Continuation
This story picks up almost immediately where the Western Air Temple episode left off.
SPOILER WARNING: This is a spoiler for The Western Air Temple episode. If you haven't seen it yet, don't read this. Or if you want to spoil it for yourself, be my guest.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. If I did…Zuko wouldn't have made a complete fool of himself in TWAT.
Zuko awoke instantly as the first of the sun's rays fell across hi face. He stretched, yawned and slipped on his shoes. He hadn't bothered to change into his night clothes the previous night. He could sense that none of the others were up yet so he sat silently on his bed; contemplating what he had done. Just yesterday he had told the Avatar that he wished to join their little group. He had been welcomed by defensive stances and stares. He had expected as much but he had not expected the appearance of the assassin he had hired to track down the Avatar. He cursed himself now for telling them he had hired the man.
Though, it had proved his point some that he was on their side when he fought against, 'Combustion Man'. Zuko gave a little smile and a shake of his head at the Water Tribe boy's naming skills. They were not something to be envied.
"Hey Sunshine!" the earthbender was another matter entirely. Zuko sighed quietly and turned to face the girl.
"Good morning…Toph, is it?" Zuko hoped he had gotten the name correct. She nodded and he smiled a bit.
"What's got you in such a good mood? From what I've heard about you, you're always moody and mad." Toph stated, facing the wrong way. Her feet had yet to heal completely so she was forced to rely on her other senses. Zuko absently wondered where the boy had wondered off to when he came in, glancing around as if searching for hidden weapons. Zuko still sat on his bed with his arms resting on his knees.
"Morning…Sokka?" Zuko hoped again that he had gotten the name correct. Sokka chuckled and threw Zuko a piece of fruit which he caught easily.
"You are correct, young prince." Sokka bowed dramatically and Zuko only cocked an eyebrow questioningly. Even without her feet to tell her Zuko's reaction, she knew he must be thinking Sokka was an idiot right about now.
"Yes, he is stupid." She stated simply before walking away, making the sudden exit a bit less dramatic when she had to feel around with her hands so she wouldn't run into anything.
"Am not!" Sokka cried indignantly. Zuko just watched him leave with a look that seemed to say that he agreed with Toph. Zuko grabbed his twin blades before leaving. He walked into the commons area and told Sokka that he was going to the cliff top to practice. He just nodded and continued his conversation with Toph.
Zuko made his way over to the rope, grasping it firmly between his calloused hands and climbed its length easily, reaching the top in mere minutes. He surveyed his surroundings before pulling his Dao swords from their sheath with a metallic slice. The sound usually brought with it the sounds of battle but for the time being, the sound meant training and practice. Zuko let his thoughts wander as he moved easily through the movements that now seemed to come naturally. He needed no concentration. His thoughts wandered to Mai, he wandered how she had taken his note, how much she despised him right now, and if he would ever have to…fight her. His swords dropped to the grassy ledge at his feet. He stood, just thinking that thought over in his mind. Could he…would he fight her. How could he ever? She was the only thing that he regretted giving up.
"Why did you stop?" Aang's sudden voice made Zuko jump a bit. He turned to face the young Airbender. How long had he been standing there?
He ignored Aang's question and gave him one of his own. "Is there something you need?"
Aang shuffled his feet as if in embarrassment. "I…I need to learn firebending." He finally stuttered out. Zuko nodded and placed his swords back in their sheath. "You're not going to tell me how to breathe are you?" Zuko cocked an eyebrow in confusion at the boy.
"I…I trained with Master Jeong Jeong once and all he had me do was stand in a stance for hours and breathe." Aang explained quietly.
"Well, breathing is important for any element but especially so with Firebending. Breath gives life to fire so therefore breathing gives life to firebending. That was a very…odd way of teaching you though." Zuko glanced at Aang who had visibly relaxed at this. Zuko formed a fireball in the palm of his left hand. "I'm going to hand you this fire."—Aang stiffened at once—"Relax, it will not hurt you as long as you stay calm. An upset bender leads to a wild fire. Breathe with the fire; as you exhale, allow the flame to grow, when you inhale, it will diminish. Focus on the flame Avatar; it will not hurt you as long as you trust it. Trust that the flame will not harm you."
Zuko carefully handed the ball of fire to Aang who took it shakily. Zuko told him once more to relax. Aang took a shaky breath and held the fire, breathing with the flame. Zuko stood a few feet away and watched his pupil with interest. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Zuko nodded and told Aang to extinguish the flame by breathing it in completely. He did so and coughed a bit but gave Zuko a reassuring smile. Aang grabbed his glider and leapt off the cliff while Zuko climbed down the rope, sighing when he reached flat ground again.
Zuko made his way to an old log placed about ten feet from the edge of the cliff and sat down. He sighed as he watched the sun rise further in the sky until he could no longer see it, though he could still feel its warmth and the strength it gave him. Zuko closed his eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath, taking in all the scents around him. The smell of fresh grass peppered with the tantalizing aroma of newly flowered fruits. The lasting scent of old leaves that still seemed pleasant somehow and the sweet scent of clean, running water. He took all this in, not noticing a pair of blue eyes watching him, narrowed in suspicion.
"Hey, Zuko," Sokka called and Zuko turned his head to look at the approaching boy. "Aang and Haru are gonna have a little duel. Wanna watch?" Sokka asked and threw a thumb over his shoulder towards the temple. Zuko shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, why not." Zuko stood and followed Sokka to an open field a little ways away from the main temple. It looked like a courtyard of some sort. No trees or other large plants grew here, only small clumps of browning grass and few leafless bushes. Zuko sat beside Sokka on a stone bench as Toph came up and sat on the other side of Zuko. Katara, Teo, and the Duke joined them a few moments later.
Zuko watched as Katara threw him a glare before sitting beside her brother. He watched Aang prepare himself for battle. Once the fight began, Zuko couldn't help but watch with fascination. Aang was clearly overpowering the inexperienced Haru. His mustache (A/N: Haha I can't help but laugh! I hate that mustache so much but it's so funny! I'm done now.) was covered with dirt and had now turned a lighter shade of brown. Zuko and the others coughed as a rock exploded before them and was soon turned to dust. The Duke hurriedly pulled his over-sized helmet down over his face.
Zuko noticed almost instantly that Aang showed none of the hesitation he had shown with Firebending during the fight. He wondered what had happened to make the young airbender dislike fire so vehemently. He had not voiced his opinions during the training session, Zuko had noticed his reluctance. He knew his nation had done much to deserve such hatred but…from the Avatar; he was as much a firebender as Zuko.
The fight ended with Aang as the victorious participant. Aang and Haru bowed respectfully before commenting each other on their skills. Never had Zuko seen such a thing in the Fire Nation. Of course they bowed to the other, but there was no heartfelt congratulations only stern glances.
That night, Katara cooked the fish that Sokka had caught earlier in the day. The pond near the courtyard was filled with fish and Sokka had had no problem catching enough for everyone. Katara seasoned the fish with various herbs she had collected that morning.
"So how is it?" Katara asked cheerfully as she glanced around her hopefully. Haru was the first to speak.
"This is wonderful, Katara." She thanked him.
"Yeah, it's great." Aang agreed with a huge grin.
"Wow, Sugar Queen, I never knew you had it in you." Toph complimented, Katara just smiled at her sarcastic friend. Sokka stuffed his mouth with more fish and gave her a thumbs up along with the Duke and Teo. Katara smiled then glanced harshly at Zuko who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"What about you, Zuko?" he snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at her.
"What? I didn't hear you." Zuko said, a bit confused by the look he was receiving from the Waterbender.
"Of course you didn't hear me! You never hear anyone because you're always lost in your own damn thoughts!" Katara glared at him and he returned it with a bewildered stare of his own. He glanced at Sokka who just shrugged his shoulders, looking as shocked as Zuko felt.
"Um…okay." Zuko finally said and she sat back down with a huff.
The rest of the evening was spent in silence. Everyone lost in their own thoughts. Zuko sat still, bowl in hand, thinking about his uncle; about where he could have gone.
Katara just sat and glared at the firebender. She couldn't trust him, there was no way. He claimed he had changed but he had said the same underneath Ba Sing Se. Then he had proceeded to join Azula which nearly got Aang killed. If she had wasted the Spirit Oasis water on his scar, Aang would be dead. She absently wondered if he would have chosen the right path if she had healed his scar...
Okay, new story! I watched the Western Air Temple episode on YouTube. I know I should have waited but the anticipation was killing me! By the way, Zuko made a complete fool of himself when he told them he wanted to join them. A complete and utter fool! He was even talking to a badger-frog before—and after—that! I wanted to smack him upside the head. But, I guess if he had gone in there acting all high and mighty and confident, they would have been even more suspicious—if that's at all possible. Okay, I'll stop my rant now and let you get on with your lives. But not before I plead you to leave me a review. Please, please, please! drops to knees and looks up with puppy dog eyes Even if you just want to tell me that I was stupid for watching the new episode before it comes out in the US. Just please review!
-Phantom