Fire and Ice: An ATLA Fanficion

Chapter Four: Long Lost Friend

"You've met him?"

Azula is silent for a moment.

"I've seen him around."

Now it's my turn to be quiet. What a strange answer...

"You know..." Azula starts again. "If you get captured, it's game over, you'll get sent back to your village and they'll probably keep you on the tightest watch you'll ever see, and forbid you from waterbending. Spirits, if I get captured it's probably game over for you too. You can't even pitch a tent, and you don't know your way around like I do."

I nod. "You're right, we'll have to lay low...I never even thought of that."

"See." Azula clicks her tongue. "You do need me."

"And you need me." I add.

"What? Preposterous, I do not need anyone but myself." Azula says and then immediately clutches her chest. "Ouch."

"Oh yeah? What about that fire inside you that's eating your soul? What about that?" I say cockily.

Azula clicks her tongue. "Well, yes, you got me there. I guess I do need you too."

I beam.

"When we get to Ba Sing Se, we are going to need to leave Yuki outside of the walls." Azula says. "And we're going to need disguises."

"What? No!" I sit up. "I can't leave Yuki!"

"Kaori, if we bring a giant owl leopard into Ba Sing Se we are going to stick out like a fire in the forest." Azula says, voice dripping with salt.

"Fine." I glance over to where my beloved companion is sleeping peacefully. "We'll leave Yuki outside the gates."

"Remember, the safer we are, the more cities we get to see!" Azula chimes.

I nod, looking out at the serene camping spot, the whole world before me.

"Well, I don't know about you but I'm taking a nap." Azula disappears inside her tent.

"Goodnight, Azula."

I would go to bed too, but...

I look out longingly towards the calm surface of the pond.

I step out into it, and to my surprise, the water is...warm.

I gently guide the water upwards with my hand, and around my body, in circles.

I step and turn 180 degrees, spinning slowly as the water turns around me. I pull it up from the unbroken surface in jets and then gently let it down so it does not disturb Azula or Kaori.

I jump out, letting them water help push me upwards, and then as I fall I breathe ice across the surface. As I land I kick forward and skate around the pond for a minute, then I spin on my heel and unfreeze it. I breathe evenly and close my eyes, and start to walk across the pond, believing it will support me.

The water feels like a long lost friend.

I sigh and let the water go, stepping out of the pond and whisking all the water that rests atop my body back into the pond.

"You done? I'm trying to sleep." Yuki thumps her tail.

"I am." I say sheepishly. "Sorry."

"That was some impressive work back there." Yuki says.

I smile, and nod. "Thanks."

I creep off to my tent and climb in, snuggling into the blankets and going to sleep, dreams of adventure following me.