18
On the forest floor, the GAang walk. It seems to be late afternoon. A split second later, Momo appears. In the background, a blurry shadow scurries among the trees. Momo is flying through the forest canopy. He flies and comes to rest on a circular notice board. Appa and the kids are there inspecting it. "This should give us a good idea of what's around here." Katara said. "See if you can find a menu, I'm tired of fish and jerky." Sokka said. "Well, there's always my fruits and tofu." Aang offered. "Thanks, but no thanks, Aang. If I wanted to eat something fake, I'd eat Katara." "Hey!" Katara shouts. Sokka felt like someone hit him on the back of the head at that comment but when he looked no one was behind him. At that time he heard a soft voice on the wind say, "Be nice to your sister, my little Warrior."
Aang looks at the notice board and points out a colorful flier. "I bet we'll find something to eat here!" The Fire Days Festival!" He started, reading the flier out loud. "Fire Nation cultural exhibits...jugglers, benders, magicians. This'd be a great place for me to study some real Firebenders!" Sokka, from the other side of the board, said, "You might wanna rethink that. Look at this." The colorful flier on top is a wanted poster of Aang. On the lower right is a wanted poster for the Blue Spirit. On the right is a wanted poster for a white haired man. "Hey! A poster of me!" "A WANTED poster! This is bad." Sokka said, taking the poster off the board. Aang and Katara look at the poster off the board. "I think we better keep moving, Aang." "I have to learn firebending at some point, and this could be my only chance to watch a master up close." Katara looked at the ground for a moment, shuffled her feet, then said, "I guess we could check it out." Sokka looked like he was about to pull his hair out. "What!? You want to walk into a Fire Nation town where they're all fired up with all their, you know, fire?" Katara simply shrugged. "We'll wear disguises and if it looks like trouble, we'll leave." Katara and Aang walk over to Appa and Sokka, disgruntled, says, "Sure… Because we always leave before we get into trouble…" Sokka says as he turns and walks toward the others.
Out sailing in the river, Zuko is on deck with Iroh and LaMai. Iroh was having them do weapons training. Zuko was using his duel swords and LaMai was using the two metal fans. Lhy Tu and Yhu Wy were a bit away from them training as well, using their firebending. Zhang and Fragwa were doing a work-out. Jee, still cleaning the ship, was in the Kitchen cleaning right now. Shang, since he was back on duty, was unwillingly watching Jee. TenZou enjoyed tea with Iroh while Iroh instructed Zuko and LaMai. Wang was sleeping. He had spent two days watching Jee clean and he was tired. "Why are we training in the evening anyway?" Yhu Wy asked. "Because the stinky smelling Jee was out here cleaning the deck this morning." Lhy Tu answered as he threw back a fire punch from Yhu Wy's swinging fire kick. "Our weapons are an extension of our limbs, not seperate." LaMai said as she landed a hit on Zuko's arm. "If used separately we risk getting hurt in battle." Zuko added as he tried to catch her on the leg but she jumped over it. Zhang was doing laps on the deck and he kept passing Fragwa. "Hurry up slowpoke," Zhang called. Fragwa was huffing and puffing as he followed after Zhang. "You aren't the one who doesn't work out as often." Fragwa said as he stopped putting his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "A healthy body leads to a healthy mind." Iroh said. "It also leads to the kitchen after a good workout for water and good proteins to keep fit." TenZou replied. Both patted their bellies and laughed, full and hearty. LaMai and Zuko stopped to get a quick drink of water. "Ever realize that if Jee isn't on deck birds don't poop on the ship?" LaMai asked. Lhy Tu, Yhu Wy, Zhang, Fragwa, Zuko, Iroh, and TenZou all stop what they were doing and look at her before they all start nodding. "It's like they hate him just as much as we do." Zhang said. "Or they could be, like, Crows." Lhy Tu said nonchalantly. "Crows?" Yhu Wy asked. "Crows remember the face of someone who hurt them and they will come back in flocks called Murders to go after that person." Lhy Tu explained. "So you are saying Jee did something to make the birds mad so they will poop on him when they see him?" Fragwa asked. "Yeah." Lhy Tu replied. "Or it could be karma." TenZou replied. "Ah, karma, meaning all the horrible things he has done are coming back in the form of bird poop." Iroh said with a laugh. "Well whatever it is he deserves it." Zuko said, rolling his eyes. "Well, this was a long training session. I think it is time to get something to eat and showers then rest." Iroh said to everyone who trained. "I have some stew in the kitchen since you didn't eat and went straight to training right away." TenZou added. Everyone's stomach growls at the mention of the stew.
The kids and Appa come out of the forest on a slight hill. In the distance, the walled Fire Nation town can be seen. It is now dusk. Aang looked backwards to speak to Appa and Momo. "You guys stay out of sight here while we go to the festival." Momo perches on Appa's neck. Momo then flies up and then drops down into a small bush nearby. Appa follows and tries to hide behind the bush, which is about a foot tall. Aang sees this and tears up a bit. "I love you guys!" He said, before hugging Appa and blowing a kiss to the already hidden Momo. "Ready disguises!" Sokka pulls down the hood of a black cloak over his head, then Katara does the same thing. Finally, Aang has pulled his red hood up over the top of his head in a completely ineffective attempt to change his appearance. He sees his friends and grins in some embarrassment. Sokka tries to keep his cool, hands folded, with Katara laughing to his right, then says sarcastically, "It's like you're a whole different person." Aang beams. "Let's go!"
They walk down the hill towards the town, a masked man, the shadow from earlier, watches them go to the town.
The Fire Nation town and its main square is full of people. Overhead, the sky is filled with colorful fireworks. The three enter the main square. Around them children frolic, revelers run by in ornate costumes, including several people almost completely concealed in a Chinese dragon outfit, and all participants are wearing colorful masks. "I think we need some new disguises." Katara whispered to the group, passing by some of the playing children. Sokka looked skeptical and sounded annoyed when he whisper shouted back, "Where are we gonna get masks like that?" Just then, a mask merchant shouted out, "Get your genu-ine Fire Festival masks! Fire Festival masks right here!" Aang and Katara rush over, and Sokka shrugs, following, saying, "Well, that was surprisingly easy."
The three turned away from the stall, each now wearing a mask. At first Sokka is wearing a happy mask and Aang a sad one. Katara switches them, revealing Sokka's sour puss face and Aang's wide smile. The masks now match the temperament of the owner. They walk into the square. Aang points ahead. "Hey! There's some food!" "Finally!" Sokka started, mouth already watering. "I'm tired of jerky." He runs ahead to the food merchant and asks, "Whatcha got?" "Flaming fire flakes! Best in town." Sokka grabs a little steaming bag in the merchant's hand. "I'll take em!" He stuffs them in his mouth, then starts screaming and blowing steam from his mouth. He partially removes his mask to cool his tongue. "AAAHHH! Hot! Hot!" Katara scoffs and crosses her arms. "'Flaming fire flakes' hot? What do ya know?" Aang looks down a small alleyway. "Hey, look at this!" A Punch & Judy show that is about to begin. The audience is full of children. The curtain of the puppet stage draws open and a puppet of the Fire Lord appears. The audience cheers. The puppet fire lord says, "Don't worry loyal citizens! No one can surprise the Fire Lord!" Behind him an earthbender puppet has risen up, with a rock at the ready to strike the Fire Lord Puppet. The children in the audience start to cry out warnings. The Fire Lord puppet turns suddenly and torches the earthbender puppet with a huge gout of flame and the audience cheers. The three turn away from the puppet show and head back towards another stage with a large crowd. On this stage there is a single performer. Aang starts walking towards the performance. Katara looked skeptically at the same performance. "Aang, hold on! Where are we going?" "I don't know, but there's a big crowd, so it MUST be good!" "Knowing the Fire Nation, it's probably an execution." Sokka said, eyes watering from another mouthful of fire flakes.
The training group was in the galley waiting for TenZou to bring out the stew. Iroh was brewing more tea for everyone. Iroh and TenZou actually bring the stew and tea out at the same time for everyone. They get a lot of people saying Thank You. As soon as they got the food all the guys except Zuko started to wolf down the stew. LaMai and Zuko sighed as they ate slowly to not make themselves sick. "It is best to not scarf down your food like it is your last meal." LaMai said to the others. "It is not good because it can make you sick after a workout." Zuko added. Lhy Tu and Yhu Wy stopped midbite and slowed down eating because they didn't want to get sick. Zhang shrugged and started to eat slower. Fragwa didn't listen to them and just kept eating fast. Iroh and TenZou ate at the other table and drank their tea as well. After a bit of eating, Fragwa gets up and runs out of the galley to one of the restrooms and throws up his stew. "We told him." LaMai said with a sigh. Yhu Wy had started laughing while he was eating which made him start choking after a bit. Lhy Tu sighs and puts down his spoon and pats Yhu Wy on the back. "Laughing while eating is dangerous too." Zhang said, shaking his head. "And that is karma for Yhu Wy for laughing." Zuko said before taking a sip of his tea. From outside the galley they could hear Shang annoyed with Jee. "Get up, stinky lazy bones, we are going back to the Brig for the night." Shang could be heard yelling. "Stupid Non-Bending idiot think you can boss me around!" Jee was heard growling back. "Oh so would you like me to find Someone who can light your stinky butt on fire and make it smell worse?" Shang was heard threatening. Next thing they heard was them leaving the area so it could be assumed that Jee retreated and left with no other issues. Everyone in the galley just started laughing afterwards.
The stage, which has four thin pillars with fire basins at their tops, has a performer who is a firebender manipulating fire for the crowd's delight. He concludes by extinguishing his fire and producing a small flock of white birds who fly off the stage. Aang partially removed his mask to follow the flight of the birds. He looks ahead, a big smile on his face. "I gotta learn that trick!" The performer looked out to the crowd after his trick. "Thank you!" He started, "For my next trick I need a volunteer from the audience!" Aang raised his hand and waved it around. "Oh! Oh! Me! Me! ME!" Sokka almost dropped his fire flakes when he saw Aang. Almost. "What do you think you're doing?" "I want to get a closer look." Aang said with a sly smile that nobody could see under his mask. Katara sighed, clearly upset under hers. "It's better that we don't attract any attention to ourselves." The performer held his index finger out, pointing at Katara. "How about you, little lady?" Katara backed away and shook her head, unsure of what to say. "Aww… She's shy. Let's give her some encouragement folks!" Someone from the audience pushes Katara over to the edge of the stage where the Performer grabs her and hauls her up. Aang looks as down as you can in a smiling mask. "Awww! That coulda been me."
After they all ate, they headed to take showers before going to bed. Zuko and LaMai both headed to the Private bathroom and glared at each other at the door. "Flip a copper coin?" LaMai suggested. "Alright, heads or tails." Zuko said, pulling out a copper coin that was in his pocket. "Tails." LaMai said as Zuko flipped the coin. On the heads side of this copper coin was the Fire Nation insignia. On the tails said was the Crown that the Heir to the Fire Nation would wear. As the coin fell back down and Zuko caught it he put it on the back of his hand and moved his other hand slowly. It was revealed to be on the tails side of the coin. Zuko sighed, "You won the coin toss. I will take my shower after you BUT don't use all the hot water." LaMai laughed as she replied, "You will have hot water, don't be such a baby." Zuko stuck his tongue out at her as he went to his room to get his stuff together and wait for his turn. LaMai went to go get her stuff and head to take her shower. Iroh was humming as he walked by to his room after helping TenZou clean the dishes that they had used. Yhu Wy, Lhy Tu, Zhang, and Fragwa were in the showers and they were all taking turns singing 'Hakuna Matata.' Anyone walking by was shaking their heads as they headed to bed or night duty. Down in the brig, Shang had given Jee his dinner. Finally, it was cold since he needed to clean first before he got his food. Jee complained about his food being cold and grumbled as he started to heat it up with his hands. While Jee was heating up his food he burned it which the smell hit him and Shang at the same time. "Dang it JEE!" Shang yelled. Jee had dropped the bowl when Shang yelled. Which made food spill on him and burn his hands.
The performer, carrying a chair, ushers Katara to the center of the stage. Once there he seats her on the chair. "This next trick is called 'Taming the Dragon'." To Katara "You will be my captured princess!" He ties her up with a maroon ribbon and begins to firebend a huge fire comet from the fires at the top of each pillar. He loops it close to Katara and back out. He seems to control it by a flame rope that connects its head to the Performer's hand. "Don't worry, young maiden! I will tame this fiery beast!" He plays with the fire comet for a bit more, then continues, "It's too strong, I can't hold it!" Aang panics under his mask. "We gotta help her!" "No, we don't wanna make a scene!" Sokka whisper-yells to Aang. The performer yells out, "The rope! It's breaking!" The rope breaks and the comet charges right for Katara, who cringes and cries out. Shift to Aang airbending himself up. Both Sokka and the masked man just failed to restrain him. Aang drops in from the sky, turns and creates a whirlwind that dissipates the comet with a shower of confetti. The performer, from where he fell on the stage, shouted out angrily, "Hey! You tryna upstage me, kid?" Aang, watching the confetti rain down on him. The crowd starts to 'boo' him. Aang tries to amuse them with a lame dance while Sokka unties Katara in the background. Suddenly, someone speaks up. "Hey! That kid's the Avatar!" Aang freezes, a look of horror on this face. Three Fire Nation guards turn at the mention of his name. They begin muscling through the crowd to the stage. The GAang has now all removed their masks. Aang tied his mask to his belt before Sokka said, "I think it's time to go." The weird cloaked man from earlier, said, "Follow me! I can getcha outta here!" a broken wall at the back of the stage shows the masked man waving to them through it, prompting them to follow. One of the guards closer to the stage shouts out, "There they are!" They run through the broken wall just as the guards burst onstage. The masked man throws a smoke bomb at the guards feet, obscuring their view. As they run, Aang shouts out, "I'm calling Appa!" Groups of pursuing guards link up behind them as Aang produces his bison whistle and blows. Sokka frantically shouts out, "I hope he can really hear that bison whistle!" The man turns into an alley. "This way!" He says before realizing that it's a dead end. "Okay! NOT this way!" They turn, but the exit is blocked by guards. The masked man throws another exploding smoke bomb and then run past them into another alley. This one is a dead end too. It ends in a high wall. On the other side is a huge supply dump of the wall, Appa appears, blotting out the moon and covering the kids and the man in shadow. Aang happily shouts out, "Appa! Down here!" While waving his arms. Appa lands between the kids and the guards, with his tail facing the guards. Appa flaps his beaver-like tail on the ground and the gale that results blows the guards out of the alley to land in a confused heap some distance away. As the guards run back into the alley, Appa can be seen already airborne. the masked man on Appa's back. He bites the top off a some kind of bomb like object, whose fuse is now lit. He throws it at the fireworks supply and it blows up in an awesome display of colors and sounds. On Appa, Aang turns to the masked man, who is now removing his hood, giving him thanks and a compliment. "Thank you. Nice touch setting off the fireworks." Sokka smiled largely, "Well, you sure seem to know your explosives." The man turned to face the kids saying, "I'm familiar." Which turns Sokka's beaming smile to a look of shock, "You're a Fire Nation soldier!" "Was." The man said. "My name's Chey."
LaMai had taken a quick shower so when it was Zuko's turn he still had hot water. Iroh is already in bed, sound asleep snoring. LaMai was in her room braiding her hair before she went to bed. Yet, because she wasn't tired yet she opened her book on Past Avatars. She opened it to where she was last reading, a two page sprawl about Avatar Sagwa. The Avatar who had died during their training. She started reading aloud…
Avatar Sagwa was born in the Northern Water Tribe in 851 BG. Her parents are not remembered. And little is remembered about her. She had one of the shortests lives of the known Avatars. She was still in training when she died in 824 BG.
As per the Northern Tradition when it was found out that she was a bender she was sent to learn how to heal. She was an excellent healer and before her sixteenth birthday she was teaching the class herself. The day of her sixteenth birthday she was told that she was the Avatar and had to meet with Master Jing to learn how to fight. She did not take well to Master Jing's teachings because he would constantly belittle her for being born a woman instead of a Man. Saying things like, "If you were a man you would have already mastered Waterbending years ago." Sources as in a painting in the Northern Water Tribe Palace showed a young woman depicted as Avatar Sagwa holding what was believed to be Master Jing up above the Cities wall ready to drop him into the ocean below with waterbending. It is said Master Jing learned very quickly to never underestimate her.
Not much is known about how long it took her to master the other two elements Earth and Fire. But it was said while Avatar Sagwa was training in the Northern Air Temple she was twenty-seven. She was learning how to connect to the spirits and to help maintain the balance of peace between humans and spirits alike as well as learning to do proper Airbending. It was during the time they were learning to fly with an Air Glider. Avatar Sagwa was said to have been excited to learn how to use an Air Glider but when it was her turn she was not able to stay up in the air and fell to her death.
Her Master HanDi was blamed for her death for not having prepared her better before getting her on the Air Glider.
LaMai put her bookmark, back in the book, at the next page which started with a different Avatar. "Wow… Poor Avatar Sagwa. She didn't even get to live a life." She commented as she put the book up. "Wait, I am going to bed after reading about this lady falling to her DEATH!" She said before yawning so ferociously that it shook her frame. "Dang sleep you win… I can't even open another book to read because I am so sleepy." She muttered as she got into her bed, yawning grandly and covered up, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Zuko, since LaMai's room was right next to their private bathroom, heard everything that she said. "Well that was interesting," Zuko said, chuckling as he had just gotten changed after his shower. Fragwa, Lhy Tu, Yhu Wy, and Zhang after their shower went to their bunks and went right to sleep because the stew had made them all tired. Jee had to clean up his mess from spilling his dinner before he was able to go to sleep. Zuko, when he got back in his room, put his swords where they needed to go and got into bed.
That evening, Appa and the others are around a campfire. Appa is dozing. Chey starts explaining to the kids who he is and why he's here, in a much less 'meaning-of-life' kind of way. "I serve a man. More than a man really, he's a myth, but he's real, a living legend, Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general, or wait, was he an admiral?" Sokka almost rolled his eyes. Almost. "He was very highly ranked, we get it." "Yeh! Way up there! But he couldn't take the madness any more. He's the first person ever to leave the army - and live. I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a firebending genius. Some say he's mad - but he's not! He's enlightened." Aang sat and listened in quiet contemplation, then excitedly asked, "You mean there's a firebender who's NOT with the Fire Lord?" He stands up eagerly, "We've gotta go see him! He can train me!" Sokka, always the optimist, said, "We're not going to go find some crazy firebender!" Chey stood up at this. "I just said he's not crazy. He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to train the Avatar! That's why I followed you into the festival." Sokka stood up this time. "Look, thanks for the help, but we're leaving for the north pole in the morning." Aang looked a little hurt, like he was scorned or scolded. "Sokka, this could be my only chance to meet a firebending master who would actually be willing to teach me." Katara, the last to stand, stood up. "It can't hurt just to talk to him." Sokka growled and let a sigh out through his nose, "That's what you said about going to the festival! Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me!?" As Sokka turns to stalk away from the group, he almost runs right into a spear. In a flash, they are surrounded by men wearing straw hats and armor and wielding spears. "Don't move!"
The kids and Appa are being led through the forest at night by the rebels. The head of the rebels, Lin Yi, addresses Chey. "Jeong Jeong told you not to look for the Avatar!" Sokka picks up on the man's dialogue and tone. "Hold on, you know these guys!?" Chey grins, "Oh yeh! Lin Yi's an old buddy! Right Lin Yi?" Lin Yi lowers his spear in response. "Shut up! Keep moving." He finished, rolling his eyes. Down a hill is a little leaning shack secluded in a thicket of trees next to the river. Lin Yi says, "Go on. He sees only you." curtly at Chey. "Oh. That's ok. We can chat later. He said as he tried to back up slowly. Aang gets excited and beams. "Is that where Jeong Jeong is? I need to talk to him right away." Aang begins to move forward, but is stopped by a spear shaft across his path. "No!" Lin Yi started, "You wait there!" Then he pushed Chey forward roughly, almost making him roll down the hill. "Go now!" Chey stumbled, straightened up and then told the kids, "Don't worry! Everything'll be fine. He's a great man, great man!" Chey walks toward Jeong Jeong's.
In the now deserted central square of the town, some local guards are being interrogated by Admiral Zhao who is flanked by a few guards. "So, the Avatar was here and you let him slip away?" "Yes, sir, but other than that the festival went off without a hitch!" A huge piece of burning walls falls in the background with a massive crash. "No fights. Theft was way down…" He starts, tallying points with his fingers. "I don't care about your local crime rates! Which way did they go?" The officer pointed in the distance. "They headed into the forest, up the river I suspect." Zhao turns to his guards, "Ready the river boats. We're going after the Avatar." And his men turn to obey.
Wang woke up super early into the night since he had gone to sleep before dinner. He groans wanting to go back to sleep. "I hate my life," He mutters as he gets out of his bunk and goes to his locker to get some of his snacks. He hoped that Fragwa hadn't found his duck jerky. "Thank goodness." He muttered pulling it out of his locker. He then went back up to his bunk to eat some and probably go back to sleep. Lhy Tu woke up having to go pee. "Just my luck to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom." He mutters headed towards the bathroom in his pajamas that were boxer shorts with the fire insignia on them and a white tee-shirt. One of the night crew saw him and started chuckling. "Nice Jammies," They said laughing. "You most likely wear the same thing to bed and no one says anything to you." Lhy Tu snapped. He was tired so he was not in the mood for sarcasm or jokes. After he went to the bathroom he headed back to his bunk area passing by the same night crew member again who just would not stop laughing at him. Zhang woke up in the middle of the night thinking about his family. So he got up and went to a desk to write a letter to his wife and daughter.
Zhang's Letter:
To the love of my life, ZiAlla. I miss you and AzuLyn so much everyday. I hope to be home with you both in the spring. I know I have said this every time that I hope to be home soon. Maybe one day that will be true. I hope AzuLyn is doing well in school or will do well in school once she starts. I hate that I left when she turned three. I have missed so much. I wish I could tell you I will be there in port tomorrow but I can't. I woke up thinking about you and thinking that there is a huge possibility I may never see you both again. If I am never able to return to you, please my dear, find someone who will care for you both. I know you will receive very little help if I do die out here. But I know that I will see you both in the Spirit World one day. Before that, I'd love to see your sparkling eyes, full of hope and love once more. And I'd love to see little AzuLyn smile. She should be losing teeth now. She's so big. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there physically for you both these past two years, but not a day goes by that I don't think of you two and wish to be home.
Love your husband Zhang Cho
By the end of his letter Zhang was crying and a few tears fell on the paper as he finished. He rolled it up and put it in a container to take it to one of the messenger hawks in the morning to send off, along with the money he sends for them from his weekly pay. He sent most of it to his wife and daughter, along with a letter, but was happy with the outcome, they were provided for and happy, and his wife let him know everytime she replied to his letters, and that's what he cared about most. 'Screw this war' he thought to himself, 'If it weren't for it, I'd be home with my loves'.
LaMai woke up in the middle of the night. She decided she wanted to go for a walk on deck. As she left her room she saw Zuko in the hall and then they both heard Iroh snoring. "Uncle always says he can hear people walking by in the evenings." Zuko said. "How? If he snores so loud we can hear him out here?" LaMai asked. Causing Zuko to put his hand over his mouth to not laugh. Zuko just pointed up for them to go up to the deck so he didn't laugh out loud right there. LaMai nodded and followed him out to the deck. Once outside, Zuko bursts out laughing. "I didn't think it would be that funny." LaMai said. "It is when he says he can hear everyone." Zuko said. LaMai shrugs as they both start walking around the deck just trying to tire their restless legs so they could be able to go back to sleep.
Yhu Wy woke up to the sound of someone going into stuff. He flicked the light on in his area, waking the other two guys in his room. But they all saw Fragwa trying to get into their stuff. "GET OUT OF OUR STUFF!" They all yelled, causing Fragwa to run out of the room with nothing. "Now, you turn out the light!" One of the men yelled at Yhu Wy. Which Yhu Wy did and all three of them tried to go back to sleep after one of them locked Fragwa out of the room. Fragwa was in search of snacks since he already ate his. He tried to take some from his roommates but they heard him and turned the lights on yelling at him. So now he was off to see if he could sneak in to steal any of Shang's snacks from his room. When he got to where Shang's bunk was he found the door locked. "Dang it… now to try the kitchen," He muttered. He then headed to the kitchen and it was unlocked. He went to open a cabinet that he knew held jerky to find that it had a lock on it so it wouldn't open. "What the hell…" Fragwa muttered. TenZou, who was up at that time, was heading to the kitchen to get a glass of warm milk thinking that would help him go back to sleep. When he got there he caught Fragwa red handed. "So you are my jerky thief! Stay out of my kitchen or next time I will cook you!" He yelled as Fragwa ran off, scared to be cooked. Fragwa tried to get back into his room but couldn't due to the door being locked so he sat against the wall, still hungry, and falling asleep where he sat.
Chey exits Jeong Jeong's hut. He arrives back where Aang and the others are sleeping. Aang wakes up instantly as Chey approaches. "What happened? Can I see Jeong Jeong now?" Chey sits down glumly. "He won't see you. He's very angry that I brought you here. He wants you to leave immediately. Sokka propped himself up on his elbows. "Finally! Let's hit the road." He says and stretches back out again. Aang looks heartbroke. "Why won't he see me?" "He says you're not ready. Says you haven't mastered waterbending and earthbending yet." "Wait, how does he know that?" "He saw the way you walked into camp. He can tell." "I'm going in anyway!"
Aang walks over to the entrance to Jeong Jeong's hut. He takes a deep breath, parts the curtain, and walks into the darkness. Jeong Jeong sighs, then says, "Get out!" Aang takes another deep breath. "Master, I need to learn firebending." "Only a fool seeks his own destruction." Aang sits down. "I'm the Avatar. It's my destiny to…" "Destiny? What would a boy know of destiny? If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control! He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean." "Ookay, but it's the Avatar's duty to master all of the bending disciplines." "To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself. But you have no interest in this, so I have no interest in you! Now, get out." "Please, I have to learn. This could be my only chance." Jeong Jeong turns around to face Aang in anger. "Are you deaf! How can I teach you if you refuse to listen? Before learning firebending you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing, earth is steady and stable, but fire, fire is alive! It breathes, it grows, without a bender, a rock will not throw itself! But fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it! That is its destiny! You are not ready! You are too weak!" At this final pronouncement the candles flame up around Jeong Jeong to illuminate the entire tent. Then suddenly, all the flames go out, except one, in front of Jeong Jeong, and a vision starts. The other candles have disappeared. Instead of the tent, a tree is in the background behind the Deserter. In front of him, stands Avatar Roku. "You think I am weak?" "No! No!" Jeong Jeong bows his head in respect. "I did not mean that!" "I have mastered the elements a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes. Now, I must do it once again. You will teach the Avatar firebending." At this final statement, Roku raises his left hand and the tree behind Jeong Jeong bursts into flame. The vision ends. Yes. Yes, I will teach you." He said, looking defeated. "Really? That's great!" Jeong Jeong looked at Aang's enormous, cheesy smile and groaned.
In the morning, outside of Jeong Jeong's hut, Sokka's sitting by the river, fishing and Katara is practicing waterbending. Aang and Jeong Jeong are in front of the hut, Aang standing bandy legged on a flat stone in the river. Jeong Jeong stands a foot or two away on the bank in front of his hut. "Widen your stance."Aang complies. "Wider! Bend your knees. Now, concentrate." Aang once again complies. "Good, good!" Jeong Jeong begins to walk away and Aang shouts out, "Wait! What do I do now?" Jeong Jeong whips around, and angrily starts, "Silence! Talking is NOT concentrating! Look at your friend, is she talking?" Then, pointing to Sokka, "Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing!" Sokka overhears and says a quick, dejected, "Hey!" Aang cocked his head in Jeong Jeong's direction. "But what am I concentrating ON?" "Feel the heat of the sun. It is the greatest source of fire. Yet, it is in complete balance with nature!" "So, when do I get to make some fire?" "Concentrate!" Aang breathes deeply, and then flushes in embarrassment as he hears his friends laughing at him from behind. He turns to look at them, but they stop instantly, trying in vain to look innocent.
The Crew is in the Galley for breakfast before getting on with their daily tasks. Yet for Zhang, he gets reports of what happened in the evening from the night crew. "Why can I never enjoy my breakfast before I get reports." Zhang asked as he tried to eat his duck eggs and toast. "Also, why do I get these reports?" He asked aloud. "Um, you are the commanding officer. We report to you then you are the one who reports to Prince Zuko." The Night crew officer, Zoa said. "Right…" Zhang said, sighing. "Also Ling said that LhyTu snapped at him last night for just talking to him. Fragwa was caught trying to steal from the kitchen and we think if other peoples rooms weren't locked he would have tried to steal from them too." Zoa said. "He tried to steal from us." Yhu Wy said when he heard Zoa tell that to Zhang. "My side of the story is that Ling laughed at me for my pajamas and laughed as he said it. All I said is that he probably wears the same thing. I am not in the mood to be laughed at, sarcasm, or jokes when I am tired because I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom." Lhy Tu said, still annoyed by the encounter. "Alright. So Fragwa getting caught trying to steal is the main issue! I am not worried about petty grievances that the idiot Ling has because he was laughing at someone for their sleepwear!" Zhang yelled because he was tired of hearing Ling had an issue with someone in the middle of the night every night for the past two years. Wang shakes his head at all the morning drama from the reports since they were never given to Zhang in private. "Zoa, it seems that you want drama because you never tell this to Zhang in Private." Wang said. "I want to go to bed after eating so why should I tell him this in private?" Zoa said, getting annoyed. "Because it stops people from yelling this early in the morning." Zuko said coming into the galley, twisting a finger around in his good ear, cleaning it, because he heard the yelling, and it gave him a slight ringing in his ear. Zoa looked at the doorway and froze. "Good Morning, Sir. So I take it then you heard the evening reports." Zhang asked. "Yes we heard you all the way in the private dining room. I was trying to enjoy my duck eggs and bacon." Zuko said, dropping his hand from the side of his head and letting it dangle on the side of him, and standing with his other hand on his hip, looking exasperated. "Ling needs to get over himself. We are not in the Fire nation, we are out at sea having to live out here with each other peacefully or at least act like it. Fragwa, for stealing food, is going to be a guest in the brig so Ling will be on Guard duty now for the next three weeks by himself. Starting after Shang's shift ends TONIGHT." Zuko said angrily, with a fierce look on his face, as if daring anyone to say anything. He then left the room heading to the brig to tell Shang that he will be off duty tonight. To make sure that Jee finished cleaning the ship by then. Shang and Jee were eating their breakfast before they went to make sure to get the last room, the engine room, cleaned. "Glad I am on the final area of the ship today." Jee said, stuffing his face with toast. "I wish you had manners. The same manners you say Yhu Wy doesn't have to be exact." Shang added since he hated people talking with their mouths full. "Tonight you are off duty and Fragwa will need his keys taken. They caught him last night trying to steal food. You and Wang will be on break for three weeks Ling is now on guard duty for that long." Zuko said as he entered the brig. "So Fragwa is going to be in the brig. As in a guard who is supposed to be watching trouble makers IS the trouble maker?" Shang said amused. "Yes." Zoku said, chuckling at Shang's amusement because it helped lighten his mood. "I have one room left to clean. I should be done before tonight." Jee said with his mouthful of toast. "STOP TALKING WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL!" Both Zuko and Shang yelled. The whole ship heard that being yelled so a few people had flinched. "Who in their right mind is talking with their mouth full. I even know that is wrong." Yhu Wy said. "Probably Jee, he IS the only one in the brig right now." Lhy Tu said. "Oh, so the person who says I am a barbarian for not having parents?" Yhu Wy asked, laughing hysterically, yet angrily. "Are you okay?" Lhy Tu asked, starting to back away. "He's fine just needs to take out his anger." Zhang said, putting a hand on Yhu Wy's shoulder. "Get ready for a spar on deck to let out your anger before you do something you regret." Zhang said he would be Yhu Wy's sparring partner. Yhu Wy just nodded as he brushed off Zhang's hand to go get changed into training clothes. In the private dining room, LaMai and Iroh were drinking tea after they finished their breakfast. "So I found something for you when we went to a monastery a few days ago." Iroh said, pulling the perfume bottle out of his sleeve. "Perfume? I never had any before." LaMai said as she took the bottle and opened it to get a whiff of it. "Oh wow, it smells like lavender and jasmine." She said excitedly loving both of those scents. "I am glad that you like it, my dear." Iroh said smiling. LaMai gets up from her seat and hugs Iroh. "Thank you, dad." LaMai said and there was no hesitation as she called him dad. When she said dad it caused Iroh to tear up a little.
Aang and his master walked up the path to the mountain's summit. "Are we coming up here so I don't burn anything with my fire blasts?" "No fire yet!" Aang looked disappointed and tsk'd with his tongue. "What?" "Power in firebending comes from the breath. That is why you must master proper breath control." "You brought me up here to breathe? But I'm an airbender, I already know breathing!" "Assume your stance!" Jeong Jeong shouts, while turning to leave. "Wider!" He shouts. Aang looks forlorn. "But you're not even look-" and got cut off by Jeong Jeeong shouting out, Wider! Now, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth - without talking." Aang obeys. "Good. Keep going." The firebending master walks down the path and out of sight.
Aang parts the curtain into Jeong Jeong's candle lit hut and enters. "What are you doing here? I did not tell you to stop!" "I've been breathing for hours." "You want to… stop breathing?" Jeong Jeong said, cocking an eyebrow up at Aang. Aang, angrily throwing his hands wide in a gesture of frustration, "I want you to stop wasting my time! I already know how to squat and breathe and feel the sun." Here he makes semi-disrespectful gestures mimicking each of the activities that Jeong Jeong has insisted he practice. Then he straightens up some, wiggling his fingers like they were spider legs. "I want to know how to shoot fire from my fingertips!" Jeong Jeong sighed and lowered his head. "Ughhhh. I had a pupil once who had no interest in learning discipline. He was only concerned with the power of fire - how he could use it to destroy his opponents and wipe out the obstacles in his path. But fire is a terrible burden to bear. Its nature is to consume and without control it destroys everything around it." He starts pouring himself some tea. "Learn restraint, or risk destroying yourself and everything you love."
Zhao and his men moved up the river on their boats. They are attacked by some of Jeong Jeong's rebels, but Zhao wipes them out with a wall of flame and a cruel smile. As the boat travels upstream, the forest fire that Zhao has just started rages freely in the background. It is clear that Zhao was Jeong Jeong's undisciplined former student.
Sometime later, where Jeong Jeong exits his hut to stand in front of Aang, whose head is lowered. The Avatar sits in repose on the stone near the river bank in front of the hut. Leaves fall around them. "I thought about what you said. I promise I'll be more patient." "We're going to work with fire now." "Oh yeah!" He airbends himself in a few quick loops in the air, then freezes, remembering his promise. He lands back on the stone, puts his hands behind his back and assumes a serious expression. "I mean, let us begin." Jeong Jeong catches one of the falling leaves in his left hand. He holds it between his thumb and forefinger. He begins to burn a tiny hole in it at the point of contact. "Concentrate on the fire. I want you to keep this flame from reaching the edges of the leaf for as long as you can." The hole is spreading with the flame even as Aang assumes his stance and begins to concentrate. a rebel guard has approached the pair. "Master! There's trouble." Aang asks, "What's going on?" as Jeong Jeong left with the guard. "Concentrate on your leaf."
Aang, petulantly stated, "This is the worst firebending instruction ever. All he does is leave me alone for hours to concentrate or breathe." "I'm sure there's a good reason." Katara said, still practicing her waterbending. "But I'm ready to do so much more." Suddenly Aang's face lights up with an idea. He still holds the leaf, which begins to smoke. Suddenly, the leaf bursts into flame and disintegrates. Aang is now holding a fireball in his hand. "I did it! I made fire!" "Aang, that's great, but you should take it slow." Katara said, stepping closer. Aang's expression gets annoyed at this comment, and the flame instantly gets bigger. He and Katara are surprised. "Careful!" Aang retains control and reduces the flame to its former size, but not before almost falling into the river. "Now that's firebending!" Aang then shoots a whip of flame and then begins to juggle his ball of flame happily. Katara looked almost distraught. "Aang, you'll hurt yourself!" Aang didn't hear her, and continued to play. "Wonder how that juggler did it?" Aang loops the ball around him. It begins a complete circle around him and he pushes it outward. The shockwave of flame engulfs Katara and burns her hands which she has raised to protect her face. She cries out in pain. Katara has crumpled to her knees, hands wrapped around her. "Katara!" Aang shouts out, hopping over to Katara, who's crying pitifully. "I'm so sorry!" Sokka rushed to his sister. "Katara, what's wrong?" And before waiting for an answer, he turned angrily at Aang, asking, "What did you do?" Aang stammers for a second before saying, "Iiiit was an accident! I was... Katara, I'm so -" Sokka cuts him off as he grabs Aang and tackles him to the ground just as Aang tries to put a hand on Katara's shoulder. "I told you we shouldn't mess around with this! Look what you did! You burned my sister!" Katara gets up and runs away. Aang looks on, stunned, as she exits.
Yhu Wy was already on deck ready to spar by the time Zhang came out in training clothes as well. Zhang already knew it would be better to be on the defensive while Yhu Wy was angry. Lhy Tu, Wang, Zuko, Iroh, and LaMai were also on deck to watch what was going to happen. Since Wang and Lhy Tu were in the room when it was said the spar was going to happen they both told Iroh, LaMai, and Zuko. Zuko was only there because he was curious to see what Yhu Wy would do while angry. Zhang was standing across from Yhu Wy. "Just saying those of you here to watch might want to take a few steps back when angry his shots are wild." Zhang said to those who were behind him. LaMai was the one to take a step back after they were warned mainly because she is not a firebender.
Yhu Wy growled a small ferrell noise from his throat, upset that Zhang would tell people that he's wild. "I'll show you, old man." He spits out bitterly. Zhang looks a little taken aback, and maybe a little hurt at being called an 'old man'. "I'm not-" He started, and then cut himself off. "You called me old?" "Yupp. Old man." Yhu Wy started taunting. "Why don't you take some 'wild shots' and show us what you're capable of?" He said, flailing his arms mockingly, then he buckled his knees and put his hands out in front of him, pretending to use a walker. Zhang sighed, realizing that Yhu Wy's only blows have been with his words, and this wouldn't help him calm down at all. In fact, it seemed to rile him up more. He takes a deep breath, and fires the first shot, a warning shot by Yhu Wys toes. "Are you going to keep prattling on, or are you going to shut up and spar?" This pissed Yhu Wy off. 'How dare he!' he thought appalled. "You're not even the one I want to fight!" He screamed out angrily, encasing his hands in flames, and closing in to karate chop Zhang. Zhang moved, not just out of the way, but to the other side of Yhu Wy. Yhu Wy spun around, trying to land a fire punch to Zhang's face. Zhang moved out of the way again, effortlessly like a ballet dancer. LaMai nodded in approval, smiling at the dance between the two men. Zhang steps a little farther away from Yhu Wy after his last dodge. So Yhu Wy lobbed a fireball at him, which he deflected and made land in the seawater below them, causing a cooked fish to rise to the surface. Wang couldn't resist, he had to know what a firebent fish tasted like. So he went to look for a net below deck. Everyone knew that TenZou would cook anything you handed to him, but today's treat was that it was already cooked. Yhu Wy saw Wang starts to walk away, and feeling like he wasn't fighting hard enough to keep him entertained, lobbed three fireballs at Zhang. "Anyone else think he took Wang leaving for food wrong?" LaMai asked after seeing that. Three firebenders just stood and nodded silently, watching Yhu Wy growl angrily with each blow. Zhang stood his ground and when the fireballs reached him, he took the fire in his hands, twirled around, and redirected the gout of flame over to Yhu Wy, who was already lobbing three more fireballs in Zhang's direction. The fireballs heading Yhu Wy's way collided with the fireballs heading Zhang's way, and made little fireworks in front of them. Everyone 'ooohhh'd and 'aaahhh'd, even Wang, who was just now returning with a net. The people 'ooohhhh'ing and 'aaahhh'ing make Yhu Wy even more angry, while Zhang nodded in approval at the cute display, muttering something about "showing his daughter" and smiling. The smile on Zhang's face pissed Yhu Wy off too. So he ran up to Zhang, lobbing fireballs as he ran, running up to give him a fire punch. Zhang again deflected all of the fireballs and made them land in the waters below, causing more cooked fish to float to the surface. "It's my lucky day!" Wang said. "What if it tastes like crap?" Lhy Tu asked, barely wanting to look away from the fight. "Then, I guess I'll ask TenZou to cut it into strips, and give it to Fragwa, telling him that it's jerky." LaMai just giggled at Wang's idea. "It might make him stop stealing other people's jerky." Wang explained, thinking she was laughing at him. "Fragwa needs to learn not to steal from fellow crewmates. And this lesson is not dangerous, or life threatening. So it will be wonderful." Iroh said, taking a sip of tea from his cup before going back to shouting out instructions. The others were just watching, but Iroh shouted out movements, commands, and stances, pissing Yhu Wy off even more. "You think I don't know the basics, old man?" He roared out, widening his stance to do an "Armadillo-lion roar" to show his raw power. "Don't!" "We're on a ship!" and "Don't do anything stupid!" Could be heard from the others as Iroh ran up to Yhu Wy and held both of his hands, redirecting his fire through his body, and breathing fire above all of their heads in the wide open air. After this, Yhu Wy collapsed into Iroh's arms, exhausted by what he just did. "I think that's enough for today." Iroh said, hugging Yhu Wy to keep him standing. "Can someone take him to his room, and keep an eye on him. That temper will get him nowhere but hurt." After Lhy Tu offered to take him back to his room, and 'get another book' as he told everyone, Iroh turned to everyone and said calmly, "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again. Only, more wisely. I hope, not just he, but you all, learned something during this match." And he walked back to LaMai, who gave him his teacup back, and took a long swig. "Blech! This tea tastes like lukewarm seaweed." He said, taking the pot off the table and heating the tea with firebending. "Would anyone else like some?"
Aang was still lying on the grass of the river bank where Sokka tackled him. He looks a little scared and lost. Sokka stands over him, still very angry. "You burned my sister!" Jeong Jeong overhears Sokka yelling as he returns. He directs the next scream at Jeong Jeong. "This is all your fault!" Jeong Jeong calmly states, "I know. Now pack your things. You must leave immediately." Aang, on the verge of tears, says, "I'm sorry. I didn't-" He's cut off by Sokka walking away. "I'm sorry!" Aang looks up at Jeong Jeong who has walked over to him. He looks implacable. He turns and walks away leaving Aang alone.
Katara cries by the river bank. She looks at her hands, they are burned. She puts them in the water. The pain intensifies, then she feels some relief. Her eyes open in surprise as she looks down. Her hands glow white underneath the water. She raises them out and they stop glowing. The burns are gone. She looks at her hands in amazement. Jeong Jeong does too. "You have healing abilities." She turns to see Jeong Jeong approaching from behind. "The great benders of the water tribe sometimes have this ability." He sits next to her. "I've always wished I were blessed like you - free from this burning curse." "But you're a great master. You have powers I'll never know." "Water brings healing and life. But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery. Eventually, we are torn apart." Suddenly the water in front of them is blasted with gouts of flame. Jeong Jeong rises quickly to a defensive bending stance and breaks the flames that wash over him and Katara. Zhao's riverboats are bearing down on them. Jeog Jeong stands firm, telling Katara, "Go get your friends and flee!" She nods and starts to run in the direction of the boys. "Do not come back here or you will be destroyed. Hurry!" Jeong Jeong turns back to face the boats which are shooting fireballs at him. They land harmlessly all around him. Zhao looked ahead through a telescope from the main deck of his ship. He lowers it and smiles. Jeong Jeong with a few powerful motions, produces an awesome wall of fire perhaps a hundred feet across the entire river in front of the ships. The ships then turned starboard and moved to dock at a nearby beach. Zhao drops into view. "Don't worry, men. My old teacher gave up fighting a long time ago." Jeong Jeong is behind the wall of fire. Suddenly, Zhao parts the wall just enough for him to walk through. "Master Jeong Jeong." he drops the wall of fire.
Katara runs up to where Sokka is preparing Appa to leave. He turns to his sister. "Katara, are you alright?" "I'm fine. We've gotta get out of here. Where's Aang?" Sokka thumbs in the direction of the hut. Katara runs down the hill path to Jeong Jeong's hut. It is clear now that Jeong Jeong's hut rests on a little island in the river and is approachable by a small footbridge. Katara enters through the curtains and sees Aang sitting amidst the candles with his back to the entrance. "Jeong Jeong tried to tell me that I wasn't ready. I wouldn't listen. I'm never going to firebend again." "You'll have to eventually." "No. Never again." "It's ok, Aang. I'm healed." "What? How?" "I'll explain later. But right now, we have to get out of here. Zhao and his soldiers are attacking!" Aang airbends himself to his feet, blowing out the candles in the process. "Where?" "By the river." Katara started, opening the curtain to let in some light, "They captured Jeong Jeong." Aang runs out of the hut. "I have to help him!"
Wang, Zuko, Iroh, and LaMai sit on the deck after the match they just witnessed, drinking freshly hand-brewed tea. LaMai says, "It must be nice being able to bend something. You can heat anything you want, burn incriminating evidence, threaten anyone who wishes you harm BEFORE a fight. It just seems lovely." "Does that mean you don't want a non-bender mate?" Wang asked, wiggling his eyebrows, and seeing Shang walk up to the table behind LaMai while she answered. "Honestly, it doesn't matter if or what they can bend. What does matter to me is how they treat me, and the elderly, and small children. How they treat those weaker than themselves, and how they treat people at a lower station than themselves." She said, staring off into the distance. "Those are a true test of one's character, not raw power." "Spoken like the old man himself. No wonder he wanted you." Zuko said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "I think she's good. And I think she's right." Shang said, standing behind her, shocking her. She jumped a little, and the motion made her smell waft around. "Who smells like the brothel these two went to the other day?" Wang asked, walking up to the table with five cooked fish in his net. LaMai blushed. She really liked this perfume. "I… umm… well." She started stammering. Just then, Shang put a hand on her shoulder to calm her nerves, and addressed the men. "We have a woman on board, the least you can do is stop disrespecting women. They went to an abbey. AN ABBEY! With nuns and stuff!" He said, furrowing his brows. "Besides, I happen to think it smells quite nice." "Shang, you'd think cow shit smelled nice on her." Wang jokes. Zuko barely managed to stifle his giggle, and his shoulders shook with the force of his chuckle, and he disguised it as a cough. "Please, tell me. Is Jee done cleaning the ship?" "Yes sir. It was the most grueling two days of my life. Don't make me do that again Please." Zuko chuckled at this. "I'll take it into consideration. Please, join us." Zuko said, narrowing his eyes at Shang, remembering the other week when he said, "I'd ship them," as he drifted off to sleep. In the time that has passed, all they've done is strengthen his resolve, and subtly let him know he was right, with their awkward glances, shared smiles, and body language. 'They might not know it yet, but they like each other,' he thinks to himself. Shang sits down in Zuko's spot, next to LaMai, because Zuko got up to stand next to Iroh, and get his teacup refilled. After downing his tea like a madman, he told Wang to see if anyone needed help in the engine room. After Wang left, Zuko elbowed Iroh, saying they should take a walk together along the outskirts of the ship. Iroh said he wanted to, but also, "What about my tea?" "We'll make you some more." Zuko said, pointing to the door leading to the lower floors with his chin. Iroh understood, got up, kissed LaMai on the forehead, and told Shang, "You hurt her, and I hurt you." Before leaving with Zuko. After they walked off, Shang and LaMai were alone. "Well, that was weird." LaMai said nonchalantly. "Hahaa. Weird… Right." Shang agreed while still shivering from Iroh's threat. "You look cold." LaMai stated. "Let me pour you some tea. It'll warm you right up." She pours a cup for him and their fingers touch while she passes him his cup. They both blush. Then she pours herself a refill of tea. "A toast!" She says. "A toast to what?" "I guess not being toast. Yhu Wy really IS a wild shot when he's angry." "I figured long ago that Zhang knows everyone's weaknesses and secrets… He just doesn't care enough about anyone to use it against them." "Does he know about… ya know… being a non-bender?" "Yes. That's why I was made a brig guard. It keeps me out of direct fighting and out of the line of fire." LaMai looked at him when he said 'fire' and they both giggled. "I'm glad. But I think I belong on a battlefield." "Is that where you're happy, or where you've always been." Shang asked, swishing his tea around in his cup before taking a swig. LaMai looked down at her cup for a minute, not saying a word. Finally, she sighs. "I honestly can't remember a time I wasn't in some form of battle." "If there was no war, what would you do instead of fight?" "I guess I would learn as much as I can. Big things, little things, things people find insignificant." "Like what?" "You tell me what you'd be doing if there was no war first." "I'd want to have a wife and children, and a house with a garden close by a river or creek. I'd want to provide for them and be loved unconditionally." "That's beautiful." LaMai muttered under her breath. "What'd you say?" Shang asked, unable to hear her mutterings. "Umm…" She blushed. "I said I'd like to learn to crochet… Yeah, that sounds about right." They sat on the deck, drinking tea and talking, until Zuko knocked on the door leading to below deck to announce his presence. "Dinnertime guys." He said, and then sashayed off sassily and happily. "It's all coming together!" He whispered to himself, smiling, as they picked up their teacups and the teapot and he walked back below deck. A minute later, they joined him in the hallway. "What is for dinner?" "I dunno. Some kind of weird soup."
Zhao and his men stand against the lone Master. "Look at you. You were once so great. I can't believe my former master has become nothing more than a simple savage." "It is you who have embraced savagery, Zhao." "It's Admiral Zhao, now" "That title will not help you against the Avatar. Do not try to fight him! You are no match!" Zhao started laughing. "I think I can handle a child." "I have never seen such raw power." Aang from overhead calls out to Jeong Jeong. Zhao takes command. "Well see about that. Men! Take the deserter!" Jeong Jeong was surrounded by five of his own spearmen. Aang stops short in horror as they close in. Jeong Jeong smiles and wraps himself in a massive ball of flame. When it dissipates, he is gone. Zhao angrily turns to his men, shouting out, "It's a trick! He's run off into the woods. Find himm!" He then turns to Aang. "Let's find out what my old master has taught you." "YOU were Jeong Jeong's student?" "Until I got bored." He launches a fireball at Aang, who dodges that and another. "I see he taught you how to duck and run like a coward. But I doubt he showed you what a firebender is truly capable of!" He launches another fireball at Aang. It flies over Aang's head as the Avatar produces a flat, spinning whirlwind of air underneath him and balances himself on top of it with one finger. "Woah! Wild shot!" "I'll show you wild!" He fires several more volleys which Aang either dodges or breaks with airbending. Zhao's blasts have torched much of the surrounding forest and the sky fills with smoke. Aang mutters to himself, "No self control…" He looks over at the boats and then back at Zhao. "Stand and fight, Avatar!" "Oh! Were we fighting? I thought you were just getting warmed up." "I was!" He fires many more volleys, all of which miss. "Is that all you got? Man, they'll make anyone an admiral these days!" Zhao launches another errant fire blast with a dreadful noise of frustration. Aang airbends himself up onto one of the ships. "Ahoy!" He starts, sticking his butt out at the admiral and shaking and wiggling it. "I'm Admiral Zhao!" Zhao jumps up onto the main deck and launches a blast of fire. It sets the bridge on fire, but Aang jumps off unharmed to the aft section. He jumps the aft section of the next ship. "I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko." Aang looks disappointed when he says this and hangs his arms by his sides, letting them dangle. His eyes go wide and he falls flat on the deck fast, though, as a wall of fire passes over him. Zhao is visible through the deck of the first ship. He has just blasted a hole through the guard rail of both ships with the wall of fire Aang just avoided. "Sloppy. Very sloppy." Crying in frustration, Zhao follows Aang around the boats, spreading fire to each of them in his vain effort to get Aang. Momentarily out of Zhao's sights, Aang hides behind one of the deck cabins. Zhao lands behind him, however, having jumped down from the top of the deck cabin. Aang turns to face him. "Nowhere to run now, you little smart mouth brat!" He launches a fire bolt, which Aang dodges by flipping over Zhao's head to land behind him. The bridge of the third and last ship is now on fire. "You've lost this battle." Aang airbends himself into the air as Zhao sets fire to the third ship's prow. "Are you crazy? You haven't thrown a single blow!" "No." Aang says simply moving to the side so Zhao can see, "But you have." Zhao sees all three ships on fire, the first of which is sinking into the water. "Jeong Jeong said you had no restraint." Aang hops off the prow of the third ship. "Have a nice walk home!" He shouts out. Sokka calls for Aang. Appa is there with the others on his back. Aang runs over, hops on Appa and they take off. "Wait! Where's Jeong Jeong?" Sokka and Katara stared at Aang for a second, then Sokka spoke. "He disappeared. They all did." Katara notices Aang's arms. "Aang. you're burned." He looks down in wonder to see that she is right. His sleeves are torn open and there are burn marks. "Let me help you." She opens her water skein and wraps some water around her hand. It glows white again. She places it over the burned area , breathes and concentrates. When she lets go the wound is healed. "Wow, that's some good water." Aang says, giggling a little. Sokka looked like he'd just seen a ghost. "When did you learn how to do that?" Katara shrugged. "I guess I always knew…?" "Oh… well then thanks for all the first aid over the years. Like when I fell into the grease briar bramble and that time I had two fish hooks in my thumb!" "Two?" Aang asked, stopping his google fit. "He tried to get the first fish hook out with another fish hook. "Oh, and the time that big snake bit me! Thanks for healing that up. That was great. Really helpful."