Well i like this chapter more than the last one, Again thank you for all the reviews i really appreciate them!
spatterson- If i write a version of your story its going to take a long time, i have a lot of trouble writing things that i don't have inspiration for, i had writers block on this story for like a year, plus lately i've been working on this and two other stories that i haven't started posting yet. The part of your story you sent me was really good.
random- aw thanks!
pokemonjkl- this chapter sets up the drama!
Once you reached land, your group decided to walk to give Appa a well-deserved rest.
"This is humiliating" Katara sighed.
"You mean getting thoroughly spanked by the fire nation or having to walk all the way to the western air temple"
"Both"
"It could be worse" Kaito said.
"Yeah you could be as ugly is Kaito" Daisuke added. Kaito put Daisuke into a headlock as they started to bicker like they usually do.
"Sorry guys, Appa gets tired carrying all of these people," Aang said.
"Don't worry Aang" you said then you turned to Appa who was walking beside you, "You're such a sweet sky bison" you said as you scratched his face. Appa made happy bison noises in response, whatever those are.
"I think he likes you" Aang told you. You smiled and laughed.
Teo looked towards the ocean, "I wonder how the rest of the troops are doing?" he mused.
"They're probably being shipped off to a prison. Seems like my dad just got out and now he's going back in" Haru said sadly.
"Most of them will probably be in the imperial prison, we can break them out the next time we invade the capital" Daisuke said.
"I miss Pipsqueak," The Duke said changing the topic.
"Don't worry The Duke, we'll get Pipsqueak back" Jet said. Even though they weren't freedom fighters anymore, you could tell that Jet felt guilty about leaving Pipsqueak behind.
"I miss not having blisters on my feet" Sokka said to lighten the mood.
You started to recognize your surroundings you knew you must have been getting close to the western air temple and this time you weren't at the bottom of the cliff.
Suddenly Toph stopped. "We're here! I can feel it!"
"I think you need your feet checked" Katara said.
"No she's right" you said, you ran towards the hatch that you left through when you went to the sun warriors civilization. You opened the hatch and jumped down, followed by everyone except Aang who used his glider to fly around the temple.
Everyone gathered in the part of the temple that you camped out in the last time.
"Its so different from the Northern air temple. I wonder if theirs any secret rooms!" Teo said in excitement.
"Lets check it out!" Haru said as the two of them and the The Duke, Longshot and Smellerbee ran off to explore. Aang tried to follow them but Katara stopped him.
"Why can't I go?" Aang asked. You couldn't help but feel bad. It must be so hard to be the avatar, you couldn't imagine the pressure he must feel all the time.
"We need to decide what we're going to do now, since you're the avatar you should be a part of this" Katara told him.
"Fair enough, so what's the new plan?" he asked.
"Well if you ask me, the new plan is the old plan! You just need to master all four elements and confront the firelord before the comet arrives" Sokka said.
"Oh that's great, no problem. I'll just do that," Aang said sarcastically.
"No one said it was going to be easy," Katara said.
"Aang you know we'll all help you along the way" You added, trying to cheer up the young air bender.
"Kana can teach you firebending," Daisuke added.
"Will you?" Aang asked, he seemed excited but at the same time uneasy.
You sighed, "I can try, I'm not a very good teacher and I don't fight like other firebenders"
"I think you'll be a great teacher!" Jet told you.
You smiled, "Your training starts tomorrow" you told Aang. "Bright and early, fire benders rise with the sun."
The rest of the day was spent exploring the western air temple. There was more than enough bedrooms for everyone to have their own. You picked one sort of away from everyone else simply because the view was breathtaking.
That night you laid awake in your lumpy bed, you were exhausted but couldn't sleep so you let your mind wander. Your thoughts quickly drifted to Zuko, you couldn't help but wonder where he is and how he's doing. Maybe he's happy to be home. You thought about what Azula had said, you knew she was lying but it still bothered you.
You rolled over in an attempt to get comfortable enough to sleep but it was unsuccessful. To be honest comfort wasn't the issue, you missed the feeling of sleeping next to Zuko. Sleeping alone was well… lonely.
(Zuko's POV)
You set up camp fairly close to the western air temple. Originally you were going to ask to join the Avatar's group right away but when you were about to go there you started freaking out. What if they say no, this whole running away, threatening your father and committing high treason thing would not work out if they rejected you.
"Maybe Kana will help me" you mused absentmindedly. You frowned, after all she might not.
The next morning you woke up in a nervous sweat. You decided to bathe in a nearby river before confronting team avatar. In an effort to further stall you decided to practice what you're going to say.
"Hello ,Zuko here, but I, you probably already know me, sort of. Uhhh ... so, the thing is I have a lot of firebending experience, and I'm considered to be pretty good at it. Well, you've seen it, you know, when I was attacking you. Uhhh ... yeah, I guess I should apologize for that. But anyway, I'm good now. I mean, I thought I was good before, but I realize I was bad, but anyway, I think it's time I joined your group and taught the Avatar firebending."
The Badgerfrog you had been talking to croaked angrily at you. That croak probably meant 'you're pathetic, just stop' in badgerfrog.
"Well, what's your answer?"
The Badgerfrog looked at you for a second before jumping onto your head and then jumping away.
"Yeah ... that's what I'd say, too." You sighed, "How am I supposed to convince these people that I'm on their side? What would Uncle do?" You did your best Uncle impression and said. "Zuko, you have to look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self, reveal itself." You sighed loudly, "Even when I'm talking for him I can't figure out what he means. What would Azula do?" You thought for a second then impersonated Azula. "Listen, Avatar, I can join your group, or I can do something unspeakably horrible to you and your friends! Your choice!" you sighed, "I guess I'm just not that good at impersonations."
You sat down, clearly upset and worried about talking with team avatar. You wished Kana was with you, she would probably tell you to relax and be yourself.
(Kana's POV)
That night you eventually fell into a fitful sleep. You woke up as the sun rose, you were still tired but decided to get up anyway, besides you already warned Aang about waking up with sun. You quickly changed and brushed your hair. You walked down the hall to Aang's room, you knocked a few times but got no response. Usually you wouldn't just walk into someone's room unless it was your brothers but its time for Aang's firebending training.
You opening the door to see Aang sleeping, he somehow contorted himself into a strange position with Momo sleeping on his chest. You knelt next to him then gentily shook him awake.
"Aang wake up, its time for training."
"Just five more minutes" the sleepy Avatar mumbled.
"Nope now, you want to master firebending you have to wake up" you told him.
After a short argument with the sleepy air bender he eventually got up. You letf him to change and told him to meet you in the main common area.
You decided to meditate while you wait for Aang, unfortunately you don't have candles but you could still meditate without them. Several minutes later you heard footsteps headed towards you, you continued to meditate until the footsteps stopped few feet from you. You opened your eyes to see Aang.
"Sit down" you told him, once he did you continued, "alright, what do you know about firebending?"
Aang thought for a moment. "Its hot! And it's uncontrollable"
You frowned, "well it is hot, but it isn't uncontrollable. I will admit it can be difficult to control"
Aang looked disinterested.
"Ok lets try something else" you swiftly created a small fireball that you held in your hand. "Firebending is different from other forms of bending, it comes from within, it's fueled by emotion."
"Like Zuko's was fueled with anger!" Aang said, even though you know that Aang is right, you couldn't help but feel like maybe you aren't suppose to teach Aang firebending.
"That's true but not all firebending is fueled by anger, mine is fueled by love"
"How could it be fueled by love?" Aang asked with a puzzled expression "love isn't violent."
"And neither is firebending" you sighed, "contrary to popular belief, firebending isn't about violence and destruction, its about passion and being completely in control of your mind and body." Now Aang looked interested. "Because firebending comes from within you need to be completely in control of yourself, you must be aware of your movements and most importantly your breathing. If you don't breathe properly, you won't be able to create a flame or worse you won't be able to control it"
Aang looked down, "I know that, I tried to firebend one time but wasn't ready to control it, I ended up burning Katara"
"I won't let you burn anyone, well take it slow but you need to do everything I tell you."
Aang looked suddenly optimistic. "Ok! So what's first?" he asked eagerly.
You smiled, "meditation" you said.
"I can do that!" Aang said as he got into his usual mediation pose. You noticed that it was a bad position for breathing.
"This type of meditation will be a bit different, instead of trying to clear your mind, you're going to focus on understanding your emotions and your breathing. Ok, do as I say," you paused "straighten your back, and place your hands on your knees… good, now close your eyes. Take a deep breath and release it slowly….
You coached Aang through his meditation for a few hours; you were surprised that he's been still for so long, he never once complained.
You heard a few people approach but you didn't look up to see who they were. "Ok Aang you breathing is pretty good, I want to you meditate at least twice a day. Now we're going to try to figure out which emotion will fuel your firebending. Like I said before, mine come from love, whenever I fire bend I think about all the time I've felt love in my life, the fire feeds off my emotions allowing me to control it. Ok, I want you to think about how you feel now"
"I feel bored," Aang said bluntly.
You laughed, "I know this part isn't fun but when you try firebending again it will be much safer, so be serious."
"ok" Aang said, he paused and tried to focus on his thoughts, "I guess I'm feeling peaceful"
"That's a good start, keep thi…" you were cut off.
"Hey jerk benders how's your jerk bending going?" Sokka said as he walked into the common area.
"Seriously man" Kaito scolded.
You sighed in frustration "training is over for today, I want you to practice your breathing and remember to meditate" you told him as you stood and helped him up. You were pretty upset with Sokka's comment but you didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
"Kana" Jet said, he definitely noticed how upset you were. "Come on lets eat breakfast," you nodded and started walking towards him and your brothers.
"Breakfast sounds good! What do we have?" Kaito asked
"Not sure, Longshot and Smellerbee just got back from town" Daisuke said.
"I want breakfast too! All this meditation made me hungry!" Aang said cheerfully.
"I think that will have to wait" Toph said, seriously.
You looked at her with the same confused look as everyone else, she pointed to behind her. You felt your heart skip a beat, it was Zuko.