(A/N: For some reason I have had no time to reply to anyones reviews for the last few chapters and for that I aplogize, however this week is pretty slow with school and work, and next week is a full week off of school! yay! But here's the chapter, so let's watch them fire bend...)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Don't Hold Back

Yawning I pulled myself from my tent just as Toph did the same. I smirked and walked towards her.

"I'm training the boys, you don't have to get up yet you know."

She chuckled and followed me to a more remote place to fire bend.

"Are you kidding? I wanna see Mr. Princey Pants and Twinkle Toes get their butts whooped."

Of course that was the reason she was coming. I found I quite liked Toph, she had this nonchalant attitude about everything and it reminded me of myself. There was a time to care and a time not too, and she seemed to be one of the only people in our little group that got that. Perhaps being blind gave her an edge that many were too stubborn to see.

I soaked in the sun, feeling its energy fill me up. I had eaten a few berries for breakfast and hoped it would be enough to tie me over for now.

"Are. We. Late." Zuko and Aang panted out together.

Toph and I laughed at them before she took a seat on the sidelines and I walked towards them. I could feel the hesitance from Aang, and decided now was the perfect time for him to let out everything he feared about fire bending.

"Before we begin today's training, you both need to come to terms with what you fear about bending the element of fire."

Aang's eyes dropped and Zuko looked like he was baffled. I knew both of them had fears and questions, even if they denied it.

"Aang, what happened when you were bending and hurt Katara?"

It was obvious Aang had no desire to tell me every detail of what happened, but it was necessary if he wanted to move on and heal. He told me how he had tried to learn fire bending before earth bending. How Jeong Jeong had taught him to take his time, and was trying to teach him control. Aang said he hated it, he felt like Master J was holding him back, and when he tried to take it further, he burnt Katara's hands.

"Do you see any positives in that situation?" I asked as Toph took a seat on the ground, looking bored, even though I knew she was just as interested in Aang's fear as I was.

"How can there be any positives?" The young avatar asked. "I hurt her…"

"You did," Katara's voice rang out, and I noticed that her Sokka and Suki had joined us. I assumed they wished their father a safe journey. "I won't deny that your first fire bending attempt hurt me, but it also helped me learn that I could heal through water bending."

Katara smiled at him, and I smirked. She really had a thing for the monk.

"See Aang, you helped Katara. You also have a good understanding now, of why you must always be in control of fire, and never the other way around. Once you let fire begin to control you, there is no escape. I have no doubt you'll be one heck of a student."

He laughed and I could feel the tension in the air leave. Aang had taken the first step in his learning process.

"Now for you," I stated turning to Zuko who glared at me. "What is it that you fear?"

"I fear nothing about bending," Zuko growled out, obviously upset that I had called him out again. "I've been bending fire my entire life." His voice quieted.

"Just because you've been bending the element for a long time, does not mean that you don't fear it," I replied. "For instance, I bet you feel lame, useless, and outshone by your sister right? That's why your fire bending was so much stronger when I met you."

His eyes widened, he had no idea that I had noticed the change in the power he possessed.

"You will never be Azula, Zuko," I told him looking him straight in the eye. "And if you want to be like her, I'm afraid we will have to discontinue this training right here and now. Azula uses anger and hatred to fuel her bending, only the most vicious of benders can use lightening, and it takes a great deal of emotional control to use it the way she does. Your sister, she has things she needs to deal with before she will ever be the bender of your potential. Sure your bending may have weakened, but that's because you were used to using anger to help you, now you must find a new emotion, something stronger than hatred, to help you bend fire."

"Wow Aang, I think someone just beat you out in the wise books," Sokka muttered, earning himself a smack by his girlfriend. "What? What did I say?"

"So student Aang, student Zuko, do you think you can both let go of your fears, and learn the true way that fire is supposed to be used?"

"I'm ready," Aang grinned.

"Let's do it!"

I was happy that they were so enthusiastic. I was scared that having them open up would make the both of them angry, and that they would leave. I needed to get in as much training as I could before the arrival of that blasted comet.

"Both of you summon fire to your right hand," I commanded.

They did as told, and as expected Zuko's flame was quite a bit stronger than Aang's mere spark.

"When you visited the Sun Warriors and met the Masters, do you remember anything Ran and Shao taught you?"

They both scratched the back of the heads and I wanted to smack my forehead. Ugh, I knew this was going to be tough, but I didn't think it would be like this.

"Perhaps they need a demonstration?" Suki stated, and I somehow got the feeling, they all wanted to see my level of skill. I guess, if it motivated Aang and Zuko, that it couldn't hurt right?

I cracked my knuckles and placed my feet apart, one behind the other, and took a deep breath, summoning my inner fire and smirked. I wonder how they would take this demonstration?

In a lightening quick movement I brought my feet together and in the same time slowly brought my arms around creating a powerful ring of fire. I jumped into the air gracefully swinging my legs as yet another streak of orange coated my vision. I focused on my movements but that didn't stop me from hearing everyone on the sidelines.

"Is she dancing?" Toph asked, obviously confused as to what she could 'see'.

"It's, it's beautiful," Katara and Suki said at the same time.

I felt so happy to be able to bend like this. The last time, during the fight in Ba Sing Se, my fire bending had been little to none, and was more defensive than anything, but this, this was what made me happy that my father was a fire bender.

"Who knew anyone could make fire bending look that…nice?" Sokka questioned.

"Wow," Aang and Zuko said, and I figured that my demonstration had gone on long enough.

I crossed my arms across my chest and smirked. "Think you can keep up boys?"

Needless to say, they definitely wanted too. I taught them some basic fire bending sets, and even though Zuko complained he still did them. Aang seemed to be loosening up as well, and by the time a couple of hours had flown by, Aang had learned all the basic sets, and Zuko had become close to mastering them.

"Now…" I stated trying not to let my breathing sound heavy. I was nowhere near fully recovered, but I only had so much time left to waste. "We're going to have a little, well, in a way I guess an Agni Kai."

Zuko's eyes widened and Aang raised an eyebrow. I saw Zuko open his mouth, but a small earth bender beat him to it.

"I don't think so missy! I can feel your heart working overtime! I didn't lie when I said that I really wanted to watch you kick their butts, but you're not feeling good."

Thanks for selling me out pal.

"Ana, if this is too much for you we can wait," Zuko stated and it was my turn to growl.

"We really can't wait Zuko. The comet will be here soon, and I've barely begun to teach Aang what he needs to know…"

They all looked at me with anger, and I knew that if I decided to be a part of this battle that I would more than likely have six people riding me all day.

'Well Grandpa, I guess it's my turn to practice something after all'

"Okay I give," I replied raising my hands. They all smiled as though they had won, but were surprised when I made no movement. "We are still going to have a small fire duel…only thing is, Aang and Zuko will be using the fire, and they will be trying to hit me with it."

"Ana we just sai-"

"Calm down Sparky," his eyes widened at my term of endearment that I hadn't used in a long time. "You will both have to try and hit me once with your flame, you're only allowed to use fire bending, and I will not bend at all."

"But how are you going to-" Aang started as I shrugged.

"Bending isn't the only strategy in battle Aang, you have to be able to read into your opponents movements, sense what they are about to do and block," I replied.

"Who taught you this?" Sokka asked seemingly interested.

"My grandfather."

I took a stance and told them to come at me, like I was the Fire Lord. Aang seemed to struggle the most, which I found surprising since Zuko was fighting me as well. Their fire seemed to be soft compared to normal and I was able to easily dodge all of their ministrations.

"You're holding back on me," I muttered trying to egg them on. I few more streams of orange tried to whip me, lashing out like tongues and I rolled my eyes. "If you aren't willing to attack me, then there is no hope in defeating the Fire Lord."

A saw fire flash through both their eyes, and knew that this battle was about to go up a notch in intensity.

"Ooh she's good," Toph muttered, as I became focused on the way my students were fighting.

They were both skilled, having had good teachers, whether it was for just fire bending, or water air and earth, they attacked with ferocity, but it was still controlled. I was impressed that was for sure, and my defensive skill was certainly getting a workout as well. I wish I could've continued the battle but unfortunately my stamina was not near what it was a few months ago.

I held out my hand signalling them to stop. "Alright I think we accomplished what we needed to for today. Great job you two."

They gave me a small bow and I giggled, it felt weird being a teacher.

"Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving," Sokka stated as he stretched his arms above his head.

I had to agree, the few berries I managed to eat this morning, sure weren't doing the trick.

"I'll go get us some water from the stream," Aang stated taking off.

"I'll go help him," Zuko told us sending me a soft smile.

No sooner had Zuko and Aang left that Katara left as well, saying she would give them a hand with her water bending. I scoffed, I knew the exact reason she wanted to go to the stream.

"Sweetness can get kind of annoying huh?" Toph stated beside me as I laughed.

"Sometimes, but then again, I guess we all can."

v-v

Sokka and Suki jumped apart like there was a fire between them as Toph and I climbed the hill. I didn't know their history very well, but you could see the love in his eyes every time he looked at her.

"So, what are we having to go with this fish?" I asked starting the fire for them. "A leaf soup?"

"At least the fish will be a change," Sokka mumbled. "So Ana, your grandfather was from the Fire Nation?"

"Yup. I've been back here twice since I last saw him, and yet I haven't had time for a visit. I've been preoccupied," I told him. "Too bad really, I could use a good Pai Sho partner…"

"Wow Ana, he taught you to play that old person game?" Sokka howled and Toph and Suki giggled.

"First off it's not an old person game, you have to have a pretty good amount of patience and skill to play it. And second, I'm pretty damn good at that so called old person game."

"Okay calm down, I just never pegged you for that kind of type."

"Sokka's right Ana, you're more like the keep to myself, ignore everything type," Suki stated and my jaw dropped. Was that really how I come across to people?

"Oh trust me you two, even if she's blank on the outside, you should see what her heart does around Z-"

"Okay guys!" I stated throwing my hand over Toph's mouth. "How about we switch this topic to something else, I find myself boring."

"Oh Fire Eyes, you're anything but boring," Toph smiled at me.

Fire eyes eh? I think I got the nicest nickname out of everyone. Although it wasn't like she even knew what my eyes looked like. "Thanks Toph."

"The water is almost boiling, shouldn't they be back with the fish by now?"

Suki was right, they had been gone quite a long time. That's when we heard a sound that chilled me to my bone.

Katara's deafening scream.

(A/N: Whaaaat? She's screaming? I wonder whats going on. I know this is one of my shorter chapters guys, but it was already written and fits in nicely with the rest of the plot even if it is kind of a filler chapter. Let me know what you think ;) )