Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or the avatar characters

Chapter 5: The Western Air Temple

The gang and their friends travel by foot to the western air temple after Appa got tired flying with everyone on his back. Zuko also arrives at the temple and hides until its time to face the avatar and his friend and ask to join their group. As team avatar and their friends have rested for a few minutes after settling their stuff, their friends go and explore the temple as Katara stops Aang from joining them to figure out another plan with Sokka and Toph. Katara and her brother tried to get Aang's attention and talk about the next plan. They started to explain that they should go back to the first plan and find a fire bender. Aang decided to leave since they couldn't figure out who could teach him fire bending. And then he took off into the air. Meanwhile off on the side of the air temple, Zuko was practicing on what to say when he approached the avatar and his friends. He made his way down to where they are staying and noticed they were in the air and decided to wait for them there.

Aang tried to change the subject as his friends followed him and just as they landed at the temple, Zuko was there standing off to the side. Zuko tried to explain that he's good and that he could teach the avatar fire bending and apologized for all the things he's done. The gang got defensive when he mentions combustion man. Zuko was hurt that Katara didn't trust him and he understood why she didn't. He tried to tell her that he was on her side but he guessed that she didn't get the memo when they were fighting. He just wanted to help her.

They gang start arguing about how crazing it is how Zuko is trying to join them and tricking them once again. Aang mentioned that it was Zuko that saved him from when he was captured by Zhao and his friends just told him it was for his own gain. And how setting Appa was a lie until Toph mentioned that he wasn't lying from hearing his heart through the ground. And the gang insisted Zuko only had bad intensions and wouldn't letting him be Aang's fire bender teacher. Toph was getting really upset that he was the only option and they didn't even want to let him a chance. She walked out and went out to find Zuko. It started to get dark and Toph was still trying to find the fire prince.

She had startled a sleepy Zuko causing him to throw a fire ball in her direction and blocked it with a rock wall and stepped on the fire that went around the wall. She could hear Zuko genuinely apologizing as she crawled away. It became morning by the time she reached her friends. Katara had noticed Toph's feet were burned and wondered how she got them. Toph was hesitant on saying how until they made her say what happened. She finally said that she had gone out to find Zuko and he accidentally burned her but she was the one that scared him from his sleep. Katara started to heal Tophs feet. There was a blast that came from above and they all looked up beside Toph and saw combustion man. Sokka picked up Toph up and followed the rest to take cover from more blasts.

That's when Zuko came and started to attack combustion man from harming them. The gang all attacked him as best as they could but couldn't get a good angle to attack from the constant blasts that are coming down their way. Eventually Zuko takes down combustion man.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but thank you, Zuko" Aang said with sincerity.

"Listen, I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday, I've been through a lot, in the past few years, and it's been hard. But I'm realizing that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth. I thought I had lost my honor and that somehow my father could return it to me. But I know that no one can give you your honor. It's something you earn for yourself by choosing to do what's right. All I want now is to play my part in ending this war. And I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world. I'm sorry for what I did to you. It was an accident. Fire can be dangerous and wild. So as a fire bender, I need to be more careful and control my bending. So, I don't hurt people unintentionally." Zuko was explaining himself.

Katara looked at Zuko as he spoke with sincerity and wanted to trust him again. But she didn't want to get hurt again. She would have to ask Toph if he was telling the truth and see if she could ask him what he said in Ba Sing Se was true as well.

"I think you are supposed to be my fire bending teacher. When I first tried to learn to fire bending, I burned Katara." Aang replied to Zuko. Zuko looked at the avatar and felt anger that he hurt Katara and looked at her with concern ('Are you okay? Did he hurt you?') "And after that, I never wanted to fire bend again. But now I know that you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love. I'd like you to teach me." Aang said as he bowed to Zuko. Zuko now knew the avatar had feelings for his Katara. He would have to explain to the avatar before things get more serious.

"Thank you. I'm so happy you've accepted me into your group." Zuko returned the bow.

"Not so fast. I still have to ask my friends if it's okay with them." Aang said as he turned to his friends to get their answers. Both Sokka and Toph said they would be fine with it. But when it was Katara's turn, Zuko was feeling anxious for her answer hoping that it wasn't a rejection as two drops of sweat rolled down his face as he waited for her answer. She had said that she would go along with it. He was relieved.

Sokka escorted Zuko to the room he will be staying at. He offered lunch and that it would be soon and said it so awkwardly. Zuko just gave him a small smile to say thank you for Sokka's welcoming gesture. Aang and Sokka left Zuko alone. As he started to unpack his belongings, Katara come to the door. Zuko felt someone there and looked up and saw her there and he gave her a small smile but soon fell from the energy she gave off. She was still mad from what he did back when they were in the caves.

"I'm sorry, Katara. I told you back in Ba Sing Se that I would be on your side and I always will be. I know I hurt you and you have every right to be mad but…" Zuko said until Katara cut him off.

"You might have everyone else here buying your transformation. But you and I both knew you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past. So, let me tell you something right now. You make one step backwards, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang. And you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends right then and there…. permanently." Katara threaten him as she saw the fear in his eyes to show a bit. She left when she finished what she had to say. Zuko just stood there not saying a word as he watched her leave the room. 'She doesn't believe me.' Zuko thought.

Katara went to find Toph. Just as she turned the corner, Toph was leaning against the wall.

"AAHHH! Don't scare me like that Toph." Katara said angrily towards her friend.

"He was telling the truth, you know, whatever you guys talked about in Ba Sing Se." Toph said calmly.

"Ugh. Whatever. Maybe you shouldn't eavesdrop on my conversation!" Katara said back and turned on her heels and walked the other way and stormed off. 'So, he was telling the truth back in Ba Sing Se. I'm actually the goddess but it can't be. I'm just a normal water bender no different than the others. Should I ask Zuko about it more? No, I'm still mad that he and his sister had hurt her and Aang.' She though as she stormed off.

Toph looked in Katara's direction and shook her head. She turned and walked towards Zuko's room. She came to the door and walked through

"Hey sparky! What's with you and sugar queen?" Toph said surprising Zuko making him drop his bag on the ground.

"WHAT?!" Zuko questioned as he figured that she meant Katara. "Nothing is up. Why do you ask?" Zuko lied as he picked up his bag.

"You're lying. What happened between you two in Ba Sing Se?" Toph demanded.

"Katara is recantation of the goddess of life and death. And I am to help her with her power and be by her side. I told her I was on her side back in the caves. I'm afraid she doesn't trust and believe me." Zuko said as he realized there was no way to lie about it. But he only said what he thought was enough for the small girl. "Please don't tell anyone until she accepts the truth and reveals it. Otherwise someone will get to her before she can get to her true powers." Zuko added.

"Trust me, I won't tell anyone about this only if you fill me in what's happening." Toph agreed as

she cracked a smile. She heard his heart racing as he was worrying about Katara's safety. She turned

around and stopped. "You have feelings for her, don't you?" She said. Zuko respond by saying no, but

she knew he was lying again and walked out of the room.

Later that night, everyone was gathered the fire eating the dinner. It was very awkward since Zuko was there. Once dinner was finished and everyone started making their way to bed, Zuko saw Katara looking at the sky as she sat on the edge of the water fountain with her legs inside the water.

Before Zuko went on the field trips with Aang and Sokka he told Toph to keep an eye on Katara and keep her safe. Toph agreed and watched over Katara.