"Remember what we talked about Aang." Katara lectured as they stood in a puddle they had found near the camp. "It's about the flow. Back and forth your body needs to be in a constant flow as you bend the water." she illustrated as Aang nodded.

Then Aang halted and he turned his head. "Hey Zuko!" he called as true enough. Zuko had just appeared standing not far from them.

"Oh." Katara turned to face the scarred Prince. "Zuko… Can I help you with something?"

Zuko shook his head. "No. I was just wondering. If it's all right by you if I watch your training for a little bit?" he asked.

Katara blinked. "I mean sure… I guess." she said. "You do know we are doing water bending training right?" she asked. "Water bending." she empathized.

"I know." Zuko said. "I was just curious about how it's different from fire bending."

"I guess that's fine." Katara said still looking confused.

"I promise I wont be in the way." Zuko said as he sat down with crossed legs.

Katara nodded, still not able to shake how weird this was but returned to her training with Aang. And soon enough she forgot that Zuko was even there as her and Aang started to throw and catch water, redirecting the water stream back at each other.

Zukos brow furrowed as he saw it. The water going straight for Katara and in a fluent motion she swirled around using the momentum to throw that same water right back at Aang. Aang copying the motion and they kept going.

At the end of the lesson. Katara had forgotten all about Zuko watching and honestly was pretty shocked to see him still sitting there. Looking like he was in deep thought.

After the water bending lesson. Toph was going to take over for an earth bending session and Katara couldn't help but wonder if Zuko was going to do the same again.

He did!

As Katara found Aang and Toph. Zuko was sitting a bit away observing.

"NO!" Toph shouted from her spot. "Don't just throw rocks hoping one of them will hit! That's a complete waste of energy! You will just exhaust yourself before you hit anything! Wait for the right time and do it right! One little pepple aimed just right is all it takes!"

Zukos brow furrowed deeply.

"You saw me take down five men five times my own seize! It's not about muscle!" Toph proclaimed.

Katara didn't dare interrupt the lesson. Instead she sat down beside Zuko. Glancing at him.

Zuko how-ever seemed to be completely into Tophs lesson.

Katara cleared her throat. "So erhm… Are you learning something?"

"Well. I have been given a lot to think about." Zuko replied.

"Really?" Katara asked in a blink.

"It's a pretty amazing opportunity. To get to observe real bending masters." Zuko commented. "My uncle would kill me if I didn't take full advantage."

"We're not fire benders though." Katara pointed out. "All though… Now that I think about it. When your uncle summoned a spirit he was using air nomad meditation! He told us!" she said. "And he said he could teach us fire bending meditation. It actually sounded pretty interesting!"

"You can join me and Aang for sunrise meditation if you want." Zuko offered.

"I'm not a firebender though. What use would it be?" Katara asked.

"I'm not sure." Zuko admitted. "But it wouldn't hurt either. It's a pretty good way to start the day. Should I wake you tomorrow when I wake Aang?"

Katara hesitated a little bit. Then nodded. "Sure." she said. "Let's try it."


Katara honestly wasn't sure what she was doing the next morning as Zuko woke her up and Katara followed Zuko and Aang towards the cliff aimed towards the sunrise.

Aang though seemed very happy. "We can all do it together! It's going to be so much fun!" he beamed.

Zuko sighed deeply but sat down with crossed legs and Aang and Katara sat down on each side of him copying his position.

Then Zukos voice started to talk about breath and inner flame. The warmth in their chest. His voice was actually really nice. Calming. And Katara felt the warmth of the sun and the heat inside her body.

Then her eyes sprung up. "Wait I have an inner flame?!" she asked. "But I'm a water bender!"

Zuko glared at her. "Yes! Every body has an inner flame! It's how you move around and do stuff!" he stated.

"Oh." Katara blinked. "Iroh did talk about that. Fire being life." she commented. "Wow now that I think about it. The body has all four elements. Isn't that kind of weird?"

Zuko turned to Katara. Clearly listening.

"I mean think about it. The body is filled with water, it nourishes us! Our flesh is the earth! We breath air to fuel the inner fire! All four elements is combined to make a body!"

"That's true!" Aang gasped.

"Balance…" Zuko breathed. "That's balance! When the elements are working together instead against each other! To grow a plant you need earth to plant it in, water and sunlight to nourish it! And wind to spread the seeds! All the elements must be working together for our world to function!"

"I see!" Aang beamed. "I knew it! You can't just kill off one of these elements and expect the rest to be all right."

All looked at each other with faces of pure excitement over this revelation. Something told Katara this had been very common knowledge in the past. It had just become lost over the years as division had grown so much between the nations.

"Katara… May I join you for water bending training today?" Zuko asked. "I want to try something."

"Oh. Sure." Katara blinked.

"Okay! Now let's meditate while the sun is still rising." Zuko instructed and quickly got them both back into position instructing them both in how to meditate like a fire bender.

And Katara had already decided she was going to join again the next morning.

After breakfast. Zuko joined them for the water bending session just as promised.. Katara was still a bit unsure what on earth a fire bender could get out of copying these stances. But then again, she did enjoy her own fire bending lesson and definitely wanted to join again. Fair was fair Katara supposed. And being three did make it more fun.


It was in the evening Zuko came with a surprise request. "Aang. Can I ask you to throw some fire at me?" he asked.

"What?" Aang asked shocked. "I erh… I don't know if I am ready for fire yet." he swallowed. "I mean I."

"You wont hurt me." Zuko sighed deeply. "I'm a fire bender. Remember?" he asked. "I am pretty used to have fire hurled at me!"

"Then… Why now?" Aang asked.

"I want to try something." Zuko said.

Aang bit his lip but then finally nodded as he stood up and Aang and Zuko walked a bit away while the others looked.

The two stood in front of each other. Aang sucking in a deep breath like taught and then fired… A pathetic little flame.

"That was pathetic." Zuko snorted. "I need more."

"Sorry I just." Aang gasped.

"Find your inner flame!" Zuko instructed. "Remember why you are doing this! All those people who died cannot be brought back! It's so no more people will have to die like that! People like Kataras mother and the monk who raised you!"

Aangs eyes widened.

"It could be anyone next! Me! Sokka! Toph or Katara! You fight so they can live in peace!" Zuko barged. "Remember that! Find your fire and fire at me!"

Aang gasped, then his face filled with determination and finally he fired a large fire right at Zuko.

Zuko though was ready, he held out his hand and Katara fully expected him to slash through the fire like she had seen so many fire benders do before. Including Zuko himself.

But that didn't happen! Instead Zuko caught the fire with his hand. Swirled around on his heel in a circle and cast the fire right back left of Aang and towards the cliffs.

Wide-eyed everyone looked at Zuko… Clearly Zuko had missed on purpose. He could have thrown the fire right back in Aangs face.

Katara gaped. "Did you… Did you just use a water bending technic?" she asked. "But with fire bending?"

Zukos eyes widened as he looked at his hand. "I… I guess I did." he gasped.

"Wooow." Aang gasped then he beamed. "I knew you were the right choice for a fire bending master!"

Zuko though seemed to be lost in thought as he held his chin.

"What are you thinking Zuko?" Katara asked.

Zuko frowned. "For the last three years… I used rage to fuel my fire bending. Determination and anger." he said. "I forced myself forward. When I hit a wall I would just slam against it over and over until it would break. That or I would be the one breaking. How-ever… What if there is another way?" he asked. "I probably am going to face Azula again. Fact is, I am never going to beat her when it comes to pure strength. How-ever… Like Toph said. Sometimes a pepple aimed just right it all you need."

"You got that right!" Toph beamed. "Glad that someone is listening to what I say!"

"I think that really needs to be taken into consideration when fire bending." Zuko nodded as he sat down crossing his legs. "After all. A burn can't be taken back. So maybe I need to stop focusing on the amount of fire. But rather make it small and precise." he said.

"Well. Burning down less stuff always sounds good to me." Sokka commented. "If you want to re-invent fire bending. That's a good start."

"What?" Zuko looked at him.

"It sounds like you are trying to re-invent fire bending." Sokka repeated.

"No I… Wait." Zuko frowned. "Am I?" he asked.

"Sounds like it to me." Katara commented. "And you just showcased it to. That was a new fire bending technic wasn't it? You just invented it."

"Huh." Zuko glanced at his hands again. Then smiled as he looked up, hope blossoming in his chest. He had always used technics that Azula knew better than the back of her own hand! But if he invented new moves! She would never see it coming! Why hadn't he thought about that before?!

"Meh." Toph shrugged. "Re-inventing bending? Been there. Don't that." she smirked.

"How?" Zuko asked immediately turning to her.

"Oh you wanna hear about it?" Toph asked. "Sure! I'll tell you all about it sparky!"

Without hesitation Zuko walked over to Toph and sat down right in front of her.

"HAH! New favourite student for sure!" Toph grinned.

"That's not fair." Aang pouted.

"Sorry twinkletoes! Zuko makes me tea in the morning. I like him better." Toph smirked.

Aang sighed deeply but settled down next to Zuko and Toph grinned broadly before she started her history about the badgermoles and how they had taught her lessons different from her instructors and how she had developed her own technics.