Intro

Water

Earth

Fire

Air

Long ago the four nations lived in harmony, but then everything changed when the fire nation attacked. Only the avatar master of all the four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most he vanished. A hundred years past and my brother and I found the new avatar. A young air master named Aang. And although his airbendings are great he has a lot to learn before he can save anyone. But I believe that Aang can save the world.

Book 3: fire

Chapter 2

The Necklace

Kuei was playing with his bear as always and didn't pay much attention to the rest of the group. This was partly because he rightfully felt a bit excluded, mostly because it was more fun to play with his bear. But he still didn't like how quite the group was. The loudmouthed water tribe boy was scouting the area and Katara was still a bit worried about the Avatar and he was still sleeping on the big fluffy creature. There was nothing wrong with the blind girl but she had just no one to talk to. So he was quit happy when the water tribe boy finally returned from his little excursion.

"Ey is Aang still completely helpless, weak and fragile. Or can we go get on Appa and leave this place? " Sokka said.

''Sokka! Why do you speak like that don't you have any sensitivity at all?'' Katara said angrily, her brother really get on her nerves sometimes.

Rolling his eyes at Katara's ignorance he said with a bold voice: ''Katara, you've know me for your entire live, you know perfectly well I haven't. And besides I needed to know cause I spotted some fire nation soldiers in the forest probably looking for us.''

''We know you idiot. I've sensed them half an hour ago, when will you learn that scouting the area is completely useless when you're travelling with me?" Toph's voice carried a heavy undertone of irritation.

Sokka didn't get a chance to react on that as Aang jumped of Appa and spoke before him. "Ey Sokka."

"What?" he answered.

Aang shot an air wave to him knocking him into the air letting him fall in a embarrassing position. "That's how helpless, weak and fragile I'm." he said with a grin.

"Could you use earth bending next time so I can watch?" Toph had felt Sokka fall on the ground but it didn't 'looked' so funny to her. She didn't waited for a response and continued. "So Aang you look a lot better now, ready for some earth bending practice."

Aang really didn't like that idea right now. "Eeuhm, not really Toph, I'm sorry but I feel more like some water bending." He answered sheepishly while rubbing his neck.

"Well let's get busy then." Katara said before Toph had a chance to react. "There's a creek nearby where we can practice lets go."

"Why twinkletoes does wants to go splashing around with that girly girl instead of some earth bending." Toph said more to herself then to anybody else.

"Man I know you're blind but I really thought you would see it." Sokka answered.

"See what?" She hadn't except an answer but was curious never the less.

Sokka couldn't believe this "You really haven't noticed? I thought you could use your earth bending to feeling someone's blood pressure and stuff."

As stricken by lightning she now realized that Aangs blood pressure and heartbeat always raised when he was close to Katara, making it very obvious how he felt. How was it possible she hadn't noticed it before? "Oowh, wow you're right Sokka I should have noticed it."

"You really didn't notice before? Man, and it's so obvious. Even I could see it from the first moment that Aang is afraid of you." He said with a voice you would use to explain a two year old one and one equals two.

Toph decided it was best to keep Sokka is his illusion.

XXX

Zuko hadn't left his room since he had visited his uncle in jail. He knew deep inside his heart that his uncle was right, as always. The Fire Nation was hurting innocent people with an unjustified war. The question was did he care? Well Zuko couldn't lie to himself, he maybe be a selfish jerk from time to time. But he wasn't evil like Azula. He did felt guilty when he hurt people. The true question was harder to answer: Did he care enough to abandon his Nation, his honor, his throne, his Father's love? Something made him feel sick about himself. He almost pulled out his hair in frustration. If he cared about all these people being hurt then how could he side with the side who caused it. But he had worked so damm hard to regain all this, he had earned it! But he couldn't let innocent people get hurt or even get killed for it. That's just plain wrong. But he would lose his honor if he turned his back on the Fire Nation and that honor was all Zuko had. His Father's love would always be empty and his uncle must hate him for what he did to him. The inner conflict tore the young mans already scarred soul apart. Until he finally fall in a troubled sleep.

XXX

Zuko was sitting in his cabin trying to avoid the crew. They were mad of him he had caused them a lot of extra work, of course they didn't dared to say it but it was still very clear.

"Zuko don't give up just try again." Ihro said with his usual cheering voice.

"I can't, don't you see uncle? I'll never succeed that form. I'm just a failure of a fire bender.'' He replied with a far too much frustrated voice for an 13 year old.

"Are you so ashamed for failing that form?'' Ihro asked with genuine curiosity.

''I blasted a hole in the ships romp big enough to let 2 men going through it side by side. Trying to hit a target which was 30 feet right from the ship.'' Was his uncle trying to humiliate him even more?

Iroh couldn't help himself for letting out a small chuckle. ''Prince Zuko it is understandable to be ashamed of your mistakes, but don't be too ashamed to learn from them.''

''Yea well my father didn't gave me a change to learn from my mistake. I had to learn it through suffering.'' He said this almost without thinking; normally he wouldn't speak about his father at all.

The old man sighted. He knew his nephew wouldn't understand this yet. But he couldn't let him live in this kind of shame. It would destroy his still innocent soul if he did. ''Prince Zuko I should have told you this a long time ago. Standing up against that general for the sake of you're people wasn't your mistake. I should have done that for you. And not willing to fight your father, someone you cared about was more an act of a strong will then a mistake. You should not be ashamed of your scar, you should be proud of it.''

Zuko look at his uncle, appreciating the compliment and for a moment not knowing what to say. But he finally replied with a hard cold voice. "What's pride worth without honor?''

''Zuko it's better to deserve honor and not to have it then having honor and not deserve it. If you hadn't stood up for your people, you would still had your honor, but would you've been worthy of it. Letting innocent people pointlessly die for it.'' Ihro countered as always shocked by how cold his nephew could be.

Zuko was silent for a minute. Some of the shame he felt was now gone. But it was replaced with anger and pain when he reminded that it wasn't the shame he felt, but the shame his Father told he had to bear. So the young prince words weren't relieved but only darker. "My father clearly believes I would have.''

Iroh knew the boy wasn't ready yet to find peace again.

XXX

Mai was afraid Azula would punish her for this question. But she would be punished a lot more if she failed. ''Azula, can I go visit Ihro to win his trust instead of Zuko's. Your uncle always has been easy to trust people.''

Disappointed by the fact Mai wanted to give up the assignment she gave her, she replied with a hard voice. ''No, that would be to straightforward. My uncle isn't so stupid. He'll not trust it if someone so close to me came to him. Keep working on Zuko.''

Slightly relieved Azula hadn't yelled at her but alarmed by the disappointment in her voice she carefully countered: ''But he doesn't me. And he won't give me any chance to change that." For those who could her it there was a slight begging tone in her voice which was asking Azula to give her another assignment. "Besides he has locked himself in his room and he hasn't been out there for a day now. So I can't work on him anyway.'' She finished.

Azula's eyes narrowed from anger and shock ''He has what!!'' she yelled.

Shocked by Azula's reaction she replied'' Ju just has s hasn't been out of his room for a day. What s so bad ab about that''

''I tell you what's so wrong about that! My brother worships the sun just like any other powerful fire bender does! He isn't the type to miss it for a full day! That's why I gave him a room where he couldn't feel or see the sun! If he hasn't left his room by the door he probably escaped it through something else!'' She snapped while her anger crew with any sentence she spoke. She should have guarded her brother better it was a stupid mistake to give him so much freedom.

Azula and Mai were sprinting to Zuko's room both cursing under their breath, but both had different reasons. Azula blasted the door away with a fire punch when they arrived. ''you know some people just knock.''

Azula was shocked by surprise for a small moment, but recovered remarkably fast. But still not fast enough to be missed by Zuko's eye.

''Zuko you've had me worried, I thought something was wrong with you. Skipping three meals and not going outside to appreciate the sunny weather. ''She tried to give him a pleasant smile but it was just creepy.

''I was meditating to help me forget my uncle.'' He replied.

"Poor liar" Zuko and Azula both thought.

''Well I'm glad you're okay. Cause I wanted to show you something.'' Azula took out a necklace out of her pocket.

''That's mother's necklace!!''

''Owh you still recognized it?'' not letting the joy she felt from Zuko's reaction sounding in her voice. ''I've found it just after you where banished, so I didn't had much changes for you to show it to you. I'm sorry I didn't showed directly after we captured the city, but I had forgotten about it. I didn't realize it mend that much to you. ''

''It doesn't '' he answered, but Azula always had noticed it when he was lying.

''Owh so you don't mind me keeping it, I think it's quite pretty.''

''No!! I mean.. I would like to have it please.''

''Well of course you can have it if you want it. What kind of a sister would I be if I denied it from you, but I just want to show it to my friend captain Xeon. You know he is the captain of the ship that will take our Uncle to the fire nation, it will arrive in just a week then you can have it." She couldn't help herself from smiling at Zuko reaction when he turned his head away. He didn't saw that Azula whispered something into Mai's ear when she walked away. ''It looked like you needed help.''

XXX

Toph had waited all the time while Katara and Aang were away. "Finally ready with splashing around" she said when they finally returned. Katara gave her an angry look. "Let's get busy with some earth bending Twinkle Toes."

Aang really still didn't felt for it but there was no more way around it. "Okay Toph" Aang sighted.

"Stifu Toph when we practice!" Toph snapped at him.

Aang was completely astonished by Toph aggressive attitude. Of course she was always kind of like this, but this was really extreme "But we weren't practicing yet!" He replied.

"Yes we were I said we should go practicing and you agreed." She countered

"Okay sorry Stifu Toph." Men she was acting weird.

What was wrong with her? Had it something to do whit Aangs crush on Katara?

"Wait why would that have something to do with it" a voice in her head said.

"Well I don't know, perhaps I'm jealous." A second voice said.

"Why on earth would you be jealous about twinkle feat and sugar queen?" The first one replied.

"I don't know, but you can't say I'm happy for them either."

"Wait this isn't the time to find out if you're jealous about Aang and Katara. There's a war going on. Witch Aang has to end. Just ignore whatever jealousy you're feeling or not feeling until times are brightening up.

Aang get in his stands but was with his head still a bit in the water bending training, so was his stance "What! Is that your stance, what did I told you twinkle toes. You've got be like a rock."

XXX

"You know you really shouldn't go away for this long Azula will notice it. Were you making preparations to save your uncle?" Mai said truly sounding worried.

Zuko look up he hadn't even noticed Mai was still there until she had spoken. "Have you been standing there for all that time? And why are you thinking I'm going to save my uncle?" he tried to sound offended.

"I've indeed been here ever since Azula left, I thought you where more aware of you're environment then that. But to answer your other question: I'm not thinking you're going to free your uncle. I know you're going to free your uncle. And for the record so does Azula."

"She knows what?!" He yelled

"Well it isn't really hard to notice you regret your decision. See just wait for you to betray her so she have's the right to kill you."

"Azula isn't the type that needs the right to kill someone; she will kill people if see feels like it." Again he realized how much he hated her, she wasn't just a cruel but down ride evil.

"You're right, normally she should but now she needs you to look like an enemy before she kills you, it has something to do with looking merciful in the eyes of the earth benders or something." All the time her voice sounded truly concerned.

Why are you telling me this?" truly curious about the answer.

"Because I don't want to see you get killed, do me a favor if you're going to free your uncle and run away from here then please be well prepared otherwise you'll just wind up death. I really don't want to see you death, in fact I joined Azula just to see you alive for one more time." Zuko look at her, she was actually blushing!! Zuko never saw her showing any emotion but now she was blushing.

"It's good to see you too." Man that sounded stupid, but then again this was totally unexpected.

"That necklace means more to you then you said against Azula it did, doesn't it?"

Zuko wasn't sure if he was willing to open up to Mai but he needed to open up to someone. "I haven't seen my mother for 6 years, not knowing if she's alive or not. Not having anything to remind me of her, she is probably the only person besides from my Uncle who ever truly cared about me. It would mean the world for me if I could have that necklace to remind me of her."

"They were not the only one who cared about you, I care about you too." Mai said. Zuko look at her again, and again she was blushing. And something almost made Zuko to believe her.

He still didn't truly trust her, and wanted her to leave. Yet he didn't want to turn her down just incase she was speaking the truth. He had to make up some excuse. "You should go, or Azula will suspect something." Man that was lame.

"You're right, and remember to be well prepared when you go save you uncle." She answered sounding slightly disappointed.

"Now that's what I call progress. I almost believe you didn't need that little extra help." Azula said with a very content voice when Mai entered the room which she used to spy on Zuko.

"Yes, it went very well indeed. But you clearly not trusting him and waiting for an opportunity to kill him really helped. Not to begin with that necklace thing. It's a good start I'm confident he will trust me before the ship will arrive." She replied sounding as much uncaring as always. But she felt strange a tiny new emotion, was she feeling sorry about Zuko?

XXX

This was not good, this was terrible. He sprinted back to the camp as fast as he could. He was out of breath when he arrived yet he was still able to yell "I've told you we've should have left. But no you guys needed to practice on banding and all!"

"Chill out Sokka, what's the matter" Katara asked

"What's the matter? What's the matter?! The Fire Nation that's what's the matter!" He was almost freaking out,

"What did they found us?" Toph asked she hadn't paid much attention while she and Aang were dueling.

"Of course they found us thanks to all that noise of you and Aang earth bending." He had finally used all his breath and he really couldn't yell anymore.

"Well it isn't a silent art" Toph said.

"Well we've got to get out of here, Aang isn't in fit shape to fight." Katara said with a worried look on Aang.

"Katara I've told you I'm feeling better, and you've said it yourself during water practice I was in tip-top shape."

"Still I agree with Katara we shouldn't fight if we could avoid it, it's at least 6 dozens of man and I think they could call reinforcement, we shouldn't fight even if we were all on our best. So we've got to leave." Sokka supported her.

"Oow no!" Katara said

"What?" Sokka asked

"Where is Kuei." She replied.

"I feel him he's a mile away from here."

"That's too far we need to go now!"

"Sokka! We can't leave him that's just plain wrong. Toph can you please go get him. Sokka, Aang and I will fight the Fire Nation soldiers of as long as we can. Let's just hope it'll be long enough. "

"Okay I'll be here as fast as I can." And she left quickly disappearing amongst the trees.

"Aang lets go to the creek we can defend our self better there."

Aang was already walking.

XXX

For the second time Zuko went down to the palace dungeons, once again to talk to his uncle. The sight of the old man hurt the young prince. His uncle had been chained up against the wall for an entire day, having to stand all day, not having a chance to relax, not having any sleep. It made Zuko feel even guiltier.

"Come to pay me another visit?" his uncle welcomed him warmly.

Zuko gave a terrible attempt of a smile. "As you can see."

"And again you've come to offer me your help?" Iroh couldn't help but to appreciate his nephew trying to look out for him, in his own way.

Zuko tried to copy his uncle cheerful spirit. Acting like something he was not made this easier. "No. This time I've come to tell I feel sorry."

These words brought more hope to Iroh then any pervious words he ever heard. "You've come to apologize?"

Giving the old man hope only to crush it made feel Zuko even worse. But he hadn't meant his uncle to misunderstand him. "No. I don't regret my actions. I didn't like what I had to do, but I believe the reward is worth it. We split ways; you side up with the Avatar and paid the price, I helped Azula and will receive my reward. But that doesn't mean I don't see your more as a father then I ever saw the Fire Lord as one. I would be lying to myself if I said I hate you."

The swift crushing of his newfound hope was compromised by Zuko's attempt of words of love. He realized that he had to push his nephew a bit further. "I've seen you as my son ever since your banishment and you see me as your father. So why did you betray your father?"

Anger was shown in Zuko's amber eyes. He tried to comfort his uncle, to say he was sorry. And this was the time the old men choose to accuse him of betrayal. "You know very well why I did it. I wanted my throne, my father's love and my honor." Zuko sneered.

Iroh felt somehow that he failed. He had been given almost three years to raise his nephew. And still Zuko longed for these things. "Lets start with the first shall we? Of what would you receive your throne?"

Zuko didn't understand his uncle asking this, yet he answered. "At this rate the entire world would be Fire Nation by the time I'm Fire Lord."

"And how do you picture that world? Have you ever truly watched at the people's live? Have you seen their lives been torn apart? Have you seen the entire burned by this war. That is what you hope to become Fire Lord of; A torn and burned world." Zuko wanted to reply but his uncle continued. "Then there is your fathers love. Did your father ever truly love you?"

It hurt Zuko to been asked these questions, especially since the answer was so painful. "No he didn't. But he will now, now I've fought in his name and gave him the Earth Kingdom capital."

What had tormented this young man's soul so much which caused him to have such ideas of love? "Is that the kind of love you seek Zuko? The kind of love you have to please the person who you want to be loved by? That is not true love Zuko, that is just greed. True love comes without any conditions, without serving the other. Your father never has been capable of such love."

"Well what about my honor?!" Zuko sneered, these words of his uncle cut through his soul. And he became more and more aggressive in his words and voice.

The answer was quick and short. "True honor doesn't lie in the way people look to us, it lies in how we look to ourselves. Tell me Zuko can you look at yourself in the mirror."

Offended words spilt out of Zuko's mouth. "I've my own reason not to look in a mirror remember!!!"

"Why would you feel ashamed for your scar? Your father restored your honor didn't he? That scar is no longer a scar of shame according to your father. Now tell me why can't you look at yourself in the mirror?"

"You're surrounded and out numbered. Give us the Avatar, and you may be spared."

"Should I hand myself" but Aang was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

"Aang we don't want to hear it" Sokka and Katara both said almost angrily "We'll fight."

"You've had your chance for surrender. Men attack!!" flames appeared from between the trees. Sokka hadn't exaggerated there were at indeed almost 7 dozens of man. "Aang you need to go into the Avatar State." Katara said.

"I can't, I can't open my earth chakra. We've got to fight them without the Avatar State." Aang said. Aang and Katara bended the water from the creek into the octopus form together, blocking the fire blasts and taken down soldiers at a very high rate.

"Water Tribe!!" Sokka shouted while he was fighting as a lion taken out a dozen of man while he dogged the blasts.

The captain of the troops looked at the fight and he realized this wasn't going good. Those three little runts had already taken out more then three quarter of his man, the commander took his horn and gave it a mighty blow the signal for reinforcement. Then he ordered some of his man to attack to most vulnerable of the kids.

Too many fire blasted were launched at Sokka, it was amazing how much of them he dogged or hit of with his machete but it wasn't enough. Nobody counted how many of the blast hit him as the young warrior fell to the ground.

"Sokka!!!!!" Katara cried. Losing her concentration so she didn't maintained the octopus form. But neither was Aang, Aang had finally entered the Avatar State. But it wasn't because he had found total balance in himself, but of his rage and pain. He took out all the soldiers with fire blasts not showing any merci to anyone, he wasn't in control of himself. Then everything went black.

Katara was too distracted with getting to Sokka to notice Toph hitting Aang unconscious.

"Pppplease don't be death" she said while tears were running over her cheeks.

"He isn't I can feel his heartbeat, but it's a close call." Her eyes were wet as well. "Katara we got to get out of here you just going have to heal him on Appa."

Nothing she had ever heard made her happier then those two little words 'He isn't'. Still it was so hard not to heal Sokka right here, but she knew that wasn't an option more were coming.

XXX

Mao had run as fast as he could to the sound of the horn. But he arrived to late there were bodies everywhere. "Why should such great bender needs protection?" he asked to himself. "WHY WOULD I GIVE HIME PROTECTION, HE MURDERED THOSE MAN!!" Mao had given his loyalty to the white lotus and he wasn't the kind of person to disobey those who had his loyalty. He also realized that those men would probably have killed him and his companions if he hadn't defeated them. Still he hated the Avatar for their deaths. But this wasn't the time or place for an inner conflict he had to get out of here before the reinforcements arrived.

XXX

In a palace, in his room was a young prince looking to the ground. Not being able to bear the glare of his reflection.

A/N: rewritten again. Better then ever I hope.