A/N: Okay, guys, this chapter is in third person omniscient. This is partly because it was easier to write this way and because I want people to know that I can actually write. It's set on the same day (well, all of this is on the same day!) but a few hours later. Enjoy!

I dedicate this chapter to Sauron Gorthaur because:

a) Of reviewing all my chapters so comprehensively. I really appreciate it!

b) In this chapter, Dustfinger is way more in-character than in any of the others. I used your tips, so thanks!

c) She joined CFF and is a wonderful, nice person on there.

So, without further ado:

Dustfinger stood, watching the girl slowly make her way home. He would have normally tried to stop her, but he had seen in her eyes that she really was adamant about it. So now, here he was, standing and staring. He realized that he probably had taken it too far. But his temper, like the fire he controlled, flared up very suddenly and then died down minutes later. He knew that she knew that. So it must have been more than just his anger that caused her to go home. He tried to see it the way she had. Okay, so there's this grown man, who is also your master, and he happens to be the best fire-eater in the world, with extra-special powers since he came back from Death, twice (He really was trying to be modest!). And now he's threatening you with fire, chasing you, and setting you on fire. And after he has you scared to death. he starts laughing at you, as if it's all just a big joke. Ah. That was it.

Radha had not gone home. She was sitting at the edge of a pond. This was the place where she came every time something good or bad happened to her. It always made her calm down and feel a connection with nature. Tall, leafy trees surrounded it, and Radha sat against one, with her knees to her chest, gazing at the lake, and trying to get her anger out of her system.

Why did Dustfinger do that? She thought .What did he want to get? But hard as she tried, she couldn't seem to find the answers. Well, Dustfinger wasn't any easy character to read, anyways. After what seemed like hours, Radha finally decided that she wasn't getting anywhere, really. All that she was feeling was guilt and anger. Guilt for her actions, and anger at Dustfinger's. The problem with me, though, she thought, is that I have a guilty conscience the size of the planet! Perhaps I should go back and—Radha froze, as she sensed someone standing behind her.

Dustfinger decided that it would be better if he made the first move in this case, because though the girl could be quite annoying (And no one could deny it!) what he had done had probably felt much worse to her than what she had done to him. He knew that the girl—Why didn't he call her Radha?—probably hadn't gone home. At least, he hope she hadn't, because he didn't really want to go as an unwelcome visitor to someone's house right now. He thought she most probably had gone to that pond, the one that she had excitedly shown him one day. As he walked along, he thought about what he would actually say to her. He thought it would be nice to show her a new trick, once—and if—she had calmed down. The Fire-Dancer silently stole up, behind her, and watched her for a few minutes. Then he saw her stiffen up, and then burst out giggling. Dustfinger wondered what had happened

It's probably Master Dusty, Radha thought, but that didn't stop her heart from racing. Wait. Master Dusty? Omigod, that's really funny. What about Master of Dusty? No, even better, Master of Dustyness! She burst out giggling, because that was just too much for her to keep inside. And when she spoke, there was a laugh in her voice. "How long do you plan to stand there, Master-of-Dustyness?" Too late, she realized she had said the new nickname out loud.

Dustfinger jumped backwards, startled by the sudden address, but he quickly regained his composure. Well, at least she seems to be happy. Maybe we won't have to go through the whole apologizing thing. Dustfinger didn't exactly enjoy all that drama and what-not. He thought it might help if he just played along, so he raised an eyebrow and spoke, "Master of dustiness? Now that's a name I haven't heard before!"

But Radha had now remembered that she was actually angry at him. "What are you doing here? Isn't what you did already enough?"

"Radha, it was just a joke!" Oh, God, he really wasn't destined for good luck, was he?

Radha stood up and faced him. "I must say, you certainly have a weird sense of humor, then."

"You don't have to be so upset about it, you know."

This was too much! Why was he acting like this? "Oh, I don't, do I? What's so funny about threatening your apprentice? I think I must have missed it, Master! Perhaps you would be kind enough to teach me about it!"

Dustfinger was starting to get a tiny bit irritated, but he suppressed it, because he knew that it wouldn't help anything. "Now, there's no reason to get that tone. And it's not my fault if you can't take a joke. Remember that you started this, not me."

"Sir, I think you need to rethink your definition of 'a joke'! If I snuck up behind my brother and poured water on his head, and a policeman saw me, nothing would happen! If, however, I chased my brother with a lighted torch saying things like 'you'll be the victim!', I'd be off to juvie right away! That, mister, is the definition of 'a joke'!"

"Since when do you call me things like 'sir' and 'mister'? And what in fire's name is juvie?"

"Since you started acting like some jerk instead of a good person!" She retorted," Juvie is short for Juvenile Detention center; jail for anyone under 18. And is that the only thing you got out of this?"

"Possibly." He let the part about being a jerk slide, because he had come here to apologize, not to create a scene. But Heaven knew that the girl's attitude wasn't helping!

"Possibly? Possibly? You know, I fail to understand why you came here in the first place. Can't you just freakin' leave me alone? For once?"

Now this was going a bit far. Though Dustfinger wasn't showing any emotion on the outside, his anger was churning on the inside, and that came out when he spoke. "Look who's talking now! I have to deal with this every single day! You deserve every bit of this, and you know it! So stop—" Dustfinger was startled as he saw silent tears sliding down Radha's face.

Radha, however, noticed him watching, and she angrily wiped them away. Great! Now he knows I've been crying, too. Way to make a good offense, don't you think? This is just wonderful!

Dustfinger, meanwhile, was starting to feel a bit awkward. He just walked all the way down to the pond, and as he stood there, the fire rose forth, unbidden, and reflected his mood. Radha stared, entranced by the dancing flames, and they seemed to burn away the anger she had been feeling for the last few hours. "It's so . . . beautiful!" she finally said.

Dustfinger looked up, and realized what the flames had been doing. They slunk back into the ground, and Radha walked down to him. Everything was so peaceful, and Radha stood there breathing in the fragrance of the honeysuckles growing around the bank. "This really is a beautiful place that you showed me, Radha." Dustfinger said, softly.

"Listen,Dustfinger, I'm really—"

"Don't say it. I'm the one who should be sorry, not you."

"But you were right! You do have to deal with my annoying-ness everyday, and I definitely did deserve it. Just, next time you feel angry, don't be so . . . so—"

"Annoying? Frightening? Just to name a few." Dustfinger said, a small smile stealing over his lips.

"I . . . I guess" she said, awkwardly, but then she noticed his smile. "Hey! Now you're making fun of me!"

"Who, me? Why would I ever do such a thing?" he said, with mock surprise.

"Oh, be quiet!"

"As you wish, princess." he said, bowing so low, it was mocking. "Well, if you wish to give me the pleasure of your company for a while longer, I could show you another trick. That is, if you want to."

"Of course! Let's start now!"

And Dustfinger smiled again as he saw the eagerness in her eyes.

They walked out of the forest, talking happily. And they never got on each other's nerves again.

Dusty (reading over my shoulder): That's not true!

Me: What's not true?

Dusty: 'And they never got on each other's nerves again.'

Me: But it makes the story sound better.

Dusty: Oh, it's all about the story now.

Me: Okay, okay, I get it. How about 'and their annoying acts against each other were drastically reduced.'

Dusty: Leave the part about 'drastically' out.

Me: Fine! Be that way!

Dusty: Read and review, all of you people who actually like to read these stories.

Me: Hey! Don't mess with my faithful readers.

Dusty: You know there's no point in telling me that 'cause I'm still going to do it.

Me: (sigh) Yes, yes, I do.

Dusty and I: And thus ends the saga of "The Plan". Hope you enjoyed it! :D