V: SUMMIT

climb every mountain,
ford every stream,
follow every rainbow,
til you find your dream.
"Climb Every Mountain" — The Sound of Music

The Fire Nation wedding ceremony involves a good deal of climbing.

There are temples built throughout the entire land for this purpose. These shrines rise up over the villages and cities, always on hills or mountains. This is, of course, vital to the symbolism that all important ceremonies carry. And no ceremony is as important as marriage.

Azula does not help Ty Lee climb.

"You are supposed to fight to have me. That is the point," sharply insists the princess when Ty Lee nearly keels over panting. "I am not helping you and we are not stopping to find a shrine that is on lower ground. Pull yourself together. You were an admirable soldier who sort of a little bit helped with the greatest military victory in Fire Nation history and I cannot believe you are so out of shape."

"That military victory was like over ten years ago, princess," Ty Lee squeaks between deep breaths.

"Shut up and keep walking," Azula demands.

Well, her wish is Ty Lee's command.

It always has been and always will be.