Author's note: Avatar the Last Airbender is not owned by me. It is owned by its respective owners. All rights theirs. The only thing I own it the original characters that make appearances in the story. Story is set after Zuko Alone.

Air and Fire

By

Ragemoon

Part One

Over the tree filled landscape Zuko looked. He sighed for he could see nothing but trees and gave his mount a kick he knew he had to find shelter soon. He could hear the creatures of the forest tittering away. There noise amused him for once. Not much amused him anymore. He knew both he and his Uncle were safer on their own and apart then they were together. With his sister hunting them they needed to create two separate targets. He found himself wishing for his Uncle's unjudging company once again on his lonely journey. He missed the old man's words of wisdom and wit though he never tell his Uncle that. His thoughts seemed to haunt him. He remembered the village that had turned on him once they found he was from the Fire Nation for some reason their hatred hurt him. He was trying to understand it. He found that at the moment he had no answers for himself.

He patted his saddle bags and their cargo. Many of the things he carried his Uncle knew about. One of the things he did not know of. A mask sat in his saddle bags that he did not want anyone to find. A mask that helped him do what he could see was right. Even though he felt helpless watching the world around him crumble. He was beginning to understand why the Avatar was important but it did not make his resolve to capture Aang lesson.

Zuko wanted to go home. He wanted his Father to love him as much as his Father loved his younger sister. That was all that he ever wanted, his Father's love. He still could not understand why he seemed unworthy of his Father's love and his sister was so much more worthy then he was. He really did not get it at all.

His Mother was not like that. She loved him for being himself. For being Zuko, her first born son she was proud of him. Zuko knew that his Mother sometimes wondered how she gave birth to such different children. He realized as he pondered over his memories that she much have sacrificed herself form him to live and that angered him. It angered him that anyone would separate him from the one person other then his Uncle who actually loved him.

"What is wrong with me?" He spoke aloud to no one only his mount could hear him. "Why do I have this need to have Father recognize me? He never has. It seems that no matter what I do it was never ever good enough for him. Ever." He pondered the thoughts as he watched the world around him.

It was growing dark in the earth kingdom forest he found himself in. The sun was making its usual decent down to go bother the other side of the planet. He soon found himself a good spot to make his campsite. He noted that it looked like others before him used this spot to camp for the night. He busied himself with normal camp duties and tried not to think of the pinch of hunger in his stomach. He knew he have to hunt first he needed to set up his camp.

Only a few miles away from Zuko was Aang and his friends. They were also making camp. Each of the four doing their part. Katara was cooking some soup for all four to share in. Toph made sure all the bed rolls were set up before joining Katara at the fire. Katara hummed as she cooked and watched her brother and Aang in amusement as they gathered firewood. Earlier that day Aang and Toph were practicing earthbending. Aang was mastering it quickly. Then again he needed too. It was getting closer and closer to the time when he have to challenge the Fire Lord. Katara wondered if they find him a Fire Master as well. Between herself and Toph they had the other two disciplines he needed to learn well in hand. After dinner they all lay down to rest. It was going to be a long day.

Meanwhile Zuko hunted and killed one of the many small creatures in the forest. He cooked his meal over the small fire he had made then ate hungrily After he was done he lay down to sleep. His eyes gazed up at the sky, he looked up at the stars and began to name off the constellations that his Uncle had taught him while they were out at sea. He barely finished them off as he drifted off to a semi-restful sleep.

The next morning Zuko and his quarry both came to the same village. Neither realized the other was there. Zuko was keeping a low profile he learned from the last village how people reacted to him being of the Fire Nation. He pulled his hat more over his head and adjusted his head scarf. Only his eyes shown to anyone who looked at him. He soon spotted Aang, Katara and Sokka talking with a vendor in the market place. He was grateful for the crowd in the market place as he watched them and they did not realize it at all. He had to suppress the need to walk over there and grab Aang. He also noted that there another in their party and she was blind. He sighed wondering why they were bringing a blind girl about. He figured if he watched more he would learn the reason why she was with them. So he followed them also gathering supplies while he did.

Aang smiled fully and laughed as Sokka tried to barter with the venter. He could not believe the silliness of bartering. Everything amused the young Avatar as he took in the people and the sights of this village. He so enjoyed a good people watch. Momo watched the people too and chirped at them. Aang laughed at Momo's antics as much as he laughed at Sokka.

"Oh come on that's a good fair price." Sokka stated. He looked at the woman before him. She scowled at him and gave in accepting the money. Sokka smiled taking what he bargained for and the four walked away.

Katara shook her head once again amused by her brother's attitude. "Your ego keeps getting bigger Sokka. If it keeps expanding Appa will not be able to fly with us all in the carrier." That comment made Aang laugh out loud.

Toph shook her head. "This village feels somewhat happy. Yet there is there is undercurrent of rage and fear. Which I don't understand at all."

"It does." Aang smiled still bouncing too and fro checking everything out much to his friends amusement. "There is no fear here. The people here feel safe. Though there is an undercurrent of something I cannot place." He finished off saying seeming confused by that realization.

"Sorry Aang I have to agree with Toph. There is an undercurrent of fear and rage. I think its only a single person though which is why the village over all feels happy." Katara pointed out. That made the three she was with think. Katara realized that only someone who was really different could be feeling what she and Toph were feeling in the emotional undercurrents of the village.

Zuko followed them but at a distance still stopping and buying what he needed as well. He did not want them realizing that he was there watching them. He stored them on his mount. He was glad he was getting fair trade for his money and what goods he could barter for. It amused him to barter for things once more.

That is when they all heard a shout. They all looked toward the sound of the shout. None of them liked the feeling that was coming from that direction. The feeling they were all getting was of fear and anger. The same feelings that Toph and Katara were sensing earlier.

"Oh no," One of the female shopkeepers said near Aang's group. "Jinn, Kim, Neko and Yousake are up to their old tricks again. I wish their Mothers would discipline those boys. Leiko does not need their hatred. Poor child lost her Mother recently too."

That made Aang and the others look at each other.

At the same time near Zuko, another shopkeeper spoke softly. "Oh no, those boys. I really don't understand their need to be mean and bully Leiko. She stands up to them they normally pick targets that roll over. Kim, Jinn, Yousake and Neko should all know better. Their Mothers should keep them on a tighter leash."

Then what the shopkeepers were so worried about came to the marketplace the four boys and one young woman came into view. The young woman did not look that much different from anyone else. Though you could see she was not originally from the Earth Nation. She seemed like a blending between two nations Aang could not put his finger on which two though. He knew he should know by the way she looked which two nations gave birth to her. His lack of insight bothered him.

Zuko blinked recognizing one of the nations in the young woman before him, Fire Nation. He was not sure what the other nation was though from his dealings with Aang he pondered if it was not the Air Nomads one of her parents came from. He figured he'd watch and wait. See if he was right.

"Freak." Four very large boys shouted at a slightly built young woman. They shoved her away from them. She landed hard on the earth in-between Aang and Zuko, she grunted upon landing. "Come on Jinn, Kim, Neko, the adults have once again cleared out. They are not going to defend the Freak."

"Why don't you go home to your Father's people." The taller of the crew growled at her. She scrambled to her feet fists clenched in rage. She did not realize nor did the young men that the boys now had an audience of five to watch them taunting her. Jinn continued to speak "Oh yeah you can't cause your Father is a fire nation traitor. Isn't that right Yousake?"

Zuko blinked knowing that none of his people had been sent into exile save himself recently. He'd studied his people's history before being exiled himself and he knew they were lying. He frowned wondering why it was so important to them to say her Father was a traitor and to speak such untrue and dishonorable things to the young woman before him. She looked about his age from what he could see of her.

"And you cannot go home to your Mother's people either." A pole thin one sneered. Neko smoothed the front of his shirt and eyed her like she was not really worth his time but she was a wonderful target. "Then again she's not here to defend you either."

As another sneered in addition to his fellows comment Kim spoke. "And your Mother's people are dead. Ironically enough killed of by your Father's people. Unless you count that Avatar." He laughed at her. "Then you be a tribe of two." They all laughed at her. None of them had quite realized they had an audience of the Avatar and his comrades as well as Zuko who was not getting any happier with them as he listened, for they were too intent on their target. These bullies reminded him of his sister and that feeling did not settle in his stomach quite right.

"Why don't you just stop it." She said to them. Toph and Katara could hear the beginning of tears in her voice. Tears that would lead to rage if those boys did not stop. Both Katara and Toph knew the boys would not stop and that bothered them. "The same taunts all the time. Cannot you think of something more creative?" She paused realizing what Kim had said. "The Avatar is a law unto himself idiots, he is all nations not just one."

"Oh come now Leiko. Don't like hearing the truth." Yousake sneered. He smoothed out his long black hair. He would have been truly handsome, though some still considered him handsome, if he learn that not everyone took kindly to being tormented. He enjoyed tormenting Leiko he was hoping that eventually the city elders would see that Leiko was a danger to them all with her odd abilities.

"My Mother was welcomed in to this village. She never did nothing to anyone of you." Leiko stated definitely. They knew that was the truth. Leiko's Mother had come to the village with her daughter as a baby. The man who had fathered the child was no longer with the world was what she told the city elders. They knew she was of the Air Nomads for she bore their markings. She had come when they needed a healer. Leiko's Mother had kept herself and her daughter apart from the villagers most of the time. "She always helped everyone. She was a healer." She glared at him. "My Mother and Father loved each other it does not matter what nations they came from."

Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko all noticed that no one dived in to defend her. They soon were going to find out why. The entire market place was empty out faster then you could say airbender. Venders were closing shop and taking things away. Like this was so common place that they had a plan in mind in how to deal with what was going on. This disturbed the entire group as they watched the events unfold about them.

One elder looks at Aang's group and says to them. "I'd get gone youngsters this is about to get bad fast. Those boys will not stop at taunts. Earth is going to fly amongst other things." Giving them a clue that the boys were earthbenders this did not make any of them happy. "I wish the Elders would punish them but they will not."

Aang and his friends looked at each other and Aang shook his head. "We have to help her if she needs it." The old man nodded then smiled at them as in thanking them for being brave enough to stay and disappeared like all the others.

An old woman spoke to Zuko. "You best disappear like the rest of us young man. It's about to get real ugly real fast. Those boys are going to start flinging Earth at that girl. She will retaliate as best as she can." She shuttered not waiting form Zuko to answer she took off to her home where she closed the door quickly.

"You lie." Leiko said looking up at them. One fist now held fire in it. This surprised Aang and the others. Zuko let out a low whistle. He could see that this was going to get bad fast. He was not wrong in his thought either. She spoke again gathering her fleeing courage for she did not like the odds at all. Four against one was not good odds, she only mastered her airbending skills before her Mother had died a few weeks ago. She been teaching herself using the same lessons her Mother had taught her to slowly learn control of the firebending ability. Too bad her Father had died before they'd come to the village when she was a baby. She choose to only use her firebending and let the airbending keep her light on her feet. "You wanted to fight earlier. Let's go. I've had enough of you."

The fight began much to the horror of the ones who were watching. They all been in battle before so it did not surprise them. The four youths using earthbending against their firebending opponent. The four boys called huge rocks and tossed them at her. She used fire to break the rocks into tiny pieces still taking damage. They all danced the battle dance and Leiko was lighter on her feet then the ones she was fighting. Rocks flew everywhere when fire hit them. The boys were singed by her attacks as she was bleeding in some spots from theirs. They even tried to use the earth splitting against her and that failed for she just danced lightly to the side and flung fire back at them. She seemed to have a knack they lacked. One that Aang recognized. She was also using airbending in offensive manner and without looking like she was using it. That surprised him but for some reason did not her Mother must have trained her well. One of the youths got in a lucky shot that hurled her to Zuko's feet where she tired to get up but she passed out.

"Her mother must have been an airbender." Aang stated looking at the others. "Her Father a firebender. She is as odd as I am."

"Yes she is. But not quite like you. Only two bending abilities and that is odd in and of itself but not unheard of. She is right you know. You are a law unto yourself all abilities lie within you. She only has two and they are only there by virtue of birth or she just have one." Katara agreed. "I don't like how this is going to turn out." She winced as the large bolder hit her flinging her over at the feet of another observer that Katara had not noticed until that moment. He seemed familiar to her she could not place where she knew him from.

Toph and Sokka for once held their thoughts. Toph did not like that they were using their abilities to torment and try and hurt another bender they grew up with. Even if she was very different from them. She could not understand why they were being so dishonorable. For this was one of the things she did not like amongst her own people. This unfailing arrogance that some Earthbenders had with their skills. It was irksome to her.

Zuko looked down at her. She done a lot of damage to the boys that she was fighting. He glared and they took off running. He turned her over and looked at her. She was unremarkable. Pretty but no great beauty. Her hair was in two thin braids down her back. She looked like a normal girl from the fire nation. He checked her pulse and found it was strong. Looking at her he wished she wake up so he could leave this village.

Leiko woke up feeling someone staring at her. She realized that it was a young man. She was quite scared, look like a bad burn scar. She wondered what poor master had done that to his student. Her Mother had told her only a poor teacher would scar their student. She groaned and tried to lift herself up. "Oh I feel like my bones are crushed." She looked at him. "Help me up please?"

Zuko nodded and hauled the girl up. She grunted. "You held yourself up well. Who taught you your firebending?"

"No one." She blushed crimson. "I'm trying to teach myself. I'm not very good at all."

"Not bad for being self taught." Zuko looked at her. "You need to find a teacher."

"No one will teach me." She managed a wry smile. "Not after they find out my bloodlines. But thank you."

Zuko frowned he was no longer paying attention to the Avatar and the Airbender's cronies his thoughts and sight were set on the girl before him. "I will teach you. I cannot let you wander around without a teacher and firebending that be dangerous."

She looked at him in surprise. "Thank you." Zuko smiled feeling good about what he was going to embark upon. He knew that this was the right one and this choice was going to help him out in the future.

Aang looked at his friends they were all surprised by Zuko's words. Now that he'd spoken they knew the prince of the Fire Nation was the other watcher. None of them recognized him with his hair cut so short. Aang watched in confusion as Zuko loaded the girl up on his ride and sat behind her. Both disappearing out of the earth kingdom village they were in.

"Did I really see that?" Sokka asked everyone. "Zuko took her with him?"

"We all saw it." Katara pointed out.

Toph looked at the pair riding off though her earth sense. "That is odd. I wonder why?"

"Maybe he is going to teach her control of her firebending." Aang pointed out. "Let's get back to Appa and see where they are going."

The group nodded and took off to go back to Appa and see where Zuko was taking his new student.