"They're fire bending pants. They help protect you from fire blasts. Now, if you want to be fried, then I suggest that you don't put them on. But, if you want to stay in one piece, I suggest you do."

Aang sighed and went behind a door. When he emerged, The pants fit him perfectly, and he had his shirt off. Zuko had the same exact outfit on.

" Lets get started." said Zuko.

" We'll start with some simple fire bending moves, like creating a fire ball in your hand."

Zuko did the motions. When he looked up, he saw Aang with the same fire ball. Aang's eyes were wide.

" Good." said Zuko.

Aang then decided to have a little fun, like he did when Katara was teaching him water bending. He stretched the fire ball, and then curved it, and then made it into a circle. Zuko watched with amazement.

" Okay, you can stop now." he said.

" How do I get rid of it?" asked Aang.

" Just relax, and the fire will dissipate."

Aang closed his eyes, and he could feel the heat diminish. Aang re-opened his eyes.

" Lets do some more." said Aang excitedly.

Zuko gave a smile.

" Now, I am going to teach you how to push that fire ball forward. You place your legs firmly on the ground. You then focus your energy and then you punch forward, this should cause a ball to fly forward and hit the wall. Don't worry if you hit the wall, they are fire proof."

Aang nodded and did the steps. It took him a little longer to get this one down, but he eventually had it figured out.

It went like this for 5 days. When Aang returned each night from practicing, he would tell Katara and Sokka of what he had learned, and he even showed off a little bit. And, they would ask the same question. " Have you asked him yet?" Aang told them that he was having so much fun, and that he kept forgetting.

On the 6th day, Aang awoke earlier than expected of him. Aang had gotten used to waking up early from Zuko coming in and shaking him. He waited several minutes, but Zuko didn't show up. Aang sighed. He heard some one move behind him. He turned around and saw Katara rubbing her eyes. She stretched and sat up.

" Oh, Aang. I thought you would be training with Zuko." she said.

" I'm supposed to be, but he hasn't showed up yet. I wonder if something happened to him."

Katara looked at Aang. Aang always worried about other people, even if they were his enemy. That's what she liked about Aang, he was so caring and nice. And, when needed, he was the bravest person shehad ever seen.

" Katara, I've always wanted to tell you something." said Aang.

Katara looked at him.

" Yes. What is it."

Aang was now starting to sweat. He placed a hand at the back of his head and scratched behind his ear.

" Well, I just wanted to tell you that I..."

Suddenly, a sudden jerk sent Aang, Katara, and Sokka flying toward the other wall. Aang created an airball, that caught Katara and Sokka before they hit the wall. Sokka was now wide awake, and was panting.

" What happened!" he said. His voice cracking a little.

" I don't know, but I didn't like it." said Aang.

Aang strained his ears to hear what was going on. He could her the screams of men on the top deck, but he couldn't make out anything that they were saying. Suddenly, their cell door opened and they saw Zuko, a little wet.

"What's going on up there!" shouted Sokka.

Zuko ignored him. He ran up to Aang, painting slightly.

" Avatar, we need your help. We are caught in the middle of a..."

Suddenly, the ship jerked again, which sent everyone sprawling over the floor. Aang stood and helped Zuko up.

" Let me guess... a storm." said Aang.

Zuko nodded. Aang closed his eyes. He HATED storms, but there were innocent people aboard this ship, and they needed his help.

" I'll help you Zuko." said Aang.

Zuko nodded, and pulled Aang toward the door. Suddenly, Aang was jerked the other way, and was directly in Katara's face. There lips only a few inches away from each other. Aang could feel his face heat up, as her hot breath touched his skin.

"Aang, I really do want you to be careful." Katara said. "And, if anything happens to you..." she slowly leaned in, and gave Aang a kiss.

Aang could feel every nerve go ABLAZE as her lips touched his. Katara slowly pulled away, and looked at Aang.

"WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!" cried out Zuko.

He pulled Aang away from Katara, and dragged him down the hall. Suddenly, another jerk, sent Katara and Sokka flying. Sokka crawled over and helped his sister back on her knees. Sokka leaned Katara against the corner of the wall.

" Please hurry Aang, get us out of this storm." said Sokka.

On top of the deck, Aang was having difficulty helping everyone. He water bent a wave away from the ship, but then had to air blast a piece of wood that came hurtling at them. He even had to use fire bending to help evaporate big puddles of water that kept weighing the ship down. In about 20 minutes, Aang was exhausted. He had to keep going though, Katara and Sokka were down there, and everyone on board was counting on him. Suddenly, a huge wave that Aang didn't catch, slammed against the deck; putting everyone under water. Aang did a twirled, and the bended the water off the ship. Once the water cleared away, Aang's attention was drawn to the side of the ship. He could hear screaming, and he saw a hand going death-grip on the side of the boat. Aang dashed over the side, but the hand slipped off the railing before he had a chance to grab it. Aang had tears in his eyes. He closed them, and began to feel a hatred toward himself. He should've held on tighter, he should've gotten their earlier. He could've use air bending to pull him up, he could've done so many things to save that mans life, but he didn't. Suddenly, the water, and air a round the boat stopped. The men looked and saw Aang, generating a big air ball (no, not his avatar spirit) to help protect the boat from the storm. Aang struggled, and saw a little bit of his bubble disappear, he generated more energy and closed that hole. The captain put the boat on full speed and head north. Aang could feel his air ball losing power. He couldn't give up though. He had to hold on. Suddenly, Aang heard someone yell, " LAND!" Aang opened hs eyes, and saw an island. His heart lept with joy as he let his bubble deteriorate and let the boat touch the sand. Once he did, he collapsed against the deck. He opened his eyes, and saw Zuko looking down at him. Next thing he knew, blackness covered his eyes, and he went to sleep.

Aang awoke the next day, not in a cell, but in a bed. He looked down and saw his arm wrapped in a bandage. He sat up and looked around the room. He saw Katara's head lying on the bed beside him, and Sokka was sleeping up right in a chair. Katara felt the bed beneath her head move. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Aang sitting up right. She slowly lifted her head and saw green eyes looking down at her. She smiled and shot up from her knees. She leaned over and gave him a big hug. Aang winced in pain.

"Katara, can you please not hug me so tight, it kinda hurts."

Katara loosened up her grip and put her hand on his head.

" I was so worried when Zuko brought you down here. You looked really bad. Scratches all over place, and bruises."

Aang sighed and laid his head against the pillow.

" What exactly happened up there?" she asked.

Aang looked at her, pain laid heavily in his eyes. He began the story of the battle between man and nature, and the loss of one of the men from Zuko's crew. Katara's face grew sadder and sadder as the story went on. By the time it was finished, she was almost to tears.

" Oh Aang, you tried your best to protect those people. You should be proud of.."

Aang sat up quickly, tears streaming down his face.

" Be proud! Be proud that a man trusted me, and I let him die! Be proud of me, not being able to help anyone on this planet! Be proud that... that..."

Aang broke down and buried his face into his hands. Katara sat beside him on the bed, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Aang welcomed the hug, and leaned into Katara.

" Shhh.. Its going to be okay." she said over and over, trying to calm the young air bender down.

Aang's cries became softer and Katara could feel Aang's body slump against her's for support. Katara laid Aang's head down on the pillow and let him sleep. Katara went over to her brother and shook him until he woke up.

"Aang just cried himself to sleep. I think I'm gonna take a nap, you need to be awake just incase he does."

" Okay. You look terrible, you really should get some sleep."

Katara and Sokka switched places. Katara placed her head against the wall, and her heavy eyes welcomed the sleep.