Lightning Redirection
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Lightning redirection is a technique within Firebending, allowing a Firebender to absorb lightning into their body as energy, then release the lightning in a more desirable direction. The technique was developed by Iroh after he studied master Waterbenders, who redirect force rather than oppose it head-on. Lightning redirection works equally well for natural and generated lightning.
[edit] History
The technique was first demonstrated by Iroh in "The Storm", in which Iroh used it to protect Zuko's Ship and its crew from a lightning strike (though it should be noted that after redirecting the lightning, he was shown as being burned, this may indicate that natural lighting is more difficult to redirect or may be more powerful then generated lightning, or it may have merely been for comedic effect).
In the episode "Bitter Work", Iroh agreed to teach this technique to his nephew Zuko, after Zuko was unable to learn lightning generation. Iroh explained that the lightning need to go in through the arms, down to the stomach and out the other arm. In his words,
"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips up your arm to the shoulder, then down into the stomach. The stomach is the source of energy in your body, it is called the sea of Chi, or in my case it is more like a... vast ocean. Ha-ha-ha-ha,(...). From your stomach you direct it up again and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical, you must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly."
After Zuko learns the technique to his satisfaction, he demands that Iroh shoot lightning at him so that he can practice the move, but Iroh refuses out of the sheer danger of it. Zuko seeks out a lightning storm at the end of the episode, but no lighting strikes him, which causes Zuko to be furious at the world.
In the Book 3 episode "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse", Fire Lord Ozai, Zuko's father, shoots lightning at Zuko once the solar eclipse ends. Zuko expertly absorbs and redirects the lightning back towards Ozai, the explosion throwing Ozai at the wall behind him, giving Zuko time to escape.
In "Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King", Zuko teaches this technique to Aang, who recognizes its Waterbending principles. Aang uses this technique to redirect a Sozin's Comet powered lightning from Ozai, but still not wanting to end the Fire Lord's life he redirects it in the air. In "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into The Inferno" Zuko goads Azula into using lightning planning to redirect it at her only for her to fire it at Katara instead. While he is successful in redirecting it, his state afterwards suggests that because of the unexpected target and the unusual position in which he was, Zuko forgot or had no time to make the stomach detour (although he may have done so but not had time to finish the move resulting in some of the energy remaining in his body).
According to Zuko, the process of redirecting Lightning is an intense, exhilarating and terrifying experience. The person redirecting lightning feels powerful containing massive amounts of energy, but they know they will die if they make a single false move. It is noteworthy that Aang appeared to be in physical pain when he absorbed Ozai's lightning. However, given Zuko and Iroh never appeared to be in pain while performing the technique, this may merely indicate Aang's relative inexperience with it, or that he is more sensitive to it given his previous injury had still not healed, or be due to the fact Aang had to redirect comet enhanced lightning, or a combination of these factors.
[edit] Note
In "The Avatar and the Fire Lord", Sozin redirected heat from magma in a volcano in a similar fashion to this technique. This could indicate that the basics of lightning redirection are not completely rooted in Waterbending teachings, however it is likely the techniques arose independently of one another given Iroh sourced studies of Waterbending as the basis of the technique.
