DISCLAIMER: Transformers is owned by Hasbro and Avatar: The Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon.
Transformers: Avatar Chronicles
Chapter 17: The Firebending Masters
In the underground Decepticon base, Starscream, sitting on Megatron's throne, was milking every moment he could since he was finally leader of the Decepticons. However, something did worry him. A Decepticon warrior named Cyclonus. Not only was he as loyal to Megatron as Soundwave, if not more, but he grew more and more suspicious of what really happened. So he needed to keep him busy while he ensured that Cyclonus would never know what happened. Just then, an opportunity came forward. A group of Decepticon scouts had found energon in the ancient ruins of what the firebenders called 'The Sun Warriors.' All he had to do was assign Cyclonus to investigate and destroy any evidence. With that thought, he activated the intercom.
"Cyclonus, a word with you," he said.
*QUE TRANSFORMERS PRIME OPENING THEME*
Meanwhile, in one of the upside down pagodas of the Western Air Temple, Aang was ready for his first firebending lesson from Zuko.
"I know you're nervous, but remember, firebending in and of itself is NOT something to fear," Zuko stated.
"Okay, not something to fear," Aang responded, slightly hesitant and looking unsure.
"But if you don't respect it, IT'LL CHEW YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT LIKE AN ANGRY KOMODO RHINO!" Zuko shouted, to which Aang reacted by yelping in fear.
"Now show me what you've got," Zuko said. Aang then took a deep breath and gets in the position to firebend, but all that comes out is a small cloud of smoke that dissipates in a second.
"...Maybe I need a little more instruction," Aang suggested. "Perhaps a demonstration?"
"Good idea," Zuko replied. "You might want to take a couple steps back." Aang responded by doing just that before Zuko breathed deeply and proceeds to firebend...only for a pathetic burst of flame to come out. Aang simply applauded, not wanting to anger Zuko.
"What was that!?" Zuko asked in confusion. "That was the worst firebending I've ever seen!"
"I thought it was...nice," Aang replied before shrugging. Zuko kept trying, firebending in a rapid pace, but all the flames he produced were just as pathetic as the first one.
"Why is this happening!?" Zuko yelled while staring at his palms.
"Maybe it's the altitude," Aang suggested.
"Could be," Zuko replied.
The duo decided to move to a much lower elevation and try again. Aang again watched as Zuko got into position to firebend, but the results were the same as before: pathetic bursts of fire. Zuko was clearly frustrated while Aang simply yawned and lied down.
"Just breathe, and..." Zuko said before trying again, but the results were the same.
"That one kind of felt hot," Aang said as he sat up.
"Don't patronize me!" Zuko shouted in frustration. "You know what it's suppose to look like!"
"Sorry Sifu Hotman," Aang replied.
"And stop calling me that!" Zuko yelled, which caused Aang to cringe before Sokka walked in, eating an apple and sitting down.
"Hey JERKS," he remarked. "Mind if I watch you two JERKS do your JERK bending?"
"Get out of here!" Zuko shouted.
"Okay, take it easy," Sokka replied, looking amused as he gets up and drops his apple core before walking away. "I was just kidding around. Heh, jerk bending, still got it." Zuko's reaction was to drop his head down and moan in annoyance.
Later that night, Zuko aproached the group while the Gaang was telling the five new Autobots their situation.
"Listen everybody," Zuko said, which got everyone's attention. "I've got some pretty bad news. I've lost my stuff."
"HeyHeyHey, Don'tLookAtMe, IDidn'tGoNearYourStuff, WhatWouldABotLikeMeWantWi-" Blurr started before Springer promptly slapped his hand onto Blurr's mouth to promptly shut him up.
"I'm talking about my firebending...It's gone," Zuko said before dropping his head dejectedly. Katara however for some reason started laughing, much to Zuko's annoyance.
"I'm sorry," Katara said. "I'm just laughing at the irony. You know...how it would have been nice for us if you lost your firebending a long time ago?"
"Well it's not lost, it's just...weaker for some reason." Zuko corrected.
"Maybe you're just not as good as you think you are," Warpath muttered.
"Ouch," both Toph and Springer replied.
"I bet it's because I changed sides," Zuko suggested.
"That's ridiculous," Katara responded as she drank the contents in a bowl.
"I don't know," Aang replied. "Maybe it isn't. Maybe your firebending comes from rage, and you just don't have enough anger to fuel it the way you used to."
"So we just need to make him angry," Smokescreen said. "Easy, just have Blurr start a conversation with him." That remark earned him a glare from said Autobot.
"Oooor, just keep doing this," Sokka added before he went up to Zuko and nudged him repeatedly with the hilt of his sword while laughing.
"OKAY, CUT IT OUT!" Zuko yelled which caused Sokka to immediately stop and drop his sword onto his head. "Look, even if you're right, I don't want to rely on hate and anger anymore. There has to be another way."
"You're gonna need to learn to draw your firebending from a different source," Toph suggested. "I recommend the original source."
"How's he gonna do that?" Springer asked. "By jumping into one of these 'volcanoes?'"
"No, Zuko needs to go back to whatever the original source of firebending is," Toph answered. "For earthbending, the original benders were the badgermoles. One day, when I was little, I ran away and hid in a cave. That's where I met them."
Inside a cave, Toph, now a little girl, was kneeling in a dark cave, crying, before the wall behind her crumbles as a badgermole walks towards her. Not knowing what was coming, since she has yet to discover 'seeing with her feet,' she was terrified, at least until the creature sniffed her. Toph responded by sniffing back before the badgermole licked her cheek. Toph responded by giggling in delight. The badgermole then started to move away, but Toph followed by crawling like the creature towards it.
"They were blind, just like me, so we understood each other," Toph continued. "I was able to learn earthbending, not just as a martial art, but as an extension of my senses. For them, the original earthbenders, it wasn't just about fighting. It was their war of interacting with the world."
"That's amazing Toph," Aang replied. "I learned from the monks, but the original airbenders were the Sky Bison." He then turned to Appa, who was eating a stack of hay.
"Maybe you can give me a lesson sometime buddy," Aang said to his friend, who grunted in acknowledgement."
"Well this doesn't help me," Zuko solomly said. "The original firebenders were the dragons, and they're extinct."
"What do you mean?" Aang asked. "Roku had a dragon, and there were plenty of dragons when I was a kid."
"Well they aren't around anymore, okay!?" Zuko defensively shouted.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Aang replied before moving his arms around in an appeasing manner.
"But maybe there's another way," Zuko added as he walked away and towards a ledge. "The first people to learn from the dragons were the ancient Sun Warriors."
"Sun Warriors?" Aang asked as he walked to Zuko. "Well I know THEY weren't around when I was a kid."
"No, they died off thousands of years ago, but their civilization wasn't too far from where we are now," Zuko replied. "Maybe we can learn something by poking around their ruins."
"It's like the monks used to tell me," Aang said. "Sometimes, the shadows of the past can be felt by the present."
"So what?" Sokka asked. "Maybe you'll pick up some super old Sun Warrior energy just by standing where they stood 1000 years ago?"
"More or less," Zuko responded. "Either I find a new way to firebend, or the Avatar has to find a new teacher."
"I'll go with you," Ultra Magnus said as he stood up.
"No offence sir, but why?" Arcee asked.
"I've been gaining an interest in this world and it's features," Magnus replied. "And I'm quite interested in these 'Sun Warriors' that Zuko mentioned. Besides, you may need some protection in case you've been spotted by the Decepticons."
"Good idea," Aang replied. "Warpath, you mind letting Magnus borrow your jetpack?" Without even saying a word, Warpath simply handed Ultra Magnus his jetpack while remaining seated. With that, the trio departed.
Back at the Fire Nation, Cyclonus walked toward Starscream at the courtyard after recieving his transmission.
"You requested to see me Lord Starscream?" Cyclonus asked, hiding his distrust of the seeker.
"We have received word of the existance of energon in the ruins of an ancient civilization called 'The Sun Warriors,'" Starscream explained. "I request that you and Sixshot head there to investigate."
"It will be done," Cyclonus responded before transforming into a Cybertronian jet and flying away. Starscream in the meantime needed to speak with a certain Fire Nation princess.
Azula, now in her royal gown, was currently busy having her hair groomed by her servants in the ornate palace room when Starscream suddenly stepped in. Azula motioned for her servants to leave the room, leaving only her and the new Decepticon leader.
"What is it now 'Lord' Starscream?" Azula asked in a slightly bored tone.
"We have a problem," Starscream answered, getting right to the chase before showing a hologram of Cyclonus. "His name is Cyclonus, and he may have suspicious of what REALLY happened when Megatron was killed. If word gets out, the Decepticons will surely have me dismantled for spare parts!"
"Why should this concern me?" Azula asked. Without warning, Starscream suddenly grabbed her and brought her to his face.
"Listen to me you spoiled little brat, if word gets out and I go, I WILL ensure that YOU go with me!" Starscream responded with venom in his voice. "And when Ozai finds out that the Decepticons have murdered his own daughter, then this alliance will end and the Autobots will CRUSH the Fire Nation. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Azula answered, not at all intimidated.
"Good," Starscream responded before putting Azula down. "Now I've assigned Cyclonus on a mission to scout an area for energon which should buy us some time to destroy any evidence of our involvement in Megatron's demise."
"Understood," Azula said. With that, Starscream started to leave the room, though not without a lightning blast narowly missing him by inches, causing the seeker to scream like a little girl. He turned to see Azula standing there with smoke coming out of her fingertips.
"Don't touch me again," Azula warned.
Meanwhile, Aang and Zuko, both on Appa, and Ultra Magnus, who flew beside them using Warpath's jetpack, were searching for the ruins of the Sun Warriors' village. Zuko was obviously impatient.
"We've been riding for hours," he complained. "I don't know why, but I thought this thing would be a lot faster." Appa's response was to growl slightly.
"Appa's right Zuko," Aang responded. "In our group, typically we start out our missions with a more upbeat attitude."
"I fail to see how this will get us to the Sun Warriors' village faster," Magnus said. Then, out of the clouds, the group spotted ancient ruins that resembled that of the Mayans.
"Whoa..." was all Aang, Zuko and Magnus could say before they descended on to the ruins. Aang and Zuko then got off Appa and walked through a small valley while Ultra Magnus followed close behind.
"Even though these buildings are ancient, there's something eerily familiar about them," Zuko stated. "I can tell the Fire Sages' temples are somehow descended from these."
"Okay, we learned something about the architecture," Aang said. "Hopefully we'll learn something about firebending too."
"It's like what Optimus always said," Ultra Magnus added. "'The past can be a great teacher.'" Without warning though, Aang accidently tripped on a wire and the ground he would have landed dropped to reveal a bed of spikes. A terrified Aang then exhaled a huge gust of air to prevent himself from falling into the spikes and propelled himself to the other side.
"Guys, I think the past is trying to kill me!" Aang exclaimed in fear.
"I can't believe it," Zuko said as he kneeled down to inspect the wire. "This booby trap must be centuries old."
"Yet it still works?" Ultra Magnus asked in slight disbelief.
"There's probably a lot more," Aang stated. "Maybe this means we shouldn't be here." Suddenly, Zuko took a step back and ran on the wall before landing in front of Aang while Magnus merely stepped over the spikes.
"Where's that upbeat attitude you were talking about?" Zuko asked.
"Besides, in all my years fighting the Decepticons, I know that one doesn't make traps unless they have something worth hiding," Magnus stated before they continued walking.
Soon they made it to a grand structure that seems to be intact. The trio then walked up the stairs to the top of the structure.
"This seems promising," Ultra Magnus said as they neared a carving of a person surrounded by circles of fire coming out of two carved dragons on each side of him. "These 'dragons' as you call them remind me of a subspeices of Cybertronians that went extinct millions of years ago. The Predacons."
"Though I'm not sure what this tells us of the original source of firebending," Aang added.
"They look pretty angry to me," Zuko remarked, obviously reffering to the dragons.
"I thought that the dragons were friendly with the un Warriors," Ultra Magnus said.
"Well, they had a funny way of showing it," Zuko responded before looking away and taking a few steps.
"Zuko, something happened to the dragons in the last hundred years," Aang said. "Something you're not telling me."
"My great-grandfather Sozin happened," Zuko bluntly responded before the three of them walked across a stone bridge. "He started the tradition of hunting dragons for glory. They were the ultimate firebenders. And if you could conquer one, your firebending talents would become legendary, and you'd earn the honorary title 'Dragon.'" They then made it to two dragon statues at the end of the bridge, one of them missing its head.
"The last great dragon was conqured long before I was born...by my uncle," Zuko continued. His last statement got Aang's attention.
"But I thought your uncle was, I don't know, good?" Aang asked.
"He had a complicated past," Zuko explained. "Family tradition, I guess. Let's just move on."
The three of them then made it to a structure with two yellow doors and a red jewel above them, with a column with another red jewel embedded in the center close it it. Magnus attempted to open the doors, but to no avail.
"No use," he stated. "It's locked up."
"Wait," Zuko said as he stepped aside to reveal a beam of red light emitting from the jewel and resting on a circle in the ground. "It's a celestial calendar. Just like the Fire Sages have in their temples. I bet that Sun Stone opens the door, but only when sunlight hits it at just the right angle, on the solstice."
"Monkey feathers!" Aang exclaimed. "The solstice again? We can't wait here that long."
"But I bet we might be able to speed time up," Magnus said as he used the shining material on his arm to try and redirect the beam of light to the stone above the doors. "Let's see if we can outsmart the Sun Stone." He then adjusted his arm to where the beam successfully hit the Sun Stone. Said stone then started to glow brightly.
"Nothing's happening," Aang said.
"Come on..." Magnus whispered while keeping his arm in the same position. Suddenly the ground started to shake and the doors opened slowly, revealing a room full of statues, which frightened Aang slightly.
"Relax," Zuko said. "They're just statues."
"I'll wait outside and watch for Decepticons," Magnus stated as Aang and Zuko walked inside and observed the statues which formed some kind of ring.
"It says this is something called The Dancing Dragon," Aang stated as he read the description at the foot of one of the statues. He then attempted to imitate the position the statue was in when suddenly a plate sunk under his feet. Surprised, Aang steps off the plate to observe it when it moved back into position. He then looked around and suddenly an idea formed in his head before he ran up to Zuko and grabbed him by the elbow.
"Zuko, get over here," he said. "I want you to dance with me."
"What!?" Zuko exclaimed as he pulled his elbow away.
"Just do it," Aang said as he dragged him away and positioned him to a statue next to the one Aang stood in front of. "Let's follow the steps of the statues." Both of them then mimicked the statues' positions and stepped on two tiles. Surprised, Zuko started moving in synchronization with Aang.
"Don't you see?" Aang asked. "These aren't dance moves. These statues are giving us a lesson. I think this is some kind of Sun Warrior firebending form."
"This better teach us some really good firebending," Zuko remarked before they finished the final position. Then a hole appeared in the center of the room and a pedestal with a golden egg-like object came up from it.
"Hurray!" Aang shouted in joy before looking confused. "Wait, what exactly is that?"
"It's some kind of mystical gem stone," Zuko answered as he ran to it, much to Aang's dismay.
"Well don't touch it!" Aang shoted.
"Why not?" Zuko asked.
"Remember what happened out there with those spikes?" Aang asked. "I'm just very suspicious of giant, glowing gems sitting on pedestals." Apparently though Zuko has never seen Raiders of the Lost Ark and took the gem stone.
"It feels almost alive," Zuko stated before he tried to put back the gem stone when suddenly a jet of green goo spurts out and sends Zuko to the grating in the ceiling, sticking him there. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, the doors closed, surprising Ultra Magnus.
"What the-," he said before he tried to bash the doors down. "Aang! Zuko! What's going on in there!?"
"Oh no, it's another trap!" Aang shouted back inside as more goo flowed from the pedestal and he backed away cautiously. Zuko meanwhile tried to free himself from the goo that was sticking him to the cealing, but he and the gemstone were stuck there tightly.
"Ugh, I can't pull free!" he shouted as he kept struggling. "It's like some kind of glue!" Aang tried his best to evade the goo that kept flowing into the room before airbending a gust to Zuko to try and free him, but it only turned him right side up, and he was still stuck. Aang then jumpped up to the grating as the goo rapidly engulfed the room.
"I can't move!" Aang exclaimed as he tried to budge the metal bars. "Zuko, do something!"
"Me, I can't move either!" Zuko replied before Ultra Magnus ran up to them from the outside.
"What in the name of Primus happened!?" he asked.
"Long story," Zuko replied. "Just try and see if you can free us." Magnus then bent down and tried to pull off the bars, but not only would they not budge, Magnus' hands got stuck too.
"Gah! What the frag!?" he exclaimed as Aang and Zuko looked annoyed that that didn't work.
"At least we have air," Zuko stated, trying to think of the positives. "Maybe if we stay calm we can figure a way out of this."
Meanwhile, Cyclonus and the Decepticon six-changer known as 'Sixshot' landed at the sight where the energon was reported to be sighted. As they walked to their designated location, Sixshot could notice something about Cyclonus.
"Something on your mind Cyclonus?" he asked.
"Starscream..." Cyclonus answered, almost spitting the seeker's name out.
"You don't trust him?" Sixshot asked which earned a scoff from Cyclonus.
"I trust that deceptive seeker no more than I can throw Metroplex," Cyclonus answered. "If you ask me, he had something to do with Lord Megatron's demise."
"Frankly I don't care who's the leader," Sixshot said. "So long as I get to kill some Autobots, they can appoint Thunderblast to lead us for all I care." Cyclonus just shot a glare at the former Decepticon ninja before they made it to a cave.
"This is the location Starscream told us about," Cyclonus stated as they walked inside and saw energon as far as the optic could see.
"Looks like the reports were true," Sixshot stated. "Now let's go and report this to Starscream." Suddenly, they heard a sound. It sounded like a boy screaming 'HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!'
"What was that?" Cyclonus asked.
"Something or someone that I'm gonna blow the frag out of," Sixshot stated as he ran out of the cave, itching for some action. Cyclonus was about to join him when something that was glowing purple caught him by the crack of his optic.
"I-it can't be," Cyclonus stated in disbelief.
"Cyclonus, come on!" Sixshot shouted impatiently as Cyclonus grabbed the object and ran off to join with Sixshot.
Back with Aang, Zuko and Ultra Magnus, it had been hours and day had turned into night. Unfortunately, the situation had not improved in the slightest.
"You HAD to pick up the glowing egg, didn't you?" Aang remarked to Zuko.
"At least I made something happen!" Zuko argued. "If it were up to you, we'd never have made it pass the courtyard!"
"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!" Aang suddenly shouted.
"WHO are you yelling to!?" Ultra Magnus asked. "Zuko said it himself. Nobody's lived here for centuries."
"Well, what do you think we should do?" Aang asked.
"...Think about our place in the Universe?" Zuko suggested to which Aang sighed to. Suddenly, they could hear someone come to them.
"Who is down there?" someone asked. The trio looked over to see a man in tribal gear wearing a Chieftian's hat and warpaint on his face, which visably shocked the three of them. Unknown even to this mysterious person though, Cyclonus and Sixshot watched them from the shadows.
"The Avatar," Cyclonus stated.
"And Ultra Magnus..." Sixshot added. He was about to strike when Cyclonus stopped him.
"No," he said. "We must strike at the propper moment."
The three of them were eventually removed by more mysterious from the cealing as two giant anteaters licked the goo that encased them clean. The first person, supposedly the chief of the group, was clearly not happy.
"For trying to take our Sun Stone, you must be severely punished!" he shouted.
"We didn't come here to take your Sun Stone," Ultra Magnus corrected.
"We came here to find the ancient origin of all firebending," Zuko added.
"Yeah, right," one of the Sun Warriors named Ham Gao, who was beside the chief, remarked. "They are obviously thieves, here to steal Sun Warrior treasures."
"Please, I don't normally play this card, but...I'm the Avatar," Aang stated. "Just hear us out."
"My name is Zuko, crown prince of the fire nation," Zuko stated. "I know my people have distorted the ways of firebending, to be fueled by anger and rage. But now I want to learn the true way, 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. Please, teach us."
"And you?" the chief asked, obviously reffering to the giant robot that was with them.
"I'm just here to learn about this world, and to protect these two from harm," Magnus answered before the chief turned back to Aang and Zuko.
"If you wish to learn the ways of the Sun, you must learn them from the masters Ran and Shao," the chief responded.
"There's two of them?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"When you present yourselves to them, they will examine you," the chief explained. "They'll read your hearts, your souls, and your ancestry. If they deem you worthy, they'll teach you. If they don't, you'll be destroyed on the spot."
With that, Aang, Zuko, Ultra Magnus and the Sun Warriors walked to the top of another temple where a tall flame burned fiercely in front of them.
"If you're going to see the masters, you must bring them a piece of the eternal flame," the chief explained. "This fire is the very first one."
"I've heard many stories of how fire was brought to the humans," Ultra Magnus said. "From a spirit named Prometheus bringing it to them to early civilization discovering it by accident. Do you happen to know which of the stories are true?"
"There are many stories that were told, but none were true," the chief explained. "The truth is that the eternal flame was given to man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years."
"I don't believe it," Zuko said, bewildered that he was standing in front of the first flame ever produced.
"The two of you will each take a piece to the masters, to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending," the chief continued.
"Um, Mr. Sun Chief sir?" Aang asked, unsure of his current firebending skills. "Yeah... I'm not a firebender yet. Couldn't my friend here carry my fire for me?"
"No," the chief sternly replied, much to Aang's dismay, as he firebended two flames from the eternal flame. "This ritual illustrates the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy. You must maintain a constant heat. The flame will go out if you make it too small. Make it too big, and you might lose control." He then proceeded to hand the two of them each flame and Zuko responded by firebending it to himself. Aang however was still unsure.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm just a little nervous." He then proceeded to gather the flame, looking at it in awe.
"It's like a little heartbeat," he stated.
"Fire is life, not just destruction," the chief stated while Aang reassured himself with a smile. "You will take your flames up there." He then motioned to a rocky mountain that was nearby the structure they were on.
"The cave of the masters is beneath that rock," the chief continued.
"Excuse me, but what about Ultra Magnus?" Aang asked. The bot in question was busy gazing at the eternal flame in awe.
"I will stay with the Sun Warriors while the two of you see the masters," he answered as he turned back to the duo. "It isn't my business to interfere with your task. Besides, I would like to know a bit more about the Sun Warriors' culture, if the chief does not mind of course."
"As as many questions as you may," the chief replied.
With that, Aang and Zuko were off to the mountain where the cave of the masters was located. They had made it to a forest, still carrying their flames, when Zuko noticed that Aang was lagging quite a distance behind him.
"Hurry up," Zuko bluntly said.
"I can't," Aang responded as he looked at his flame, noticing it was getting smaller. "If I wal too fast, my flame will go out."
"Your flame's gonna go out because it's too small," Zuko corrected. "You're too timid. Give it more juice."
"But what if I can't control it?" Aang asked, slightly worried.
"You can do it," Zuko responded reassuringly. "I know you can. You're a talented kid." Those words caused Aang to smile slightly as he and Zuko moved on.
Eventually, the two of them arrived at their destination, and the Sun Warriors and Ultra Magnus were there waiting for them. Some of the Sun Warriors were in a sitting position while others, including the chief, were standing. Behind them was a tall staircase that lead to two caves to the left and the right.
"Facing the judgment of the firebending masters will be very dangerous for you," the chief said as he walked to the duo before turning to Zuko. "Your ancestors are directly responsible for the dragons' disappearances. The masters might not be so happy to see you." Those words caused Zuko to look to the side in shame.
"I know I wouldn't be," Ham Gao added, trying to intimidate Zuko. Ultra Magnus responded by shooting a glare at him.
"But once they find out I'm the Avatar..." Aang started before the chief interupted him.
"Have you forgotten that you vanished allowing the Fire Nation to wreak havoc on the world?" he asked. "The decline of the dragons is your burden too." Aang then too turned his head away, feeling guilty of the day he vanished a hundred years ago. The chief then drove his staff to the ground, and the Sun Warriors got into their positions. The chief then firebended a piece of each flame from Zuko and Aang and placed them onto two Sun Warriors' palms. He then grabbed his staff as the fire was passed onto multiple Sun Warriors, who each firebended a circular shape.
"We could turn back now," Aang suggested as he showed Zuko that he could handle his fire with a weak smile. "We've already learned more about fire than we hoped."
"No, we're seeing this through to the end," Zuko responded. "We're gonna meet these masters and find out what's so great about them."
"What if they judge us and attack us?" Aang asked.
"Well, we're the Fire Prince and the Avatar," Zuko answered as he unsheathed his broadswords slightly with a smile. "I think we can take these guys in a fight, whoever they are." Aang responded by nodding, but still felt uneasy.
"Bring 'em out," Zuko said as the passing of the flame was complete.
"Chanters!" the chief shouted as the Sun Warriors began chanting while sitting down and beating on their drums in a synchronized rhythm. Aang and Zuko then started walking up the staircase as Ultra Magnus did nothing except watch and hope for the best. The Sun Warriors then stopped chanting and beating on their drums once Aang and Zuko reached the top. The two of them then looked at the caves on each side of the bridge they were on.
"Those who wish to meet the masters Ran and Shao will now present their fire," one of the Sun Warriors said, using a megaphone-like object so the duo could hear him. They then turned towards the caves and bowed down with their hands extended in front of them, their flames still burning.
"Sound the call," the chief commanded before another warrior used a wind instrument produce a loud sound. Soon the caves started rumbling, which caused Aang to look back at Zuko in fear.
"What's happening?" Aang asked. Zuko merely responded by giving Aang a puzzled look. Aang then went back to his original position, only to gasp in horror when he realized that when he turned to face Zuko, he accidently extinguished his flame.
"Zuko, my fire went out," he whispered to Zuko.
"What do you want ME to do?" Zuko whispered back.
"Give me some of yours," Aang replied as he reached for Zuko's fire, only for Zuko to push him back.
"No, just make your own," Zuko responded.
"I can't," Aang said as he again reached for Zuko's flame.
"Get some from one of those warriors," Zuko suggested. "Hurry! Stop cheating off me!"
"Quit being stingy!" Aang said in an irritated tone, as he kept trying to get Zuko's flame, only for his flame to suddenly be extinguished as well eventually. Both of them then looked at each other in horror.
"They're fragged, aren't they?" Ultra Magnus asked the chief, concerned.
"Probably," the chief bluntly replied as the caves started rumbbling, and the last thing Aang and Zuko expected emerged from them: two dragons, one red and one blue, roaring and flying around the duo. To say the least, Aang and Zuko were overwhelemed at the pressance of two creatures they thought were extinct for years. Ultra Magnus meanwhile, was too in awe.
"Incredible..." was all he could say as he looked up to the creatures.
"These are the masters," Zuko stated, still in shock as the dragons circled around Aang and Zuko.
"You still think we can take 'em?" Aang whispered.
"Shh, I never said that," Zuko immediately responded, hoping the dragons didn't hear them. The warriors at the bottom then bowed down to the masters. It took a while for Ultra Magnus to get the message and bow with them.
"Oh, here it comes," Ham Gao remarked with a smirk on his face. "Any moment now...dinner for the masters."
"Quiet Ham Gao," the chief immediately commanded.
"What?" he asked. "Everyone's thinking it." Meanwhile, the dragons continued to fly around the two boys when Aang noticed their elaborate formation of twists, turns and curves.
"Zuko, I think we're supposed to do The Dragon Dance with them," Aang whispered.
"What? What about this situation that you think they want us to dance?" Zuko asked.
"Well, I think they want us to do something," Aang replied. "Let's just try it."
"Fine," Zuko replied before they proceeded to do The Dragon Dance, Aang doing it next to the blue dragon, Zuko doing it next to the red dragon. One could notice the movements of the boys compared to the movements of the dragons were quite similar. Once the dance was complete, the two dragons then flew to each side of the bridge and landed.
"Judgement time," the chief declared, not moving from his position. Needless to say, Aang and Zuko were terrified as both dragons looked upon them, the blue dragon snarling at Zuko. Then, suddenly, the creatures lifted up and breathed fire from their mouths, towards the boys. The two of them yelled in fear before they noticed the flames were surrounding them, not engulfing them, and that the flames were forming in multiple colors. The duo looked up at the vortex in shock and wonder ad the two of them gasped in amasement and realization.
"I understand," Zuko stated as the flames slowly dissapated and the chief and Ultra Magnus walked up the steps to them.
"Their fire was beautiful," Zuko said. "I saw so many colors, colors I've never imagined."
"Like firebending harmony," Aang added.
"Yes. They judged you, and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending," the chief stated.
"I can't believe there are still living dragons," Zuko said as he looked at the dragons, who were still on the sides of the bridge. "My Uncle Iroh said he faced the last dragon and killed it."
"So your uncle lied?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"Actually, it wasn't a total lie," the chief answered in a smile. "Iroh was the last outsider to face the masters. They deemed him worthy and passed the secret onto him as well."
"He must have lied to protect them, so no one else would hunt them," Zuko said as his eyes widened in surprise.
"All this time, I thought firebending was destruction," Aang started. "Since I hurt Katara, I've been too afraid and hesitant. But now I know what it really is... it's energy, and life."
"Yeah, it's like the Sun, but inside of you," Zuko added before he turned to Aang. "That's why my firebending was so weak before. Because for so many years, hunting you was my drive... it was my purpose. So when I joined you, I lost sight of my inner fire. But now, I have a new drive. I have to help you defeat my father and restore balance to the world." Suddenly, everyone then heard the roar of jet engines from the distance. They then turned to see two Cybertronian jets coming towards them. Ultra Magnus' optics then widened in horror as he realized who they were.
"GET DOWN!" he shouted as the jets started firing at them. Aang, Zuko, Magnus, the chief and the dragons reacted just in time before they were blasted to oblivion.
"What are those mechanical monstrosities!?" the chief asked in shock.
"Decepticons..." Ultra Magnus growled as he readied his hammer. Sure enough, it was the alt modes of Cyclonus and Sixshot.
"Cyclonus, do what you wish to the prince and the Avatar, but leave Ultra Magnus to me!" Sixshot stated as he transformed into his robot mode and tackled Ultra Magnus to the ground. Meanwhile, Cyclonus transformed into his robot mode and looked at the dragons, unimpressed.
"So, these are the legendary 'dragons' that the Fire Nation has spoken of," he said as the dragons snarled to him. "Nightstick, transform!" With that, a small Decepticon Targetmaster named 'Nightstick' shot out of his back and transformed into a gun, which Cyclonus grabbed and started shooting at the dragons. The chief then firebended at Cyclonus to defend his masters, but Cyclonus merely dodged it and started shooting at the Sun Warriors who came to the dragons' aid, killing a few of them.
While that was going on, Sixshot tossed Ultra Magnus into a rock and transformed into a giant cannon and started shooting at him. Magnus quickly dodged the blast before it hit him and got his hammer ready, but Sixshot suddenly split into six identical cannons, laughing mockingly at Ultra Magnus, but the Autobot commander smirked, much to the ninja's surprise.
"This old trick again Sixshot?" he asked. "I though you were better than that." Suddenly, missile launchers deployed from his shoulders and fired at the six cannons. The blast caused five of them to disappear, and one of them, the real Sixshot, to fly backwards. Sixshot responded by transforming into a Cybertronian armored car and drove to Ultra Magnus, firing from the cannon attached on the hood. Ultra Magnus unfourtunately could not avoid it and fell to the ground, dropping his hammer before Sixshot turned into a Cybertronian tiger and pinned him down.
Meanwhile, Aang and Zuko watched in horror as Cyclonus continued shooting at the Sun Warriors and the dragons.
"We have to do something," Zuko said. "They can't handle this creep alone." Aang nodded in understanding and joined the dragons in their next attack, synchronizing their movements before they firebended huge blasts of fire with the dragons at Cyclonus. Fortunately, it was too late for him to dodge ad the fire hits him dead on, damaging his weapons and destroying Nightstick. Cyclonus tried to get up when the Sun Warriors started firebending at him.
The blasts distracted Sixshot as he looked up to the scene, still in his tiger mode, not knowing that doing so allowed Ultra Magnus to grab his hammer and bash him with it. The ninja was sent flying as he transformed into his robot mode and then he crashed into a pile of rocks.
"We have what we need Sixshot!" Cyclonus yelled to him. "We must fall back!" With that, Cyclonus transformed and flew away while Sixshot shot a glare at Ultra Magnus.
"This isn't over Magnus!" he shouted as he transformed into his jet mode and flew off with Cyclonus while Aang, Zuko, Ultra Magnus and the chief watched them fly away from the kingdom and into the horizon.
Back at the Fire Nation, Rumble was minding his own business when he spotted Cyclonus and Sixshot walking to the Decepticon base, with ashes and dents all over their bodies.
"What happened to you?" he asked. The two Cons just glared at the deployer before Sixshot responded.
"Don't ask," he dryly said before they walked into the base. Rumble just shrugged and kept walking.
Meanwhile, after the trio had made it back to the Western Air Temple, Aang and Zuko were demonstrating to the rest of the group the techniques they had learned.
"With this technique the dragons showed us, Zuko and I would be unstoppable," Aang said before they had finished The Dragon Dance and the group applauded.
"Yeah, that's a great dance you two learned there," Sokka remarked.
"It's not a dance," Zuko responded defensively. "It's a firebending form."
"We'll just tap-dance our way to victory over the Fire Lord and Starscream," Sokka joked.
"It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old!" Zuko shouted.
"Oh yeah? What's your little form called?" Katara asked in a slightly mocking manner.
"...The Dancing Dragon," Zuko replied embarassingly. The group responded by laughing while Zuko tried to control his temper.
While that was going on, Azula and Starscream were discussing what they had done while Cyclonus was away.
"You are certain that you destroyed the footage and wipped the throne room clean of ANY evidence that may point to us for Megatron's demise?" Starscream asked.
"I am certain Starscream," Azula responded.
"Good, because if ANYONE discovers ANY evidence left behind I WILL-" Starscream started before Cyclonus and Sixshot walked into the room.
"What happened?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow at their condition.
"We spotted the Avatar and Zuko while we were scouting the area," Cyclonus replied.
"Ugh," Starscream said, rubbing his optics with his fingers, clearly annoyed that his troops still keep getting their tailpipes kicked by CHILDREN. "Did you at least discover the location of the energon?"
"Yes Lord Starscream," Sixshot responded.
"Excellent," Starscream replied. "Have a mining team head down there now. You are dismissed." The two Cons then bowed before leaving the room. Sixshot went to tell the news to a mining team while Cyclonus went to a secluded area and looked at the object he found earlier...a dark energon crystal.
"Soon my one true master, you will rise again," Cyclonus said before walking away.
*QUE AVATAR ENDING THEME*