Notes: Back again! I will do my best to get a consistent update routine going. I kinda lost my passion for this story, but with another rewatch of ATLA, I'm ready to get this story finished!

"Sir, I am not one to often question Agni's Chosen's judgement, but this is… well, this is something." The fire nation soldier looked up from the scroll and the orders it contained.

"Fire Lord Sozin has created the Yu Yan for this very reason. If you feel incapable of leading this unit, hand it your bow and walk out the door." The bearded commander replied.

With a shake of the head the Yu Yan archer returned "Sir, you're asking for my men and I to kill children. They haven't done anything to-"

"Anyone of those monk children can grow up to be the Avatar and kill countless more that you can imagine! If you want to keep being Yu Yan, I recommend you follow the damn orders! I won't hesitate to hand you over to an MP!" The bearded commander roared, if he was a firebender the air in front of him would have undoubtedly been filled with flame. The Yu Yan captain cowered at the display of anger and flinched the tiniest bit. "Will you comply with Fire Lord Sozin's orders?" The bearded commander leaned over the table, and casted a hard gaze. His Yu Yan tattoos furrowing with the knitting of eyebrows.

The Yu Yan captain closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He exhaled and looked back with determination and a renewed will to carry out orders. "Yes sir. My men and I will carry out the directive."

The bearded Yu Yan commander leaned back into his chair and nodded approvingly. "No mention of directive 88 is to be brought up outside of briefings. Now go; tell your men and begin." The bearded Yu Yan commander waved dismissively towards the door, seeing fit to end the conversation and return to more menial paperwork. He had to get that order for a ballista put through soon.

"You've come at a tense time Gyatso." commented Zoju, Kuzon's father.

Chiyo, Kuzon's mother, placed a cup of tea in front of Gyatso and Zoju before sitting down herself. She nodded in agreement with her husband. "It hasn't been that bad out here on Zo-Jo, but my sister said it's gotten nasty the closer you get to the Cladera."

Gyatso nodded, "How bad is it?"

The married fire nation couple exchanged a nervous glance before they looked back to Gyatso. Zoju spoke up "Fire Lord Sozin has implemented a new law that requires all nationals to report to the nearest military post when they have made a charitable donation; it seems innocent enough, but…" he trailed off, words at the tip of his tongue.

Gyatso filled in the missing words and the dire implication. "To keep a network of information as to where air nomads are within the Fire Nation." Both national adults nodded with sadness evident in their expression. Gyatso brought a hand up to his forehead and rubbed at it. Old, calloused hands rubbing at the fading blue arrow. All this information was a prelude to something bigger Gyatso mentally noted. Nomad disappearances in the Fire Nation and now what seemed to be an effort to keep track of nomads traveling the Fire Nation. War? No no, Sozin knew enough that attacking the nomads would be pointless. Their temples were too high and too hidden. They had little to nothing in the way of money. He knew of the gathering storm clouds Mother Superior Malu talked about, but Spirits, no one knew what all these rumors and information meant.

"And what of your island, Zoju and Chiyo?" Gyatso asked after he looked back up.

"Honest as Agni's spirit, Gyatso; our island isn't doing much better. The local base has an army recruiter set up at the market every day. The poor naive boys getting drawn into it have no idea what they're getting into. Bless Agni almighty that his holiday is getting started, they stopped trying to recruit at the festival's beginning." Chiyo answered

"Deary is right. I've been able to keep Kuzon away from the brainwashing crap so far, but as soon as they start school again at the end of summer I'm not sure we'll be able to keep him away. I hate to think of leaving Zo-Jo, but it's something we'll have to consider." Zoju continued morosely.

"May Iohi guide us all." Gyatso finished.

"Flameo Hotman! This is a great spot. How'd you find it?" Aang whisper yelled to Kuzon. The National had taken him to a cliff on a rocky mountain. They were probably half way up the hill when Kuzon had stopped them. Aang was amazed at what he saw as he laid down on the stone. Before the pair of young boys was a dazzling display; multiple dragons dotted the cliff side. All of them had glistening scales, a vast majority of them were bathed in a hot-red color that seemed like it came straight from the lava that was oh' so common in the outer parts of the Fire Nation. Other dragons were colored yellow, green, and blue; every color looked like it popped right out of the surrounding land and jumped on the dragon. It all reminded Aang of party streamers he had seen at Yangchen's festival.

"Well my good Hotman, I found it while exploring. It's super secret and you're the first person I've brought."

"Thanks Kuzon."

"Anything for a good Hotman." Kuzon brought a hand up and the two boys met in a fist bump. "Wow! Look Aang!" Kuzon pointed up into the sky, among the clouds two dragons came sweeping down. One a dazzling sapphire blue, it's color as vibrant as the ones he'd heard Water Tribe Royals wore; and one red, the color alone brought about a comforting warmth to Aang that he could feel in his soul. They spun around each other, creating a tornado of purple only seen in the royal halls of Omashu.

"That's so cool, Kuzon! Have you seen them before?" Aang asked in amazement. Never before had the young airbender seen an animal other than the sky bison or flying lemurs soar through the air in such an elegant dance of aerial acrobatics, let alone fly so fluidly.

The firebender beside him shook his head. "Nope, I haven't seen those dragons before, they look amazing!"

"Y'know Kuzon, it's really weird seeing something other than an airbender, sky bison or flying lemur so comfortable in the sky. They look like they're almost swimming, Hotman!" Aang spoke.

"I've never thought of it like that Aang." Kuzon turned to his fellow Hotman and continued. "Now that you said it, they fly a lot like kamodosaurus' swims. It's so beautiful and fluid, but they doesn't make you forget about how dangerous they are."

Aang shook his head in agreement. "Kinda like sky bison too! Appa is so big, but he's so good at flying too." Aang turned back to the show in front of him. "Kuzon, do you think you'll have a dragon of your own? You and I could go flying all the time! Me on Appa and you on a dragon. That would be sooo cool!"

Aang saw Kuzon place a contemplative finger on his chin. "I know I want a dragon, but it's just I don't know if I could, Aang. You have to be one of the strongest firebenders in the world to tame a dragon. Fire Lord Sozin is the only person I know who has a dragon, and he's the Fire Lord!" Kuzon thought for a bit longer before continuing. "But you never know. Like the old people say Aang, 'Destiny is a funny thing' "

Both boys couldn't help but smile at the thought. To Aang, it was something to look forward to in the future that didn't depend on him being the Avatar.

The sun began to draw closer to the horizon and Agni's exchange of skyly duties to Tui produced a beautiful sunset. Aang and Kuzon had started off for the house when the sun began to dip and they had since returned. Gyatso had made sure Aang brought in his stuff from Appa's saddle when he returned before he sat down to eat. His sifu wanted him to get in some reading before sleeping.

But that was all done now and Aang could focus on the seaweed stew in front of him. National's were notorious for their spices and Aang never knew how spicy the food he was going to eat was. Sometimes it would be a soft sting, other times it felt like a hot coal was in his mouth (Aang didn't know how he knew what that felt like. It confused him for a moment before he filed it under Avatar stuff to find out later in an effort to stave off the negative emotions attached to the title). Taking the plunge, Aang took a spoon full of the stew and… it wasn't spicy at all, rather it was sweet.

Kuzon's mother saw Aang's surprised reaction and gave a soft chuckle. "Expecting something burning Aang? Not every National is so fiery."

The comment made Aang sheepishly rub at his neck. "Oh knock it off Chiyo, the boy is only twelve. He has plenty of time to taste all your cooking!" Zoju gave a hearty chuckle.

"It's very good miss! Thank you for the food." was all Aang could manage through the embarrassment.

"Less talking, more eating everyone. We have an early sunrise tomorrow for the Fire Days Festival." Chiyo softly reminded and a peaceful silence fell over everyone.

Aang laid in bed and thought about how dragon watching was more fun than he remembered. It was a beautiful display of colors and, to Aang at least, it was an expression of life being lived. Today seemed to be quite the beautiful day in Aang's mind. He knew he had to bring Appa one day so his best friend could also admire the aerial acrobatics of a dragon.

Rolling over in bed, Aang thought about tomorrow. It was going to be his first Fire Days Festival ever! And he was going to spend it with Kuzon too! The festival was going to be a blast, that, Aang was sure of. Fire Nation culture was so passionate and well… fiery.

"Sir!"

"Yes?"

"Latest report from Zo-Jo."

Flying bison seen arriving mid morning. Two riders spotted. It is believed they will be in attendance for the local Fire Days Festival.

"This is interesting." The captain looked at the paper and mentally prepared himself. "Gather the Yu Yan. We are leaving at midnight."

"Sir, yes, Sir!"

'Agni prepare us' thought the captain.