Thirteen The Firebending Masters

Zuko and Aang had found a secluded balcony on one of the adjacent pagodas for their practice. Zuko paced in front of Aang as the Avatar watched. "I know you're nervous, Aang, but remember…firebending in and of itself is not something to fear."

Aang took a breath, trying to clear the image of Katara's burned hands from his mind.. "Okay…not something to fear."

Zuko frowned, and his voice rose. "But if you don't respect it, it will chew you up and spit you out like an angry komodo-rhino!"

Aang blanched, yelping, and Zuko crossed his arms. "Now, show me what you remember…any amount of fire you can make."

Aang hopped up, and took a nervous breath. He thrust his palm forward, and a puff of smoke rose into the air. He smiled weakly. "Maybe I need some more instruction. Perhaps a demonstration?"

Zuko nodded. "That's a good idea." He gestured. "You may want to take a couple steps back.

Aang backed away, and Zuko took deep breath before striking, a burst of flame roaring toward the open chasm.

"Wow." Aang said. Excited, he tried again, a tiny, weak burst of flame sputtering from his fingertips.

Zuko snorted. "What was that? That's the worst firebending I've ever seen!"

Aang glared at him. "I thought it was nice…at least I made some fire."

Zuko nodded. "I've already taught you a lot of the basics, so try this." He firebent rapidly, flames melting away the early morning mist.

Aang nodded, and tried to copy his teacher, but his flames were weak and pale. "Maybe it's the altitude?"

Zuko frowned, unsure. "Yeah, maybe."

Aang stood on the balcony. "Okay, just breathe and…" He tried again, and again, but his firebending wasn't anything like Zuko's. "Why is this happening?"

Zuko shrugged. "I really don't know. I taught you the same way I was taught."

Sokka walked up, sitting down. "What's up, jerks? Mind if I watch you two jerks do your jerkbending?"

Frustrated, Aang tried again, and Sokka munched on his apple. "That one kind of felt hot."

Aang glared at him, embarrassed. "Don't patronize me! You've fought enough firebenders to know what it's supposed to look like!"

"Okay…so what's the jerkbender doing sitting down?" Sokka asked.

"Go away!" Aang boomed.

Sokka snorted, standing up. "Okay, okay…jerkbender…I still got it." Aang frowned at his two friends as Zuko laughed with the retreating Sokka.

Aang moaned, embarrassed.

Aang added some more fodder to Appa's pile, then looked around the corner where everyone was gathered around the fire.

He cleared his throat, stepping towards them, and everyone looked at him. "I've got some bad news. I can't…I've lost my stuff."

"Whoa, don't look at me!" Toph said quickly, looking shifty. "I haven't touched your stuff!"

Aang shook his head. "No, I mean…I can't firebend. I can't…I can't feel it anymore. I used to be able to."

"Can't feel what?" Sokka asked.

"His inner fire." Zuko said, poking at his rice. "It's important to a firebender to feel their inner fire, or we become powerless."

Katara snorted. "It would have been so nice for us if you lost your firebending back when you were still chasing us."

"Well I didn't." Zuko replied. "And we have a problem. Aang, you're the only one who can reconnect to your firebending. Have you meditated like I showed you?"

"Yeah." Aang mumbled, sitting down. "It didn't help, and I don't know why."

"Maybe you're still feeling the eclipse." Toph suggested. "You're the Avatar, so who knows how it would have effected you."

"That's ridiculous." Katara snorted.

"I got it!" Teo spoke up. "Zuko, what emotions do you feel when you firebend?"

Zuko blinked. "I…I don't know anymore." He replied, glancing at Katara. "It used to be anger and rage."

Sokka perked up. "Maybe all we have to do is make Aang really angry!" He poked Aang with the pommel of his sword, darting around his friend, laughing maniacally.

"Stop!" Aang finally snapped. Sokka dropped his sword and cringed away from the fire he expected, but there was nothing. Aang stood up, and walked over to a large, open window. "Even if that is the case, I don't want to use hate and anger to firebend. It wouldn't feel right."

"You could try drawing your firebending from a different source." Toph suggested, sipping at the soup. "I suggest the original source."

"What's that?" Sokka asked, laughing. "Jumping into a volcano?"

Toph shrugged. "I don't know. For earthbending, the original earthbenders were badgermoles." Toph took a bite, and slowly chewed, almost smirking at how everyone shifted toward her.

"One day, when I was little, I ran away and hid in a cave." She neglected to mention that she had been scared, and was crying all alone. Then, the wall had exploded behind her. Toph had cringed away from whatever was coming, her blindness adding to her fear.

"That's where I met them. They were blind like me, so we understood each other." Toph stopped, smiling as she remembered her first meeting with the badgermoles, and how she had become connected to them so quickly.

"I was able to learn earthbending not just as a martial art, but as an extension of my senses." Toph continued. "For them, the original earthbenders, it wasn't about fighting. It was how they interacted with the world."

Aang smiled. "That's amazing Toph. I learned from the monks that the original airbenders were the Sky Bison." He leaned until he could see Appa. "Maybe you could give me a lesson sometime, buddy." Appa grunted.

Zuko frowned, and looked away. "This doesn't help Aang. The original firebenders were the dragons, and they're extinct."

"What?' Aang asked, stunned. "Roku had a dragon…so did Sozin. And there were plenty of dragons around when I was a kid."

Zuko glared at him. "Well, they aren't around anymore, okay?"

"Sorry." Aang muttered, looking miserable.

Zuko set his dish down. "There may be another way. The first people to learn from the dragons were the ancient Sun Warriors."

Aagn sat back down. "Sun Warriors? Well, I know they weren't around when I was a kid."

"No, they died off thousands of years ago, but they're civilization wasn't too far from here. Maybe we can find something by poking around their ruins."

Sokka waved his fingers. "What, you think Aang might absorb some old Sun Warrior energy or something?"

"More or less." Zuko replied firmly. "Either we figure out why Aang can't firebend, or he faces the Fire Lord unprepared."

"We've been flying for hours." Zuko called from his spot on Appa's saddle. "I don't know why, but I thought this thing would be faster!"

Appa grunted, and Aang, having shifted back to his cheerful disposition, called back. "Appa's right, Zuko! In this group, we usually start our missions out with a more upbeat attitude."

Zuko groaned. "I can't believe this!" He muttered.

Aang grinned cheerily. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it someday!"

"You miss him, don't you?" Toph asked, soaking her feet in a fountain. Katara was seated nearby, mending clothing.

"What? Of course I miss them both. I hope they get back safely." Katara replied. "It's dangerous to go off by themselves."

Toph snorted. "No, I mean Sparky. I heard you two necking last night."

Katara froze. "What?"

Toph grinned. "Yep, you are officially busted. Don't worry, I haven't told Sokka, and Aang is too dense. But there's a price for my silence."

Katara sighed. "What do you want, you con-artist?"

Toph grinned widely. "Tell me exactly how it went down. I've been waiting for you two to hook up for months, and I want to know how it happened!"

Zuko and Aang stared down as they passed over the outskirts of the ancient city. "Whoa." They both muttered, then glanced at each other.

Appa quickly set down, and as soon as both Aang and Zuko were down, flopped on his belly for a nap.

"Even thought these buildings are ancient, there's something familiar about them." Zuko commented as they started down toward the city proper. "I can tell the Fire Sages' temples are somehow descended from these."

Aang grinned. "Okay, so we've learned something about architecture." They stepped onto an old cobbled pathway. "Hopefully we can learn something about firebending too. The past can be a great teacher."

No sooner had Aang spoken then he stepped on what he thought was a vine. A panel in the walk before them both darted open, and Aang tripped, almost getting impaled. He bent a gust of airbending that flipped him over to the other side, and turned back to Zuko. "Zuko, I think the past is trying to kill me."

Zuko peered at the 'vine.' "Wire. It's unbelievable. Even after so long, these old booby traps still work."

Aang swallowed. "Maybe we should leave."

Zuko grinned, and stepped away from the trap. He ran forward, and leapt onto the wall, using his momentum to hold him there as he ran forward, almost horizontal. Zuko landed next to Aang, who was staring, gape-jawed. Zuko almost laughed. "Where's that up-beat attitude you were talking about? Besides, people don't make traps unless they've got something to hide."

"This looks promising!" Aang ran up to a large, sealed doorway. "But I don't know what this tells us about the original source of firebending."

They both scanned the decorated doorway. A human figure stood in the middle, surrounded by two circling flames breathed from a dragon on either side.

Zuko peered closer. "Both dragons look pretty angry to me.

"I thought they were friends with the Sun Warriors." Aang commented.

"They had a funny way of showing it." Zuko started across a bridge, and Aang followed quickly.

"Zuko, something happened to the dragons in the last hundred years, didn't it? Something you're not telling me."

"My great-grandfather happened." Zuko stopped, and lightly touched a crumbling dragon statue. "He started the tradition of hunting dragons for glory. They were the ultimate firebenders, and if you could conquer one, your firebending talents became legendary, and you were given the honorary title of 'Dragon'. The last great dragon was conquered long before I was born…by my Uncle."

Aang stopped. "I thought your uncle was…I don't know…good?"

Zuko looked at him. "He had a complicated past. Family tradition, I suppose." Zuko gestured at the bridge. "Let's just move on."

Aang spotted the doors first, and ran across an elaborately carved courtyard, dropping his staff to try and open the doors. "It's locked up!"

Zuko peered at the lone column that faced the doors, eyeing the red stone. He glanced at the yard, and saw a red glint. Zuko studied the courtyard. "Wait. It's a celestial calender…like in the Fire Sages' temples." He gestured at the doors. "I bet the light opens the doors when the sun hits the pillar at the right time…like the solstice."

"Monkey feathers!" Aang exclaimed, smacking his forehead. "The solstice again! We can't wait here that long."

Zuko unsheathed his swords. "No, we can't." He knelt, and used one to refract the light. "Let's see if we can speed up time." He angled his blade, guiding the light to the large jewel above the doors.

"Nothing's happening." Aang commented, looking back at Zuko.

"Come on…come on." Zuko urged, holding his sword in place. The doors began to shake violently, and both boys watched as the doors ground apart, dust raising as the ancient stone parted.

Aang ran inside, and backed out, yelping. Zuko peered inside the chamber. "They're just statues." He told the younger boy. "Relax."

Aang grinned. "You know, I don't care what Sokka says. You're pretty smart."

Zuko smiled, and led the way into the chamber of statues. They slowly searched the room, looking for anything.

Aang peered at the first two statues in the twin rows that lined the room. Both bore an inscription. "It says this is something called the Dancing Dragon." Curious, he stood behind the statue, facing the direction the warrior depicted did. He copied its pose, and his foot hit a pressure panel.

Aang grinned, and raced over to Zuko, grabbing his arm. "Zuko, come dance with me!"

Zuko paled, and glared down at the younger bender. "What?"

"Just do it!" Aang dragged Zuko after him.

Zuko groaned as he stepped behind the statue next to Aang's. Aang grinned over at him, excited. "Let's follow the poses of the statues!" They moved, and Zuko blinked when the foot he was standing on sank.

Aang spoke as they moved through the dance. "Don't you see? These aren't dance moves. I think this is a Sun Warrior firebending form."

Zuko frowned as he shifted to another stance. "This had better teach us some really good firebending."

They finished the Dragon Dance, fists coming together. In the center of the room, a panel opened, and an alter with a large golden egg rose up.

Aang cheered. "Hurray! Wait…what exactly is that?"

"It's some kind of mystical gem stone." Zuko announced, moving to the alter.

Aang called out before Zuko could grab it. "Wait, don't touch it!"

Zuko looked over at the Avatar, curious. "Why not?" He demanded.

Aang shrugged, embarrassed. "Well, remember what happened with the spikes? I'm just suspicious of large glowing gem stones on pedestals."

Zuko ignored him, and caressed the stone. "It's warm, like its almost alive." He declared, and picked it up.

Immediately some kind of green goop burst out and Zuko slammed against the ceiling, groaning.

Aang moaned. "It was another trap!" He swung his staff, trying to airbend Zuko down, but only succeeded in turning the prince over so his face was pressed against a grate.

Aang jumped up onto a statue trying to avoid the flood of glue, but it rose so fast that soon, he was right next to Zuko, both stuck, looking up at the sky. "I can't move! Do something, Zuko!"

"Me?" The prince demanded indignantly. "I can't move either!"

"I guess the goop stopped." Aang said a moment later.

Zuko sighed. "At least we have air. If we stay calm, we may be able to figure out how to get free."

Hours later, Aang spoke up. "You just had to pick up the glowing egg, didn't you?"

"At least I made something happen. If it were up to you, we never would have made it past the courtyard!" Zuko shot back.

"Help!" Aang shouted, his voice echoing in the dead city.

"Who are you yelling to?" Zuko demanded. "No one's lived here for centuries!"

Aang frowned. "Well, what do you think we should do?"

"Think about our place in the universe?" Zuko suggested. Both boys sighed, and then stiffened. The ground crunched under someone, and a moment later, a painted face appeared over them, glaring down.

"Who is down there?" He demanded of the two startled teens.

Aang and Zuko sat next to each other, two humming-anteaters licking off the goo, apparently a type of sweet, sticky sap.

The man who had found them, the size of his headdress marking him as the chief, stood frowning at them, backed up by several men and women.

"For trying to take our sun stone, you must be severely punished!" He growled.

Zuko looked up, his good eye narrowing to match his scarred eye. "We didn't come here to take your sun stone." He replied. "We came to learn the original origin of firebending."

A skinny, weasel-faced warrior pressed forward, cradling the Sun Stone in his arms. "Lies! They're obviously thieves who come to take Sun Warrior treasures!" He spat, glaring at the two boys.

Aang blinked. "Please, I don't normally play this card…" He patted himself on the chest, and frowned. His hand was stuck. "I'm the Avatar." The chief and the weasel man looked at each other, startled, and Aang continued. "Please, at least hear us out."

"My name is Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. At least, I used to be." Zuko looked down, ashamed. "I know my people have distorted the ways of firebending, fueling it with hate and rage, and violence, but we've come here to learn the true way…the original way." Zuko stopped. "It's the Avatar's only chance to master firebending. When we came here, I didn't imagine the Sun warrior civilization was secretly alive. I'm humbled to be in your presence."

"Please, teach us." Aang said.

The chief was silent for a long time. When he spoke, his tone was firm. "If you wish to learn our ways, you must learn from the masters…Ran and Shao."

"Ran and Shao?" Aang blinked, surprised. "There are two of them?"

"When you present yourselves to them, they will examine you. They'll read your hearts, your souls and your ancestry. If they deem you worthy they'll teach you. If they don't, you will be destroyed on the spot."

Aang and Zuko shared a worried look.

The next day broke clear and bright, and the two visitors to the city joined the chief at an open building the Sun Warriors seemed to hold in sacred reverence. The Chief faced them, standing before an enormous roaring fire. "If you're going to face the masters, you must bring them a piece of the Eternal Flame." He smiled proudly. "This fire is the first one, given to Man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years."

Zuko stared, bewildered. "I don't believe it!"

"You will each take a piece of it to the masters…" The chief pulled two small, flickering flames from the Eternal Fire. "To show your dedication to the sacred art of firebending."

Aang looked hesitant while Zuko took his flame. "Um…Mr. Sun warrior Chief, sir? I'm not a firebender yet…can't my friend hold my flame for me."

"No." The chief said shortly, frowning. "This ritual symbolizes the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy. You must maintain a constant heat. Make your flame too large, and it will become wild. Make it too small, and it will die out."

Aang swallowed. "Sorry, I'm just a little nervous." He took the flame, and his eyes widened in surprise, a smile filling his voice. "It's like a little heartbeat!"

Now the chief smiled. "You will take your flame there." He pointed to a far-off mountain. "The cave of the masters is beneath that rock."

"Hurry up." Zuko stood above Aang on ashale bank. They had finally reached the foot of the mountain, and the day was starting die.

Aang grabbed a rock, and pulled himself up. "I can't. If I walk to fast, my flame will go out."

"It will go out because its too small." Zuko replied simply, gesturing to his own flame. "You're too timid. Give it more juice."

"What if I can't control it?" Aang asked, pausing in his climb.

"You can do it. I know you can." Zuko looked up the mountain. "You're a talented kid."

Aang smiled, and increased the size of his flame, climbing up after Zuko.

Dusk had fallen by the time Zuko and Aang walked into a broad, open theater, a large set of steps ascending to a stone bridge. There was group of Sun Warriors there, waiting, and the chief came forward, the weasel-man there with him.

"Facing the judgment of the ancestors will be very dangerous for you." He looked at Zuko, and the firebender met his gaze. "Your ancestors are directly responsible for the decline of the dragons. The masters might not be so happy to see you."

"But once they find out I'm the Avatar…" Aang began, but the chief faced him.

"Have you forgotten that you vanished, allowing the Fire Nation to wreak havoc on the world? The disappearance of the dragons is your burden as well."

All at once, Aang felt that burden, and his head drooped. The chief nodded, satisfied, and set his staff in the ground. He bent a small part of each flame to himself, then passed it on to two of the sun warriors, who stepped back to their place in the large semi-circle that lined the gorge.

They bent the flame into a wide circle before them, and the next warriors in lined followed suit, pulling flame from the warrior before them. The Chief lifted his staff, and moved away.

"We could turn back now." Aang suggested, offering a weak smile. "we've already learned more about the original firebending than we knew."

Zuko shook his head. "We're seeing this through to the end. Anything these masters can teach us, anything that can help you defeat Ozai, we need to know."

"What if they judge us, and attack us?"

Zuko smiled bitterly. "We're the Fire Prince and the Avatar. I think we can take them."

Aang swallowed, and nodded. Zuko stepped forward. "Bring 'em out!"

The Chief called out, voice booming. "Chanters!"

Warriors appeared, sitting between the fire-bearing men and women. They sat, and produced drums, beating a fast, exotic rhythm, one that called somewhere deep within both boys, making their blood run faster, hearts beating excitedly.

They marched up the steps, and stood there, waiting atop the bridge. A warrior on a massive horn spoke, his voice carrying throughout the canyon. "Those who wish to face the masters Ran and Shao will now present their fire!" Aang and Zuko turned back to back, and held up their palms, their fire flickering in the dying light.

"Sound the call!" The chief's voice carried over the drums, and abruptly, the drums cut off. A warrior inhaled deeply and blew through a massive horn, the deep bass rumble seemingly shaking the entire area.

Aang startled as the cave he was facing shook, rocks dislodging from its mouth, and he dropped his hands, his fire flickering out. "What's happening?" He asked, terrified, as the earthquake worsened, the entire bridge shaking.

Zuko's cave was doing the same, and Aang turned back, offering his palms again. He blinked when he realized his fire was out.

"Zuko, my fire went out!" He spoke in a hoarse whisper.

"What do you want me to do?' Zuko demanded, not tearing his eyes away from the cave mouth.

"Give me some of yours!" Aang reached for Zuko's fire, and Zuko pushed his back.

"Make some of your own!" Zuko insisted.

Aang glared at him. "You know I can't!" He reached for Zuko's fire again.

The Chief and his friend looked at each other, surprised, as the bickering whispers carried toward them. "Get some from one of those warriors!" The prince said quickly. "Hurry…stop trying to cheat off of me!"

"Quit being stingy!"

Aang pressed his face into Zuko's back, trying to stretch far enough to get at Zuko's fire, and finally Zuko's concentration slipped enough that his own flame went out. Both boys looked at each other, fear gripping them tightly.

They looked at the caves. "Uh-oh."

On either side, a pair of glowing amber eyes flickered, and then two creatures from the mists of legend appeared.

The red dragon and blue dragon erupted from their caves, and circled around the duo. Zuko spun, awed, and whispered. "These are the masters."

Aang couldn't help it. "Still think we can take 'em?"

Zuko glanced around shiftily. "Shh! I never said that!"

The chief and his second looked up from their kneeling position, the wind generated by the masters' wing washing over them.

"Oh boy, here it comes!" The other said happily. "Any minute now! Supper for the masters!"

The chief frowned at his friend. "Quiet, Ham Gao!"

Ham Gao glared back. "What?" He said defensively. "Everyone's thinking it!"

The chief sighed as several warriors grunted in agreement.

Aang watched as the dragons twisted around them, the bridge, and each other in elaborate movements, all the time circling each other.

"Zuko, I think we're supposed to do the dragon dance with them!" He blurted.

Zuko frowned at him. "What about this situation makes you think we're supposed to dance?"

"They want us to do something! Let's try it!" Aang replied, confident in his guess.

Zuko sighed. "Fine." They fell into the first stance of the dance, and immediately, the dragons' flight changed.

All four moved simultaneously, move for move, dancing around each other. Finishing the dance, Aang and Zuko tapped their fists together, and the dragons suddenly rose up before diving, one on either side.

The Chief spoke, his heart heavy. "Judgment time."

The Blue Dragon faced Zuko, snarling, as its red partner growled at Aang. Both dragons took a breath, and firebent.

The two boys yelped in fright, and then stared in awe as the flames wrapped around them, flickering in red, blue, green, orange, gold, white, and any other color one could imagine.

The two boys saw not only the glorious fire, but also visions, their meanings personal to both.

Aang smiled sadly, tears in his eyes. "I understand." He said, almost overcome by several realizations.

The dragons' stopped, and then with a final pass around the boys, they returned to their caves.

"Their fire was so amazing." Zuko said, still amazed as he and Aang walked down the steps. "I saw so many colors, some I never imagined." He didn't speak of the things he saw in the fire.

"Like firebending harmony." Aang replied, thinking on what he had seen.

The chief met them, a proud look in his eyes. "Yes. The masters judged you, and showed you visions of the true meaning of firebending."

Zuko laughed. "I can't believe there are still living dragons! I thought my Uncle killed the last one."

"So, your Uncle lied." Aang suggested.

The Chief chuckled, smiling broadly. "Actually, it wasn't a total lie. Iroh was the last outsider before you to face the masters. They deemed him worthy, and passed the secret on to him as well."

"He must have lied to protect the last two dragons." Zuko realized, pride filling his heart at the thought of his Uncle. "So no one else would hunt them."

Aang took a breath, and felt the fire within him, and for the first time, truly enjoyed it. "For so long, I thought firebending meant death, pain, and destruction. Now, I realize its energy, and life."

Zuko patted his chest, feeling even more connected to his inner fire. "It's like the Sun, but inside of you." He looked at the chief. "Do you realize this?"

The chief laughed again. "Well, we are called the Sun Warriors…so, yeah."

"That's why my firebending was so weak before." Aang continued. "Because I was afraid to let myself feel my inner fire. I was afraid of my destiny. Now, I know what I have to do, and I'm not afraid any more. I have to restore the balance to the world." He stepped forward, and thrust his palm out, a large burst of flame dancing through the night sky.

"We will defeat my father." Zuko said confidently, and bent twice, his own flames roaring to the stars.

The Chief nodded. "Now that you've learned the secrets, and have seen our tribe's existence, I'm afraid we have no choice but to imprison you here forever!"

Aanf and Zuko took a step back, and the Chief's face broke into a smile. "Just kidding." He frowned again. "But seriously…don't tell anyone!"

Aang looked back at Zuko, the wind blowing friend's hair about. Aang had seen a lot in the Masters' fire, things that had opened his eyes to the truth, and the young boy had come to a mature decision.

"Zuko, we need to talk." Aang called back, and adjusted the reins so Appa landed.

"What's going on, Aang?" Zuko asked. "Is something wrong?"

Aang took a breath. "I…I saw something in the master's fire, and it's helped me realize something. I know how you and Katara feel about each other. I mean, it's kind of obvious when you actually think about it."

Zuko stiffened, and Aang looked down sadly. "And now I don't know how I feel. I thought I loved her, but…" Aang sighed. "Maybe it's because she was there, and has always helped me." Aang looked up, forcing a smile. "But no matter what I feel, Katara deserves to be happy. You make her happy, and I hope you always do."

Zuko met his young friend's look, and realized how much he had grown since their first meeting. "I promise I will. I'll never let anything happen to her."

Aang's smile widened into a true grin. "Good. Because Sokka would chase you around with his sword otherwise." The Avatar knew it would hurt for a long time, but it would pass eventually. Guru Pathik had been right to tell him to let her go.

Rhythmic flames roared through the temple, and both firebenders moved through the Dancing Dragon.

"With this technique the Dragons showed us, Zuko and I will be unstoppable!" Aang announced as he and Zuko finished the form.

The group applauded, and Sokka leaned forward. "That's a really nice dance you learned."

Zuko frowned at him. "It's not a dance! It's an ancient firebending form that's thousands of years old!"

"Oh yeah?" Toph cleaned her ear out. "What's your little form called?"

Zuko sighed as he sat between Aang and Katara. "The Dancing Dragon." He muttered miserably, slumping as everyone laughed.

Next Chapter: The Boiling Rock Part One

(NOTE) I fully think, in a Zutara version of the series, Aang could be mature enough to let Katara go. After all, he's made some very wise decisions in the past, despite his age. (Besides, how the hell else could I 'maybe' introduce Taang?) If any of you are curious, Sokka is going to remain wonderfully obtuse to the situation.