Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar and I never will. They belong to Nickelodeon or the the Creators of the show. Feel free to comment and criticize

Chapter One: Invitations

Zuko opened his sleepy eyes. He was sure it was morning, but the sunlight hadn't shone through his room yet. It must be because of the temple's weird architecture. Stupid Air Nomads. Why couldn't they just make everything right side up? Sure the view was breathtaking, all the emerald roof tile under your feet and the entire structure built under a cliff. But after living there for a few days, Zuko was getting tired of going up just to get down. Either way, it was time for morning meditation.

Now it was especially important. After seeing what the dragons showed him, there was no way he could simply not try to grasp the power of fire. The Avatar was too busy looking at pretty colors to realize what they truly meant. It was up to him to decipher the meaning of the hues. Ran and Shao showed him the path of true Firebending; he wasn't going to let that opportunity pass.

It was time to recall the memory, dragons flying, beating there heavy wings in the sky, the dragon dance, the judgment, the spiral of flames, green, yellow, red, blue, Iroh, his mother, Azula. Damnit, every time he tried remembering he would get distracted. Time to try again. Breathe. Ignite the Fire. Breathe. Hold the Flame.

Zuko stood up meditation time was over. It was time for him to teach the Avatar firebending while the Sun was still in the sky. It had become routine, he would have the kid in the morning, the afternoon would be split between Toph's training and whatever Aang wanted to do, the night would be given to the crazy water tribe girl who still wouldn't forgive him.

Suddenly the floor cracked open, spitting out the moustache kid. Zuko instinctively evaded and prepared his stance. The kid flew up, hit the ceiling and landed in rubble, knocking over one of his meditation candles. The candles hit his bed, igniting it. Zuko attempted to put the fire out, but was hit by water whip.

"Get away from him traitor. I just knew it, a little trust and you do this."

"I didn't do anything…" but he was cut off with a wave of water. Moving fast, he recovered before he got hit again. Maybe the water tribe peasant was possessed.

"We trusted you, and you attack Haru." Or she could just be holding on to her grudge. Either way, Zuko couldn't just keep dodging her waves; he proceeded to evaporate her water with a sheet of flame from his feet. As expected Katara prepared to block with her own barrier. Unexpectedly the ground erupted a second time, with the blind girl erecting a solid wall between the opposing benders.

Toph brought the wall down, which Katara took as her queue to attack. Realizing Zuko was attempting to disarm her, she shot her water at him and changed it into multitude of icicle daggers. Zuko unsheathed his swords and started parrying and blocking the projectiles; he couldn't use fire bending the ice wouldn't melt fast enough. He couldn't use a hotter flame at the risk of hurting the others in the enclosed room. Sensing the clamor around her, Toph hit the ground pushing all three of them to the ends of the room.

"Toph what are you doing?" Katara was surprised by at her friend's actions. Nevertheless with what little water she had left, she took a fighting stance against both benders.

"Katara let me explain…" Toph tried. She was wary, at any moment it looked like Katara or Zuko might attack. Stupid Firebender. Stupid Waterbender.

Zuko had already taken up his stance, with one sword pointed at Katara, the other to Toph. He was confused, why was Toph fighting with Katara, and how the hell had they come to this, three benders at a standstill.

Before anything could be said, a blur of orange whizzed by, sending a tornado knocking all thee of them out.

Katara had just defeated Azula within the crimson walls of the fire lord's throne room. She found Aang fighting Ozai. In all their adventures, Katara had never seen the boy so skilled. He was parrying every single attack, he even channeled the lightning away. Finally he had frozen Ozai's hands and buried his feet. It would all be over soon, the war, the battles, and the bloodshed. Aang would finish everything right now, restoring balance to the world. Lightning. As the dust cleared, Aang had fallen. No, this wasn't right; she ran towards him, Ozai was still bound. And then she saw Zuko. His stance fierce, and his fingers pointed at Aang. He had betrayed them again.

Katara knew it. Zuko may have wanted to do good, but in the end he will always chose his honor over the right thing to do. Now Aang was dead. She could feel the tears flowing, her eyes closed. It was over. She heard a voice probably Sokka asking her to run.

"Katara wake up" it wasn't Sokka. "Katara are you alright?" It was Aang. Her eyes opened, she was back at the Western Air Temple. Slowly she sat up. It was all a dream. They were still at the temple with …Zuko. Everyone was sitting around the camp. She could tell from the sun, it was already noon. Aang was watching her intently with a worried look written in his face.

"What happened?" A simple question.

"I stopped you guys from fighting?" A simple reply. One Katara didn't immediately understand. "You, Zuko and Toph looked ready to destroy each other."

"Wait, what?" She touched her head. And as expected, the events came flooding through her mind. She stood up and accusingly pointed, "Zuko tried to kill Haru!"

"Whatever you saw, you're clearly misguided. I was trying to put out the fire that Haru kid started by knocking out my meditation candles."

"Why would Haru knock out your meditation candles, and how can you explain why he was unconscious?" Katara retorted triumphantly.

"The ground spit him out."

"Oh really. Apparently Haru is also an Airbender, he flew right?" she sarcastically replied.

"Actually not-so-Sweetness that was my fault. I sent Haru flying"

"What?" Zuko and Katara replied in unison.

"It wasn't my fault! The Duke made me do it! Sort of… okay not really."

"Toph what happened?" Aang asked in an attempt to pacify the group.

"Well the Duke wanted to find out who was a stronger Earthbender, Haru or me. I sort of got carried away and sent him to Zuko's room."

"Toph! You could have destroyed the entire Air Temple!"

"Fine I made a mistake, I admit it! But if anyone should be in trouble, its them": pointing to Zuko and Katara. "They're the one trying to kill each other."

That was the last straw the arguments soon erupted afterwards.

Teo, Haru and Duke were cowering in their seats at the sight before them. Sokka getting annoyed by the hullabaloo, decided to step in. Skillfully he went to Appa's side patted the Six-legged Bison, and as if understanding what the boy wanted, roared immediately stopping the dissidents.

"What?" Sokka asked innocently as all eyes were on him. "It was Appa breath or with me poking all of you with my boomerang. I had to stop all your bickering."

"Zuko is the Firebender, he's the one who ignited the whole thing!"

"I didn't even attack!" Zuko said exasperated by the accusation.

"Sometimes I just want to attack you for all the things you did to us." Katara confessed, glaring at her foe.

"Then why don't you?" Toph interjected.

"Toph!" Aang reprimanded. "I know it's hard to trust him but fighting isn't…"

"Actually I think it's a good idea." Sokka added, cutting off Aang.

"WHAT!"

"This way all the pent-up aggression is released." Sokka explained "Not to mention, it's practice too sparing with a Firebender. We'll get to see how good you guys are at bending. The four of you will duke it out in a battle royale." Noticing a worried look from Aang, he added "You and Toph will be there, just to make sure things won't be out of hand."

"Woohoo! Bending battle! I haven't had one of these since Earth Rumble!"

"I don't know about this…" Aang trailed off. But he finally consented after seeing Toph's excitement and Sokka's confident grin.

"So any other objections?" He looked at the contestants, Aang was worried but agreed with a nod, Toph was clearly game for the match, Katara had her arms folded but didn't contest, and Zuko was quiet so Sokka took that as a yes. "It's settled then, tomorrow, we will have the clash of the elements! Catchy name huh?!" Sokka gained no response and everyone left for their rooms, leaving Sokka with Appa. "And they complain when I'm not here." talking to Appa, who gave him a good sloppy lick.