Chapter 47

Art of the Sword

Maddi

We landed in a secluded area a good league away from a middle sized town. Appa was exhausted and the poor bison practically collapsed upon landing. The poor bison hadn't carried a load this heavy in a long time if ever. We left Appa to drink out of a clear stream and eat some grass with Mono for company and went off to get some clothes. Near the edge of town was what I assumed the equivalent of a laundromat with row upon row of clothes left hung to dry. Each of us slipped in one by one and grabbed clothes that looked like they would fit us.

"I feel like I'm dirty." Jet grumbled as he tugged on the red shirt the he had stolen. I glanced around at everyone. Iluq was pulling out his blue and ivory beads, tucking them into a small pocket where they would be safe, Smellerbee seemed perfectly comfortable wearing a boys outfit and Toph was punching out the soles of the shoes she had taken.

"We have to disguise ourselves. Neither Aang and I are happy that we have to stop shaving." Sokka pointed out gesturing to the young airbender who after a single night was itching his scalp.

"Maddi, can you help me with my hair?" Katara asked, turning around to show her bun, hair lollies hanging down from either side.

"Sure." I agreed reaching forward to carefully unwind and take out each pin holding her bin in place. With her hair unfastened it fell right to her waist in beautiful waves that made me jealous.

"We should probably get going." Se Sen stated glancing up at the sun, "I don't want to start in a place like this."

"Actually there's somewhere we have to go before we start." Zuko stated, stepping forward. My breath caught. Zuko had been attractive in his earth kingdom outfit but in the colours of his nation he was... breathtaking. Zuko noticed my look and smiled, causing me to shake my head. I needed to focus.

"Where?" Katara asked, tucking her necklace into a pocket and glancing curiously at Zuko.

"My old master." He replied.

"Old master?" I questioned stepping forward into the conversation.

"You're old firebending master?" Aang perked up. Zuko had begun to teach him but any chance to get more elemental training he jumped at.

"My old firebending master was a old fire sage under the personal hire of my father who severely favoured my sister because she was a prodigy. You don't want to meet him." Aang deflated at Zuko's words causing me to snicker. Zuko carefully ignored us both as he continued.

"I meant the master before I showed any bending promise." This time Katara frowned.

"How? There's no way you had a master at that age." She pointed out. I paused myself. She had a point, benders showed their skill by the time they were two to three years old on average. Katara had shown hers at eighteen months, a little earlier than normal. Zuko scowled and looked away.

"He isn't a bending teacher, and I showed my abilities a little later then normal." He pulled out his swords roughly, face closed off, "His name is Piandao, he taught me how to fight with swords and helped me choose these ones. He's renowned in the fire nation for his swords. He's a master of the blade." Su Sen and Sokka both looked impressed and even Jet seemed to be thinking it over. It occurred to me that we had many more warriors who used the sword then was shown in cannon. Su Sen's main weapon was the short sword, Jet used hook swords, Zuko used duel swords and Sokka was due to start using his famous 'space-sword'. Four boys who all wielded the blade. Which made me wonder what fighting style Iluq and Kanan used, were the two benders or did they use a weapon?

"So why are we going visiting? I thought the point of this trip was to turn the fire nation people to our side under the fire lord's nose." Kanan spoke for the first time. His voice was soft and a light tenor.

"It is," Sokka agreed, raising his head and involving himself in the conversation as well, "but if Zuko has someone who knows him who we could potentially convert to our cause I don't see why we shouldn't start there." While everyone else agreed I approached Zuko. The way he had reacted to Katara's question put up all kinds of alarm bells. Now as his girlfriend, the word sent a shiver through me, I wanted to make sure he was okay. Though in all honesty I probably would have done the same sort of thing if he was just my friend.

"Zuko?" I questioned. He glanced at me.

"What?" He snapped. I sighed.

"If you don't want to talk you don't have to. I just want to know why you snapped at Katara." I explained reasonably. He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. He never answered as we were interrupted by Sokka.

"Zuko, Maddi, come on or we'll leave without you."

"Coming Sokka," I responded with a sigh, turning away to join the rest of the group, Zuko trailing after me.


Five hours of travel was all it took to make it to a small but flourishing town on the side of a mountain. As the sun began to sink below its zenith Zuko guided us up to the doors and knocked loudly. A few moments later a sour faced man in his early sixties answered. He stared at us completely blank faced. His face only changed upon resting on Aang who was trying to not scratch under the makeshift hat, I was pretty sure the expression that crossed the man's face was because of the tacky hat(which was a gaudy yellow against the black and red of his outfit), not that Aang was the avatar.

"The master is busy." He stated tiredly, "and he doesn't have time to bother with…" his lip curled slightly, "you." Jet snarled at the insinuation but Zuko stepped up, blocking the young man from doing something rash.

"Fat, it's me. Zuko." The man actually blinked and peered at Zuko with intense concentration.

"I don't remember you."

"My uncle brought me here when I was four years old as everyone believed I was a none bender. You stated that I was a 'useless lump' at which I pulled your beard." The old man actually smiled and stepped aside.

"Welcome back." He stated. As we entered the courtyard Zuko turned to us.

"Fat is a little paranoid, in particular when people claim to be someone Master Piandao knows. It isn't that he doesn't trust anyone it's just that he cares for the master greatly." Zuko explained.

"You were four and still hadn't shown you were a bender?" Katara asked in surprise. Zuko stiffened then sighed.

"I was six when I lit the curtains in my family's summer home."

"Six!?" Katara echoed. She looked shocked. I didn't blame her. Most children were known to be benders by the time they were three. Four was late. Five practically unheard of. I mentally ran through the math. Azula was fourteen, as she was a prodigy she would have shown her bending early. Probably close to the same time Katara had. She was two and a half years younger then Zuko who had recently turned seventeen. Which meant that if she started bending at eighteen months Zuko was three years old. Azula, his younger sister, had first began firebending three years before Zuko. Add into that the fact she was a natural and by the time she was seven years old she was bending blue fire it was little wonder why she was the favoured one and it was such a sore point for Zuko. Which also meant that the obvious favouritism that Zuko had mentioned probably had a lot more to it. My thoughts were cut off by a strong voice echoing from the steps.

"Did I hear Zuko was back?" Zuko looked up and his face actually lit up.

"Chan!" The two young men closed the distance between them in seconds. The stranger, Chan actually hugged Zuko before leaning back.

"You've changed so much! I haven't seen you in almost four years... you know I wouldn't have even recognized you if I hadn't heard your name." He laughed and rubbed Zuko's now shaggy hair, "The little lion has a mane." Zuko snorted and stepped out of the embrace allowing me to take in the stranger for the first time.

"I had plenty of hair before." He retorted. Chan replied with something cheeky and the two continued to talk. I toned them out in favour of examining Chan in more detail.

Chan was tall, much taller then Zuko, he had to be six foot two or three. He had the traditional pale skin and dark hair of the firenation high class and a study frame. Broad shoulders, well toned muscles, a strong jaw line and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. Smile wrinkles, he was clearly a happy person. I had never heard of a Chan in Zuko's life, then again I had never known that he had trained under master Piandao. It occurred to me once again that my knowledge was lacking, not just of the future though, but the past too. There were many people I had never known about such as Su Sen, Kanan, Iluq, and now Chan. Amal, the butler had never been given a name in the series but here he was, a person with a past, a history, people he cared for. Despite the fact I had been living here for almost a year I was still surprised by things that happened. Sometimes I forgot that this was a TV series and other times I forgot that it was a real world. My mind couldn't seem to keep both concepts at once, flipping back and forth constantly. I shook my head. Remember, this is a real world, it was a real world first, you made a promise to yourself, no more relying upon what you know from the show.

"So who are these people?" Chan asked catching my attention and dragging my mind out of what was turning into a dangerous cycle.

"My friends." Zuko replied before turning to us. After a moment he sighed.

"Sokka and Katara, son and daughter of the chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe; Iluq from the Northern Water Tribe; Toph Bei Fong, a earthkingdom noble; Jet, Smellerbee and Longshot, earthkingdom, from a group called the Freedom Fighters; Kanan and Su Sen from the Earthkingdom; Maddison, girl of all four nations; and Aang the Avatar." He gestured to each of us as he introduced us. Chan's eyes widened even more as each new name was mentioned before he shook his head.

"I'm sure there is a really good story behind this one. But later, first let's find the master and get you all something to eat and someplace to sleep." We nodded. All of us were tired and more than ready to fall into bed. I was beginning to feel that I liked Chan. I also noticed Kanan watching Chan, his eyes roaming about the man.

Chan guided us into the large house which was clearly Piandao's and into a room I recognized. It was the same room where Sokka approached Piandao in the series when the master was practicing calligraphy. The room was large but well lit from a large empty door that lead into a courtyard as well as patterns chiseled through the wood to create two decorative 'windows' to either side of that door. Master Piandao was sitting on the floor, his back to us while he wrote with a paintbrush.

"Master, Zuko has returned." Chan stated, bending down on one leg and lifting the opposite hand to rest in a fist beside his heart. Piandao turned and I was able to look at him in real life for the first time. I realized in shock that I had mostly forgotten what this man was like at all.

Master Piandao was surprisingly tan for a fire nation man and his eyes were more a dark honey than gold. Upon seeing Zuko he smiled and strode forward with several long strides and pulled him into a hug.

"It has been a long time, come, Fat has made a wonderful dinner and I believe there is enough for everyone here, even all your friends." He laughed at that and Zuko smiled, but not before stepping back and taking a respectful bow to his master.

The diner table was long, as long as Bumi's had been when we had eaten a feast with the mad king. It was strange, that was less then a year ago yet it felt like years had passed. This table, unlike Bumi's though was surrounded by chairs enough for all of us. Each of us took a seat, even Fat after he had finished serving the final dish and soon enough we were all listening to our own story as Zuko recounted what had happened in the years he was gone. I noticed it was edited. Zuko never mentioned my future knowledge or that I came from another world, which I appreciated, but he also never mentioned where his scar came from of some of the deeds he had done while chasing Aang and the rest of us down. Everyone was listening intently to the tale, even those who had heard it before. I noticed Katara's nose scrunch when Zuko didn't say a ting about where his scar came from, even after Chan asked.

"That is quite a tale, then can I assume you are here to recruit Chan and I to your battle?" Zuko nodded, looking guilty at his master's words. Piandao smiled warmly.

"I have been supporting that battle before it even began for you," he stated and glanced at our companions, "But before you leave spend some time here. I wish to reassess your mastery over the sword as well as those of your companions who are wielders of the nobel weapon." It was a little surprising, but not entirely when Sokka shot up from his place in the table.

"I would like to learn the way of the sword as well." He stated, bowing to the master. Piandao nodded.

"The art of the sword is open to everyone, no matter what their nation. I will gladly teach you." He stated, "but first let us eat and rest. We will begin tomorrow."


Chan had guided us to a separate house from Piandao's, this one filled with twelve rooms. It was where the apprentices would live. However currently there was only Chan which left the other eleven rooms open for our group to choose from. Everyone retired early, after a wonderful diner with more supply than any of us had in months, and now actual beds instead of cots or mats it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Except for me. I had taken the room right beside Zuko's and it was the sound of a door opening that caught my attention. There was silence for a moment.

"So what happened with that scar? I'm not stupid Zuko." Chan's voice asked from the other side of the wall. I lay still wanted to see what Zuko would say in reply.

"Its none of your business."

"It is. We were best friends remember? I was the only boy your age you knew at all back then, even though you weren't allowed to speak of me at home we were best friends. Then all of a sudden you disappear, no note, not a word until now. You openly admitted to being banished but you father wouldn't just banish you. You were challenged to an Agni Kai, and lost." There was silence. "Tell me if I'm wrong Zuko."

"You're not wrong." There was a loud sigh at Zuko's words.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through so much. It isn't fair. It was hard enough for you losing your mother."

"Chan. Shut up." I chuckled softly. I had never known that Zuko had a friend like this. I was glad, he deserved a good friend before having met Su Sen and Sokka and it was clear that Chan was quite perceptive as well, being able to figure that out when many people had no idea how Zuko got his scar, including those traveling with him when he was banished. He deserved a friend like that.

"Well I'll be leaving now... unless you want to talk to me about that pretty girl of yours."

"What?"

"Maddison. When you introduced her I'm pretty sure there was pink on your face."

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" I chuckled at the resigned tone to Zuko's voice.

"Nope." Chan replied. I grinned. That was it, I was going to get to know this young man, he was someone who I would be glad to get to know better.

"Yes we're in a relationship, you happy?"

"Very. Good night Zuko." There was silence for a moment and then the sound of a door opening and closing. With a sigh I rolled over in the bed and closed my eyes, drifting away into sleep.


Zuko

Master Piandao observed each of us and our weapons in silence.

"You have clearly chosen weapons that are well suited to you. Although I have never used hook swords myself you clearly know what you're doing." He nodded in though. Jet returned the favour, clearly he could handle being respectful to another sword wielder. He took my own swords then and smiled.

"You've clearly kept up your practice and kept your sword in perfect condition." He stated with a warm smile. Stepping back he paired Su Sen and I off and Jet with Chan while he began to teach Sokka the basics with a borrowed sword. I noticed farther away Aang was working on Waterbending with Katara. Toph was laughing with Kanan and Maddi was chatting with Iluq. Smellerbee and Longshot were nowhere to be found.

Su Sen coughed to catch my attention and I turned to him. I carefully observed him. He used a short sword. My swords were about the same length so neither of us had an advantage when it came distance. There were no words, Su Sen lunged and in seconds the two of us were fully engaged. With two swords I had an advantage, however, Su Sen was fast and he consistently moved about, making it hard to hit him. My eyes were dragged away from my opponent when I noticed how Chan had put Jet on the defensive. Wielding a massive sword it was all Jet could do to keep standing.

"Keep your eyes on me." Su Sen reminded, striking towards an unguarded shoulder. I backed up quickly before attacking again. If I got put on defensive with Su Sen I had little doubt that I would be defeated quickly. I quickly became fully committed to the battle. Our swords clashed with the sound of ringing metal.

"Enough." We pulled away and turned to Master Piandao. He was looking at Jet and Chan. Jet was fuming, his eyes flashing in anger.

"He cheated!" Jet exclaimed

"He used the environment to his advantage. There is no cheating in war. You should know that." Jet snarled something about the fire nation and stormed off. We all turned to look at Master Piandao who sighed.

"Zuko you'll fight with Chan. Su Sen, you'll battle with Fat." I winced at my master's words. Chan had been fighting with the master for an additional four years more then I. I was going to have to pay complete attention to him unless I wanted myself served up on a platter.

Chan of course grinned upon noticing my glance at him. I took him in and winced. A good head and a half taller then me with more muscles, a larger body and therefore more weight and a significantly longer sword Chan had a lot of advantages. The only way I would be able to take him down was with superior speed and agility. The problem was that Chan, just like master would use absolutely anything to gain the advantage. Unlike in firebending there was no 'dirty' way of fighting with a sword. I grimaced and prepared for the battle of my life.


We left the training grounds sore. Covered in bruises, cuts, and rubbing dust out of our eyes and went to the fountain to wash out the sweat and dirt. Chan was laughing while I dunked my head under the stream of water.

"Zuko? Can I talk to you?" Maddi asked, coming up to us. I turned and sat up, wringing water out of my hair.

"Sure." I agreed standing up. She dragged me away. I didn't start to question until she dragged me into the separate house where we all slept. I opened my mouth only for her to shove herself against me and place her mouth against mine.

All thoughts of protest vanished in an instant.

The kissing escalated, and I could feel my manhood rise in anticipation as we pressed against each other. Her hands run under my shift, pressing against my back while I wrap my own around her waist. It is pure instinct that drives me, not that Maddi seems to be thinking that much either. Just as Maddi had started it and it was also her to escalated it to the next step. She scrabbled against the door we were pressed against and opened it. The two of us fall in and move towards the bed. Her mouth doesn't leave mine but her hands change position and start to scrabble at my pants.

I shoved her away.

Maddi gasps and stumbles back. Looking shocked. I try to calm my manhood which is still rearing to go, panting as my body screams against my mind.

"We... Maddi we can't." I insist shaking my head. She's gasping too.

After a few moments of heavy breathing she sighs and sits on the bed.

"May I ask why?" I sigh and take a seat beside her. We're silent, although her eyes land on my pants which I had valiantly been trying to cover and she smirks slightly. I cough and she looks away.

"So what was your reason for stopping?" She asked quietly.

"If I tell will you?" She nodded.

"I didn't want your name to be soiled." I explain. Confusion wrinkled her brow and then she seemed to understand.

"Zuko," she began with a sigh, "I'm not exactly... innocent. And I have needs and I... haven't had those needs fulfilled in almost a year. But there are other things going on. I have responsibilities just like you... so thank you for stopping me. Most guys I know wouldn't. Don't get me wrong, I still want it but... I forgot that for a moment. Damn it! I want it so bad but I can't have a child. Not yet anyway." She groaned and rested her forehead in her hands.

"I can't believe I did that." She muttered. I smiled, feeling a bit more comfortable.

"Zuko, I need to tell you something." I looked at her.

"You asked me to be your girlfriend and then... you just stopped talking to me. I'm not omnipotent. I don't remember everything I saw in the series and there are a lot of people who are never covered at all. I didn't even know anything about Su Sen other then his name and I have never heard of Chan or Iluq or Kanan... just... don't expect me to know what you're thinking. I'm a person, not some incredible deity or spirit child and if that's the girl you wanted to be in a relationship now then you're going to be awfully disappointed." We were quiet for a moment.

"I'll try to remember that but its hard when it seems that you always know what I'm thinking." Maddi laughed.

"I don't, and there is a lot that I don't know about you. I didn't know any of that bending stuff you told us, like the fact you weren't a bender until you were six. I didn't even know that you trained under Piandao. Zuko all I know is a little bit here and there. I don't know everything."

"Do you know what happened to my mother." Air hissed from Maddi's teeth as she breathed out. She winced but nodded.

"Unfortunately I know quite a bit but... I don't know everything. Do you... do you really want to know what happened that night?" I stayed quiet. Did I? Did I really want to know?

"Yes."

"After your mom left you that night she went to your father. He... He was planning on killing you." She sighed and glanced at me.

"Your mother protected you by making a deal with your father. She would... she would kill your grandfather and forge his will in exchange for your life. But she had to leave and never come back. That was the price for your life." My hands were shaking. All that. My mother had to do all that just to save my life? For what? My father to throw me by the wayside not even six years later with a burn scar and nothing but an old ship and some x-cons to my name. Deep inside I felt a hatred for my father. My mother had given everything and my father still thought I was useless, still found no worth in me.

"What happened then?"

"She left, went back to the place of her birth... I don't know where it is and married her previous fiancee, evoked a spirit to change her appearance so she would no longer be recognizable. That's about all I know, unless you want her story before she married your father."

"Maybe... but not right now." Maddi nodded and stood.

"Come on. And let's try to have a real relationship from now on."


Maddi

That night the meteor came.

We had all gone star gazing and suddenly shooting streaks of light filled the sky.

"Its beautiful." Katara muttered softly as we lay with our backs on the ground.

"Yeah I'm not really feeling anything here." Toph points out at which I snort.

"It really makes you realize just how small we all are." Sokka agrees with his sister, ignoring the irate earthbender.

"Will you all shut up, I'm trying to enjoy this." I snigger at Jet's irate tone. Who knew he could enjoy anything?

"What's that?" All our heads turned at Kanan's confused voice. I froze as I realized one meteorite was entering our atmosphere, and coming unusually close to us. I jerked to a stand.

"We got to go." I cried, shooting forward. Appa moaned and Momo, who had been lying on Aang's chest churred and flew away at the sudden flutter of activity. In an instant we were flying towards the crash site.

Unlike in the series the impact sight was a great deal deeper than it had been in the show, feet deep, taller then any of the guys I knew so at least seven feet deep and nearly twice as long across. All around not only the grass but the trees were on fire. The second Appa landed all of us sprung into action. There was a small river nearby so Katara began dealing with the trees and in seconds Iluq followed her. He too was a waterbender. Toph and Kanan both began earthbending, taking out of the fire on the grass. Aang used his airbending to take out anything else he could.

It was over in less then ten minutes.

"Hey Sokka." I called to the pouting watertribe boy, "what do you think of a sword made out of meteorite." TO my surprise Sokka sent me a calculating look.

"I had a sword made out of this in the story didn't I?" I blinked but then nodded.

"COOL!" Sokka cried causing me to laugh. However serious Sokka maybe, he was still Sokka.

"There is no way I am luging that thing all the way up the mountain." I laughed again as Sokka pouted.

"We'll all help." Zuko stated, stepping forward, "If this metal means that much to you, we'll all help out."


Another four days later and we were on our way, this time with an extra swordsman in tow.

"Chan, Fat, and I will begin working in the major cities and towns." Piandao stated firmly as he sent us off, "That way none of you risk your lives. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of you and your friends. I know with you fighting for the right side," he smiled, "we'll succeed in this war." He paused, "Take this," He handed a scroll to Zuko, "It will help. And thank you for the scroll that you gave me." Chan strode forward and took him by the elbows.

"Take care of yourself, Zuko."

"You too." We turned, and began to walk down the hill. Quiet in preparation for what was to come.


A/N: There it is, a longer chapter and now only seven or so chapters left before this story ends. Time flies. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this story, especially the interactions between Zuko and Maddi. I had a lot of fun writing that.

Princess Kassie Out.