The next morning, Zuko already wanted to begin with Aang's training.

When he stepped out of his room and started to make his way to the great courtyard, he walked past me as I leaned against a wall of rock, a skeptical expression on my face.

Slightly confused, Zuko said: ''Uh, good morning?''

I answered: ''I will keep my eyes on you, man, so watch yourself!''

Zuko quickly turned away from me and continued walking.

''Good, respect me!'', I thought as I followed the prince with some distance.

When I arrived outside I saw Aang already getting ready for the training.

I sat down and leaned against a larger stone, got some fruits out of my bag and began to eat them while I watched Aang and the prince as they prepared for the training.

Zuko eventually said to Aang: ''Show me how much fire you can create already.''

Aang performed the standard fire bending movement but only a tiny flame, which died down almost immediately again, emerged from his hands.

Slightly disappointed, Aang said: ''Maybe you show me how you do it first so I can understand better.''

Zuko agreed and now tried to create a flame himself, but to everybody's surprise his attempt wasn't any better than Aang's. I really had to hold myself back to not laugh out loud, it really was quite a fiasco that was happening over there. And it didn't get any better over the course of the day.

Around noon, I walked over and joined the others who had watched the entire occurrence from a different position. The first thing I noticed after I had reached them was that Katara, just like me, also seemed to have a giggle over Zuko's miserable bending attempts.

She commented with a grin on her face: ''It would have saved us much trouble if he had been like this a few months ago.''

I replied: ''Yeah, especially that I wouldn't have had to freeze my fingers off in that snowstorm at the north pole.''

We laughed and continued to watch what I wouldn't exactly describe as training anymore.

Some time later, Aang and Zuko sank to the ground exhaustedly, Zuko panted:

''I just don't understand! Why doesn't it work anymore all of a sudden? I never had any problems like this before.''

I thought that now was the right time for me to get involved; after all, not only was I a very good practitioner of fire bending, but of course also more than familiar with the whole philosophy behind the creation of the flames.

I walked over to Aang and Zuko and said to the latter:

''Well, I might have an explanation for your ... ahem ... defective mastery of fire in recent times. You see, in the last months, and probably even years, you've always only been driven by your fury, your anger, your hatred. Negative emotions like this strengthen the fire bending. After being banished from the Fire Nation and making it your life goal to catch the Avatar, your entire mind was flooded with negative emotions. But now that you have refined yourself and have dispelled your negative emotions as far as possible you also destroyed your source of bending energy in the process.''

Aang asked: ''Does that mean he would have to get angry again to properly bend fire?''

Zuko immediately interjected: ''That may be true but I don't want that anymore! I no longer want to rely on such emotions but rather find a new and more practicable source.''

Toph joined us and said: ''Then I would advise you to go and learn from the original benders. I for example was taught by badger moles how to bend earth.''

''That may be a good idea but it unfortunately is impossible to fulfill. The first fire benders were dragons and they are as good as extinct.''

I immediately said: ''Not so fast, Zuko! I obviously have to explain quite a lot to you. Better sit down, it's a pretty interesting story.''

The prince did as told, I sat down as well and began to speak:

''Alright, the first thing you should know is that dragons weren't the first fire benders.''

Zuko asked astonishedly: ''What? But they have always said so in school!''

''Because schools don't have access to the kind of information we Assassins have. The truth is this: While it's true that dragons have mastered the fire before humans, dragons bend fire in a different way. They produce it organically inside their body with the help of special glands. Thus dragons, unlike humans, are not dependent on the sun for the ability of fire bending.''

''But then who was the first fire bender of the way we know and practice?''

''The sun! It is the source of all fire in the world. When man began to learn the art of bending he was inspired by both the dragons and the sun. The dragons showed the humans that it was possible to create and control fire. Unlike the dragons however, the humans did not have organs to produce fire by their own hand. They needed a different source and eventually found it in the sun. They absorbed the sun's energy, the heat, felt it wandering through their bodies, eventually concentrated it with the help of their chi and eventually managed to create their own new fire. That's how fire bending came into existence as we know it today.''

Zuko looked to the ground and rubbed his face with his hands, most likely processing all the new information he just had learned.

''I had no idea ... but how exactly is this supposed to help us to strengthen our bending again?''

''Well, does the term ''Sun Warriors'' ring a bell with you?''

''Of course! An ancient civilization, the alleged first human fire benders! But they also died out thousands of years ago.''

''Wrong again! What also only very few people know: The very first fire bender Assassins, who long ago co-founded the Order, were descendants of the Sun Warriors. The Assassins always maintained a connection to the civilization, as most of the Sun Warriors want to stay among themselves. For this reason we are the only people who know that members of the Sun Warrior civilization still live in an ancient city on a small island far in the north of the Fire Nation.''

''And what does that mean for us now?''

''Well, if you really want to try to re-learn your skills and abilities, you should follow Toph's advice and learn from the oldest fire benders. Travel to the Sun Warriors and acquire new knowledge.''

Zuko and Aang thought for a moment and then said: ''Alright, what other choice do we have?''

Shortly thereafter the two were already preparing to leave. While Aang made Appa ready for the journey, I took Zuko aside and talked to him insistently:

''Listen: I clearly notice that you really mean the thing as seriously as you said. Regardless, a few words of caution: Keep your eye on Aang while the two of you are gone. When you meet the Sun Warriors you need to always behave in a manner that is both respectful and humble, then nothing bad should happen to you.''

''What do you mean, 'should'?''

''Well, the Sun Warriors, like the Assassins, are very skeptical of strangers and can become hostile quite quickly. You have to make it clear from the beginning that you come without any evil intentions.''

''Alright, we will remember that.''

''Good luck, may the Spirits guide you.''

After that, Zuko climbed onto Appa's saddle where Aang was already sitting and they flew away.

When I returned from the take-off spot, I saw Pagan lying on the floor, curled up and hanging his head.

I walked up to him, stroked his head and asked: ''What's the matter, my friend?''

The dragon sighed and said: ''Well, I'm disappointed because Aang and Zuko get the chance to see other dragons and I don't.''

I immediately knew what Pagan was talking about: I hadn't told the others that reportendly some very old dragons lived in the city of the Sun Warriors who worshipped the giant lizards as gods. Pagan of course knew that and was sad now, as he surely would have liked to meet a fellow member of his species.

I tapped one of his horns and said encouragingly: ''You know what? When the war is over, the two of us will also travel to the Sun Warriors at some point, then you can meet the other dragons.''

Pagan's mood immediately lit up again, he blew out a small cloud of smoke from his snout and said: ''Thank you! That would really mean a lot to me!''

''Hey, you're my best friend and friends give each other a treat from time to time.''

Now that he was happy again, Pagan unrolled himself and set out to fly through the chasm for a little bit to re-vitalize his body.

I looked after him for a short moment before I eventually walked back to the rest of my friends.

For the rest of the day I didn't really have anything to do anymore, most of the time I just sat there leaning against my rock while I thought of Ty Lee and our child. I imagined what it would be like once it was born. Probably the most beautiful but at the same time most difficult time of my life would start.

In addition, I also already began to make plans. I intended to train my child, no matter if it was a boy or a girl, to become an Assassin like me once it was old enough, to uphold the tradition of my family, of course only if Ty Lee agreed as well.

While I was absorbed in my thoughts, Katara came to me and asked: ''Yulizan, tell me, is something aggrieving you? You've been sitting here without saying a word and make this pensive face the whole time.''

I looked at the water bender and thought. Should I just tell her? Sooner or later the others would probably find out anyway, it would probably be better if I told them personally.

I said: ''Yes, there actually is something. I think I have to make a confession. But promise me that you won't freak out.''

''Promise.''

''Alright. You remember that I had something going on with Ty Lee in Ba Sing Se...''

''Yes...'', Katara's face immediately became more serious.

''Well, I want to be honest: I fell in love with Ty Lee. And she fell in love with me. We are together.''

Katara's mouth opened wide to say something, but I was faster: ''But that's not all. When I disappeared in the night before the invasion, I actually visited Ty Lee in Ba Sing Se. And on this visit she revealed to me that she's pregnant. I'm going to be a father, Katara.''

The water bender clapped her hands over her mouth and said: ''Oh dear!''

I continued with a serious face: ''Don't you understand? I miss her, I want to see her again, be there for her. That's why I sat here so pensively the whole time. I hope you understand this. These are my honest feelings so please respect them.''

Katara was pacing, I could feel that she was thinking. After a few minutes, she finally said: ''While I'm not keen on the fact that you were willing to endanger our mission this much, if they really are your true feelings and you really love this girl, and I believe you, then I can accept it.''

I jumped to my feet and hugged Katara tightly: ''Thank you, I was sure that you would ostracize me once you would find it out.''

''Come on, you should really know us better by now. Friends are there for each other, in every situation.''

''And I know that as well now. So, if you don't mind, I would like to fly to Ba Sing Se with Pagan, to visit her.''

Katara put her hand on my shoulder and said with a smile on her face: ''Just go. I will tell Sokka and Toph about the whole matter.''

''Thank you, but promise me one thing: Don't tell Zuko anything. He knows Ty Lee, if he finds out, it could get dangerous for us all. Aang on the other hand you can tell everything without any worries once they're back.''

''Alright, I will do that.''

Thereupon I walked to the edge of the chasm, whistled for Pagan and shortly afterwards sat on the dragon.

''To Ba Sing Se!'', I called and Pagan rushed off.

Once we were high enough in the air I got the Heart Stone out of my bag, gently ran my fingers over the red gem and eventually heated the whole thing in my palm. The heart began to pulsate immediately, I hoped that Ty Lee was not busy at the moment and would notice the pulsation of her stone.

We reached Ba Sing Se in the early evening, the sun was just starting to set but it was still almost as bright as day.

We performed the exact same maneuver as on my last visit. Pagan flew over the city as close to the ground as possible while camouflaged, I jumped off him near my hideout. I landed in the same alley as last time, firmly took the stone in my hand and started my search for Ty Lee.

But I didn't have to search for long, because when I left the alley, which was right next to my hideout, I saw Ty Lee standing directly in front of the latter, her stone in her hand.

I packed my stone away, snuck up silently behind my love with a grin on my face and put my hands over her eyes.

She asked with a slightly startled voice: ''Who is this?''

''I!''

''Who I?''

''I love you!''

I removed my hands and turned Ty Lee around. When she saw me her eyes lit up and she kissed me immediately.

I answered the kiss and then asked: ''So, how are the two of you?''

As I said that, I put my hand on Ty Lee's belly.

She smiled and said: ''Not right here, let's go inside.''

Shortly afterwards we were once again standing in the main room of my hideout.

I repeated my question: ''So?''

Ty Lee answered: ''Everything's fine. I'm well, the bundle of joy has not made itself felt yet, still too small.''

''Good to hear. Do you pay enough attention to your health and your nourishment? That's very important, especially during the early stages of pregnancy, so that the child can develop without any problems.''

''Of course, I have already informed myself about all the important things, you don't have to worry about that.''

I moved a strand of hair out of her face and kissed her again.

Then I asked: ''By the way: Have you already told someone else?''

''No, you?''

''To be honest: Yes, I just couldn't keep it to myself any longer, and let's face it: Sooner or later they would have figured it out anyway.''

''You're probably right. But tell me: Can you stay a little longer this time? I don't want you to leave as quick as last time.''

''Don't worry, this time I have enough time. Which means that the two of us can enjoy some quiet days full of intimate togetherness.''

Ty Lee was very happy about this realization, just like me. My friends would be fine and should they really get in danger I would sense it and could go to the rescue if really necessary.

But for now, on to some nice time together with the love of my life!

Next chapter: Prison Break