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I hope that's right.

[Viewers may recognize the view from balcony on the Tower of Winds as the backdrop. As Zuko draws back from setting up the camera, she doesn't completely position herself inside the frame, but for someone who's never really done this... at least you can see most of her head.]

I know everyone's looking forward to the festival. I think we've earned it. But I also think we need to keep taking advantage of the Queen's inaction.

Some of us are more prepared for a fight than others. While I don't think anyone should be forced to fight if it isn't in their nature, for those who choose to, I can teach sword techniques and hand-to-hand combat. You can find me out on the bridge every morning.

I think it would be a good idea for others to share what they know, too. We could use more healers--

[If she was going to conclude with anything else, she's interrupted by a tiny growl. The video shakes violently, coming to a stop pointed skyward. A blurry dragon face noses the camera and then the whole view is blocked out as Kizuna sits atop her defeated foe.]

Kizuna. Did you switch it off?

[Some scuffling and indistinct images follow before the feed actually does shut off.]

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That's good to know. Is it magical?

[She doesn't respond directly to the matter of sparring, but she does pick up Kizuna while they're talking to relocate her to an out-of-the-way spot.]

Uh... I guess it'd count as magic, yeah. I know first aid, though. I've patched up enough wounds to be able to say I'm okay at it.

[Oh no... she's cute...]

I see.

[That sounds really unfortunate, what is with all these kids from awful situations.]

All right, Kizuna. You know how this works. Stay here so you don't get hurt, okay?

[Zuko turns from her dragon, drawing her dual swords from her back and stepping towards Ken.]

Let's see what you've got.

[Ken pulls his spear off of his back, setting his bag off to the side.]

All right.

[He eyes her up, watching where her swords are positioned, and her breathing pattern, and... there. He rushes in with a quick jab towards her midsection, easy enough to dodge for now.]

[Zuko doesn't dodge. She uses one sword to deflect the jab away from her and steps closer to swing at him with the other -- although the strike is basically designed to miss him by a fraction even if he doesn't move out of the way.]

[He twists out of the way, bringing a foot up to kick at her if she doesn't dodge in turn. She's close-range... good. That's an advantage for him if he can manage to get her into a tighter spot.]

[True, he does technically have a longer range as long as she's limiting herself to her swords, but he'll be hard-pressed to back her anywhere. Being a firebender still influences her fighting style even when she's not bending, and in firebending the only defense is a good offense.

Zuko sidesteps his kick so she doesn't have to back up and swings for the side of his body where he's not holding the spear. Her calculated effort not to do him any real harm is probably the easier thing to take advantage of.]

[Yep. It's clear to him that she's pulling her punches. If she were really trying, she'd be going to disable his dominant side. He drops to the ground, spinning the spear to try to catch her legs and knock her over.]

If you're going to fight, then actually fight.

[Zuko recognizes his intent and vaults over him while he's down, the spear sweeping harmlessly beneath her. She lands back-to-back with him.]

I don't want to hurt you.

[...but she will at least swing for his spear arm this time.]

I'm not afraid.

[He brings the butt of the spear up to block her attack and push back, spinning around and trying to get a bit of distance on her. Should he use his Persona? ... No, they're just sparring with weapons right now. Besides, he's not sure what she can do in terms of powers. Better to not risk it.]

I never said you were.

[If anything, Zuko is the one who's scared. Not of getting hurt, but of being a person who doesn't have a problem with hurting.

She attemps to force the point of his spear down with one sword, hoping to leave him vulnerable for a strike from her second. (Not that it'll connect anyway.)]

[He flips his grip on the spear, using the momentum to push himself up and kick away the sword. Or her hand, whichever he manages to hit. He lands, tugging at the spear to whip it around and try to smack her with the shaft of it.]

Then stop being afraid.

I'm not.

[Zuko fails to realize anyone could figure out why she really is afraid, and assumes he thinks she's afraid of getting hurt, or something. Because that's the normal thing to be scared of, right?

His foot connects with her blade, and she steps back. She has to raise her other sword for a hard block of his spear shaft, instead of finding an opportunity to counter.]

[He ducks, trying to get under her guard for a stab. She's not afraid? ... He's finding that hard to believe.]

You're afraid of hurting me. Stop being afraid. Fight like you actually mean it.

[But she doesn't mean it. She doesn't need to mean it.

Zuko knocks the spear aside and twists in closer for a swipe just before his face.]

Why do you want that so badly?

[That's a little better. He leans back from the swipe and grins, pulling back a bit so he can talk.]

Because there's things here that'll kill you without thinking twice. If you go easy when you train, then you and the person you're training with are both at risk.

Besides... people come back to life here. Dying's not that bad. It's happened to me five times. So even if an accident happens, it's not permanent.

How can you talk about dying so casually? Even if... somehow it's happened to you before, you think I want to be responsible for putting you through it again? And in front of my daughter?

[Like wow, kiddo. There are still consequences.]

And if I'm going easy, you still haven't been able to hit me once.

Accidents happen.

[He tenses his legs for a moment, then plants the butt of his spear against the ground and pushes off, aiming to kick Zuko in the arm or hand as he swings around.]

You still try to avoid them.

[Zuko ducks low to avoid the kick but comes up quickly, attempting to knock him off-balance with her shoulder once he's passed.]

[He stumbles slightly, but lashes out with a backwards kick.]

True, but that doesn't mean you need to be afraid of them.

[The kick is unexpected; it connects and Zuko stumbles back a few steps herself.]

Nothing you say is going to make me attack you in earnest.

... As long as you're not taking it easy on me because I look young. I'm older than I look.

[And even then, he's a lot more mature than a lot of fourteen year olds he knows.]

[He turns and goes for a jab to her stomach while she's distracted. If it connects, it won't be deep at the very least.]

It's not because you're a kid.

[She learned not to underestimate children when she met Aang and then spent months failing to capture him.

Zuko isn't off-balance long enough for him to use the opening. She crosses her swords, catches the spear in the middle, and pushes it up. Then she kicks out at him beneath the weapons.]

Fine.

[He takes the kick but lifts his leg to try to shove at hers, attempting to knock her off-balanace.]

Too many people take it easy on me because of my age. I'm sick of it.

...

[Zuko pushes her weight forward to off-set his efforts. Her foot comes down close to his as her swords scrape down the shaft of his spear. She shoves farther up in an attempt to throw him off.]

There are some things kids shouldn't have to go through.

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