The Waterbending Scroll

Azira hissed in pain, tongue scraping against her teeth as Katara finished wrapping up her arm. There was a nasty scar that was forming. She was honestly lucky that the burn didn't go any deeper, or it would look much worse than it actually was.

Her entire body felt warm, far too warm and she hated the sensation. "Sorry, is that okay?" Katara asked in a gentle

tone

Blinking back tears, Azira gave a nod. "It's fine. I'll be fine, she said, although the second part was much more for

herself than it was for anyone else.

Her gaze wandered over to Aang, who was nervously pacing in Appa's saddle. For the past hour or so, Sokka had been directing Appa. "Will you sit down? We hit a bump and you're going to go flying!" Sokka insisted, glancing

behind at Aang.

"It's what Avatar Roku said! I'm supposed to master all four elements before that comet arrives!" Aang exclaimed.

Right, Sozin's Comet. The one that would be coming at the end of the coming summer. That was more than concerning. Normally, Avatars had a lot more time to master all of the elements.

They were on a time crunch right now, and Azira knew that she was going to have to step up and help Aang in some

sort of way. And probably Katara too. She had an advantage; she had bee | been taught by a waterbending master. They hadn't.

"Right, well, you've already mastered Aibending. Only took you 112 years.." Sokka murmured. "Im sure you can master three more elements by next summer!"

"I haven't even started learning waterbending and we're still weeks away from the North Pole! What am I going to do?!" He exclaimed.

Azura let out a wince. "Let's...forget the fact that I have questionable morals. I could teach you some of my techniques. Both of you" she said, glancing over at Katara.

Both Katara and Aang had wide eyes at the thought of it. "And I can help you with what I know!" Katara added to Aang.

Azira was sure that between the two of them, they could certainly teach Aang something at least. "You would do that?!" Aang asked, glancing between the two girls.

The seventeen year old just gave a weary nod and Katara glanced over the saddle. "We'd have to find a good source of water."

"Maybe we can find you a puddle to splash in." Sokka joked.

"Maybe l can find a river to drown you in." Azira deadpanned.

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

Staring at the waterfall in front of her, Azira could have honestly just died on the spot. That much water in one place, small lake, it made her practically buzz with energy.

"Its a nice puddle Sokka stated, narrowing his gaze.

Azira stepped into the water, bare feet relaxing at the feeling. She glanced over at Aang. "I'Il help as much as I can. But I'm going to need a minute to work on my arm."

Aang just gave a happy nod, heading off into the water with Katara. It took a moment for Azira to wade into the water, pain shooting through her arm at the uncomfortable sensation of water lapping against it.

She blinked for a few seconds, biting down hard. She gently rubbed water against the burn, black spots dotting in her vision again.

"Need some help?"

Glancing to the side, she found Sokka standing, somewhat awkwardly, to the side. Her first instinct was to bite his head off and tell him that she was fine, really. But the second, and stronger instinct, was to swallow her pride and tell the truth.

Gritting her teeth ever so slightly, Azira sucked in a breath. "Yes." She murmured.

Sokka was quick to return with new bandages, taking great care and patience to carefully wrap her arm so she wouldn't be in any discomfort.

"You're a good doctor." She said in a quiet voice.

He just grinned. "That's more Katara's thing. But I can be gentle."

"Well thank you." Azira finally got out. "l'm kinda used to just..dealing with burns on my own."

His gaze narrowed. "You are?"

"You live on a ship with Firebenders for enough years, you get into a few scrapes and training accidents." Azira wryly said.

"And they didn't help you afterwards?" He asked in a sharp tone

"I was a soldier. We were expendable. So no." Azira said. it's not my first burn. But it's definitely the one that hurts

the worst."

"Wasn't he your friend?"

Silence fell and Azira felt something heavy in her chest again. "Yeah she answered in a strangled tone. "He used to be." Forcing herself to look up as Sokka finished tying the bandage, she smiled "But I'ye I've got new friends now*

"And don't forget it"

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

"Are you sure you can't teach me anything advanced?" Aang asked, glancing up at Azira, who was walking ahead.

"Positive" she answered in a short tone, glancing over at the moody Katara. She understood, really.

Katara had taken months to learn and understand her craft, all on her own. Aang was starting to understand waterbending in a single afternoon. It was more than frustrating.

They walked through the market, Azira's heart set on finding some sort of healing salve for the burn she had sustained. It felt like it had been an eternity since she had joined Aang and the others.

Coming to a stop in a corner of the marketplace, Azira turned to Sokka. "How much do we have?"

"Exactly three copper pieces from what King Bumi gave us." Sokka answered. "We need to spend it wisely:"

Aang gave a wince. "Make that two copper pieces."

Azira flicked the back of his head. "What did you do?"

"l couldn't say no to this whistle!" He said, gesturing at the bison whistle. Placing it in his mouth, he gave a mighty blow, but nothing happened.

"Seriously?" Sokka and Azira questioned at the same time.

"It doesnt even work!" Sokka pointed out. "Even Momo thinks it's a piece of junk.!

"No offense, Aang, but I'll hold onto the money from now on." Katara said, holding out her hand. Aang glumly placed the remaining two coins in her hand.

Azura turned to the others. "I'm going to go look at some of the herbs. I'll be back. Meet here in fifteen?"

"Works for us." Sokka said with a nod.

With that, she set out. It didn't take her long to find a tent, where an old woman was mixing up different plants and herbs, "Go away, I'm busy!

"I have a burn--

The woman looked up, eyes sizing her up. "Come here, child"

Azira obediently walked over to the woman, finding her brown eyes scrutinizing her deeply. The woman's eyes fell on the bandage around her arm and she gestured for Azira to remove it

"Firebending?" The woman questioned in a sharp tone.

"Yes

"Don't tell me anymore. Free of charge." The woman insisted, turning back to her plants and digging through some of them until she had mixed up some leaves. "Found it!" She exclaimed, holding up a plant.

"What is it?" Azira asked curiously.

"Gotu Kola!" She said, beginning to mash it into her bowl. "it helps repair the skin around the burn."

Azra studied the woman as she worked, finding faded burns along her arms and neck. "You were in a fire?"

"Long time ago. I got away. Others were not so lucky." The woman said, crossing over with the paste. She grimaced at the sight of the burn without the bandage. Eyes searching Azira's own, she looked worried. "Are you in trouble, dear?"

Azira decided to nod, going along with it. "Bad ex-boyfriend." She stated simply.

Sympathy flickered in the woman's eyes as she gently applied the paste. Almost immediately, there was a cooling on

Azira's burning skin. It left chills spilling across her arms, goosebumps arriving.

"Nasty business. messing around with Firebenders. You should be more careful. young one." The woman said.

"Im working on it. Thank you" Azira murmured.

The woman just shook her head, pushing a satchel into Azira's hand. "Here, for the upkeep. That burn could get infected. You need to take good care of it. It should heal within a few weeks."

"Really, thank you."

Just as Azira was exiting the shop, an arm grabbed onto her. Nearly punching Sokka in the face, she found the group

running. "Wait, what-"

"Tell you later, run now!" Katara insisted.

Azira just let out a deep sigh. She really couldn't leave them alone for five minutes, could she? She ripped her arm out of Sokka's grip, running alongside the group. Just as they turned a corner, a group of people wielding swords slid out in front of them.

"Pirates? Seriously?!" Azira demanded in annoyance.

They turned the other way, running down the nearest alleyway. They came to a stop, grimly realizing it was a dead-end. The man chasing them raised his sword at them, a grin on his face.

"Who wants to taste the steel of my blade first?"

"No thanks!" Aang slashed his staff in a downward motion, knocking the wind into the pirates.

Once safely back at the lake, Azira had more than a few questions. Aang collapsed his staff, leaning against a rock. "I used to kinda look up to pirates, but those guys are just terrible."

Azira peered at him through a narrowed gaze. "And you think I have questionable morals?"

"That's why I took this!" Katara said, holding out a scroll.

If it was possible, Azira's gaze narrowed even deeper. "What is that?" Azira demanded, a serious expression on her

face.

"No way!" Aang exclaimed.

"No wonder they were trying to hack us up, you stole their waterbending scroll!" Sokka pointed out in annoyance.

"You stole it?" Azira asked in disbelief.

"I prefer to think of it as high-risk trading" Katara said defensively. "Besides, where do you think they got it from?"

"it doesnt matter! You put all of our lives in danger just so you could learn some stupid, fancy splashes!" Sokka

insisted.

"These are real waterbending forms!" Katara snapped.

Azira just leaned towards Aang. "it's times like these that I'm grateful I'm an only child."

"Tell me about it." Aang murmured.

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

"Going somewhere?"

Katara nearly jumped out of her skin, eyes wide at the sight of Azira sitting in her sleeping bag, staring her down. "Wh-no!"

"Liar." Azira deadpanned. "You're going to practice more of the scroll, aren't you?"

"Well. maybe." Katara admitted. "But don't tell the others."

Azira just gave a grin. "Wasn't planning on it. I want to come with you. I might be able to help."

Katara brightened at the thought. Azira got out of her sleeping mat, following after Katara, a little further down the river. "How did you learn waterbending?"

Her question nearly made Azira stop in her tracks. It wasn't a memory she liked to think of. "My grandmother taught me." Azira said simply.

"Oh, I miss Gran-Gran." Katara admitted. "But she was no waterbender. That must have been so special."

"Right" Azira said, unease creeping into her tone. "But you're doing great for a self-taught waterbender."

Katara tilted her head at Azira as they began to practice the move together. "Your form is sometimes..So aggressive. Katara said after a moment.

Azira chuckled lightly. "I take inspiration from firebending moves. Sometimes, I practice waterbending. It makes for more powerful and aggressive moves. But it goes against the nature of waterbending."

Katara's arms moved wildly, frustration creeping into her. Azira stopped her whip from moving, gazing at the girl. "What? Katara nearly snapped.

"You just need to breathe. The water has a pulse, a life of its own. Same as you and me. You can't control it anymore than I can" Azira said simply.

Katara's gaze narrowed. "But that's--"

"Complicated? Good. Nature isn't meant to be understood easily or simply." Azira pointed out.

Katara just let out a deep sigh. "Fine. I"Il try again"

Before Katara could so much as make another move, there was a low groaning sound that screeched against the earth. So familiar with the sound, Azira spun, eyes going wide. "That was a boat-

Katara gave a screech of horror as a pirate came into view, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Let GO!" The water whipped wildly, knocking him to the ground.

But Azira had frown in place, fear struck into her chest. It was Zuko, standing a few feet from them. Hand jutting out protectively in front of Katara, Azira knew that if it came down to it, she would have to face him again.

The truth of the matter was that it scared her. He had been her friend. And he had had no hesitation in burning her. It wasn't the same as what his father had done to him, but close enough in her book.

"I'Il save you from the pirates." Zuko hissed, staring between the two of them.

"Or I could just kill you all" Azira spat out in a venomous tone. "Get out of the way, Zuko."

He just scoffed. "Stand down, Az. I don't want to burn you again."

"And yet you already did Azira said in disgust.

There was something that flickered in his eyes. She wasn't sure if it was guilt or not, but she hoped it was. Her eyes flicked to the shore, where dozerns of Fire Nation troops were spilling from a boat.

"Seriously, stand down."

Azira just took a step forward, Katara clinging to her arm. "Why don't you just kill me and be done with it? Or are you that much of a coward?"

He just grit his teeth. She was trying to goad him into a fight. Trying to give the waterbender girl time to get away. And it wasn't going to work.

"Azira Katara hissed in a whisper. "We can't fight them all.

Azira definitely could have. But she wasn't going to give them a chance to hurt Katara. Not on her watch.

"Fine." Azra sneered. "We surrender."

Moments later, the two girls found themselves bound to a tree. "Just tell me where he is and no one has to get hurt." Zuko said, crossing his arms as he stared down Azira.

She just smiled innocently. "Who?" She asked in a light tone.

"Yeah, go jump in the river!" Katara cut in.

Zuko just let out a deep sigh. "You know who.

"Well, Zu-Zu Azira started in a patronizing tone, trying her best to sound like Azula. Anything to get under his skin. "You're going to have to be more specific than that:!

He turned away from her, frustration clear as day written on his face. Turning his attention to Katara, he spoke up. "Try to understand, I'm trying to restore something that I lost. My honor. Perhaps in exchange, I can restore

something you've lost:."

"Don't listen to him- Azira snapped.

Zuko held up Katara's necklace, a grin on his face. "How did you get that?" Katara demanded.

"Well I didn't steal it, if that's what you're wondering." Zuko answered. "Tell me where he is."

"No!" Katara retorted.

"Enough of this necklace garbage, you promised us the scroll." One of the pirates sneered.

Zuko was quick to reveal the scroll, fire starting in his opposite hand. "l wonder how much money this is worth." They all let out a gasp of horror and he grinned. "A lot, apparently. Now you help me find what I want and you get this back. Everyone goes home happy. Search the woods for the boy and meet back here."

With that, everyone dispersed. Well, everyone except for General Iroh and Zuko. Azira kept her eyes cast on the ground as footsteps approached. Glancing up, she found Iroh standing a few feet in front of her, gaze narrowed.

"General Iroh, sir." Azra said, bowing her head in respect. She may have turned on them, but her respect for Iroh would last forever.

He smiled tightly. "You've gotten yourself into quite a bind."

"Did you ever finish your Pai Sho game?" She asked curiously.

Iroh's eyes seemed to soften slightly. "l didn't"

"Well l'm very sorry about that."

"l imagine you're sorry about quite a lot. As is my nephew Iroh said, eyes flickering to the burned handprint that was splayed across her upper arm,

"Well he should learn to apologize for himself. He doesn't deserve you." Azira said quietly.

Before Iroh could retort to that particular comment, Zuko had come scowling over. "Don't talk to the traitor, uncle!" He commanded.

Iroh just gave a deep sigh and nod. "Very well." With that, Iroh disappeared back towards the ship.

Azira stared down Zuko, finding his gold eyes unnerving. "So you're going to kill a child? Very honorable of you."

He let out a huff of air, letting her words sink in. "Don't pretend like you understand me!"

"I don't. You claim to be a friend, to be better than your father, and yet you burned me." Azira said in a quiet voice.

Zuko looked as if he had just been slapped or doused in frigid water. "l-I didn't-"

"It doesn't really matter what you meant, now does it? I stand by what I did. And I'm not sorry about it. I'm just sorry you can't see that it's not about you." Azira said, head held high.

"You left me!" Zuko nearly snarled.

"I left the Fire Nation! Not you! Never you! Azira nearly screamed back at him.

He just shook his head, walking away from her.

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

Azira felt the pulse of the water beating within her own chest and moving her hands back and forth, in unison with Aang and Katara, the boat began to push out from the shore. The group clambered atop the boat, setting off.

"Can't this thing go any faster? Aang questioned, eyes wide at the pirates sailing towards them.

"The tide can!" Azira said, hands moving towards the water. There was a tug within her gut as the water shifted, pushing them along faster.

But it was too late, there were already three pirates aboard the ship, having jumped across the gap. In seconds, Aang had sent a tidal wave at them, nearly knocking them off of the ship.

Katara seconded it, pushing the whip against them and into the water. Azira spun, continuing to move the water along quickly, then slammed her fist forward. Water punched into pirates and they were sent overboard too.

Azira's eyes landed on something up ahead. "Waterfal!" She called.

Sokka's eyes went wide. "We need to turn around-"

"If we work together, we might be able to stop!" Katara said, looking between Azira and Aang-

The duo gave a quick nod, beginning to push against the tide of the river with their own bending. Together, the three of them were able to slow the boat and keep them in place.

"We're doing it!" Katara exclaimed.

"Other problem!" Sokka pointed at the boat that was headed straight for them.

Azira grinned as she caught sight of Appa. She caught onto Katara's arm and the group all ran forward, leaping off of the boat. They free-fell for a few seconds before securely landing in Appa's saddle.

"That was too close." Sokka breathed out, shaking his head at the group.

"No kidding" Azira murmured.