Hooray! It's the moment you've all been waiting (and waiting...and waiting...) for! THE NEW CHAPTER IS UP! *cue ballons and streamers* Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story since the last time I posted, which was about...two weeks ago? Yikes! Well, wait no further, I have conquered the hills of writer's block and procrastination and succeeded in putting up a new chapter! In this one Tyrn and the Gaang are now in the Deserter episode. Is that drama I hear?

I don't own A:TLA, nor will I ever. HOWEVER I do own Tyrn :)

"This should give us a good idea of what's around here." Katara said as she gazed at the colorful poster in front of her. Tyrn looked at the picture and raised an eyebrow. It was a picture of a dragon flying over a palace with flames all around it. Huh, when they said it was the FIRE Nation they weren't kidding.

Sokka shook his empty bag. "See if you can find a menu around here, I'm starving."

Tyrn ran over and grabbed the bag from his hand. "That was my cheese puffs from my bag!" She exclaimed, examining the bag before she glared at him.

He backed away slowly. "Hey, I'm sorry! You know how hungry I get!"

Annoyed, Tyrn blew an air whip that hit the back of Sokka's knees, forcing him to the ground.

Sokka groaned as Tyrn dusted herself off. "No fair, non-bender over here!"

Rolling her eyes, Tyrn scoffed. "You should have thought of that when you ate my sacred cheese puffs." Tyrn held out her hand to help Sokka up anyways as she said this.

They both walked over to Katara and Aang, who were examining the poster from before. "I bet we can find something to eat here!" He read the bottom of the poster. "The Fire Days Festival: fire nation cultural exhibits, benders, magicians…" he looked at Katara. "This would be a great chance to study some real firebending!"

"You might want to rethink that." Sokka commented, looking at the other side of the stand. "Check this out."

Tyrn raised an eyebrow at the wanted poster as Aang took it. "I've gotta say, they did a good job on the picture. Do they have paparazzi in this world?" She shook her head when the others looked at her weirdly. "Never mind."

Katara came up to them and glanced at the drawing of Aang. "I think we should move on."

"But I have to learn firebending at some point!" Aang protested. "This might be my only chance to study the masters up close!"

"I'm sure it won't be the LAST time we'll have an opportunity like this, right Tyrn?" Sokka and Katara turned to Tyrn.

The 12 year old hesitated. "Well…I don't know. It sounds like it could be fun."

Aang cheered. "Then let's go!" he grabbed Tyrn's wrist and headed towards the festival grounds. Sokka and Katara just shook their heads as they followed them.

Tyrn turned to Appa and Momo when they reached the cliff. "You guys need to stay here and out of sight until we get back."

Momo seemed to understand her as he dove into a nearby bush. Appa just rumbled quietly as he moved to hide behind it. Tyrn stifled a giggle as the others got out their disguises.

Katara and Sokka quickly donned a black cloak as Tyrn got out the brown cape from her bag. They all smiled at how they looked before they turned to Aang.

"You seem like a whole different person." Sokka noted sarcastically as Katara and Tyrn giggled. Aang had only pulled the back of his shirt up so it covered his bald little head.

"Let's go!" With that, they all headed into the heat of the Fire Nation celebration.

With a sigh, Tyrn once again tugged on the annoying mask in front of her face. "I hate these disguises. It's like having a giant hand suffocating your face." She stated irritatedly. The group had just found some masks to blend in with the crowd and was now walking around the grounds.

"You don't look that bad." Aang stated. "It only covers your eyes."

Tyrn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I could be like the clown who scares small children like Sokka."

"Hey!"

Aang pointed to a stand in front of them. "Look, there's some food."

Sokka ran towards it. "Finally!" He ran up to the vendor. "What do you have?"

The vender handed him a small container of steaming flakes. "Flaming fire flakes, best in town."

"I'll take them!" Sokka grabbed the food and started to shovel it into his mouth. "Mmm, mmm…AAHH!" He tore off his mask and started to try to cool his flaming tongue. "Hot, hot!"

His sister just crossed her arms. "Flaming fire flakes. Hot. What do you know."

Tyrn turned and saw a small puppet show. She cringed when the Fire Lord puppet breathed fire onto an earthbender behind him. "Who knew that the Fire Nation encouraged violence among little kids?" She remarked sarcastically. She felt a tugging on her arm as Katara led her to where Aang and Sokka stood. "Where are we going?"

Her airbending tutor shrugged. "I don't know, but since there's a huge crowd so I think it's good."

"Knowing the Fire Nation, it must be an execution." Sokka said. Tyrn snickered as they got to the front of the crowd.

Aang gasped as the magician made a giant fireball that dissipated into a few doves, which flew over the crowd as they cheered. "That was so cool! I want to learn how to do that!"

Nudging him in the side, Tyrn grinned at Aang. "We need to train you fight the Fire Lord, not throw small birds at him!" she whispered.

The magician stepped up to the edge of the stage. "Thank you! For my next trick, I need a volunteer from the audience."

"Mememememememe!" Tyrn and Sokka both tried to shush an enthusiastic Aang.

The man surveyed the crowd. "How about you, little lady?" He pointed at Tyrn.

Tyrn tried to decline his offer as the crowd encouraged her on. "No thanks. Hey Katara, why don't you go?" She turned to Katara who was whistling.

Tyrn was pushed onto the stage as Aang crossed his arms. "Aw, that could have been me."

The magician led Tyrn to a chair. "This next trick is called 'Taming the Dragon'!" He proclaimed. "You are going to be my captured princess." He sat Tyrn down.

"Why kind of idiot princess gets captured?" Tyrn asked rhetorically. "I'll pass on the rope, thank you." She crossed her arms, mouth in a slight frown.

The magician scratched his head. "Um…okay!" He drew the fire from the torches around the stage and formed a fiery dragon. He directed it around, making it whoosh just inches above the crowd. "Don't worry, fair maiden! I'll tame this beast." The magician bended a rope that encircled the dragon's head as it flew. It did a graceful loop in the air as he shouted. "It's too much! I can't hold it!"

Tyrn saw Aang try and make a move towards her, and shook her head slightly at him as Katara and Sokka pulled him back.

"The rope is breaking!" The magician made his rope of fire disappear, and the dragon rushed towards Tyrn.

The airbender was frozen with fear as it approached her. "AHHH!" She yelled, shutting her eyes.

Sokka laid back on his mat in the small and dark hut. "Well, I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight!" he stated, quickly falling into dream land. The group had exposed their identities at the festival, and had successfully run away with a man named Chey, who knew a man who could teach Aang firebending.

Katara just shook her head at her brother. "It never ceases to amaze me how fast he falls asleep." She turned to Tyrn, who was quietly sitting on her mat. "You've been awfully quiet since the festival. Are you alright Tyrn?"

She fiddled with the object in her hands. "I guess. Except my iPod is officially deceased." She held it up. "The battery died. And since this world doesn't have a charger or an electrical outlet, I can't use it anymore."

Aang and Katara looked at her sympathetically. They both knew how important the iPod was to Tyrn, since it was one of the only things that reminded her of home. That, and it was in her hand in every free moment they had.

All three of them looked up as Chey walked in. "Well? Can I see Jeong-Jeong now?" Aang asked eagerly.

Chey slumped down to the floor with a sigh. "He won't see you. He's very angry that I've brought you here. You are to leave immediately."

"Finally!" Tyrn jumped a little at Sokka's sudden outburst. "Let's hit the road."

"Why won't he see me?" Aang asked.

"He says you're not ready. He says that you haven't master waterbending and earthbending yet."

Aang looked at Chey strangely. "Wait…how does he know that?"

Chey looked back at him. "He saw the way you walked into camp. He can TELL."

Raising an eyebrow, Tyrn was quiet for a moment. "That's totally not creepy." she said slowly.

Aang got up determinedly. "I'm going to see him anyway."

Katara, Tyrn and Chey watched as the avatar walked through the flap. "You do realize that it's a bad idea for him to see Jeong-Jeong, right?" Chey asked.

"I'm not sure." Katara replied. "I mean, he being the Avatar must give him an exception. There isn't a particular order of mastering the elements."

"No." Katara and Chey looked at Tyrn. "This isn't going to work. I'll talk to Jeong-Jeong after Aang is done, if he can't convince him. And I don't think that he will."

The minutes passed as the three of them waited. Tyrn almost nodded off before she jerked her head up as the flap moved. She noted Aang's depressed face as he sat down.

"Well? Will he teach you?" Katara asked.

Aang shook his head. "Nope. We should leave early. Goodnight." He laid down and turned onto his side, away from the others.

Tyrn stretched her limbs and stood up. "I'll be right back."

Walking along the path, Tyrn stopped in front of the fire master's hut. Taking in a breath, she moved the flap and walked inside. She saw Jeong-Jeong's meditating figure on the floor, still surrounded by the circle of candles.

"Master Jeong-Jeong, sir? May I speak with you?" Tyrn asked quietly.

He was silent. "What are you doing here?"

She went to sit down. "My name is Tyrn. I'm an airbender, just like Aang."

Jeong-Jeong looked at her with a questioning look. "The Avatar is the last airbender. The others were killed a long time ago."

Tyrn nodded. "It's a little complicated to explain, we had just found out a few weeks ago that I could bend air."

Jeong-Jeong nodded. "Why are you here?" he asked again.

"I'm here to try and convince you to take Aang under your wing and teach him firebending." Tyrn recoiled when the flames rose a bit.

"That boy is not ready! He does not know waterbending or earthbending; he isn't capable to handle fire!" Jeong-Jeong exclaimed angrily. "Water and earth cannot bend themselves! But fire…it spreads and destroys everything in its path!"

Tyrn nodded. "I agree. It's like taking care of a child. You need to have experience to take care of a living, breathing creature, and it's not the same as a toy doll." Jeong-Jeong looked at her surprised as she continued. "Fire is life. And I agree with you wholeheartedly that Aang isn't ready."

He raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you asking me to teach him? Only a fool asks for his own demise."

"I am not asking for you to put him on the path to being a master. I only ask that you show him the discipline and maturity it takes to learn how to firebend. Like the basics. He needs to know this in order for him to focus better on waterbending and earthbending training. Later on he will learn firebending. Aang needs this."

Jeong-Jeong was silent once again as Tyrn took in a breath. "You are wiser beyond your years, young one."

Tyrn grinned. "Funny, since that's the first time I've heard that compliment."

The old man gave her something in the form of a smile. "Very well. I will teach him."

She stood up and bowed. "Thank you for listening."

"No child…thank you for understanding." she heard him say as she walked out of the tent.

"Widen your stance." Tyrn shook her head at poor Aang as he stood on the rock. "Wider! Bend your knees." Aang did as he was told. "Good…concentrate." Jeong-Jeong walked away.

"Wait! What do I do now?" Aang asked.

"SILENCE! Talking is not concentrating! Look at your friends, are they talking?" He gestured to Tyrn and Katara who were practicing with a mini spar on the bank. "Even the oaf knows to concentrate on his work."

"Hey!" protested Sokka.

Aang raised an eyebrow. "So what am I concentrating on?"

Jeong-Jeong gestured to the sky. "See the sun. Feel its heat. It is a ball of fire that is in complete harmony with nature."

"So when do I get to make some fire?"

"SILENCE!" Katara and Sokka giggled a little as Jeong-Jeong reprimanded Aang. Tyrn just shook her head at what was sure to be his reddening cheeks.

A little while later Aang and Jeong-Jeong had gone up the distant mountain, and Katara and Tyrn were sitting on the bank. Katara was streaming a trail of water around her as Tyrn was writing in her scrap-journal.

"What'cha doing, Tyrn?" Katara asked curiously.

Tyrn looked at her. "Nothing much. I'm just writing some lyrics."

Katara smiled. "You're always doing something with music, aren't you?"

She shrugged. "It's a big part of my life. Kind of defines me, like your hair loopies."

The waterbender touched her hair loopies for a second. "Yup." She turned to the mountain. "I hope Aang's doing alright."

"He'll be fine. If I know Jeong-Jeong he's going to make him do breathing exercises for who knows how long." Tyrn said.

"That's correct." Both of them looked to see said fire master walk past them and into his hut.

Katara sighed. "That's a relief."

Tyrn raised an eyebrow. "You really do care about Aang, don't you?" She smiled at Katara's reddening face. "I knew it!"

The waterbender desperately tried to shush a smirking Tyrn. "Don't sound it!"

"But it's true, right? You have a crush on Aang?" Tyrn whispered, but her heart sank as she heard Katara's next words.

"Well… I've been noticing him more lately." Katara looked down and played with the sand. "It's just…it's kind of awkward…you know, age difference."

Tyrn sighed. "What are one or two years? Look," Katara returned her gaze to Tyrn, "I'm pretty sure that Aang wouldn't be unhappy if you two started dating." I would be a little, but that doesn't matter. "Why don't you just try it?"

Katara was silent for a minute. "I don't know…"

"Ugh, he likes you!" Tyrn slapped her forehead in annoyance. "A lot!"

Katara was shocked. "No he doesn't…does he?"

Tyrn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, why do you think he was all weird when we were at the fortuneteller place?" Katara's eyes still questioned her. "I saw what I saw. But don't say anything. He's still trying to make his move. Just wait until he does."

"You sure about this?" Katara asked her again, still unsure.

She did a dramatic gesture above her heart. "Cross my heart." She clapped her hands. "Aw, this is just too cute!"

Katara sweatdropped at the seemingly happy airbender. "We're not even together yet."

"But you will be!" Tyrn smiled. She went to get up. "I'm going in to see Jeong-Jeong. Catch you later." Katara waved as she went inside the fire master's hut.

Tyrn looked up from her tea when the flap to the hut moved, letting in a frustrated Aang.

"What are you doing? Did I tell you to stop?" Jeong-Jeong snapped at him.

Aang sighed. "I've been breathing for hours."

"You want to stop breathing?" Tyrn snickered at Jeong-Jeong's hidden sense of humor.

"I want you to stop wasting my time! I already know how to squat and breathe and feel the sun. I want to learn how to shoot fire out of my fingertips!" Aang breathed heavily after his little rant.

Tyrn just sipped her tea quietly. "It is disrespectful to yell at your Sifu, Aang. Especially in front of others." she stated, and then glanced at him. Aang blinked, seeing her there for the first time.

"I had a student once. He was not interested in learning discipline. He was only interested in learning the power of fire, and how he could use it to destroy his enemies. With no self-control, there is no use in learning how to firebend. Fire's nature is to consume and destroy. Learn restraint, or risk destroying everything you love." The old man said tiredly, and poured himself some more tea.

Aang was quiet as he stood there for a second, and he soon left the tent. Tyrn cracked a smile as she looked at Jeong-Jeong. "Who knew you had a sense of humor?"

The fire master gave her a half-smile. "I may be a hardened and crass man, but dry sarcasm is good for a chuckle now and then." He gestured for them to go, and they both stood up and walked out of the tent.

Tyrn gave a small smile to a meditating Aang on the rock in front of them, and walked over to Katara. Jeong-Jeong observed Aang as he spoke. "I thought about what you said. I'll promise to be more patient. And Tyrn?" he turned to his friend. "I'm sorry about my rant earlier."

Tyrn shrugged. "No problem."

Jeong-Jeong nodded approvingly. "We are going to work with fire now." Both he and Tyrn sweatdropped when Aang leaped excitedly into the air.

"Oh yeah!" He blinked and quickly turned around. "I mean…let us begin." He tried not to glare at a giggling Tyrn.

Jeong-Jeong reached up and grabbed a falling leaf, and burned a small hole in the middle of it. He handed it to Aang. "Focus on this leaf. I want you to keep the flame from touching the edges for as long as you can." He ignored Aang's groan as he walked away.

"Master!" All of them turned to one of Jeong-Jeong's followers, who had come running up to them. "There's trouble!"

"Why? What's the matter?" Aang asked.

Jeong-Jeong ran away with the follower. "Concentrate on your leaf." He told Aang before leaving.

Aang looked annoyed. "This is the worst firebending training ever. All he does is leave me alone for hours to concentrate or breathe."

Katara and Tyrn walked over to him. "Believe me, there's a reason for his madness." Tyrn replied.

"But I'm ready to do so much more!" Aang was suddenly struck with an idea. Getting into his stance, he steadily breathed in and out. Tyrn's eyes widened when the leaf burst into flames, a small ember now hovering over Aang's hand. "I did it! I made fire!"

Katara looked concerned. "That's great Aang, but you should start slower." Tyrn and Katara gasped when the flame in Aang's hand flashed and grew, almost toppling him into the water.

Aang grinned at them. "Now that's firebending!" He sent a large flamethrower in the opposite direction.

"Stop it! Before you singe the wildlife or any of us!" Tyrn exclaimed.

The young avatar juggled the flame in his hands and tossed it around his back. "I wonder how that magician did it…"

Tyrn's eyes widened as the circle of flame exploded from Aang. "DUCK!" she yelled, pushing Katara to the floor. Tyrn tried to blow the embers away but wasn't fast enough.

"AHHHH!" Aang stopped his attempt and gasped at Tyrn, who was on the ground clutching her temple.

"Tyrn!" Katara and Aang yelled, getting over to her.

Tyrn pressed her hand to the side of her face in agony as she tried to keep in the sobs of pain from getting out. She distantly heard Sokka come over.

"What's going on?" Sokka yelled, kneeling down towards Tyrn. "What did you do?" He yelled angrily at Aang.

Aang was still shocked. "Ohmygosh, Tyrn, it was an accident! I mean, it was, Tyrn I'm so sor—" he was cut off as Sokka tackled him. Katara gasped as Tyrn opened one eye in shock.

"I told you we shouldn't be messing around with this! Look what you did! You almost burned my sister and you burned Tyrn!" Sokka screamed at Aang, who was overcome with shame. The enraged Sokka looked up to see Jeong-Jeong. "This is all your fault!"

Jeong-Jeong closed his eyes in frustration. "I know. You need to pack your things and leave immediately."

Aang tried to apologize. "Sokka, I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry!" But Sokka just walked away angrily. Aang looked up at his sifu, who just shook his head in disappointment. The distraught avatar glanced at Tyrn and Katara before running into the hut.

Katara tried to look at the wound. "Tyrn, move your hand away."

Tyrn hissed as she removed her hand, revealing two vertical burns on her temple, which were bleeding a little. Katara gasped as Jeong-Jeong silently watched. Tyrn looked at Katara. "Well? Am I a lookalike to Zuko's or not?"

Katara shook her head. "Your eye isn't damaged, but it's kind of close." She moved Tyrn's head to look at the burn better, which hurt a lot.

Tyrn panted, and then looked at Katara. "Katara, bend some water on your hand, and put it on the burn, please?"

Katara nodded and proceeded to do as she was told, placing the water over the nasty burn. Tyrn hissed once again. "That stings like crap!" she exclaimed in pain. She saw a dim glow come over the water, and Jeong-Jeong and Katara gasped when the waterbender moved her hand away, revealing just a scar where the wound was.

Jeong-Jeong was surprised, to say the least. "You have healing abilities." He looked at Katara, then at Tyrn. "And you apparently have the ability to swear." He raised an eyebrow.

Tyrn rolled her eyes, which hurt the side of her head a bit. "Swearing helps you endure pain. Pure fact."

Jeong-Jeong sat by Katara and Tyrn. "I wish I was blessed like you, Katara. Instead I bear this horrible curse."

"But you have things I will never know, you're a master!" Katara said.

"Water brings healing and life. But fire just brings destruction and pain." Jeong-Jeong said sadly. They all jumped when a flash of fire appeared down the river. "Go! You must leave!" he said hurriedly, and Katara ran towards Sokka and Appa, while Jeong-Jeong ran up river. Tyrn went towards the hut where Aang was.

She was quiet as she entered, and saw a depressed Aang sit behind the circle of candles.

Aang spoke softly. "Jeong-Jeong said I wasn't ready. I didn't listen." He sighed quietly. "I'm never going to firebend again."

Tyrn rolled her eyes. "That's irrational. You'll have to do it eventually." she stated, coming over to sit by him.

"No. Never again." was the response she got.

Tyrn sighed. "A bit dramatic much?" she smiled at the very small upturn of Aang's lips. "It's fine. Katara healed me."

Aang swiveled around to see her. "What? How?" he looked at the scar.

"I'll explain later. But Zhao and his soldiers are attacking, we have to help Jeong-Jeong." she said urgently.

Aang leaped up. "Then let's go!" They ran out to the clearing where Jeong-Jeong was, just in time to see him disappear in a ball of fire.

"It's a trick! He went into the forest! Find him!" barked Zhao. He then turned to Aang and Tyrn, who were glaring at him in their fighting positions.

He smirked and walked towards them. "Even if you were trained under my old master, Avatar, you and your little girlfriend are no match for me."

Aang and Tyrn spoke at the same time. "You were Jeong-Jeong's student?" "I'm not his girlfriend!" They looked at each other and blushed slightly.

"Yes I was, Avatar, until I got bored." He roared as he launched a series of blasts at Aang and Tyrn.

Both of them jumped and balanced on an air sphere. Aang looked behind them in amazement. "Whoa, wild shot!"

Zhao got pissed. "I'll show you wild!" He continued to pelt fire blast after fire ball at the duo, each of them narrowly dodging each one. Tyrn cringed when a stray ember grazed her newly healed burn.

Aang widened in an idea as he glanced at the wildfire behind them. "No self-control!" he exclaimed. He looked at Tyrn, who nodded and gestured towards the boats.

"Stand and fight you two!" Zhao yelled.

Aang smirked. "Oh, were we fighting? I thought you were just getting warmed up!"

Zhao snarled. "I was!" He kicked a wave of fire at them as they slowly maneuvered him to the boats.

Aang yawned. "Is that all you got? Man, they'll make anyone an admiral these days!" Tyrn stifled her laughter as Zhao got even more ticked, releasing a flaming ball at their heads.

Tyrn leaped onto the rooftop of the boat along with Aang, and smirked. "You know, his goatee and sideburns make him almost look like a monkey, don't you think?" she nudged Aang.

Aang smirked back. "What do you mean, almost? It's spot on!" They roared with laughter as they jumped to the next boat, dodging Zhao's infuriated shots at them.

Aang walked along the edge of the boat as Zhao turned to them. "You know, I don't know WHY but I thought you would be better than Zuko!" he said, and Tyrn burst out laughing at his face when he finished his. She shrieked when a wall of fire was shot in front of her, but sighed in relief when she saw Aang flat against the floor.

She grabbed him from underneath the flames and they both jumped onto the next boat. They ran away from every flame as they ran to the tip of the boat.

They stopped however when Zhao leaped down in front of them. "Nowhere to run now!" he said, and threw a blast at them. They quickly leaped over his head and stood behind him.

"You've lost this battle." Aang stated with a grin. They leaped again when Zhao whirled around and kicked an arc at them.

"What the heck are you talking about?" Zhao said angrily. "You two haven't made a single shot!"

Tyrn shook her head. "Yeah…but you have." she gestured to the burning boats behind them, Zhao's eyes widening in disbelief.

Aang took Tyrn's hand and prepared to jump. "Jeong-Jeong said you had no restraint." he stated, and the two airbenders leaped high into the air, landing on Appa's back as he flew away from the rage from Zhao's burning boats.

"Wait, where's Jeong-Jeong?" Aang asked as they flew above the camp.

Sokka shook his head. "He disappeared. They all did." he said, gesturing to the deserted camp below.

Katara gasped. "Aang, you're burned." Aang glanced down at the small burn on his arm as Katara got closer to him. "Let me help you with that."

Tyrn smiled as Katara bended the water around her hand and placed it on the burn, effectively healing it.

Aang gave her a hug. "That's so awesome! When did you learn to do that?"

Katara shrugged. "I guess I always knew." Tyrn was quick to note the slight blushes on their cheeks when they pulled away.

Sokka sighed exasperatedly. "Oh, so thanks for all of the first aid over the years! You know, like the time I got two fish hooks stuck in my thumb!" he held out his hand to show two small holes in his thumb.

"Two?" Aang asked questioningly.

Katara smirked. "He tried to get the first one out with a second one."

Tyrn shook her head. "Ok, even for you Sokka, that isn't the brightest idea." She settled into her spot as Sokka ranted on about previous injuries (and the amount of situations didn't surprise her) as she grinned over the love problem Katara and Aang were facing. Operation Best Friend Matchmaker is a go! She thought with a smile, and tried to ignore the pain in her chest as they flew off.

OMG! Apparently Katara has some feelings for Aang as well...hmmmmmmmm. I don't know how Tyrn can stand it. Then again she is a spinoff of me so...I still don't know.

I'll *hopefully* get the next chapter up sooner, and it will be the Waterbending Master episode! In the meantime, some reviews can help me speed the process along!

Until then, ciao!