Six months had passed since Kon began his fire-bending lessons with Chief Iroh.
The past months had been tough but exciting for Kon. After weeks of struggling to focus, Kon had finally sensed his Chi in the first month, feeling it like a warm spark in his chest after managing to sit still for more than two minutes.
'I knew I could do it!' he'd thought then, grinning as the sensation flooded him. Since then, he'd been working hard to bend fire, alongside physical exercises Iroh insisted would make him stronger.
Every morning, Kon did push-ups until his arms shook, ran laps around the training ground until his legs ached, and squatted until he collapsed on the ground.
Iroh also taught him strange movements—slow, flowing steps and sharp punches—that he said would help with bending and fighting.
'It's like dancing, but cooler,' Kon thought, practicing a spin that made the wind swirl around him. Now, he was ready to try fire-bending again, his heart racing with excitement.
Iroh stood across from him, "Your Chi is your fire," he said for what felt like the thousandth time.
'The boy's making progress,' Iroh thought, his patience unshaken. "Keep your spirit strong, and your fire will listen."
Kon sat cross-legged on the stone ground, nodding eagerly. He looked at Iroh, waiting for instructions, his eyes bright with anticipation.
Iroh knelt beside him, his voice gentle but firm. "Now take a deep breath. Feel your heartbeat. Feel the warmth in your chest. Send that warmth out of your body by mixing it with your Chi. It's your spirit talking to you."
Kon closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He focused on his chest, searching for that warm spark he'd felt before. 'There it is,' he thought, his lips curling into a smile. "I feel something warm… like a little sun in my tummy," he whispered, his voice bubbling with excitement.
Iroh smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Good. Now place your hands out in front of you… slowly… like you're holding a tiny fire."
Kon stretched his arms forward, fingers spread, his brow furrowed in concentration. 'I can do this,' he thought, picturing a flame in his hands. 'Just like when I make the wind move.' He kept breathing, feeling the warmth grow stronger, like a candle flickering in his chest.
Iroh's voice was steady, guiding him. "Don't try to force the fire. Just feel your Chi. Feel your strength, your calm, your courage. Let it rise like a candle flame."
Kon held his breath, focusing harder. The warmth in his chest surged, and a tiny flicker of fire appeared between his palms.
It wiggled like a baby flame, dancing for a moment before fading away. Kon's eyes snapped open, wide with wonder. 'I did it!' he thought, his heart pounding.
Iroh nodded, his smile proud. "Yes. That was your spirit saying hello."
Kon grinned, bouncing on his knees. "Can I make it bigger now? Like a DRAGON fire?!"
Iroh chuckled, his voice warm. "One step at a time, Kon. Big fire needs big control. Today, you made a spark. Tomorrow, we make it dance."
But Kon wasn't listening. His excitement boiled over, and he jumped to his feet, planting one foot forward.
'I can do more!' he thought. He punched straight ahead, pouring all the warm, buzzing energy in his chest into the move. A large fireball erupted from his fist, roaring toward the stone wall of the training ground.
It hit with a deafening boom, exploding in a shower of debris, chunks of rock scattering across the ground.
The surrounding grass and trees caught fire, flames licking at the dry blades and branches. Kon's eyes widened, but he didn't see the destruction—he was too caught up in the thrill.
'That was awesome!' he thought, grinning. He punched again, another fireball blasting from his fist, bigger than the first.
Iroh's jaw dropped, but he reacted swiftly, raising his hands. With a sharp gesture, he bent the spreading flames upward, sending them spiraling into the sky where they fizzled out harmlessly.
He turned to Kon, who was already winding up for another punch. Another fireball shot out, and Iroh redirected it skyward.
'He's in complete control of fire,' Iroh thought, gobsmacked.
'How is this possible? Fire blasts already? Is this what it means to be an Avatar? I need to check the library for records of past Avatars. Are they all this talented, or is Kon special?'
"That's enough, Kon!" Iroh called, his voice firm. "No more fire blasts today."
Kon froze mid-punch, his grin fading into a pout. "But it's so much fun burning things with fire! It's just as fun as flying!"
'I could blast fire all day,' he thought, kicking a pebble. 'It's like being a dragon!'
Iroh crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Do you want me to complain to your mother?"
Kon's eyes widened, and he shook his head vigorously. 'Mom'll take away my desserts again!' he thought, shuddering at the memory of her last punishment.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop," he said, dropping his arms.
Iroh's expression softened, but his mind was still racing. 'His Chi is immense,' he thought.
'He flew for hours as a toddler without tiring, and now he's conjuring fireballs after just learning how to create a flame.'
Iroh stepped closer, placing a hand on Kon's shoulder after noticing his crestfallen look. "Don't be sad. Since you seem to have control of fire, tomorrow I'll teach you how to fight with fire-bending and more about its ways."
Kon's pout vanished, replaced by a grin. 'Fighting with fire? That's gonna be awesome!' he thought, bouncing again.