Author's Note: I just wanted to thank everyone for reading and for all of the reviews, I really appreciate them!
The next morning you woke up at sunrise, you were far too excited to eat anything so you simply walked into the ruins. Something seemed strange about the ruins but you couldn't quite put your finger on it. You walked slowly taking in every detail. In the distance you saw a large building.
Suddenly a stone you stepped on sunk lower, you realized it was a pressure plate, it triggered a hole in the path to open beneath your feet. Without thinking you jumped onto a wall and leapt to safety. You rolled to cushion your fall. Once you were safe you took a deep breath.
"Well that was close, I can't believe these traps still work," you mumbled.
You continued along the path, careful to not trigger another trap. When you entered the building you were amazed that it was in such good condition, it must be thousands of years old. There was a series of beautiful statues, you quickly concluded that they depict a series of movements that when put together create a firebending form. You walked up to one of the statues, an inscription said 'the dancing dragon' you assumed it was the name of the form.
"I guess this is the closest I'm going to get to a lesson." You mumbled.
You took a deep breath to regulate your breathing. Then you copied the statues poses as you danced around in semi-circle. When you got to the last movement you hoped you would at least feel warm but you didn't. Your bending still isn't working.
'Maybe it's gone for good' you thought, but you quickly dismissed it. You're not here to feel sorry for yourself, you're here to learn and get your bending back. Besides the whole self-pity thing is pissing you off.
(Jet's POV)
You walked for a majority of the night; it was pretty hard tracking Kana, she's obviously a master of evasive maneuvers. You woke up early in the morning and resumed tracking Kana, it finally got a bit easier when you found a few apple cores and strands of hair that were partially red and partially brown.
By midmorning you wandered into a small town. You asked around until you meet an elderly innkeeper.
"Yes, she was here yesterday, very sweet girl, said she didn't want money just some supplies" The innkeeper said, you were about to speak when the innkeeper continued, they kept rambling on and on about things you didn't care about.
You were finally able to cut them off, "Do you know where she went?" you asked. They were really ticking you off, why do old people always talk to so much?
"She was headed to the sun warrior's ruins, they're about half a day's walk from here"
After asking for more precise directions, you left the town and headed towards the sun warrior ruins.
(Daisuke's POV)
"That little jerk went after Kana" Kaito commented.
"Gee what gave you that idea?" you mumbled in annoyance, while you were upset that Kana left, you completely understood why she did. Even though it's dangerous, this is something she feels she needs to do on her own; you and Kaito were willing to wait the full five days.
"Jet never listens to anyone" Smellerbee commented, "He always does what he thinks is right even if its not" Long shot nodded his head in agreement.
"Kana isn't going to be happy when he finds her" you said.
"Eh she'll probably just punch him, besides the dude deserves to be punched once in a while," Kaito laughed. No one wanted to admit it but Kaito said what everyone is thinking.
"I just hope they get back in 3 days," you said.
"Oh what did you guys learn in town anyway?" Smellerbee asked.
"The avatar, and a small army are going to attack the harbor closest to the fire nation capital, if we want to make it there in time we need to meet them a few miles offshore in 4 days, it's the day of black sun" you explained. Theirs a bit more but the details aren't important.
Smellerbee nodded, then looked at Longshot. After a few moments she said, "I know, it can't believe it's so soon, maybe the war will be over"
You really hope she's right.
(Kana's POV)
You spotted a beautiful sunstone across the room. When you approached it you could feel the heat radiating from the stone. You had never seen a sunstone before but you've read about then. You slowly put your hand to the stone, it was pleasantly warm, and it reminded you of how firebending feels.
You took your hand away and closed your eyes. You focused on your breathing. With your eyes still closed you completed the dancing dragon form and attempted to fire bend, but failed. You opened your eyes, only find that you were surrounded, why didn't you hear them?
"Who are you?" you mumbled more to yourself.
"Thief! You tried to steal our treasure!"
"Quiet, she does not seem like a thief"
You looked in the direction of the voice and saw a large man an elaborate headdress. Suddenly you realized that everyone was wearing the same clothes as the sun warriors in all of the carvings.
Instinctively you kneeled, bowing your head, "I am Kana of Wa Island, daughter of Saika of the Earth Kingdom and Nato of the Water Tribe, I am truly humbled and amazed that the Sun Warriors still exist and I would be honored to learn from you"
"Please stand" the Chief said, "you are the rogue firebender, I am honored that you have come here, It is people like you who will change the world."
You stood and smiled "Thank you, it is a pleasure to meet all of you"
The sun warrior chief escorted you outside, followed by the rest of the sun warriors.
"What is it you wish to learn?" he asked as you walked.
"I fought this girl who blocked my bending, I thought it was temporary but it's been days and i haven't gotten my bending back yet, I was hoping by coming here I would learn more about the original source of firebending and unblock the flow of chi" you explained.
The chief suddenly stopped and turned to you; he placed his hand on your forehead and regulated his breathing. He closed his eyes and you felt warmth throughout your body. "You're chi is not blocked" he said.
Your eyes widened in shock, "then it's gone forever" you frowned.
"Not quite, I'm sure you know that firebending comes from your emotion" you nodded so he continued. "What emotion have you felt more than any other throughout your life?" he asked.
You thought for a moment, Images and memories of your parents, your brothers, and zuko crossed your mind until you remembered the night under the cherry blossom tree. "Love" you replied.
The chief smiled, "your bending hasn't come back because you feel conflicted in your feelings love"
You thought of Zuko, conflicted is an understatement.
"Believe in the power of love, whether it's the love of family or romance, it is your center."
You nodded, and took a deep breath, you controlled your breathing and tried to fire bend, a small flame appeared in your hand. "Its back" you smiled as you tried to adjust the size of the flame, you were able to hold it for a few moments but flame slowly went out.
"I think you are ready to meet the masters Ran and Shaw"
"Thank you"
"You must fire prove yourself and be deemed worthy, your test is to bring an offering of the eternal flame to the masters" the chief led you to a pedestal the held the eternal flame. "This is the first flame, it was given to mankind by the dragons, we have kept it burning for thousands of years"
You were amazed; it was the most beautiful fire you've ever seen. The Chief bent handful of the eternal flame into his hands and then into yours. "Now you must hike to the masters.
You nodded and began your journey. Walking the rough terrain while keeping the flame strong was tough but you were able to handle it. At dusk you reached a large open area. All of the sun warriors were there, some were playing drums, while others were firebending a ring of fire, the chief stood in the center, before a large staircase.
"This is your final test"
You nodded and continued up the stairs. When you reached the top you were confused for a second, there was two doorways, one for each master. You remembered the dancing dragon form. You preformed the movements and at the end you split the eternal flame in half, and held each half out to its respective doorway.
A few moments past, and you began to worry that maybe the masters deemed you unworthy. When you were about to lose hope, a red dragon and a blue dragon flew out of the doorways.
'They aren't extinct!' you thought with excitement.
The dragons twisted and flew around you and each other, it was beautiful, and then the dragons breathed fire at you. The fire surrounded you but it didn't burn you. In the flames you felt like you saw the answers to all of life's questions, it was beautiful; there were so many colors. You were speechless. Then the dragons landed on either side of you as if they were waiting.
Instinctively you tilted your head back and breathed fire, just like Iroh did in Ba-Sing-se. Then you preformed the dancing dragon form, firebending along the way. The flames you produced were vibrant and beautiful, more beautiful than any you've produced before. When you were finished you kneeled before the masters.
"Thank you master Ran, thank you master Shaw"
The dragons looked as if they nodded, after a few moments you stood and walked down the stairs.
You were greeted by the smiling chief and the cheering sun warriors. You're happiness was cut short when you saw Jet. You instantly walked over to him.
"You didn't trust me," you snapped in annoyance. Jet looked away.
"You know him?" the sun warriors holding him captive said as they released him
You nodded, "yes he's a non-bender from the earth kingdom" then you turned back to Jet, "why did you follow me?"
"You ran off in the middle of the night and you're annoyed at me"
"I left a note" not the greatest answer but its not like you have to do what Jet says. "I needed to do this by myself, you completely disregarded my wishes"
"I don't see why you need your bending, you were fine without it"
"That's what this is about! Jet when I couldn't bend I felt like I lost a part of me, what if someone took away your cane swords. I'm a firebender, and if you don't like it, you can leave"
Jet looked guilty. "I'm sorry, I was worried you would get hurt too," he added.
Your glare softened. "I can take care of myself, I don't need to be protected"
Jet looked like he was going to say something but decided against it. You sighed, "Come on, we should get back to my brothers, Smellerbee and Longshot"
You thanked the sun warriors and swore you wouldn't tell the secret of the masters. You and Jet walked in silence, you were still angry with him even though you knew he meant well.
After walking through the night, you were only a few miles away from the air temple. Jet finally spoke "I'm glad I went after you" he said.
"I still wish you didn't, I was never in danger, and I never wanted help"
"I've been there for you more than Zuko has been"
"Jet its not a contest, we make a great team but you will never replace Zuko in my heart"
"So you're going to go back to him"
"No, I love him but I don't trust him, I can't be with someone I don't trust"
"Do I have a chance?"
"No"
"Well that's harsh"
"I'm not going to lie to you."
"I'm still going to try" Jet said with a smug smile. You frowned all you want is friendship.