Episode 10: Forged in Fire

The Uchida are Fire Nation immigrants who moved to Ba Seng Se a generation ago. They have established themselves as the premier artisan blacksmith of the city, based in the Middle Ring. Akio, the head of the household, runs the business, which has been impacted by the death of his wife, Akari. Akio had chosen his lazy younger son brother, Hiroto, as the new heir, as his eldest, Tomomi, is female, which is not customary to the Earth Kingdom traditions.
For years, Tomomi had aspired to become an excellent blacksmith worthy of her father's approval and respect. She was encouraged by her mother, Akari, who let her sneak into the forge and practice in secret. After her passing, Tomomi struggled with the sexism of the Earth Kingdom culture, feeling alone. 
On a calm evening, Tomomi works on a dagger, that a general commissioned. She is accompanied by Yui, her young Firebender best friend. Hiroto discovers her making the dagger without her father's consent, and threatens to tell Akio. Their father walks in and is impressed by Tomomi's dagger, but does not believe she made it, as she is a woman with no experience. He tells them both to go to bed while he refines the dagger. 
The next morning, the general arrives to claim his dagger. Akio tells him that Hiroto made it, and introduces him as his heir. Tomomi, upset over the ordeal, challenges her brother to a modified version of Agni Ki for the right to become the heir. In three days' time, each sibling must create a weapon on their own and then fight. Akio, furious with her disrespect in front of the general, accepts this, on the condition that if she loses, she lets go of her aspirations of becoming a blacksmith and heir. 
Tomomi is forbidden from using the Uchida forge as she is a woman. She heads for Yui's house, who talks her into creating a forge of her own in her backyard. They go to a different blacksmith in the Lower Ring, who agrees to loan them some tools if they help with a pest problem in the shop. They agree, and the two clean out the Pidgeonrats that have taken shelter in the shop. However, the shopkeeper explains that the vermin is actually a Dragonsnake, who has been terrorizing guests. Tomomi befriends the Dragonsnake, who acts warmly towards her because of her kindness. She decides to adopt the Dargonsnake, calling them "Aoshi."
Yui introduces Tomomi to an ex-lover of hers, Min, who can Earthbend. He agrees to help them make the forge with Earthbending if Tomomi promises to make him a new chainmail armor. Together, they go to a scrap pile in the Lower Ring and forage for parts, finding some iridescent meteorite, gold, and steel in the rubble.
Yui and Min use their bending to help Tomomi forge her weapon, a katana with a gold hilt and iridescent purple blade. She fits it with a compartment to use Aoshi's paralyzing venom to lace her blade. 
Together the group arrives at the Uchida Estate for the battle. Her father had invited guests to watch them, confident that Hiroto will win and they are able to squash the rumors going around that their heir is female. Hiroto had created a greatsword that he himself cannot carry. Akio is impressed by Tomomi's weapon but does not believe it is her creation. Hiroto flees in cowardice and Tomomi wins, but she is publically scolded by her father for humiliating him, his business, and their family. Tomomi decides to abandon her clan and forge her own path as a blacksmith and swordswoman.