Author's Note: This chapter is a birthday gift for Vanilla Cream Cake. You've been such a great, helpful friend and a consistent reviewer since the beginning of my writing career. Your reviews are always greatly appreciated :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender and I am in no way associated with the creators of the show.
Book 1: Fire
Chapter 17: The Sword Master
Zuko steeled himself as he walked up to Piandao's estate at the top of the hill, concentrating on the uneven ground at his feet. The grass in the fields all around him swayed with the wind. It was a calming presence. Unconsciously, he looked to the horizon for the sea, but Piandao's castle blocked his view. He gulped. For some reason, he felt inexplicably nervous.
He needed this. He had to prove himself to his friends. That thought pushed him forward.
His boots padded against the rocky path as he climbed the slight slope. As he neared the gigantic doors, he examined the design etched into the rock. It was a white lotus carved beautifully on the doors, made out of white stone but outlined in gold. For some strange reason, the design seemed to match the one on Aang's headband. As he approached the door, Zuko took a deep, calming breath, and raised his hand to the ornate gold knocker.
A sudden rush of wind took him by surprise, ruffling his hair and clothes. The next moment, Aang was there, skidding to a halt at Zuko's side. He was panting.
"I came here as fast as I could," Aang said, straightening. He patted his orange clothing, cleaning it of dirt and wrinkles.
"Why? What's wrong?" Zuko asked, his eyes narrowing in concern. Had something happened – ?
"Nothing's wrong. I'd also like to train with Master Piandao."
Aang's words rushed through his head like a gust of wind, clearing his mind of any other thought. Aang, the Avatar, wanted to learn how to wield a sword?
More importantly… he was taking it away from Zuko. Mastering the way of the sword was his way of helping his friends! It was supposed to make him unique and helpful. Aang could not learn it. It was the Way of nonbenders, like him.
"Why?" Zuko asked darkly.
Aang, apparently, did not expect this reaction. "I thought it would be helpful," he replied, giving Zuko a significant stare. It clearly said not to cross him. Without another word, Aang banged the knocker against the heavy doors.
It was opened by one of Piandao's servants right before Zuko opened his mouth to argue. "Yes?" the man asked. He seemed snobbish to Aang. However, he saw Zuko. "Ah, you must be the new student. You may come inside." Zuko smirked victoriously at Aang as he was let in.
"Wait – I'd also like to train under the Master," Aang said hurriedly. The butler sighed.
"Fine… Let's get this over with…"
The butler led the two down long, fanciful hallways, all of which depicted ornate white lotus designs or murals of ancient, long-forgotten lion-turtles. Aang peered at all of these curiously while Zuko spent the whole time glaring at him. The Avatar refused to look in his direction. Finally, the group of three stopped in front of another set of large doors.
"I think this goes without saying, but show respect to the Master," the butler yawned, pushing open the doors.
Both Aang and Zuko gasped at the sheer size of the room and a whole wall that seemed to be made of windows, overlooking the calm ocean below. Piandao stood at this window with his back to them, his hands folded behind his back, staring at the rising sun, almost at its zenith.
"Zuko, how good to see you," the sword master greeted, turning to face him. His eyes calmly wandered over to Aang – fixed for a moment on his white lotus headband – and then spoke again. "I see you have brought a friend."
Aang greeted him with a traditional Fire Nation bow. "My name is Aang. I would also like to learn the ways of the sword."
"Zuko, did you think I would take on a second student just because he was your friend?" Piandao questioned.
"No, Master," Zuko said, glancing at Aang. "I just found out he wanted to learn under you, too."
"I am curious as to why the Avatar would want to pick up a blade," he said calmly. "Is bending not enough for you? Swordsmanship is a much more delicate art." Aang's eyes widened – how was Piandao always able to figure out he was the Avatar before they even met?
To answer his question, Aang thought back to his dream the day before and incarceration in Bato's water-filled ice prison. He had nearly died – and bending had failed him. His own strength had failed him. He could not let something like that happen again… he needed to be prepared for all situations. He remembered how easily Sokka was able to use his sword to cut through ice and metal. And if one of his enemies wanted to fight near him in close quarters, a staff would not be enough. He was also interested to see how his bending could be augmented with a weapon such as a jian… and, like always, he was curious about something he had never done before.
The more he changed, the more he stayed the same.
Finally, Aang answered him. "Bending… It is a part of me. It's what I rely on," he said carefully. "But when it fails me… that's the worst feeling in the world. I almost died recently and I realized something – I cannot rely solely on my bending. I felt so helpless. I'm willing to do anything that will help me defeat the Water Emperor."
Piandao stared at him for a long time, as if trying to see if he was sincere. Aang did not falter under his scrutinizing gaze. "Very well," he said finally. He walked around his desk, putting both of his hands on each of their shoulders. "I will make you two into worthy warriors."
They went to their training immediately – but very quickly, Aang decided that it was the strangest training he had ever undertaken. Aang and Zuko were to wear identical, black uniforms trimmed in gold, but otherwise, they were plain and loose-fitting.
They started with calligraphy. The students sat next to each other at their Master's desk, brushes poised over scrolls of parchment. Aang dipped it into black paint and pulled back his sleeve, preparing to write about several things, as they were instructed to. After mulling it over for a moment, he began with a short poem often recited to him by Monk Gyatso, and one he heard a few times by Iroh before he was killed. Unfortunately for Aang, he had not written any calligraphy in an extremely long time – probably since he was with the monks many, many years ago – but he remembered most of it and his writing was neat enough.
Zuko, evidently, was not educated much in the ways of calligraphy, which Aang noticed upon peering at his paper. He struggled with simple words and carefully held his brush straight. He knew Zuko was literate, because Iroh doubtlessly educated him and his sister, but he was still having trouble.
Next, they were told to arrange rock gardens outside. Apparently, it was supposed to teach one how to use their environment to their advantage. After Piandao gave him a strict warning not to use any earthbending (which Aang matter-of-factly replied that he did not yet know how), Aang and Zuko went to work.
Here, too, Aang had to think long and hard. He much preferred to have rocks revolving around him, ready to strike at his foes, but Aang pushed several tall rocks toward his side of the garden (because Zuko drew a line cutting right through the middle, strictly telling him not to go near his own side). After arranging his rocks as he saw fit, Aang had several spires shooting out of the ground, creating a wind tunnel effect. He proudly displayed it to Piandao, even shooting a long, continuous blast of air, which was greatly enhanced by the placement of the rocks. The Master seemed to disapprove of it slightly, but Aang dryly informed him that airbending was not against the rules.
Zuko ended with a measly pile of rocks and boulders, which he claimed gave him the high ground against his foes.
Aang smiled proudly. He was doing better than his friend, when he had no previous knowledge of swordfighting. Unnoticed by him, Zuko was silently fuming in anger at the Avatar.
"Ugh," Azula moaned, "I can't believe the two of them left me to baby-sit you." Very much annoyed, the firebender lounged around in the camp with only Ty Lee for company. The acrobat was flipping around, constantly chattering about Zuko and steadily giving Azula a headache.
"Hey, I'm not a baby! And you're not sitting on me!" the other girl protested. "Why are you so grumpy lately?" She propped her head up on her elbows, stretching her feet around to scratch her forehead.
"Because I'm supposed to have a firebending master by now!" she said angrily, her fingertips smoking. "We should have left this place already. Knowing Zuzu, it'll take him months to master that piece of metal – if he even can. Honestly, it'll be up to Aang to train him so we can leave quickly."
"What makes you think Aang will master swordsmanship first?" Ty Lee pondered. "You seem to hold him in high regard."
"What? You don't think he can? He is the Avatar and he is not a bumbling idiot… most of the time," Azula said, waving her hand at the obvious.
"I don't think that's your real reason," Ty Lee said, edging up to her slyly. "You like Aang, don't you?"
Azula sputtered for a moment, which was something Ty Lee found absurdly funny. "What are you talking about? I don't like anybody."
"I dunno, Azula. You make it very obvious."
"Hah!" Azula scoffed, "You're about as perceptive as a child."
"You know, they always say children are the most perceptive…"
"Well, then you are a fool," Azula replied, examining her nails. "I'm done with this subject."
"Stop edging around it, Azula! This isn't like you. Do you want Aang to like you or not? I can get him to like you." When Azula didn't answer, Ty Lee continued. "I mean, I can see why you like him. He's pretty cute, if you get over how short he is. And he's noble. And strong and brave… He seems like the sorta guy for you."
"You said… you can get him to like me?" Azula asked, barely glancing up at Ty Lee. The girl's face broke out into one of the largest smiles she had ever seen.
"Of course! I'm a pro at that!" Acknowledging her victory, Ty Lee proceeded to give Azula some more boy advice.
Zuko was fuming. He was so angry at Aang. Why would he want to learn how to use a sword? It didn't make sense to him, not when Aang was so talented already. Zuko wanted his own skill to make himself look better in his friends' eyes, but Aang was taking that away. Piandao noticed his frustrations as Aang walked off.
"You are jealous," Piandao noted, staring at Aang's back.
"Yeah," Zuko agreed, glaring at his friend.
"Dismiss it," the older man said. "A feeling such as jealousy is not helpful on the battlefield."
"But everything always comes so easily to him," Zuko said dejectedly. "The kid's so strong. And me? I'm just a failure. I always have been."
"Give yourself some credit – you were the one fighting so well in the tournament, not Aang," the master said to him. "Self-loathing is also not a useful trait to have on the battlefield."
"I know, but…"
Piandao cut him off. "I initially chose you as my student above all the other competition – not because you won, but because of your fierce determination and willingness to fight. You had much more potential than any other person there."
Zuko was stunned into silence, and Piandao's mouth curved. "Just think on that."
Piandao was surprisingly lenient. After the rock garden arrangements, he allowed the two to have a break. The three of them were seated around a table in the swordsman's beautiful courtyard, the sun beating down on them warmly. They were served tea and small vanilla cream cakes by the butler. Aang especially loved the sweet dessert.
After that, they were finally handed practice swords.
Right in the back of Piandao's castle was an even square made of stone, which served as Piandao's personal practice ring. Zuko was fighting first in a duel against the butler, Fat, who was surprisingly a skilled swordsman. Both were in padded armor, fighting with dulled blades.
Zuko held up well against the butler, but once he was disarmed, Piandao immediately gave him critiques. He commented on Zuko's horrible footwork yet again, but noted his superior speed and advantage of youth. Zuko was fast at blocking and quick to resume the attack – he had skill with a sword, but it was not yet refined.
Zuko smirked at Aang as he passed, as if daring him to do better. The boy did not back down from the challenge.
He held the sword protectively in front of him in a clumsy stance, unused to the strange weight in his hands. When Piandao asked if they were ready, Fat and Aang nodded. When they did, Fat waited for Aang to attack.
The Avatar started off with a swipe to the man's midsection, which was very easily blocked. The butler slid his blade along his opponent's and sent it spinning out of his hand. It clattered to the ground.
Aang smiled sheepishly at Piandao.
"You've never held a sword in your life, have you?" Piandao asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope," Aang said truthfully. Zuko was snickering, but he ignored him.
"First, you've got to start on your grip. Second, watch your stance. It was horribly flawed and you would have fallen easily if Fat attacked you first." Piandao showed him appropriate offensive and defensive stances, which Aang copied until he memorized. Then, like a young child, Fat impatiently taught him easy blocking and attacking techniques, the correct way to hold his sword, and Piandao told him that it was his own duty to make a proper judgment in battle. Aang nodded, absorbing as much information as he could into his head.
Over the course of the training, Aang improved slightly, and Piandao noticed his vastly superior agility even without the use of his airbending (which, as before, he was forbidden to use. Piandao strictly told him not to use any bending). So far, Aang's only expertise was in his dodging.
"Don't think you're getting any special treatment because you're the Avatar," Piandao once said to him.
Finally, Aang and Zuko were paired up to duel each other. It was an event Aang had foreseen since the beginning of the training, and he was not looking forward to it. Zuko was still angry at him, but slightly arrogant because of the fact that he was a more experienced swordsman than Aang. The two took identical stances.
Before Piandao officially started the fight, Zuko and Aang attacked each other.
For them, it was more than just a friendly duel now. It was an all-out competition. It was a battle of honor.
Their swords met right in between the two, clashing with a flash of sparks. Zuko immediately brought his sword around to try and strike Aang's shoulder, but he was able to block it in time. Aang back-flipped away from him, getting distance, and then rushed toward his opponent again with his sword held high. Again, they met in the middle of their rushes, colliding with surprising force that sent quivers down Aang's arm.
Quickly, Zuko moved to attack Aang with several quick stabs, very few of which he managed to swat out of the way. Using only one hand to hold his sword, Aang jumped out of the way of Zuko's furious barrage. His opponent's sword followed him, and at that moment Aang realized the only advantage he had – his speed.
"Good, Aang. Use your advantages," Piandao said.
The boy used his reflexes to duck under Zuko's horizontal swings, to jump to the right of his vertical ones. He rarely used his sword to block, instead preferring to strike lightly where it would matter. Fighting one-handedly gave him more speed – two hands gave him power. As was usual, he preferred speed, so getting in quick bites with his sword suited his style. Aang was using the circular motions of an airbender, constantly revolving around Zuko in an attempt to confuse him.
"Make the right judgments," their master spoke.
Soon, Zuko figured out his pattern and cut off Aang's movements with a sharp stab of his blunt sword, then walked forward aggressively, backing Aang to the edge of the ring. Aang was forced to jump off of it and into the grass, but Zuko continued the attack, utilizing the high ground. Aang was able to block some of his swings, but was unluckily bruised on his sword arm when Zuko managed to hit him. He was being quickly overwhelmed and forced to fight defensively. He tried to parry once, but Zuko didn't fall for it.
"Zuko, go for the finish – Aang, nice try on the parrying."
With one last powerful swing, Zuko knocked Aang's sword out of his hand. The Avatar was defeated. Aang gracefully accepted the defeat, bowing to Zuko. The teenager returned the bow, as was custom.
Azula would never have pictured this scene. She and Ty Lee continued to talk about herself and Aang, and the acrobat gave her tons of advice. First of all, she was expected to be nicer. Second, Ty Lee seemed to have a problem with her looks.
"You have so much hair, Azula. Let it be free. When your hair is up, you make yourself seem strict and intimidating. Boys don't like that. Be more laid back," the girl said. "Smile a bit more."
Now, Ty Lee was combing Azula's hair, freeing it of the knots and tangles she had acquired during her travels. Azula's golden headpiece was laid off gently to the side. As Ty Lee combed, Azula felt her eyes closing as she was comforted by the feeling.
It had been a long time since someone else had combed her hair.
She remembered, several years ago, how her mother used to comb it. It was so relaxing. Mother always said she loved her hair, thick and the darkest shade of black. Mother was always able to make it silky and smooth and Azula never figured out how.
Azula waited patiently as Ty Lee lathered her hair with some of her exotic products, rinsed it, and fashioned it as she saw fit. Once that was done, Ty Lee let it dry naturally. Next, the acrobat fished for a kit in her personal bag, pulling out a golden object.
"What is that?" Azula asked sharply.
In response, Ty Lee popped the top off of the object, revealing a ruby red substance. "Lipstick!" she replied cheerily. "We're going for something simple here, but the color fits you. It's gonna look nice."
"If you say so…" Azula said uneasily.
"Now it's time for the two of you to make swords of your own," Piandao said, leading the two to his workshop. Once they entered the room, both sets of grey and gold eyes widened, seeing the numerous, expertly crafted swords hung on the walls and laid out in rows. The room was hot, dominated largely by a furnace used for smithing. "Actually, let me see your broadswords, Zuko."
Zuko did as he was told, unsheathing them and handing them to Piandao. "They are of a fine quality, and you are doing an excellent job taking care of them." He tested the weight. "Not my type of sword, but you are proficient in the use of these. I would say to keep using them. You will not need to forge your own."
"Thank you, Master," Zuko said with a nod, taking his swords back and sheathing them.
Aang's eyes roamed the room, landing on a jet-black blade laid out on a table, next to a decorative sheath.
It was Sokka's meteorite blade, which Aang knew very well.
"Master, what's that?" Aang asked Piandao, pointing to the black sword.
"Ah…" Piandao walked up to the sword, lifting it from the table. "This is the best blade I have ever created, and my favorite. I forged it from a meteorite that had landed here a few years ago." He stared at the sword for a few moments, then turned to Zuko. "You may leave now. Aang has to stay here to make his sword. It will go on well through the night."
"Thank you, Master. I'll return in the morning," said the teenager. Without another word, he turned to leave.
"Wait."
Zuko stopped.
"It will not be necessary for you to return," said Piandao. He turned toward his older student. "You are a skilled swordsman already. It is my firm belief that you do not need any further training, as you have already learned much on your travels."
"But, Master… It's only been a day," Zuko protested. "And I'm still not that good."
"Your travels with the Avatar are more important," Piandao said. "And value yourself and your skills more – I have said already that you have an astounding amount of potential and raw ability to go with it. You have a fierce determination like the strongest, most noble lion-turtle. Not only that, but you're strong enough to train Aang now."
"What?!" Zuko exclaimed.
"No more can be learned from me. The way of the sword is one that you must discover for yourself."
Aang was speechless. He would be learning from Zuko again, but this time it would be something different. This unexpected turn of events did not make him upset – in fact, he looked forward to training with Zuko again.
"And you, Aang… I sense in you much pain, conflict, death, and destruction… but a willingness to help your friends and fight to your last breath. You are also a worthy swordsman, and I willingly entrust your training to Zuko."
"Thank you, Master," Aang said with a bow.
"But first, we will make your sword," Piandao said. "Zuko, you may leave now."
"Farewell, Master," Zuko said with another bow. "I don't know what else to say."
Piandao smiled. "You have been my greatest student."
First, before even making his blade, Aang had to critically examine each of the materials for a sword that Piandao had to offer. He tested the weight, durability, and malleability, and went off of Piandao's advice. Finally, Aang had to conclude that none of the materials suited him – he had his mind set on a certain, specific type.
An hour after Zuko left, Aang turned to Piandao. "Master, can I use a material of my own?" he asked after some thought.
"Of course, Aang," the older man said. "That would be preferred."
"Great. I'll be back in the morning, then," he said. He bowed in farewell, and the Avatar was on his way.
That was not his intention at all.
Aang went out into the night, but instead of going back to camp, he waited in the forest on the outskirts of town. He sat up on a tree branch and did not move for several hours, preparing himself for what he was about to do.
When it was finally midnight, Aang leapt from the tree branch, rubbing his sore backside. He avoided the town altogether, heading toward Piandao's castle wall.
His airbending easily enabled him to soar right over the high walls. Still clad in his dark uniform, he was unseen in the night. The boy made his way over to Piandao's forge, which was open to the outside in order for the smoke from the furnace to go out into the air. Aang lit a small flame in his palm as he wandered over to the master's collection of swords. Once he found the black meteorite sword, he grinned to himself. The light of the fire was reflected off of the black blade eerily. Slowly, Aang's hand closed around the hilt.
Before he could lift it, a white sword pinned it to the table. Aang looked up at the person responsible in shock.
Piandao was there. He was caught.
"You are easy to read, Avatar," the man said. "My sword is not being stolen tonight."
Determined not to give up the blade, Aang commanded the fire to leap into the man's face, which distracted him long enough to let go of his sword, letting Aang pull the meteorite one free. Aang jumped backwards onto another table, holding the black sword ready. It fit comfortably in his palm.
Piandao pulled his arm away from his face. The fire served only as a distraction – it was not meant to harm the man.
"I'm sorry for doing this, but I really want this sword," Aang said as way of explanation.
"You'll have to fight for it," Piandao challenged, swiping at the table Aang was standing on. The Avatar leapt backwards on a cushion of air, determined to put distance between the two. He turned his back for only a moment to run out of the enclosed room and out into the training arena, which was just outside. When he turned his head to see where his opponent was, he was met with shock when Piandao was much closer than he realized.
Aang turned around long enough to swing his sword three times, using the inertia to cut three swathes with his airbending, all of which hit the older man. The force of the attack threw him back into the destroyed table, but Aang looked at his sword in shock.
He barely put any force into his airbending. The blade amplified and condensed the air blasts that much? The possibilities of how fine he could make them entered his brain, and he grinned. He knew how much that kind of offensive power went against airbender philosophy, but at the moment he didn't care. He wondered why all other airbenders didn't use swords.
Piandao would not be getting his sword back today.
The older man recovered quicker than Aang would have thought, rushing at the boy again with his sword raised. Aang swung the meteorite blade one time, but Piandao was wise enough to dodge the blow. With remarkable agility, the man was able to dodge all subsequent strikes. He was nearing Aang, so the boy jumped backward into an air current that lifted him higher into the air, but the Avatar condensed the wind around him and focused it on his blade, swinging it and utilizing all of the sword's cutting power. Aang landed on the top of Piandao's shingled wall as he watched the effects of his arc of wind.
"Good! Utilize your bending advantage!" Piandao shouted at him. Aang raised an eyebrow. Was Piandao really giving him a lesson at a time like this?
The older man managed to jump against the wall and kick off of it like a springboard, propelling himself away from the effects of Aang's attack. Aang was very impressed by the power the sword gave him – there was enough cutting power to make a mark on a rock. And it was quite a deep mark in the ground, too.
Aang made this thought clear in his head. He was not trying to kill Piandao – he was just testing the new, interesting abilities the meteorite sword gave him. Satisfied with the results, he sent three small fireballs down on Piandao to distract him, then he leapt off of the wall and into the night.
Piandao's sword cut through the three fireballs with ease, dissipating them. Immense disappointment for his student welled up inside of him, but the master did not pursue him further. For now, he would let the Avatar have the blade, for he had won it.
…But he would fight another day.
He was going to get the meteorite sword back.
Aang spent the rest of his night away from camp, just in case one of his friends were still awake and questioned his earlier than expected return. He waited until early the next morning to go back, where he found all three of them awake.
Zuko was the first to spot the naked sword at his hip. "He actually let you have that?" he asked in shock. The boy put down his breakfast next to the fire and got up to stand in front of Aang.
"No, he didn't," Aang said truthfully. Then he lied. "He still had material left over from the meteorite. We forged a second one."
"Wow… That's an amazing blade," Zuko said. For a moment, there was an awkward silence between them.
"Look, I'm sorry," they both said at once. Aang chuckled.
"You go first," Zuko said.
"I'm sorry, Zuko," Aang said. "I know you wanted to learn how to properly wield a sword yourself, but…"
"Aang, that's not important," Zuko interrupted. "I'm the one who's sorry. I was being selfish," he said shamefully. There was another moment of silence, but Aang held out his hand in forgiveness.
"Well, I better get used to calling you Master," Aang said to him with a grin. It was now Zuko's turn to chuckle.
"Yeah," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I hope I don't mess up."
"I bet you're a good teacher," Aang told him. He knew he was. "Well, let's get out of here. We should reach the Golden City by the end of today!"
"Finally," Azula said, standing up to greet him. Aang's jaw dropped.
Her hair was free from her regular topknot, falling down past her shoulders in dark waves. He had seen her with her hair down so many times before, but now…
…Now she looked like Katara.
Specifically, the way Katara did while they were hiding in the Fire Nation before the solar eclipse. Azula's hair was wavy and thick and dark, but her characteristic bangs were still there instead of the specific style Katara preferred. Azula's hair was still up in a topknot, but her shining golden headpiece was stuck in it, reflecting the light of the sun. In addition, Azula was wearing red lipstick – something he had never seen her wear in this world, but something he never saw her without in his own world.
Ty Lee giggled. "He's speechless."
Azula was wringing her fingers together.
"Comment her, Aangie!" Ty Lee barked at him.
"Uh… You look good, Azula," he said, scratching the back of his neck. Blood was rushing to his face.
Azula laughed softly, uncharacteristically. "Thanks," she said. A moment later, when nobody did anything (except for Zuko, who gaped in horror), Azula suddenly snapped to attention, and she was suddenly Azula again. "Now, let's get going. I'm ready to master firebending!" She held her palms out, flames blazing in each of them.
Aang laughed, noticing that the camp was already mostly packed up in preparation for leaving, which was no doubt Azula's work. "Yeah, let's go."
As the four friends got into Appa's saddle and flew into the sky, each of their minds were on different things.
Ty Lee and Azula were both facing the Golden City – one with trepidation, the other with excitement. Azula was thinking only of her firebending.
Zuko's eyes were on the landmass they were just leaving, thinking about the master they were leaving behind and the problems he may encounter with his own sword training, still thinking he wasn't ready.
And Aang's eyes were on the meteorite sword, still without a sheath. He felt slightly guilty for stealing it, but he kept remembering who it belonged to.
The sword was Sokka's. And one day, he would get it back. Aang vowed to give it to him once Sokka was on his side. He was willing to do anything for the greater good.
As they always said, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Author's Notes: Okay, some of you may disagree with Aang's two major decisions in this chapter – taking on sword training and stealing the meteorite sword. The first was explained quite thoroughly in this chapter, so I hope people won't question that, but Aang's theft marks just how far Aang is willing to go to do what he feels is right… which he has been guilty of doing before. But keep in mind – this war torn Aang is much different from the old Aang.
Anyway, next chapter they'll finally get to the Golden City, where secrets will be revealed and we'll be setting up for the Book One finale! Finally!
Again, Happy Birthday to Vanilla Cream Cake. Hope you spotted that nod towards you in this chapter xD Your reviews are always greatly appreciated and I'm immensely glad I got this out on time for your birthday. I wrote this chapter all in two sittings! I haven't done that in a long time!!
Haha, please review, everybody :)
