Chapter 10
A/N: I sadly own nothing.
Bold is 'Bee's speech.
~thoughts~
/comm link/
Optimus' POV
"This is humiliating," Katara said.
"Getting out butts handed to us by the Fire Nation or walking all the way to the Western Air Temple?" Sokka asked.
"Both," she answered.
"Sorry guys, but Appa gets tired carrying all these people," Aang said rubbing the bison.
"Maybe he'd be less tired if he wasn't wearing that heavy armor," Midnight said.
"She has a point," Smokescreen said.
"I wonder how the rest of the troops are," Teo said.
"They're probably on their way to a prison," Arcee said.
"Seems like my dad just got out, now he's going back in," Haru said.
"I miss Pipsqueak," the Duke said.
"I miss not having blisters on my feet," Sokka grumbled.
"Oh, man up," Arcee snapped.
"Hey we're here! I can feel it!" Toph said as we stopped at a large canyon, probably the same size as the Grand Canyon.
"I think your feet need their eyes checked," Katara said.
"No she's right; we are here!" Aang said looking excited.
-.-
Bumblebee's POV
Zuko slid down a rope to the Western Air Temple. Getting close to the ground he swung off. Seeing that he was off I slid down, but I jumped off several yards higher than he did.
"Show off," he said pulling himself out of a memory.
I gave a wide grin and shrugged. Hearing a loud groan we ducked behind some pillars seeing the flying bison go by. With a quick look around we ran up a flight of stairs.
-.-
Sokka's POV
"It's so different from the Northern Air Temple," Teo said. "Maybe there's some secret rooms."
"Let's check it out," Haru said.
Aang began to fallow the other boys when Katara stopped him. "You all go ahead, we need to talk about some things," she said.
I looked to see where Optimus was, when I saw him and his team heading somewhere, either to meet the cavalry or scout the area; probably the latter.
"Why can't I go?" Aang asked.
"We need to discuss what we're going to do now, and since you're the Avatar you should be a part of this," Katara said sitting him down.
"Fine," Aang grumbled. "What's the new plan?"
"The new plan is the old plan," I said. "You just need to master all four elements and defeat the Fire Lord before the comet comes."
"Oh that's great," Aang said sarcastically. "I'll just do that."
"No one said it was going to be easy," Katara stated.
"Easy?! It's not even possible! Where am I supposed to get a fire bending teacher?" Aang snapped.
"We could look for Jong Jong," Katara suggested.
"Right…as if we'll ever see Jong Jong again," Aang said rolling his eyes.
"Who's…" Toph began. "Oh never mind! If it's important I'll find out."
"Guess we can't come up with anybody!" Aang said rather cheerfully running off. "How about a nice tour around the temple?" He opened his glider and took off.
"What's with him?" Toph asked.
"There has to be somebody who can teach him fire bending," I muttered trying to think.
-.-
Bumblebee's POV
I sat on a long with a badger frog watching Zuko rehearse his conversation with the Avatar.
"Hello Zuko here! I guess you already know me, sorta. So anyway, I have a lot of fire bending experience, and I'm considered to be pretty good at it. You know, from when I was attacking you…guess I should apologize for that. And anyway I'm good now; well I thought I was good before, but now I realize I was bad. Anyway I think it's time I joined your group and taught the Avatar fire bending," he finished. "Well?! What's your answer?!"
The frog jumped over Zuko's head, off into the forest.
"I think the frog just gave the answer," I said.
"That's what I'd say too," he sighed. "How am I going to convince them I'm on their side?!"
"I don't know, I'm not you," I shrugged.
"No duh Sherlock," Zuko grumbled. "What would Uncle do?" He then began to try to impersonate his uncle. Key word: try. "Zuko, you have to look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self, reveal itself."
It was moments like this I was glad I was voiceless, because I was currently laughing so hard my sides hurt.
He sighed. "Even when I'm talking for him I can't figure out what he means…what would Azula do?" He then tried to impersonate his sister. "Listen Avatar I can either join your group, or I could do something unspeakably to you and your friends. You're choice."
I now was laughing so hard I was crying.
"Guess I'm not that good at impressions," Zuko said looking at me.
"You suck at it!" I said trying, and failing, to stop laughing.
"Shut up," he growled half-heartedly.
I just laughed harder.
-.-
Katara's POV
I rode up next to Aang on Appa, trying to convince him to continue our earlier conversation. "Aang can we talk about you learning fire bending now?" I asked.
"What? The wind is too loud in my ears!" Aang said, obviously lying. "Check out this loop!" He and Momo, then did a loopy-loop.
"Aang I think we should be making decisions about the furture!" Sokka protested.
We all landed next to the fountain.
"We can do that while we check out the giant Pi Sho table!" Aang said. "You're going to love the all-day echo chamber!"
"That'll have to wait," Toph said.
Before I could ask, she pointed and Appa moved revealing Zuko and a boy that looked similar to him. But he was in the same armor the Autobots wore, it was bright yellow with black stripes, the boy's hair was jet-black with bright golden streaks and he and the brightest blue eyes I'd ever seen. I growled pulling out my water whip, as everyone else got into their fighting stances.
"Hello Zuko and Bumblebee here," Zuko said.
~Bumblebee isn't that the name of Prime's son?~ I thought my eyes going wide as I saw the slight miniscule similarities between the two.
"We heard you all flying around down there, so we just thought we'd wait for you here," Zuko said.
Appa approached the two, and Bumblebee took a step back. The bison licked Zuko and 'Bee began laughing? I couldn't tell because no sound was coming out.
"I know you must be surprised to see me here," Zuko began.
"Not really since you've chased us all over the world," Sokka growled.
"Right…anyway I wanted to tell you is that I've changed. And I'm good now, and I can teach fire bending to you," he said to Aang.
~He's really doing this trick again?! I can't believe that slimy snake!~
"You want to what now?" Toph asked.
"You can't think that we'd possibly trust you, after all you've done!" I snapped.
"All you've wanted to do was capture Aang!" Sokka said backing me up.
"I've done some good things too!" Zuko argued. "I could've stolen you bison in Ba Sing Sei, but I set him free! That's something!"
I watched as Appa licked him again. Looking at Bumblebee I saw him watching us carefully, he didn't have that happy look in his eyes he did a few minutes ago, in fact it looked like he was starting to size us up. The fact that he had a hand on one of his guns did not reassure me at all.
"Appa does seem to like him," Toph pointed out pulling me out of my thoughts.
"He probably covered himself in honey so Appa would lick him. He's not licking the other guy…what was your name again?" Sokka asked.
"Bumblebee," Zuko supplied.
"I didn't ask you I asked him!" Sokka snapped. A knife with a piece of paper on it appearing in the wall a centimeter from Sokka's head. "Bumblebee," he read. "Why didn't you say so?"
Bumblebee tapped his throat.
"You can't speak?" Aang asked and he shook his head. "Oh…sorry."
"Either way, I'm not buying Zuko's story!" Sokka said putting the conversation back on track.
"I understand I've made some mistakes in the past," Zuko began.
"Like when you attacked my village!" Sokka pointed out.
"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us!" I added getting in on the action. I noticed that 'Bee got closer to Zuko, and he was glaring at me, a warning flashing in his eyes.
"Look I admit I've done some awful things. I was wrong to try to capture. I'm sorry for attacking the Water Tribe. And we never should've sent that assassin after you," he said.
"You two sent Combustion Man?!" Sokka snapped.
"That's not his real name, but…" Zuko began.
"Sorry I didn't mean to insult your friend!" Sokka said with thick sarcasm.
"He's not our friend!" Zuko snapped.
"He locked me and Katara in a cell and tried to blow us all up!" Toph snarled.
It was then another knife appeared on the other side of Sokka's head almost hitting his ear.
"Will you quit with the knives?!" he yelled at 'Bee, who just shrugged.
I ripped off the note attached to it. "At least he didn't send me, I would've gotten the job done," he said. I gulped, as I realized how many weapons he had on him, plus how many more I probably couldn't see.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zuko asked Aang. "You once said that you thought we could be friends. You know I have good in me."
I continued to glare at Zuko, not taking my eyes off of him for a second knowing that's all he'd need to strike. I didn't look at 'Bee not wanting to be greeted by a knife next to my head.
"There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done! We'll never let you join us," Aang stated, and I smiled.
Zuko looked dis heartened and 'Bee was just staring at Aang a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"You need to leave now Zuko!" I gowled. "Bumblebee?" He turned his gaze to me and I gulped slightly, his gaze was as cold as the South Pole winters, and he seemed to be able to look right into my soal. "Are Prime's son?"
He gave a nod.
"We could take you to him, we know him!" I said with a bit of hope.
He narrowed his eyes at me and another knife with a note appeared, right above my head. "As if I have any reason to trust any of you, you haven't show yourselves like Zuko has."
He turned and grabbed Zuko's arm motioning for them to go.
"Bumblebee," I pleaded as he grabbed his knives out of the wall.
He just glared at me, before leaping halfway up the rope, and climbed out of sight.
-.-
Bumblebee's POV
I stood there listening to Zuko rant.
"Why did I tell them we sent an assassin after them?! I could've said Azula did that! They would've believed it! I'm stupid!" he said smacking his head.
"You didn't really play your cards right," I said.
"And what was with you and the knives?!" he growled at me.
"I needed to talk to them, but I didn't want to walk over with the note, figured speaking from a distance was my best option should they have decided to try anything," I said.
"And why didn't you take them up on the opportunity to find you father?" Zuko asked me, a look of shock clearly written on his face.
"Because I don't believe or trust them, they haven't done anything to deserve that. You have," I said.
-.-
Optimus' POV
"What exactly did we miss while we were gone?" I asked seeing that everyone was in bad mood.
"Zuko," Katara growled, pure malice in her voice. "He tried to fool us."
"He obviously want to lead us into some sort of trap," Sokka growled.
"Just like he did in Ba Sing Sei," Katara growled. "He stared talking about his mother, making it seem like he was an actual human being with feelings."
"Katara, that's too far," I said with a stern look. She looked down ashamed.
"It's true though," Sokka said. "He makes you feel sorry for him so you let your guard down, then he strikes!"
"Well it worked," Katara said. "I did feel sorry for him, I felt like really hurt and confused. But obviously when the time came he made his choice, and we paid the price…we can't trust him! Don't you see Optimus?!"
"I actually have a confession to make," Aang said. "Remember when you were sick and I got captured by Zhao?"
"When you had us suck on frozen frogs?!" Sokka exclaimed. "How could I forget?! I had a wart on the back of the skin that hangs down at the back of my throat for a month!"
"Sokka I checked it, and it was fine," Katara said rolling her eyes.
"I could feel it! It's my throatal flap!" he exclaimed.
"Anyway, when I was chained up, it was Zuko who got me out," Aang said. "He risked his life to save me."
"No way!" Katara snapped. "He only did that so he could capture you himself!"
"Face it Aang, you're nothing but a big prize to him," Sokka said.
"You're probably right," the young Avatar said yielding.
However I was not convinced.
"And what was all that about setting Appa free?" Katara growled. "He's such a liar!"
"He actually wasn't lying," Toph said entering the conversation for the first time.
"Yay," Sokka said with enough sarcasm to fill a hot air balloon. "In a lifetime of evil, at least he didn't add animal cruelty to the list."
"I'm just saying, considering his family and how he was raised, he could've turned out a lot worse," Toph pointed out.
"Let give him a medal," Katara snapped. "The not as much of a jerk as you could've been award!"
"I'm just saying when he talking he was sincere, maybe you're all just letting your hurt get in the way," Toph said.
"Easy for you to say!" Katara said with venom. "You weren't there when he had us attacked by pirates!"
"Or when he burned down Kioshi Island!" Sokka piped in.
"Or when he tried to capture me at the fire temple!" Aang said, much to my surprise.
"How could you defend him?!" Katara growled her anger starting to spiral out of control.
"Because! You're all missing one crucial detail!" Toph said storming up to Aang. "Aang needs a fire bending teacher! We can't think of a single person in the world to do it. Then one just happens to show up on a silver platter with Optimus' son, and you won't even think about it!"
"I won't have Zuko as my teacher," Aang said.
"Toph," I said. "What was that you said about my son?" Everyone suddenly shut up and looked at me, different expressions of anger (Katara) or panic (everyone else) etched on their faces. "Well?"
"Bumblebee was with Zuko, he even left with him after I said we could take him to you!" Katara snarled. "But no! He said he didn't trust me, and I that I haven't earned his trust like Zuko did! Can you believe that?!"
"If Bumblebee trusts him, then I don't see any problem," I said, and Katara looked at me shocked. Before she could say anything I raised my hand silencing her. "Bumblebee doesn't trust easy, part of his job, but if Zuko earned his trust then I don't see a problem with him. In fact I haven't since this conversation began, I heard the good, and bad, and to me he just seems lost and confused, not sure about where he wants to stand in the world."
"But Optimus," Katara began fueled by her uncontrolled anger.
"Enough!" I said, and she backed down. "Katara, I'm more than willing to contine this conversation once you have regained control of your anger."
"I am in control!" she almost screamed at me.
"Does that sound in control?" I asked and she looked down. "I recommend you think about what's best for Aang and get past your hatred. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir," they all said looking down.
"Good," I said giving each of them a stern glare.
-.-
Bumblebee's POV
Zuko was sacked out in our makeshift tent, I was about to go to bed, when the sound of footsteps caught my attention.
"You hear that?" Zuko asked me waking up.
I nodded. "Stay here I'll check it out, no fire bending unless you have to, I don't want you to hit me," I said, mainly because I was just wearing the underclothes for my armor. "Pretend to still be sleeping, that should lower their guard."
"Aright," he said with a nod.
I jumped into the trees, carefully hopping from branch to branch, not making a sound. Looking down I saw the earth bender girl that was with the Avatar. Pulling a rope out of my subspace, I made a lasso, ad roped her tying her arms to her side, and lifting her off the ground before she could even blink.
"Hey! Put me down!" she yelled.
I put a hand over her mouth and took her back to camp.
"Toph?" Zuko asked sitting up.
"Yes! Will you please have your buddy put me down now?" she asked.
"You're not going to attack us are you?" Zuko asked.
"No! I won't! I just came to talk!" she said. I untied her and put her down. "Geez Bumblebee, you're good, I didn't even realize what was happening till you had me up in the air." She grinned punching my arm. For such a small girl she was strong.
-.-
Optimus' POV
"Has anyone seen Toph?" Smokescreen asked as he got his breakfast.
"Not since she stormed off after Optimus yesterday," Sokka said.
"She could be exploring the temple," Arcee said.
"Yea, there are some fun spots to practice earth bending," Haru said.
"Maybe we should look for her," Bulkhead said sounding worried.
"Let her have fun with her rocks, I don't want her yelling at us again," Katara said.
"Katara, watch it," I said.
"We can go check," Duke said.
"Alright, Smokescreen, Bulkhead how about you go search with them," I said.
"Sure thing Prime," Smokescreen said bouncing to his feet.
With that the five guys took off.
"Hey guys," Toph said going down the steps.
"Where've you been?!" Katara snapped.
"Calm down Sugar Queen, I just went to talk with Bumblebee and Zuko," Toph said grabbing her bowl.
"What?!" both brother and sister yelled.
"I thought they could be helpful, sure in the beginning I startled them, and ended up being tied up and yanked into a tree by 'Bee, but he let me go once he was sure I wasn't going to attack them," Toph said with a grin. "I didn't even realize it till I was up in the tree!"
"So how did it go?" I asked.
"Well turns out Zuko turned traitor so he could help us, Bumblebee managed to become the most feared guy in the Fire Nation behind the Avatar, oh and 'Bee said he can't wait to see you again Prime!" she explained. "Something about all his sparing opponents were too easy, or something like that."
"Didn't he fight the Fire Lord in an Agni Kai recently?" Aang asked.
"Yep, that's actually the start of where he became the Fire Nation's most Feared guy behind you. He ended up kicking his butt to the colonies and back with just a few simple moves, he didn't even break a sweat! Zuko said he actually looked bored! He then insulted Ozai, in front of his generals in a war meeting, and got away with it! Then he and Zuko confronted the Fire Lord on the day of the eclipse, 'Bee threw a couple knives at him, gave him a cut on the ear and a new hair cut; as well as threatened to toss one on his arm! 'Bee even had the audacity to salute him as they left!" Toph laughed. "Prime your son's a genus! An absolute genus!"
-.-
Bumblebee's POV
Zuko and I got into position as we waited for our hired assassin to make his appearance. Seeing him walk out, he waited for a moment before tilting his head back, signaling he was going to strike. Zuko grabbed the rope I was holding and swung down knocking him off of his feet, the blast hit the side of the roof, not the pillars he was aiming for.
"Stop!" Zuko ordered. "We don't want you to hunt the Avatar anymore!" He stupidly ran right in front of the guy. "I'm ordering you to stop!"
He shoved Zuko out of the way, and fire again, tossing a small grenade it intercepted the fire blast, blowing it in the air.
Zuko stupidly charged him, a fire forming on his fist. "If you keep attacking we aren't going to pay you!" The assassin grabbed the front of Zuko's shrit. "We'll pay double for you to stop!" Zuko managed to kick out of his grip, just as he fire again.
To my horror, the assassin turned to Zuko getting ready to fire. I jumped off the top of the cilff, landing squarely on his head, distracting him.
It was then I saw a twist heading for us, and we both jumped opposite directions out of the way. The assassin took the opportunity to fire again, but at me! The blast landed at my feet, pushing me back. I flipped in the air, dragging my thankfully covered hands along the ground, coming to a stop right at the edge of the platform.
He did the same thing to Zuko, and I could see him holding onto vines at the edge of the platform.
Thinking we were both out of the picture the assassin continued his assault; jumping to a different platform.
~That's it I'm done being nice!~ I thought as I pulled Zuko up. Once he was on solid ground I leapt to the same platform. I covered my head with my arms as ice spikes rained down, once they stopped I turned my attention back to the fight as he blew up another pillar.
-.-
Optimus' POV
"He's gonna blast this place off the cliffside!" Toph exclaimed.
"I can't get a good shot at him without being blown up!" Katara growled as she jumped back from where she was peeking out. "Prime? You and your guys got anything?"
"I can't get a good angle on him," I growled. /Can any one hit him?!/
/Not without being blow up!/ Midnight growled.
/Bulk and I are keeping the kids out of the way! I assume you found Toph/ Smokescreen said.
/Yes we did find Toph, and keep them inside the temple!/ I answered as the kids looked at me in confusion.
/You got it boss/ Bulkhead said.
/Arcee?/ I asked.
/I'm here Prime, but I'm in the same position as Midnight/ she answered with an irritated growl.
"They can't get an angle on him," I said.
"So you talk to each other from a distance using those ear pieces?" Aang asked.
"Yes," Ratchet said. "They're called comm links, and are very useful for long distance and battle communication."
"Cool!" Sokka said. "Wait! I think I can get an angle on him!" He pulled out his boomerang. Judging by the direction a few more of the blasts came from, Sokka aligned his arm to it, and threw the boomerang.
-.-
Bumblebee's POV
Getting up from where the assassin threw me, I saw something small, and fast heading right towards us. I ducked, and it hit him in the face just as he was getting ready to fire. He fell over, hopefully unconscious. Much to my disappointment he got back to his feet.
~Ok, looks like Plan B~ I thought pulling out my pistols. Whipping around to face him, I released several shots. He used his metal arm and leg to block some, the bullets getting lodged in the metal, one hit him in the stomach.
He fired another shot at me, but I jumped onto the wall. Bouncing off of it towards him, I flipped to where my feet where first, kicking right in the third eye. Getting that instinctive feeling in my gut, I jumped back to the platform Zuko was on trying to get a shot in at the guy when he could.
He grabbed his face, looking around dazed. He began to aim again, and I worried that my feeling was wrong. He tried to fire, but the sparks just stayed at his forehead, and exploded. As that part of the temple fell, I saw a metal arm fly down into the abyss.
-.-
Zuko and I walked up to the group standing there, and I saw my team giving wide smiles when they saw me.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Aang said, "but thanks."
"I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday," Zuko began.
"You sucked," I said.
"Will you shut up!" he growled at me and I smiled at his frustrated expression. "Anyways, I've been through a lot in the past few years and it's been hard. And I had to go through all those things to learn the truth. I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me, but I know now that no one can give you your honor, it's something you earn for yourself by doing what's right. All I want now is to play my part in ending this war, and I know it's my destiny to help you restore balance to the world." He move into the traditional Fire Nation sign of respect. "I'm sorry for all I've done, Fire can be dangerous and wild. So as a fire bender I need to control my bending, so I don't hurt people unintentionally."
"I think you are supposed to be my teacher," Aang said.
I had to laugh at the expressions of the Water Tribe siblings, as their mouths dropped to the floor.
"When I first tried to learn fire bending, I burned Katara," he said. "After that I never wanted to fire bend again. But now I know you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love." He got into the same traditional bow. "I'd like you to teach me."
When Zuko smiled I pulled out a camera and took a photo, just to annoy him with it later. He gave a quick, half-hearted glare at me before turning back to the group. "Thank you," he said returning the bow. "I'm so glad you've accepted me into your group."
"Not so fast," Aang said, and the two of us looked at each other in confusion. "I still have to ask my friends if it's ok with them. Toph?"
"I'm all for it, they'll make great sparring partners!" she said giving a thumbs up.
"Sokka?"
"All I want is to beat the Fire Lord," he said. "If you think this is the way, then I'm in."
"Optimus?"
"You really think I'm going to say no after seeing how they risked themselves for our sake?" my father said raising an eyebrow.
"What about the rest of the Autobots…and Decepticon?" Aang asked.
"'Bee trusts him, I trust him," Midnight said, and the others nodded.
"Katara?"
I looked at Zuko to see sweat running down his face. "Calm down, we already have the majority vote."
Katara glared at the two of us before sighing in defeat. "I'll go along with what you think is right."
We grinned and I was immediately talked by all the Autobots (besides Ratchet and Optimus), and my fiancée.
"That looked like it hurt," Sokka said.
"'Bee you alive?" Zuko asked.
I managed to get my arm out of the giant hug, giving him a thumbs up.
"Good," he said. "I don't want my assistant trainer dead."
"Wait he's helping you train me?" Aang asked.
"He was able to beat my father in a duel and scare the living daylight out of him, with either insulting in war meetings, or pranks. I have to admit, when Father walked into that invisible…what was it called again…oh yea, saran wrap! That was funny, then there was the time he walked out with some sort of cream smeared all over his hand and face. There were a few others, but the best was when he somehow dressed him in a pink bunny costume and left him in the courtyard!" Zuko said with a grin.
I finally managed to get out of the hug, when he finished my pranking spree.
"Just out of curiosity, do you have a death wish?" Sokka asked.
I just grinned, and darted off to tackle Dad. When I leapt at him, he stepped out of the way. I rolled to my feet before going at him again, this time he didn't get out of the way fast enough, so I grabbed him and we fell onto the ground.
"He has a death wish," Sokka said as he and the others looked at me sitting on my dad's chest.
-.-
Sokka was showing us our rooms, which were right next to each other. Mine was right next to my dad's as well. "Unpack…settle in…dinner in an hour…welcome aboard…" We nodded, and went to our rooms.
I saw Katara walk past my door, obviously heading for Zuko's room. I set my stuff down and followed her.
"You might have everyone else fooled, but you and I know that you've struggled doing the right thing in that past," she growled getting in his face. "Let me tell you something right now! You make one step backwards! One slip up! Give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about you destiny anymore! Because I'll end it! Right then and there! Permanently!" She turned to leave when she saw me in the door way, and froze.
"Give me one reason to think you are going to hurt him, I'll end you," I said giving my deadliest glare.
"Why do you trust him?! Is it because he found you?!" she snarled at me getting in my face trying to put up a brave front. But it didn't faze me, if anything my glare got worse.
"No, in fact when I first woke up I was almost ready to shoot the first person that approached me. Eventually they gained my trust, because I felt I could. Well most anyways." I said referring to Azula, Ozai, and Mai. "Zuko earned it! You have yet to prove I can trust you, so on my list of people to save you're at the bottom. So sweetheart I recommend who you make enemies with, because I'm the last person you want as an enemy, Ozai found that out the hard way, and I was holding back."
Giving her that final threat I grabbed Zuko, so he could help me collect the rest of our stuff from our campsite.