The next morning, Toph and Katara train Aang. Aang's pleased that Iroh will teach him, even if Iroh's lessons will be irregular. Meanwhile, Zuko continues work on his coronation speech, while Sokka goes to check out the airship. Zuko wishes Sokka could invent a speech-writing machine, but that's beyond Sokka's abilities. While our means of putting words on paper have become more advanced over the years, it's still up to the writer to find the right words.
Iroh takes the others to the Azira Gardens, a placethat's best suited for practicing bending, and which he's apparently nostalgic for, as he unlocks it for the first time in years. His first order of business is to see where Aang is at in his bending, and given the author, you can tell that this isn't entirely good.
Katara goes first, starting easy and gradually increasing the difficulty until they get up to the full extent of Aang's ability. Toph goes next, and doesn't hold back in her training or her opinion, suggesting that Aang's skills have atrophied since the end of the war. This is in character for Toph, and it's possible that his skills deteriorated a little, but it's clear that the author is once again pushing her "Aang isn't yet a master" angle, while suggesting that any arguments Aang makes to the contrary, however well-founded, are motivated by laziness and/or vanity.
Over tea, they discuss the results, and Toph doesn't hesitate to say that Aang has a long way to go, to his face, much to his chagrin. Katara says that Aang is Orca level, which is three levels below a master. Katara explains that Orca level is where things get difficult, and that Aang got to Octopus level through raw talent, but stayed there for a while, and although he got to Orca level through constant practice, he has also been there for a while. The fic doesn't say how many levels there are in total, which would give some indication of how far Aang has to go before he attains mastery; for example, three levels to go out of 10 would be much better than three levels to go out of five.
Iroh has Aang start with breathing exercises, much to his disappointment, since that's also where JJ and Zuko think he needs work. Luckily for Aang, he says it will take "Oolong time" for tea to get from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation, which makes Aang laugh, and Iroh explains that laughter involves the same sort of control necessary for breathing. He makes Aang practice a lesson that Zuko taught him, and find an incredibly funny joke. Aang is quite pleased with Iroh so far, and thanks him, calling him "Sifu Hotman," although Iroh suggests that he call him by name. Aang turns to Toph, who says she's not doing his work for him.
They start heading back to the house, and Iroh offers to make copies of the key for Aang and the others so they can come to train any time, but Toph takes care of the problem with her bracelet. In spite of her earlier refusal to help Aang, Toph gives in and tells Aang some of the less offensive jokes that were told around the earth arena. Meanwhile, Katara asks Iroh if laughter really is important, and he's impressed by her perceptiveness, but notes that it's mainly so that Aang can enjoy firebending and learn it slowly now that they're no longer pressed for time. Of course, Iroh also recalls that he was trained in such a way by his best firebending teacher, and did something similar with Zuko. The latter didn't go so well, though, especially with the crewman who had sex with koala sheep. Katara tells Iroh about Zuko's failed attempts at telling his jokes, and Iroh is amazed to hear that, noting that people can really surprise you.
Katara agrees with the sentiment when she returns to Zuko's house, and, seeing Bato and Sorrak there, goes to speak with them alone. She doesn't initially know what they want, since she assumes Bato's here on Hakoda's behalf, and remembers that Sorrak is fairly quiet, and trains snowdogs. But this time, Bato's speaking on Sorrak's behalf, and reveals that Sorrak has something to give her- a warrior bead given to young men who'd proven themselves, for Katara's speech. Katara wonders whether her speech warrants this honor, since she hasn't done anything building or fighting related, but Sorrak insists.
Sorrak elaborates, saying that his mother raised him after his father died, and both were mistreated by his paternal uncle. To him, the worst part was the belief that things had to be this way. Since Katara protested the status quo and demanded change, she earned his respect and the bead. With a bow, Sorrak takes his leave.
Apparently, not even Bato was expecting this record-setting speech from Sorrak. Sorrak had simply made the bead, said something to Bato and asked Bato to give it to Katara, only for Bato to insist that Sorrak do so himself. Katara's curious as to what it is that Sorrak said, and Sorrak tells her to figure it out herself. Katara pretends she doesn't know, wanting to hear someone agree with her (perhaps she should understand Aang's desire for approval), and Bato said that while Katara's task of convincing everyone is difficult, Sorrak wantd ther to know that not everyone was like Kuba and Hasa. Katara's glad, recalling fond memories with Bato, such as him taking Sokka ice dodging and giving her the mark of the brave. She's glad that the three men most important to her in her tribe- Sokka, Hakoda and Bato- are on her side.
Katara finds the others relaxing in the living room, except for Iroh, who's off organizing things, and Zuko, who's apparently still frustrated with and not satisfied with the "speech of doom." Upon seeing all the crumpled up previous attempts, Katara can only take a page from Iroh's playbook and suggest tea and ginger snaps.
Meanwhile, Toph is metalbending spoons into keys to the garden, and Suki and Sokka are on the loveseat together. As for the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors, Suki gave them the afternoon to explore the city, which means getting a look at the hot waiter (Interestingly enough, the Kyoshi Warriors' pursuit of the opposite sex is treated more sympathetically than that of the Water Tribe men) at the Wandering Cat Teahouse and get party clothes for them and their guests (since Iroh believes in "the more the merrier" and Zuko's resigned to the "ridiculousness" of it) to wear coronation feast tomorrow.
Aang, meanwhile, plays with Momo while being pleased that Iroh gave him a joke as homework, and tells the few jokes that Toph deemed Aang-friendly (i.e. the ones that didn't involve "penguin sledding"). Suki offers a joke about getting over her fear of hurdles, which makes Aang laugh. The jokes offer Zuko a welcome distraction from his speech, and he tries to give Aang a joke despite only knowing the punchline, but Aang thanks him and says he doesn't have to. Sokka then steps up to the plate, and tries to tell Aang a good joke about "the one about the two penguins in a bar(the one with the misunderstanding about the first penguin's mother)". His attempt makes Aang laugh, but that, in turn, startles Momo into smudging the ink on Zuko's latest attempt, upsetting him. Aang reassures Momo that Zuko's just stressed, and Zuko's incredulous that Aang's talking to Momo.
Zuko's anger increases to the point at which he snaps his pen in his hands. Understandably enough, given his present state, he becomes distressed even at finding a replacement brush, and again reminds us that his speech is tomorrow. Aang tries to reassure Zuko, oblivious to the fact that his efforts are not helping, and offers Iroh's "Oolong Time" joke, only to hear that Zuko knows where he's going, adding with veiled contempt that he knows that he spent all day with Iroh. It's clear that Aang's the only character here whose attempts to help are this consistently portrayed as misguided and ineffectual.
Sokka tries to do his part, but Zuko cuts him off, complaining that everyone is distracting him from his speech and that none of them will have to do anything like what he has to do. Aang points out that he has to make a speech, as well, because Zuko asked him, and Zuko concedes his point, but notes that unlike him, Aang likes public speaking. Aang asks what's so bad about getting a standing ovation, and Zuko, ever the pessimist, says he's worried about embarrassing himself. Katara tries to reassure Zuko that his speech will be good, and Suki says he should take a break. The latter point is especially good for people who have been working on something for long enough that they are starting to become frustrated.
Sokka offers to tell Aang another joke- that it takes "Oolong time" for Zuko to write a speech- which makes Aang laugh but infuriates Zuko. Zuko throws the latest edition of the speech, but Sokka catches it, saying that Zuko needs to relax. Sokka takes the opportunity to read the speech and wonders about Zuko mentioning recycling in it (does the Avatar-verse even have that concept?), prompting Zuko to protest that it's still a work in progress. Katara complains about Sokka "knocking" the speech on that, but Sokka calls it constructive criticism.
As Sokka notes the date, he abruptly stops and comes to a realization- that it's been a year since it all began when Sokka and Katara broke Aang out of the iceberg. The Gaang is collectively surprised that a year has happened, since it's gone by so fast (In my experience, especially eventful times feel longer in retrospect). Sokka notes that their lack of a sense for time is why he's in charge of schedules, resulting in Zuko thinking that Sokka just liked schedules, Aang hoping that he won't "get schedule-y again", Suki finding it cute, and Katara wanting to put a stop to the talk about schedules so that Zuko can get back to work.
Toph chuckles, saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same, and the way they're in the way they're all together in the room reminds her of Ember Island, citing everyone's reactions to the schedule as proof of it. Katara asks about Toph, and she says that as usual, making sarcastic remarks is her thing.
What I liked
- Iroh's approach to teaching Aang
- Sorrak appreciating what Katara did.
- Toph's comments about everything being like old times on Ember Island.
What I didn't like
- The narrative once again being harsh on Aang's shortcomings.
- Aang once again trying to help, but being portrayed as in the wrong for doing so.
