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Sixteen-year-old Ria stared down at a younger version of herself. The cool wind blew smoothly through the younger Ria's curly light brown hair as she laid on the light green grass. Observing Zuko and Azula's fire bending battle as her mother, Arella chatted with Zuko and Azula's mother. The older Ria simply watched and observed, having had this dream many times before. She had a slightly saddened expression upon her face; simply because of the fact she knew how this dream would end. It felt strange to the older Ria that she was watching a younger version of herself, even if it was only a dream. Ria noticed how carefree she was back then and how she used to enjoy watching Zuko and Azula fire-bend, always wanting to try it for herself. As the younger Ria sat upright, she seemed to take note on how the grass she was running slowly through her slender fingers felt wet and slippery. The older Ria smirked for a second. Had she always been careful and observant as a child? "Ria?" a cool voice shouted not far into the distance, grasping the attention of both the young and older Ria. "Would you care to practice fighting with me? My brother is way too easy for me. Maybe you could at least make me break a sweat." Azula finished, flipping her raven hair back slightly as she spoke, obviously amused. "I am not easy! I could beat you if I wanted to, Azula!" Zuko shouted back in defense from afar. The older Ria had to laugh, Zuko was so cute when he was young, not that he wasn't now. Meanwhile the younger Ria simply giggled while the younger Azula rolled her eyes. "So, will you?" Azula said impatiently, making it known she was not to be refused. Oh please say no! Just say no, the older Rid whispered to herself. "Sure Azula." the younger Ria finally said, brushing her Fire Nation outfit that seemed to clash with her mystifying ocean blue eyes off. The older Ria sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn't change her past, even if it was a dream now. Young Azula assembled a battle stance as he younger Ria walked quickly towards the pond, where a mommy turtle duck was leading her little babies around in the pond. Young Azula nodded to signal young Ria they could begin. Young Ria raised her arms over the edge of the pond and summoned water like a whip out of the water, scaring away a baby turtle duck that went astray from her mother. Azula shouted a brief battle cry, grasping the attention of the children's mothers and Zuko, who was just before then practicing his sword technique on the innocent tree. All stopped and watched in interest as Azula and carried out their practice battle. As young Ria blocked almost every one of Azula's move with her water bending, the young Ria begun to grow more amazed then she had before with Azula's fire bending, now that she was up close. Soon young Ria began to have a surge of jealousy in her heart as she continued to simply block Azula's attacks with her skilled water bending. Ria, don't even think about it! The older Ria shouted, knowing what was about to come next. "Your daughter is a skilled water bender for her age." Ursa said with brief amazement, not bothering to look up from the pairs fight. "Thank you. I teach her all I can in case she is needed." Ria's mother, Arella replied, also not bothering to look up from the twos fight. Also clearly looking for flaws within Ria's technique. Older Ria looked at her mother for a moment, who was still watching her younger self. Arella was beautiful, she had long, thick curly light brown hair, flawless tan skin, and ocean blue eyes, with a heart shaped face frame and a perfectly pointed nose any women would want for herself. She was a kind woman, originally from the Northern Watertribe, taken only ten years ago, in order to be forced into a marriage with one of the Firelord's top generals, Lee Faye. The reason for this awful thing was for the result of a water bending weapon, raised by the Fire Nation, a huge advantage for the war. Older Ria continued to stare at her mother, trying to remember her this way. Ria was the splitting image of her mother, inheriting almost everything, everything except her skin tone, which was fair. That was something she received from her father. Older Ria then slowly moved her attention towards her younger self once again. She noticed the look of frustration that was on her face, obviously tired of fighting to any other person that noticed young Ria's expression, but older Ria recognized this part and braced herself for what was about to happen next. The water young Ria was once bending was now dropped onto the grass and in one swift movement, she then shot fire from her knuckles. Everyone's eyes widened with shock and amazement as Azula was sent flying backwards, landing with a dramatic thud. The older Ria groaned and shook her head as the younger Ria's eyes widened as she began to slowly look down at her hands. Shocked at what she had just done. At that moment Arella quickly stood up, her facial expression that was once peaceful was now twisted with worry. She then motioned her daughter to come to her, while Zuko came to his own mother out of sudden interest and whispered to her "Mother, what's going one?" "I'm not sure..." Ursa replied, obviously interested in what Arella was going to say. "Ria dear, how long could you firebend?" Arella asked her voice still as sweet as honey despite the expression she wore upon her face. Here we go again! Older Ria thought, frustrated with her dream...and her memory. Meanwhile younger Ria was looking down awkwardly at her feet, not knowing how to respond to her mother. "I-I-I'm not sure mother, I was just...I just wanted to make it happen...and it happened..." Ria finally stumbled out. "Ria, you mustn't tell anyone you can firebend. Do you understand?" Arella said softly, yet sternly, bending down to Ria's height while placing a hand on Ria's slim, bony shoulder. "Not even Father?" Ria asked, her dark blue eyes meeting her mothers.

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