A new chance

Pov: Kai

Five days had passed since the meeting in the war room, and in the meantime, Ozai and I had returned to our training, with the difference that Azula had now joined us. To Ozai's surprise, Azula now had the same fighting skills as me, which made the training much more intense.

In the meantime, my relationship with Azula had blossomed more than I could have imagined. We now shared many daily tasks, such as studying, training, and even spending our free time together. I had the opportunity to really get to know Azula's childhood friends, although I literally had to pretend to know them so as not to be weird. 

Now we were all in the garden having a picnic at Ty Lee's insistence. Azula and I didn't mind, but Mai was certainly annoyed that she was forced to come.

- So it's true! You broke into the Royal Hall! - Ty Lee exploded with emotion, completely ecstatic. - It's unbelievable!

- Totally reckless. - Mai added.

- When will you start the operation in the earth realm? - Ty Lee asked as he picked up a piece of fruit and took a big bite. 

- I'll leave in two days, taking into account the estimated time it will take me to recover from my injuries. - I replied, turning my attention back to the fresh fruit.

- Azula, you should have gone easy on Kai, how would I have known someone so much fun if he had died! - Ty Lee scolded Azula.

At that moment, Azula turned nervous and red as she remembered why she had made this 180° change.

Ty Lee and Mai noticed that Azula didn't have her usual arrogant attitude, but seemed calmer and less impulsive, making their friendship healthier for the three of them.

- Relax, we're cool now. - I defended Azula, seeing that she was nervous. - By the way, I have a question for you.

Ty Lee was curious and smiled broadly, proving to be the most relaxed of the group.

- If you want to know if I'm available, I might even give you a chance to meet up. - Ty Lee joked when he saw everyone's surprised reaction.

- You pervert. - Mai said angrily, closing her eyes in annoyance at her friend's joke.

- You're pretty, but I'm not interested. What I want to ask you is if you're interested in bending the fire. 

Everyone around me was surprised, or rather completely perplexed. Ty Lee, more than anyone else, seemed deeply shaken, as if she had touched on a sensitive subject. Of course, for everyone in our world, bending an element is more than just a status, it is a way of life. 

A person like Ty Lee, who has spent her entire life watching her friends show off their powers, has often felt incapable and has encouraged herself to strive to master a martial technique to match. 

As crazy as it sounds, I knew that through Azula's memories, Ty Lee had always felt a little left out, to the extent that she masked it with her fun and relaxed personality. Since my spiritual experience and the conversation with Azula, I've tried to be more aware of my surroundings, to the extent that I began to notice the spiritual nuances around me in a whole new way.

In short, I was able to see the world in a less physical and more mystical way. If you look at an ordinary firebender, it is easy to see that his soul is covered in "threads" that connect all over his body. Azula, on the other hand, has a strong connection to these "threads" in her soul, as if they were reinforced by more layers than in a normal person, which could justify her unusual potential.

I took the opportunity to do a study related to this vision I had, which suggested that these "threads" were related to chi. Coincidentally, Ty Lee specialized in a technique that could temporarily disable these "threads", with the idea of disabling a Bender's main weapon in close combat.

So, for me, it was just a matter of going the other way, just running these "wires" to an individual's soul, theoretically being able to connect with their spirit. I still wasn't sure if this idea could activate a person's elemental powers, but it would certainly benefit them. Maybe I felt sorry for my new friend.

- Kai, this joke isn't funny. - Mai expressed her indignation. 

Azula stared at Kai in confusion, not knowing what to say, but subconsciously knowing that what he said wasn't just a joke. Ty Lee, on the other hand, lowered her eyes to the ground, disappointed so to speak, but when she looked at Kai, she realized that he was serious and a doubt rose in her heart.

- A-are you t-telling the truth? -Ty Lee stammered, not having the courage to firmly believe it.

- I would never make such a joke. - I answer calmly, still surprising her with my confidence. - I think I can help you awaken your elemental powers.

- How? - Azula asks.

- I don't know if my explanation is correct, but it follows the opposite idea of the chi-blocking technique. 

Kai explained his theory as clearly as possible, making them aware of the risks and possible flaws. Ty Lee, on the other hand, began to believe it was possible, even though she knew it was a theory that had never been put into practice, but the idea of feeling the same as everyone else made her unaware of the risks.

With Ty Lee's approval and the others' disapproval, Kai approached to start his idea.

I asked Ty Lee to give me his back while we were still sitting down, because I didn't know if the process would take long or not. I put my hands on his back and closed my eyes, concentrating only on feeling his spiritual energy in his small body.

Ty Lee, on the other hand, felt his body heating up like he was training for a marathon. Adrenaline coursed through his body like an electric sensation, as if he was connected to something.

In Kai's "vision", he quickly noticed the main differences between benders and normal people. It was a simple connection that even he wouldn't be able to notice in himself if he were in Ty Lee's situation. It was a single "thread" that was millimeters or even much less away from the connection to his soul. A cruel difference to say the least, a small difference that determined the possibility of bending the elements. 

Seeing how close I was to ending it, I forced my energy as if bending my fire into Ty Lee, at the exact point where the connection was. I began to push this "thread" towards the soul, an effort ten times greater than simply bending the fire, no, the effort was much greater, a new and familiar energy at the same time. 

Azula and Mai watched silently, but fully prepared in case of emergency. Azula, being more sensitive to spiritual aspects, noticed that something was changing in her childhood friend, while Mai noticed a slight difference in Kai, who now had another lock of white in his hair. 

After 30 minutes, Kai and Ty Lee were panting, completely confused and unable to say anything. Although Ty Lee hadn't changed at all, she felt as if her eyes had opened to the world for the first time.

- How are you feeling? - Mai asked, worried about her friend. 

- I feel great! Even if I couldn't bend, I feel like I could do anything. 

- But can you? Can't you? - Azula was curious. 

- There's only one way to find out! - Ty Lee walked to a spot with fewer plants in the garden, afraid she might set the place on fire. 

Everyone saw Ty Lee doing a pose that was already familiar to Firebenders, the first basic lesson. However, what was supposed to be fire was nothing more than a strong gust of wind that ripped the plants from the ground, as if a storm had caused the damage. A look of shock crossed their faces, especially Kai's, who couldn't understand how a native of the Fire Nation could literally use an extinct warp. 

- Ty Lee has become an Airbender? - Mai and Azula said at the same time.

On the other hand, as surprised as Ty Lee was that she couldn't bend fire, the feeling of freedom she felt motivated her to practice various movements, allowing the wind to be controlled by her small hands. 

- Kai! Did you happen to choose which element she could awaken? - Azula asked, concerned for Ty Lee's safety.

- Do you realize that Ty Lee could be mistaken for the Avatar! - Mai shouted angrily, turning to the new airbender. - You stop bending air!

- I'm as shocked as you are. - I admitted, recovering from my surprise. - I have a theory.

- You with your theories! - Mai almost wanted to burn Kai.

- As absurd as it may seem, I believe that Ty Lee might have an ancestor who was an air nomad. - I explain, making everyone, including Ty Lee, focus on my words. - Since the Fire Nation has had contact with other nations in the past, such as the Ancient Avatars, perhaps these interactions have made it easier for immigrants to live within the nation's roots over time. This theory would justify Ty Lee's powers, but it would not prevent the fact that he could still have awakened the fire. I myself believed it was the element of fire, not air.

- It makes no difference to me! - Ty Lee said in a relaxed manner. - That's wonderful, I never thought I could have that kind of power.

- It does make a difference! You can practically be considered an enemy. - Mai commented coldly.

- There's nothing to worry about, Mai. - Azula said seriously. - Ty Lee is an idiot, but she's our idiot. No one will touch her.

Everyone was distracted by each other, not realizing that they were being watched by Zuko, who immediately ran towards the Royal Hall where the Fire Lord was.