Fight 59: Returned Fire
"I know you're nervous, but remember... firebending in and of itself is not something to fear." Zuko attempted to comfort Aang as they had decided to start training on a balcony of the Air Temple, at a safe distance from everyone. Aang sighed and agreed hesitantly. "But if you don't respect it... it'll chew you up and spit you out like an angry komodo rhino!" The firebender raised his voice. His words and outburst caused the Avatar to yelp in fear. Chenlian frowned slightly but kept silent. Since it had been decided that both she and Zuko would teach Aang, she had decided to test the prince's attitude and teaching ability and try to let him handle things. For fairness, she had reminded him about their pupil's fear of firebending, and that it probably won't be easy to overcome it. So she kept observing silently... although things clearly weren't off to a good start. "Now show me what you've got. Any amount of fire you can make."
Aang exhaled nervously and tried to firebend. He could only produce a small cloud of smoke that dissipated within a second. The boy smiled sheepishly and requested a little more instruction... perhaps a demonstration . Zuko thought it was a good idea and asked Aang to step back. The kid obeyed and the Fire Nation prince started firebending. However, to his great shock and confusion, he could only make a small, pathetic burst of flame. Aang nonetheless applauded. But Zuko couldn't understand why his bending had suddenly become so bad. He made more attempts with the same results, his frustration growing in consequence too. Aang tried to comfort him saying it was nice, and maybe the difference was due to the altitude. Although Zuko was unsure, they still changed places.
However, there was no change even then. As expected, the altitude had nothing to do with the worsening of the young man's firebending. No matter how much he tried, there was no improvement. Seeing his teacher growing more and more frustrated and agitated despite his efforts to keep calm, the avatar attempted once again to comfort him saying "that one kind of felt hot". His half-heartedness caused Zuko to lash out at him though.
"Don't patronize me! You know what it's supposed to look like!"
"Sorry Sifu Hotman."
"And stop calling me that!" The Fire Lord's son shouted, raising his arms and making Aang cringe. It was then Sokka came over, munching an apple.
"Hey, jerks. Mind if I watch you two jerks do your jerkbending ?" He joked around.
"Get out of here!" Clearly in no mood for jokes, Zuko made a 'Get lost' movement with his arm.
"Ok, take it easy." Unfazed, no, more than that, amused, Sokka tossed his apple core and waved his hand in dismissal. "I was just kidding around." He adjusted his shirt and left. "Jerkbending, still got it." He was still snickering. The prince hung his head, dropped his stance dejectedly and moaned. But then Zuko remembered he was on probation and fearfully looked at his supervisor. Chenlian didn't rejoice at his misfortune but she had no trace of compassion either. If anything, there was just coldness in her eyes.
"Well, that settles it then. You won't be able to teach Aang like this. Guess you'll be demoted to errand boy and fire starter. Now out of the way, we don't need a dead weight around." The girl uncrossed her arms and approached him, apparently ready to remove him by force.
"Wait, wait, wait, let's not be hasty." Aang blocked her path and tried to move her back, but she only agreed to stop, so he settled for hugging her to restrain her movements. "Zuko is our ally now, and if our ally has a problem, then we should solve it first."
"I don't recognize this guy as an ally. I only agreed on his staying here so it'd be easier to monitor him. Rather than waste time helping someone like that, it's much more urgent to teach you firebending. If he understands that, and doesn't wish to be a burden, then he'll solve his problems on his own. To start with, I think it'd be best if he doesn't recover his abilities... for obvious safety reasons."
"But if we're attacked, how will he even defend himself, won't he be more of a burden if we must save him?" Aang tried to follow her logic as he knew appealing to her feelings now would make it worse.
"The same as Sokka, right? No, he's even more proficient at the sword than Sokka. He's quite capable of taking care of himself. He doesn't need me or anyone. Also, why should I save someone I see as a potential threat?"
"... Because you know that potential doesn't mean certain. As long as there's a possibility of redemption, you'd give another chance, because you hope, you believe in people." Aang looked at Chenlian gently, pleadingly. He too believed in her, in her kindness and strength, in her ability to forgive. That was the Chenlian he had always known. And for a second she wavered. The reason why Zuko's firebending weakened like this was certainly what she thought it was. That would mean he had really changed. But whenever she closed her eyes, she felt a searing pain as the deeply burnt memories resurfaced, the happy ones, followed by that battle in the catacombs, and what he had done after that.
"... Right... but in this case the risks outweigh the benefits. And it's because I hoped, because I believed, that our fall in Ba Sing Se occurred... and yet even after that I kept giving him chances... only to find out he had sent an assassin after you... so not anymore. I can no longer afford being naïve. I'm for cutting our losses as much as possible." She stared back implacably, balling her fists. Zuko hung his head and clenched his fists even tighter. He knew of her long-sufferance better than anyone. He was the one who had made her endure the most after all. But it seemed like he had finally pushed her over the edge.
"I didn't forget what he did either, to you or to us... But Chenlian, since you kept straining yourself, you didn't fully heal. And you're going to keep at it for our sake, right? Just when will you get through your thick skull that we're worried for you and that you're hurting us by caring so little about yourself?! We're all together in this and watching each other's back so there's no need to worry about safety! To me, lessening your burden far outweighs the risks!"
"I'm being belittled."
"Chenlian!"
"I changed the way I alloted strength to reinforce the most important parts. But you don't believe I can do it." That's why you want a spare, in case I break. Well, that's common practice.
"No! That's not it!" He really wasn't getting through! Just how thick had her skull become?! And what was that about reinforced parts, talking like she was just a reforged sword?! This discordance, like the dissonance from misaligned tunes, tugged at Zuko's heartstrings. He was the cause of this rift between Chenlian and the Avatar. But even if his presence here generated confusion, chaos, and conflict, he just couldn't leave. And he could no longer just keep crying and lamenting about all the damage he had done. It was really hard to see her like this, all the more so since he knew it was all his fault... But that was exactly why he was going to put his all into fixing what he had shattered, so she could heal even just a bit sooner.
"Then, why don't you fight me, with the intent to kill?" The prince suddenly spoke, his determined gaze fixed on the girl. Both she and Aang were surprised and Aang protested. "A life-threatening situation might trigger my bending. Chenlian, I know that rebuilding your trust will take lots of time, and efforts, and that just words aren't enough. I won't turn against you, Aang, or the others again no matter how much I am driven to a corner. I'll prove it to you. For that I'm willing to risk my life time and time again."
"Like that time when you took Aang straight into a blizzard with no plan? Well, you've got no place to go back to after all, so if you're not prepared to do at least this much..."
"Since words really can't reach you, I've got no choice but to prove myself over time through my actions." He stood up to her without quailing.
"So you're challenging me again...?" She tilted her head to the left and raised her right hand, palm to the sky like she was holding something, cracking her fingers and forming claws before a large flame burst forth. Frightened, Aang got away. The blaze flared up, growing in intensity and size. Her surroundings grew hazy from the heat, although one couldn't help but feel it was her overflowing hostility and rage that caused this. But after all, the most terrifying was her expression. Her features appeared set in stone, yet her eyes were burning even more fiercely. "This time your sister isn't here to stab me in the back you know... Or are you counting on Aang to stab me?" She reminded him. Still, Zuko didn't flinch and confronted her head-on. It was like she was saying 'since you challenged me, you must be ready for the consequences... I won't care what happens to you' but that was already exactly what he was doing, facing the consequences of his actions... so of course he wouldn't back down now. Then again, Chenlian had also learnt from past mistakes. She quenched her fire, stopped her outpouring emotions and stuffed everything back in the box before closing the lid. "Or so I'd like to say, but I know from experience that nothing good comes from getting involved with you. I'm no longer a child that will fall for such provocations. I have better things to do than dealing with you." If back then, she had left with Aang and Katara instead of staying and fighting him...
"So you will let someone else take on the risk of fighting me even though you see me as a threat?"
"I'm telling you to think of something else and not involve us in your troubles." The sharp threatening edge returned to her tone. Still, he had gotten better at 'negociations'...
"But it's not good if it's not you. It can only be you. Watch me properly. Test me properly. Or you don't think you can give fair judgement? You know I'm sincere, and you're afraid that it will make you yield. That's why you're trying to run away from reality. How long will you keep running away from me, from your feelings?" The young man grabbed her right wrist and left arm. For some reason, it felt like the focus of the argument had changed. Sure, he was still trying to confront her and make her face him. But now, rather than his loyalty to the Avatar, it felt like he was trying to prove his love for her. Chenlian was particularly sensitive to his burning gaze looking to rekindle the embers in her heart and consume her. The increasing pounding in her chest sounded like an alarm bell screaming louder and louder, alerting her of the danger. Ahead was a cliff down which she must not fall again. She had to step back. He saw the fear in her eyes before she averted them and struggled to break free, but he wasn't going to let her escape. She calmed down, hung her head, sighed, and looked up again.
"Zuko, I've known you for close to ten years. I told you, I don't know when you'll turn against me again, but I'm sure you will."
"Then Chenlian, show me your strength. I'm right here, watching you. So face him head-on. Whatever happens in the future, you'll be able to deal with it, even if he recovers his bending. Fight him. Show him that you won't be swayed. And show me the sight of someone who confronts her fears and doubts with her head held high." Aang begged, squeezing her free hand in both of his. The Fire Nation noblewoman had no choice but to fold.
And so, Zuko and Chenlian faced each other, at a distance. She still appeared to be wondering what she was doing here when he took his fighting stance. The girl didn't move and kept staring at him. For a second, the Western Air Temple seemed to change into the Crystal Catacombs. She clenched her fists tighter and closed her eyes, deeply breathing in and out. "Fight me, with the intent to kill". The Catacombs became clearer. His position was the same, even his clothes seemed to have changed into what they were back then. She was back in that place where her heart, her time had stopped.
Right... the man before me... is an enemy... and enemies... must be eliminated!
Her eyes opened and she blasted arches of fire towards him. Although the impact threw him off balance, he managed to block it. She sent a flaming wave but he recovered in time to jump over it, however, he could not avoid the fireball flying straight at him. The prince shielded himself with his arms but was blown back into a fallen pillar. Without moving from her place, Chenlian wound up for a punch. A swirling ball appeared before it and elongated, the flames rotating around her arm. Then she swung her fist and the projectile zoomed. Zuko who was struggling to get up barely jumped out of the way as the rubble and the ground surface were blasted. The rotation had multiplied the power and speed of the attack. She generated spinning disks of fire she hurled at the man who kept avoiding. The missed attacks deeply sliced the stone pillars and ground, so she chose to maintain and keep control of two she used as homing weapons. She was closing in! He had already suffered injuries, as soon as he would be out of breath, she would... and Chenlian faced each suddenly, Aang grabbed her arms and lowered them. Those attacks weren't just slightly superior, just enough to trigger an improvement! That deadly level of firebending wasn't one Zuko could stave off in his current state! She should know that!
"Wait, Chenlian! Aren't you overdoing it? At this rate, he'll really-"
"Isn't this the whole point of this fight you both forced onto me?! He told me to attack with killing intent, and you said you would watch our fight... It's what you wanted, so just shut up and watch!" Chenlian angrily shoved him back. She ran away and made a large ring of fire, an arena large enough to fight comfortably, and hot enough to prevent careless interference. You couldn't easily come close. However, Zuko made no effort to escape the encirclement and focused his attention on her, ready to fend off the next attack. She directed her palm towards him making a small but incandescent flame that suddenly burst forth, forcing the prince to evade again. The ground was scorched black except for a patch that was still glowing red. The damage had touched a wide area. She repeated the same attack, this time with both palms that were growing closer. The man had no choice but to head straight towards her and bring the fight to close combat.
The sheer fierceness and raw power of her bending, and particularly her ranged techniques reminded him of that day in that cave under Ba Sing Se. And her face was started to get more and more distorted too. When he was close enough she thrust her foot but he stopped her like his uncle had once stopped Zhao during that agni kai in the Fire Navy base. The girl freed herself with a fire enhanced backflip. However, he couldn't let her gain distance and closed in again. She had understood that he had no intention to hit her at all and was merely trying to contain her, and that angered her all the more. She wanted to rip his veneer of hypocrisy! So she stopped holding back. Chenlian was under strict orders from Katara to restrain herself and not push her body and she had wanted to respect her wishes, but she no longer cared. Her strength, speed, movement range, and ferocity increased dramatically, as did the number of blows she landed.
She attacked violently, relentlessly, desperately, in order to make him snap and drag out his cruel, selfish, and impatient side. Trying to be the good guy now, saying he loved her... after everything he did?! Was he trying to test the limits of sickness and obscenity?! How could he come back now when she had finally decided to give up on him?! Then what, was she just trying to hurt him because he had hurt her?! Was she the bad one because she couldn't forgive him?! And even though she couldn't forgive him, why was a part of her still attracted to him?! Why did she even have to feel this way?! Why did she feel like her decisions, her resolve were breaking apart?! He was always throwing everything out of order! The reason why she didn't want to face him, was it because she was afraid of losing herself to love or to rage? What did he come back for?! Even though he could only destroy and mess things! It was all his fault! No! It was hers, wasn't it? Because she had the stupidity of falling in love with him and letting herself be controlled by that feeling! Even now! She really resented him... and herself... because he was there, because she was weak, she lost control, and her ugliest parts were exposed. And no matter how much she tried, she just couldn't regain control. Why?! Even though she had wanted to forget and settle everything so she could move forward?! Hadn't he caused enough damage?! Why did he have to come back?! Hadn't they taken measures so he wouldn't? Then she wouldn't be feeling like this... like gangrene was spreading from her wounds and her heart was slowly but surely turning black and rotting from the inside out...
Chenlian kicked her opponent, sending him rolling over, and once more flames gathered around her fist. She increased their intensity to maximum level as she jumped high and dived down on Zuko. She could no longer control or stop herself, because it was him. She couldn't bear it anymore. If only he hadn't come back! Everything was slipping away. The prince, who was recovering, sat up to see the girl he loved swooping down on him. It was the same as in the Crystal Catacombs. She was the same... overwhelmed by rage, and sadness, her face bathed with tears and distorted by pain... He had never wanted to see that expression... ever again... much less be the cause of it... but he had to go and corner her again... that was why he was frozen in place, transfixed...
"CHENLIAN!" Aang yelled, suddenly between the firebenders, his arms open wide as he was shielding Zuko. That snapped her back to reality and she quenched her fire but was unable to stop herself in time. However, she managed to shift her stance and the airbender caught her in a sphere of fast winds. He dissipated the sphere a few seconds later and Chenlian landed nicely on her feet. But immediately after, her knees buckled and Aang caught her in his arms. She was trembling, panting, and her amber eyes were wide and filled with tears. Gradually, she started hearing and taking in her surroundings.
Everyone had come, worried about the ruckus. She hadn't even noticed them, or heard them calling their names. And it seemed that the Avatar had explained how this situation came to be. Katara especially was worried about Chenlian, snatching her away from the monk to be the one to support and hug her, all while angrily yelling at Aang and Zuko, blaming them for this situation, for having driven Chenlian against the wall, hurting her again. Of course, she hadn't expected anything good from Zuko... but Aang should have known better! He should have stopped it! Because he knew how much Chenlian had suffered! Or what, was he minimizing her wounds now? Because some time had passed, she should be good enough to go already? Or maybe it was some male solidarity? That was why she had been against Zuko's staying! She just knew something like this would happen! She turned her fierce glare towards the Fire Nation prince who hung his head and balled his fists. He was still on the ground, propped up on his elbow. Aang was apologising with all his heart, but the harm was already done. In any case, he had done very well to put himself at stake and appear before her to make snap out of it. If he had simply stopped her with bending... it would have been the same as when Azula had shot lightning at her, and something else would have broken in her.
The mahogany-haired girl closed her eyes. Thanks to Katara, she was calming down. And she was making sure she could not see Zuko. Chenlian's trembling stopped, and her breathing and heart rate returned to normal. She could now stand on her own too. It was because she could tell how much Katara cared about her, because Katara was on her side, and getting this angry for her sake. And she felt all the more so when her blue-eyed friend berated herself for losing time getting angry at these two when she should be treating Chenlian as soon as possible.
"Wait, aren't you treating Zuko first? He's the one who got all beat up..." Sokka called her sister as she was leaving with Chenlian who didn't have a single apparent injury.
"Isn't he the one who asked for it? And even without that, he deserves every single hit he got. It's his fault for making Chenlian push herself like this. Besides can't you tell at a glance who's the most hurt? It's fine to just leave that guy alone, those sorts of injury will disappear in no time on their own... but it's different for Chenlian's wounds, isn't it?!" She harshly snapped back at her sibling, her eyes clearly accusing him "Whose side are you on?!" Sokka looked down at this. There were no longer supposed to be any 'sides' now but guess it was unreasonable to expect that things would go so easily. But after all she was right that they seemed to have underestimated the damage Chenlian had sustained in Ba Sing Se. Part of her was still trapped, prisoner of that place, of that time. He turned to Aang and Zuko. He understood those two must have somehow tried to pull Chenlian's strong and persevering self out of her shell, but they had been way too hasty and forceful. She was still in no state to handle that. And so he shook his head at them. Helping them out of this was beyond his ability. The prince and monk also understood their mistake. But then as Chenlian was being taken away by Katara, she stopped to look at the airbender.
"Aang, I'm sorry. This isn't what I wanted you to see." She apologised with a poignant smile before letting Katara lead her away. Aang ruefully hung his head. Why was she apologising even though he was the one who had cornered her like this...? He... and Zuko she had completely ignored at the end...
After the incident, Zuko wounds had been treated by the others, well, just passing some water. After all, he had magnificently antagonized the two healers of the group, Chenlian and Katara. Then he had isolated himself to think.
After recovering, Chenlian had taken Aang to the plateau and sat there, lotus style, facing each other, holding both hands. She started by making him close his eyes, do breathing excercises, and feel the heat of the sun though his skin seeping inside him, all while doing the same. Then she passed her chi though her hands to his and made it circulate in his body, letting him feel the flow of energy, the warmth. This served to alleviate his fear of fire and increase his focus. When the firebender was satisfied with the results, she held the back of her pupil's hands and directed their palms to the sky, forming a cup-like shape, and made a small flame above them, telling him to take control of that flame and maintain it. At first, she was still touching his hands and feeding the flame and would progressively let go and give it less and less juice.
Normally she should have made him do some more breathing excercices, control the combustion of a leaf and some more, but due to lack of time, she had to skip some stages. After fire control, there would be fire generation. But at this rate, who knew how long this would take, and people and things were certainly going to interrupt their training time. So she had wanted to go to a certain place with Aang. Although to be honest, she also felt the need to go there herself. After everything that had happened, she could feel herself slipping away, and going should straighten her out to some extent. However, how much as she wanted to go, that also scared her.
Night came. Appa was munching hay close to the fountain. Zuko was leaning against a metal door with his arms crossed, deep in thought. He turned his head back to the campfire where everyone was settled for dinner and resolved himself.
"Listen, everybody. I've got some pretty bad news. I've lost my stuff." He admitted; his head down.
"Don't look at me. I didn't touch your stuff." Toph raised her arms in defense before folding her arms. Given the trouble she had caused in Fire Fountain City, it was no wonder she would react like that. However, Zuko was talking about his firebending being gone. Everyone looked at him. Katara suddenly let out a maniacal laugh, causing everyone to stare at her (Zuko with a rather annoyed expression).
"I'm sorry. I'm just laughing at the irony. You know... how it would have been nice for us if you lost your firebending a long time ago ..." She explained, obviously not feeling the least bit sorry.
"Well it's not lost. It's just weaker for some reason."
"Maybe you're just not as good as you think you are." The waterbender fiercely glared him.
"Ouch." Toph commented.
"I bet it's because I changed sides." The prince concluded. Chenlian looked down and stopped eating. So he had arrived to that conclusion at last. Ever since the 'incident' earlier, she had royally ignored her ex-boyfriend and behaved as if he didn't exist. She wouldn't look him in the eye, respond, or even listen when he'd try to approach her and talk to her.
"It's ridiculous." Katara shot down his assumption. Unless it was for Aang's training, she would hardly leave Chenlian's side, thus often stopping Zuko from approaching her. And she also kept throwing digs at him, not hiding her anger and resentment. Aang expressed his disagreement. If Zuko's firebending came from rage, without enough anger to fuel it, that could explain the drop in performance. Sokka (obviously looking for ways to tease their new recruit and lighten the heavy atmostphere) suggested making Zuko angry... easy enough (after all Zuko's short temper was legendary). So, laughing like an idiot, he poked the Fire Nation prince's side and head with the hilt of his sword several times. Not even ten seconds passed before the firebender lost his patience and snapped.
"Ok, cut it out!" He bellowed, scaring the Water Tribe Warrior who cowered and instinctively threw his sword that fell back on his head. "Look... even if you're right, I don't want to rely on hate and anger anymore." The scarred teenager rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to calm down. "There has to be another way."
"You're gonna need to learn to draw your firebending from a different source. I recommend the original source." The earthbender gave her opinion.
"How's he supposed to do that? By jumping into a volcano?" Sokka chimed in again.
"I don't know. For earthbending, the original benders were badgermoles. One day, when I was little, I ran away and hid in a cave." She started her narration, remembering how she had cried back then, alone and helpless. "That's where I met them." A badgermole had stumbled upon her and sniffed her. When she had sniffed it too, it had licked her cheek, and she had giggled and licked its snout in turn after feeling it with her hands. "They were blind, just like me, so we understood each other. I was able to learn earthbending, not just as a martial art, but as an extension of my senses." She continued. When the animal had moved away, she had learned to extend all her senses, and notably, develop her seismic sense by mimicking its actions. "For them, the original earthbenders, it wasn't just about fighting. It was their way of interacting with the world." And with the improvement of her sensory abilities, her earthbending had budded and grown as well... by leaps and bounds.
"That's amazing, Toph. I learned from the monks, but the original airbenders were the sky bisons." He fondly gazed at the mural where three flying bisons were pictured before turning towards his furry childhood friend. "Maybe you can give me a lesson sometime buddy." He grinned. Appa growled in acknowledgement.
"Well, this doesn't help me. The original firebenders were the dragons, and they're extinct." Zuko told them. But the Avatar didn't get it. Roku had a dragon, and there were plenty of dragons a hundred years ago. "Well, they aren't around anymore, okay ?!" The Fire Lord's son retorted defensively. Aang apologized while moving his arms in an appeasing gesture.
"Well, that's because his great ancestor, Fire Lord Sozin, not only started the war but also the brilliant trend-... I mean tradition of hunting dragons for glory. Since dragons were the original, the ultimate firebenders, defeating one proved your strength. Your firebending talents became legendary, and you earned the honorary title 'Dragon'." Chenlian informed everyone. They looked at the scarred young man who averted his eyes.
"Then, have you ever lost your firebending too?" The monk questioned her.
"... I did." She answered after a long pause. She knew where this conversation was going and didn't want to answer. But after all, she couldn't lie when directly interrogated like this. "When I first escaped from the Fire Nation... the people and country I had sworn to protect and devoted my everything to had betrayed me. I had no idea what to do, and I started learning things that made me have doubts about this war and that country's royal family..."
"So, how did you recover your bending?"
"... I went to a certain island to see the ruins of the Sun Warriors civilisation. They were the first people to learn firebending from the dragons. Well, they died off thousands of years ago, but their civilization wasn't too far from where we are now."
"Yeah, maybe we can learn something by poking around their ruins." Zuko spoke hopefully.
"It's like the monks used to tell me. Sometimes, the shadows of the past can be felt by the present." The airbender said.
"So, what ? Did you pick up some super old Sun Warrior energy just by standing where they stood 1000 years ago ?" The always practical and down-to-earth Sokka went to the bottom of things.
"...I learnt things by poking around..." Chenlian evasively repeated Zuko's words. It was clear that she wasn't going to talk more than that, but when Aang asked her to guide them to that island when morning came, she agreed.
"Why? There's no need to go, right? Aang already has you as firebending teacher! That guy's not needed!" Katara cried.
"Putting Zuko aside, I do believe it'd be good for Aang to go, and I was thinking I would like to return there too. And – unfortunately – our ever-so-soft-hearted Avatar will insist that Zuko comes with us anyway, right?"
"Yeah! Since we're going, it doesn't matter if there's one more person, does it? He's only coming along. You can just treat him as baggage."
And so, the next day...
"We've been riding for hours. I don't know why, but I thought this thing would be a lot faster." The Fire Nation prince complained as the flying bison was carrying him and Aang over a large expanse of ocean. Appa growled in response.
"Appa's right, Zuko. In our group, typically we start out our missions with a more upbeat attitude." The monk smiled.
"I can't believe this." Zuko commented in a low voice, sighing and resting his head on the saddle. Aang told him not to worry as he would get the hang of it.
"You don't have to listen, Appa. That baggage's just a natural grouch." The female driver petted the animal. Still, the bison went faster, and they soon arrived at an island and reached the ruins of a very impressive city that drew exclamations of awe from them. Seeing it from the sky was certainly very different from the ground view.
Appa landed on the edge of the city and the three went to explore, heading towards the giant pyramid. Zuko found the style to be eerily familiar, although the buildings were ancient. He could tell the Fire Sages' temples were somehow descended from these. Aang was glad they had learned something about architecture but he hoped to learn something about firebending too. The past could be a great teacher. However, he was so distracted by his surroundings that he didn't notice the black wire spread across the path at ankle level and tripped. He yelled in surprise as he fell forwards and the ground in front of them dropped to reveal a bed of deadly spikes. The monk exhaled a huge gust of air from his mouth to shift his stance and propel himself across it, landing rather shakingly on the other side.
"Zuko, I think the past is trying to kill me." The frightened boy remarked after regaining his balance.
"It's just trying to teach you carefulness." Chenlian contradicted him. Her fellow firebender knelt down to inspect the wire. He was impressed that this booby trap still worked even though it must be centuries old.
"There's probably a lot more. Maybe this means we shouldn't be here." The avatar was getting cold feet. Zuko took a step back and started running on a wall and landed in front of Aang.
"Where's that upbeat attitude you were talking about? Besides, people don't make traps unless they've got something worth protecting." He looked ahead at the grand and elaborate structure that seems to be intact. The girl sighed and joined them with a firebending-enhanced jump. While he was right, she hadn't liked his tone that made him sound like a grave-robber eager to find the treasure hidden in the tomb.
After a rather long flight of stairs, they arrived before a relief depicting a central figure surrounded by concentric circles of fire breathed out by 2 dragons on each side of him. The airbender thought it looked promising... though he was not sure what this told them about the original source of firebending. But to his male travel companion, the dragons looked pretty angry.
"I thought the dragons were friends with the Sun Warriors." The monk pointed out.
"Well, they had a funny way of showing it." The young man with the burn scar replied as he walked away.
"Zuko, dragons are well... dragons... you know? Even if they were practically all killed, for them to be truly completely extinct..." Aang voiced his doubts as they walked across a stone bridge with dragon protrusions at the side. There were two dragon statues at the end of the bridge, but one was missing its head.
"I heard the last great dragon was conquered long before I was born... by my Uncle." The prince patted the eye of the decapitated head.
"But I thought your Uncle was... I don't know... good?" Aang, who had taken a liking to Iroh in Ba Sing Se, had a hard time believing what he had just heard. "Chenlian, you think so too, right?"
"He once breached the outer wall of Ba Sing Se and used to talk about burning the city to the ground while laughing. He only changed after his son died. So I can't say anything." The girl remarked, confusing her bald friend even more.
"He had a complicated past. Family tradition, I guess. Let's just move on." Zuko concluded. The two followed him.
Chenlian stared at the back of his head. Right, Lu Ten's death traumatized Iroh. After that, he became a different man. People could change. She had changed too. Although it would be while protecting city and civilians, she also used to dream of conquest, becoming a great military commander, and doing her utmost to serve the royal family, and notably the Crown Prince and future Fire Lord Zuko, with pride. Then, couldn't Zuko change too? Could he have truly changed? Could what he had endured be enough to serve as eye-opener? Did her faking death contribute to it? Could she believe? Was she right to have lead them here? Guang being gone was his fault, and it was her fault too... With a pained and guilty expression, she placed her fist above her chest. She still felt the loss and emptiness... every single day, she lived with it... What was it that she sought by coming here, condemnation, or salvation?
After another long flight of stairs, they arrived at a gate. The round, massive golden doors were locked up. It was obviously impossible for any of them, let alone the super lightweight Aang to make them budge even a single inch, yet the airbender still tried. There was large red gem set in the stone above the door. Zuko scratched his head, looking down. Something caught his eyes and he stepped aside and looked back. Behind him was a column with a red jewel at the top that shone a red beam of light at a spot on the ground. He recognized the celestial calendar, just like the Fire Sages had in their temples. He was sure that Sun Stone opened the door, but only when the sunlight hit it at just the right angle, on the solstice. The exasperated avatar swore. The solstice again?! They couldn't wait here that long. It would be months until the next solstice. However, the prince had figured out a way to speed time up and outsmart the Sun Stone. He unsheathed his broadsword and placed it in the path of the red beam to reflect in the desired direction. He adjusted his sword's position until the red spot of light hit the Sun Stone that glowed brightly atop the gate. And right as Aang was despairing that nothing was happening, a loud rumble was heard and the door opened.
"You know, Zuko, I don't care what everyone else says about you, you're pretty smart." The avatar nudged the prince who sheathed his sword and smiled happily at the rare compliment.
"He might certainly be resourceful. However, you'll learn he has no common sense. In any case, be sure to behave, I'll go look somewhere else." She started leaving while waving back at them without looking.
"Wait, where? We should go together after-"
"It's boorish to pry into a woman's affairs..." Chenlian dismissed them. After all, she couldn't reveal much. With this, they were going to learn those forms. That was good, and it would be best if they could keep it at that. She had warned them to behave too. But it was those two who never listened to her. Well, they could only blame their own stupidity if they fell for such an obvious trap. It might be good medicine. Her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
The monk entered the dark room and recoiled, gasping in fear and surprise when he saw an angry face. His ally told him to relax as it was just a statue. They looked around. The statues represented two figures symmetrically doing a series of fighting stances, each in a half circle, until they joined each other. Aang scratched his bald head and read that this sequence was called The Dancing Dragons. He put his staff against the statue, took a step-back and imitated the posture of the statue. A plate sank under his feet as he did so. He stepped off the plate to observe it and it moved back into position. He observed the alignment of statues and suddenly ran to Zuko, grabbing his arm.
"Zuko, get over here! I want you to dance with me."
"What?!" Zuko couldn't help but exclaim in shock as he freed himself. Still, Aang wouldn't let him say no and dragged him away. The prince groaned.
"Let's follow the steps of the statues." The airbender continued excitedly. At the second stance, Zuko saw his foot sink slightly with the plate and understood. "Don't you see? These aren't dance moves. These statues are giving us a lesson. I think this is some kind of Sun Warrior firebending form." Both moved in a half circle, mirroring the statues's positions.
"This better teach us some really good firebending." The scarred young man grumbled. They finished the sequence. A hole opened in the center of the room and a pedestal with a big golden egg-like object ascended. Aang cheered, happy that something had happened but... what exactly was that? "It's some kind of mystical gem stone." Zuko inferred, running towards the pedestal and obviously intending to take the egg.
"Well, don't touch it!" The monk yelled in warning, raising his arms. Zuko stopped, asking why not . "Remember what happened out there with those spikes! I'm just very suspicious of giant, glowing gems sitting on pedestals! And Chenlian told us to behave, didn't she?!" He explained fearfully. But to his great annoyance, his comrade ignored him, clearly thinking "what's wrong with picking an egg? They worry too much" and picked the gemstone up. Aang couldn't believe him. Chenlian was right after all, that guy had no common sense!
"It feels... almost alive." The Fire Lord's son pondered. He tried to put the golden egg back in place and yelled in surprise when a jet of green goo spurted out from the pedestal and pushed him towards the grating in the ceiling, sticking him there. In the same time, the door closed, trapping them inside.
"Oh, no, it's another trap!" Aang lamented far too late. More dark green slime flowed out and the monk backed away. Zuko struggled to break free but he couldn't even move. That stuff seemed to be some kind of glue. The airbender grabbed his staff, jumped on the statue's head and launched a strong gust of wind toward Zuko in an attempt to free him, but he only managed turn him around, his front now facing the sky. The prince was still stuck. The gunk was rapidly rising and filling the room. His staff stuck, Aang was forced to let go of it and jump to avoid being bogged down as well. He caught the bars of the grating and was glued too. Unable to move, he told Zuko to do something, but Zuko couldn't move either. The goo engulfed the room, pressing them against the grid, and suddenly stopped. At least, they had air. The firebender reassured him. They just had to stay calm and wait for Chenlian to rescue them.
However, hours passed and night fell and they still hadn't moved from their spot, let alone found a solution, and still no sign of Chenlian...
"You had to pick up the glowing egg, didn't you?" Aang complained, looking quite displeased.
"At least I made something happen! If it were up to you, we'd never have made it past the courtyard!" His companion in misery retorted.
"HELP!" The airbender shouted at the top of his voice. But still no Chenlian. Was she napping somewhere? Or she just didn't want to save them because of Zuko? Or could something have happened to her too? And then, although not Chenlian, someone did come for them... a man, clearly a tribal chieftain from his headdress, warpaint, and clothes, who asked them who they were. Needless to say, the children were shocked.
The boys were freed and the remaining slime was being licked off by aardvark sloths. They had been made to sit against the door, and were surrounded by Sun Warriors, males and females, in concentric semi-circles. Four of them, standing next to the Chief, had a flame hovering over their hands. And two guards were flanking Chenlian, holding her arms.
"For trying to take our Sun Stone, you must be severely punished!" The Chieftain declared.
"We didn't come here to take your Sun Stone. We came here to find the ancient origin of all firebending." Zuko justified.
"Yeah, right. They are obviously thieves, here to steal Sun Warrior treasures." Ham Gao, the Chief's aide, was holding the golden gem as preciously as a baby.
"Please, I don't normally play this card, but... I'm the Avatar." Aang confidendly placed a hand on his chest, stood up and smiled weakly. "Just hear us out." He pleaded. His fellow captive stood up too.
"My name is Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Or at least, I used to be. I know my people have distorted the ways of firebending, to be fueled by anger and rage. But now I want to learn the true way, the original way." He spoke remorsefully. "When we came here, I never imagined the Sun Warrior civilization was secretly alive. I am truly humbled to be in your presence. Please, teach us." At this, both he and the avatar bowed their heads in respect.
"If you wish to learn the ways of the Sun, you must learn them from the masters Ran and Shaw." The chieftain informed. Aang was surprised that there were two masters. "When you present yourselves to them, they will examine you. They'll read your hearts, your souls... and your ancestry." He stepped forth and towered over Zuko who looked extremely worried, aware of the sins he and his family had commited. "If they deem you worthy, they'll teach you. If they don't, you'll be destroyed on the spot." The stern head of the Sun Warriors backed away. The two teenagers anxiously looked at each other. "And Chenlian, should they fail, do not expect to return alive either. You'll pay for having broken your promise to keep the truth a secret."
"I know." The girl replied equanimously. But Aang and Zuko protested vehementely. Chenlian never said anything and only guided them here! Why should she be punished?! She had only guided them here! If she had revealed any secret, they wouldn't have fallen for that trap earlier, right?! "Because there's no proof, and you could have gotten caught on purpose to feign innocence now. It's fine, I was prepared for it when I came here. After all I understand their reason for being so cautious and secretive."
The next day, the Sun Warriors and the two disciple aspirants had gathered at the topmost part of the pyramid where a fire was burning in a niche. Chenlian was there too, still closely guarded.
"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. It was given to Man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years." The chief spoke ceremoniously, facing the sacred fire. Zuko was bewildered. "You will each take a piece of it to the masters, to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending." The tribe leader continued.
"Um, Mister Sun Chief, sir ? Yeah... I'm not a firebender yet. Couldn't my friend here carry my fire for me ?" Aang inquired; his expression a mixture of hope and apprehensiveness. But he was firmly denied.
"This ritual illustrates the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy." The chief drew fire from the eternal flame that he equally divided in two. "You must maintain a constant heat. The flame will go out if you make it too small." He explained. The monk, who had been staring, transfixed, at the flame, cringed when it was brought closer to him. "Make it too big, and you might lose control." He warned while looking at Zuko who accepted his flame.
"I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous." Aang fearfully collected his flame. When he felt its gentle warmth, he was relieved and stared in awe. "It's like a little heartbeat." He smiled faintly, reassured. He turned to Chenlian who smiled encouragingly at him.
"Fire is life, not just destruction. You will take your flames up there." The Chief pointed at a rocky mountain nearby and the boys turned their heads toward that direction. "The cave of the masters is beneath that rock."
The duo trudged through a forest before climbing a steep grassy incline. Zuko stopped and turned to look back at Aang who was lagging a good distance behind, and he told him to hurry up. But the avatar couldn't, afraid that his flame would go out if he walked too fast. And indeed, his flame was signicantly smaller compared to when he had received it. He was too timid, so his friend, advised him to give it more juice. But the airbender didn't dare to, fearing that he would be unable to control it.
"You can do it. I know you can. You're a talented kid." The prince tried to reassure him. Aang smiled and followed him. They made their way into the rocky mountain and arrived at their destination at dusk. It was a circular plaza, surrounded by sharp outcrops, like the plug inside a volcanic cone had been levelled. Opposite from the way they had entered, a whole pan of rock had disappeared, showing a magnificent view of the sun setting over the sea. A pathway bridged the gap between the crags, and a flight of stairs connected the plaza to the middle of the bridge.
The warriors were already there, some standing and some on their knees. The chief warned them... and notably Zuko, that facing the judgment of the firebending masters was going to be very dangerous as his ancestors were directly responsible for the dragons' disappearance, and the masters might not be so happy to see him. At this, the Fire Nation Crown Prince hung his head in shame. Aang was hoping that his Avatar status would defuse the situation a bit, but he was quickly shot down. Having vanished for a hundred years and allowed the Fire Nation to wreak havoc, the decline of the dragons was his burden too. The boy also looked away in guilt.
The chieftain planted his staff into the ground and the subordinates flanking him assumed the exact same 'ready' position. The ruler took a section from each flame and handed them to his subalterns who in turn, gave them to other Sun Warriors. Those who received the sacred flame bended it around in a circle a few times before sending part of it to the next bender, and so on. The sun chief and his two aides went to stand before the stairs to let the youths decide between themselves what they were going to do. Aang wanted to turn back now as they already learned more about fire than they had hoped. He showed Zuko the tiny fire in his hand and gave a weak smile, obviously getting cold feet.
But then he would worriedly glance at Chenlian. She had no intention to escape at all. More like if he tried to leave she'd be the one to drag him back by the collar? She was smiling and nodding, but he couldn't tell if it was scary or encouraging. Morever he couldn't bear abandoning her. Zuko didn't even need to think. Not only was it out of question for him to put Chenlian at risk, but he was also hell-bent on meeting these masters to find out what was so great about them. He was going to see this through to the end. Besides, they were the Fire Prince and the Avatar. Surely they could take these guys in a fight, whoever they were. The Fire Lord's son was brimming with confidence. Although still uneasy, the monk nodded. Zuko asked to bring the masters out. On signal of the sun chief, some warriors sat down and started playing drums while others repeatedly prostrated themselves very low. The disciple hopefuls advanced and the three men stepped aside. The duo glanced at each other, took a deep breath, and ascended (though the airbender seemed quite reluctant from the way he kept glancing back).
"Those who wish to meet the masters Ran and Shaw will now present their fire." A warrior instructed, speaking into what looked like a large curved horn acting as a megaphone. Aang and Zuko, each turned towards a cave and bowed down with their hands extended in front of them, presenting their respective portion of the eternal flame. The chief ordered to sound the call. A man blew into a giant horn in the mountain. As in response to it, the cave Aang was facing rumbled and shook, dislodging some rocks. The child trembled in fear. In panic, the avatar brought his hands down and turned to Zuko, asking what was happening. He peered into his comrade's cave which remained undisturbed. The prince gave him a puzzled look. Aang anxiously bit his fingernail and quickly returned back into his 'flame-presenting' position. Finally realizing that his flame had vanished, he gasped, turning back towards Zuko again.
"Zuko, my fire went out."
"What do you want me to do ?"
"Give me some of yours." The monk reached for his friend's fire but Zuko pushed him back.
"No, just make your own."
"I can't." Aang reached for his flame again.
"Get some from one of those warriors. Hurry. Stop cheating off me!" Zuko insisted too. Although the two had been whispering, they had apparently not considered the fact that their voices would echo in such a place, and that the warriors had actually heard everything, causing them to exchange looks.
"Quit being stingy!" The avatar was growing irritated. Chenlian sighed heavily, shaking her head, but hearing them both acting like kids cheating for a school test, she couldn't help but smile,. Given the serious situation and actual risks, she was doing her best to stifle her laughter. After all, it was true that they were risking their lives. No, it was the very fact they acted like this in this situation that made her smile. Aang's goofiness (ability to ease the tension) was one of his best points after all. Sokka shared that ability as well. The airbender kept trying to grab Zuko's flame but was unable to succeed due to the differences in their physique. However, as they were struggling, Aang (unvoluntarily of course) pushed Zuko's arms down, extinguishing the flame. They looked at each other, unsure. Now they had no flame at all to present... There was a rumble in the cave before them, then in the one behind them. The ground shook again.
"Uh-oh." They both (brilliantly) commented as they peered in the darkness and saw a beast's glowing yellow eyes. Suddenly, a red dragon roared, shot out of the mountain and circled them. A blue dragon joined it and both danced around the two human benders who had come to meet them. The boys were overwhelmed by the powerful winds and pressure and staggered slightly. But it wasn't just that... the wonder they felt seeing those living relics of ages past... Dragons were naturally awe-inspiring with their majesty and ferocity, but those two, Ran and Shaw, were much bigger than many dragons... even Avatar Roku's Fang. They were at the very least twice bigger! And the kids had realized that THEY were the masters...
"You still think we can take 'em ?" Aang inquired anxiously.
"Shh. I never said that." Zuko sharply rebuked him, finally aware of how rude, childish, and overreaching he had been... still how could he have imagined that the masters would be actual dragons that were supposedly extinct?! Chenlian and the Sun Warriors prostrated themselves very low.
"Oh, here it comes. Any moment now... dinner for the masters." Ham Gao glanced up, smirking.
"Quiet, Ham Gao." The chief chided him, glaring disapprovingly.
"What ? Everyone's thinking it." The second in command sulkily looked away.
Aang carefully observed the dragons that were flying in an elaborate formation of turns, twists and curves and shared his gut feeling that they were supposed to do The Dragon Dance with them. The prince was rather uncredulous though. What could have possibly made him think such a thing? The Avatar just felt that the dragons were expecting something from them, so why not try? Zuko reluctantly accepted, and the two, went through the forms they had learned in that chamber. The firebending masters accompanied their movements, mirroring them, the blue dragon following Aang, and the red one following Zuko. They finished the sequence, and were surprised that the exalted beasts had stopped and were hovering on either side of the stairs.
"Judgment time." The Sun Warrior Chief announced. The blue dragon snarled at Zuko who stared back in fear, mouth agape. Aang was trembling like a leaf, whimpering, and pressing his back against his friend's. The illustrious animals settled against the bridge, clinging to it like woodpeckers to a tree trunk, and both released a torrent of flames. The children yelled in fear as they were engulfed by the fire. But they opened their eyes again and calmed down when they noted that they weren't burning to a crisp. The two massive streams of fire harmlessly twirled around them and around each other while rising to the sky. They gasped in amazement as they stared up at the multicolored flames. They didn't feel a scorching heat but a heart-thawing, soul-stirring, galvanizing warmth. Both Aang and Zuko had their prejudices corrected as they finally saw the origin of Firebending, the true form of that art. The flame dissipated.
However, the judgement time wasn't over. Ran and Shaw left the walls to crouch on the ground and stared at Chenlian. Her two watchmen crawled backwards. Ham Gao smirked as the red dragon nudged her with its muzzle. Gripped by fear, Aang and Zuko rushed down the stairs, screaming her name. The girl sat up straight, and stood up as she was nudged again. Her fists tightly curled, with the expression of a criminal awaiting her sentence, she stared back. A hot breath burned the fabric covering her chest, just enough to reveal the old scar on her solar plexus. Ran approached too. The two dragons' whiskers touched the burn mark and there was a blinding light. Chenlian felt lightning rippling through her and fell on her back. It lasted only a second, and the next moment, her eyes wide, she was looking at the sunset sky. A familiar heat filled her, a pulsing life, like another heart beating along with hers. Right beneath the surface of her consciousness, she could feel another. Although they could not connect, the hole was being filled and relief and happiness swelled up instead, just like the tears in her eyes.
Her two anxious companions rushed to her and lifted her torso and were surprised to see her radiant smile through her tears. They had no idea what had happened. The boys helped her up. Chenlian formed a flame between her hands where various colors started flickering. She closed her eyes and opened them again. It was still there. The girl closed her hands, and deeply bowed to the masters. Her gratefulness could not be expressed with words. When she straightened up, trembling with joy, Ran and Shaw each gave her a generous lick before retreating to their caves. Zuko was incredibly relieved too, and was very tightly hugging Chenlian from behind before he even noticed what he was doing. Had the dragons attacked her, he would have attacked them. Chenlian was stunned, but too happy to take issue with it. Ham Gao looked annoyed, disappointed that none of the three had been eaten. The Sun Warriors quenched their flame rings and bowed Fire Nation style. The prince let go after a time but stayed close and commented with Aang on their recent experience. The masters' fire had truly been beautiful, with so many colors, colors they had never imagined, like firebending harmony.
"Yes. They judged you, and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending." The chief joined them. Zuko couldn't believe there were still living dragons. His Uncle Iroh had said he had faced the last dragon and killed it. That meant he had lied. "Actually, it wasn't a total lie. Iroh was the second to last outsider to face the masters. They deemed him worthy and passed the secret onto him as well." The tribe leader disclosed with a smile, causing Zuko's eyes to widen in surprise. He understood his uncle must have lied to protect the dragons, so no one would hunt them again. "And the last one was this girl here." He placed a large hand on Chenlian's shoulder. "From the way the masters interacted with her, we understood there was something about her but we couldn't have imagined she'd have a dragon spirit dwelling in her. Again, we apologise for our rudeness."
"No no no, I'm the one who must thank you for your help." The young girl stopped the chief from bowing. Although she understood that dragons were revered here, that was still uncomfortable after all. Aang and Zuko were making a clueless face.
"Chenlian has already been acknowledged as trustworthy, and it was also obvious from the way you two behaved that she hadn't revealed the masters' existence to you." The tribe leader explained.
"So you tricked us!" The boys exclaimed. They recalled the way she had talked. She had never clearly lied to them, just spoken vaguely or in ways easily misunderstood, and neglected to correct them, but still! Chenlian grinned innocently at them, causing them to sigh dejectedly before smiling too, glad that she was feeling better. The fire had returned to her eyes. To them, that was the most important.
"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." Aang admitted, smiling.
"Yeah. It's like the sun, but inside of you." His male friend agreed excitedly before turning to the Sun Warriors. "Do you guys realize this ?"
"Well, our civilization IS called the Sun Warriors... so yeah." The chieftain commented.
"That's why my firebending was so weak before. Because for so many years, hunting you was my drive... it was my purpose." Zuko looked at Aang again. "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." The Fire Nation Crown Prince spoke with newfound determination, and firebended. Although it was just a basic burst of fire, it was stronger than ever before. Aang thrust his palm forward and a large flame came out as well. He had conquered his fear and was now able to firebend as well. The two turned back to each other and smiled, happy and proud of their achievements.
"Now that you have learned the secrets, and you know about our tribe's existence, we have no choice but to imprison you here forever." The chief said it so seriously that the boys couldn't look more shocked and crestfallen. But then his stern and forbidding face broke into a smile again. "Just kidding." He reassured them. Only Chenlian didn't react. That person had said the exact same thing to her during her first visit. She wasn't going to fall for it twice. The pair's postures relaxed. "But seriously, don't tell anyone!" He warned them again severely.
"Yes, of course, there is no greatest honor, and I have no words of gratefulness for the appreciation the masters have shown me, but if I may request a bath before leaving..." Chenlian inquired as she was still soaked in dragon saliva.
And so Aang, Zuko and Chenlian returned to the Western Air Temple and the men showed off what they had learned.
"With this technique the dragons showed us, Zuko and I would be unstoppable." Aang bragged as he and Zuko did their performance. Everyone clapped when they finished.
"Yeah, that's a great dance you two learned there." Sokka commented. "We'll just tap-dance our way to victory over the Fire Lord." The Water Tribe warrior moved his fingers in a dancing motion.
"It's not a dance but a sacred firebending form that happens to be thousands of years old!" Zuko barked, aggravated by his lack of respect.
"Oh yeah? What's your little form called?" Katara sarcastically inquired.
"...The Dancing Dragon." The prince reluctantly confessed. As expected, everyone laughed, and he could only shrug resignedly.
Author's note: Since I am late in posting this chapter, I made it extra long.
Next chapter: 'Love is a Battle' (based on some 'Lost Adventures' comics stories)