Waterbending Lessons

-Maya's Point of View-

I woke up earlier than the others, and as the usual thing we do every camping, I went out to grab some firewood, after fixing up my sleeping bag, so that I could prepare our breakfast.

Just when I was about to start the fire, Katara suddenly sat up while rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"You're up early Maya..." she said with a faint yawn. "Good morning!" I greeted back. "Great morning as well. Let me just fix my sleeping bag and then I'll go help you," she replied.

"Sure thing! No rush!" I said. She packed up her sleeping bag, went up to the saddle, and then she came running towards me while tying up her hair.

"Have you started the fire?" she asked. "Ugh... No..." I answered and then I let out an awkward laugh. "I've been rubbing these stones, but I still got no spark." I continued.

"Here let me show you," Katara said and then she sat beside me. She took the two rocks from my hand and then she said, "You have to hit it hard and fast. You also have to do it closer to the dried leaves and twigs so that even if you make just a faint spark, the leaves will easily catch it."

"Once you do all that..." she said and then she hit the two rocks towards each other. "Tada! Fire!" she exclaimed. I quickly fanned the small flame so that it would grow bigger and not burn out.

"Thank you for the help Katara," I said. "No problem! What are you planning to cook anyways?" she asked. "I was thinking about vegetable stew. I figured you guys would like to have some warm comforting soup after all the tiring things we did yesterday." I answered.

"That's great! I'll go get the water. You go prepare the vegetables." Katara replied. I nodded my head and then she went out to do her part.

I looked at the growing fire and then as I keep staring at it, a thought suddenly went into my mind.

'Creating campfires would've been easy if I was a firebender.'

I stared at it for a few more seconds before suddenly realizing what I just thought of.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO BECOME A FIRE BENDER?! Why the sudden thought? Where did that come from? That was seriously random.

I shook my head then I stood up to go and get the vegetables so that I can prep them for cooking. That was a very weird thought Maya, why would you think of that all of a sudden?

After a few more minutes of prepping and cooking, it was finally time to have breakfast.

"Rise and shine sleepy head!" Katara shouted at Sokka. I went towards Appa where Aang was laying down and I tried to wake him up, but even before I get to say a word, he already spoke.

"I'm awake," he said. "Oh, how long have you been up?" I asked. "Couldn't sleep," he replied. Aang sat up while facing behind me.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He didn't answer. I suddenly heard Katara's voice just beside me and she said, "Aang you're awake! Time for breakfast!" I looked at Aang who seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

"Uh... We'll catch up with you later Katara. Go ahead and have breakfast first." I said and then I placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't say another word and she walked towards the campfire.

"Do you wanna talk?" I asked Aang. He's still facing his back at me. "No... I don't know..." he answered. I let a deep sigh as I sat behind him. "I don't really know what is going on inside your head but, if you're not going to have breakfast, then I won't as well. I'm going to just sit here until you feel better." I said.

"You shouldn't do that," he said while tilting his head to look at me. "I should not, but if it's what it takes for you to not feel lonely then I would," I answered while tilting my head to look at him back.

I saw a faint smile on his face which made me smile a little too. Suddenly he stood up and said, "Let's go have breakfast." Together, he and I went down off of Appa's saddle and join Katara and Sokka.

"Are you okay now Aang?" Katara asked as we sat down. "Kinda? I'm not sure," he answered. "What's the matter anyways? Why are you so down and gloomy on such a fine day?" Sokka asked. It took a while for Aang to answer but he said, "It's what Avatar Roku said."

All of us went silent for a moment.

Aang's serious face suddenly was full of rage and then he shouted, "UGH! I NEED TO MASTER THE FOR ELEMENTS BEFORE THE END OF SUMMER AND I STILL EVEN HAVE TO LEARN TO CONTROL MY AVATAR SPIRIT!"

"Calm down Aang. We'll figure everything out." Katara comforted. "Yeah Aang, we'll take things one step at a time, just like what I've always told you." I agreed. "That's the reason why we're on this journey anyways; to get you to the north pole and get you a waterbending teacher," Sokka added.

Aang cooled down for a bit before saying anything. "We need to get going," he said. "We'll go when breakfast is over," Katara answered as she held onto Aang's hand.

A few minutes later, after having breakfast, we went on again on our journey to the north pole.

Aang flew on top of Appa's head when Sokka stopped him. "Wait Aang, let me lead Appa this time," he said. "Why?" Aang asked. "I just don't think you're in the right mind to drive," Sokka said and then Katara agreed with him. "Yeah Aang, I think you should sit back with me and Maya on the saddle for this trip. You need to rest," she said.

Aang agreed with the siblings and she sat at the back of the saddle next to Katara. While I sat in the front near Sokka.

It has been just half an hour ago since we had a quiet flight when suddenly, "AH!" Aang shouted. He quickly stood up and franticly walked in circles on the saddle.

"Aang what's wrong?" I asked. "Would you sit down?! If we hit a bump you'll go flying off! What is up with you anyway?" Sokka said.

"I'm supposed to master all four elements before that comet arrives! THAT'S NOT SOMETHING EASY TO NOT WORRY ABOUT!" Aang answered. "Well let's see... You've pretty much mastered airbending and that only took you a hundred and twelve years. I'm sure you can master three more elements by next summer." Sokka teased.

I hit him on the head after he said that. "OW!" he exclaimed. "Not funny Sokka," I said. "Do not disturb the driver," he replied.

"I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED WATERBENDING AND WE'RE STILL WEEKS AWAY FROM THE NORTH POLE! WHAT AM I GONNA DO?!" Aang shouted.

I was about to hold on to his hand and make him sit down but Katara got to me first. "Calm down! It's gonna be okay." she comforted. "If you want, I can teach you some of the stuff I know." she continued.

"You'd do that?" Aang asked. Katara nodded as a reply and then she looked down to the horizon. "We'll need to find a good source of water first," she said.

"Maybe we can find a puddle for you to splash in." Sokka teased. I gave him a glare and then he looked at me and shrugged.

I helped out in looking for a nice place with lots of water and from a distance, I saw a river with a waterfall. "Over there! That looks like it's good enough." I said. "Let's go there Sokka." I continued.

We flew to where the waterfall was and safely landed there. As soon as our feet touched the ground, all four of us looked at the majestic waterfalls.

"Nice puddle," Sokka said with a disinterested tone. I looked at him and then from my peripheral vision, I saw that Appa was about to go on the river to bathe, but he still has the saddle on with our stuff. "Wait Appa! Let me take off your saddle first!" I yelled.

I rushed to where Appa was and I unbuckled his saddle. As soon as it was off, the 10-foot large bison splashed onto the river. It made a huge ripple that soaked Momo with water who was resting on top of a rock in the middle of the river.

Good thing I was not near enough the river that's why I didn't get wet, as well as our stuff.

Appa then rolled around the river, enjoying the fresh and cool feel of the water. "Yeah! Don't start without me boy!" Aang shouted as he strip down to his undergarments and was about to jump on the river with Appa.

"Remember the reason we're here." Katara said making Aang stop. "Oh right... Time to practice waterbending." Aang said as he puts back his clothes on.

"Great. So, what are we supposed to do?" Sokka asked while pointing at me. "You guys could clean the gunk out of Appa's toes?" Aang said as he handed two branches of a tree with a bush of leaves at the tip.

"So, while you guys are playing in the water, we non-benders are supposed to be hard at work picking mud out of a giant bison's feet?" Sokka complained. To which Aang replied, "Mud and bugs!" with a smile on his face.

Sokka looked at me and I looked at him back. After that, he said, "Okay." unenthusiastically and took the two branches and handed me the other one.

Great...

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-Zuko's Point of View-

I was in the middle of firebending training with one of my soldiers when suddenly we both fell out of balance.

"Someone's changing our course!" I yelled.

I hurriedly went straight to the ship's cabin where I find my uncle and the other crew playing some silly old board game. I headed towards the helmsman and asked, "What's the meaning of this mutiny?! No one told you to change course!"

"Actually someone did." I heard my uncle say from behind me while sitting down in front of the board.

"I assure you it is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko." he continued. "Is it something to do with the Avatar?" I asked.

"Even more urgent. It seems I... ugh... I've lost my lotus tile." he answered and then he made a move on the game they were playing.

"Lotus tile?" I asked confusingly. "For my Pai Sho game. Most people think the lotus tile insignificant but it is essential for the unusual strategy I employ," he explained.

"You've changed our course for a stupid lotus tile?!" I angrily asked him. PLEASE DON'T TELL ME HE IS SERIOUS.

"See, you like most people underestimate its value. Just give me 10 minutes to check the merchants at the seedy merchant's pier. Hopefully, they'll have the lotus tile in stock, and I can get on with my life." he answered.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S REALLY SERIOUS WITH THIS. UGH!

There's really nothing I can do, if I didn't let him, he wouldn't stop bothering me about it for the next 10 days! Might as well just give in to his crazy ideas! THIS IS SO ANNOYING!

I let out fire out of my mouth as I grunt my anger away.

"I'm lucky to have such an understanding nephew." I heard my uncle say.

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-Maya's Point of View-

Sokka and I are now cleaning Appa's body while he floats along the waters. I was scrubbing his left foot while Sokka was on the right. I suddenly heard Appa growl and then Sokka said, "Yeah, don't get too happy. You've got to do me next."

"And how do you expect a large magical bison to rub your toes?" I teased. "With however he wants to do it," he replied. I chuckled at what he said and then from the corner of my eye, I saw Katara and Aang practicing waterbending.

Seeing how Katara was bending the water, suddenly made me... jealous.

"Don't slack off on the job Maya, Appa's got four more feet that need some scrubbin'." Sokka suddenly called. "Oh right... yeah sorry." I replied and then I went ahead with the second feet on his left.

As I was cleaning, I can't erase the thoughts of bending inside my head. I don't know, there's just this part of me that really wants to learn how to do the bending.

"Sokka..." I called him. "Yeah?" he answered. "Have you ever had that feeling of wanting to, you know, learn how to bend elements?" I asked him. He looked at me confusingly and then he asked, "Where is that question coming from?"

I just shrugged at him and answered, "Just a thought I guess?" and then I went back to cleaning and so did he.

"Are you perhaps jealous of Aang and Katara?" he suddenly asked. "What? No! I mean, I guess? But not angry or jealous. I mean..." I franticly said before letting out a deep sigh afterward.

"It's just that... There are times when I feel like, I would've been more useful for everyone if only I had bending abilities too. Being a non-bender is kinda lame..." I continued. I looked at Sokka and his brows were crossed on me.

"I'm not saying you're lame, it's just that, I'm lame! You get it right?" I explained and then I awkwardly laughed. "Oh forget what I said... Let's just get back to cleaning..." I continued.

I went back to cleaning and then I suddenly felt Sokka's hand on my shoulder. I turned around to face him and then he said to me, "You know Maya, you're not lame, and most importantly not useless," he said.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better..." I replied. "No. These aren't just empty words. I'm telling you the truth Maya, you might have not realized it yet but you're actually important to this team. You're the one that's keeping all of us together." Sokka continued.

I turned my head away from him but he held my cheek and made me look back at him. "With or without powers, you are amazing, awesome, and great. You might not have been a bender like those two weirdos, but at least you got your mind and guts! You are the most creative person out of all of us and you know the ways of martial arts. Don't forget that about yourself." he added.

I smiled at him and hugged him. "Thank you, Sokka. You may not be my real brother, but you'll always be a brother to me." I said. He broke off from the hug and then he said, "Now let's get back to scrubbing."

I chucked a little and then I replied, "Yeah all right! Haha!" and then both of us continued to scrub away the dirt in Appa's feet.

I was thoroughly scrubbing the dirt off of the giant bison when suddenly a huge wave appeared right before my eyes.

"Uhh... Sokka?" I called him. He looked back at me and asked, "What?" before noticing the giant wave about to splash at us. "AANG? KATARA?" He shouted and I hurriedly tried to get off of Appa before the wave crashed but I was too slow.

The water pushed us off of the bison and into the river. I hurriedly went to the surface while coughing my lungs out. "Help! I can't swim!" I shouted. I felt Sokka's arm wrapped around my waist we both swam onto the bay.

We're now sitting on the ground where Aang and Katara were practicing their waterbending skills. "Looks like I got the hang of that move. What else you got?" I heard Aang ask Katara. "That's enough practicing for today," Katara answered in an irritated tone.

"Yeah, I'll say! Not only have you almost drowned the two of us, but you also 'practiced' some of our supplies down the river!" Sokka shouted. "Oh... Sorry... I'm sure we can find somewhere to replace all this stuff." Aang suggested.

With a big sigh, Sokka stood up and slowly walked, towards the saddle where some of our other supplies were able to hang on. "My life was hard enough when you were just an airbender," he mumbled under his breath.

I stood up and dried my clothes a bit and told them, "I saw a marketplace just down the river bend. We can go check it out." I then tried to dry my hair afterward.

"Let's go there!" Aang exclaimed and then he blew air onto me. My hair and my clothes quickly dried up after he did that, and then he hurriedly went towards his staff without saying a word.

I looked back at him and said to myself, "Ugh... Thanks?"

"Wait! Someone's got to stay and look out for Appa. We can't keep on leaving him alone in the open like this." Katara said. "Well, you are right... Maya, you should stay." Sokka suddenly said.

WHAT? But I kinda wanna go too...

"Oh, okay! I'll make sure to keep an eye on Appa and our other stuff." I replied. As much as I would like to go but, alright. I'll stay. Besides, it's been a while since I had time for myself.

"Let's hurry to the market so we can come back here as soon as possible," Sokka said and then he proceeded to walk away. Aang went beside me and he said, "We won't take long. If something happens run away with Appa and come find us."

I nodded my head as a reply and then I waved them goodbye.

As soon as they were out of sight, I went to the saddle and took out my mother's chest.

"Should I read one?" I asked myself. I looked at Appa who was now looking at me and then he just scoffs. I suddenly heard the tendering sounds of running water through the river and I remembered what Aang and Katara were doing a while back.

I slowly place my mother's chest away and went closer to the river. I stared blankly at the waters and carefully inspected if there were anyone here besides me.

After seeing that I'm the only person here. I slowly took the stance of a waterbender and tried to do the actions Aang and Katara were doing back then.

"Okay Maya, this is crazy, but you got to at least try," I said to myself. I tried bending the water that was in front of me and as expected nothing happened. I tried a few more times before finally giving up.

"What was I even thinking? Of course, it wouldn't work." I said to myself as I slowly walked toward where Appa was sleeping. I sat down beside him, completely drowning in my thoughts.

"I want to do it! I really want to do it! I want to bend too!" I shouted before burying my face in Appa's fur. I felt the Bison turned its head to look at me, so I turned to look at him too.

"You're lucky, you can airbend just like your owner," I told him. He scoffs at me and then he looked away.

I just don't get it. How come my mother was a master bender but I am not a bender at all? Is my father a nonbender and did I get this from him? UGH!

Wait a second... Mom's bending wasn't originally water. What if...?

I suddenly jolted up and walked a few steps away from the bison. I turned around to face the river once again and I said to myself, "If water won't work, then maybe fire would."

Without any idea of how to fire bend, I stretched my arm in front of me while looking at my palm. "Okay, concentrate..." I said to myself as I try to make a fire appear on top of my left palm.

Usually, the fire would just immediately come out at will, based on my observations of how the other firebenders do it.

I looked sternly at my palm hoping it would work. "Come on..." I said to myself. I can feel it. I can feel the energy flowing through my palm but no fire.

Then suddenly out of nowhere, Appa started growling and going all around while making a loud noise. I was startled by him that's why my concentration stopped.

I hurriedly went to the uneasy bison who was just about to fly. Luckily I was able to hold on to his rope and pull his head down.

"APPA STOP! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I yelled. He went like that for a few seconds and then he calmed down. "What was that all about?" I asked him.

After all that Appa just did, I then looked at my left palm and then touched it with my right hand.

The left palm feels hotter than the right.