Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Bender or its characters

Pointers: 'italics' means that the character is thinking

Summary: She stayed through Zuko's side through it all. How many times will she have to jump through hoops just to see his happiness? Will he ever find it? Or does she has to keep fighting to get him to the right path? Zuko x OC R&R!

Book 3: Fire

The Firebending Masters & The Boiling Rock

"I know you're nervous," Zuko said to Aang as they were standing at the balcony of one of the pagoda's, "but remember... firebending in and of itself is not something to fear."

Aang sighed as he looked rather hesistant, "Ok. Not something to fear." he still looked unsure.

"But if you don't respect it," he raises his voice, "it'll chew you up and spit you out like an angry Komodo Rhino!" Aang yelped in fear, "Now show me what you got. Any amount of fire you can make."

The Avatar exhales, takes in a nervous yet deep breath and attempts to fire plan. His palm released a small cloud of smoke which dissipates within a second. Aang smiled sheepishly, "Maybe I need a little more instruction. Perhaps a demonstration?"

The Prince nodded his head, "Good idea. You might want to take a couple steps back." He gestures Aang to move backward and the boy does so. Zuko took in a breath, grunts and proceeds to firebend. However, the result was not how it should be. All that came from the firebender was a rather small, pathetic burst of flame. Aang applauds. Zuko, however, recoiled back in confusion, "Whar was that? That was the worst firebending I've ever seen!" he moved his hand in a "what is wrong?" motion.

Aang looked to the ground, "I thought it was," he looked back at his teacher, "nice." he shrugged.

Zuko grunts again and firebends in rapid succession. All his flames are small like the first. He grunts in frustration and stares at his palms. "Why is this happening?" he said angrily.

"Maybe its the altitude." Aang suggested.

The Prince turned away from the Avatar, "Yeah, could be." he looked unsure and lost.

They have found a spot lower in altitude. Aang is sitting on a broken pillar and watches Zuko firebend with the same results. Zuko grunts in frustration and unleashes another blast with no improvement. Aang yawns and lies down.

"Just breathe, and... " Zuko pauses to firebend again.

Aang sat up, "That one kind of felt hot."

The Prince lashed out, "Don't patronize me. You know what it's supposed to look like!" He throws his hand out.

"Sorry Sifu Hotman." The younger boy apologized.

Zuko raised his arms and shouts, "And stop calling me that!" Aang cringed.

Sokka, surprisingly, comes by biting an apple. He finds a spot and sit down to observe the two, "Hey, jerks. Mind if I watch you two jerks do your jerk bending?"

"Get out of here!" Zuko yells, making a "get lost" movement with his arm.

The watertribe boy looked amused, "Ok, take it easy." He drops the apple core and waves his hand in dismissal, "I was just kidding around." He stands up to adjust his shirt, "Jerk bending, still got it." Zuko drops his head down and moans while Aang looks on.

Appa was resting near one of the fountains, licking a small bale of hay. Zuko was leaning on a column with his arms crossed, deep in thought. He turns his head back to the campfire where everyone is settled for dinner. He walks toward them. "Listen everybody;" Everyone turns their heads toward him, " I've got some pretty bad news. I've lost my stuff. " The Prince dropped his head dejectedly.

Toph immediately raises both arms to show she's innocent, "Don't look at me. I didn't touch your stuff." she folded her arms.

"I'm talking about my firebending. It's gone." Zuko explained, clearing the air.

Amaterasu squinted her eyes, "Wait, what? You lost your firebending?"

"Well it's not lost. It's just weaker for some reason." He tried to adjust the situation, "I bet it's because I changed sides."

"That's ridiculous." Katara added in, "Wouldn't Ammy's firebending change too because she joined sides?"

"I'm as strong as ever to be quite honest," Amaterasu spoke up, taking another sip of the juice of her food.

Aang frowned, "I don't know. Maybe, Zuko, firebending comes from rage, and you just don't have enough anger to fuel it the way you used to." the Avatar explained, "Ammy is nice and so her power comes from protecting the people she cares about."

"So, all we need to do is make Zuko angry... easy enough." Sokka said as he proceeds to nudge Zuko in the waist and head with the hilt of his sword several times.

The Prince bellows, "Ok, cut it out!" Sokka stops what he is doing and his sword falls on his head, "Look… even if you're right," He rubbed the bride of his nose, "I don't want to rely on hate and anger anymore. And I don't know how to be nice like Ammy. There has to be another way."

"You're gonna need to learn to draw your firebending from a different source. I recommend the original source." Toph said as she puts food into her mouth and chew.

"So is it jumping in a volcano?" asked Sokka.

Toph shrugs, "I don't know. For earthbending, the original benders were badgermoles. One day, when I was little, I ran away and hid in a cave. That's where I met them. They were blind, just like me, so we understood each other. I was able to learn earthbending, not just as a martial art, but as an extension of my senses. For them, the original earthbenders, it wasn't just about fighting. It was their way of interacting with the World."

"That's amazing, Toph. I learned from the monks, but the original airbenders were the Sky Bison. Maybe you can give me a lesson sometime buddy." Aang said, Appa growling in acknowledgement.

"Well, this doesn't help me. The original firebenders were the dragons, and they're extinct." Zuko said.

"What do you mean Roku had a dragon, and there were plenty of dragons when I was a kid." Aang said, furrowing his brows in confusion.

Amaterasu had looked down at the bowl, remembering a very vague memory of her life in the Sun Warrior tribe. "Well, they aren't around anymore, okay?" The Prince got defensive.

"Ok, ok." Aang moves his arms in an appeasing gesture, "I'm sorry."

"But maybe there's another way," Zuko walked towards the fountain, "The first people to learn from the dragons..." He slowly looked at Amaterasu, "we the ancient Sun Warriors."

Everyone soon look at Amaterasu who was gazing into the fire, "Look, I don't know. I haven't been there since I was a child." she said, looking away with a rather sad expression.

"Maybe if we go to their civilization, which I believe isn't too far from where we are now. Maybe we can learn something by poking around their ruins and you can learn more about your family, Ammy."

"It's like the monks used to tell me. Sometimes, the shadows of the past can be felt by the present." Aang added.

Katara rubbed the small of Amaterasu's back as she fought tooth and nail not to let a tear fall, "So, what?" Everyone looked toward Sokka, "Maybe you'll pick up some super old Sun Warrior energy just by standing," he said while moving his hand in a fluttering motion, "where they stood years ago?"

"More or less. Either I find a new way to firebend, or the Avatar has to find a new teacher."

Appa was flying over a vast ocean with Zuko, Amaterasu, and Aang in the saddle. Amaterasu was busy looking out into the ocean, feeling a sense of nervousness and sorrow as she pondered how was she going to feel about being at her home after so many years. She wanted to feel excited, she wanted to feel overwhelmed with such happiness, but she couldn't. It just felt odd to her and she didn't know why. "We've been riding for hours. I don't know why, but I thought this thing would be a lot faster." Zuko said, obviously bored out of his mind.

Appa begins to growl, "Appa's right, Zuko. In our group, typically we start out our missions with a more upbeat attitude." Aang explains.

Zuko, mumbles, "I can't be leave this." He sighs and rests his head on the side of the boat before looking at Amaterasu in the corner of his eyes. He wanted to say something to her, but he knew that she needed time to adjust to the situation.

"Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it." Aang said as Appa pushed his tail down to gain some speed and soars through the cloud at faster speed.

They all neared a bunch of ruins with a very impressive architecture similar to that of the Mayans. Everyone has a look of surprise on their face.

"Whoa!" the three said in a unision.

"Even though these buildings are ancient," Amaterasu looked at the vast plain of grass as they began walking in a small valley, "there's something eerily familiar about them. I can tell the Fire Sages' temples are somehow descended from these."

"Ok, we learned something about architecture. Hopefully, we'll learn something about firebending too. The past can be a great teacher." Aang's foot nears a black wire and he trips it. He yells in surprise. The ground in front of them drops to reveal a bed of black, deadly spikes. Aang exhales a huge gust of air from his mouth to prevent himself from falling into the trap and propels himself across it, landing rather shakingly to the other side. He struggles to control his balance, flailing his arms about. Aang pushes himself forward and regains control, "Guys, I think the past is trying to kill me."

Zuko kneels down and inspects the wire, "I can't believe it. This booby trap must be centuries old, and it still works."

"There's probably a lot more. Maybe this means we shouldn't be here." Aang said, obviously afraid.

Amaterasu takes a step back and starts run on a wall and lands in front of Aang and Zuko follows suit and dusts himself off, "Where's that upbeat attitude you were talking about? Besides, people don't make traps unless they've got something worth protecting."

"Do you know what it could be Ammy?" Aang asked, both boys looking at her.

"How would I know? I don't remember much." Amaterasu answered, letting out a small sigh.

They slowly walked up a rather grand and elaborate structure that seems to be intact. They made their way to the top of the structure. "Look. This seems promising." A carving of a person in the middle being surrounded by concentric circles of fire breathed out by 2 dragons on each side of him. "Though I'm not sure what this tells us about the original source of firebending."

"They look pretty angry to me." Zuko said as Amaterasu had touch the dragon statue, her eyes squinting as she tried to add everything together.

"I thought the dragons were friends with the Sun Warriors." Aang pondered.

"Well, they had a funny way of showing it." He looks away and walks never to Amaterasu before he's interrupted by Aang.

"Zuko, something happened to the dragons in the last 100 years. Something you're not telling me."

"Sozin happened." Amaterasu answered has Zuko nodded his head. They had walked across a stone bridge with dragon protrusions at the side.

"He started the tradition of hunting dragons for glory. They were the ultimate firebenders. And if you could conquer one, your firebending talents would become legendary, and you'd earn the honorary title "Dragon"." They reach the end of the bridge. They're 2 dragon statues at the end. One of the statues is missing a head. "The last great dragon was conquered long before I was born," Zuko pats the eye of the decapitated head. "by my Uncle."

"But I thought your Uncle was, I don't know, good?"

"He had a complicated past. Family tradition, I guess. Let's mo-."

Zuko had looked at Amaterasu as she sighed, "No, the last one to kill a dragon was me."

Everyone stopped and looked at her, "That's why Ozai had took me."

"What was it like?" Aang asked as Amaterasu shook her head.

"The memory is kind of fuzzy to me, but I remember pieces." she admitted as they reached a column, that is positioned in front of a structure with two yellow doors. They all walked towards the doors. Aang drops his staff and attempts to open them with his bare hands to no avail.

"It's locked up."

Zuko touches his head, looks behind and steps aside to reveal the red jewel from the column beaming light on his head. "Wait." He steps aside to reveal the beam of red light resting on a circle on the ground. "It's a celestial calendar. Just like the Fire Sages have in their temples. I bet that Sun Stone opens the door, but only when sunlight hits it at just the right angle, on the solstice."

Aang is exasperated, "Monkey feathers! The solstice again? We can't wait here that long."

"No we can't," Amaterasu said as she looked at the beam and tried to figure something out, but Zuko caught on first.

"But we might be able to speed time up. Let's see if we can outsmart the Sun Stone." He unsheathes his broad sword and lays it in the path of the red beam. He attempts to adjust his sword. The beam of light is seen moving shakily across the doors and successfuly hits the Sun Stone. It glows brightly.

"Nothing's happening." Aang added as Amaterasu sighed.

"Come on..." Zuko said while holding his sword in place.

The rumbling stops and the door opens to reveal Aang standing in front of it. He picks up his staff, "You know, Zuko, I don't care," Zuko sheathes his sword, "what everyone says about you," he nudges him, "you're pretty smart."

Zuko smiles as Aang and Amaterasu walk in with squinted eyes. There's a statue with an angry face. Aang gasps in surprise, "Relax. They're just statues." There was a ring of statues in various fighting positions. The positions of one half of the ring of statues is symmetrical to the other half.

Aang scratches his head and reads the description at the foot of the statue, "It says this is something called The Dancing Dragon."

Amaterasu's face brights up, "That's what I taught Ozai!"

"Huh?" Aang said as Zuko nods his head, "You taught Ozai the Dancing Dragon?"

"This is might fighting style. The way of the Sun Warriors."

Zuko blinked twice, "So there must be some dragons still around."

"There has to be." Amaterasu said as she started to imitate the crane-posture of the statue. A plate sinks under her feet as she does so. She takes a step off the plate observe it and the plate moves back into position. "That's how we open the door. We have to do the Dancing Dragon. Just follow the steps of the Statue."

As they began to do the dance a sound echoes in the room and a hole appears in the centre of the room. A pedestal with a golden egg-like object ascends from the hole and glints in the light. Aang raises both arms in victory, "Hurray! Wait." he rubs his head, "What exactly is that?"

Amaterasu shrugged as Zuko tried to figure it out himself, "It's some kind of mystical gem stone." He runs towards the pedestal.

"Well, don't touch it!" Amaterasu shouted as Aang raises his arms as a warning and Zuko stops in his stracks.

"We don't know if this is a booby trap." Amaterasu explained.

"Yeah, emember what happened out there with those spikes?" Aang looks at the side and raises his arms, "I'm just very suspicious of giant, glowing gems sitting on pedestals."

Zuko ignores him and removes the gem stone off the pedestal. Aang's eyebrow twitches as Amaterasu face palms, "It almost feels alive."

He tries to put back the gem stone and yells in surprise as a jet of green goo spurts out from the pedestal and pushes Zuko towards the grating in the ceiling, sticking him there. "Oh, no, it's another trap!" Amaterasu flails her arms as more green goo starts to flow from the pedestal and her and Aang back away cautiously. Zuko who has his back stuck to the grating and struggles to break free but he and the gemstone are held tight by the goo.

"Ugh, I can't pull free. It's like some kind of blue." He struggles again. Aang jumps across the goo to grab his staff on the other side of the room. He jumps up on the statue's head and airbends a strong gust of wind toward Zuko in an attempt to free him. The force from the wind only pushes moves Zuko from his back to his front but he is still stuck. The goo is rapidly rising and Aang tries to pull his staff out of the goo to no avail. He jumps up toward the grating as the goo rapidly engulfs the room.

Aang tries to budge the metal bars, "I can't move. Zuko, do something!"

"Me? I can't move either."

"THIS IS SO DISGUSTING!" Amaterasu cried as she tried to firebend at the goo which only seemed to harden.

They groan in discomfort as a result from the pressure of the goo pushing them against the grating. The goo suddenly stops pressing against them. "It stopped." Amaterasu shouted.

"Maybe if we stay calm we can figure a way out of this." Zuko tried to soften the situation. Then nightfall had came and everyone is now stuck to the ceiling.

"You had to pick up the glowing egg, didn't you?" Amaterasu snapped at Zuko, "You never freakin' listen to anybody!"

Zuko frowned, "At least I made something happen. If it were up to Aang, we'd never have made it pass the courtyard."

Aang opens his mouth widely, "Help!"

"Who are you yelling to?" Zuko asked.

"Well, what do you think we should do all knowing Zuko?" Amaterasu asked sarcastically.

"Think about our place in the Universe?" Aang signs as a voice interrupts them.

"Who is down there?" A man voice had caught them by surprise. They see a man n tribal gear wearing a Chieftian's hat and warpaint on his face.

Zuko, Amaterasu and Aang were freed but still covered in goo. Anteater-like animals sit on either side of them and lick the goo off. They are surrounded by concentric semi-circles of men and women wearing gear identical to the Chief's. 4 warriors can be seen holding a small flame in their hands.

"For trying to take our Sun Stone, you must be severely punished!"

Zuko spoke, still having a small spot of goo on his chin, "We didn't come back here to take your Sun Stone. We came here to find the ancient origin of all Firebending and for Amaterasu to see her family!"

Ham Gao stepped forward next to the Chief, "Yeah, right. They are obviously theives, here to steal the Sun Warrior Treasures." He holds the Sun stone tightly in his arms, "Our princess has been taken years ago! There is no way that girl is our former princess!"

Amaterasu clenched her teeth, "I am so!"

"And I'm the Avatar." He stands up and gives a weak smile before helping Amaterasu up, "And she is the princess. She had left Ozai to travel with his son years ago in search for me."

The Chief looked Amaterasu with skeptical eyes, "How can we believe you?"

"My name is Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Or at least, I used to be. I know my people have distorted the ways of firebending, to be fueled by anger and rage. But now I want to learn the true way, the original way. Amaterasu's family tradition." He said as the young girl looked down, "My father had took her because he thought she he could teach her how to be strong since she was the last one to defeat a dragon."

Amaterasu had stepped forward, her mahogany eyes staring at the Chief form. "I was young when I left, but I remember my father fighting Ozai's army as strongly as he could to keep me home." she looked down at her feet and then she felt arms being circled around her.

"Amaterasu..." he whimpered as she held onto him, tears slipping down the sides of her face. Aang and Zuko smile as they watched the reunion between father and daughter.

Amaterasu pulled away, wiping her tears. "Can you please teach them the true way of Firebending, father?"

The man nodded his head before look at the two boys, "If you wish to learn the ways of the Sun, you must learn them from the masters Ran and Shao."

"Ran and Shao? There are two of them?" Aang said in surprise.

"When you present yourselves to them, they will examine you. They'll read your hearts, your souls, and your ancestry." The Chief said as he takes a step towards Zuko and towers over him, "If they deem you worthy," Zuko looks extremely worried, "they'll teach you. If they don't, you'll be destroyed on the spot. " The Chief steps back after finishing his lecture. Aang and Zuko look at each other. "If you're going to see the Masters," Zuko looked at the top most dome where the warriors stood in a concentric semi-circles again. The Chieftain moved toward in front of the fire source, "you must bring them a piece of eternal flame. This fire is the very first one." Her father raised his arms in pride and turns back toward the duo. "It was given to Man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years."

Zuko looked completely bewildered. "I don't believe it."

"You will each take a piece of it to the masters, to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending." The Chieftain finished explaining.

The airbender looked unsure, "Uhm. . . Ammy and Mister Chief sir. Yeah. . . I'm not a firebender yet. Couldn't my friend here carry my fire?"

"No." The Chieftain said sternly as he turned back to the fire. Aang looked at Amaterasu who shook her head, she couldn't help him. Aang looked rather uneasy as the Chief's hand pulls the fire towards his palm. "This ritual illustrates the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy." Amaterasu turns a full circle and splits the fire equally in to two. "You must main a constant heat." Aang stared at the flame, transfixed. "The flame will go out if you make it too small. Make it too big, and you might lose control." Zuko stared coolly at the flame and proceeds to cradle the flame in his hands before looking at Aang, who still didn't collect his flame.

"I'm sorry I'm just a little nervous." Aang proceeds to gather it into his hands. The fire grows slightly and he looks relived in all. "It's like a little heartbeat."

Amaterasu smiled at him as her father continued on, "Fire is life, not just destruction," Aang reassured himself with a smile. "You will take your flames up there." The Chief pointed to a rocky mountain nearby and the boys turned their heads towards that direction. "The cave of the masters is beneath that rock."

The duo trudged through a forest. Zuko reached the top of the steep grassy incline and he turns back to look at Aang, who is lagging quite a distance behind. "Hurry up!" Zuko shouted.

"I can't." He placed one hand on the rock. "If I walk too fast, my flame will go out." He looked at his rather small flame.

"You're flames gonna go out because it's too small. You're too timid. Give it more juice." He tried to be helpful.

Aang climbed up, looking at Zuko with worry. "But what if I can't control it?"

"You can do it. I know you can. You're a talented kid." Aang smiles and pushes himself up and continues to follow Zuko as they reached towards the mountain.

It was now dusk and the two finally arrived. The warriors, Amaterasu, and the Chieftain are already there and are poised in an alternating standing and sitting position. Amaterasu stood and walked towards them with her father, who spoke again. "Facing the judgment of the firebending masters will be very dangerous for you. Your ancestors are directly responsible for the dragons' disappearance." Zuko looked down in shame.

"Don't worry Zuko, you have changed into better person. They will deem you worthy, I believe in you." Amaterasu smiled at him which made Zuko smile himself.

"I know I wouldn't be happy to see him." said a warrior named Ham Gao.

"But once they find out I'm the Avatar-"

"Have you forgotten that you vanished allowing the Fire Nation to wreak havoc on the world? The decline of the dragons ins your burden too." said the Chieftain, Amaterasu frowned as Aang looked away, ashamed.

"Don't be so harsh, father. Aang had his reasons!" Amaterasu defended him, Aang could only smile at the girl's attempt to reason with her father.

"There is no excuse!" He shouted, which caused Amaterasu to frown. He drives his staff into the ground and the rest of the warriors get into a ready position at either side of the staff. The Chief grabs a section from each flame and places it on the Sun Warriors' palms. They move away and the Chief removes his staff. Amaterasu receives a flame and bends it around in a circle a few times before a warrior who is standing, bends a small part of the flame towards her and repeats the process.

Aang looked at Zuko and whispered, "we could turn back now. We've already learned more about fire than we hoped." Zuko looked at his fire and smiles weakly at it.

"No, we're seeing this through to the end. We're gonna meet these masters and find out what's so great about them."

"what if they judge us and attack us?" Aang asked.

"Well, we're the Fire Prince and the Avatar." He unsheathes his broadswords slightly to emphasize the point. "I think we can take these guys in a fight, whoever they are." Aang nodded but is still uneasy. "Who knows, they might be forgiving like Amaterasu."

Aang smiled and looked at the girl with hope. The warriors now completed the passing of the flame. Zuko stepped forward with confidence. "Bring 'em out."

"Chanters!" Shouted the Chieftain as warriors sat down, beating in synchronized rhythms with their drums. Amaterasu and the warriors who did the passing of the flames held their flames. Amaterasu smiled at Aang and Zuko who smile back and walk to the other half of the circle and the warriors are rising and bowing alternatively. The boys neared the steps and walk up the flight of steps once the Chief and two warriors step aside and let them pass. Zuko and Aang glanced at each other and took deep breaths. Warriors were still beating drums, Zuko and Aang kept climbing up the steps. Aang looks back, seemingly wanting to go back but presses on with a fierce determined look his face. Once they neared the top, the setting sun shined upon them. The music stopped when they reached the top. Both of them look at the caves on each side of the bridge.

"Those who wish to meet the masters Ran and Shao will not present their fire!" shouted Amaterasu, using what seemed like a megaphone-like object. Zuko and Aang turned towards the caves and bow down with their hands extended in front of them.

"Sound the call!" shouted the Sun Warrior Chief. A warrior takes a deep breath and blows into a wind instrument. The loud sound it produces sends a flock of birds scattering around them. The cave Aang is facing rumbles and vibrates as the rocks dislodge. He trembles in fear. He accidentally places his hand down, extinguishing his flame and turns towards Zuko.

"What happening!" He looks at Zuko cave which reminds undisturbed. Zuko turns and gives Aang a puzzled look. Aang quickly returns back to into his "flame-giving" position. He realized that his flame is gone and gaps, turning back towards Zuko again. "Zuko, my fire went out." He whispered.

"What do you want me to do?" Zuko whispered back.

"Give me some of yours." He reaches for Zuko's fire and Zuko gently pushes him back.

"No, just make your own."

"I can't." He persistently reached for his friend's flame.

"Get some from one of those warriors or Amaterasu, she's the nice one. Hurry. Stop cheating off me." Amaterasu and her father exchanged looks, seemingly hearing the whole thing.

"Quit being stingy!" Now irritated, Aang continues to reach for Zuko's flame but is unable to do so due to the difference between their heights. Zuko raises his arms higher so the flames reminds out of Aang's reach and Aang tries to grab it by sticking close to Zuko's back and flailing his arms. He uses two hands to grab the flame under Zuko's armpits and they struggle briefly before Zuko drops his hand, extinguishing the flame. They look at each other, unsure. The caves began to rumble, both boys looked troubled.

"Uh-oh. . ." They said in a unison. A pair of yellow eyes glowed bright in the darkness of the caves and suddenly, a red dragon roars and shoots out of the cave. It circles around the bridge and around the duo. The two were overwhelmed by the powerful winds and pressure and stagger slightly. Zuko looks shocked yet he follows the dragon's trail. A blue dragon flew out of the other cave and joins its partner in circling around each other, the bridge, and the boys.

"These are the masters." Zuko said in complete awe.

Aang whispered to Zuko, "You still think we can take 'em?"

"Shh... I never said that." He lied while waving his hand. The warriors down below bow down, Ham Gao, Amaterasu, and the Chieftain as well.

"Oh, here it comes." Ham Gao said, "Any moment now."

Amaterasu snarled, "Shut up, you old jerk bag!"

"Calm down you two!" The Chieftain shouted.

"What? Everyone's thinking it..."Amaterasu sulked at she turns her head away.

"Zuko, I think we're suppose to do the dragon dance with them." The airbender whispered.

'What? What about this situation that you think they want us to dance?" asked the exiled prince.

"Well, I think they just want us to do something. Let's try it."

"Fine." They got into the first position of the Dragon Dance and proceeded to the next, just like Amaterasu taught them. Aang had spread his arms out and the blue dragon behind him followed the shape of his arms. Aang turned his arms to his side and the dragon turns as well. The dragons performed the save movements and are symmetrical to each other. Zuko pushes his hand up and the red dragon behind him angles upwards as well. Zuko dips and the dragon dives down as well. The boys slowly headed towards one another and the dragons complementing their movements. When they reached their final pose, the dragons have stopped and are flapping their wings at either side of the bridge.

"Judgment time." said the Chieftain, Amaterasu bit on her nails, nervous of the outcome. The blue dragon snarls at Zuko while Aang is trembling. Zuko looks at it, mouth agape. Aang gave out a series of timid, unsure shrieks. The two dragons settle into another position with their legs being anchored at the bottom of the bridge and their arms supporting their weight at the top. The red dragon begins to breathe fire out its mouth and the blue dragon does the same. Zuko and Aang yell in fear as they are engulf by a rapidly rising multi-colored flame. The boys remained in their position. There was a swirling vortex of rainbow flames which made the boys stare in awe.

"I understand." said the prince, he had realized something. The flame slowly dissipate and the dragons curl their bodies, springing up and circle each other one final time before retreating to their caves. Ham Gao looked completely annoyed that nothing happened to them. Amaterasu grinned as the warriors holding the circle of fire as he moves his arm in a circle, extinguishing the flame and ending his hands in a position. Zuko and Aang descended down the steps. "Their fire was beautiful. I saw so many colors, colors I've never imagined."

"Like firebending harmony." Aang chimed.

"Yes, they judged you, and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending." said the Chieftain as Amaterasu ran up to the boys.

Aang looked down with a look of thought." All this time, I thought firebending was destruction. Since I hurt Katara, I've been too afraid and hesitant. But now I know what it really is... It's energy, and life."

"Yeah. It's like the Sun," his hand curled into a fist. "But inside of you. Do you guys realize this?" He extended both arms outward.

Amaterasu rolled her eyes and giggled. "Well, the civilization is called the Sun Warriors... So, yeah silly." Zuko glared at her but grinned.

"That's why my firebending was so weak before. Because for so many years, hunting you," He looked at Aang, "was my drive... It was my purpose. But now, I have a new drive. I have to help you defeat my father and restore balance to the world." He began to firebend twice with rather large sized flames. Aang followed his example, his flame large as well. Aang finally conquered his fears, he felt ready for anything!

Amaterasu clapped her hands together, but stopped when her father spoke, "Now that you learned the secrets, and you know about our tribe's existence. . . We have no choice but to imprison you forever." Both boys looked at the Chief in shock with their mouths opened.

"Just kidding!" The chief laughed and Amaterasu joined in.

"Well, we have to get going, dad." Amaterasu smile at him, placing her hand on his arm, "I'm going to come back when this war is over so we can catch up. I really enjoyed it here."

Zuko had looked at her and then at her father who nodded his head understandingly, "You have grown into a beautiful, strong woman. I'm very proud of what has become of you."

The Princess hugged her father one more time, "I'll take care of her." Zuko added which made Amaterasu look at him and then at her father, wondering his reaction.

"I trust you," the Chief said and placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder, before suddenly gripping it tightly, "You better make sure no harm becomes of her or I'll kill you." He said in a serious matter.

"Daddy!" Amaterasu snapped as he let the boy go.

"Just kidding, just kidding!" He defended himself as he watched the trio leave.

"With this technique the dragons showed us, Zuko and I would be unstoppable like!" He said as the three demonstration The Dancing Dragon Dance and they're firebending at each step. They get into their final pose and the group applauds.

"That's a great dance you two learned there." Sokka cheered.

Zuko growled as he got defensive. "It's not a dance! It's a firebending form!"

"We'll tap dance," He said while moving his fingers in a dancing motion, "our way to victory over the Fire Lord." Amaterasu, Katara, and Toph chuckled while Zuko walked over toward Sokka.

"It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old!" He yelled.

Amaterasu placed her hands on her hips and Katara did the same, "Oh yeah?" said Amaterasu.

"What's your title form called?" asked Katara.

Zuko blushed before looking away, "The Dancing Dragon." Everyone busted into a fit of laughter.

It was nighttime at the Western Air Temple and all way going with the Gaang. Zuko had a tray full of tea cups while one hand was holding a kettle and filling up the empty cups. "One can't make tea like Uncle." He said as he frown at the memory of his beloved uncle, "But hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?"

"Sure." Katara said with a rather calm expression.

"I like jokes!" cheered Aang as a smile grew on his face.

Toph grinned, "Bring it." Zuko stood up with his tray.

"Okay," he said while kneeling between The Duke and Haru, "well, I can't remember how it goes but the punch line. . ." the boys helped themselves to tea, "is, "Leaf me alone, I'm bushed." The group looked dead panned, Zuko had the same look as well. "Well, it's funny when Uncle tell it."

"Right. Maybe because he remembers the whole thing." said Katara as she grabs a cup, the others laughed as well as Aang as he takes a cup as well and Zuko smiles.

"It's nice to get a chance to relax." Toph says as Zuko pours Toph and Tep and hands them their drinks, "it hardly ever happens."

Sokka was sitting by himself, thinking. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" He asks Zuko as they walked off toward the side. Amaterasu watched before looking back at the group.

"So, Ammy, how did it feel to be home?" asked Katara, not knowing how to start a subject any other way. The princess smile a little.

"It was nice," she answered before taking a sip of the tea, "I could so make tea better than this... " she stuck her tongue out, just to irritate Zuko, "Just kidding! But anyway, it was nice to see my dad and the villagers again. It was just weird meeting people that were my friends before and told me so much about myself that I was kind of weirded out."

"I see how that would be weird." Katara said as she looked over at everyone. It was kind of nice to be around everyone and enjoying this meal, it was like they were one big family. Aang couldn't help but feel the same, and a little upset that in only a few days everyone would go their separate ways.

Amaterasu then stood up, "I'll be right back, I have to... uhm," everyone looked at her as she spoke, making her feel nervous, "Er... go pee! Yes, that's right! I have to pee, really badly. And... that's what I'm going to do... Pee because that's what I said I was going to do... Uhm, be back later!" Amaterasu sped off, everyone looking confused.

"Uhm... Okay, so what do you think is going to happen after the war?" Toph asked as Amaterasu had finally found Sokka and Zuko.

"So, what's up?" asked Zuko as they continued to walk further in the dark.

"If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?" Sokka asked, trying not to be too straightforward.

"This is about your Dad, isn't it? Trust me. Knowing would just make you feel worse." Zuko sighed and then turned around and Sokka grabbed his shoulder.

"I need to know what I put him through, Zuko."

"It's not good, Sokka."

"Please..."

Zuko closed his eyes, "My guess is..." he opens them again, "They were taken to boiling rock."

The watertribe warrior frowned slightly. "What's that?"

"The highest security prison in the Fire Nation." Sokka mouth goes slightly agape, "It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake." Sokka turned, folding his arms and looked rather serious. "It's inescapable."

"So... Where is this place?"

"Why do you need to know? What are you planning?" Zuko asked.

Amaterasu rolled her eyes. 'He wants to go there and bakes cookies for them. Stop acting dumb, Zuko!' she thought as she hid behind Appa. The bison nuzzling his head towards her and she stroked the fur atop of his head so that he wouldn't let her be caught.

"Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid." The other boy waved his arm dismissively.

Zuko, wary, begins to proceed the conversation. "It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here."

"Thank Zuko." Sokka yawned and pat the Prince's shoulder as he walks past. "Just knowing makes me feel better."

"Yeah, I'm sure it does." Zuko said as he watched the boy leave.

Amaterasu walked into view, Zuko looking at her with a skeptical expression. "You know what he's trying to do don't you."

"I'm going to stop him." He said as the Princess walked over and grabbed his hand, looking up at him with big eyes. "No, your not going. It's too dangerous."

"I can handle dangerous! I'm dangerous myself." She huffed, pouting even.

The Prince rolled his eyes, "What if someone tries to shoot lightning at you, what are you going to do?"

"Uh..." Amaterasu placed her index finger on her cheek as she thought about it, "Use that technique Uncle taught you? I watched and I know how to do it. Please? Please!"

The boy let out a sigh, "I'm still against it, but there's no stopping you." Amaterasu gave him a tight hug.

"I like doing things with you because I like to feel like we can depend on each other." The Princess said, "I also want to be there just incase something happens to you. This is a dangerous mission, Zuko. I don't want you and Sokka doing this alone."

Zuko had wrapped his arms around her, returning her embrace as he kissed atop of her head. "Alright, but just promise me that you won't get too ahead of yourself. I you need help, try to find me."

Amaterasu snuggled herself into the boy's chest which made him blush, "Alright, Zuko."

"Okay, uhm, well... Let's find out when Sokka's leaving."

"No, I want to stay like this for a while."

"Er... Uh... Okay."

"Ok, I'm done. Let's go!"

Everyone was asleep as Sokka silently walks towards Appa with his belongings. He lets out a sigh after successfully not waking anyone. He turns and hiIIs eyes widen. Sokka nearly tripped over a sleeping Momo. He walks over him and patters his way towards Appa. He starts to climb up as Appa wakens. Sokka shushs him and Appa goes back to sleep. His hand reaching the saddle and pulling himself up to reveal Zuko and Amaterasu already waiting for him.

"Not up to anything, huh?" Zuko said as Sokka yelps in shock and loses his grip as he falls down on the hard, stone floor with a loud thud and groan.

"Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna rescue my Dad." He puts back his belongings back into his bag, "You happy now? And hey Ammy."

Amaterasu waved as Zuko spoke, "I'm never happy."

"What?" Amaterasu stared at Zuko, long and hard.

"I mean, well, you know what I mean!" he nearly yells, but Sokka puts his hands on his mouth.

"Look, I have to do this. The invasion plan was my idea. It was my decision to stay when things were going wrong." Sokka began walking towards Appa as Zuko jumps off the bison, "It's my mistake and it's my job to fix it. I have to regain my honor. You can't stop me Zuko." Sokka said with determination.

"You need to regain your honor? Believe me, I get it. We're going with you." Zuko explained, but Sokka shook his head.

The warrior climbed up near the saddle. "No. I have to do this alone."

"How are you going to get there? On Appa? Last time I checked, prisons don't have bison day cares." Sokka touched the saddle before sighing and then looked at Zuko.

"Not only that Sokka," Amaterasu placed her hand on the boy's shoulder, "We're your friends and we can't let you put your life in danger like this. How would we go on with this war without you? If you got caught, how can we tell Katara about it? She'll be so upset and we'll be guilty for knowing that you went all by yourself.

Sokka looked down, knowing that the girl was right. "We'll take my war balloon." Zuko pointed out, knowing that Sokka had changed his mind.

It was morning time and Momo was sleeping on his back with a piece of crumpled paper in his arms like a blanket. Katara's gloved hand picked it up and read it. Toph and Aang sleepily rubbed their eyes and walked toward Katara's side. "What does it say?" asked Toph.

"Me and the guys have gone fishing. Since neither Zuko or Sokka can catch proper fish, I took the liberty of going with them for us. We'll be back in a few days. Ammy, Zuko, and Sokka. One more thing." Aang walked back to his sleeping bag, "Aang, practice your firebending while I'm gone. Do twenty sets of fire fist and 10 hot squats every time you hear a badger frog croak." Aang lies down and proceeds to go back to sleep, "Zuko."

A badger frog croaks and Aang opens his eyes with irritation and stands up. "Nobody else has homework." He proceeds to squat with his hands behind his head. "One hot squat. Two hot squat. Three hot squat. Four hot..."

Zuko was firebending into the fuel tank with one hand and Sokka and Amaterasu were resting in the background. They all look at each other. Zuko firebends again. They all stare at each other again before looking away in awkward silence. "Pretty clouds." Sokka said while looking up.

"Yeah, fluffy." Zuko added while raising his head.

Amaterasu decided to let the boys talk, thinking they need to get quality time. She closed her eyes drifted back to sleep for some much needed rest. A whistle pierces the silence, which wakes Amaterasu and Zuko turn to Sokka. "What?"

"What? Oh, I didn't say anything. You know, a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons." said Sokka as Amaterasu went back to sleep, her hands over her ears.

"No kidding."

"Yep. A balloon. But for war.

"There's one thing my Dad's good at," he turns back to the tank and firebends, "it's war."

Sokka, now nonchalant, replies, "Yeah, it seems to run in the family."

"Hey, hold. Not everyone in my family is like that." Zuko corrected him, Amaterasu no longer able to sleep. She just watched, interested in how this conversation was going to go.

"I know, I know, you've changed."

"I meant my Uncle. He was more of a Father," Zuko looked rather saddened, "to me. And I almost let him down."

Amaterasu closed her eyes, noticing how the boys looked in her direction to see if she was listening. "I think your Uncle would be proud of you. Leaving your home to come help us, that's hard."

"It wasn't that hard." Zuko replied.

"Really? You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?" Sokka asked.

Zuko looked at, what he thought was a sleeping Amaterasu, "I almost did. I'm still upset that I put her in this. Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. Ammy got dragged into it."

Sokka leaned back on the back. "My first girlfriend turned into the Moon."

Zuko looked up, "That's rough buddy."

The war balloon is still sailing in the sky. Sokka, leaning on Amaterasu, was snoring with his mouth open. Zuko closes the door and wipes his hands after firebending in the tank. He leans on the basket and spots something. "There it is." Sokka and Amaterasu awaken instantly and they look at a nearing volcano-like area with steam coming out of it. "There's plenty of steam to keep us covered. As long as we're quiet we should be able to navigate through it without being caught." The war balloon slowly descended into the crater as Sokka and Amaterasu looked down at the streaming water. The burner again lose its power. The balloon rapidly goes down into the crater, getting lost through the sea of steam. "We're going down. The balloon's not working anymore!" Zuko rapidly firebends into the tank. "

Sokka appears frantic as he rushes to the other side of the basket. The Prince decides to firebend into the vent instead. "The air outside is just as hot as the air inside so we can't fly." Sokka stated.

Everyone began to lose their balance as the balloon continued its descend. "So, what are we supposed to do?"

"Crash landing, boys!" Amaterasu said as the war balloon dangerously nears the water. It touched the surface of the water and the water splashes onto his hand. The boy flailed his hand as he covers his mouth and struggles not to scream. The war balloon glides on the water and crashes onto land, shattering the basket into pieces.

Everyone was thrown with their belongs, Zuko helps Amaterasu up as they both spurt out the stuff out of their mouth. They all looked at the carnage. "How are we gonna get off the island if the balloon won't work?" Zuko asked.

"We're figure something out. I suspected it might be a one-way ticket." Sokka answered.

Amaterasu and Zuko stared at Sokka as he began to walk away, "You knew this would happen and you wanted to come anyway?" Amaterasu asked, "Are you insane?"

"Uncle always said," Sokka proceeds to gather more of the vent and places them into the broken basket, "I never thought things through, but this, ugh," he grabs his head, "this is just crazy." He threw his arms out.

"Hey! I never wanted you guys to come along in the first place. And for the record," Sokka throws the fallen cloth into the basket, "I always think things through. But my plans haven't exactly worked, so this time I'm playing it by ear. So there." He pushes the basket but yelps as his hand automatically withdraws since the basket scorches him. He proceeds to kick it. The broken balloon slowly sinks into the water.

"Sokka, what are you doing?" Amaterasu asked, blinking twice.

"It doesn't work anyway and we don't want anyone to find it."

"I hope you know what you're doing." All three of them turn around, "There's no turning back now." Zuko sighed.

"I hope these disguises work." said Zuko as Amaterasu adjusted her shirt, seeing that it was a size too small. It might as well been a belly shirt.

"We just need to lay low and find my Dad as soon as possible." The corridor is suddenly filled with running guards. Sokka, Amaterasu and Zuko grin nervously, hoping that they won't be noticed.

A guard stopped at the opening of the corridor to address the two teens, "Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard, come on."

The trio ran behind the last of the group as their was a mass of people wearing red in the yard. Prisoners were forming a circle around two people in the centre as they circle around each other. The guards shoved the spectating prisoners and they tried to form a barricade in the front of the crow.

"I didn't do anything. I'm going back to my cell." said the prisoner as he walks away. A guard firebends a whip and lashes it near the man's legs.

"Stop right there Chit Sang."

Amaterasu, Zuko and Sokka as Zuko walks forward, trying to interfere. Amaterasu gripping onto Zuko's elbow, "Zuko, are you crazy? You'll blow our cover. I want to help too, but we can't." she whispered .

"I've had it with your unruly behavior."

Chitsang turns back toward the guard, "What did I do?"

"He wants to know what he did." The guard turned toward the trip of teens, "Isn't that cute?" He looks back at Chit Sang as the teens stare at him in silence. The guard senses something suspicious and raises his visor to inspect the trio.

"I find it simply adorable." Amaterasu said as the boys looked at her nervously.

Sokka eye looks toward Zuko nervously and he speaks too, "Uh, yeah, very cute sir. Simply adorable."

"Super adorable." Sokka finally came up with.

The guard smiles satisfactorily at their answers and walked back towards Chit Sang. "You didn't bow down when I walked by Chit Sang."

Chit Sang was now outraged, "What? That's not a prison rule."

"Do it.

Chit Sang protested defiantly, "Make me." A crowd began looking at the commotion as the guard firebended another whip and shot the whip towards the man. Chit Sang turns around and firebends the whip and directs it back at the guard who kicks the flame aside.

"Tsk, tsk. Firebending is prohibited." Chit Sang remained in his stance, "You're going in the cooler." He then points at Sokka, "You! Help me take him in."

Sokka looked at his two comrades, "Meet me back here in an hour." Zuko and Amaterasu both nodded and went off as the three walked away from the crowd. They take him to the cooler with two security doors, Sokka opens them and water vapor gushes out.

"The Warden will deal with you soon." Threatened the guard. He shove Chit Sang in as Sokka closed the two doors. "Can you believe this guy?"

Sokka then became an actor. "Prisoners. Am I right?"

"Ugh. Tell me about it."

Zuko and Amaterasu walked, side by side in the prison. They see a door with a guard sitting outside on a bench with his helmet off, reading something. Inside was a loud with three guards eating their meals with their helmet off as they laugh. The duo were at the table, grabbing foor.

"Hey new people. I know it's the rule to have your helmet on at all times but this is the lounge, relax." said a male guard.

"But what if there's an incident? If I'm not prepared someone could strike me on the head." said Zuko as they walked toward the table as the guards laugh.

Amaterasu shook her head, "I have serious helmet hair and I'm too embarrassed to show it."

"I know what you mean girl, but you'll get use to it. No need to get all pretty around here." said a female guard.

They sat their plates down and sit with them. "Can we, the new people, ask you veterans a few questions about prison?" Zuko asked.

"No, you can't date the female guard." said the female from before. Amaterasu cringed at the sight of the woman and her nasty grin, but she was still pissed to insinuate that nonetheless.

The male guard scoffs, "Trust me, you don't want to." A cup is thrown at his head and the guard behind him laughs.

Zuko rolled his eyes, "No, that's not it. The boiling rock, it holds the Fire Nation's most dangerous criminals, right? So... What about war prisoners?"

Zuko and Amaterasu made it back to the yard just in time as Sokka hoped.

"Hey there, fellow guard. How goes it?" Zuko acted.

Amaterasu looked around, checking to see if anyone was watching. "Cut the act Zuko, no one is looking."

"Oh..." Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, frustrated and embarrassed.

"Dur." Sokka and Amaterasu said in a unison, snickering afterward.

Zuko placed his finger to his mouth. "Shh guys. Well, I asked around the lounge with Ammy. There are no Water tribe prisons. I'm afraid your father's not here."

Sokka is in shock. "What? Are you sure? Did you double check?"

"He's right." Amaterasu frowned, "They probably aren't going here. They should of been arrived here."

Sokka held his head in despair and walked towards a wall. "No. No!" He bangs his fist again the wall in frustration.

"We're really sorry Sokka," soothed the princess.

"So, we came all this way for nothing. I failed," He leans on the wall, "Again."

The three rested for a minute, decided on what to do.

"Look!" He points over to a brunette, "it's Suki!"

"Ah, Sokka's girlfriend." said Amaterasu as Zuko nodded, "She's a cutie!"

"Prisoners! Back in your cells!" shouted a guard.

Amaterasu smiled at Sokka, "Go to her, okay? We'll handle everything else" The boy couldn't agree with her anymore and ran off in the direction Suki went. "Let's go guard the door." She told Zuko.

Zuko was almost caught after fighting a female guard who tried to get into Suki's cell while Sokka was still in there, Amaterasu quickly gets Sokka and Suki to escape. "Come on guys! Let's go." Sokka leads them away while the female guard rubbed her sore shoulder, Amaterasu gets left behind and it stuck with the warden.

Zuko stops and that causes Suki and Sokka to stop as well. "Dammit, Ammy's is in trouble, you guys go off without me."

"We can't leave you guys, we're going with!" Suki protested, she wasn't going to let the people who helped her get in trouble. She would do anything that she could.

"It'll be fine!" He said as she rushed to find Amaterasu.

They all met outside.

"I got Suki and Chit Sang out of their cells a few minutes ago. They'll be waiting for us at the shore."

"Guys, someone's coming." Amaterasu said as she pulled them both in and quickly slide the inner door closed.

Two guards were making their way to the cooler as the door opens by an inch to listen in to the conversation. "Yeah, new arrivals coming in at dawn."

"Anybody interesting?" asked a female.

"Nah, just the usual. Some robbers, couple of traitors, some war prisoners," the trio looked at each other. "Though I did hear there might be a pirate."

"No foolin'." She said as they left.

The exiled prince was concerned, "War prisoners. It could be your father."

"I know," Sokka looked away and closed his eyes.

"Well, what should we do?" asked Amaterasu.

Zuko shrugged. "Are we going ahead with the plan or are we waiting another night?"

The water tribe warrior shook his head, "I don't know." He looked at the two with tear filled eyes, "Is it right for me to risk Suki's freedom, all our freedom on the slim chance that my dad is gonna show up?"

The prince and princess frowned, "It's your call, Sokka." Zuko said. Sokka, who is struggling to make a decision, looked around nervously.

It's night at an area in the water looking up at the cooler building. Chit Sang and Suki were still waiting. They look up and to see Zuko and Sokka using all of their body weight to stop the cooler from rolling down the slope rapidly and noisily. Both of them rush up to assist.

"Took you guys long enough. This here's my girl and my best buddy. They're coming too." said Chit Sang as a woman and a man waved.

Sokka looks annoyed while struggling against the weight of the cooler." Fine, everybody in the cooler. Let's go." They turned the cooler into a vertical position. Cut to a shadow walking to a rock. Sokka's hand lifts to rock to reveal Water Tribe clothing hidden underneath.

"Are you sure you want to go?" He slung his sword as he walked toward Sokka, "You're the one who said you wanted to redeem yourself. Redeem your honor. Rescuing your Dad is your chance."

Suki walked toward her boyfriend, "Your dad?"

The watertribe warrior looked up at them in desperation. "If I had just cut my losses at the invasion, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe sometimes it's just better to call it quits before you fail." Amaterasu, Zuko, and Suki frowned.

"No, it's not." reasoned Amaterasu, he looked at her for more inspiration. "You can do it, I know you can."

"Look Sokka, you're going to fail a lot before things work out." said Zuko, Amaterasu gave him a dead panned look. 'Oh, that's very helpful Zuko.' she thought but before she could say anything, Sokka responded.

Sokka stood up as he slung his bag over his shoulders while raising his eyebrows. "That's suppose to make me feel better?" He then began to walk away.

Zuko kept going, "Even though you'll probably fail over and over and over again." Sokka stopped.

"Seriously, not helping." the blue-eyed boy replied but Zuko grabbed his shoulder.

"You have to try every time. You can't quit because you're afraid you might fail." The princess smiled, happy that conversation wasn't going the way she thought it was going to.

"Hey," Chit Sang said while holding onto the cooler, "if you two are done cuddling, can we get a move on?" He asked.

"No, I'm staying." Sokka drops his bag as he turns around and addresses Zuko, Suki, and Amaterasu. "You guys can go." He placed a hand on Suki's shoulder. "You've been here long enough."

The Kyoshi Warrior grabbed his hand reassuringly. "I'm not leaving without you, Sokka."

"We're staying too, right Ammy?" His golden eyes looked at the princess who nodded her head.

"Yeah, your my new friend Sokka and even though I met when I was suppose to capture you, you're like family to me. Like the annoying, greedy cousin that everyone has that can be really lame at tim-" Sokka cut her off.

He had a pout on his face, "Seriously?"

"Let me finish," Amaterasu grinned, "But your the funny one, the one who makes me laugh and makes me want to gag when you act like a Panda dog who hasn't eaten in years. Still, I wouldn't want you any other way." The Princess said with a smile, making Sokka smile himself and Suki and Zuko laugh.

"Well, not me, I'm out. Let's roll baby." said Chi Sang as he pushes the cooler and jumps into it.

The trio looked at Chit Sang, his girlfriend, and his friend shrink into the distance. "We gave up our only chance of escaping," said Sokka as they all looked at each other, "I hope we haven't just made a huge mistake."

"Argh, this current is so slow." said Chit Sang before tearing off a small, metal, rectangular section of the cooler. "I can use this to paddle."

The paddle touched the water and the metal sears under the heat. Chit Sang's hand immediately lets go of the metal piece as he looks at his hand and struggles not to scream. His whole body rapidly reddens as he continues to struggle. He lets out a scream. That scream was pretty loud too. A guard who looks at the cooler in the water. The Alarm went off.

The Warden looks down, "Guards! Secure the perimeter!" A line of guards run down a platform hurriedly,"and lock down the prisoners. Now!"A group of prisoners in the yard ran off. A guard brandishes his fire whip and flails it towards the screen. Amaterasu, Zuko, Sokka, and Suki pressed themselves against the wall to avoid being spotted.

"Looks like that plan failed, those suckers got caught." said a grinning Sun Warrior princess.

"Get the fugitives and throw them in the Cooler!" said the Warden.

The guard in charge of the steering wheels turns to look at the warden, "Uh, they are in the cooler sir."

The warden raises his voice towards the guard, "One that's bolted down and not floating in the water! This is a lockdown!" The warden points behind, probably towards the gondola tower. "We have new prisoners arriving! Everything must be completely secure!" The guard turns the steering wheel as a huge crossbow on the contraption is lowered. The bolt is released. The bolt pierced the cooler violently and reeling the cooler in. Inside of the cooler to show the huge harpoon contraption covering the cylindrical part of the cooler. Chit Sang and the other escapees are frightened. The cooler slowly sails across the water, back to the Boiling Rock. Sokka with his back pressed against a wall peers out carefully.

"The Gondola is moving!" said Sokka as the gondola slowly makes it way to the tower, the prisoners and the guards in the yard look up as well. "This is it." You could see that they had captured many prisoners. "If my Dad's not there, we risked everything for nothing."

The brunette frowned, "We had to."

Sokka looked anxiously, "Come on, come on." A guard opened the door of the gondola. A big, burly man with shaggy long hair, a long beard, a nose ring and a tattoo on his arm walks out handcuffed.

"Is that him?" asked Zuko.

Sokka furrowed his brows, "My Dad doesn't have a nose ring." Various prisoners file past. None of them are Hakoda. "Where is he?" A shirtless man with a topknot walking out of the gondola. No one followed behind him. The warrior tribe warrior looks with disbelief. "That's it? That can't be it?"

His girlfriend sighed, upset as well. "I'm sorry Sokka."

Sokka lowered his head in dismay. "Oh no."

"Hey you," said a guard as Sokka opens his eyes and the four look up, "get off" The guard points to a person inside, " the gondola."

Sokka who waited nervously in anticipation. Hakoda looked around before disembarking and Sokka's eyes widen. "Dad."

"Line them up for the warden!" shouted a guard, making the other guards surround the perimeter and the prisoners file in one by one into a straight line. Sokka runs up and pulls up his visor.

"Dad..." The teenage boy mumbled as he rushes from the stairs and nudges some guards aside, "Excuse me, coming through. The warden wants me over there, sorry!" Sokka stood behind a line of guards taller than him who are near the prisoners. The warden walks towards them.

"Welcome to The Boiling Rock. I'm sure," he said while walking down the line, "you've all heard the horrible rumors about our little island. Well I just want to tell you that they don't have to be true. As long as you, " He stopped in front of Hakoda who is looking down, "do everything I say. Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you. "

The Southern Water tribe chieftain looked to the side, "No."

"Oh, you'd rather look at my shoes? Then take a look!" shouted the Warden. He used his foot to pull down Hakoda's handcuff to the floor. The chieftain was pulled into a kneeling position, Sokka gapes in surprise. The warden's foot remained on his handcuff. "I know exactly who you are, Hakoda of the Water Tribe. So strong willed. But don't worry, we'll get rid of that in time. Now look me in the eye. " Hakoda lift his head up, eyes raging with hate. "See isn't that better? You wil. " he looks at the other prisoners, "all do as I say or pay the price." He began to walk away, "You will all... " Hakoda tilts his handcuffs as the warden's boot get caught in them and he loses his balance. Sokka snickered as the guards in front of him rush to the warden's aid. Two guards run to the warden as he and Hakoda stand up on their own.

"Are you okay, Sir?" asked a guard.

The warden lashes out, "I'm fine! Get these prisoners out of my sight!" Sokka runs towards the prison housing area were the prisoners were going.

After the conversation with his father, Sokka walks towards the first door from a flight of stairs. He leans against the door and raises his visor. Amaterasu, was now a prisoner, since the incident earlier. She had put made a prison, her charge for attempted escape and possibly murdering a guard.

"Ammy, are you there?" said Sokka.

Amaterasu looks through the door opening, "Yeah, and I made Zuko do something. I'm a prisoner now since we got caught and I didn't know where they took Suki."

"I just got done talking to my dad. We came up with an escape plan together."

A male and female guard appear and startles Sokka, "What are you doing here?"

The water tribe warrior lowered his visor and turns to the stairs, I was just telling," he points to Amaterasu's prison cell door, "this dirty lowlife what I think of her!"

The male guard spoke, "Well, you'll have to do that later, she is coming with us."

Sokka looked at Amaterasu's cell door and back, "Why?"

The female guard arms akimbo, "Because we have orders straight from the Warden. That's why."

Sokka held in his laugh, "Could I just get ten more seconds to rough her up a bit?" He punched his right fist into his left palm.

The female crossed her arms and leans against the railing, "Fine, ten seconds." the male guard mirror her action before Sokka entered the cell.

"Take that! And this!" shouted Sokka.

"Newbie." said the male guard as the female shook her head.

In actuality, Sokka fist were punching a rolled up mattress as Amaterasu pretends to grunt in pain whenever Sokka strikes. Amaterasu held the mattress in place while Sokka hit it.

"We have a new plan but it's gonna need a big distraction." whispered the blue-eyed boy. "Be in the yard in one hour." The door begins to open and the firebender is caught off guard. The guys are unsure what to do but as the door opens, Sokka lunges at the Princess's head as she drops the mattress.

"Alright, that's enough." said the male guard as he pushes off Sokka and gives him a warning finger.

Amaterasu struggled with the guard, "I didn't do anything! Where are you taking me? I didn't do anything!" asked the princess. Another cell opens and the guards shoved her in there and she lands in a chair.

"Come on." A voice said as the Princess quickly turned to the source of the voice, "Amaterasu." Mai had her head down at the corner of the room. "We all know,' she looked up and walked into the light,"that's a lie."

"Mai?" Amaterasu said with suprise on her face. She looked at her as she looks on with cross arms, "How did you know I was here?"

"I know that if Zuko was here, you would be here." She answered.

"But.. How?" She looked up at her.

The pale girl looked to the side. "The Warden's my Uncle, you idiot." Amaterasu groaned.

"What does this have to do with me? Why are you keeping me hostage?" asked the Princess, her mahogany eyes ablaze.

The non-bender looked at her with a deep frown, "Because you took Zuko away from me knowing very well that I always liked him."

"What? How would I know?" She asked her, blatantly confused.

Mai threw her arms up in the air, "Why do you think Azula made fun of me when he was around? Why do you think I would clam up whenever he was near? Are you really that much of an idiot?"

The Princess's mouth opened agape, a pang of guilt shot right through her heart. Really, it was so obvious but Amaterasu cared more about her own feelings than she did Mai's. Of course, Mai knew Zuko before she had and so she liked him before any of them knew Amaterasu's existed. It wasn't fair, but what could she do? Just break up with Zuko and let him date Mai? No way! They had been through too much and she wasn't just going to give him up. "Mai, I never wanted to hurt you or steal him from you," She got up from her chair, "but me and Zuko love each other."

"Save it! That should of been me!" said the Warden's niece.

Amaterasu furrowed her brows, "That's not how I see it." The assassin folded her arms and turns to the side sulkily.

A guard came rushing in, "Ma'am, there's a riot going on. I'm here to protect you. "

Mai turned around, "I don't need any protection."

Amaterasu laughs slightly, "Hah, believe me. She doesn't."

"I'm sorry but I'm under direct orders from your Uncle to make sure nothing happens." Amaterasu's took the chance and firebend at the guard's feet and rush out the room. The guard attempts to shield the governor's daughter from the fire.

"Get off me!" shouted the assassin. She throws the guard to the side and runs to the door. While running towards the exit, Amaterasu slides the door shut and meddles with the lock. Mai's eyes stared at her through the opening and he does the same. She closes her eyes and rushes off as Mai continues to look at her through the opening.

Chit Sang, Sokka, Hakoda and Suki are standing at the bottom of another tower, trying to stay out of the chaos. Amaterasu comes into view and throws a guard who attempts to subdue her over his shoulder She runs in front of Sokka, Zuko now catching up with them.

"Zuko, Ammy! Good. We're all here. Now all we need to do, " He points to the top of another tower, "is grab the Warden and get to the gondolas. " said Sokka.

"And how do we do that?" He asked.

Sokka looks back at Zuko, "I'm not sure."

"Sokka, I thought you thought this through." Zuko glared at him.

Sokka went into hysterics, "I thought you told me it's okay not to think everything through!"

Zuko clenched his teeth, "Maybe not everything. But this is kind of important." Sokka placed a finger on his chin in thought.

"Hey, uhh, fellas. I think your girlfriend's taking care of it." said Chit Sang. Sokka peers behind Chit Sang's elbow in surprise. Suki runs and jumps on their heads. Suki running rapidly on their sea of prisoners' heads. The brunette was now nearing the tower. She leaps onto the tower and scales the wall rapidly. She pushes herself from the wall as she back-flips to land her feet on some pipes below the platform. She flips herself from below the platform to a railing as a guard comes by and starts to firebend. She flips off the railing, narrowly missing the flames and gives the guard a series of punches that knocks him unconscious. Two guards ran out from a corridor. One of the guards aims a firebending kick towards the Kyoshi Warrior leader but she dodges and uses her arm to trip his other leg, sending him to the ground with a loud thud. The other guard firebends but Suki dodges and jumps to the railing behind him. She quickly jumps onto the wall. The guard stares at her, dumbfounded. She scales the wall with fierce determination. The warden who looks down with shock. Suki flips herself over the railing and landing down on the platform. The guard near the warden gets into a stance and before he does so, Suki slides on the ground and trips him over. The warden attempts to move but Suki gets up and holds his arm in a deadlock grip. Her other hand is positioned dangerously in front of the warden's face should he attempt to fight back. She stares at him.

"You wouldn't dare," said the Warden. Suki turns the warden around and brings his hands together as she ties rapidly them with a red string. Suki remains behind, pulling down the warden's headband and turning it around so the tie is on his mouth.

"Sorry Warden," She tightens the tie and lets go, "you're my prisoner now." She slams him against the wall. The guys finally caught up and ran towards her from the other side of the platform. "We've got the Warden, now let's get out of here. " She looks at them as they tried to catch their breath.

Hakoda held his stomach, "That's some girl. "

Sokka looked at his girlfriend, "Tell me about it."

The group is running up a staircase towards the gondola.

Suki turned to look at Sokka, "We're almost there." The warden is carried on Chit Sang's shoulder. Guards at the gondola proceed to firebend at the group. Zuko shoves Sokka aside and intercepts the flame, dissipating it immediately. More guards join in to help.

"Back off, we've got the Warden." said Zuko, Amaterasu was now at his side. Excited, and ready for action. The warden looks up from Chit Sang's shoulder and mumbles under the tie. The guards loosen their stances. "Let's go." The group slowly and warily walk past the guards with their arms outstretched should the guards attack them. Zuko stops at the end of the platform while the rest run towards the gondola with Amaterasu at his side. The door slides aside to reveal Suki.

"Everyone in!" shouted Suki. Sokka boards the gondola firs as the rest run in. Zuko and Amaterasu still remain at the platform, she waits and he runs to the lever, pushing it down. The gondola ropes loosens and uncoils. The gondola slowly leaves, leaving Zuko and Amaterasu behind. Amaterasu kicks the lever several times.

"It's not breaking!" Se turns her head and sees guards running towards her. With one final kick, she successfully breaks the lever and runs towards the gondola. Zuko grabs her hand flies over the railings with fire balls sailing over their heads. They are now going towards the gondola. Sokka reaches out his arm as he catches Zuko's hand. He struggles under the weight. Amaterasu climbs on Zuko manages to grab hold to the sides of the gondola to help them climb in, and they succeeded.

"What were you both doing?" asked Sokka.

"Making them not able to stop us." answered Amaterasu.

Sokka nodded, "Way to think ahead."

"We're on our way." said Suki.

Hakoda looked at the gondola tower, "Wait. Who's that?"

Amaterasu, Sokka, and Zuko turned their heads to see Azula, Ty Lee, and some guards back at the gondola tower as they look at the fleeing gondola. "That's a problem." said Zuko. The guards proceed to bow in respect. "It's my sister and her friend." Azula turns her head to the side. The Fire Nation princess grabs handcuffs from a guard that was clipped to his waist. Ty Lee cartwheels onto the gondola ropes. Azula is seen running ahead below the lines as Ty Lee proceeds to run on the line. The acrobat shoe runs on it. Azula is seen readying herself. Azula firebends a huge jet of blue fire. She propels herself from the ground into the air. The handcuff locks around it. Azula places an arm and a leg behind her and firebends another huge jet of fire. The force slides her across the line. Ty Lee was running on the upper line as Azula comes onto the lower line.

"This is a rematch I've been waiting for." said Suko, who is preparing herself.

"Me too." Zuko agreed. He proceeds to climb up the gondola's roof. Ty Lee and Azula are now getting closer. Suki, Amaterasu, and Sokka prepared themselves. Sokka unsheathes his sword as the trio now climbed onto the roof. Ty Lee cartwheels off the line, onto the roof, facing Suki while Sokka, Amaterasu, and Zuko are facing Azula who has an evil grin on her face. Azula firebend blue flame with her feet while Amaterasu sent a flame to dissipating the attack and Zuko fist firebends orange flames towards her and she kicks the flames away.

Suki makes the first move as Ty Lee attempts to chi block Suki but Suki blocks all her shots deftly. The Kyoshi Warrior attempts to punch the acrobat but Ty Lee brings up her arm and intercepts the punch. They struggle briefly with neither one gaining the upper hand. Suki punches again but Ty Lee flips away. Ty Lee flips into the gondola and while she is inside sh enters through the opening and swiftly exits by another opening back up onto the roof and appears behind Suki. Ty Lee attempts to chi block Suki again by punching the pressure point at the back of her neck and arm but Suki dodges at the last moment. The girls continue to fight. Suki was cornered near the gondola's metal extension which links to the cable. Azula sent another ball of blue flames toward Zuko who pushes her flame apart with his bare hands, dissipating it. Sokka proceeds to swing his sword. Azula dodges it and as the sword finishes its arc, she stands up again. She firebends towards Sokka but Amaterasu dissipates the flame with her own blue ones, and sent a whip of blue fire towards her feet Azula jumps and turns before landing back down with a grin. Her eyes suddenly widen and blink at Sokka's sword as it glints in the sunlight. The Fire Nation princess moves back. Azula is pushed near the edge of the roof. Sokka who moves back and Zuko taking the lead by firebending at his sister's feet. Azula jumps and lands in a push up position. She is balancing only on her hands. Azula moves her legs across her body and firebends at the trio, but they move to the side. The fire travels towards Suki and Ty Lee as they also part to let the flame pass by. Inside of the gondola Chit Sang looks up at the scene. The warden is seen fidgeting. The warden's tries to loosen the string.

"There's the Warden. I see him!" said a guard as he looked with a telescope. The other guards turn towards him. The warden's hands successfully breaks the string. The warden appears beside Chit Sang and pulls down the tie covering his mouth.

"Cut the line!" shouted the warden. Chit Sang covers the warden's mouth and holds him back.

One of the guards heard him, "He wants us to cut the line."

"But if we cut the line, there's no way he'll survive." said another guard.

The other guard brings down his telescope." He knows that. A metal object was being brought near the wheel that contains the line as it sparks under friction. A guard struggling to hold the metal object in place. Two guards behind him who are holding a huge hacksaw.

Azula fires a shot towards her brother but Zuko once again, breaks the fire apart and sends another shot towards his sister. Azula jumps and firebends back as she lands. Zuko breaks the fire apart again. Suki and Ty Lee lose their balance as the gondola stops suddenly. The gondola sways to and fro precariously. Sokka begins sliding off the roof. Zuko moved towards Sokka while Amaterasu covered them from any surprise attacks by Azula. Zuko grabs his hand and pulls him up as the gondola sways some more. Ty Lee is climbs up the metal extension while Azula is regaining her balance. Ty Lee jumped to the top of the metal extension, looking back at the tower.

"They're about to cut the line!" warned the ex-circus performer. Ty Lee's back looking down at Azula as Azula turns her head back to the tower. Two guards proceeded to saw the line. Azula turns back. Azula, Ty Lee and Suki look at another gondola coming in.

"Then it's time to leave." Azula smiles and propels herself from the roof with her firebending. Azula sailed through the air, looking down at the roof. "Goodbye Zuko." She stops bending as she back flips and lands on the other gondola's roof. Ty Lee also flips onto the roof. Amaterasu, Suki, Sokka and Zuko looked at the other gondola as it sails back to the tower. Ty Lee and Azula look back as the gondola continues moving. Zuko flips back into the gondola.

"They're cutting the line. The gondola's about to go!" said the exiled prince.

"I hope this thing floats." said Hakoda of the water tribe.

As guards were still sawing, stilettos fly as the guards holding the saw are thrown off. At the docking area, stiletto pins the guard's wristguard to the structure. He looks at another guard with the same fate "What are you doing !" shouted a guard.

"Saving the jerk who should of been mine." Mai said as guards move toward Mai, she releases a stiletto into her hand while a guard proceeds to firebend at her. She throws the stilettos and dodges the flames. Some of the guards got pinned by her weapons while others others, untouched, began to send fire at her once again. She slides across the floor, narrowly missing the flames. She slides across the two wheels as she stands up and releases more stilettos into her hands. The guards run towards her and some of the are pinned and Mai pins a female guard to the floor, and pinks her with a stiletto by her wrist guard to the floor.

Mai kicks away the metal object that is preventing the lines from being loosened. The wheel turns and the gondola continues to move. Sokka looked out at the opening of the gondola. "Who's that?" he asked as the others join in to look back at the tower. Mai continues to fend off the guards by herself. She turns her head back to the gondola.

Zuko is shocked. "It's Mai."

"What is she doing?" Azula yelled furiously. Ty Lee shrugs and makes a "I don't know" noise. The gondola reaches the outer part of the crater. Atinside of the entrance tower as the door opens and Suki rushes out followed by Sokka, Zuko, Amaterasu Hakoda and Chit Sang. Hakoda turns towards Chit Sang and points to the inside of the gondola. Chit Sang proceeds to throw the warden back in.

"Sorry Warden, your record is officially broken. " He said while looking at the warden, who was lying on the floor and struggling. The group ran up a rocky incline.

"Well, we made it out. Now what?" asked Suki.

Sokka stopped and looks back at Zuko, who pauses in his tracks, thinking. "Zuko, what are you doing?"

"My sister was on that island." said the ex-Fire Nation prince.

"Yeah and she's probably right behind us. So let's not stop." Sokka countered.

"What I mean is she must have came here somehow." He ran to the edge of the rocks and looked down. "There. That's our way out of here." He pointed at a Fire Nation zeppelin docked at the shore.

Azula's zeppelin docked near the temple's, Katara and Toph stand in front of the zeppelin as Zuko, Amaterasu and Sokka walk out.

"What are you doing in this thing? What happened to the war balloon?" asked a curious waterbender.

Amaterasu bit her lip, "It kind of got destroyed."

"Sounds like a crazy fishing trip." added Aang.

"Did you at least get some good meat?" asked a hungry earthbending master.

"I did." Sokka closed his eyes. "the best meat of all." He opened them. "The meat of friendship and fatherhood." And with that said, Suki and Hakoda disembarked at the entrance of the zeppelin with Chit Sang following behind them.

"I'm new. What's up everybody!" said Chit Sang as Xing smiled at the group, Hakoda at her side.

Katara started to tear up. "Dad." She ran toward him.

"Hi, Katara." He said as she met him to embrace. Katara soon let go. "How are you here? What's going on?" She then looked at her brother. "Where did you go?"

"We... kind of went to a Fire Nation prison." said Sokka before Katara grabbed his arm and pulled him to embrace their father in a group.

Toph rolled her eyes, "Seriously, you guys didn't find any meat?"

Amaterasu rubbed the back of her head, "Sorry Toph."

"What a waste of time..." Toph joked as everyone laughed.

At night, everyone was sitting around the fire eating fried fish that Amaterasu and Hakoda had caught.

"So, what happened when you they took you, Ammy?" Sokka asked, everyone turning their attention tot he Sun Warrior Princess.

She was hesitant at first, she didn't want to say she got interrogated by Mai, "Huh?" she acted like she didn't hear the question at her first, "Oh, all they did was take me to the interrogation room, but before they could interrogate me I escaped."

"You escaped?" Teo asked, surprised, "How?"

"Distracted them." Amaterasu said with a smile, "Bended some fire at their feet to distract them and escape. It was pretty easy, not actiony like someone would think. Now what was actiony was when Suki went all sassy assassin on the Warden and got the Gondola. Also, all of us fighting Azula and Ty Lee. That was fun."

Suki blushed at the comment, "I don't know about all that." She said before explaining everything since everyone was interested. Amaterasu had stood up, whilst everyone was distracted, and got herself a second cup of tea and walked with it far away form the group.

"Save it! That should of been me!" Mai's voice rung in her head and she felt the guilt roaming around in her heart.

"What really happened in that interrogation room?" Zuko's voice, seemingly came out of thin air, and scared her half to death.

She should of know he would see right through her trick, they had know each other too well. "Mai was there, telling me that I've wronged her."

"Wronged her? How?" Zuko asked as he now stood in front of her as she looked down at her tea.

Amaterasu sighed before answering, "Well, she liked you every since we were kids," she said looking up at him, "just like I did."

"Oh..." Zuko responded, not sure how to take on the whole thing. "Well, what does it matter? We're together."

"I know, but she still believes that it should of been you and her and not me and you."

The Prince placed his hands on her shoulder, "It will be just me and you and there's no need for you to feel like she can come between us."

Amaterasu smiled at him, feeling somewhat reassured by his words. "I hope so..."

Amaterasu (天照): Japanese name composed of the elements ama "heaven, sky" and terasu "to shine," hence "shining over heaven." In Japanese mythology, this is the name of a sun goddess who rules the heavens.

Wow, its been a while. I got really inspired to continue on since everyone keeps putting this story in their favorites and on alert, I had to do it. :3 Thanks guys.