XVIII: Wind and Sun

Zuko told Aang that he wanted to get to the ruins of the Sun Warriors as soon as possible, pretty much right after they landed at the Western Air Temple. Katara protested for Aang, saying the they just got our of a battle and that they've exhausted themselves, and so it was a time for them to rest.

"Listen, I can understand the importance of rest, but with the approach of Sozin's comet, Aang's going to need to learn Firebending as soon as possible; and now that I'm going to fight along with you, then I want to improve on my technique as well… and given that Uncle managed to learn more Firebending techniques by applying techniques he learned from the other elements, then I'd like to see what can happen if the other elements could find something to borrow from Firebending, and what I could learn from the other elements; I've mentioned this in my letters." Zuko stated.

"If you wish to learn from the other elements, then how about we start with my teaching you the fundamentals of Airbending? Without air, I've learned that there is no fire, it needs air to breathe. With a little extra air, I've seen fire flare up in greater strength." Aang told Zuko.

"Very well, Avatar Aang, teach me the wisdom of your people." Zuko replied.

Aang spent the better part of the day explaining the general aspects of the Air Nomad culture, why they don't eat meat, and that all life was sacred, violence was only used in the direst of situations., and how they had little in the way of earthly attachments so that their spirit could be free. He taught Zuko how Air was the element of freedom.

His teachings actually became a point of fascination for everyone else at the temple, and soon Aang found out that he was teaching a whole class on the Air Nomads. He lectured on some of the more famous teachings from the greatest masters of Airbending.

The other part of the day, Aang spent it with the benders showing them some basic moves, like simply creating a blast of air and he also showed them the movements to make the air scooter. There was something about the air scooter movements that intrigued Zuko, he believed that it would translate into his bending.

"The key to bending air is spiral movements, when you come across any resistance, you change direction, like a leaf on the wind." Aang told them.

"Spiral movements… I think I could use some of those to improve a technique for whirlpools and water spouts." Katara stated.

"Those already move in a spiral, Katara, I know that you've led a structured life with a sense of duty, but if you want to use air techniques, you should get creative." Aang stated. Katara looked over to the waterfall thoughtfully and pulled some of the water towards her, she held it above her head and gathered it into a large blob before freezing it. Now a solid block of ice she still held it in the air, then she launched it across the canyon, and she made a move where she threw both arms forward in a motion she saw Aang use to create a gust of wind, the ice broke off into sharp shards and became a mass of scattered projectiles, some of the shards embedded in the walls of the other side of the canyon.

"Whoa, Katara that was great! Does anyone else want to try something?" Aang said.

Toph and Haru figured out how to use some air techniques to bend quicker so their movements weren't as stiff and deliberate. Toph even figured out how to create a dust devil with Airbending techniques. She brought up the dirt from the ground and kept turning it into a spiral until it actually generated some wind.

"Excellent, Toph." Aang told her.

It became an interesting day, but Aang was surprised that although he told the benders that he wanted to learn from them, Zuko actually didn't practice any new moves. When he confronted Zuko about this, he merely replied: "I wanted to see the ruins of the Sun Warriors before I try anything new."

"Alright then, tomorrow, I'll be ready for the trip." Aang replied.

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As the evening drew in, Team Avatar was unaware of an unwanted intruder approaching… It was the assassin that they had called 'Combustion Man'. He stood on a cliff silently. Combustion Man took a deep breath, and took a deep breath and took a shot!

"TAKE COVER!" Zuko called out, spotting the assassin, everyone scattered: Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph ran one way; Teo, The Duke, and Haru ran in another, and Zuko was alone trying to make a mad dash for Combustion Man while making sure that he didn't get blown up himself.

He managed to climb up to the ledge Combustion Man was standing on and ordered: "STOP, your mission is off, I don't want you hunting the Avatar anymore!"

However the assassin kept firing.

"If you don't stop, I won't pay you!" Zuko threatened, but it fell on deaf ears. So he tried again, giving the assassin a good lunge that knocked off his aim, but the assassin still persisted.

"Alright, I'll pay you double to stop!" Zuko called out, but once again the assassin refused to listen! Zuko was coming in hot trying to Firebend at the assassin! However, his efforts resulted in Zuko getting thrown off of the edge and clinging to dear life onto a vine.

Since Zuko was currently out for the fight, and Combustion Man took a shot at anyone that dared to emerge from their hiding spot, Sokka took the initiative with his boomerang. He calculated the right angle and tossed the boomerang! The boomerang sailed through the air, and struck Combustion Man square in the center of his eye in his forehead! With a final shot, his bending ended up backfiring on him and he ended blowing himself up!

"Yeah, Boomerang!" Sokka cheered as he caught his trusty weapon, and then the team rushed over to help Zuko out.

"You couldn't find someone a bit more incompetent to chase us for you?" Toph questioned.

"Azula picked him out… Sorry about that guys." Zuko spoke, and Toph jabbed a punch into his upper arm.

Once everyone had settled down, it was time to go to sleep.

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Aang and Zuko woke up early the next morning to set out for their trip. They only needed light provisions so they were pretty much off right away. It turned out to be a longer flight than Zuko had imagined, but he sat tight.

The Ruins were an amazing sight. For ruins they were actually mostly intact…

… And so ere some of the booby traps.

Aang caught his foot on a tripwire, and the walkway sank down to reveal spikes, and he had to bend his way over the trap to keep from getting impaled. Zuko crossed the trap by running around it on the wall.

They found a few things including a mural of dragons surrounding a man in fire, Aang questioned Zuko about the friendliness of dragons to the Sun Warriors, and Zuko merely replied: "Well they had a funny way of showing it."

The last thing they found was what appeared to be a temple to only open on the solstice. However, Zuko tricked the gate by reflecting the sunlight off of his sword and onto the mystic stone that triggered the opening mechanism.

Going inside they found a series of statues standing in poses, and off of a plaque that the statues were demonstrating a Firebending form called the Dragon's Dance. They followed the statues, performing the moves until they triggered a column to rise, bearing a glowing egg-shaped stone.

"Whoa, what is that?" Zuko asked, and he looked it over.

"Look all you want, but I don't think that it'll be a good idea to pick it up. We saw those traps outside, and clearly someone wanted to keep that hidden." Aang cautioned.

They looked at the stone, until someone called out: "WHO GOES THERE!"

Zuko and Aang jumped with startled screams as they found themselves looking at the current Sun Warriors!

"Trying to steal our Sun Stone are you?" The Chief questioned.

"No, sir, we were just trying to learn the Dragon's Dance when we accidentally brought it up. We haven't touched it." Zuko replied.

"Yet, you mean. I can see that you haven't touched it yet, otherwise you would've gotten caught in its trap." The Chief told them. Aang and Zuko exchanged looks and darted out of the temple. They gave him the Fire Nation bow and Aang explained: "We are the Avatar Aang, and the Fire Prince Zuko. Zuko is to be my teacher, but he wished to come and learn your ways of Firebending before teaching me. We're sorry for trespassing in your temple."

"My people, over the past 100 years have distorted the ways of Firebending. I believe that my Uncle Iroh may have been trying to teach me your ways, but now I've come to learn directly from you." Zuko stated.

"Very well, by sunset you shall meet the masters, and they shall judge you." The Chief replied.

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They brought them to the sight of the first fire, and gave Aang and Zuko a part of it. Aang voiced that he was a bit worried about it, but once he took the flame in his hand, he said that it felt like a little heartbeat.

On their way to meet the masters, Zuko noticed that Aang's fire had shrunken to the point where he might be in danger of having it go out on him. He had heard that Aang had burned Katara the first time he tried Firebending, and Aang had said that he was nervous about trying it again.

"Aang, remember, the first Avatar was also the first true Firebender. You can do this." Zuko stated.

They brought their fire up this bridge between two mountains, and the tribe told them to present their fire for the masters, only at some point their flames had died out, the tribe blew horns and chanted, and then the masters emerged…

The masters, Ran and Shao, were living, gigantic, dragons! They moved as if they were one, twirling and looping in the air. Aang got the idea that the dragons wanted to do something, and had Zuko perform the Dragon's Dance with him as the dragons continued to fly and judge them.

At the end of their forms, Aang and Zuko looked into the eyes of the growling dragons; and suddenly, they were screaming as the dragons made their perch, and surrounded them in a vortex of flames! It was terrifying, but when Zuko and Aang opened their eyes, they saw flames in a rainbow of colors! The flames were alive in shades of: red, orange, gold, white, green, and violet blue!

"I understand." Zuko spoke softly.

The masters judged them, and gave them visions of the meaning of fire, it was energy and life, like a sun within a person!

"Now that you have learned the secrets, and you know about our tribe's existence, we have no choice but to imprison you here forever." The Chief declared. The boys looked at the chief with shocked faces, but then the Chief told them: "Just kidding. But seriously, don't tell anyone!"

Aang and Zuko, thanked the Chief for his service to them and soon left to return to the Western Air Temple.

On their way back to the Air Temple, Aang turned to Zuko and asked him: "How would you like me to teach you about chakras? A guru taught me about them to help me master the Avatar State, maybe as a bender they can benefit you too, as would the other benders."

"That sounds good, Aang." Zuko replied.

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They returned to the air temple, and Zuko and Aang showed off the Dragon's dance to their friends, and Zuko promptly started training Aang in beginners and intermediate Firebending techniques. Aang learned them quickly, and was beginning to enjoy bending fire, but Zuko made sure that he never got too carried away.

At some point, during the night, Aang taught Zuko some basic Airbending techniques that he was able to translate into his Firebending. What came from Zuko, were small, twirling vortexes of flames that were almost as colorful as the dragons' fire!

Little did Zuko know, he would soon discover a hidden power deep within himself.

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Guess what guys, I'm really looking forward to giving you a special surprise in the next chapter!

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