A/N-I am so sorry this took so long. I have had a hectic week and had no time to type. I am sorry for any grammar/spelling errors. Please review!

"The Tale of Arzin"

Katara looked into her eyes and glared with hatred. How could she possibly believe that I will trust her? After all that fire nation has done to me! When I thought a certain firebender had changed, he went and betrayed me. I will never trust another firebender again! She released a water-whip that was blocked by a small sphere of fire. She expected Arzin to fight back, but she merely leaned against the nearest tree. "I'm not here to make trouble." Katara thrust out yet another whip that was again evaporated by a sphere of fire. She stepped closer and looked Katara strait in the eye, "Believe me, I don't want to hurt you."

Just then, Aang, Sokka, and Toph all came through the trees to see what all the commotion was. Katara instantly ran to Aang and took a place to his right. Then Sokka asked, "Who are you?"

Arzin sighed, "My name is Arzin. I want to teach Aang firebending. I don't mean any harm."

"She's telling the truth." Everyone looked at Toph who had apparently sensed no reason to believe she was lying. "Her heart rate is normal. I think we can trust her."

Katara took another look over of Arzin. She still didn't want to trust her, but it appears she had no choice. Aang leaned in a little closer to Katara. "Do you really think she could teach me firebending?"

"I don't know. I think we need to know a bit more about her first before we do anything." She then directed her comment to the firebender. "Just follow us." She then began to make her way back to the tent with the rest following her. She entered the tent and sat on her sleeping bag; Aang taking a place next to her, Sokka and Toph sitting opposite them. Arzin came in last and sat where everyone could see her. "The first thing I want to know is how you know Aang's name." Katara had been wondering this when Arzin announced she wanted to teach Aang.

Arzin shifted her position a little, and then began to tell her story. "Well, lets get the basics out first. My name is Arzin, I am 16, I am a firebender, but I lived in an earth kingdom town. And to answer your question, I heard of Aang through my grandfather, Kouzon."

At this Aang looked shocked. Kouzon, his friend, was still out there. Aang looked back at Arzin to let her continue.

"My grandfather liked to tell me about the adventures he had had with you. I was always fascinated by them; I was always telling him that I wish I had been there. Then I would need to go to school. There, I learned firebending, and we were always taught that the airbenders were horrible people. When I went to speak out, I was always looked at funny. My teacher got so mad at me for defending what my grandfather had told me, she said I was being disloyal to my nation. She said to remind me I would never be able to go anywhere without knowing I was in fact a fire nation citizen. That day after school, she gave me this scar of the fire nation insignia.

When I told my mom about what she had done to me, she said I deserved it. She said that Kouzon was a liar, and I wasn't to believe anything he said. That night, I ran away. I went to live with my grandfather, and also dropping out of school. He taught me advanced firebending and continued to tell me about the avatar. Then there was a fuss in the town. There was a messenger hawk heading for the palace. After a few minutes, Fire Lord Ozai, appeared and announced that the avatar had returned. He stated that he was an airbender and he was now the only threat to the fire nation. Anyone that was to capture him and bring him to the palace would receive 500 gold pieces, and anyone who was found helping him would be killed.

My grandfather told me he didn't know how, but it must be Aang. He told me that to his knowledge, Aang had not yet learned firebending. He said he would have left himself, but he was too old. It was then that I decided I wanted to teach you.

We continued with our lessons for about two months. After that, he said I was ready to begin lightning bending. After another six weeks of practice, he sent me off. He brought me to one of his friends who was younger than himself. We were all against the war. His friends name was Ezire. He gave me this red strand. He said that if I kept this, then he would know it was me and he would help me if ever I were to return. I then got some earth nation clothes from a merchant in a town in the earth kingdom. I spent weeks trying to find a house that would accept me. I finally found a house that was occupied by a couple that had just lost their son in the war. I entered with a fake name and a story that broke them into tears. They took me in with open arms.

I lived with them for about a month and a half. They cared for me as if I were their own daughter. I would often at night go into the woods and practice my fire and lightning bending, so I knew I hadn't forgotten anything. I then heard that you were in Ba-sing-se. I explained to the family that I had family there and wished to find them. They were sad to see me go, and I felt horrible for needing to lie to them. But I knew that teaching you was more important than my feelings for the family. So I walked away with my head held high.

When I finally arrived in Ba-sing se, I lived in the lower ring in a house that could have been passed as a junk heap. I then saw a poster flying in the air. I climbed atop the nearest building and caught it. Apparently you had lost your bison, I then went on a search for it hoping to return him to you and find you there. I looked for a long time; my mind was screaming at me give up and return home. But I pushed the thoughts away; I knew that teaching you would benefit the entire world. And after seeing how many people were losing their lives and running from the fire nation, my determination only grew. Awhile later, I saw a giant bison flying over the city walls; I knew it had to be you.

I left the city and went in search of you, following the direction I saw the bison flying in. Then, while searching the woods, I found your camp. I didn't want to barge in, knowing the hostility that would surly fly at me. So I decided to wait until I could get one of you alone, preferably Aang. I noticed that Aang spent most of his time with the waterbender. (She still didn't know anyone else's name) So I decided that when I found her, I would approach her peacefully and offer my service."

Arzin then took a deep breath at the completion of her story. The gang looked at Toph who announced. "She is telling the truth. Every word." Arzin looked relieved that she had apparently passed the lie detector test.

Katara then motioned for Arzin to stay put and for the rest to follow her. They went to stand beneath a tree and began to discuss whether they would accept Arzin or not.

"Well, what do you think of her?" Katara started.

"She seems to want to help, why not." Aang suggested.

"I don't think she seems all that bad." Sokka said with a hint of enthusiasm.

"Well, she wasn't lying about her story. That's all I have to say." Toph stated imagining the fun in the morning waking up two people with her earthbending.

Katara looked at the others who had apparently made up their minds. "I guess she can stay, as long as I am able to monitor when she is with Aang in case of any burns or if teaching somehow goes wrong. We need to remember, she hasn't taught anyone before, so she may need son pointers."

So it was decided, Arzin would teach Aang and Katara would make sure everything stayed safe. Then they all jumped at the Earth king and Bosco parting some bushes with a basket-full of food, "What did we miss?"