Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.

Based on "The Firebending Masters" originally by John O'Bryan.

The next day at the main structure, Zuko and Aang stood in fron of a fire source in front of the Sun Warrior Chief with warriors standing in concentric semi-circles.

"If you're going to see the masters, you must bring them a piece of the eternal flame. This fire is the very first one," said Sun Warrior Chief. He raised his arms in pride and turned back towards the duo. "It was given to Man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years."

"I don't believe it," Zuko was bewildered.

"You will each take a piece of it to the masters, to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending," said the chief.

"Um, Mister Sun Chief, sir? Yeah... I'm not a firebender yet. Couldn't my friend here carry my fire for me?" Aang asked unsure.

"No," the chief replied sternly then turned back to the fire.

Aang was uneasy. The Chief pulled the fire toward his palms.

"This ritual illustrates the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy," said the Sun Warrior Chief as he turned a full circle and split the fire equally in to two. "You must maintain a constant heat."

Aang stared at the flame, transfixed.

"The flame will go out if you make it too small." Aang cringed.

"Make it too big, and you might lose control." Zuko stared coolly at the flame and proceeded to cradle the flame in his hands. He looked at Aang.

"I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous," said Aang as he gathered it in his hands. The fire grew slightly and he looked relieved and in awe. "It's like a little heartbeat."

"Fire is life, not just destruction," said Sun Warrior Chief, as he gave a reassuring smile at Aang. "You will take your flames up there." The Chief pointed to a rocky mountain nearby and the boys turned their head toward that direction. "The cave of the masters is beneath that rock."

The duo trudged through a forest. Zuko reached the top of the incline and turned back to Aang who lagged quite a distance behind.

"Hurry up," said Zuko

"I can't," Aang said as he placed one hand on the rock. "If I walk too fast, my flame will go out." He looked back at his rather small flame.

"Your flame's gonna go out because it's too small. You're too timid. Give it more juice," said Zuko.

Aang climbed up and looked worriedly at Zuko. "But what if I can't control it?"

"You can do it. I know you can. You're a talented kid," said Zuko.

Aang who smiled. He pushed himself up and continued to follow Zuko.

Sokka practiced with his sword.

Katara practiced her bending.

Toph decided to approach the waterbender. "What's bothering you?"

"Huh?" Katara asked as she pulled the water up and down.

"Sokka said you stayed up late, and you look exhausted. Are you worried about Aang and Zuko? I think they can handle whatever's out there," said Toph.

Katara sighed. "That's not it."

"Is this cause you had a secret thing with Haru?" Toph asked.

"No," said Katara surprised.

"Oh, well," said Toph. She was about to walk off.

"It's about Aang and Zuko, but not them being in danger," Katara said.

"Hah, I knew there had to be more than just Jet," said Toph. She walked back and sat down at the edge of the fountain.

Katara let the water fall gently into the base of the fountain and sat down next to her.

"Aang likes me," said Katara.

"Katara, I'm blind and even I can 'see' that," said Toph.

"I don't know how I feel about him," said Katara.

"And Zuko?" Toph asked.

"I really feel a connection with him, and I don't have be anything other than me," said Katara.

"What does he feel?"

"I don' know," Katara replied.

"Want to find out?" Toph asked.

"How?" Katara asked.

Sokka came back from practicing to cool off in the fountain.

At dusk, Zuko and Aang arrived at their destination. The warriors were already there and are poised in an alternating standing and sitting position.

Sun Warrior Chief walked toward them. "Facing the judgment of the firebending masters will be very dangerous for you. Your ancestors are directly responsible for the dragons' disappearances." Zuko looked toward the side in shame. "The masters might not be so happy to see you."

Ham Gao placed his hand on his hip, to intimidate Zuko. "I know I wouldn't be."

Aang interrupted, "But once they find out I'm the Avatar..."

Sun Warrior Chief said, "Have you forgotten that you vanished allowing the Fire Nation to wreak havoc on the world? The decline of the dragons is your burden too." Aang turned his head away.

The Chief drove his staff into the ground and Sun warriors got into a "ready" position at either side of the staff. It is noted that both warriors are mirror image of each other. The Chief grabbed a section from each flame and placed it on the Sun Warriors' palms. They moved away and the Chief removed his staff. A warrior who received a flame and bent it around in a circle a few times before the next warrior who stood bent a small part of the flame toward her and repeated the process.

"We could turn back now. We've already learned more about fire than we hoped," said Aang as he showed Zuko that he can handle his fire and gave a weak smile.

"No, we're seeing this through to the end. We're gonna meet these masters and find out what's so great about them," said Zuko.

"What if they judge us and attack us?" Aang asked.

"Well, we're the Fire Prince and the Avatar," Zuko replied as he unsheathed his broadswords slightly and smiled. "I think we can take these guys in a fight, whoever they are."

Aang nodded but was still uneasy.

Zuko stepped forward with confidence. "Bring 'em out."

Sun Warrior Chief opened his hand to the side, "Chanters!"

Music played and the warriors who were sitting down beat in synchronized rhythm on their drums. The rest of warriors held the circle of flame. The other half of the circle and the warriors rose and bowed alternatively. The boys who neared the steps. The Chief and the two warriors stepped aside to let them pass.

Zuko and Aang glanced at each other and both took a deep breath before ascending. The warriors were still beating the drums. Zuko and Aang climbed the steps. Aang looked back unwilling, but he pressed forward. When they were halfway there, the Chief looked at their progress from the bottom. Zuko and Aang neared the top while the sun was setting in the background. The music stopped when they reach the top. Both of them looked at the caves on each side of the bridge.

Sun Warrior Chief used an object to amplify his voice, "Those who wish to meet the masters Ran and Shao will now present their fire."

Aang and Zuko turned toward the caves and bowed down with their hands extended in front of them.

"Sound the call," the Sun Warrior Chief announced.

A warrior took a deep breath and blew into a wind instrument. The loud sound it produced sent a flock of birds scattering in the background. The cave Aang faced rumbled and vibrated as the rocks dislodged. He trembled in fear. Aang accidentally placed his hand down, and extinguished his flame. He turned to Zuko.

"What's happening?" Aang asked. He looked at Zuko's cave which remained undisturbed. Zuko turned and gave Aang a puzzled look. Aang quickly returned back into his "flame-giving" position. He realized that his flame was gone and gasped. He turned back to Zuko again.

Aang whispered, "Zuko, my fire went out."

Zuko whispered back, "What do you want me to do?"

"Give me some of yours," Aang replied as he reached for Zuko's fire and Zuko gently pushed him back.

"No, just make your own," said Zuko.

"I can't," Aang reached for Zuko's flame.

"Get some from one of those warriors. Hurry. Stop cheating off me!" Zuko said. The Chief heard the commotion and exchanged looks with another warrior.

"Quit being stingy!" Aang said irritated.

Aang continued to reach for Zuko's flame but couldn't because the differences between their heights. Zuko raised his arms higher so Aang couldn't reach and Aang tried to grab it by sticking close to Zuko's back and flailing his arms. He used two hands to grab the flame from under Zuko's armpits and they struggled briefly before Zuko dropped his hand and extinguished the flame. They looked at each other, unsure.

One of the caves shook and rumbled. The boys were troubled. They turned their heads toward the other cave.

Aang and Zuko said, "Uh-oh."

A pair of yellow eyes glowed in the dark and suddenly, a red dragon roared and shot out of the cave. It circled around the bridge and the duo. The boys were overwhelmed by the powerful winds and pressure and staggered slightly. Zuko was shocked and followed the dragon's trail.

A blue dragon flew out of the other cave and joined its partner. They circled around each other, the bridge and boys.

"These are the masters," said Zuko in awe.

"You still think we can take 'em?" Aang whispered.

"I never said that," Zuko denied.

At the Western Air Temple, they ate dinner.

"That was really good," said Sokka. The guys went to their rooms.

"So what's this plan of yours?" Katara asked.

"First, get Zuko alone. I can distract Aang. I doubt he practiced his eartbending. Then ask him. If that doesn't work, kiss him," Toph suggested.

"So, have you ever told a boy your feelings?" Katara asked.

Toph put her head down, "No."

"Well, I'll try it, and if it works, you should try it too," Katara said.

The dragons continued circling in the air and generated powerful winds. The warriors had bowed down.

"Oh, here it comes," said Ham Gao as he looked up at the boys. "Any moment now... dinner for the masters."

Sun Warrior Chief turned his head toward Ham Gao and chided him, "Quiet, Ham Gao."

"What?" Ham Gao sulked and turned his head away. "Everyone's thinking it."

The dragons were still flying in an elaborate formation of turns, twists and curves. Aang was deep in thought.

Aang whispered, "Zuko, I think we're supposed to do The Dragon Dance with them."

"What? What about this situation that you think they want us to dance?" Zuko asked.

"Well, I think they want us to do something. Let's just try it," Aang replied.

"Fine," Zuko agreed.

Zuko and Aang did the Dancing Dragon with the dragons.

"Judgment time," said the chief.

The blue dragon snarled at Zuko. Aang trembled. Zuko looked at it, mouth agape. Aang gave out a series of timid, unsure shrieks. The two dragons settled into another position with their legs anchored at the bottom of the bridge and their arms supported their weight at the top. The red dragon began to breathe fire out of its mouth. The blue dragon did the same. Zuko and Aang yelled in fear as they were engulfed by a rapidly rising multi-colored flame.

The boys remained in their positions, shell-shocked at the sight. The side of the bridge was where the dragons had angled their mouths up, fire was still being breathed out. The fire was a swirling vortex of rainbow flames. Inside of the vortex, the duo stared at the scene in wonder. Aang gasped in amazement.

Zuko realized, "I understand."

The flame slowly dissipated and the dragons curled their bodies, sprung up and circled each other one final time before they retreated to their caves. The boys who remained on the bridge. Ham Gao was annoyed that nothing has happened to them. One of the warriors held the circle of fire as he moved his arm in a circle, the flame extinguished and ended his hands in a fist with one hand pointed up. Zuko and Aang slowly descended on the steps.

"Their fire was beautiful. I saw so many colors, colors I've never imagined," said Zuko.

"Like firebending harmony," Aang added.

"Yes. They judged you, and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending," said the chief.

"I can't believe there are still living dragons. My uncle Iroh said he faced the last dragon and killed it," said Zuko.

"So, your uncle lied," said Aang.

"Actually," said the Chief who smiled, "it wasn't a total lie. Iroh was the last outsider to face the masters. They deemed him worthy and passed the secret onto him as well." Zuko's eyes widened in surprise.

"He must have lied to protect them, so no one else would hunt them," said Zuko.

"All this time, I thought firebending was destruction. Since I hurt Katara, I've been too afraid and hesitant. But now I know what it really is... it's energy, and life," said Aang.

"Yeah. It's like the Sun," said Zuko as his hand curled into a fist, "but inside of you. Do you guys realize this?" He extended both arms out.

"Well, our civilization is called the Sun Warriors... so yeah," the chief replied.

Z"That's why my firebending was so weak before. Because for so many years, hunting you,; said Zuko as he turned toward Aang, "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."

Zuko firebent twice with a rather large sized flame. Aang followed his example and bent. His flame is large as well. Aang finally conquered his fear. Both of them walked toward each other, happy at their achievement.

"Now that you have learned the secrets, and you know about our tribe's existence," said Sun Warrior Chief. his face suddenly turned serious, "we have no choice but to imprison you here forever." The boys opened their mouths in shock. The Chief smiled. "Just kidding." The duo relaxed. "But seriously," he looked serious, "don't tell anyone!"

They returned to the Western Air Temple.

"With this technique the dragons showed us, Zuko and I would be unstoppable," said Aang. Zuko and Aang demonstrated The Dragon Dance and they were firebending at each step. They got into their final pose and the group applauded.

"Yeah, that's a great dance you two learned there," said Sokka.

"It's not a dance. It's a firebending form," said Zuko defensively.

"We'll just tap-dance," said Sokka as he moved his fingers in a dancing motion, "our way to victory over the Fire Lord."

Zuko walked towards Sokka, "It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old!"

"Oh yeah? What's your little form called?" Katara questioned.

"The Dancing Dragon," Zuko replied embarrassed.

The group laughed. Zuko shrugged it off.

To Be Continued...