Disclaimer: I do Not own Avatar: the Last Air-bender or it's associated properties

After dealing with Zuko at the convent the Gaang was currently walking down a road near a Fire Nation colony. They weren't flying due to so many soldiers being nearby that could identify Appa. As they were walking, they came across a bulletin board in the middle of a four-way intersection.

Katara looked at the board saying "This should give us a good idea of what's around here."

Sokka who was trying to get a snack from his stash but finding it empty said "See if you can find a menu. I'm starving."

Aang walked up excited seeing a particular poster and said "I bet we'll find something to eat here." he then pointed at the poster he saw saying "The Fire Days Festival. Fire Nation cultural exhibits, Jugglers, Benders, Magicians... This would be a great place for me to study some real Fire-benders."

Dijin who was on the other side of the board spoke up saying "I'm not so sure Aang, you'd better come see this."

Aang and the others joined him and they were all shocked to see two wanted posters, one with a picture of Aang and the other one had a picture of Dijin. Aang said surprised "Hey, it's a poster of me!"

Aang then tore the poster down and got a better look at it while Dijin spoke again saying "It looks like either Zuko or that Zhao guy has put a bounty on both our heads."

He then grabbed his poster as well and started to tear it up while Katara spoke up next saying "I think we should keep moving."

Aang looked at the three stubbornly and said "I have to learn Fire-bending at some point, and this could be my only chance to watch some masters up close."

Dijin then said "While that does make some sense it's still dangerous and we should decide as a group. Katara what do you think?"

Katara looked to the side as she said "I guess we could check it out."

Sokka surprised said "What?! You want to walk into a Fire Nation town when they're all fire crazy!"

Katara smiled and said "It's fine we'll wear disguises. Dijin and I went shopping a while ago and got some cloaks for us to wear and if it looks like trouble we'll leave."

She, Aang, and Dijin then made their way over to Appa to grab their disguises while Sokka said sarcastically "Yeah, because we always leave before we get into trouble." he then sighed and followed the trio.

About ten minutes later the four of them were ready and about to leave. Sokka and Katara were wearing black cloaks that went to their waists and had hoods. Dijin was wearing a red hooded robe that had flames designs along the trimming and went to his ankles but split at his thighs. Aang decided to go with a simple approach and pull his red cloak over his head.

Sokka spoke up saying "Everyone ready? Put on your hoods." He and Katara then flipped up thier hoods as Dijin did the same. Sokka then got a good look at Dijin and asked "Hey, wait a minute. Why are you wearing a Fire Nation robe?"

Dijin just raised an eyebrow at Sokka's question saying "When Me and Katara were shopping for cloaks a traveling merchant had this for sale so I thought it would be useful. Turns out I was right."

Sokka just replied dryly "Only you would think that would come in handy." He then looked at Aang's disguise and gave him a sarcastic thumbs up saying "Good job Aang, I don't even recognize you."

Aang thinking he was serious said "Thanks you too, kind of."

Sokka just sighed and said "Let's just go." he then made his way down the road into the Fire Nation Colony the others following him.

xxLine Breakxx

By the time they reached the town the sun had set and fireworks began to go off. While the streets themselves were packed with people of all ages as the Gaang looked around at everyone wearing red outfits and Fire Festival masks.

Katara noticing they stood out more than blended in said "I think we need some new disguises."

Sokka just pointed at one of the people wearing a festival mask saying indigently "Where are we gonna get masks like that?"

Then as if someone was listening a man at a stall started to shout saying "Get your genuine Fire Festival masks right here!"

Katara and Aang then went to buy some masks as Sokka said "Huh, that was surprisingly easy."

After Katara and Aang got the masks they each put one on. Katara's mask looked like a fat lady with her mouth in the shape of an O, Aang's mask was a red long and droopy sad face with white eyes, Sokka's mask was a blue smiley face with yellow fur all around it making it look like a sun, and Dijin's mask was pure white with the mask itself looking like a caricature version of Fire Lord Ozai complete with goatee.

Katara seeing Aang's and Sokka's masks shook her head before grabbing them and switching them. Now Aang had the blue sun mask and Sokka had the sad face mask. Once they were settled, they began to explore the festival feeling a little more at ease.

Aang noticed a snack stand and remembered Sokka was hungry so he said "Hey, that looks like some food."

He then pointed at the stall while Sokka ran towards it saying "Finally!" Sokka quickly ran up to the vendor the others walking to stand behind him as he said "What do you have?"

The vendor replied happily "Flaming Fire Flakes. Best in town."

Sokka placed the required amount of money on the counter saying "I'll take'em." Sokka then began to stuff his face with the snack before turning to the side doing a spit take and shouting "Hot! So very Hot!"

He then started to fan his tongue while Katara sarcastically said "Flaming Fire Flakes, Hot. What do you know?"

Sokka just glared at his sister before Aang and Dijin saw a little show begin to start. So, they decided to head over with the other two following. They stood in the back of a seated audience as a puppet show began to start. The curtain pulled back revealing a puppet version of Fire Lord Ozai as he began to say "Don't worry loyal citizens, No one can surprise the Fire Lord!"

The puppet then turned its back to the left. Then a second puppet came up this one being an Earth-bender with a boulder. The children in the audience began to shout saying "Look out Fire Lord!"

Next the Ozai puppet turned around and opened its mouth while it breathed fire setting the other puppet ablaze causing Aang and the siblings to cringe while Dijin just frowned.

The whole crowd cheered for the Ozai puppet but Aang then said "Hey, look at that over there."

He then pointed at a Fire-bender magician who was doing a show before walking over the others following him. They worked their way through the crowd and got close to the stage so Aang could see the Fire-bending up close.

Up on the stage The Fire-bender had four torches around him as he started to punch his fists left and right before rotating them in a circle creating a multitude of fire balls. He then opened his hands and rotated his body and arms making the Fire-balls dance around his body before he stood up straight and waved his arms and hands above his head in an arc. The Fire-balls then formed together creating a giant Fire-ball but he then pushed his hands out outwards like he was swimming turning the Fire-ball into a Fire-ring spreading it out in a 360-degree angle before turning the fire into doves as it reached the crowd.

The whole crowd cheered at the display of magic and skill of Fire-bending while the Gaang just clapped politely.

The Fire-bender looked at the crowd and said "For my next trick, I need a volunteer from the audience."

Aang excited after seeing the Fire-benders last trick shouted and raised his arm saying "Ooh, Ooh! Me! Me!"

Sokka grabbed Aang's arms saying "What are you doing?"

Aang simply said "I want to get a closer look."

Dijin then spoke up saying "Look, I know you want learn but we need to lay low."

Katara then said "Dijin's right. It's better if we don't attract attention."

However, it seemed like the Fire-bender had other plans as he came up to Katara saying "How about you young lady?"

Katara looked around and realized he meant her and she tried to say "No thank you." as she waved her hands dismissively but the Magician was insistent saying "Awww. Looks like she needs some encouragement folks. Come on give her a hand!"

The crowd began to cheer and clap for Katara to do the trick and Katara looked at the others before reluctantly getting up on the stage unable to fight the crowd.

The magician placed a chair in the middle of the stage and had her sit down before tying her to the chair as he said "This next trick is called, Taming the Dragon." the magician stood in front of Katara and grasped her shoulder saying "You'll be my captured princess." The magician then started to rotate his hands into a circle, bending the flames of the torches turning them into a Dragon. The magician made the dragon come close to Katara before moving it away quickly saying "Don't worry young maiden! I will tame this Fiery beast!" He then made a lasso of fire and put it around the Dragon's neck. The Dragon then started going towards the crowd and the rest of the Gaang going out of control. The magician started yelling "It's too strong, I can't hold it!"

Aang getting scared for Katara's safety said urgently "We gotta help her!"

Sokka and Dijin stopped him with Dijin saying "We can't afford to blow our cover right now. Remember it's just a show."

Aang just continued to worry as the magician started to say "The rope... it's breaking!" while crouching down and acting scared. The rope then came loose as he made the Dragon head towards Katara who screamed in terror.

Aang seeing the person he cared for the most about to be burned jumped into action. He jumped up on the stage in a crouch in front of Katara and moved his arms in a circle in front of his body, Air-bending a cyclone of Air that dispersed the flames while also knocking off his mask and the rest of the Gaang's.

The magician mad at his thunder being stolen yelled angrily at Aang "Hey! You trying to upstage me kid?"

However, soon a guard recognized Aang's Tattoo's while another one recognized Dijin's face and they both yelled "It's the Avatar and the Lava-bender. Get them!"

Aang quickly grabbed Katara saying "Time to go!" he then carried her bridal style, while Air-bending them off the stage just as a team of Fire-benders punched their fists forward bending streams of fire at them.

The crowd around the stage started to disperse after that allowing Dijin to throw his forearms up bending two boulders as he then thrusted his fists forward sending them into a few soldiers knocking them out of the fight.

However, he was soon backed into a corner along with the others due to a large amount of soldiers beginning to pour in quickly, but before the soldiers could close in someone threw a handful of grenades creating a smokescreen.

Then a man in a brown hooded cloak and a black face-mask appeared while yelling at the Gaang "Follow me! I'll get you outta here!"

The Gaang looked at each other then the soldiers before Sokka said "Lead the way!"

The man threw another grenade creating some debris and a make-shift exit. He then then led them through some crowded streets of the festival before heading down an alleyway.

Aang quickly grabbed his bison whistle saying "I'm calling Appa."

He then blew the whistle as the man leading them said "This way!" and they headed for another crowded street but then a group of guards showed up causing the cloaked stranger to say "Ok, not this way." he then threw another handful of bombs injuring some soldiers and cutting off any pursuers. However, the groups luck ran out as they came across a dead end and a group of soldiers had them cornered.

They all got ready to fight until they heard a familiar roar as Appa flew down and flapped his mighty tail Air-bending a giant current at the Fire-benders knocking them away.

Aang seeing his faithful friend yelled "Appa buddy down here!" Appa then got low enough so everyone could get on as the soldiers got up and tried to stop them.

Aang quickly grabbed the reigns saying "Appa, Yip, Yip."

Appa then took off to the sky a string of lanterns catching onto one of his feet but he soon flew by a fireworks tower which caught the string. However, due to flames of the lanterns landing on the fireworks, the fuses were then lit sending the tower off in a beautiful explosion of colors awing the crowd but pissing off the soldiers.

As the Gaang flew away they looked at the man who helped them escape as Sokka said "Thanks for the help. You seem to really know your explosives."

The man looked at them and said "I'm familiar." he then took off his hood and mask revealing a Fire Nation emblem on his collar as they all got a good look at the man. he had brown hair that was wild and spiky that went to the back of his neck, he had a square jaw and face with a little stubble on his chin and upper lip, he had black eyes, he had on a red shirt under his cloak with black buttons and puffy sleeves, he had the forearms of the sleeves wrapped in bandages with black wrist guards that went to his elbow, he wore brown loose pants that had bandages wrapped around the ankles, and he wore brown boots on his feet.

Sokka noticing the emblem shouted "You're a Fire Nation solider!"

Everyone tensed up but the man quickly held his hands up in the surrender motion saying "I used to be but not anymore. My name's Chey. Let's find a place to land and I'll explain everything." the group agreed and Aang started to have Appa head deep into the forest.

xxLine Breakxx

After Aang found a place to land they made a small fire and sat down to listen to Chey while he explained why he helped them.

Chey was sitting on a log as he said "I serve a man...More than a man, really, he's a myth but real, a living legend Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation General... or was he an admiral... or maybe a war minister?"

Sokka annoyed just said "We get it. He was very highly ranked. Just get to the point already."

Chey threw his hands up saying "Yeah, he was way up there! But he couldn't take the madness of the war anymore. He's one the first few people to leave the Fire Nation army and live aside from me but I'm no legend."

He then put his arms down before saying "Anyway, Jeong Jeong is a Fire-bending genius. Some say he's mad, but he's not he's enlightened."

Aang started to get excited and said "You mean there's a Fire-bending master out here that's not loyal to the Fire Lord? We gotta go see him! He can train me!"

Aang then stood up excited while Dijin stood up too saying "Hang on Aang, I know what you're thinking but you haven't even learned Water or Earth-bending yet and now you're just going to skip the whole cycle and go straight for Fire? There is a cycle for a reason."

Katara agreeing with Dijin said "Dijin has a point Aang, every Avatar has learned the elements in a specific order. I don't think it would be wise to change that now."

Sokka spoke up next saying "And I don't think it's a good Idea to go looking for a supposed all-powerful Fire-bender in the first place after we've been avoiding them the last month or so."

Aang looked at all three of them and said insistently "Look eventually i'm gonna have to learn Fire-bending and right now a Fire-bending master is close by who can teach me. And while I know there is cycle to learning the elements who knows when we'll find another Fire-bender that would be willing to teach me."

All three looked at Aang in understanding before Dijin said "All right you win, we'll go see this Master Jeong Jeong but if things don't work out, we go back to the original plan and head for the North Pole. Agreed?"

Aang smiled and said "Deal."

While Sokka just said "I still think it's a bad idea but it looks like you guys have made up your minds, so let's go."

Chey then stood up excited and said "This is great! Wait till you guys meet master Jeong Jeong." he then started to clean up camp the others following suit before Suddenly a group of grass clothed warriors ambushed them from the trees.

They jumped down from the treetops and held spears at everyone throats while a short old man held a spear at Chey saying "Jeong Jeong told you not to bring any outsiders here!"

Chey just held his hands up saying "You gotta understand! I found the Avatar he needs to speak with Jeong Jeong!"

The short old man looked at Aang then at Chey before saying "Follow us." He then headed into the forest as the other warriors made the Gaang follow as they headed out to see Jeong Jeong the Deserter.

xxLine Breakxx

After the group began their trek Sokka spoke up asking "So, Chey you know these guys?"

Chey looked back at Sokka saying "Oh, yeah Lin Ye's an old buddy."

The old man rounded on Chey growling out "Don't use my name so casually and we're not buddy's"

He then turned around and started walking again. Chey just laughed saying "See? He likes to joke like that all the time hahaha."

The Gaang sweat dropped at Chey's ignorance before Lin Ye suddenly spoke up saying "We're here."

The Gaang looked ahead of them and saw that there were a series of tents set up by a large river and there was a huge wooden hut at the forefront of the tents.

Lin Ye shoved Chey forward saying "Go, he sees you only."

Chey a little nervous said "Oh, that's ok. We can chat later. Be back in a minute." Lin Ye then shoved him towards the wooden hut as the Gaang waited for Chey to return.

After about an hour the Gaang had gathered around a campfire while Chey came out of the hut with a dejected look on his face and made his way to sit down by the fire with the group.

Aang saw him and asked "What happened? Can I go see Jeong Jeong now?"

Chey looked away as he said "He won't see you. He's very angry I brought you here. He said you're not ready because you haven't even learned the other elements yet."

Aang frustrated said "And how does he know I haven't mastered them."

Chey just said "He saw the way you walked into camp and just somehow knows and says he won't train you."

Aang determined and stubborn stood up saying "I'm going in anyway." Aang then made his way to the Hut and went inside while the others just waited.

However, after about five minutes a giant blue light erupted from the hut and Dijin worried for Aang ran forward towards the hut. The others tried to follow but were stopped by the grass warriors as Dijin caught a glimpse of what was happening.

There was an old man kneeling on the floor in the seiza position. He had snow white hair that was spread out atop his head and went down to his shoulders, he had amber eyes with two vertical scars on the edge of his right eye, he had a white Fu Manchu mustache that went to his neck and a pointed white goatee, he wore a tattered brown robe that had long sleeves and went to his shins, he wore a red tattered scarf around his neck, he had his wrists covered in bandages with black wrist guards that went to his forearm, he wore a pair brown loose fitting pants with bandages around the ankles, and on his feet were black tai-chi shoes.

Then standing in front of the kneeling man as if he was alive and well was Avatar Roku and he spoke to the man saying "You think I am weak?

The old man quickly shook his head saying "No! No! Of course not Avatar Roku! I only meant-"

Roku cut him off saying "I have mastered the elements a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes. Now, I must do so once again. you will teach the Avatar Fire-bending."

Roku then disappeared and Aang was now sitting in his place unaware of what just transpired. While the man who Dijin assumed was Jeong Jeong by this point said "I will teach you."

Dijin seeing everything had worked out quickly made his way back.

Then the next thing the others knew Aang came running out of the hut and up to them saying excitedly "Jeong Jeong's going to train me! He just suddenly changed his mind."

Katara smiled and said "I'm happy for you Aang, when do you start?"

Aang smiled excitedly saying "Tomorrow morning."

Dijin then said "Well, we better get some rest."

Lin Ye then spoke saying "Follow me then, I'll take you somewhere where you can rest for the night." The Gaang then followed him and went to get rested up for the events of the next day

xxLine Breakxx

The next morning everyone decided to do their own thing while Aang trained. Sokka was fishing on a rock, Katara was practicing her Water-bending, and Dijin was just sitting down on a rock chair he made while making a pot of tea observing Aang's training. Aang himself was standing on a small slab of rock near the shore of the river.

Jeong Jeong was having him stand in a horse stance but he noticed a mistake and said "Widen your stance."

Aang then quickly adjusted his legs but Jeong Jeong shouted "Wider!"

Aang complied but Jeong Jeong noticed another problem and said "Bend your knees."

Aang complied once again as Jeong Jeong said "Now, concentrate. Good. Good!"

Jeong Jeong then walked away as Aang said "Wait! What do I do now?"

Jeong Jeong quickly turned around shouting "Silence! Talking is not concentrating." He then motioned to Katara saying "Look at your friend. Is she talking?" he then motioned to Dijin saying "And the Earth-bender over there, is he talking nonsense? No, he is concentrating on his task." Jeong Jeong then waved his hand at Sokka and said "Even that oaf over there knows how to concentrate on what he's doing."

Sokka yelled out an indigent "Hey!" which was ignored by everyone.

Aang confused asked "What am I supposed to be concentrating on?"

Jeong Jeong held his hand up and said "Feel the heat of the sun. It's the greatest source of fire, yet it is in complete balance with nature."

Aang excited asked "So, when do I get to make some fire?"

Jeong Jeong just frustratedly yelled "Concentrate!"

Aang just sighed disappointingly before he started hearing laughter. He turned around and saw Katara giggling at his "training" while Sokka was full blown laughing and Dijin was chuckling slightly.

Aang turned around an embarrassed blush spreading across his face as he did what Jeong Jeong told him to do.

xxLine Breakxx

After Aang had "concentrated" a while Jeong Jeong took him to a mountain and came back by himself about 15 minutes later.

Then after about two hours Aang came back and went into Jeong Jeong's hut which he quickly left after a brief discussion.

Aang then sat down on the rock slab by the river and began to meditate. It wasn't until dusk did Jeong Jeong come out of his hut and saw Aang meditating on the slab of rock.

Aang then spoke up saying "I'm sorry for how I acted, your right and I'll learn to be more patient."

Jeong Jeong just sighed before saying "We are going to work with fire now."

Aang then excitedly jumped up pumping his fist saying "All right!"

Dijin and Katara smiled at Aang while Sokka wasn't there due to him looking for a better fishing spot.

Dijin was still in the same spot as before only he had made a stone table to go along with his chair as he made some more tea while Katara was still practicing her bending. Aang quickly calmed down saying in a monotone voice "I'm ready to begin Master."

Jeong Jeong quickly snatched a falling leaf between his fingers before he burned a small hole in the center of the leaf and handed it to Aang saying "Concentrate on the fire. I want you to keep this flame from reaching the edges of the leaf for as long as you can."

Aang upset that he still wasn't shooting Fire-balls yet groaned in annoyance before Lin Ye suddenly showed saying urgently "Master, there is trouble!"

Aang worried asked "What's going on?"

Jeong Jeong just went to follow Lin Ye while saying "Don't worry about it. Concentrate on your leaf."

He and Lin ye then ran off while Aang groaned again saying "This is the worst Fire-bending instruction ever. All he does is leave me alone for hours to concentrate or breathe."

Dijin poured a cup of tea saying "Sounds to me like your just being impatient. You are skipping the cycle and going straight to Fire after all. he probably doesn't want you to hurt yourself or others."

Katara then spoke saying "I'm sure there's a good reason. He is a master Fire-bender after all."

Aang just childishly said "I know learning the elements takes training and patience but I'm ready to do so much more."

Aang then got an idea as he got into a horse stance and started to breathe deeply while focusing on the heat in the center of the leaf.

Then suddenly the leaf turned into a small fire-ball and Aang yelled out excited "I did it. I made fire!" he then held the fire-ball in his left hand while waving his right hand up and down keeping it going.

Katara walked forward and stood near the shore by Aang saying "Aang, that's great. But you should take it slow."

Aang a little frustrated at Katara's words clenched his fist slightly making the flame bigger almost burning his face as Katara shouted "Be careful!"

Aang almost lost his balance screaming "Aagh!" he then got his balance back holding the fire-ball saying "Now that's Fire-bending." he then got a curious look saying "How did that juggler do it." he then started to toss the fire-ball between his hands like a rubber ball.

Katara concerned said "Aang, your gonna hurt yourself."

Dijin spoke next saying a little agitated "I agree Aang, you're literally playing with fire. Knock it off!"

Aang just looked at them excitedly saying "Hold on. I wanna try something the magician did." Aang then pushed his arms out creating a ring of fire but he misjudged the distance between him and Katara so the flames headed straight for her.

Aang's eyes widened in a panic when he saw the flames while Katara screamed in terror and pain as she held her hands up to try and protect herself.

Dijin instantly jumped up from his seat knocking over the tea pot shattering it and running over to Katara instantly at her side. He quickly put her hands in the water to try and stop the wounds from spreading as he saw she now had third degree burns on her hands.

Aang realizing the horrible thing he just did ran over to them saying "Katara! I'm so-"

he was cut off by Dijin shouting at him saying "We told you to knock it off and now look at what you did to Katara's hands Aang! What's wrong with you!" Dijin then quickly reached into his robe and pulled out a small jar with some salve in it.

He then grabbed Katara's hands as she was sobbing uncontrollably before putting the salve on them saying "This won't heal them but it should take most of the pain away."

Sokka at the moment chose to arrive and saw Katara and Dijin kneeling on the ground with Katara's hands severely burned and Aang looking guilty.

Sokka putting two and two together dropped his fishing supplies and ran forward towards Aang shouting "Aang! You bastard!" Sokka then punched Aang across his face with a right hook knocking him to the ground. Sokka then grabbed Aang by the collar and shouted in his face "I told you messing with this stuff would be bad news! Now look at what you've done! You burned my little sister!"

Aang just looked up at Sokka with blood going down his lip as he said "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean t-" he was cut off due to Katara unable to handle the pain anymore and started to run away to find a spot to be alone.

Jeong Jeong chose then to arrive as well watching Katara leave as Sokka glared at him saying "This is all your fault! You shouldn't have taught Aang in the first place!"

Jeong Jeong just held his head down in shame saying "Yes, yes I know. You must all pack your things and get far away from here."

Sokka then threw his arms up exclaiming "Finally! Something I can agree with." He then marched off to grab his things and put them on Appa's saddle.

Aang and Dijin looked in the direction Katara went in concern before Jeong Jeong said "I'll go check on your Water-bender friend you both just prepare for your departure."

Dijin nodded his head saying a quick "Thank you." before walking away to go get his things. Aang however just walked away in shame and went into Jeong Jeong's hut and started to meditate.

After a while Katara came running into the camp with a panicked look on her face.

Dijin quickly approached her asking "Katara what's wrong?" he then looked down and saw her hands were completely healed and asked "And how did you heal your hands?"

Katara just shook herself saying "Never mind that! Where's Aang? Jeong Jeong is in trouble." Dijin instantly on guard asked "Who's attacking him?"

Katara said a little scared "It's that admiral Zhao guy from the Fire Temple."

Dijin narrowed his eyes saying "Aang's in Jeong Jeong's hut. Tell me where Zhao is and I'll meet Aang there." Katara nodded her head and pointed in the direction for him to head as he took off.

xxLine Breakxx

On a shoreline near the river Jeong Jeong was standing in a horse stance in front of his former student Admiral Zhao as a wall of fire blocked his boats from going down the river.

As Zhao's men started to gather behind him he said with confidence "Don't worry, men. My old teacher gave up fighting a long time ago... Haven't you Master Jeong Jeong?"

Jeong Jeong seeing that Zhao docked all of his boats dropped the Fire-wall he was bending and stood straight staring at his old student in disappointment.

Zhao however, looked at his former teacher in disgust saying "Look at you. You were once so great. The war minister to the Fire Lord himself and now you're this pathetic savage living in the forest. I can't believe you were once my Master."

Jeong Jeong just stared at Zhao saying "It is you who has embraced savagery, Zhao."

Zhao smirked saying "It's Admiral Zhao now."

Jeong Jeong just scoffed saying "That title will not help you against the Avatar and his friends. Do not try to fight him he has a power that none of you are prepared for. You are no match."

Zhao just laughed saying "I think I can handle a child."

Jeong Jeong just smirked saying "I wasn't talking about the Avatar."

Zhao raised an eyebrow before he suddenly felt heat at his left side and he looked in that direction. His eyes widened in shock before he quickly jumped and rolled away narrowly dodging a river of lava being sent at him.

Zhao quickly recovered and looked up seeing his former master smirking at him before he put his arms out at his sides creating a cocoon of fire and then disappearing.

Zhao growled before looking at the other side of the shore revealing Dijin. He had his robe at his waist as he held his hands up moving his fingers in circles Lava-bending some buzzsaws.

Zhao was about to attack him until Aang showed up flying on his glider saying "Admiral Zhao!" He then landed a few feet away from the admiral saying "Your fight is with me." Aang then held his staff out prepared to fight.

Zhao smirked before shouting "Men! All of you attack the Lava-bender. I'll handle the Avatar." The soldiers having no choice but to obey all attacked Dijin while Zhao attacked Aang.

The fight started with a trio of Fire-benders waving their arms in an arc creating a giant ring of fire to try and burn Dijin.

Dijin threw the buzzsaws killing the trio as he crossed his arms bending an Earth-wall blocking the flames. He then twisted his body like a drill going underground as another trio of Fire-benders ran around the wall but all they found was an empty spot.

Suddenly the spot they were standing on started to get hot and before they could react a pillar of lava erupted from under them melting them instantly. next another group of Fire-benders a few feet away felt the ground under them get hot before it erupted in a pillar of lava as well. The soldiers began to panic as Dijin started to create multiple eruptions underground killing any Fire-benders he could find.

The soldiers unable to see the Lava-bender and how he was attacking them tried running to the boats but their admiral was destroying them in his attempts to capture the Avatar.

One soldier was trying to crawl away in fear seeing another eruption happen saying "It's like the wanted poster said! He's possessed by a Fire Spirit!"

Suddenly Dijin burst from the ground in front of the soldier Lava literally dripping off of him as if it was water.

Dijin looked at the soldier under him as he trembled in fear and then he looked at the remaining soldiers who were trying to flee and said "All of you, stand down now and you get to go home today."

All the Fire-benders instantly dropped to their hands and knees their faces pressed into the ground as they said in unison "We surrender to the Lava Spirit!"

Dijin just raised an eyebrow at the declaration before he heard Appa's familiar roar and Aang shouting "Dijin, let's go!"

Dijin was about to follow until Zhao attacked Dijin sending a stream of fire at him.

Dijin quickly raised his left forearm bending a boulder in front of himself blocking the stream but his left hand was burned slightly.

He faced Zhao who said "If I can't have the Avatar then I'll settle for his guard dog."

Dijin frowned before saying "As much fun it would be to knock you off your high horse, I have more important things to worry about."

Dijin then sank underground again making Zhao tense up not knowing where Dijin was going to show up. He didn't have to wait long because suddenly he felt something grab his ankles and drag him underground trapping his arms and legs. He started to struggle to get free as Dijin burst out of the ground in front him and just stared at the admiral with a glare. He then turned around and thrusted his arms and fists down Earth-bending a pillar under him and launching him high enough in the air to grab onto Appa's saddle.

Zhao then shouted from his Earth-prison saying "This isn't over Avatar! I swear I'll hunt you down and end you, Along with your Lava-bending dog!"

The Gaang ignored his declaration as Dijin struggled to get onboard sarcastically saying "No, please don't anyone help me. Just a guy with a severe case of Acrophobia barely hanging on here."

Sokka instantly went to help Dijin and pulled him up saying "Sorry buddy."

As they flew away Katara noticed Aang and Dijin were hurt before saying "You guys are burnt."

Aang looked at his right hand while Dijin looked at his left both noticing they had second degree burns on their skin. Dijin waved her off saying "It's fine Zhao just got lucky, plus I'm used to dealing with burns. It happens when I Lava-bend sometimes."

Katara just grabbed her water-skin saying "You might be used to it but still..."

She then waved her hands back and forth Water-bending her Water onto Aang and Dijin's hands.

Both Aang and Dijin's eyes widened in shock as their burns were starting to instantly heal before the wounds were completely gone.

Katara then bent her water back into her water skin as Aang said "Wow, that's some good water."

Dijin looked at his hand surprised and said "How did you do that?"

Katara just shrugged her shoulders saying "I guess I could always do it but just didn't know how."

Sokka then said sarcastically "Oh well thanks for all the super awesome first-aid over the years. Like when that Tiger-Seal bit my butt, or when that nest of polar-wasps stung the crap out of me, or how about the time when I got two fish hooks in my thumb!"

Dijin curious asked "How did you get two fish hooks in your thumb?"

Katara just laughed saying "He tried to get the first hook out with another hook."

Dijin just looked at Sokka with a dead-pan stare saying "Really?"

Then he, Katara, and Aang laughed at Sokka's past misfortune as they flew away to their next adventure on their journey.