Chapter 26 - Firebending Display

---Avatar World---

"Please ensure this gets to Lu Ten at the front lines.", I said handing a chestplate I had previously purchased on Earthland to a messenger, "Here's your tip."

Handing him a few silver coins, the messenger's eyes lit up excitement. Assuring me that it would get there in two weeks or less, he took off running to get the package out. Hearing him cheering loudly as he ran out of the area, I couldn't help but crack a smile.

"I guess the royal family doesn't usually tip...", I said to myself, "Bunch of arrogant pricks."

Closing my door, I took a seat at my desk to review the map I had found in my room. The maps in this world were rather crude, but it at least gave me something to work with. Heading southeast from the capital would get me to the Southern Water Tribe territory, but pinpointing the village they live in would be a massive pain for me. From my recollection it was just a bunch of igloos near a small bay...not something that really stands out in a land of ice and snow. Sure there was the old Fire Nation ship nearby, but I knew that one couldn't be the only ship stuck on ice there.

'Besides which finding that specific ship in a sea of ice is going to be tough.', I thought, 'Especially because I have to limit my magic use to not stand out. Fortunately I can use Lightning, Fire, and Explosion Magic for now as Firebenders can use them depending on their skill.'

Deciding that I would head out to the territory the Southern Raiders controlled at night, I would first need to confirm if they had already killed Katara's mother Kya. If they did, I would take revenge for her and free any prisoners they had before making it look like a storm destroyed their base and killed everyone. Fooling the military into thinking a storm killed the prisoners and the Southern Raiders would be easy enough.

Stowing the map in my storage, I headed out of my room to wander around for a bit. Seeing Zuko and company playing in the garden, I decided to take the opportunity to do some research in the library. Casually walking down the hall towards the library, I ended up running into my adoptive grandfather as he left the War Room. Bowing my head, as that was the normal sign of respect, I greeted him as Fire Lord Azulon instead of grandfather like Azula did to spite him.

"I see Iroh did not skip out on your etiquette training.", he said with a firm nod, "Ursa informed me that you have blue flames, is that correct?"

"Yes sir.", I replied politely.

"Show me at once.", he ordered.

Forming a small blue sun in my hands, he nodded his head with approval. I could see a spark of interest manifest in his eyes, presumably he saw it as a sign I was a powerful asset.

"Good, I was against letting Iroh adopt you, but you are more than competent enough to be adopted into the family.", he said with another nod, "Follow me immediately."

'Damn you old man!! I had fucking plans, but now I am playing obedient grandson!! Acting kind to this jackass is a pain, but I can't go killing him yet. Iroh has to be here to take power, killing Azulon now will give Ozai an opening.', I thought hiding my anger.

Following him out to the Training Grounds, he told the trainer there to have some of his strongest men fight me. Apparently he wanted to test my combat ability as well as my skills in live combat. Pulling the biggest guy out of the group to fight me, the warrior wore a smug grin on his face.

"Your pretty well built for a kid.", he chuckled, "I am going to show you what a real warrior looks like!"

"Thanks?", I replied with a confused look, 'I forget the muscle heads in this world are mostly idiots...though there are some intelligent ones.'

"You will fight until one of you surrenders or is rendered unconscious.", the trainer said raising his hand, "Fight!"

Immediately going for a punch to my face, I casually smacked his hand away. Engulfing my hand in blue flames, I sucker punched the guys in the jaw. Watching his his eyes roll back into his head, I pulled my fist back and watched him start swaying. Falling to the group in a heap, the trainer stood there looking dumbfounded. Evidently he thought I was all bark and no bite.

"...the winner is...Prince Mael...", the trainer stated with a pale expression.

"That was a poor excuse for a fight.", Azulon remarked in annoyance at the trainer, "Are you sure you are a competent enough to be training our elites? My adopted grandson knocked him out in one punch. Our elites are supposed to be powerful, not someone a child can knock out in one blow!"

"I...I understand, I will have more of my pupils fight him at once. It is clear that General Iroh was wise to adopt him.", the trainer said trying to kiss up to the Fire Lord.

Suggesting he have four people fight me next, I hatched an idea. Since Azulon liked powerful individuals, I decided to use that to my advantage. If I could get to the Southern Raiders without needing to use stealth, I would do it.

"Fire Lord Azulon, I wish to make a request of you.", I said kneeling respectfully.

"Speak.", he replied.

"If I beat all of the trainees here at once, I wish to join the Southern Raiders temporarily to further my training. As you have seen, the trainer is incompetent but is supposedly the best in the nation.", I stated, "I want to be of more use to the nation, and getting battlefield experience is the best way to do that."

Feeling him stare at me for a moment, I knew there was a very high chance he would approve. With Lu Ten in the picture, allowing me out of the palace to have battlefield experience wasn't an issue. Moreover, he didn't like me much to begin with so it would also get me out of his sight for a while as well.

"Very well, if you can defeat them I will allow it.", he approved, "Do not hold anything back against him. If he dies, he was all talk."

With permission to kill me if they could, the remaining trainees were out for blood. Insulting their teacher, insinuating they were weak, and being brazen enough to challenge them all at once infuriated them. Not evening waiting for a signal from their trainer, they all rushed me together. Deciding to flex on them a bit, I used the martial arts knowledge I had to beat the shit out of them without using magic.

Using the pressure points I had seen Ty Lee use in the show, the stronger pupils found themselves lying on the ground in moments. Throwing the weaker ones around like ragdolls, I beat each of them to a pulp in pairs till there was only a pile of bodies. Looking at me in horror, the trainer started sweating terribly like he knew his days were numbered.

"He didn't even need to use bending to fight them...this is a waste of his skills.", Azulon stated in anger as he praised me, "Mael, prepare to leave immediately. I will have you sent to the Southern Raiders base tomorrow morning."

"By your orders Fire Lord Azulon!", I replied giving him the standard martial art bow I had seen in so many karate movies.

Leaving the area promptly, I wanted to get my things packed then read in the library for a bit. After I left, things shifted in the Training Grounds.

---3rd Person POV---

"You called father?", Ozai said arriving a short time after Mael left.

"It is my understanding this man is Azula and Zuko's private teacher, and the trainer for our elite soldiers, correct?", Azulon stated slightly annoyed his son didn't refer to him properly.

"Yes, he is their trainer.", Ozai replied looking at the medics treating unconscious trainees, "Did he try to harm you!?"

"Of course not, your adopted nephew Mael defeated all of the trainees single handedly.", Azulon told him, "To my knowledge, the boy is self-taught in academics and combat...yet he has surpassed Azula in skill. It is my assessment that he is an even greater prodigy than she is."

Clenching his teeth in anger, he took offense to that but couldn't refute it publicly. Keeping his anger in check, he looked at how badly the people were beaten yet only one had burn marks. Noticing what Ozai was looking at, Azulon informed him that Mael defeated almost all of them without using bending.

"Fire Lord Azulon...", Ozai spoke up sucking up to his father, "Surely you don't mean to-"

"I will not hear anything on the subject of the boy. As of today, he has my approval to be a full member of family. Raw talent and power like that must be in the royal family, I refuse to let the nobles claim him.", Azulon snapped, "Since he is not blood related, I suggest you make an agreement with your brother Iroh to have Azula marry him in the future. That will ensure his bloodline stays in the royal family."

"I...I understand.", Ozai replied using all his self-control not explode in anger, 'I will kill that brat myself!!'

"He leaves tomorrow morning to join the Southern Raiders for training. It was his request to go their for live combat training.", Azulon informed him, "As for Azula and Zuko's trainer..."

Ordering the trainer to be sent to the colonies to work the mines, Azulon told him to be happy he gets to continue living. Thanking him for his gesture of kindness, the trainer begrudgingly left. In the back of his mind he blamed the boy for causing him to lose everything in just a few minutes.

'I will kill that boy!! I will incinerate him into nothingness!!', the trainer seethed in anger, 'I will make him pay for robbing me of everything!!'

---Next Morning---

"Captain, we just received a message from the capital.", one of Southern Raider lieutenants said entering the Commander's Office, "Prince Mael will be joining our crew for a short time to get live training practice. We are to show him all the respects a member of the royal family are owed."

"Haha", Commander Yon Rha laughed, "Isn't he the adopted son of General Iroh? Where does the kid get off acting like he is a real royal, the Fire Lord hates him!"

"Sir...the order comes from the Fire Lord himself.", the lieutenant replied in a quieter tone, "The Fire Lord has officially made him a member of the royal family. Please be careful making such statements without reading the full details."

Spitting his tea out, Yon looked at the man in shock. Everyone in the country knew that Azulon was against the adoption of Mael by Iroh. Mael was the son of General Iroh's closest military commander, the whole reason Iroh adopted him was because his father gave his life to protect Iroh when an assassin tried to kill Iroh.

"To think the Fire Lord changed his mind...what the hell did that take?", Yon said.

"News from the capital says he single handedly defeated Master Igni's trainees...without bending.", the lieutenant remarked, "Master Igni has been sent to the colonies as well, the Fire Lord was very displeased by weak display the trainees gave."

"Just my fucking luck...", he spat, "Make sure the men know to treat him with respect, and don't provoke him. If he is that strong, he could kill us without any consequence...we are basically just rejects anyways."

Telling the Commander not to say it like that, he looked at his subordinate with a serious expression. Everyone here knew they were rejects, that's why they were out here attacking villages that could barely fight back. While the military liked to say they were a special unit...it was just really the place they sent people that didn't fit in with the normal military. It was their way of punishing insubordination, and what a punishment it was.

"...make sure a room is prepared for him.", Yon sighed taking the rest of the papers, "I can't wait to retire from this shit...I am too old to play babysitter."