This story takes place during season 3, The Firebending Masters.

Euphoria- Day 2

Zuko POV

If only I listened to Aang and didn't pick up the Sun Stone. Why did I pick up the stone? I never think these things through, but to my defense, how would I know an ancient civilization was still alive?

"For trying to take our Sun Stone, you must be severely punished!" The Chief Sun Warrior spoke with authority. The man was wearing tribal gear. On top of his head he wore a multi-colored Chieftain's hat and war paint on his face.

"We didn't come here to take your Sun Stone. We came here to find the ancient origin of all firebending." I put on my best friendly face; it only seemed to provoke him.

"Yes, I believe that."

"Really?" Aang cheered

"No." The Sun Warrior spat at Aang.

"Please, I don't normally play this card, but..." Oh, yes he does. "I'm the Avatar."

A man beside the Chief piped in, "So what?"

"Ham Gao, be quiet."

"Just hear us out."

"My name is Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Or at least, I used to be. I know my people have distorted the ways of firebending to be fueled by anger and rage."

"Yea, no kidding!" Ham Gao added

I took a breath to control my anger. "But now I want to learn the true way," I looked down at the ground. "The original way. When we came here, I never imagined the Sun Warrior civilization was secretly alive. I am truly humbled to be in your presence. Could you please, teach us?" The tention between everyone in front of us was unbearable.

"Very well, if you two truly wish to learn the ways of the Sun, you must learn them from the masters Ran and Shao." The chief steps in closer to us. "When you present yourselves to them, they will examine you. They'll read your hearts, your souls, and your ancestry." He shoots a hard glance at me, I begin to grow uncomfortable. "If they believe you worthy, they'll teach you. If they don't…"

"What?" I gulped a little louder than expected because Aang gave me a funny look.

"You'll be destroyed on the spot." Looking up at Aang I knew he wanted to back out. I shook my head no. My body was still sticky from the green glue the sun stone temple gave us. The goo smelled foul, I knew even a months worths of baths wouldn't rid of the stench. Those anteaters who licked most of it off disgusted me and I still had the feel of their tounges on me. I rolled my eyes imagining the new names Katara would come up with, 'you lying firebending slimeball!'

The Sun Warrior led us to a burning fireplace. He proceeded to tell us that this was the first fire ever to be given to man. We were to take a piece of fire up to the masters as a gift. What I couldn't believe was that the kept this blazing fire burning for centuries.

When we receive our fire we had to walk up toward where the masters lived. The Sun Warrior pointed toward a large set of stairs with a bridge connecting to two caves in the distance. It seemed a little puzzling to me that two masters at firebending would live in caves. Aang didn't seem to notice my suspicion, he still seemed unsure of these masters.

"Stop being such a squirrel rabbit Aang."

"We've already learned a lot about fire." Aang lifts his hands showing me his weak flame. "And I am not a squirrel rabbit."

"We're seeing this through to the end. We're going to see what's so great about them. Anyway if they attack us I think we can take them. We're the Fire Prince and the Avatar after all." I unsheathed my broadswords to prove my point. Aang still seemed unsure.

We approached the stairs leading up to the caves. I give one last confident glance at Aang. "Let's do this."

As we climb the stairs I hear the Sun Warriors produce synchronized, steady beats of drums. They play with gusto almost like they are waiting for our deaths. At the top of the stairs the late sun shines making my shadow long.

"Those who wish to meet the masters Ran and Shao will now present their fire." I turn to face one of the caves while Aang faces the other. Our backs are pressed up together; I would say it was more for support because Aang's knees were shaking. I finally extend my hands outs toward my cave to present my fire. Then a deep sound of a horn was made. The loud sound it produces sends a flock of birds scattering into the distance. Some rocks dislodge as the caves vibrate from the noise the horn created. For a moment I wanted to be one of those birds. I persuade myself otherwise, I can't back down now, it will only show Aang I'm the one being a squirrel rabbit.

I heard Aang gasp, "Zuko, my fire went out!"

"What do you want me to do?

"Give me some of yours."

"No, just make your own.

"I'm not a firebender!"

To ensure maximum catastrophe Aang reaches out for my fire. I put my arm out of his reach but then he starts climbing on me like a spider monkey.

"Aang, quit it out!"

"Zuko!"

"Stop cheating off me!"

"Quit being stingy!" Still not letting up Aang flaps his arms around extinguishing the flame.

Oops.

"Look what you did!"

"Look what I did? Look what you did! You put your own flame out! "Just then, inside one of the caves rumbles. I turn my head toward both caves. There's nothing but black emptiness within. Squinting my eyes I catch a pair of yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. I have half a mind to tell Aang let's hit the road but at this point I'm paralyzed by fear. A loud roar echoes through the cave and a red and a blue dragon fly out from each cave. It circles around us and the bridge we stand on. These are the firebending masters, Ran and Shao. My Uncle was wrong. When I was little he told me he killed the last dragons.

"We're screwed." I heard Aang mewl. I couldn't agree more. Aang nudges my shoulder, whispering, "You still think we can take them?"

"Wha-what?! Shut up, I never said that." Aang whimpers when I push him off me.

As the dragons circle around us the wind starts picking up making me want to whimper. The dragons circle around us faster until the abruptly stop, the blue dragon looking into my eyes. It felt like the masters Ran and Shao were looking directly into my soul, searching for all my wrong doings. The dragons snarl seemingly very pissed off at me. Being more frozen than I already was I feel Aang trembling against my back giving little timid shrieks.

Slowly I watched the masters open their mouths. Finding my voice I yell out of fear as the dragons engulf us in a vortex of rapidly rising multi-colored flame. But what I see keeps me shell-shocked. In the swirling vortex of rainbow flames I see a body dancing in the fire. A woman twists and turns gracefully as the flames make up her body. I gasp in amazement when I recognize the body. The flames dance around, bending around the girl's body as if she were bending water made of many colors of flame.

"It's beautiful." Aang mused no longer shaking.

"I know." Out of the flames come little children dressed in royal clothing dancing with the waterbender, Katara. I stare in complete wonder as euphoria rises within me.

"I understand." The vortex grows smaller, but just as it disappears the waterbender made of flame looks at me. Reaching out her hand I almost touch the beautiful flames but the fire diminishes. For a second it felt like another beating heart was in me. Positioning into a stance I bend fire like it was the easiest thing in the world. I had my firebending back.

Walking down the steep stairs I go over to the Chief Sun Warrior while Aang is not paying attention. I catch Ham Gao gloating. Maybe he was expecting us to be dragon food. The chief's face is still sullen as it was before. "Your masters, they showed me something."

"Ah, they did?"

"Yes, I was won-" The tanned Sun Warrior interrupted,

"Iroh, your uncle, said the same thing."

"Huh? The warrior patted my arm. "Your Uncle found this civilization once before. He was the last one to face the masters who deemed him worthy. He had told me he had seen something beautiful. I'll tell you the same thing I told him. Listen, some things are destined to be; it just takes us a couple of tries to get there."¹ I looked at the Chief in bewilderment.

"So my Uncle lied when he said he killed the last dragon?"

"Well, yea. Your friend looks like he wants to leave." He pointed over to Aang who was waving me over.

"Thank you." I bowed respectfully toward the Sun Warrior and left.

"Aang," I said as Appa flew past the partly cloudy skies.
"Yea, Sifu Hotman?" I rolled my eyes at the name.
"Did you see anything? I mean in the fire?" I blushed but covered my embarrassment by rubbing the back of my neck.
"No, uh, just...different colors of fire? Why did you see something?"
"No, I was wondering because the Chief Sun Warrior said something about the last dragons."

I couldn't help but smile knowing I was the only one to see the waterbender. It felt like it was only for my eyes to see. As miles pass I just couldn't shake away the images of Katara. Why would I see her in the flames? Was she the one who made my bending better? But something inside me changed. A little ball of hope and emotion was caught in my chest. It started in the pit of my stomach rising up to my heart. Something about seeing Katara in the flames made me rethink how I see her. It made me want to see those children again. It made me want to make real what I saw.

¹ The quote I put in about destiny was from J.R. Ward, Lover Mine, if anybody wanted to know.

I'm going to give a shout out to KennaDee who infact did notice the Juno reference last chapter. I was just waiting for someone to spot that out. And Ms. Scarlet Taylor because I messed up on the names. Sorry about that.