Interestingly enough, this chapter is titled "Apologies and Interruptions," but is called, "Apologies, interruptions and responsibilities" in the story text.
As if giving a recap of the end of last chapter, Katara notices Zuko stomping off, and, in spite of Piandao's advice, follows him into the streets because she doesn't feel comfortable just leaving him alone. But she doesn't have a choice when he goes into a designated firebender training area that excludes all non-firebenders with a special lock that can only be opened by a firebender.
Katara hears a frustrated yell, and she has some idea of what Zuko's up to, so she searches for another way in, or, failing that, a way to watch. She finds a small window, used to investigate those entering, and sees Zuko blasting fireballs in all directions. Katara's glad that he's letting off his "angry energy," but worries that he's overexerting himself, as Dr. Yang only allowed light training. Zuko sharply breathes in, and Katara's about to knock and demand to be let in when she hears JJ compliment Zuko's performance.
JJ and Aang are watching from the side, squatting in an uncomfortable position. Aang asks Zuko if he's here to take over the lesson. Zuko says no, but he's unwilling to say why he's here.
JJ scolds Aang for asking the question, and even speaking at all, and says he needs to be silent and widen his stance. Aang complains that JJ isn't even looking at him, but JJ ignores him as Zuko asks what they're doing. Aang says they're breathing, and JJ elaborates that it's essential for mastering firebending, pausing to scold Aang for rolling his eyes behind JJ's back, before continuing by saying that Zuko had been trying to get Aang to understand the destructive power of firebending, adding that firebending is not a gift, but a burden. I'm not sure which is worse- that Aang, after three seasons of developing as a character and as a bender is still being treated like a rank amateur, or that he's acting in a way that would justify that treatment.
JJ closes his eyes, and Aang turns to Zuko, whom he hopes will save him from JJ's lessons. The two of them apparently trick JJ into thinking that Iroh wants to talk with him, and JJ leaves, telling Aang to practice meditation while he's away.
As soon as JJ's gone, Aang takes the opportunity to vocally complain about JJ, for waking him up at dawn and making him meditate, saying that he's not ready for actual bending, in spite of the fact that Aang defeated Ozai (who's one of the best firebenders in the world, to the point at which only Aang and Iroh are a match for him) Zuko says that JJ is right, as what he's teaching is important and Aang has to learn all that someday.
I'm of two minds regarding this. On the one hand, Aang does have room for improvement, and should continue to work on his three newer styles of bending. On the other hand, he's come a long way from the kid who accidentally burned Katara, and it is somewhat insulting to be treated like an amateur after defeating Ozai, so I wish the author would remember this.
In any case, this is yet another case of Aang being proven wrong without his points getting much consideration.
Aang asks if Zuko will teach him, because Zuko's more fun. Zuko appreciates the compliment but says no, as he's too busy and not good at self control, especially since he only came to have a tantrum. Aang only just noticed this, and asks what's wrong. Zuko doubts Aang would understand, forcing Aang to point out that he has 112 years of experience (100 of which were spent stuck in an iceberg) and was Zuko's great grandfather in one of those lives. Zuko blackmails Aang into silence by threatening to report him meditating in the wrong stance, and Aang meekly complies. Whether this is an attempt at humor and/or an attempt to write Aang in character, it clearly fails; I detest how Aang almost never has anything useful or intelligent to say in this fic.
Zuko apologizes for snapping at Aang, saying that some bad news stressed him out. Knowing that Aang will eventually find out anyway, he reluctantly tells Aang that his uncle wants him to be firelord and sarcastically asks if he's happy. Considering that Aang (or at least Canon!Aang, not the far more immature and selfish version we get here) wants to hear him out, as a concerned friend, Zuko could be a little nicer and more grateful.
Aang missing the sarcasm, says that's great, and they can do "cool things" together as Avatar and Fire Lord. Zuko says there's a great deal of pressure and responsibilities, but he has to be Fire Lord even though he's not ready. He says Aang wouldn't understand (saying this is generally is an invitation to be proven wrong, and most people will try to do so if they have anything in common with the person).
Aang says he understands all too well, and his words get through to Zuko. Aang says that when he was identified as Avatar, he pretended that it wasn't true for as long as he could, and eventually ran away, ending up in the iceberg. To Aang's surprise, Zuko doesn't know the full story.
Aang says everyone except Monk Gyatso treated him differently when he turned out to be the Avatar, and the head monks wanted to separate them so Aang could begin his training. Aang, not wanting to leave his home and fun pastimes behind, ran away from home, ended up in the iceberg and awoke a century later
Zuko, listening to the story, is surprised to hear this, as he assumed that Aang had liked being the Avatar. Aang says he's come to accept and like it, but to him, becoming Avatar back then is like Zuko becoming Fire Lord today. Zuko says, sarcastically, that hiding in an iceberg isn't a solution for him, and Aang admits that it didn't solve his problems either, concluding that running away doesn't rid him of his problems.
Zuko asks if Aang thinks he should accept being Fire Lord because it's going to happen anyway. Aang tries to reassure him that it might not be so bad, but Zuko says that any mistake could result in civil war or even the world war resuming. That's a fair point, as we see in "The Promise" that Zuko's mistakes caused quite a bit of trouble. Aang appears to be under the impression that their efforts permanently stopped the war, but Zuko says that too much of the Fire Nation's military might and too many people with mindsets like Ozai's remain for it to be that easy.
Zuko says he doesn't feel ready to be Fire Lord now, and he would do it when he's older, and sure he is able to handle complex tasks like restructuring and won't let anyone down. This would be a good point for Aang to say that he was even younger when he was chosen to be the Avatar without given any say in the matter, but Aang doesn't. Aang reiterates that Zuko will be a good Fire Lord because he cares about those things, but Zuko says caring isn't enough.
(Music Cue: Look On the Bright Side of Life) Aang flicks Zuko on the head and tells him that he shouldn't be negative, citing Monk Gyatso's teachings to look on the bright side of life, listing positive things about being Avatar. Aang starts singing about it, and Zuko tells him to stop, albeit with a smile.
Zuko takes Aang up on his offer and asks him about what would be positive about being Avatar (one would think he'd ask about his own position first). Aang then lists the following...
- In the process of his journey, he met five of his closest friends,
one of which is his girlfriend. - He helped end a war that destroyed his nation, and brought suffering to the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom and even the Fire Nation.
- He helped many other people in the course of his journey.
- He went all over the world, getting to see many exotic locales and have adventures.
- In the process of his journey, he met five of his closest friends,
...or not, since in this fic, the author characterizes him as highly immature.
- Everyone has to listen to Aang and respect his opinion. Zuko says this is pretty good.
- Aang gets free stuff where he goes, and Zuko says "Free stuff is good."
- Aang gets to travel and see the world. Ok, that one was on my list.
- People adore Aang, and Zuko says that "Adoration is nice." It's hard to tell whether he means it or whether he's just humoring Aang.
Zuko says that because the Fire Lord doesn't get free stuff or adventures, the rest of the world hates his country, and no one listens to him, none of this applies to him. Aang insists that he listens, but when Zuko silently objects, he says "sometimes."
Of course, Aang has a fifth item- the Fire Lord can get any girl that he wants, just like the Avatar can. Zuko says that he doesn't want that at all, likely in part because he has a specific girl in mind (the one Aang canonically ends up with). Zuko says he wants to be loved for himself, not his position, and asks if Aang feels the same way; after a moment, Aang is forced to concede.
Aang, desperate to find some upside, goes to Point #6, the festival on the Fire Lord's birthday, which was the biggest holiday 100 years ago. Zuko doesn't like holidays, but he humors Aang by refusing to boo this suggestion. Aang then challenges Zuko to come up with an upside by himself, and Zuko decides that it's that he can eat as many fireflakes as he wants, convincing Aang that there is a bright side.
Aang and Zuko head back, since while JJ says that Aang meditates better on an empty stomach (It's difficult to meditate when you have pangs of hunger, so I'm starting to wonder if JJ's completely incompetent as a teacher). Katara follows, and while she hesitates to join them so as not to ruin their moment, she knows Zuko saw her a few times.
Aang digs in to the pastries as Katara comes up, pretending that she just found them, resulting in Zuko giving her a look and Aang being happy to see her. JJ arrives and asks why Aang isn't training, prompting Zuko to say that he gave Aang a break. They have a staring contest, and Zuko wins so JJ departs while telling Aang that they'll meet again tomorrow at sunrise, and that he expects him to meditate on fire's destructive power. Aang promises to do so, but Katara says, surprisingly coldly and bluntly, "he wasn't fooling anyone. We all know that's a lie."
A word about Katara (or perhaps Aang, as this seems to say more about him). Her relationships with the other Gaang members (even Zuko in Stalking Zuko, and except Suki) have their highs and lows, but with Aang, Katara alternates between cool and cold. When she's on relatively good terms with him, she'll deign to spend some time with him to humor him and keep him in a good mood. When she's not, she'll outright avoid him and give him blistering speeches about how he did something terrible while having the temerity to imagine that she's being patient with him. In her worse moods, there's not even a hint of levity, nor does Katara engage in friendly banter or teasing with Aang. He seems to get on her bad side the most often, and never completely leaves it. As such, it seems Katara has her brother, three close friends (one of whom may yet be her boyfriend)... and Aang, the one she needs to defeat Ozai, and for little else.
This is a long chapter, so I decided to leave off for now, since we're going back to the Kyoshi warriors next scene. I may divide chapters into parts based on what story elements they are, rather than how much of the chapter they comprise, so some installments may be longer while others are short (just like how it was when I did one chapter in each installment)
What I liked
- A look at Aang's feelings about being the Avatar.
- Good Deconstruction of what it means to get girls with your position.
What I didn't like
- The author dismissing Aang as still being a rank amateur, and a lazy and undisciplined one at that.
- Aang's naivete often undermines his efforts to give Zuko advice.
- Going back to the whole "Avatars get girls" issue.
- Katara alternating between reluctantly tolerating Aang and outright shunning him.
