010. To learn from the Student: The Avatar's teachers may have the job of training their young pupil, but they quickly learned that their student had a lot to teach them as well.

-oOo-

Aang was one to have fun. His mentality on the world was simple; the dishes would wait for the rainbow but the rainbow would not wait for the dishes. His views did not extend upon all of the world. Joining up with Katara and Sokka had been a real culture clash for him. Sokka picked up on the 'chill' mentally pretty easy, but his sister was a different story. Getting Katara to drop her work and have fun, was only an occurrence every once in a while.

"Come on Katara." Aang whined, trying to get the waterbender's attention. He moved about behind her in a desperate attempt to pull the girl's focus off of the shirt she was washing in the river. "Just put down the shirt and play with me."

A small growl escaped through Katara's lips. She slammed the shirt and soap down before her, creating a splash of water that just missed dowsing her. She turned her attention to Aang standing over her; a dullness rested in her blue eyes. "I am busy Aang. Can you not see me trying to clean this shirt? I only have so many shirts and I can't afford for one of them to be stained and ruined."

"It's not even that big of a stain." Aang sighed. His eyes fell onto the light brown/red stain on the front of the blue tunic. "What is that anyway?"

Katara's eyes widened at the question. "I think its Zuko's blood. But I'm not sure."

"Zuko's blood?" Aang backed away from her slightly.

"I'm not sure." Katara answered, scrubbing away at the shirt once more. "I hit him pretty hard in the head last time we came across him. He was bleeding pretty badly by the time we got away. We both were bleeding pretty badly. It's either his or my blood. But it's definitely blood. I figured that out when I pulled most of it out of the fabric earlier."

"That's…" Aang rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "interesting. So what do you say, want to go exploring?"

"I can't right now Aang." Katara answered simply. "I need to finish cleaning this shirt and then there's dinner to make, a fire to start and we haven't practiced waterbending today. You need to be prepared for whenever we get to the North Pole."

"Can't you just enjoy the day?" Aang sighed dramatically. "The stains pretty well gone, and Sokka can take care of the fire. Where is Sokka anyway?"

"I think he's attempting to bath Momo." Katara answered as she pulled the shirt from the water. Holding it out in front of her, she used her other hand to pull the water from the fabric. The element followed her command and dropped quickly back where it belonged, leaving her shirt as dry as it had been prior to the washing. Her eyes scanned over where the blood stain had been, and smiled to see it gone from the fabric. "There, shirt is cleaning."

"And there's that waterbending practice you were talking about." Aang smiled, earning a subtle glare from the girl. He didn't pick up on her expression. "Now can we go play?"

"Aang…" Katara shock her head, irritated by the boy's persistence, "I have a list of things to do."

"Come on Kat!" Aang whined, earning a giggle to form in the base of Katara's throat. "We're only going to be here for so long and you can't spend the whole time working! You need a break. Learn to go with things. Be a kid!"

"I just don't have the time, Aang." Katara exclaimed. "I have a lot to do."

"It's still light, we don't need a fire," Aang argued, "and dinner time isn't for another few hours."

"If I put it off I'll be rushing to get it done." Katara answered.

"I got it." Aang sighed, finally giving in. He dug his hand into his pants pockets and turned on his heels with the grace only an airbender could have. "I'm sorry to bother you."

"Wait." Katara called over her shoulder. Twisting in her seat, she looked over to the child. A smile sat on her face as she watched Aang's face light up. "I guess I could wait a bit before starting on dinner."

"Really?" Aang's smile threatened to take over the entirety of his face. He raced forward and snatched her hand in his. Pulling her to her feet, the airbender lead her away from the river bank. "I promise you you'll have fun!"

Katara glanced back to the river bank to see the shirt she had been washing resting in the dirt. A frown set onto her face for a moment before turning her attention to the airbender before her. The child continued talking, much too quick for Katara to fully understand his words. She smiled down at the kid, realizing that the dishes could wait until the rainbow passed.

-oOo-

Toph didn't believe in asking for help. Yes, there were things she could not do on her own. She had her own mental list of things never to attempt, swimming and painting at the top of that list. But that did not mean that she went out of her way to bring them up. Of course, there always were those situations that she found she just could not handle on her own.

"Where are you going Toph?" Aang caught a glance of his earthbending teacher; crawling through the halls of the Western Air Temple.

Toph lifted her head, sensing the airbender right in front of her. "Oh, hi Aang. I got bored sitting in the court yard. I'm looking for something to do."

"Why are down there?" Aang asked, kneeling down to look her in the face. "I thought Zuko was your personal carrier until your feet were healed."

"Sparky's busy with Snoozles." Toph answered. She pulled herself into a seated position. "I let him off for the day so he could play with his boyfriend. They're hitting each other with swords and what not."

"Do you need help getting around?" Aang asked.

Toph waved him off. "Nah. I can find my way around." She dropped herself back onto her hands and knees and made a move to pass him. She hadn't even made it to the other side of the airbender, before her head slammed into the stone wall before her. A curse slid through her clinched teeth as she felt around. "I used to be able to do this with my hands."

"Let me help." Aang moved beside her. He slid his arm through one of hers, helping her to her knees.

Toph narrowed her foggy eyes at the boy. "I'm fine."

"Let me carry you." Aang persistence, moving under her and trying to position her on his back.

Toph seemed to realize what he was doing and fought to pull herself away. The airbender kept a hold of her. "I don't need your help Twinkletoes! You can't even carry me anyways so don't try."

Aang smiled as he rose. Toph tightened her grip around the Avatar's neck, startled about being lifted. A snicker came from Aang's lips. "I can totally carry you. Besides, it doesn't hurt to ask for help."

"I don't need help." Toph muttered, her chin resting on Aang's shoulder.

"Then don't think of it as help." Aang said as he readjusted her legs around his waist. "Think of it as earthbending training."

"Training?" Toph asked.

"Ya. You keep telling me I don't have the back of an earthbender."

"That I did." Toph replied. "Alright pupil, take me to find food."

"Alright Sifu!" Aang smiled as he carried his earthbending teacher towards the kitchen.

-oOo-

Zuko didn't know what to expect by the scene before him. The snow fell around in soft sheets, coating the already snow covered ground even thicker. The thick blue parka, courtesy of Gran-Gran, he wore held a light coat of the white snow.

He had been surprised by the invite to the South Pole, fearing that his last trip into the tribe may have left a bad impression with the locals. But as it was, stepping into the city; it could classify it as a city now with its growing size, had proven to be nothing like he'd expected. Sokka and Katara had jumped him the moment he stepped off the small boat, throwing their arms around him and exclaiming how much they had missed him. Behind them, Aang had come up, clearly visiting as well, along with Hakoda and the rest of the tribe members. It had been only a year and a half since his first visit, and his fears had been pushed down within the first few moments.

But now, he had a new set of fears to take the place. Standing before him Aang was dangling out a fish for him to take. The Fire Lord took the fish, confusion on his face. He had regretted leaving with the airbender the moment they had stepped out of the city gates and ventured into the tundra of snow outside. He had been reassured that he was safe in the airbenders care, but Zuko had still yet decided what 'safe' and 'Aang' had to do with one another.

"You need the fish to pick a penguin." Aang's voice brought Zuko back to the present. His eyes roamed over to the flock of penguins that looked upon them in curiosity and slight fear. "And then you ride it."

"Ride it?" Zuko asked in confusion.

"Yep." Aang's voice was childish and offered no room for argument. "Down the mountain side."

"Zuko glanced over the large slope to their left, piecing what the airbender had in mind together. "I don't know how safe this is."

"Come on Zuko." Aang pleaded. "Its totally safe. I've done it a few times with Katara and Sokka already."

"Well why don't you do it again," Zuko said, "with them. I have… important Fire Lording to do."

"Like what?" Aang rested his hands on his hips, and tossed the Fire Lord a pout.

"Like talk to Hakoda." Zuko answered quickly. "About trade and stuff. And Pakku about that exchange student thing. And I have to thank Gran-Gran for the parka. I don't think it got the chance."

"Stop stalling." Aang urged. "You can do all that later. Right now, you are going to ride a penguin. Come on Zuko, when was the last time you just let yourself have a moment for yourself."

"A month ago." Zuko answered, pointing a finger at his young friend. "I too k a couple hours out and took a nap."

Aang's mouth hung open as he requested what his friend said. "Get on the penguin Zuko."

Zuko seemed about to argue, but grew to accept defeat. He knew how stubborn the airbender could be; his standings battling even Toph and himself, just as he knew that the airbender in question was his guide back to the Southern Water Tribe. Glancing down at the fish in his hands, Zuko let a heavy sigh escape his lips. "Fine. Tell me what I have to do."

"Just offer them the fish." Aang replied, his voice fast with excitement. "Snag one and then slid off the cliff."

"That's all there is." Zuko muttered. A gulp attacked his throat before he stepped forward. The penguins noticed him, or more the fish in his hands, almost in an instant. They were on him, swarming the ruler in desire to the treat he held. Lowing it down for one of them to catch, Zuko grabbed the penguin of his choice. The creature show no signs of caring it being lead towards the slope, as the others waddled away back to where they had been.

Penguin under him, and praying to the spirits above to protect him, Zuko took a glance at the waiting airbender beside him. Aang already had his penguin, and his smile only continued to grow over his youthful face. "You ready."

Zuko looked over the edge they were preparing to go over. "As I'll ever be. I do have one question though. How-"

"WoHo!" The scream of delight broke Zuko's sentence and grew in volume as Aang proceeded down the hill in break neck speeds.

"-do I stop." Zuko sighed, unsure once more rather he should risk his life in the matter. Watching his friend sledding down the slope; free from all responsibilities and concerns, Zuko pulled his legs onto the penguin and shoved off.

The rush of air in his face was an instant joy, reminding him of the time he had sent traveling with Aang and the others aboard Appa. The excitement and bliss only grew with each passing second as the Fire Lord was once more brought back to the youthfulness of childhood. He spotted Aang resting down at the base of the hill; his penguin roaming around beside him. The clearing grew closer as the slope leveled.

The excitement turned to quick fear as he and his penguin rushed passed Aang. Glancing ahead, Zuko saw the large oak before he hit.

The Fire Lord spent the next six months with a bright red cast on his arm, and no regrets of the day.