Avatar Studios is a thing now. I am actually very excited to see what sort of stories we get now. I just hope it doesn't turn out as bad as some of the Star Wars stuff. You know what I mean.

By the way, I don't own Avatar. It belongs to Nickelodeon, Michael DiMartino, Brian Koneitzko, and now Avatar Studios. That just feels good to say.

Enjoy!

"Lightning?"

"Yes. It is called the cold-blooded fire by those in the Fire Nation. An attack not fueled by passion or energy the way normal firebending is."

"Not normal fire? What is it then Uncle?"

"It is the separation and collision of internal energies," Iroh explained. "Yin and Yang. Negative and Positive energies reside inside the body. Only a select few firebenders can separate and crash these energies together, which creates lightning."

"And you're going to teach me that?" Zuko asked. A mixture of excitement and nervousness swirled inside of him. While being able to bend lightning would be useful for the mission, it sounded very dangerous.

"No. You are not ready to learn lightning. It is a technique for only the most advanced Sozin-style firebenders."

"But I thought..."

Iroh held up his hand. "You have become a powerful firebender, yes. But you have learned the most traditional style. A style that was not always optimal for lighting. And I do not want to put your life at risk."

Zuko did not have a way to argue. He knew that Iroh was usually right, and he trusted his judgment. And while lightning did seem like a cool ability to have, he wasn't sure how he would be able to do it. What I am about to teach you is how to redirect lightning."

Zuko's eyes widened. "Redirecting lightning? Is that possible?"

"I believe it is. I have yet to attempt it, but I have faith that this technique could save your life."

Zuko's forehead wrinkled. "You have faith? In a technique that you haven't even tested yet?"

Iroh shuffled his feet. "I admit that it is not very convincing. But while this technique has never even been attempted, I have reason to believe that it could work."

"Why is that uncle?"

"The reason lies in the form. You see, lightning bending and waterbending are very similar."

Zuko frowned. "They are? How?"

"Because when a firebender uses lightning, they do not control the attack. They are simply the guide."

"Guide?"

"Yes. A waterbender uses their element as defense turned offense, unlike a firebender whose defense is their offense. They do not force the water to move to their commands. They change the current of the water to best suit their needs. Has Master Huu told you this?"

"He has. Though I did have trouble understanding it," Zuko admitted. "He said to think about the journey I took ever since I merged with Vaatu. He said that might make me better understand change."

"Really? Why would he...?" Iroh held his chin and mumbled to himself as he tried to understand what Huu was trying to say. His eyes widened when he realized the point.

"Ah! I see what he means! Very insightful."

"You understand what he meant?"

"Did you not?"

"I was thinking about it. But then Toph blew up her tent and I had to go after her."

"I see. Well, we can discuss it another time. For now," Iroh said as he pointed two fingers in each hand. "I will teach you a motion that will help you to defend yourself against lightning. And once you master this motion, I am certain that will be easily able to learn waterbending."

Zuko smiled. If it meant being able to really start learning the new element, then he was up to it.

"Alright, uncle. What do I do?"

Sokka tried to ignore the fact that he could feel someone following him. The terrain might be different, but he was still the best hunter from the Southern Water Tribe. No one would be sneaking up to him.

"Do you always complain when you lose?"

"AGH!"

Sokka almost jumped when he heard the voice behind him. The same girl who was in charge of the Kyoshi Warriors. What was her name again? Suki?

"Don't sneak up on me!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Sorry. I didn't know you were so easily frightened."

"I am not!"

"Then why did you jump?"

"I-" Sokka stumbled for a moment. "I came out here to be alone. How would you feel if someone snuck up on you in your private time?"

Suki nodded her head, conceding the point. "Still, why do you want to be alone? Didn't you say you were the group leader? Why leave your team behind?"

"Because apparently, I'm not in charge anymore," Sokka pouted. "Would have been nice if they told me that."

Suki frowned. "How can you be the leader if they don't follow? Actually, how can you be the leader if you give up so easily?"

Sokka frowned at the white-faced girl. "Who cares? And what do you know about leaders anyway?"

"Excuse me? Did you forget that I'm the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors? I'd say know a thing or two about being in charge."

"Hey, you're just a girl in charge of other girls. That doesn't count."

Suki's eyebrow twitched. "Care to say that again?"

Oblivious, Sokka kept talking. "You're a girl who tells other girls what to do. That's not hard. Girls are all the same anyway."

"Really? And what do you base that on?"

Sokka shrugged. "Am I supposed to base it on anything? It's just the way the world works."

Suki shook her head. She was willing to be polite to the boy since he was a travel companion to the new Avatar. But it seemed that she was going to have to teach him a lesson.

"Well, if boys are so much better than girls, would you care to prove it?"

"Hm?"

"The training dojo isn't too far from here. Care to stop by and show your stuff? I'm sure the rest of my girls would love to see your skills."

Sokka smiled at the offer. This was just the chance he needed to set the universe back on track.

"Alright. Let's go."

"But Monk Gyatso, I-"

"Aang. Listen to me right now. What I am going to tell you is very important." The old Airbending master looked and spoke to his pupil in an unusually stern manner.

"I understand that this must be exciting to you. But you must remember that this isn't a game."

"But Monk Gyatso..."

"Aang. Listen to me." Gyatso put his hand on Aang's shoulder, making it clear that there would be no more interruptions. "You are the Avatar now. This means that your sole focus must be on mastering the elements. I have already asked Katara to meet us at the waterfall."

"Why?"

"We are going to work on perfecting your airbending technique. Meanwhile, Katara will be working on her waterbending. I have already agreed to aid her. As will you."

Aang pouted. "But the girls asked me if we could all play with Appa. I wanted to join them."

"Aang, you will have opportunities for fun in the future. And we will make time for you to bond with your sky bison. For now, your Avatar training is much more important."

Aang's brows furrowed. "Of course it is. Now that I'm the Avatar, nothing I want even matters anymore."

Gyatso sighed. In truth, he was surprised that Aang had been able to remain his usual jovial self for as long as he had. But this was a burden that no one wanted to place on Aang. He was just a child, a gifted and happy child. And now he had the responsibility of defeating the Fire Nation and restoring order to the world.

A burden that would drive many men to madness. And Aang was almost twelve.

Gyatso would do what he needed to do to ensure Aang's wellbeing. This weight was not of his choice, but Gyatso would ensure that Aang would not be destroyed by it. And if it was fun that Aang wanted, perhaps he could be of assistance.

"Aang, are you saying that training with me is not fun?"

The younger monks shot upwards.

"I-I didn't mean it like that! Training with you is fun! Just- a different kind of fun."

Gyatso crossed his arms. "Really? What sort of fun?"

Aang's head started sweating lightly. "Um, the sort of fun that is... that's... necessary?"

"Necessary how?"

"Um, because... Because it's fun while we do it, and it might be useful knowledge for later."

Gyatso was genuinely impressed. For a complete lie that Aang fabricated in an instant, that was a rather nice description. One that he hoped would come true.

"In that case, follow me Aang. Let us go and have fun."

Groaning, Aang begrudgingly followed after his teacher. He followed Gyatso's lead and ignored the fangirls and admires who were looking around them.

"Not right now. The Avatar has important training to complete," Gyatso said, managing to disperse the crowd. Aang frowned as he saw everyone walking away.

But his face started to change when he saw someone who wasn't walking away. The giant fuzzy bison was walking right behind them.

"Can Appa come with us?"

Gyatso thought it over for a moment. Aang and his bison would need to bond at some point. An Avatar needed a strong bond with their companion. Perhaps it would be best to solidify that bond sooner.

"Very well. Now come along. Let us not keep Katara waiting much longer."

Aang very much agreed with that sentiment. He picked up his pace behind his master.

"Remember. Keep the flow steady. A single misstep could be fatal, nephew."

"I understand Uncle," Zuko said as he kept his finger flowing from one end of his arms to the other. Iroh had thought him a physical motion that would, in theory, keep him from dying if he ever got hit by lightning.

The idea was to take the attack in one finger, let it pass through his arm, bypass his stomach, and then go through the course in his other arm before being shot out of his fingers. It was likely that if he ever faced Ozai or any other powerful firebender, then the technique could save his life.

"Well I don't get it," Toph said from her rock chair. "All I can feel is two guys touching themselves. Is something important supposed to be going on? I thought this was supposed to be about lightning?"

Zuko frowned. "Weren't you listening? Uncle is teaching me to redirect lightning."

"To answer your question, no. I wasn't paying attention," Toph admitted easily. "Also, can you do it now? Redirecting lightning?"

"Maybe," Zuko admitted. "I'd have to test it to know for sure. And I'm not exactly eager to do that any time soon."

"With any luck, we won't have to," Iroh said. "Only the strongest of firebenders are capable of channeling lightning."

"Doesn't that mean that we'll definitely meet someone who can do it?" Toph asked. "I mean, you two are always talking about fighting the Fire Lord. If you do that, I'm pretty sure you're going to have to fight all the best firebenders in the Fire Nation."

Iroh's eyes widened and as he smacked his head. He was astonished that he had missed such an important detail.

"We'll deal with it when it happens," Zuko said. "I already learned the technique. If and when we do face lightning benders, we can use the technique to protect ourselves."

"What about me? I'm not a firebender."

Zuko looked at Toph. "Don't worry. If they shoot at you, all stand in front of you and redirect it before it can hit you. I won't let you get hurt."

Toph smiled. "Thanks, Sparky. And what about Druk?"

Zuko looked down at his dragon, who was busy licking his own belly.

"What about him?"

"Is he immune to lightning? I know he's a firebender, but does he have the same defense?"

Zuko looked at Iroh. "Does he?"

The old master rubbed the back of his head. "I would assume so. Firebending came from dragons, but I am not sure if lightning came from them as well. Though perhaps his skin has an immunity?"

Zuko sighed. "We should have asked the Sun Warriors when we had a chance."

"Yes. We should have."

"There ye fellers are. I've been lookin' for you."

The three of them (plus a now awake Druk) saw Due walking towards them.

"What up Due?"

"He needs to come back." Due said, pointing at a very confused Zuko.

"Yeah, I guess I should find Huu. I think I can figure out waterbending now."

"No! I mean, that too, but there's something else we need you for."

The trio frowned.

"What is it?" Iroh asked.

"That spirit that's supposed to be inside of him. Is it possible to put it back in?"

This chapter turned out a little shorter than I hoped it would. I just got a lot of inspiration for writing after hearing the news of the new studio. I just really hope the works it produces live up to quality standards. The next chapter should be longer. And, hopefully, funnier.

Seriously, I have plans for Vaatu in the next chapter.

Zuko's training in waterbending should move along more smoothly. He should also be more prepared when he meets Azula again. She won't be able to beat him down as easily as she might expect.

With Aang's side, Gyatso is doing a better job keeping him in line than either Katara or Sokka ever could. No offense to them, that's just the facts of the situation. And speaking of Sokka, Suki is about to force-feed him some humble pie. That ought to be fun.

On Iroh's end, I always felt that his experience with lightning on the ship wasn't his first time redirecting lightning. He probably practiced it a lot before then. The ship was just his first time really doing it.

Also, there is one question I would like to ask you guys. A few people have come to me to ask who the next Avatar after Zuko would be. I have an idea, but I was wondering what you guys think. I don't intend to do anything with that knowledge, since I am a long time away from even considering how Zuko would die. But still, is there any character you guys think would work as a successor to Zuko?

Please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!