1Geez, are spelling errors all you guys notice? XD JK LOL I do have a spell-checker, but sometimes I miss words.

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Chapter 8: Of Fights, Secrets, and Decisions

Mai walked to Ty Lee's apartment. She had some apologizing and explaining to do.

"Oh. Hey, Mai." Ty Lee greeted her friend politely as she answered the door. "Come in."

Mai walked into Ty Lee's apartment. Ty Lee had pink furniture and pink decoratives, which made Mai blink a few times in order to adjust to the light. She sat down on the couch.

"Listen, I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday." Mai said sincerely. "I guess Zuko's hotheaded-ness is starting to rub off on me."

Ty Lee chuckled at that. "Yeah, pretty much. What set you off like that?"

Mai sighed. "I am sick of Azula bugging me about hearing from Zuko. It's like she thinks everything is her business. Like it would benefit her."

"Well, Zuko is her brother." Ty Lee reminded Mai. "She has a right to know. I mean...if you did hear about anything."

"I did hear about something." Mai said after a minute.

"What?" Ty Lee asked in a hushed voice.

"Ty Lee, can you keep a secret? Especially from Azula?" Mai asked. Ty Lee nodded. "Okay...Zuko left me a note saying that he's going against his father and joining the Avatar."

Ty Lee gasped in shock. "What?! Why on this green earth would he do that?"

"He said he didn't belong here. At least not while his father is leading the Fire Nation." Mai explained. "Apparently, his uncle got to him."

"Agni..." Ty Lee shook her head. "I can't believe he left! Does Azula know?"

"No. That's why I asked you to keep this a secret." Mai answered. "I don't want to cause hell by telling Azula this."

Ty Lee sighed. "I really don't like keeping secrets, Mai."

"You just said you would!" Mai exclaimed.

"I still don't like keeping them. I never said I wouldn't!" Ty Lee shot back. "I'll keep this a secret, okay? I promise."

"Okay. Thank you." Mai replied. She sighed. "I just hope he's okay."

"I'm sure he is." Ty Lee consoled her friend. "Maybe he found his uncle already, and they're on the run together again."

Mai shrugged and smiled. "Maybe."

XXXXXXX

"All right, now concentrate on your target..."

Zuko was teaching Aang how to aim for his target without actually burning it. The "target" was actually a tree stump with Aang's noodle picture of Ozai taped to it.

Aang focused on the picture. He narrowed his eyes in concentration. He got into his stance and thrust his fist forward. Yellow flames shot out of Aang's fist and hit the noodle drawing.

"Good job!" Zuko said, impressed. "Now it's time to test your strength."

Aang looked apprehensive. "Okay..."

"Usually, if a Firebender mastered his or her basics, their master test their pupil using basic firebending in order to test their strength. If the pupil wins, he moves on. If he doesn't, he continues his basic firebending training until he masters it." Zuko explained.

"Well, if it's part of training..." Aang rubbed the back of his head. "When do you want to do it?"

"We're dueling at sunset. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"Okay." Aang said half-heartedly.

XXXX

Later that evening, the group headed to n open field where Zuko and Aang would have their Agni Kai. Toph, Sokka, Haru, Teo, and the Duke already made bets on who would win.

"My vote is on Zuko." Toph held up a small bag of coins.

"You kidding?" Sokka snorted. "Aang will win!"

"I'm with Aang, too." Haru piped up. He gave Sokka a few gold coins.

"I actually think Zuko's going to win." Said Teo. He gave Toph his goggles.

"Yeah, same here." The Duker said as he gave Toph his helmet.

"Katara, who are you voting for?" Sokka asked.

"I'm not." Katara said simply. "I'll be handling the bets."

"What?" Toph said confused.

Katara took the helmet, goggles, and money and kept them at her side. "If Zuko wins, I'll give the goggles and money to Sokka, Haru, and the Duke. If Aang wins, I'll give the money to Teo and Toph."

They groaned in protest. "Oh, come on, Katara!"

"Fair is fair, Sokka." Katara replied. "Besides, this is kind of fun!"

Sokka glared at Toph. "You had to start the bet."

"Oh, hush." Toph sent a small shockwave to Sokka.

Aang and Zuko got into their positions. After Katara shouted "Go!", the duel began! Aang shot a huge fireball at Zuko, who dodged and sent a fireball at Aang's feet. Aang jumped to avoid the blast.

"Hey! No airbending during a fire duel!" Sokka shouted.

"I wasn't, Sokka!" Aang yelled back.

"Oh. Sorry!"

Aang shot a wave of fire at Zuko's feet. Zuko backed away a few paces, then tripped. Aang threw another fireball, which caused Zuko to fall to the ground.

Sokka, Haru, and the Duke cheered for Aang. Aang ran over to Zuko and pointed his fist at him.

"Well, Master Zuko, what do you think?" Asked Aang.

Zuko smiled and got up. "I think you mastered the basics!"

"Go, Twinkletoes!" Toph pumped her fist.

"I'm really proud of you, Aang." Katara said to him.

Aang blushed. "Thanks."

"Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds at it." Zuko half-joked. "See you in the morning, Aang."

"Okay. And we're not lovebirds!" Aang said after Zuko.

"Liar." Toph commented.

Aang glared at Toph. "I hate it when you do that."

"You'll get over it!" Toph responded. She laughed, then headed off.

Katara chuckled. "It's okay, Aang."

Aang smiled. "Hey, I have a surprise for you."

"Really?" Katara looked surprised. "What?"

Aang pointed to a small plateau some feet away. "Meet me on that plateau n thirty minutes.:"

"Okay." Katara nodded. Ang sped off. "What is he up to?"

"I think I know." Zuko smiled.

"What?"

"Secluded plateau, sunset, beautiful view..." Zuko explained. "That screams 'date', my friend." Zuko stopped. He hasn't used that word in years. Katara looked shocked as well. Both at Zuko referring her as a friend, and the fact that he said that Aang just asked her out on a date. But didn't she suggest doing an activity?

"Wait, how do you know it's a date?" Katara asked, rasing an eyebrow.

"Because I did the exact same thing with Mai earlier this summer." Zuko replied. He sighed as he thought about Mai. Is she okay?

Katara seemed to have read Zuko's mind. "Do you miss her?"

"A lot." Zuko admitted.

"Then you should go back to her." Katara advised. "The invasion will be at the royal palace anyway. You can meet up with us there."

"If I'm caught with her, she could be in danger." Zuko argued. "I can't let that happen."

"Good point." Katara responded. "Well, you think about it. I'm going to get ready for my 'date'."

Zuko watched Katara walk off. 'She makes it sound so easy...maybe...maybe I could sneak a visit'. Katara did have a point. The invasion's going to be at the palace. Maybe he could convince Mai to join the invasion force.

He'll sleep on it.

XXXXXX

Meanwhile, Aang set up a picnic for him and Katara. They ate and watched the sun set.

Katara sighed in awe. "It's so beautiful up here."

"Not as beautiful as you." Aang said shyly.

Katara blushed. "So, how's firebending training going?"

"I'm learning a lot of stuff." Aang replied. "Zuko's a geat teacher, which is ironic, because he used to chase me around the world."

They both laughed at that. Aang's thoughts drifted to the approaching invasion. Katara noticed.

"Are you worried?" Katara asked. "About the invasion, I mean."

"Yeah. What if I fail again?" Aang vented. "I failed two times in a row. I'll bet that's a record for an avatar."

"I doubt past Avatars had to deal with an Azula." Katara tried to console her friend. "But, we're doing so good now. With Zuko on our side, we have half the nation against Ozai now. And from what Zuko told us, he turned Ozai and Mai- her best friend- against her."

"True." Aang nodded. "Azula must be in extremely hot water with her dad right now for lying to him about who...ah...defeated me."

"See? That's the kind of optimism I'd like to hear!" Katara laughed. "Listen...I believe in you. I believe you can defeat Ozai and Azula and save the the world. And if you believe something strong enough...it will come true."

Aang blushed and smiled. "Okay. I believe. I believe that I can save the world by defeating both Azula and Ozai."

"Well, if Suki turns out to be dead, you won't have to deal with Azula." Katara joked. She winked.

Aang chukcled at that. "True."

Aang and Katara stared at each other for a long minute. Then Aang slowly pulled in to kiss Katara.

BOOM!

Katara and Aang jumped and looked toward the source of the noise. Haru was standing twelve feet away from them.

"Sorry!" Haru called out, embarrassed. "I was practicing my earthbending!"

Katara shook her head and smiled. She turned to Aang. "Well, that was anti-climatic."

"Yeah." Aang agreed. He paused for minute. Aang's thoughts drifted to Azula telling Sokka about Suki. She took advantage of Suki and distracted Sokka (and Toph and him) from finding the Fire ord. Azula took advantage of Suki...could the same thing happen with Katara? Maybe that's why Guru Pathik wanted me to let her go. Either that, or he's jealous...

"Aang?" Katara noticed Aang was spacing off. She took his hand. "Are you okay?"

Aang snapped out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh...yeah, sorry. I just...drifted off."

"What's on your mind?" Katara asked, curious.

Aang couldn't figure ut a way to explain his thouhts to Katara, so he just shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing." Aang smiled convincingly.

Katara just shrugged it off. "Okay. Now...where were we?" She leaned in.

Aang just sighed. "Sorry...I'm...I can't..."

"It's okay." Katara said, trying to hide her disappointment. "Wanna head back to camp?"

"Sure."

The two walked back to camp. Katara watched as Aang got into bed. 'What's going on in that head of his?' She wondered.

XXXXXX

Ursa and Iroh made camp yet again. Their plan was to keep moving toward the royal palace and meet up with the invasion force. Ursa knew firebending, but hasn't practiced it in a long time, so Iroh was helping her with it.

Now, Ursa was sitting on a fallen tree log sipping tea. She sighed and looked off into space. Iroh joined her.

"What's on your mind?" He asked.

"Oh...just this man I met while I was in the Earth Kingdom." Ursa replied.

Iroh raised an eyebrow and smiled teasingly. "A gentleman caller?"

Ursa chuckled. "Well, maybe not a caller, but...he was nice."

"What was his name?"

"Hakoda." Ursa answered. "He's from the South Pole."

"How did you meet this...Hakoda?" Ioh asked, interested.

"He's in the Water Tribe navy serving in the Earth Kingdom." Ursa explained. "I was tired...exhausted and hungry. I found a deserted campsite on a beach. There were no ships or people around, so I snuck in and stole some food. I hidf in a tent and slept. Next thing I knew, I was staring up at a pair of blue eyes staring down at me. I was scared. I thought he was going to kill me for trespassing, but he was kind. He asked what I was doing at his campsite, and I told them I was on the run from the Fie Nation. I left two kids behind."

Iroh smiled. "The people of the Water Tribe are compassionate."

Ursa nodded. "They are. He told me he knew how I felt. Hakoda left two children of his own when he traveled to the Earth Kingdom. His wife died about six or seven years ago."

Iroh was surprised. Aren't the avatar's Water Tribe friends from the South Pole? "Do you know their names? Hakoda's children, I mean?"

"I can't remember off-hand." Ursa paused for a minute. "I remember they are a boy and a girl, but I can't remember their names."

"Sokka and Katara?" Iroh guessed.

"Actually...yes!" Ursa said, remembering. "How do you know those two?"

"They're traveling with the Avatar." Iroh explained. "I met them a few times over the past eight months since the Avatar was discovered in an iceberg."

Ursa sighed again in sadness. "Well, the Avatar's dead now. I wonder what they're doing."

"Actually, the Avatar's alive." Iroh told her. "Katara has healing abilities."

Ursa's eyes lit up. "Really? That's great! I've always wanted to meet my grandfather's incarnation."

Before Iroh said anything, they heard a rustle through the woods.

"What was that?" Ursa asked, standing up.

"I don't know." Iroh looked around for the source of the rustling. The two walked around cautiously.

Ursa headed deeper into the woods. Nothing. She turned around and gasped as she saw t wo Fire Nation soldiers standing side by side. One of them held up a poster.

"By he order of Fire Lord Ozai, you are under arrest." One of them said.

Ursa froze. What could she do? She didn't want Iroh to be arrested, too. So, she held up both her hands in surrender.

XXX

Iroh continued looking. He headed back to the campsite.

"Ursa?" He called out. He was getting worried. Iroh made a fireball in his hand and headed in the direction Ursa went in.

A few minutes later, Iroh was bagged from behind. Reacting fast, Iroh elbowed his captor hard in the ribs and tore the bag off his head. Soldiers were surrounding Iroh. He swung-kicked fire at them and ran into the woods. Iroh shot a few fireballs behind him and ran until he came to a canopy of trees. He hid there until the solders ran past. Iroh sighed in relief and sank to his knees. Realization sstruck him: He and Ursa were ambushed, and now Ursa was being taken to Ozai.

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Ooohh, this is getting juicy, isn't it? XD