Chap. 10

A Matter of Trust

Zuko and Aang stared at each other from across the yard. As Katara and Fuego watched, Toph and Iroh stood to the side, ready to instruct their respective charges.

"Zuko, your stance." Iroh called out. The young Firebender quickly moved into his offensive position, as he awaited instruction. Aang remained in his stance, ready to fight at the slightest word. "You two ready?" Toph called out. Both of them gave barely perceptible nods. "Then let's do this! Aang, avalanche now!"

Instantly, Aang leapt up and brought his feet down hard, blasting a huge mass of earth into the air. It hung for a moment, then Aang punched it forward. As it flew towards Zuko, Iroh called out, "Zuko, get ready!"

The former prince brought his arms in close, as the mass of earth came in closer and closer. Finally, just as the mass was about to strike him, Zuko swung his arms out, pushing a huge wave of fire towards it. The flames struck the mass, which halted in mid air as the flames spread over it, then fell to the ground, a fused, blackened piece of earth.

"Well done." Iroh said. "Not bad Twinkletoes, but next time, actually try to hit him." Toph said.

"I thought he did." Iroh answered.

'But he didn't, did he?" Toph said. "Now, let's see how your boy does. Aang, earth shield maneuver!"

"Zuko, charge him!" Iroh yelled out. Zuko nodded, and ignited his flame daggers. Yelling out his charge, Zuko ran towards Aang, who quickly moved into a defensive stance. As Zuko reached the Avatar and whirled around, preparing to drive his daggers downward, Aang suddenly dug his arms deep into the earth, and when he removed them, the were covered in solid rock. Aang quickly brought his left arm up to meet Zuko's charge. As the flame dagger impacted harmlessly on the rock, Zuko whirled, attempting to bring both daggers onto the one arm. But Aang brought his other arm over and met the attack. But Zuko continued to press his attack, whirling around to gain any spot that he could. But Aang was just as fast, and met every attack with a block...

"Wow. I guess this was a good idea." Fuego said from the sidelines, as he and Momo watched intently. The lemur purred in return, to which Fuego nodded. "I think so too. What about you Katara?" But the question was met with silence.

"Katara?" Fuego asked, turning to face the Water-Tribe girl. But Katara's gaze was fixed on the fight, her eyes moving with every twist of the two benders. Fuego looked out, trying to see what, or rather, who she was focused on. But the red man just couldn't tell. Sighing, he placed his hand on her shoulder, and gently shook her. "You ok kid?" he asked.

"Huh?" Katara answered, surprise evident in her voice.

"Sorry, but you were kinda staring into space there. Thought maybe the sun was getting to you."

"No, no, I'm ok. It's just… well mesmerizing to watch." Katara answered.

"That it is." Fuego answered. But as the two of them turned back to watch the fight, Fuego wondered if Katara was referring to the fight, or to one of the fighters. The red man wasn't stupid; he knew about Aang's crush on the girl. It had been evident on more then a few occasions on their journey; Aunt Wu's or the Cave of Two Lovers for example. Fuego didn't know how Katara felt on the matter (she seemed fairly oblivious), but he knew it was not his place to tell her or influence it. Aang had to make his move if he wanted her, and that was something that none of the Knights could help him on...

But with Zuko, who was much closer to Katara's age (both physically and mentally) and had spent so much time earning respect from her and everyone else, Fuego wondered if maybe the former prince was gaining something else from the young girl right now. Plus Zuko already had her sympathy because of Fuego's tale of the boy's scar; the red man just prayed that all of it didn't lead to problems. The last thing anyone wanted to deal with was a jealous Avatar on top of the quick tempered one they were dealing with right now.

Zuko brought the daggers down once more, but this time, Aang managed to trap both of Zuko's arms between the rock shields. As Zuko struggled to move away, Aang mentally brought up the earth behind him, into a large tentacle that towered over both of them. As Zuko saw it, Aang willed it forward, meaning to use to push the former prince down to his knees. But Zuko had a different idea. As it came near him, Zuko suddenly breathed in deep, and then released his fire breath dead on the tentacle. The Earth and Fire met head on, and remained in a stalemate, until little pieces of fiery earth began to fall off the tendril. More then a few of them landed on Aang's sleeve, and as they burned through his shirt, the young Avatar yelped in pain, breaking his concentration. The earth shields fell away, as Aang leapt back, furiously swatting his arms to put out the sparks.

"Aang, are you ok?" Katara yelled, as she got to her feet and started to move towards the young Airbender.
"Yeah, I think so Katara." Aang gasped, as the last of the fiery earth fell off his sleeves.

"Are you sure? I can get my waterskin and heal you if you want." Katara asked.

"Naw, it wasn't that bad." Aang replied.

"Well, if you're sure. Just be careful; I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I won't." Aang said, as he turned to back to Zuko. Truthfully, Aang could have used a little healing just then, but he didn't want to worry Katara. Plus, he kinda liked hearing her caring words. It helped him to believe that someday he would be able to tell her how he really felt about her. But that was for another time, which he came to learn a second later when he heard Toph yelling at him.

"What was that? So you had a little fire, big deal! I've had people throwing boulders at me and I never dropped my shields." She went on like this for a few more minutes, as Zuko whispered. "Sorry. I didn't think it would spark like that."

"It's ok. Let's start something else, maybe it'll make Toph stop for a few minutes." Aang whispered back.

Zuko nodded, and the two broke away and began to circle each other, which caused Toph to halt in her tirade. "Get it right this time Aang! I want to see some boulders flying!" "Zuko, remember your basics, and dodge!" Iroh called out as well.

Slowly, Zuko and Aang circled each other, watching for whoever would make the next move. Finally, Zuko's impatience won out, and the former prince unleashed a few fireballs. But moving quickly, Aang drew up the earth into a series of shields that effectively blocked Zuko's attack. Then, when Zuko had to pause and regain his breath, Aang changed strategies; stomping the ground, Aang drew up a series of boulders and launched them at Zuko. But Zuko recovered his breath and with a flaming spin kick, Zuko sent out a fire blast that destroyed the rocks. Aang was not deterred however, and continued his assault.

But when this barrage came at Zuko, the former prince destroyed most of the rocks and caught a smaller one in his hand. As Aang watched, Zuko removed some cloth from his belt and wrapped the rock in it. Igniting his fist, Zuko faced Aang with the now blazing missile and turned to throw it Aang. But as Zuko reared back and prepared to launch the rock at Aang, something jarred the side of the boy's head. Staggering backwards in shock, Zuko couldn't aim the missile properly, and since Aang was surprised by what had happened, he didn't move to avoid it. The flaming rock struck Aang straight in the forehead, and the Avatar instantly fell to the ground.

"Aang!" Katara cried out, as she ran out onto the yard, Fuego and Momo following. As Toph and Iroh moved to check on Zuko, the three of them reached the unconscious Avatar and quickly looked over.

"Looks pretty bad." Fuego said, as he checked the bleeding wound on Aang's forehead, while Momo scampered back to the house after getting a good look. "I think he might even have a concussion."

"Dammit, what happened out there?" Katara swore as she looked around. But the search didn't take too long as she noticed a very familiar boomerang laying on the ground close to Zuko; it ended when she heard her brother's voice call out, "Did I get him?"

"What is wrong with you!" she screamed, as Sokka and the others came in through the side entrance. "Look at what you did!"

"Hey, don't yell at me!" Sokka said back, as the Knights got a look at what had happened. "I saw Zuko over there throwing fire at Aang! I told you not to trust him and look what happened!"

"They were training you idiot!" Katara screamed back. "Didn't you wonder at all why Toph and I weren't helping Aang? Did you? Now Aang's hurt and Zuko's bleeding because of your stupidity!"

Sokka's face dropped a little at that, but he opened his mouth to defend himself. Or at least he tried to, before he heard Aire say, "Shut it kid, you're in enough trouble."

"Goddamnit Sokka, home for five minutes and you cause problems." Luz muttered. Kneeling down, the fox took a look at Aang. "I think I can help him, why doesn't somebody get Katara's waterskin so she can help Zuko and the rest of you can have a nice chat with Sokka?"

But it turned out that no one had to go, as Momo flew out of the house, Katara's waterskin held in his paws. Flying overhead, he dropped it into the young girl's hands. "Thanks Momo." Katara said, as she popped the cork and ran over to Zuko, while the Knights turned their attention to Sokka. The boy prince was sitting down, as Iroh applied some cloth to his bleeding forehead. "It's ok Uncle, I can help him now." Katara said, as she gently pushed the cloth aside. Iroh raised his eyebrows in confusion, but did as he was asked.

The wound underneath the cloth was deep and angry, but Katara gently drew out the water and applied it to the wound. Zuko flinched at the cold touch, but in a moment, his eyes widened as the pain vanished and the wound closed.

"Most impressive." Iroh breathed, as he and Katara helped Zuko to his feet. Meanwhile, Luz held her hand over Aang, as the healing power that all the Knights possessed spread out over the Avatar in a stream of golden light. The wound closed in seconds, and Aang gingerly opened his eyes. "W-What happened?" he asked, as he saw what was going on.

"Sokka was an idiot and he messed up your training. But you should be ok." Luz said, as she extended her hand. Aang took it, but as the fox pulled him to his feet, Aang saw something that opened a new wound in him. Katara was over by Zuko, helping him to his feet, as her waterskin hung open at her side. She went to Zuko first? Aang thought in anguish. But… I was hurt too, and it must've been worse, if that rock hit me. Why did she…

"Aang, is everything ok?" Luz asked suddenly. Broken out of his thoughts, Aang muttered, "I'm fine." And turned to the house, the image of Katara and Zuko burning in his mind's eye.