Just so you know I'm planning on changing up the timeline a little bit like the puppeteer episode is now after the whole eclipse thing and Zuko is going to come into play later maybe. I'm not sure how but I feel he is really needed in the story in some way. Also the three other people who escaped with them after the eclipse battle got captured too in my version, it just helps the story and it isn't too much of a different detail. And one last thing in my story combustion boy isn't hunting them still. Please comment if you don't like any of these changes to be honest I'm only half way through season three of the show.
The next morning Aang wakes up to Appa's snoring and Aang wakes up to Momo bouncing up and down on his stomach. "Okay I'm up I'm up. I had the craziest dream last night." Aang said sitting up and patting Momo. "If it was a friend of yours finally getting you a teacher that won't try and incinerate you then it wasn't a dream." Sokka said packing up the food. Aang looks around to see the ninja from last night Nya and Katara were exchanging water techniques, Cole and Toph doing the same for earth bending, and the rest packing up the campsite. Aang and Kai make eye contact before both breaking it, neither one was really sure how to feel about it.
Kai was angry at Sensei Wu for not telling him or at the least ask him about teaching some kid. Aang was both excited and confused at the same time he wasn't sure about it all to be honest, fire was the destruction element and after last night this guy must have a really short temper. He hoped that at least Wu would maybe come and see him. He really wanted to have one of his old friends back.
"Okay Aang time to go we can stop at the next town a few miles from here." Sokka said, looking at a map. Zane leans over and looks it up and down before scrunching his face and Sokka looks at Zane very annoyed. "Can I help you?" Sokka asks with a sarcastic tone that goes completely over Zane's head. "Wouldn't it be better if we stopped by this city here?" Zane said pointing to the city of Mashu. "Can't it's been over run by the fire nation for the past few months and it's heavily fortified we're going to need to take a different root to avoid it." Sokka explains thinking strategy. Zane looks at the map deep in thought then points along a certain root. "That seems to be the fastest and safest route though we will need to stop nearby this village which looks to be a fire nation village but it doesn't seem to be a threat." Zane said pointing to a route then stopping at a village nearby. Sokka looks at the map and makes a few calculations. "Yes but we need to stop here so Appa can rest and we can stretch our legs also so Aang can finally get started on mastering fire bending." Sokka said, pointing to an open rock field on the map. "Good call if we're quick we should be able to reach the village by night fall if we leave in the next five minutes." Zane said turning to the rest of the group who just finished backing and was ready to go.
"One problem I don't think Appa's going to fit everyone." Aang said as Appa shakes off the leaves that had fallen on him. "No problem." Lloyd said summoning his dragon and scaring the pants off everyone else except Toph who looks confused. "What? Why do I feel a giant lizard is nearby?" Toph asks. "You summoned a dragon! I thought they had all been killed!" Katara exclaims. "Yeah it's a master thing we can all summon them." Lloyd said. "How did they get wiped out?" Cole asks feeling very defensive because if anyone ever hurt his old dragon Rocky they were going to have to deal with him. "Fire lord Azula had an order to wipe them all out so that only his nation could control fire, since dragons were the original fire benders." Katara explains. "In our realm dragons can control fire but also other elements as well but these are spirit dragons in tune with our souls." Nya explains. "Is there anything the fire nation hasn't destroyed?" Kai asks and the team avatar doesn't really give him an answer. "Never mind." he said with annoyed sigh. "It would be better if only some of us summoned our dragons. That way it's less obvious or that we're an eyesore." Nya suggests. "How about Zane's, yours, and Jay's they would camouflage the best against the sky." Lloyd said, making his dragon disappear. "That sounds good let's go then people." Sokka said getting up on Appa with Toph and Katara. Jay, Zane, and Nya summon their dragons as the other three and Aang climb on Appa. "Okay Appa yip yip!" Aang said as the bison roars before taking off the ground with the three dragons flying close behind them.
Once they get to a cruising altitude Aang hands the reins off to Sokka. He leans back and sighs as he looks at the open blue sky with barely a cloud in sight. Kai comes over and blocks his vision of the sky and hands Aang a maple leaf. "Keep the embers from reaching the edges until we land." he explains pointing to a hole in the middle of the leaf that Kai had burned a hole in. Before Aang could protest Kai goes back over to the back and leans back closing his eyes and falling asleep. Aang looks to the others on the situation but they either don't pay attention to him or don't care. Aang sighs as he focused on the task the best he could though it was easier said than done. "This is going to be fun" he thinks rolling his eyes sarcastically.
Fire nation capital
"Your highness there has been a unnerving development." The soldier that was unlucky enough said bowing infront of fire lord Ozin. "What is it?" Ozin asks. The throne room was large with dark red pillars and tapestries that depicted past battles that had been won with golden thread. On a throne at least ten feet above with a wall of fire burning infront of him was fire lord Ozin believing this development to be no more than a inconvenience. He had his hair done up long behind his with his crown resting on his head as he wore long silk robes.
"During a attempt to capture a earth bender and water bender a whole squad of highly trained fire benders where taken out, by one fire bender who was with the group." The soldier said bowing a little lower. "Impressive but I assume you've properly captured and punished this act of treason." Ozin said. "Umm no my lord usually this wouldn't be brought to you personally but this fire bender is more skilled than any fire bender recorded. From the recounts of captain Oolong he sent a blast of his hottest that hit the traitor right in the chest. But it didn't even leave a burn scar he even used techniques that have never been recorded. My lord not to speak out of term but this fire bender may be more skilled than any other fire bender in history even surpassing the dragons." The soldier explains gathering enough courage to look up at his lord.
Fire lord Ozin is quiet for a moment as he processed the information he was just given. Captain Oolong was a known and respected captain among all who knew him able to beat anyone of any skill. "Bring me captain Oolong I will speak to him immediately." Ozin orders he wanted to know what happened from the source or punish the captain most likely both. The soldier nods and hurried away to carry out his orders. After a few moments of silence Captain Oolong enters with his helmet off and he kneels in front of his lord.
"Show me your face." Ozin orders. Oolong is hesitant before looking up at his lord to reveal a burn scar that was larger and worse than the one he had given Zuko. It was fresh and had blinded the captain in his left eye and was spread from his left side of his face running down to his neck stopping at his shoulders. "The fire bender did this to you?" Ozin asks portraying no emotion. "He said his name was Kai my lord we may be able to control fire but we are still marred by it. He walked away without a scar claiming we may be able to posses it but he is the master of fire." Oolong explains to his lord. "Thank you Oolong I shall deal with this now that the avatar is still alive." Ozin said showing no emotion to his words. Taking that as his sign to leave Oolong gets up and leaves his footsteps echoing through the large room. Once he leaves Ozin turns to his daughter Azula who was quietly watching everything from the shadows. "Go and find this fire bender he will teach us his secrets or die with them. That goes for anyone else who is connected with him." Ozin orders Azula.
She smiles and bows to her father a sinister smile and glint in her eyes. I am the only master of fire. Azula thinks as she goes to prepare for her journey.
The team Avatar
Kai wakes up with a start as Appa lands to take a rest break. The place was secluded with a nearby lake and forest and a mountain nearby it was a lovely day with only a few clouds in the sky. He looks over at Aang who floated off Appa rather quickly and trying to be quiet. "What happened to the leaf?" Kai calls over and Aang stops spinning around so fast the dirt nearby flew away. Kai didn't really care that much he only gave the task so the kid wouldn't pester him while he took a nap. After the battle last night he was still pretty tired and apparently a giant flying bison makes a great bed. "Umm what leaf?" Aang asks playing dumb. "It burned up within two minutes didn't it?" Kai asks. "No!" Aang said. "Yeah it was only one minute. You have your work cut out for you bud." Cole said with a light playful punch to Kai's shoulder. "If you keep that up you get to be the volunteered target for practice." Kai threatens with a smug smile and Cole backs away. Zane, Jay, and Nya land thier dragons as Kai gets off Appa with the others.
"So how long are we going to be here?" Jay asks looking around. "Just a few days not too long. We should go into town later but for now we can stay out here and practice bending." Toph said. "Great I'm up for it let's practice some earth bending." Aang said before Toph puts a hand in his face stopping him from going further. "Aang you've mastered earth bending, air bending and water bending you need to learn fire bending." Toph chides Aang. He looks stricken and knowing how Kai is the ninja felt a little sorry for him. "Now if you excuse me I would like to teach Cole a few moves while he teaches me some." Toph said. "Oh I'm in, tell me everything." Cole said excitedly as he and Toph walk off to a area where the others won't get hurt. "Yeah and could you teach me that thing you did to summon water through the plants?" Katara asks Nya. "Only if you teach me that healing thing." Nya said as the two girls go off to the lake followed by Zane who was curious about the healing move as well. Sokka, Lloyd and Jay get themselves comfortable as they sit back against Appa who was chewing on the grass. Momo sat down on Lloyd's lap and started snoring while Jay and Lloyd sat back to watch the show.
"So how do I start?" Aang asks Kai. After a moment of thought Kai makes up a decision on what to do. He steps back and pushes his hands into the ground heating it up enough that it would've burned anyone normal. It was about half a yard long and was smoking where it was hot so you could tell where it was warm. "Walk across there using no other form of bending but fire bending I can tell if you use any other form." Kai orders and Aang mouth drops open so far Kai expects it to hit the ground. "What! That'll burn my feet off." Aang complains. "Then Nya has someone to practice on for that healing stuff." Kai said with a smile and Aang's mouth drop open further. "Umm Kai isn't this a bit much?" Jay asks. "Yeah all you had me do was target practice." Lloyd asks. "Do not question my methods." Kai said and gestures for Aang to go.
Aang gulps and takes a step forward slowly but before his foot touches the ground Kai grabs his shirt. He sighs in relief thinking that the whole thing was a trick but immediately is proven wrong. "Take off your shoes no shoes needed." Kai orders. "Okay I'm drawing a line there I am not having my feet burn off I know enough that this won't be good." Aang protests. "Wu said to trust me and not to question me want me to show you?" Kai asks and Aang nods thinking Kai wasn't actually going to do it. Instead Kai heats the ground up even more until the rocks and dirt are charred. He then takes off his shoes and steps onto the charred earth. He walks across it easily and back with a smirk as he lifts his feet to show no burn marks. "Told ya your turn." Kai said. Aang takes a calm breath and puts one foot on it and is very suprised to see that it didn't burn or hurt him at all. In fact it wasn't even hot rather cold despite the charring and Aang looks at his teacher confused. "Good job I wasn't going to make you walk across it while it was still hot. Benders aren't fire proof here like me I just needed you to take the literal first step in fire." Kai explains with a satisfied nod. "That fire plays tricks on you in its illusion of warmth and safety?" Aang asks.
That darkens Kai's mood and he smacks his forehead but doesn't elaborate. "Summon a flame." Kai orders. Aang try's he really does but all he can do is summon a small puff of smoke. "I'm trying I really am but I just don't have the anger to do it." Aang said solemly. Kai sighed and sent a look at the other two watching to leave and they do so. Once they're out of ear shot Kai puts a hand on Aang's shoulder and pushes him on the ground sitting down next to him. "What's your beef against fire?" Kai asks. "What! I have nothing against fire in general." Aang said not making eye contact. "Your a terrible lier tell me." Kai said again. Aang is hesitant for rightful purposes but looking into Kai's amber eyes he sees no tricks, no manipulation, no alternative motives. "The fire princess used her fire to kill me while I was in the avatar state. Katara used spirit water to bring me back but if I had died right then and there then the avatar would've ended with me. The only time I've ever been able to summon a small flame I nearly burned Katara's hands off. I don't want to hurt anyone." Aang said looking a little ashamed. Kai sighs feeling of sorta understanding washing over him. "You must be under a lot of pressure to master all the elements so you can end a world war." Kai said and Aang nods. "Uh Huh." He said. "And you don't want to fail the world like you feel you failed the air benders." Kai continues as Aang looks like he's about to start sobbing which was something Kai was unsure he could deal with. "Here let me show you a simple trick I use it to cheer Nya up when she's sad." Kai said.
He cups his hands and blows into them before releasing them in a puff of smoke. A fire bursts forth and dances around them before taking the shape of Appa flying through the clouds. It then morphs into a dragon and that dragon breaths smoke like it's fire right in Aang's face and he laughs. It then goes back into Kai's palm and lies down curling up to look like it was sleeping before dispersing. "See that wasn't destruction that was laughter. To master anything you need to understand both sides of the element." Kai said. "But fire is destruction the other elements aren't like that." Aang said confused. "All elements have the potential to hurt and heal. Water can heal you and give you a sense of comfort but it can still kill you if you drown. Air can be manipulated and create tornadoes that can take out cities. Earth can make landslides that take out towns. Fire can burn away whole forests in a blink of a eye but in the ashes a new forest more lush than the last will grow." Kai explains to Aang who starts nodding in understanding. "It's not the element itself that's dangerous it's the one who wields it that makes it dangerous." Kai explains and understanding dawns on Aang's young face.
"The point of walking across the ground was for two reasons one I wanted to see if you were willing to believe it wouldn't hurt you. The other was because I wanted to see if you would actually do it. I had already made a bet with Toph on it she owes me five silver pieces." Kai said proudly. Aang is speechless for a moment before laughing with Kai laughing to. "Here." Kai said making a small flame in his hands and handing it off to Aang who takes it. "It's like a heart beat." Aang said. "Fire is life it can grow and die just as easy as a person. Now I want you to practice using that flame to shoot it anywhere you wish I'll teach you some poses for it tomorrow." Kai explains. Aang nods and starts doing that he may not be able to summon a flame but the one Kai gave him was a good start. Lloyd and Jay come back over later to watch as Aang tries copying poses he's seen fire benders do before.
"So how's it going?" Lloyd asks Kai as he watches. "Needs a lot of work but I'll get there if I feel like it I'll grab a stick and whack him with it whenever he messes up like Wu does." Kai said. "Is that how fire benders learn?" Sokka asks. Kai rolls his eyes at Sokka and grumbles a few thing that Sokka doesn't quite catch.
Anyway before they know it it's dusk and the sun is setting fast with Aang's fire going out. "We can continue tomorrow buddy." Kai said and Aang nods as the other come back. "Okay let's head into the forest and set up camp there I found a barn for Appa to camp out in but we still need to sleep outside." Sokka said. "Fine by me I had so much fun learning water tactics." Nya said and Katara nods just as pleased. "Let's head out then." Lloyd said as he follows Sokka into the woods. "By the way Toph you owe Kai five silver pieces." Aang said. "What! No way twinkle toes did it." Toph grumbled. "He did pay up little girl." Kai said with a out stretched palm. "I'll pay later." Toph grumbles.
Once they have Appa and Momo settler in the gang sets up a campfire lighting up a campfire. "So anyone got any good ghost stories?" Cole asks. "Oh I got one about a sword." Sokka said. "Not that one." Toph grumbles. "I have a traditional water tribe legend." Katara said excitedly and everyone edges closure. "Oh Kai the fires going out do you mind?" Katara asks looking at the dwindling fire. He looks at it and gives it a small ball of fire as it goes up crackling with vigorous energy.
Katara tells them the story of Nini thoroughly scaring the kids. Suddenly Toph yells out. "Do you hear that?" Toph asks and Jay jumps at that and clutches Nya in fear as she pats her trembling boyfriend. "Do not scare us like that!" Jay shouts at her. "I swear I just heard screaming but it's stopped." Toph said confused. "Hello there." A unknown voice said behind them. They all scream and run to the other side of the fire everyone huddling together in fear with Jay having jumped into Cole's arms. They all look as a old lady enters the light with a kind smile on her face. She had long white hair and old traditional robes that went down to her feet. They all sigh in relief and Cole drops Jay to the ground with a thud as he laughs embarrassed. "You shouldn't be out here alone I'm Hama come with me I own the nearby inn." Hama said gesturing for them to follow. They all follow her eager for a bed to sleep in instead of the cold hard ground.
They reach the inn and enter to the smell of cooking soup as she hands out bowls of stew and gestures for everyone to sit down. "You kids shouldn't be out there alone never know what you'll find." Hama said as the gang eagerly eats up their stew. "Thank you madam for your hospitality." Zane thanks. "Yes this is delicious." Nya exclaims. "Your welcome to stay as long as you need but it's late you should all go to bed. I'll show you to your rooms." Hama said grabbing some keys and having the gang follow her down the wooden hallway into each room. Lloyd, Cole, and Zane got roomed together, Kai and Jay were put together, Katara, Nya, and Toph together, and Sokka and Aang shared the last room. Each room was simple with nice beds for each of them with a bathroom to share and a small window. "Thanks again madam." Lloyd thanks. "Any time for such nice children now off to bed." Hama said her sweet smile never wavering.
They all head into thier rooms as they ly down on their beds. "Okay is it just me or is something off about that lady?" Kai asks Jay. "What do you mean? She's a sweet old lady who was kind enough to let us stay the night for free." Jay said. "I don't know something seems off about her but I don't know what." Kai said. In the other room Sokka was saying the same thing to Aang who was saying it was just nonsense that he was paranoid with. "She just seems to sweet." Sokka said suspiciously as Aang rolls his eyes. "Hey look it's a full moon tonight just focus on that." Aang said pointing to the window. Sokka goes over to the window and sighs thinking of his lost love the moon spirit.
Later that night about midnight
Kai wakes up with a dry mouth, he was thirsty really thirsty. He gets up and puts his shoes on he never took off his ninja gear to get into pjs so he carefully gets up and goes out the door to make his way to the kitchen.
He goes there and gets himself a glass of water as he drinks it down he hears a banging outside. Suspicious he unlocks the door and goes outside looking around where the sound had come from. Suddenly he hears a sinister giggling behind him has he looks around for its source he looks at the night sky. It was a beautiful full moon shining down bright as Kai hears the laughter again much louder and closer.