The Deserter

Getting dangerously close to Fire Nation colonies was something that always seemed to set Azira on edge, not that anyone could really fault her for that. Still, there was something that felt like home about it.

Standing in the forest's edge and eyes landing on a sign-board, Azira let out a tired sigh. It had been a long week for them, traveling after Bato left, and trying to mend Aang's lies.

"This should give us a good idea what's around here." Katara stated, eyes falling on the board with papers strung up everywhere

"See if you can find a menu! I'm starving" Sokka admitted.

"Well there's a surprise" Azira said, crossing her arms in slight amusement.

"I bet we'll find something to eat here! The Fire Days Festival-"

At that, Azira's ears perked up and for the first time since being with the group, she seemed genuinely excited. "Fire Days is here?!" She blurted.

Everyone turned to her and Aang had a big grin on his face. "You know it?"

"It's a traveling festival! I used to go to it when I was a kid." Azira admitted, somewhat shy about the truth

"Well what do they have there?" Sokka questioned, curiosity winning him over.

"They show the Fire Nation culture, both anciently and currentiy. There's also a lot of fun, like jugglers, acrobats, magicians..it would actually be a good place for Aang to see some non-harmful Firebending" Azira admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

Sokka crossed around the edge of the board, looking at the other side. "You might want to rethink that." He deadpanned. "Take a look at this."

Hurrying to the other side, Azira was met with the sight of a wanted poster. Clearly on the side for passerbys to be on the lookout, there was also a poster of the Blue Spirit. Noting the fact that she had helped Zuko create the vigilante, Azira swallowed dryly

"It's a picture of me!"

"It's a wanted poster." Azira corrected sharply, eyes falling on the boy. "Which means that we need to keep moving."

"But Az, I have to learn Firebending at some point." Aang pointed out.

Yes, and there's a natural order to things." Azura argued.

This could be my only chance to watch masters up close!" Aang pled.

"Well.." Katara started, thinking about it for a moment. "I guess we could go check it out."

"Wait!" Azira exclaimed. "If youre really insistent on doing something so stupid, its fortunate that this festival is usually done in masks!"

Aang's face lit up. "Masks?

"We'll be totally disguised!" Azira insisted. "And to be fair..I can keep an eye out for trouble."

It was the only time she had ever really asked Sokka for anything. Take note of that matter, he let out a deep sigh. "l really thought you'd be on my side here."

"Usually l am, but." She trailed off, eyes trailing over to the hill. Just beyond that resided the village.

"l get it. But don't come crying when I say I told you so."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Azira kept her hood low, eyes set on the inky black sky. Fireworks of brilliant reds and golds showered overhead and she couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Sniffing the air, her nose was hit with the smells of rich flavors and spices.

It made her eyes water with thoughts of what used to be her home. And with all of the acrobatics, she couldn't help but think of Ty Lee, so at home in the circus. So at home with who she was.

Azira quickly found her way to the mask stand, hands going to a golden one that had curves on the cheeks. She purchased the mask, then handed a few to the others. "Here, this will help you blend in."

"Thanks, Az!" Aang said, face bright with a grin thanks to his mask.

They wandered through the market and Azira pointed ahead at a stand. "They have food up there, but"

"Wonderful!l"' Sokka rushed forward, taking a bag of Fire Flakes from the man. Before Azira could so much as warn him about their rather hot flavor, he had shoved them in his mouth and was nearly weeping from the heat. "Sorry-I did try to warn you." She said, shaking her head at him.

"Look over there!" Aang said, pointing to the children's portion of the festival. A ways away, some children had gathered around a small stage with puppets

"No one can defeat the Fire Lord!" Said the puppet of Fire Lord Ozai, blasting fire at the Earthbender puppet.

Azira nearly snickered. Zuko would have probably scowled at the portrayal of his father. Fire Lord Zuko was much more terrifying in person, this she knew to be true. After all, she had met him a few times and was anxious to leave those meetings in the past.

Aang kept wandering around, with Azira just taking in the sights, perfectily content to follow him around the festival. "Up there are Fire acrobats! They're amazing and--"Her eyes landed on a booth of Fire Lilies and she lit up, hurrying off towards them.

When her eyes laid on the ich red of the Fire Lilies, she couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. "What are these?"

She nearly jumped at the sound of Sokka's voice near her ear. She smacked him in the arm, shaking her head at him. "Warn a girl next time." She stated.

"Sorry. You got excited. You don't usually do that." Sokka said, even though he didn't really sound sorry.

Facial features softening under her mask, she held up a flower. "They're Fire Lilies. You can only find them in the countryside of the Fire Nation. They're actually one of my favorite things about where I come from"

It was silent for a moment and then Sokka handed a coin over to the booth-keeper. "We'll take one!"

"Sokka, you don't have to-"

"But I want to." Sokka insisted, handing her the flower.

For a moment, Azira just stood there in stunned silence, delicate flower in her hand. She was glad she was wearing a mask, because her cheeks were burning. This was the first time that a boy had gotten her a flower. And she wasn't about to complain about that.

"Thanks, Sokka. That means a lot-

Before he could respond to her, there was an uproar in the crowd. Both Sokka and Azira turned, eyes set on the stage. "Do you think" Sokka started.

"Oh yeah."

They hurried forward, eyes landing on a de-masked Aang standing on the stage, airbending tattoos visible for the world to see. Booes erupted throught the crowd and they rushed forward, rushing to get to Aang and Katara before the Fire Nation soldiers could.

"Time to go" Sokka started.

"Follow me! I can get you out of here!" A hooded figure called.

Azira mentally weighed her options. Fight off an entire town of bloodthirsty Fire Nation citizens or follow the hooded guy who they knew nothing about-it was a no-brainer, really.

They turned tail, following after the man. He led them through the village, cutting down alleyways and behind homes. "Okay, not this way-" The man eyed the soldiers cutting them off.

He threw something forward, presumably a firework, which exploded in front of the soldiers. The smoke covered their escape down the next alleyway. They came to a stop in front of a wall, which held all of the fireworks.

Just then, a low groan filled the air. Azira's eyes flew upwards, glad to see the oversized sky bison floating above them. "Appa, down here!" Aang called.

With Appa's terrifying descent, the soldiers fleed the other way. They scrambled aboard, flying away from the town and towards the forest. Azira just eyed the man suspiciously.

"You were a Fire Nation soldier, weren't you?"

The man turned, a half-grin on his face. "Yeah. My name is Chey. I serve a man, well, he's more than a man. He's a myth. But he's real. Jeong-Jeong the deserter-

"You're kidding!" Azira blurted, eyes wide. She had heard all about him from her father, back when she had lived in the capital with him

Chey looked proud. "No, I really do! He was a general, or maybe an admiral-

"Very highly ranked." Sokka interjected with slight annoyance.

"Way up there! But he couldn't take the madness! He's the first person to leave the army and live! And l'm the second! But you dont get to be a legend fort Azira gave a shrug. "Speak for yourself" for that Chey continued.

"The point is that Jeong-Jeong is a Firebending genius! He's enlightened!" Chey exclaimed.

"There's a Firebender out here that's not with the Firelord?" Aang's jaw dropped. We have to go see him! He can train me!"

"We are not going to go find some crazy Firebender!" Sokka insisted.

"He's not crazy!" Chey and Azira said at the same time.

"Listen, Jeong-Jeong has been around for as long as I can remember. He's a real threat to the Fire Nation." Azira added. "My father had the task of hunting him down, but..he abandoned that quest.

"Your father?" Chey asked, gaze narrowing.

She let out a deep sigh. "You're not the only one who deserted the military. Azira, of Prince Zuko's guard."

Chey's jaw dropped. "You're kidding! The whole nation's heard about you! They say you're an evil seductress who is trying to assissinate the Fire Lord.

"Oh goodie."

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Azira sat on the banks of the river, eyes set on Jeong-Jeong and Aang, who were getting ready to begin the Firebending lessons. She had many questions for the man, but he seemed to show little interest in speaking with her.

But still, she knew about Firebending. And she wanted to watch.

"You must widen your stance!" Jeong-Jeong barked at Aang.

"Wider!" Azira added, earning her a sharp look from Jeong-Jeong. For a moment, she just sat there, frozen and still, but he gave her an approving nod.

"You must concentrate!" Jeong-Jeong said to Aang, then began to walk off.

"Wait, but what do I do-"

"Silence!" Jeong-Jeong commanded. "Talking is not concentrating. Your friend does not talk while she bends!" He pointed out Katara, a little down the bank who was silently practicing her moves.

"But what am I concentrating on?" Aang asked, tilting his head.

"Feel the heat from the sun. It is the greatest source of fire. It is in complete balance with nature"

"When do I get to make fire"

"Concentrate!" Jeong-Jeong barked. With that, the man had grumbled off into the forest.

Azira dusted herself off, getting to her feet and wading into the river. "So Katara, how about a friendly match?"

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Jeong-Jeong walked along the river later that night, a war-weary expression on his face. His eyes landed on Azira, standing still in the water and watching the crescent moon.

"You are Arun's daughter." He said in a quiet voice, coming to a stop next to her.

"You knew my father?" She asked in slight surprise.

Jeong-Jeong just smiled knowingly, in the same way that Iroh used to. "He was my best student."

"I didn't know that you taught him. I thought he was just..sent to hunt you down."

A heavy sigh released from the man. "He was. And he let me go."

Her gaze narrowed. "Why would he do that?" She asked, turning to look at him.

"For the same reason that he did not turn you in for being a waterbender." Jeong-Jeong said, eyes falling on the girl.

Her lips parted in surprise, a gasp half-tearing from her lips. "What-"

"You think a man as intelligent as your father does not know what his own daughter is?"

"But he-

"Did not want you caught up in this war. But you are anyway. You were born into it, because of what you are. But you, you understand the balance, unlike your Avatar friend."

Azra fell silent, mind racing and unsure of what to say

"You are aggressive, young one. But you carry your father's strength in you." Jeong-Jeong's voice was quiet. "He warned me that you might find me one day."

It was too much for her to process-

The fact that her father knew that she was a waterbender, that he had let Jeong-Jeong go-

"He is not ready." Jeong-Jeong said with another sigh. "And it will push him."

"Aang is capable of a great many things. I believe in him. He may not be ready yet. But he will be, one day." Azira said in a firm tone, finally managing to create a coherent sentence.

"Funny. Your father said the same thing about you."

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"I just, I really think that we need to leave." Sokka said, packing up his stuff.

Azira pushed off of the wall of the hut. "l agree. But Aang seems perfectly insistent on skipping ahead in his learning."

"The Fire Nation soldiers already know we're here though! The scumbags will probably be looking for us-*

"Why do you call them that?" Azira asked, eyes falling on the ground.

"What?"

"You don't need to be so mean all of the time." Azira added, in a snappish tone.

"I don't understand, Az-"

"I'm part of the Fire Nation too, Sokka! Everytime you talk about them like they're some kind of monsters-how do you think that makes me feel?

"Az-*

She just shoved the wilted fire lily at him. "Whatever!" With that, she had stormed off down the bank.

As she walked down the hill, her eyes landing on Fire Nation boats rowing up the river. Panic struck in her chest and she shook her head. That couldn't be good news. Not at all.

They needed to get out of here, and fast.