I reach my hand down to put the rock back but greenish-black slime pushes me upwards. The rock hit the floor. I try to move my arm but it's no use. "I'm stuck!" I called from the roof. Aang watched the gates close. "Its another trap!"

Aang backs away from the slime. "Its like glue!" I warned. "Don't let it touch you!" Aang blasts air at me, which turns me away. Now I can't see what's happening down there anymore. Was he trying to get me free even though I said that I was stuck?

A few seconds later, Aang gets stuck next to me. He tries to move as well. "Zuko, do something! I'm stuck!" he said.

"Me?" I asked sarcastically. "I'm stuck too! How do you expect me to do anything?"

The slime in the room pushed us into the grates a little more. "It stopped," Aang said. "I don't hear it anymore."

"That's great. At least we have air. Maybe we can find a way out if we stay calm," I said. If we can get in this mess, there has to be a way out. When there's a will, there's a way. But, we just have to find it. I tried to move again but this time, there was no luck at all. I couldn't even manage a wiggle.

"There's too much slime. I can't move," I told Aang.

"Of course," Aang said. "You had to pick up the glowing egg, didn't you?"

"At least we got somewhere! If it was up to you, we wouldn't get past the courtyard!" I returned. Aang sighed loudly. "Help!" he cried.

"Who are you calling to? No one has lived here for centuries!"

"What do you think I should do then?" he asked.

"Think about our place in the universe?" I suggested. Aang gave me a weird look. "That's deep."

"Who is down there?" a voice from above us asks. He looks over the grate to see us miserably stuck. There's actually people here? After centuries? "Hey! Get these two some Aardvark Sloths!" he called behind him.

"Yes, sir!" one of the people behind him returned. Shortly, they returned with the Aardvark Sloths. They ate us free and licked us afterwards to remove the slime. "You two must be punished for taking our sun stone!" the chief scolded.

"But, sir! We aren't here to take your sun stone!" Aang replied. "We just want to know the origin of Firebending!"

"Yeah sure," one of them said from behind the chief. "They are just thieves masking themselves to have us let them go so they can steal our sun stone." He was holding the stone close to his chest. Aang sighed. "Look, I'm the Avatar." They gave him a strange look. "Just, please, hear us out."

"I'm Zuko, crowned Prince of the Fire Nation," I said. I heard one of the guys question. "I lost my Firebending due to my transfer to Aang's side. My Firebending isn't fueled by my anger anymore and we came to find a new way to Firebend; the original way."

"Please, help us," Aang pleaded. "We're not here to steal anything." The chief paused. "If you wish to learn the ways of the sun, you must speak to the masters, Ran and Shaw."

"Who are they?"Aang asked.

"That must be a secret," he replied. "When you present yourselves, they will look into your hearts. They'll look into your souls." He walked towards me. "Your ancestry." Him towering over me made me worried. "They will deem you worthy of a lesson." Am I not worthy? Is the chief doubting me? Is it because I'm the prince of the Fire Nation, the nation taking over the world, the Nation that everyone fears? "If you are not worthy, they will destroy you, then and there." Now this makes me worried. Will I live? Aang and I were apparently thinking the same thing, since we both looked at each other. "You may stay the night," the chief said, backing away from me. "However, you must leave first thing in the morning."

Aang bowed. "Thank you. We will be forever grateful."

Early the next morning, the Sun Chief came to us. "Good morning!" he yelled, to wake us up. I heard Aang roll over. "Five more minutes…" he mumbled. The Sun Chief sighed. "You go now or no Firebending for you two!"

"Okay, okay," Aang mumbled. "I'm up."

"Good!" he said. "Now follow me." He led us down some stairs to a giant furnace with a large flame on it. "If you are going to see the masters, you need to bring them a piece of the eternal flame." He pointed to the fire in the furnace.

"Eternal Flame?" Aang asked. The Chief nodded. "It was the very first flame. Given to us by the dragons. We have kept it going for many years. A symbol of the first fire."

"I don't believe it," I said. "You guys kept this fire going for all this time?"

"Of course," the chief said. "It was a gift from the dragons themselves. It would be respectful to keep it going." He turned towards the fire. "You will each take a piece to the masters, to show them how much you want to learn Firebending."

"Um, Mister Fire Chief, sir?" Aang said, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm not quite a Firebender yet. Can't my fire friend here carry it for me?" he asked, pointing at me. 'Fire friend'? "No," the Sun Chief said. He pulled of a piece of the fire. "You must each carry a part of the fire. You must keep it consistent. Too small and it will go out. Too big and it will go out of control."

He split the fire in two and handed a piece to each of us. However, Aang didn't grab the fire. "Sorry, I'm just a little nervous." He took the fire anyway. He held it closer and stared into the fire. "It's like a little heartbeat!"

"Fire is life. People view it as destruction. Yes, fire can be destructive, but it brings life," the Sun Chief said. "You will take your flame up that mountain." He pointed to a mountain a thousand feet in the air. "Up there is a cave. You will have to pass the cave. Inside, you will meet the masters," the Sun Chief instructed.

"Thank you," Aang said, bowing.

We head up the trail. After a while, I stop on a steep rock. "Hurry up," I called to Aang.

"I can't," Aang said. "If I go too fast, my fire will go out."

"You're fire is gonna go out because you aren't fueling it," I told him. "You are too timid."

"But what if it goes out of control?" Aang asked, climbing over the rock.

"It won't if you don't give it too much," I said. He looked at me. "You can do it. You're talented." Aang smiled and climbed up to meet me. Then I turn to keep walking up the trail. After a while again, Aang started lagging behind. "Come on!" I called again. "We're losing daylight!"

"All right, Hotman!" Aang replied.

"Would you stop calling me that?" I asked. "What's up with that anyway?"

"Isn't that a nickname you call each other in the Fire Nation?" Aang asked, climbing over another rock.

"Of course not! Who put that in your head?"

"I, uh…" Aang hesitated, staring at me.

"Well, whatever. Let's keep going."

When we made it to the top, the Sun Warriors are already up there. How did they get up here so fast? "Uh, quick question, Mr. Sun Chief, sir," Aang said, raising his free hand. "How did you get up here?"

"We took some stairs," he replied.

"Wait, there were stairs?" Aang asked. I guess we did all that climbing for nothing. "The masters might not be happy to see you," the Sun Chief said, looking at me again. "Your ancestors are the reason dragons are extinct." Yeah, I know my family's history. Sozin started it many years ago and because of that, there are no dragons left. Uncle defeated the last one.

"Once they find out that I'm the Avatar should make it easier, right?" Aang asked.

"No," the chief said. "You do realize that you disappeared when the Fire Nation took over, right?" Aang was quiet. "The masters will have to decide your fate." The chief walked over to us, took some of our fire, and gave it to two Sun Warriors on either side of him. They twirled the fire in a large circle before they lit all the torches.

"We could go back now," Aang said. I looked at him. "Are you scared?" I asked.

"Uh, no," Aang said. "It's just that, I'm worried about you." About me? Someone, besides Uncle, is worried about me? "What if the masters don't find you worthy? What if they kill you?"

I smiled a little. "I'll be fine."

"But, how do you know that?" Aang asked.

"I don't. I just have a feeling that it's going to turn out well. I also kinda want to see these masters. See what they're really like."

"But, what if they do attack us?" he asked.

"We can take them," I said. "You're the Avatar and I'm the prince."

The Sun Warrior chief put both arms out beside him. "Chanters!" he exclaimed. Some of the warriors play some music. It sounds like ancient music. Two warriors moved to let us through. "You may enter," the chief said, "but remember, if you are not worthy, you will be punished."

Aang and I look at each other before we step on the stairs. Once we reach the top of the stairs, the music stops. "Those who wish to meet the masters must present their fires!" the chief called below. We each turn to a cave and bow, revealing our fires.

"Sound the call!" the chief yelled. They blow a horn. Birds fly away. The caves begin to tremble and my heart begins to pound. I don't think I've ever been this nervous before. "Zuko, my fire went out," Aang whispered next to me.

"What do you want me to do about it?" I whispered back.

"Give me some of yours," he answered.

"No," I whispered, pushing him back. "Make your own."

"I can't! I'm not a Firebender!" he whispered loudly.

"Go get some from those warriors! Stop cheating off of me!" I said.

"Quit being stingy!" Aang reaches for the fire. I put my arm up higher. He can't reach it anyway. He continues to reach. Then, in a final attempt, pulls my arm down. The fire went out. We both looked at each other. "What have you done?" I whispered loudly.

"It's not my fault!" Aang protested. "You didn't share!" Inside both caves, we hear a loud rumble. "Uh-oh," Aang said. A red dragon burst out from the cave Aang was standing in front of. A dragon? A for real dragon? A blue one came out of the other cave. Two dragons?! They're still alive?! "These are the masters?" I asked.

"Still think we can take them?" Aang asked, avoiding my question.

"Shh! I never said that!" The two dragons circle the bridge we're standing on. "Zuko," Aang said. "I think we're supposed to do the Dragon Dance with them!"

"What?" I asked. "What about them circling us do you think they want us to dance?"

"Well, I don't think they want us just standing here," Aang said.

I glared at him. "Come on, Zuko! I think if we don't do anything, they'll kill us!" I sighed. "Fine, but no more!" We perform the Dragon Dance and I notice the dragons following our movements. I guess Aang was right. The dragons finish dancing with us and sit on the end of the bridge, in front of each of us. The blue dragon stares at me. I just stood there in awe. I have never seen a dragon and I never thought that I would. Uncle lied. He lied to protect the dragons still alive. Uncle didn't kill them; he saved them. The dragons inhale and blast fire at us. I hear Aang yelp and I block my face. Are we going to die?

I peek at the fire in front of us. "Aang, look," I said, elbowing him. We look up to see a colorful vortex of fire. The fire is green, blue, red and a little bit of pink. "Woah," Aang said. "It's beautiful." The fiery vortex swirled. Then, the dragons stopped and the fire died.

We came back down the stairs and met back up with the Sun Warriors. "There were so many colors," I explained. "The most I had ever seen."

"They gave you the vision of Firebending," the Sun Chief said.

"I can't believe there are still living dragons," I said. "Uncle said he killed the last one."

"Your uncle lied," Aang said.

"That's not an exact lie," the Sun Chief said. "Iroh was the last to come. The dragons found him worthy. He was the last to learn their truth. He told that lie to protect them."

I looked at Aang, who was staring at his hands. "All this time, I thought fire was dangerous. When I hurt Katara, I was scared to Firebend; to hurt anyone else. Now I know that fire is actually…life." He sounded astonished. I nodded. "Yeah. It's kinda like the sun…but, inside of you. Do you guys know that?"

"Well, we are called the 'Sun Warriors', so…yeah. We do," the Sun Chief replied.

"So we were right!" Aang exclaimed. "You ran out of fuel for your Firebending! You fueled it with anger! You needed a new fuel for it!"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "I have to help you defeat my father. To end this war."

I punch the air, this time, with two large blasts of fire. Aang copied me. The Sun Chief walked towards us. "However, now that you two know of our masters and our civilization's existence," he stopped walking and leaned in close, "we have to imprison you two here forever." Aang and I looked at each other. Is he serious? Are we never going to leave? He leaned back and smiled. "Just kidding!"

Oh, thank goodness. I thought he was serious. "Seriously, though. Don't tell anyone or there will be consequences." Aang stood straighter and bowed. "Yes, sir, Sun Warrior Chief, sir!"

We took Aang's bison back to the temple after the Sun Warriors bid us farewell. The ride seemed shorter this time, maybe because we were both in a better mood. When the bison landed, Aang hopped off. "Hey, guys!" he called. "Can you keep a secret?"

I hopped down next to him and turned him around. "What are you doing?" I whispered. "We aren't supposed to tell anyone!"

"I know, I know," he whispered back. "It's just, they are really good friends! I know they can keep a secret!" Aang sounded positive. He must really believe in his friends. I sighed. "Okay, but just this once!" I whispered. "Any more and I'm sure we're dead."

We turned back around. "What's the big secret?" Sokka asked.

"So we met the original Firebenders-" Aang started.

"You mean the volcano?" Sokka asked.

"It's not a volcano!" I cried.

"If you would've let me finish, Sokka, I was going to say dragons," Aang finished.

"Oh! Okay. Dragons." He paused. "Dragons?!"

"Yes, dragons," Aang replied. "Anyway, Zuko and I learned a new Firebending technique. They taught us a new way to Firebend."

"So you guys can Firebend now?" Toph asked.

"Yep!" Aang replied. "They taught us this!" He got in the first step for The Dancing Dragon. When I did nothing, he glanced at me. "Come on, Zuko! Don't leave me hanging!" I glanced at all the group. They were staring at us. I sighed. "Fine."

We finished the dance. The group clapped. "Nice dance you guys learned there!" Sokka said.

"Its not a dance! It's a Firebnding form!" I exclaimed defensively.

"We'll just tap-dance our victory over the Fire Lord!" Sokka teased.

"It just so happens to be an ancient form used thousands of years ago!" I said, walking toward Sokka. He raised an eyebrow at me. "What's your little form called then?"

I hesitated. I felt my cheeks get warm before I answered. "The Dancing Dragon," I said slowly.

Sokka smiled at me. "So it is a dance then!" The group laughed.