Jin performed a spinning kick to send fire at her opponent. Her opponent blocked the attack and started sending fireballs at her. She ducked and rolled on the ground to avoid the fireballs. She threw a fireball at his legs. He jumped and kicked fire at her while still in the air. Jin rolled again to avoid the attack and jumped to her feet. He shot a large fireball toward her which made her stagger backwards to avoid it. She fell on her behind. He created fire daggers and started to run over to her. When he stood over Jin she shielded herself.
"Enough." said a voice.
The daggers dissapeared from her opponent's hands and he walked back to where he stood.
"Jin, stand up."
Jin got to her feet and turned to look at her father.
"Why didn't you try to block the attack?" asked Zuko, who was sitting in his throne, spectating her training.
"I'm sorry, Father." said Jin, "I-I guess I got scared."
"Jin," said Zuko, standing up and walking towards her, "You need to remember that whenever you get into a real fight, your opponent will not hesitate to hurt you. He won't show restraint because you're a child. He will hurt you when he gets the chance." he stood right in front of her and put he put his hands on her shoulders, "You can not give him that chance."
"I know," said Jin, lowering her head and closing her eyes, ashamed, "I'm sorry."
Zuko put his hand on his daughter's head and turned to Jin's training opponent.
"Again." he said.
Jin nodded once and turned to her opponent. When they got into their firebending stances, Mai entered the throne room, holding Jin's two-year-old sister Morana.
"Our guests are here, Zuko." said Mai, "They're excited to see you."
"I'll be right there." said Zuko
"Jin," said Mai, turning to her older daughter, "Haruki, Kya, and Toshiro are here."
"Really?" Jin yelled out excitedly.
Mai nodded, smiling. Jin started to run out of the room when Zuko grabbed her shoulder.
"Hold on," he said, "Your training isn't over yet."
"Zuko, she's been at this all morning." said Mai, "Let her go see her friends."
Zuko hesitated, then let go of Jin. "Fine."
Jin ran out of the throne room, giving her mother a grateful smile as she went. Mai smiled as she ran out. When she walked over to her husband, she saw that he was looking at her irritated.
"What?" she asked, frowning.
"Leave us alone." Zuko told Jin's opponent. The opponent bowed and walked out of the room. Zuko turned back to Mai, his hands in fists.
"Don't you understand how important it is for Jin to train right now?" he asked Mai, angrily, "Especially with this war going on?"
"Zuko, calm down." said Mai, putting her hand on his elbow but he jerked his arm away.
"I will not calm down," he said, "Don't you care about her? Don't you want her to be prepared?"
"Zuko, she's only eight." said Mai, "She's not going to be sent to battle at this age."
"I'm talking about what if the Chikara Army attacks the Fire Nation like they did the South Pole and part of the Earth Kingdom."
"Zuko, this palace is heavily guarded with firebenders, nothing's going to happen. You're acting like Azula."
"No I'm not! Azula went insane because she was worried about herself, I'm going insane because I'm worried my family and my friends." The fire in the room grew intense as he said this. He calmed down and so did the flames. He put his hand on Mai's face.
"I just don't want you to end up like..." he couldn't finish
"This is about Aang, isn't it?" a tear slid down Mai's cheek.
Zuko sighed again and walked past his wife.
"I'm not going to fail to protect my family like I failed to protect Aang."
He walked out of the room. Mai watched him go, tears running down her face.