Chapter Fourteen

Finding Tranquility

Hands, like secrets, are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives, your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
--Anberlin (Dismantle Repair)

Aang's normally peaceful light grey eyes were frantic with fear. "Get out of here! Now!" He urged his companions, readying the already-worn glider which was given to him by the Mechanist. Moments ago, he and the others were lounging quite comfortably in the inner walls of the Western Air Temple. Haru had needled Teo, Qing—a Kyoshi warrior whom Suki insisted should come with them—and Duke to a game of Hide-and-go-Seek while the two Water siblings stayed by Toph's side, watching over the blind earthbender with obvious worry. Aang couldn't blame Teo and the others for having a bit of fun; it was better, at least, then forever worrying about the recent events that had transpired. Still, he wished they had been a bit more sensible and had at least assigned someone to watch for any intruders. They had not anticipated an attack so soon. And from the Combustion Man at that.

"Please, Aang," The words came from Katara's lips. Aang deliberately ignored her. "Be careful."

"Sokka, I need you to get them away from here—as far as you can," Aang commanded, his voice much too tired which was quite unnatural, especially coming from a boy who looked so young. Then again, he was already a hundred and twelve years old. Maybe it was time he acted his age. "Look after them for me. If I find that something bad has happened to them while I'm away, you're going to be in a lot of trouble."

"I'm shaking in my boots," Sokka replied dryly. His gaze softened as he added in a quieter tone, "Take care of yourself. Are you sure—?"

"He's going to be trailing after us, even if we escape now," Aang reasoned. "It's time I finish my fight with him for good. He is specifically after me, after all. Besides…it's time I see for myself if any of my lessons with—" he gulped and closed his eyes, "—Azula were actually worth it."

His dark-skinned friend and companion gave a short nod and, with a twitch of the reigns, spoke wearily, "Yip, yip."

Aang did not even bother to watch them rise into the air. The feel of wind, forceful against his back, signaled that his friends had departed. He hoped they would be safe.

"Have I kept you waiting?" He inquired, raising an eyebrow at the burly man.

Combustion Man grunted in answer. "As long as it makes the job easier for me, I see no reason to stop your friends from running away."

"I thank you," Aang bowed and dodged the beam of destruction Combustion Man had sent his way. "It makes it easier for me to destroy you too!" His battle cry was not only meant to be loud for it shook the temple ruins as well, sending debris falling downwards.

Curling his hands into fists, he brought them forward just in time to meet solid rock. By that time, however, his opponent had already found cover behind a pillar of stone, underneath a more stable part of temple. No harm came to the seasoned assassin.

Aang, aware that he was fighting a veteran, knew that he could not afford to play tricks as he usually would. An optimistic part of him insisted on this; if he actually focused on his fighting, he would be more experienced in the future. He had to be; it was his destiny to face down the Fire Lord in the end, wasn't it?

He let himself be burrowed neatly into the ground, hidden from his enemy's sight. Without light to guide him, he relied on his earthbender senses, listening to the assassin's heavy steps. Pinpointing the man's location was easy enough…but the man moved so quickly for all that he appeared big and muscled to the bone. Aang would have to predict his next movements to be able to damage the other man.

For a moment, he closed his eyes and let his mind be void of any thought or emotion. It was a struggle; Katara's harsh words still rang clearly in his mind, words that were spoken the day before when the sun was setting.

"Please understand, Aang. I love you…I really do. Just not in the way you think. I wish things could have been different…but my feelings for you are only as strong as that of familial kinship. I cannot force my heart to change for you. I'm sorry. I'm sure some other lucky girl will catch your heart someday and make it soar to places you've never been to…but I'm afraid she won't be me."

But I wanted that girl to be you. Aang thought furiously, fighting back the tears. He pushed the sadness away, and the anger that usually succeeded. His chest constricted in pain. He wanted nothing more but to curl inside the Earth's encasing; he wanted to take comfort in the silence of seclusion.

No.

Aang flung the feelings aside, and concentrated on Combustion Man's movements once more, his eyes filled with fresh determination. He would not falter now.

Combustion Man looked around wearily, his two normal eyes flickering from one spot to another, trying to anticipate the boy's next move. He breathed in and out, making as little noise as possible. It was a mistake to let the boy out of his sight. Once he had locked his eyes on the twerp, he would make sure that he would not lose him from his line of vision again.

Outrage flowed through his veins as rubble slammed against his chin. His reflexes took over as he dodged the coming onslaught of fireballs which the boy had thrown at his face. The Avatar's hands reached for his shirt, probably to try and pull the man underground, but Combustion Man had already seen through his trick and prepared to open his third eye which rested on top of his forehead. Long ago, he remembered having to shear off his long black mane because of his peculiar talent. He had always been vain about his looks…but his insistence at keeping his hair long had cost him an arm and a leg, as well as his platoon of soldiers.

The Avatar's reflexes were as sharp as his; the beam of fire crashed against the stone floor, away from the boy's golden brown skin. Combustion Man roared in fury and followed after the boy, not at all surprised by the boy's light and flighty movements. He was dealing with a true-born airbender alright. More beams of fire erupted from his third eye. He couldn't help that; when he was righteously pissed, his third eye would open on its own, sending destruction in its wake. The level-headed part of him tried to stopper the anger inside his heart but it refused. He had been chasing this boy for far too long. There were other, larger prey out there; sooner or later, some noble would seek him yet again.

His eagerness to finish this and the thought of new hunt brought him to his senses and renewed his already dwindling energy. Forcing himself to become calmer, he dodged another blast of fire from the boy and punched the slab of stone which the Avatar had also sent his way. Stop that. He told his third eye. I'm going to be wasting my energy if you keep doing that with no proper target to look at.

He let his mind whirr with plans while his body continued to avoid the Avatar's assaults. They slid out of his mind when he saw his chance and grabbed the boy's tunic. The foolish lad had thought to get closer to him to land a few solid blows, forgetting the fact that his opponent was larger than him and would not easily bow down to such physical attacks. He dragged the boy against a stone pillar—the temple seemed to have plenty of them—and prepared to open his third eye. He was so thrilled with his victory that he did not notice another presence hiding among the shadows. He would lose his prey again.

Zuko watched the two fight, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise. Not much information had been disclosed to him about the Avatar's recent activities; even the fact that the boy had learned firebending had escaped his notice. He really was running behind with all the latest news. He had been too busy putting all of his attention on Mai.

A wave of resentment and guilt flooded over him, making him curse softly under his breath. The pain did not last though; he was too busy running forward—hands ready to firebend—once he saw the Avatar within the Combustion Man's grasp. He let his instinct guide him as he struck the man's torso. His foot slammed the bulking figure between the shoulder blades before tucking in as he crouched. His other foot moved, following a wide arc underneath the man's legs, sweeping him off the floor. Hands flew forward, sending balls of fire to finish the job. He wasn't expecting the man to roll the last second, escaping the flames' fiery wrath.

"Have you come here to watch him burn, Your Highness?" Combustion Man gasped, savoring the look of displeasure on the young prince's face. "An odd way to do that, don't you think? What with you interfering and whatnot?"

"No; I've come here to null our contract." Zuko growled. "Consider it voided."

Combustion Man barked with laughter, "You think me incapable of finishing my job, Your Highness? Do you wish to destroy him yourself?" Cold somber eyes stared back at Zuko, sending a shiver crawling through his spine. "You might not know this but I finish the job that is given to me. No matter the cost."

"And I'm telling you that you don't have to," Zuko lashed, his arms gesturing wildly. "I no longer wish to see him dead!"

"Too bad," Combustion Man snarled. "You should have thought of that before you hired me to kill him."

Zuko couldn't help it; his eyes flickered at Aang's direction, just in time to see the boy's face contort in disgust. Something inside him tightened in sorrow.

"Hello. Zuko here…but I guess you probably already know me…sort of. Uh…so! The thing is…I have a lot of firebending experience and I'm considered to be pretty good at it. Well you've seen me, you know? When I was attacking you? Uh…yeah. I guess I should apologize for that. But anyway, I'm good now. I mean I thought I was good before but now I realize I was bad…but anyway, I think it's time I joined your group and taught the Avatar firebending."

His carefully thought-of speech—which he knew was really pathetic despite whatever he did to try and fix it—crumbled into dust as he stared at those eyes filled with distress. He sighed. Well, no one ever told him convincing the Avatar and his gang that he was good was going to be easy. I still wish it didn't have to be so hard. He thought wistfully.

"Look out!" That jolted him out of his thoughts as strong arms pushed him to the ground. He felt heat pass by, its strong and sharp power teasing him with hints of excruciating pain if he ever got too near. He panted, his lungs clawing for more air.

He should have known better; to let his mind wander now—it was unheard of!

He roared and lunged for the Combustion Man, his eyebrows now knitted with spiteful intent. His fist shot through empty air. His arm felt heavy from the metallic hand that clung to it. His body jerked and he flew across what once looked like a fountain. Twisting himself, he curled into a tight ball and brought himself out once he was a few hand-spans from the ground. Black worn-out boots smacked against the dirt, his arms spread to his sides to maintain his balance. Putting his right hand forward—his other had moved to his side, ready to strike—he dropped into a crouch, his eyes still trained at Combustion Man.

At this time, Aang had surged forward, putting a miniature cyclone along the Combustion Man's path. Relentless, he disappeared underneath the floor to appear behind the man who had jumped out of the way. His glider, ever faithful, flew from his hands to land a solid thump against the man's neck.

"Hit his forehead!" Zuko found himself shouting. "It's his weakness."

Aang did as he was told, finding time to even wallop the man in the belly before retreating behind a shield of stone. Combustion Man yelped and clutched his head as he struggled to focus on his surroundings. His stomach ached from the beating but his hands were looking for steady ground, forcing him to ignore the throbbing flesh.

Zuko took this opportunity to send a wave of fire against the man, driving him backwards. An idea presented itself to him. His eyebrows rose, and for a moment he was washed with a sense of queasiness at the thought of killing this man. He realized that this was his only chance; that once the man had recovered, he would have to fight and use even more of his strength to bring the man in such a powerless position again. It would have to do.

Combustion Man felt heat flicker near him as if taunting him, driving him back. He knew the princeling's intention of course. He was aware that his back was against a precipice, and that he would fall any second now. He felt his heart beat loudly against his chest. Was this the end? Well it certainly felt like it.

His left foot stepped back.

His right could not stand the heat-wave of flames.

His left was the next to be cowered.

His right stumbled.

His left soon followed.

No!

His third eye opened.

Aang watched as Zuko drove the Combustion Man back, his arms trembling, not from the lack of energy, but from the fear of what would happen next. He had never truly thought of taking another man's life until now. The invasion…it had felt like a long time ago to him. Did he kill a man whilst he forced his way to the palace? He couldn't remember; he was in such a hurry then.

But the Combustion Man's evil. The rational part of his mind reasoned. He deserves to be killed.

The crueler part had said, If you cannot even think of killing him, do you think you can ever succeed in killing the Fire Lord?

He felt completely and utterly lonely. Tears threatened to fall from his face. I'm such a failure. He looked away when Combustion Man was only a couple of inches from falling off the abyss. But there is still no point in these deaths. No matter how hard he had been to us…it would still be all so…pointless.

The sound of an explosion made his head snap just in time to see Zuko fly against a stone column. He hesitated and ran towards the prince, checking to see if there were any fatal injuries. Relieved that there were none visible, he turned back to survey the damage before him. The Combustion Man was dead; that much was evident from the metallic arm that rested at the edge of the precipice. Aang closed his eyes wearily. It was for the best. The Combustion Man was dead and Zuko would not be responsible for it.

And at least he died on his own terms. Aang thought sadly. At least he died fighting.

Zuko stirred to the smell of spices and mushrooms wafting around the place and calling for him to wake up. He blinked groggily and grunted as he felt his ribs flare with searing pain. Hands helped him to a sitting position. A bowl was shoved into his direction. He looked up to meet Aang's placid grey eyes. "Listen…I—"

"Don't speak for now," Aang murmured and sat besides him. "You're hurt and I don't know how to help you much. I never did get a chance to learn healing from…from Katara." He didn't seem at all too happy about saying the waterbender's name. Zuko wondered what had happened.

He kept his mouth shut and only allowed it to open to slurp down the contents of the bowl. He couldn't stand the silence. He couldn't afford to be in the Avatar's bad graces either.

"Zuko, I think…" Aang gulped and let out a heavy sigh. "I think you mean well. Or maybe you're not and I'm just falling for another trick again. The thing is—"

"But I do mean well!" Zuko protested weakly and coughed. "I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't be interrupting you."

Shoulders drooped as Aang took a deep breath. "I think there's a lot more that I don't know about. Azula had been…kind as a teacher. She was harsh…but she was not cruel. I honestly thought she had changed."

"But you're Azula's friend first. Why are you helping us, Mai?"

"Because she has good intentions despite the means in which she undertakes things. She locked you up for a reason. She knew Iroh was planning his escape…and that unless she brought you together, you would have gone your separate ways without meeting each other. She had also meant to give you vital information…but time's running out. I'm letting you guys go."

"So what happens next? Where do we go from here?"

"I have contacts from the northern mountains…"

Zuko swept the images away; the memory of their break-up still fresh in his mind. "I think she has," he spoke slowly and found his voice raspy. He accepted the water pouch with a quick thank you. "She locked Uncle and me for a reason; she wanted us to meet with each other and exchange information before going our separate ways. That's my sister alright. She's always wanted everything all neat and proper-like. She probably did what she did to you guys because she thought it was the best course of action."

"But I still don't see why she had to tell the entire palace about our invasion plans," Aang growled. "I mean…" The young Airbender waved his arms as if trying to say something without words.

"The invasion plans?" Zuko snorted. "Everyone knew about them. Do you really think my fa—the Fire Lord would let such a moment of weakness escape his attention? Even though he thought you were really dead, he would still have anticipated an invasion from the Earth and Water armies, regardless of their smallish size."

"Hey! We still took out a lot of your forces," Aang whined.

"And that's only because more than half of our army was stationed elsewhere, preparing to raid the few villages that have yet to be under the Fire Nation banner." The prince reminded him. "I think…if you did meet up with the Fire Lord, he would have been ready for you. He's not only a master at firebending…he's also sharp with his sword."

"I would have…?"

"He would have probably beaten you. Your only chance at winning would have been if you could undergo the Avatar State again. And if I remember correctly, the last time you tried to do that…"

"I lost control…and Azula's lightning sealed it off me."

Zuko nodded and went back to lying on his back. The movement caused another stab of pain through his torso but he ignored it. "Still think she's evil?"

"What about Toph, huh? Why do you think she hurt her like that if she…" Aang shuddered and turned away, shaking his head as he busied his hands with cleaning up their eating utensils.

"If she what?" Zuko asked curiously.

"I don't know if you know this or if I should even be telling you anything but uh…" Aang stopped what he was doing and sat with a jerk, his attention on his twiddling thumbs. "She's in a relationship with Toph. Or she was anyway…until the Day of the Black Sun happened."

Zuko looked at his companion sharply. "What?! Her? Show compassion? At all?"

"Hey, you were the one who was defending her a moment ago," Aang reminded him, his face twisted in a pout.

"And…isn't Toph—I don't know. That blind earthbender that's always with you guys? Why would my sister be interested in females anyway?"

"Go ask her. She's your sibling," the Airbender rolled his eyes and met Zuko's gaze.

For a moment the two simply stared at each other, their faces blank of emotion. Zuko suddenly scrambled to his feet and slapped his face. "Oh no! I forgot Ji."

"Ji?" Aang called out as he watched Zuko's diminishing figure.

"My sister's crowlion. Aah!" A strangled cry called out in the distance. The prince had forgotten about his injuries and had miscalculated. His face was now enjoying the luxury of mingling with dirt.

Aang scratched his head. "Oh poo."

Dawn had been a pleasant spectacle for the Avatar who was perched on top of a flattened rock, unable to sleep much the night before. He and the firebending prince had discussed much during that time, ending with a makeshift plan to go to the old ruins in the north before heading further to the west to search for Sokka and the others. Aang had learned of Zuko's penchant for learning maps and whatnot as well as his vast knowledge of the outlying villages that was part of his father's kingdom. It was he who suggested a remote village called Bai Jing shielded by a cluster of mountains as their first choice of destination. This village was one of the few neutral villages left, untouched because of its treacherous weather and its harsh roads. Few even dared to travel to that village.

But before Zuko would even let Aang go chasing after his dear friends, the firebender insisted that they go to the ruins up north. He would not tell the Avatar why, his answer sounding rather vague; that the Sun Warriors' ancient ruins might prove useful to the Avatar's firebending studies.

Zuko, it seemed, was also a light-sleeper and had awakened to the sound of a meal being prepared. He promptly took over, giving Aang time to practice his stances. The boy may have already learned some of the arts but he was still far from being a master of the four elements. The training would do him good.

After breakfast, the two flew to the north on Ji's back. Some equipment had to be left behind because the crowlion could only carry so much, despite the fact that it was almost as large as that a buffalo deer.

The journey itself was a short peaceful one and had given Aang a chance to recover some of the sleep he had lost. By the time they had arrived to the ruins, Aang was brimming with energy and alert. He was also much more inclined to talk.

Together, they made their way to the side of the island where rock-strewn mountains greeted them forlornly; its dangerous paths gave an air of caution to the two travelers. At that time, the Avatar had managed to pester out some tidbits of Zuko's personal life, from what delicacy made his stomach yearn with longing to the inexorable exile which led to his chasing after the Avatar.

"It would have happened sooner or later," Zuko admitted bitterly. "His beliefs…just never agreed with mine. I could only hold my tongue for so long."

"Must be hard to live with such a family," Aang replied, surveying the mountains with weary eyes. "You never did tell me what we're supposed to do here."

They began their steady climb towards the top with Zuko leading the way. Once they had reached the summit, Zuko had to nudge Aang towards a long steep staircase. The boy had been gaping at the large dome floor with an enormous etching of a sun flickering. "What's this place called?"

"The Lair of the Masters," Zuko answered crisply and pushed Aang forward. "Come on, Aang; we don't have all day."

For the impatient Airbender, the trip upwards was barely but a blink of the eye. He found himself growing excited, even though he still did not know their purpose for going there. The breathe of fresh air had helped calm his nerves but he was still too jumpy for his own good. Taking a glimpse at what Zuko was doing, he noticed that the young man carried a flute with him. "Whatcha gonna do, Zuko? Play a little tune for us?" Aang teased and stood by Zuko's side to get a closer look of the flute.

"As a matter of fact, I am." Aang heard him speak somewhat smugly. The small smile which tugged on Zuko's lips indicated that he was going to do something he enjoyed. Flopping to the ground, Zuko squirmed into a lotus position and readied himself by breathing slowly. Like Aang, he too was tense although he tried not to show it.

The Avatar closed his eyes as the melody caressed his ears. It was a piece he had never heard of before; probably a Fire Nation song that had escaped his attention during the few visits he had made to the Fire Nation kingdom to visit his friend, Cuzon. The memory of the bold firebender sent a twinge to his heart but the jaunty tune instantly cheered his spirits, making him feel remarkably better.

That was when things began to feel strange for Aang. The earth shook underneath his feet like tidal waves rolling along the sea. It was slow but steady and reminded Aang of a time when he had almost slipped into the Avatar state. He remembered the way everything shook as if his anger became fuel to the world's own grumblings.

Two lithe forms slithered outside the caverns from his far left and right. It took him a moment to realize what they were. When he did, he could not help but gasp. The first to greet his sight was a deep vermillion dragon whose scales glinted bits of the sun, making him squint underneath the cover he had made for his eyes. The next one, a blue-gray dragon whose eyes were the color of melted gold, twirled from behind him which made him jump from where he stood.

They seemed to pause briefly, their gaze firm as they studied Aang. Then, without warning, they began to twist and coil, their wings flapping as they circled around the high platform. Their long bodies shifted here and there as if trying to tell the Avatar something. For a moment, the boy gaped, stunned by the display. His eyebrows shot out of his skull as memories began to resurface from deep within his mind. With bated breath, he waited for the two dragons to come to a standstill again. His muscles tensed for a moment, he let them move to a stance which felt familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. When the dragons moved again, he moved with them. His legs bent and progressed forward; he threw his arms in front, spread them apart, and brought them together again then downwards. Power shrieked inside him, rushing through his veins and leaving a trail of fire along its path. His body buzzed with the energy; he gritted his teeth to stop himself from screaming. It hurt, in a good way, and left him with an indescribable urge to jump to the sea to cool his burning body.

As he moved to the last stance, he felt the once overwhelming energy slowly ebb away. It made his arms and knees turn to jelly. He was glad that he had not asked Zuko to participate. Not only was the prince the one to provide the music for their dance—there was no other word to describe what Aang and the dragons had just done—but he was still exhausted from yesterday's battle. Aang also knew that Zuko suffered from an injury on his torso.

He felt an arm wrap around his waist and looked up to meet Zuko's eyes. "You're tired," the prince spoke; concern a foreign expression on his face. "What happened?"

The Avatar could only lift his arm and gesture at the two dragons who curled patiently around them. "Look," his voice was barely audible.

Fire flared in spiral streams around them, twisting as the dragons' bodies once did. It shaped into a cyclone the size of a small mountain and shimmered into a hundred colors in varying shades. Breath clung to Zuko's throat; he gulped and watched in awe, his heart beating loudly against his chest. "What is this?"

"You mean you didn't know?" Aang asked wryly.

It ended too soon but perhaps it was for the best. The Airbender was having trouble standing, and Zuko worried over Ji. Not only that, but the flames themselves were too warm for comfort; their shirts clung to their skins, wet with sweat.

Clapping could be heard from beneath them, startling the two boys from their dazed states. With the two dragons retreating back to their caves, the two could relax somewhat. Whatever business they had done with the dragons was finished.

"That was very well done for a bunch of youngsters," observed the big-bellied man who stood at the very front of the assembly. A huge infectious smile brightened his face. It reassured the Avatar and his companion; both were surprised by this gathering and quickly grew wary of their audience. The chief—for who else seemed to carry power like a huge cloak?—nodded to his people and ushered them to a clearing where the people seemed to live. Wide colorless tents scattered in a semi-circle greeted them, its drab sheets fluttering against the wind. A small bonfire was at the very middle, with a stick-thin man guarding it. By his side was the crowlion Ji, already enjoying its meal for the day.

"I thought you guys were extinct," Zuko spoke once he found his voice. He immediately regretted speaking out loud when he felt eyes from all around him stare with expressionless faces.

"We did not want others to hinder us of our sacred duty which is to guard the ancient flame and look after the remaining dragons," was all the explanation he got from the one of the chattier folk.

"How did you manage to live here?" This time, it was Aang's turn to inquire.

"We have plenty of game to hunt and our people have always been excellent fishermen. The land here may not be the best for crops but we've gotten accustomed to living without them. We do occasionally travel to the other villages to trade but that is only if there is a need for it. We like to lie low, you see."

Aang and Zuko were treated like respectable guests and fed until they could eat no more—Aang had to stay away from the meat and the fish, remembering the vows he had taken as a monk.

"So, my guests, what have learned after communing with our Firebending Masters, Ran and Shao?" The Sun Warrior Chief asked conversationally as he settled in front of the fire.

"Well," the two echoed and stared at each other, "you go first."

"No, I insist." Zuko said and smiled encouragingly.

"I'm not sure how to say this exactly but…I think they were trying to show us that fire isn't just about destruction."

"Yeah," Zuko agreed. "It was like life actually." His smile was now more uneasy than encouraging.

"That's because it is!" One of the Sun Warrior lads, a boy a mite bit younger than Zuko said. "Unlike you Fire Nation people, we believe that fire isn't just for burning. Fire is joy…emotion! It is what gives this Earth life.

"Did you know that among the four elements, fire is the most spectacular to watch? Earthbenders may inherit the Earth, and airbenders are free to roam it. Waterbenders may be the ones who shape it…but us firebenders? We're the ones who give it life. See? Not all of us are evil. I mean, honestly, you'd think they'd give us more justice or something. Treating us like barbarians—"

"You must excuse my youngest son," the chief said solemnly. "He is a bit excitable when strangers are about. It comes from…receiving a bit of unfair treatment with the other Nations come trading season."

"I am not," the boy huffed and lifted his nose up in the air. Another lad gave it a tweak and sat next to him. "And I was telling the truth too!"

"Yes, you are, brat." The other spoke good-humoredly. "I'm on the same boat as him when it comes to strangers though. I've been bad-mouthed too many times."

Aang looked shocked. "Oh! I'm truly sorry about that. I guess not a lot of people can see past the history. One question: when you said that the firebenders give the Earth life, what does that mean exactly?"

"Well, for one thing, the Sun way up there? It's responsible for all of the plants growing around here," the same lad explained. "There's also them molten rock down low. When a volcano erupts—especially them big sea ones—new islands form. Get my drift?"

The chief chuckled and shook his head, "My nephew here, Siyu, wishes to be a scholar when he grows up."

"And he'd be one too if the chief let him study elsewhere," Siyu grumbled.

"Hush now, Siyu." There was stern dripping all over the chief's words. "Now is not the time to talk of such things." To his guests, he said, "Fire is also energy; it is what keeps us going; it is what keeps us moving forward."

"Then perhaps this is the reason why my uncle sent me here." Zuko poked the flames with a dead branch and continued, "He thinks that I will lose my resolve once I join the Avatar's group. Maybe he was right. I never did get a chance to check."

"Aah…your uncle was it? Did he go by the name of Iroh, perhaps?" At the prince's nod, the chief let out a hearty laugh. "Then you should listen to what he says! He is a brilliant man, and the last one to face the dragons before you."

"So he wasn't lying when he said that he did face down the last of the dragons. He just didn't kill them as was custom at that time."

Aang waved a hand shyly, "I think I'm kinda lost here. But don't worry! I'll just pretend I know what's going on."

They talked of many things until the fire burned low and their bedrolls called to them. Siyu and Nianzu—his cousin and the chief's son—quickly became friends with them and were distressed to find that they were already leaving the next day. Aang, ever the diplomat, assured them that they would visit again once the war was over. Zuko was blunter and had asked the chief if he could spare any of their warriors to help overthrow the Fire Lord. The answer was just as blunt: no.

They also talked about the other uses of fire. Aang had discovered that there was such a thing as fire-healing. Siyu seemed to be an expert of this art and demonstrated by healing the prince's injury, his hands glowing brightly with the fire's power. Aang had wanted to learn but knew that the lessons would be time-consuming; they really couldn't stay any longer then they should.

Aang woke before the light of dawn graced the sea's serene tides. Zuko was already preparing their equipment. They saddled Ji and walked farther away from the settlement so as not to wake the others before taking flight. They had not gone far when they felt something tailing after them.

"Wait!" Twin voices chorused from behind. Siyu and Nianzu waved from a crude little air vessel, their faces clean of the paint all of the Sun Warriors wore as well as the clothes on their backs. Instead, they wore undyed sleeveless tunics and long grey trousers. "We're coming with you!"

The Avatar laughed, "What about your parents? Won't they be angry when they find out?"

His firebending companion sported a smirk. "I think they just did."

Beneath them, the Sun Warrior Chief dressed only in his loincloth for all to see shouted to the skies, "Come back here so I can give you two a proper spanking!"

A/N: First of all, if you think I should give more justice to Combustion Man by writing a one-shot on how he got his metal arm and leg, just tell me. I can't promise anything though. After all, Behind the Mask is still one of my top priorities.

Aang/Zuko? A possibility? Sorry, guys. I need my fix of het pairings too lest I go crazy.

This is by far, the longest chapter I've ever written. It would have been shorter too if it weren't for the fact that I had just watched "the Firebending Masters" again which led to the birth of the second half of this chapter.

I'm sorry I couldn't update sooner. I sort of got discouraged by the lack of reviews the first few days and quickly threw myself to another project. How was I to know that that project would consume me?

Just one last thing: guys, I really really appreciate reviews. I love them. I live for them. So will you please give me some? Come on, it's my birthday in a couple of days. Please? (Yes, I admit it! I'm a total sucker for these reviews! No matter how old I get, I will always love 'em!)

Oh, and I had to do a lot of fixing on Chapter Thirteen. Seems to me that there were a lot of minor errors there. (Like Ji's name.)