"That's it!" Aang exclaims after the group learns about Piando. "That's what you needed all along, Sokka."

"A sword?" She says glancing up at the gorgeous thing.

"Not the sword, a master." Aang explains as Sokka takes the sword down from the rack. "We've all had masters to help us get better. You should see if you can study with Piando."

"That's a great idea." Katara says. "I could've never gotten to where I am without Master Pakku. Everyone needs a teacher."

"I learned from the badger moles." Toph adds. "They don't talk, but they're still good teachers."

Sokka pulls out the blade and really looks at it. "It would be nice to be a master sword fighter. All right, I'll talk to him."

"What are you wearing?" Katara asks when she sees Sokka.

"Aang's clothes. They sort of fit, right?" Sokka says as she pulls her hair up into a high ponytail like the one Zuko used to have.

"Barely. They look like you're wearing hand me downs that do not fit." Katara walked over and helped Sokka tie her hair up. "And what happened to your chest?"

"I wrapped it." Sokka explained. "I don't know if Piando will teach girls. So to avoid that problem completely," Sokka gestures to herself. "I changed."

"Well good luck, bro." Katara says with a big grin.

"Master, my name is Sokka, and I wish to be instructed in the way of the sword."

Piando keeps turned with his back towards Sokka. "Sokka. That's an unusual name."

"Oh, uh, really, uh…" Sokka said nervously. "Where I come from, the Fire Nation colonies, it's a pretty normal name…" She pauses. "For Fire Nation colonials."

"Let me guess." Piando writes on a piece of parchment. "You've come hundreds of miles from your little village where you're the best swordsman in town. And you think you deserve to learn from the master."

"Well, actually, I've been all over the world." Sokka admits.

"Yep, here we go." Piando says in an all knowing voice.

"And I know one thing for sure:" Sokka kneels. "I have a lot to learn."

Piando glances back towards her. "You're not doing a very good job of selling yourself."

"I know. Your butler told me that when I met you, I would have to prove my worth." Sokka frowns. "But the truth is… I don't know if I am worthy."

"Hm, I see." Piando smiles. "Well then, let's find out together how worthy you are. I will train you."

At the beginning of the day Fat beats Sokka easily. But after all of the things Piando teaches Sokka during the day, Sokka is able to win one of the spars.

"You've had a good first day of training." Piando says sitting next to Sokka.

"I have?" Sokka barely believes him. "But I thought I messed up every single thing we worked on!"

"You messed up things in a very special way." Piando admits. "You are ready for a real sword."

"Are you giving me one of yours?" Sokka asks, very excited.

"No." Sokka groans. Piando continues talking. "Your sword must be an extension of yourself. So tomorrow, you will make your sword."

Sokka makes her own sword out of the meteorite that fell. It's perfect.

While they wait for the sword to get fixed, Sokka asks for Katara to help heal her chest. The wrapping has left the whole area sore. Both decide the wrapping is a bad idea.

"I'm sure Aang's shirt is tight enough already. Plus the clothes Piando gave you are loose, so you can't really tell." Katara explains.

"I'll take your word for it." Sokka says with a shrug.

"Sokka, when you first arrived, you were so unsure. You even seemed down on yourself. But I saw something in you right away. I saw a heart as strong as a lion turtle, and twice as big. And as we trained, it wasn't your skills that impressed me." Fat gives Piando the sword Sokka made. "No, it certainly wasn't your skills. You showed something beyond that. Creativity, versatility, intelligence… these are the traits that define a great swordsman. And these are the traits that define you." Piando kneels and presents the sword to Sokka who takes it. "You told me you didn't know if you were worthy," Piando stands. "but I believe you are more worthy than any man I have ever trained."

Sokka lowers her head in shame. "I'm sorry, Master. You're wrong. I am not worthy. I'm not who you think I am. I'm not from the Fire Nation. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe. I lied so that I could learn swordsmanship from you. I'm sorry." Sokka offers her sword back to Piando.

"I'm sorry, too" Piando say before he swings his sword at Sokka. She dodges the attack before she unsheathes her sword and blocks a thrust from Piando.

The benders get ready to help her, but she raises her hand to stop them. "No, this is my fight, alone."

"Excellent work, Sokka." Sokka watches Piando carefully, but the master just sheathes his sword. "I think I'm a little old to be fighting the Avatar."

"How did you know?" Aang asks.

"Oh, I've been around awhile. You pick things up." Pianso wipes the dirt of his face. "Of course, I know from the beginning that Sokka was Water Tribe. You might want to think of a better Fire Nation cover name. Try 'Lee'. There's a million 'Lees'." Sokka almost snorts thinking of Zuko.

"But why would you agree to train her if you knew she was from the Water Tribe?" Katara ask. Sokka whipped her head around towards her sister, glaring at her for revealing her gender.

"Her?" Piando's eyes widened. "I don't know how I missed that one."

Sokka scratched at the back of her neck. "Sorry for lying about that too."

"It doesn't matter. The way of the sword doesn't belong to any one nation. Knowledge of the arts belongs to us all." Piando brings Sokka her sword. "Sokka, you must continue your training on your own. If you stay on this path, I know that one day you'll become an even greater master than I am."

Fat catches them before the leave and gives Sokka a Pai Sho tile. Sokka gives Toph a chunk of the meteorite. The gang continues on their journey.