, bringing his other hand down on it to force her to release the sword. It clattered to the deck with a clang and she brought her knee up, sending him backwards.

He picked up the sword, grin on his face. Before he could so much as make a move, Azira had started forward and kicked him in the face. He let out a groan of pain as her foot connected with his nose, and then blindly stabbed at her.

She dodged the hit and then came up, managing to grab his wrist. "Truce?" She breathed out, slightly out of breath.

He gave a nod, relenting and releasing her sword. For a moment, the two of them just breathed, staring one another down. "I got your sword this time, Zuko said in a smug tone.

"Had to happen at some point." Azira stated, sheathing the sword. "I think I prefer when we fight side by side."

"Agreed." Zuko said, then turned his attention back to lroh. "Are you done yet?" He demanded.

Iroh let out a deep sigh. "I am ready."

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Azira waited outside the door to Zuko's chamber, not daring to move an inch. She was always perfectly in place. Always ready to have his back. At any given time. Her hair pinched against her head, tightly bound in place and hanging low down her back.

Hand on sword, she stood at attention as Zuko exited his room. He glanced at her as she fell into place. "Speak freely."

"Two and a half years. All for this. Are you ready?" Azira asked, voice a tad softer than she had intended.

Zuko spared her a glance. She always walked on his left side. He had never asked her to do it, it had always just been something she had done. With his vision worse in that eye, and his hearing not as good as the other one, she instinctively knew.

It was why he trusted her so much.

"l'm about to find out." Zuko admitted.

Azira wished they had more moments like this. Where he wasn't just the Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. Where they could just be kids. But the fact of the matter was that they were nearly adults. And their childhoods had been stolen from them before they even really knew what childhood was.

She was by his side as the ship came down, landing platform skidding across the icy plateau where the Southern Water Tribe resided. The Southern Water Tribe; in another life, this would have been her home.

Would have been her people.

And now, they were probably going to leave it in flames.

Something unnatural twisted in her stomach. And for the first time in her life, Azira recognized it as guilt.

She hated it.

Expression ice cold and neutral, she followed Zuko down the landing plank. As they approached, a yell ripped through the air and her eyes landed on a boy sprinting at them. He couldn't be any older than her or Zuko.