Special thanks to starlightz1112,almostinsane,Cala Akina Morushiku, nonesofar,Fran, Mystic Water Bender3, frozonedude12, albr62,Tree Flower,Junkfood, Kiriko-sama,LittleYugiBoy, and Gmasangel for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last airbender!

Hey guess what I found out? There is going to be a new Avatar episode on Sep 23 on Nick!

THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN CHANGED! If you read this chapter before today, Sep 1, than you might want to read it again.

Special thanks to almostinsane who pointed out a mistake that I have now fixed.


Aang looked at Zuko excited. "Alright I would teach you how to play with the candle more but making fire grow bigger and smaller and moving it around is useless if there is no fire near you. You need to learn how to make fire."said Zuko.

"I don't have any sticks."said Aang.

"Sticks?"said Zuko.

"To rub together to make fire!"said Aang. Zuko covered his eyes and sighed. A second later he looked at Aang.

"I meant to make fire like this-"said Zuko and he held out his palm and a jet of fire shot out into the air. He closed his fist and the fire ceased.

"Oh."said Aang.

"Like how you can send gusts of wind out of your hands and how a trained water bender can send water out of their hands. It's like that. You have to concentrate and just think fire. It's very hard and I doubt even you will get it on your first try. It usually comes out in emotion...if your angry. But once you get it you can blast out fire with out even meaning to."said Zuko looking at the Avatar. Aang nodded.

"Okay so it's like sending gusts of wind out just...I have to make it fire by...er concentrating? Concentrating on what?"Aang asked.

"On fire."

"Okay!"said Aang putting his hand out his eyebrows furrowed. He spent 10 minutes like this until smoke began rising from his palm.

"Good that's very good keep concentrating!"said Zuko.

Aang frowned and sparks began flying out of his palm than it died out and Aang fell to his knees breathing deeply.

"That's good very good..."said Zuko helping Aang up.

"Whats wrong with him?"Katara asked.

"It's very draining."Zuko explained watching as Aang leaned against the edge of the boat.

"I'm going to try again."said Aang.

"Aang you should rest and build your strength."said Katara walking over to him and putting her hand on Aang's shoulder.

"But Katara I want to learn as quickly as possible and-"

"And you will need all your strength to do that Aang."said Katara. Aang sighed and nodded sitting down.

"Besides it looks like it's going to rain."said Sokka looking up. Zuko looked out into the deep ocean feeling the ocean breeze on his face. The Avatar was an extremely fast learner. Then again he was the Avatar it wasn't that surprising. But still, it takes years of training to master fire bending along with other bends. Even though Zuko was teaching Aang fire bending it wouldn't be aiding Aang with his quest against the fire nation right? Aang couldn't even come close to mastering fire bending with in a week. He was just learning a few tricks.

"Alright I'm going to try again."Aang said. Aang tried for several hours. By the end of the day he could send heat waves at people but that was about it. There was no sunset for the clouds were still hovering over them.

"Tomorrow you will learn more."Katara said to Aang. She was sitting in the middle of the deck bending with a puddle of water she had made making it rise and making the water whip once in awhile. It began to rain. Katara had some fun making the rain shoot side ways mostly splashing Zuko. Katara laughed. Zuko glared but then smirked. Katara stared at him curiously. Iroh took refuge below deck while Katara played in the rain, Zuko got soaked, While Sokka and Aang were chasing Momo.

"Katara is it?"said Zuko leaning against the edge of the boat his yellow brown eyes locking with her crystal blue eyes.

"Yes that's my name I'm glad you know it."said Katara crossing her arms.

"How did you end up with the Avatar of all people?"asked Zuko. Katara went into the story of finding him in the ice burg up to when Zuko arrived.

"You know what happened after that."Katara said. Zuko seemed deep in thought and looked up at the sky letting the rain drops hit his face. "It's sad really. I mean Aang feels like he let everybody down. Like he failed and he's trying so hard to make things right."said Katara with a sigh.

"He didn't let the fire nation down."said Zuko with a smirk.

"Are you sure? Did all the fire nation really want to go to war? And those who did if Aang had been there could they have been persuaded? But Aang was trapped it wasn't his fault and honestly I think it was all meant to happen."said Katara.

"You believe in fate?"Zuko asked quietly. The waves were violently crashing against the boat and a flash of lightening crossed the sky.

"Yes."said Katara with a smile. She looked down at her mother's necklace. "We don't always understand it but everything happens for a reason. Even if it's a terrible thing that happens."said Katara.

"What happened to your mother? I don't think I saw her when I saw your sad excuse of a village."Zuko said. Katara looked into the deep ocean.

"The fire nation killed her."Katara said. Zuko blinked in shock and looked away as Katara looked back at him.

"I'm sorry. A lot of innocent people get killed because of us..."said Zuko. Katara laughed bitterly.

"Like you care."Katara said. Anger crossed over the face of the prince.

"I do care. Innocent people shouldn't get killed but it's a war right people get sacrificed..."said Zuko turning from Katara and looking out into the sea. Katara angry as well glared at him.

"You don't know what it's like to lose someone you care about."Katara said. Zuko turned and look at her.

"Your not the only one who has lost someone. I lost my mother."said Zuko. Katara was shocked and went to say something but a roar of thunder silenced her. "I'm going below deck. I'm soaked."Zuko said and walked below deck.

"GOT HIM!"cried Sokka pouncing on the lemur. The rain came down harder. "We should go you coming Katara?"asked Aang with a smile. "Yeah I'll be there in a few minutes."said Katara. Aang left. Sokka walked over to Katara.

"Don't get all buddy buddy with him Katara. He is a fire bender and fire benders are nothing but trouble."said Sokka.

"Sokka you know that not all of them are evil. Some are good."said Katara.

"I guess your right. But we are talking about fire lord Ozai's son. There is nothing good in this guy."said Sokka and he walked below deck. Katara stared at the deep ocean. The prince was a mystery to her. He had been banished from his nation in search of the avatar to regain his honor. But questions ran through Katara's mind. What had prince Zuko done to get himself banished? Why did he have that scar? Another roar of thunder happened and Katara walked below deck. Aang was waiting for her. Sokka was playing a game with Iroh as Momo watched.

"What did you two talk about?"Aang asked.

"Nothing really. I was trying to get to know him a little better but he's a puzzle and I'm having a hard time putting the pieces together. I think he does care about innocent people and he knows what the fire nation is doing is wrong, but his loyalties lye to the fire nation."said Katara. Aang nodded.

"I know what your saying. I get the feeling to. Like he knows what the fire nation is doing is wrong but he's not going to stop it."said Aang. Katara nodded.

"Aang, have you ever wondered where he got that scar?"Katara asked. Aang nodded.

"It looks like he was in some training accident."said Aang.

"Yeah probably."said Katara biting her lip. "I wonder what he did to get banished."she said. Aang smiled at this.

"It must have been something good."said Aang.

"Maybe."said Katara and she went to sit with Sokka. Aang stood there deep in thought. He still wondered what Katara and Zuko had talked about the way they looked at each other... Aang shook his head. He needed to get Zuko on their side and fast. But the plan was going good. Zuko was teaching him fire bending. Who knows maybe they could be friends! Or maybe they already were? Zuko was a strange guy. Aang decided to go out in the rain and practice water bending. When he got up there he was surprised to find Zuko looking up at the black sky letting the raindrops hit his face. Zuko sighed.

"My country my home...I'm about to get it all back. Why does it feel so..." said Zuko and he lapsed into silence.

"Wrong?"said Aang. Zuko turned around sharply.

"How do you do that?"Zuko asked.

"Do what?"Aang asked.

"It's like you come out of no where."Zuko muttered and turned and looked at the ocean.

"I'm just quiet."said Aang and he started moving his hands making the rain fall into his hand and form a ball. Soon he was holding a good sized water ball and he let it rise into the air and let it fall. Another roar of thunder came."Why are you out here all alone?"Aang asked.

"I'm not alone. Your here."Zuko pointed out.

"True. but you were alone."said Aang.

"I came out here to think do you have a problem with that?"Zuko asked.

"No."said Aang and he walked over and stood by Zuko. They were silent for a while before Zuko broke it.

"Avatar something you said to me has been bugging me. You know how you said you had a fire bending friend what was his name again?"Zuko asked.

"Kuzon."said Aang.

"oh.That's what I thought you said..."said Zuko frowning.

"Why did you want to know?"asked Aang looking at Zuko.

"Because Kuzon is my great uncle."Zuko said. Aang's eyes widened in shock.

"W-what?"said Aang in shock.

"Kuzon was Fire lord Sozan's,my grandfather's, younger brother."said Zuko.

"I...how...I never knew! How is that possible? He never told me he was prince of the fire nation! So that's why he had the jewel of fire! But he seemed like a regular person! He was my best friend! He...he would have wanted to stop the war!"said Aang.

"I think his views changed while you were gone."said Zuko.

"I-is Kuzon still alive?"asked Aang.

"No. He died."said Zuko. Aang looked down. "I talked to him before he died though. He always talked about his friend Aang but we never knew that was you and that you were the avatar until recently."said Zuko. Aang stared at the ocean silently in shock. His best friend could have probably stopped the war! His brother was fire lord he must have had some influance right? But according to Zuko he wanted the war, wanted the fire nation to win. It didn't make sense. Kuzon was his best friend and wouldn't hurt a fly...he wouldn't do that! Aang shook his head. He refused to believe this. Kuzon was a good person and just couldn't convince his power hungry brother that the war was a terrible thing. That's what must have happened. The rain began to settle down.

"Looks like the storm is going away. Tomorrow it should be great for fire bending practice."said Zuko giving Aang a small smile and he left. Aang held out his hand closing his eyes and a burst of fire started growing but died out. Aang sighed and walked below deck deep in thought. His mission was to defeat the fire nation, and the fire lord. Fire lord Ozai who was Zuko's father...

"Whats wrong Aang?"asked Katara. They walked back to their room. Sokka as well. "This better be good. I was so close to beating the old man."said Sokka. Aang told them about Kuzon.

"Oh Aang. I'm so sorry. People...people change Aang. Your friend with out your guidance probably got caught up with the power as well."said Katara sadly placing a hand on Aang's shoulder. Aang nodded.

"We need to focus on Zuko and make him give us that jewel thing and teach Aang more fire bending."said Sokka.

"I almost did it earlier."said Aang and he held out his hand palm facing Sokka. He thought about Kuzon and sparks flew out and landed on Sokka.

"OUCH HOT AH YOW"yelled Sokka hitting the small little sparks. Katara laughed.

"It's an improvement."she said. Aang grinned. Sokka glared at the two. "next time don't aim at me!"Sokka yelled. They all laughed.