I hate my element. It only causes pain and destruction. I didn't want this life but it was given to me so I have to live it. I'm a fire bender and I hate it. Like I said pain and destruction, which is why I've only mastered the basics. I didn't like what my nation was doing, forcing thousands to bow down to their rule, slaughtering thousands more if they didn't. That's why when the Fire Prince Zuko was banished and forced to leave his home, only to return with the Avatar, the master of all four elements, I went with him as a solider. I figured if the Avatar had survived the slaughter of his people, the air benders, and the prince found him and captured him I could help him escape. But at that moment that thought doesn't seem likely. I had almost run out of hope of finding the Avatar. It had been three years since Zuko was banished, we'd been all around the world and we had found jack squat in clues regarding the Avatar's whereabouts. I thought about ending my search and going to help one of the other nations on that fateful day.

I was standing at my position on the deck when I heard Tiger Seals roar in the distance. I looked up and saw a bright beam of light. Zuko was standing at the bow of the ship. His uncle sitting close behind him playing a game with tiles. Zuko was staring at the light wide eyed. "Finally." He said. "Uncle, do you understand what this means?" "I won't get to finish my game?" The great General Iroh asked somewhat sarcastically. "It means that my search, is about to come to an end." Zuko said confidently. The great general sighed tiredly as he put a tile in place. We had been down this road so many times I had lost track. Like I said, we'd been all around the world, so we had to come to the poles.

A few times Zuko saw the celestial lights of the poles and thought it was a clue to where the Avatar was hiding. But, every time it had turned out to be said lights. I could see why the general was tired. At sea with his crazy nephew, obsessed with finding the Avatar, who was probably already dead, and restoring his honor. We all knew it was a fool's errand. Well, everyone except Zuko.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him!" He said hotly. "Or it's just the celestial lights." Said his wise Uncle. "We've been down this road before Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing." He placed down anther tile. "Please sit. Why don't you enjoy a calming cup of jasmine tea?" "I don't need any calming tea!" He burst out angrily. He yelled so loud at times it made me flinch. "I need to capture the Avatar. Helmsman, head a course for the light." He yelled up to the bridge. His Uncle frowned and set down another tile. Then a large gust of wind rattled his tiles. It sent a shiver through my body. It was about then that another guard came and relieved me from my post. I thanked him and headed below deck.

When I got to my quarters, I took off my helmet and fell on my bed. I rubbed my hands over my pale face, and through my dark brown hair. "What are you gonna do Lee?" I said to myself. "It's been three years since the search started and there's been nothing. No clues, no trails no nothing!" I threw my helmet to the side of the room angrily. "These past three years of my life have been a waste! I could be out helping some city or village, but no I had to go on this stupid hunt for a person who's probably dead!" I yelled. I was so angry that the lanterns in my room went out. I took a deep breath and calmed down. I got up and relit the lanterns. I sighed. "If we don't find anything tomorrow, I'm going to go help the earth kingdom."

THE NEXT DAY

I was on the deck drilling the basics with Zuko. We had been doing the same thing over and over again. "Again." Iroh said. Zuko fired a shot at both me and the other guard. He missed and I fired a quick shot at him. He jumped up and spun shooting a jet of fire in a circular motion. Then he did a flip and shot a jet of fire out of his right foot. The other guard and I jumped back. The great general sighed. "No." He said. "Power in firebending comes from the breath, not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body; the energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire." He launched a little bit of fire, to make his point. "Get it right this time." He said. "Enough." Zuko said impatiently. "I've been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready." "No you are impatient." Replied his uncle. "You have yet to master your basics. Drill it again!" Zuko growled and launched fire from his foot at me. I tried to protect myself with some fire but I was to slow, and I got knocked to the other side of the ship. When I finally got up, I heard Zuko say something about the advanced set and Iroh said something about roast duck.

I got up and headed for my usual post. If they were going to train in the more advanced levels of firebending, I wasn't going to be a part of it. About halfway through the day I saw a flare shoot up. I looked around and saw an old abandoned Fire Navy ship, and I could just barely make out a figure jumping around the outside of the ship. Then I heard Zuko yell. "Wake my Uncle! Tell him I've found the Avatar!" Thoughts swam in my head. 'It's him? It can't be the Avatar! This is just one of Zuko's mistakes…But what if it is the Avatar? Think about it you saw something jumping on that ship. Something…Or someone. No normal person could survive jumps like that. O.K. if this is really the Avatar I have to get him to trust me. But I guess I'll figure that out as I go.' We started heading for this village a little ways away from where we saw the ship.

I was preparing myself mentally for meeting the Avatar. This was supposed to be at least a 100-year-old man, with the ability to command all four elements. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve with such a wise and powerful man. We were waiting in the lower levels near the front of the ship. The large pointed front part of the ship lowered making a sort of gangplank. We walked down the gangplank, me, Zuko, and some other guards. There was a boy about 15 or 16 years old at the bottom of the gangplank. He charged at Zuko yelling, wielding a club. Zuko kicked the club to his left side, then the boy to his right and continued walking. The villagers gasped in fear as we approached. I cringed. I hated feeling like the bad guy.

Zuko walked up to this young girl, and this older woman who I assumed to be her grandmother. "Where are you hiding him?" He asked. No one answered him. He reached out and grabbed the old woman. I feared he was going to hurt someone if he didn't get his answer soon. "He'd be about this age. Master of all elements." He was getting agitated, I could tell from his voice. Still no one answered. Zuko shoved the old woman back to her granddaughter, and then sent out a wave of fire. This was getting serious. If someone didn't intervene this whole village would be a puddle soon. "I know you're hiding him." Then I heard a familiar yell. I turned around and saw the boy was up and again wielding the same club. He swung at Zuko but Zuko dodged and the boy flew over Zuko's back and into the snow. Zuko then launched fire at the boy but the boy rolled away and threw a boomerang at Zuko's head. Zuko moved his head and the boomerang flew past. Then a younger boy threw the first boy a spear and said. "Show no fear!" The boy caught the spear and charged at Zuko. Zuko broke the sharp end of the spear took the hilt and bonked the boy on the head a few times. After which he broke the hilt. Then the boomerang came back and hit Zuko in the back of the head. I suppressed a chuckle. That's when Zuko got really angry. He clenched his fists, and in each was a dagger of fire. Then suddenly a penguin came out of nowhere and knocked Zuko upside down, and then his helmet landed on his butt. I could help but chuckle this time. All the children of the village cheered. The penguin got the boy that was riding him off his back and said animal waddled away. "Hey Katara, hey Sokka." The boy said cheerfully. "Hey Aang. Thanks for coming." The boy with the boomerang said. 'So that's their names.' I thought to myself. Zuko got up and signaled us to surround Aang. When we had him surrounded, he launched snow at us with three swings from his weird staff. "Looking for me?" He asked. 'Wait, what is he talking about. Unless…' "You're the airbender? You're the Avatar?" Zuko asked as shocked as the rest of us.

I didn't pay much attention after that. I was lost in my thoughts. 'What? This boy can't be the Avatar. The Avatar is at least 100 years old! This boy doesn't look beyond 12 years old! He's lying! He has to be! Although the Avatar was an airbender and he was airbending. Maybe he is the Avatar.' I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard the cries of fear from the villagers. Aang made the fire dissipate and asked. "If I go with you, will you leave everyone alone?" Zuko dropped his stance and nodded. Two guards came up to him. One grabbed him by the shoulder another grabbed his staff. Katara ran forward and yelled. "Aang don't do this!" "Don't worry Katara it'll be O.K." He was pushed up the gangplank. "Take care of Appa for me until I get back." He said. I followed close behind the young Avatar. "Head a course to the Fire Nation!" Zuko yelled. "I'm going home." 'Not if I have anything to say about it' I thought to myself. The gangplank rose and we removed the ship from the icy village.

After we were a little ways away from the village, Zuko started being an ignorant jerk. Scratch that, he never stopped. "This staff will make an excellent gift for my father." He said. "I suppose you wouldn't know of fathers, being raised by monks." 'O.K. That was low Zuko. Even for you.' I thought to myself, but I dare not voice my thoughts. "Take the Avatar to the prison hold." He instructed the two guards on either side of Aang. "And take this to my quarters." He handed his uncle Aang's staff. With that, Zuko marched away. "Hey you mind taking this to his quarters for me?" He asked a solider behind him, giving him the staff. I returned to my usual post. It was only a matter of time before Aang escaped. I stood up there for a total of 30 seconds before Aang came running up the stairs. He jumped and spun and did an airbending kick move to open the door. Then he saw me and did the same thing to me. I was pushed down and hit a wall. When I got up Aang was gone. Another guard came up and yelled up to a guard in the tower. "The Avatar has escaped!" I got up and followed Aang through the door. I finally found him outside Zuko's quarters. He airbent me to the side, again. This time with his staff. I saw him airbend the door to the bridge open and I decided to go out to the upper decks. After all if he was planning to escape there was only one other way outside.

When I got to the upper decks I saw Zuko grab Aang's leg and drag him down. They both crashed onto the deck. 'Uh-oh.' I thought 'I have to help him.' I took off my helmet and threw it overboard. "Consider that my resignation Zuko!" I yelled at him. I took stance next to Aang. He looked at me funny but shook it off and took stance, Zuko took stance and boy did he look ticked. This looked like it was going to be an interesting battle. I heard a groan behind me. I turned around and saw some sort of flying buffalo. "What is that?" Zuko asked. "Appa!" Aang yelled excitedly. But his excitement was short lived. Zuko launched a jet of fire at Aang. Aang did a sort of windmill movement with his staff. But Zuko kept hammering him. I shot fire at him but he dodged and focused on Aang. Soon Zuko made Aang drop his staff a ways away and was resorted to dodging Zuko's attacks. At one point Aang had to jump up on the edge of the ship to doge one of Zuko's attacks. At that point, I knew it was all over. I saw Aang teetering and tottering and finally Zuko made his last strike and Aang went over. "Nooooo!" I yelled. I ran over to the side and looked over. "You're next, traitor." Now I was ticked. I swung around and launched a stream of fire at Zuko. It wasn't very powerful because I lost my breath control. But I kept at it. I suddenly heard a splashing sound as something rose to the surface. I looked behind me and saw Aang. He was in a cyclone of water and his tattoos and eyes were glowing. If there was any doubt in my mind before that that kid was the Avatar, it was gone now. He came toward the ship, landed, and formed a circle around himself with the water. Then he pushed the water outwards and knocked everyone down, including me. I was knocked out for a little while.

When I finally came to, I saw Katara getting on Appa, and Sokka's legs frozen in ice. As he was hacking away the ice, I heard him say. "I'm just a guy with a boomerang. I didn't ask for all this flying, and magic." They were going to leave and I had to go with them. I don't think my resignation went over too well with Zuko. I got up and walked over to them and they looked ready to attack me. I raised my hands in surrender. "Please, I mean you no harm. I'll explain myself but first we need to get out of here." Katara and Sokka looked at Aang and he nodded. "Alright but if you try anything funny, we can easily dump you the freezing ocean." Sokka said. I nodded and got on Appa. Appa started to fly off. We were almost away but Zuko wasn't done with us yet. Zuko and his Uncle had launched a giant fireball at us. I was about to freak out, but Aang had gotten up, opened the back end of his glider and swung, sending a wave of air towards the fireball, redirecting it into the ice next to the ship, causing an avalanche, which covered the ship in snow.

Once we were a fair distance away Sokka started questioning me. "Who are? Why are you here?" "I understand why you don't trust me. But let me explain. My name is Lee. You see, I am Fire Nation. That's no secret." I said pointing to my golden eyes. "But I don't agree with this war. This war has put me through so much. You see, my parents were open about their disagreeance with the war as well as my older brother. The Fire Lord obviously took notice in them. And... and he took them away from me. Let's just put it like that." I said trying to hold back tears as the memories resurfaced. I got sympathetic looks all around but I kept going. "I guess the Fire Lord thought that since I wasn't capable of making my own decision, I was only five at the time, he spared me. If you guys still don't trust me you guys can drop me off at the next town." "I like that plan." Said Sokka enthusiastically. "Sokka!" Katara yelled at him. "What? I don't trust this guy!" He exclaimed. "Sokka, Lee helped me fight Zuko." Aang said. "That could all have been an act. Did you see how he went easy on him? His entire sob story could be an act." "I did not go easy on him. I only know basic firebending. I hate my element that much. Fire only causes pain and destruction." I replied. "I don't know." Said Sokka. "At least give me a chance." I said. "If I do one thing to endanger Aang, you guys, or the mission, you can kick me off right then and there." "Alright. But the second you betray us we are coming after you." Sokka said conceding. I bowed my head. "Thank you. I won't betray you or the Avatar." "Speaking of the Avatar." Sokka said turning towards Aang. "Why didn't you tell us Aang?" Katara asked. Aang looked away as he answered. "Because…I never wanted to be."

Just then a dark cloud passed. Then rays of light broke through. "But Aang, The world's been waiting for the Avatar to return, and finally put an end to this war." I decided to throw my two cents in. "I've seen a lot of messed up things the Fire Nation has done, and you need to end this war soon." "And how am I going to do that?" Aang asked solemnly. According to legend, you need to first master water, earth, then fire right?" Katara asked remembering the old stories we all knew as a kid. "That's what the monks told me." Aang replied finally looking back at us. "Well if we go to the north pole you can master waterbending." "We can learn it together!" Aang replied enthusiastically. "And Sokka, I'm sure you'll get to knock some firebender heads on the way." Katara said to her brother. His reply was. "I'd like that. I'd really like that."

"I'm gonna guess Zuko isn't going to stop coming after us. He's been looking for Aang for three years, and I don't think he's going to stop just because he found out he's alive." I said "But I know him well enough to know his strategies, and his weaknesses." "Great so we're all in this together." Replied Katara. "Alright but before I learn waterbending, we have some serious business to attend to." Aang said as he laid a map down in front of us. He pointed to several spots on the map. "Here, here, and here." "What's there?" Katara asked looking at the map. "Here we'll ride the hopping llamas." Aang responded pointing at one section of the map. "Then way over here we'll surf on the backs of giant koi fish. Then back here we'll ride the hogmonkeys. They don't like people riding them, but that's what makes it fun. "That sounds very serious." I said smiling. "We should probably head there as soon as possible." To be honest I needed a little fun. Being on that ship for three years, with that arrogant prince. You could say fun wasn't in that guys vocabulary.

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