Chapter 16- Air Temples Are Weird

"This is humiliating," You heard Katara sigh in defeat as you all walked on foot, trying to get to the Western Air Temple. The colony were on Appa's back as Twig clung onto you tiredlyz
"You mean getting thoroughly spanked by the Fire Nation or having to walk all the way to the Western Air Temple?" Sokka asked her.
"Both," She mumbled as you walked next to her.

"Sorry guys, but Appa gets tired carrying all these people," Aang apologized while petting Appa.
"I wonder how the rest of the troops are," Teo asked after a moment of silence.
"They're probably on their way to a prison. Seems like my dad just got out and now he's going back in," Haru said with sadness, with you humming.

"I miss Pipsqueak," The Duke said, as Sokka groaned slightly.
"I miss not having blisters on my feet," He whined, but then Toph stopped walking and smiled.
"Hey, we're here! I can feel it!" She exclaimed, but nothing was in front of you, nothing but a cliff.

"Uhhh ... I think your feet need their eyes checked," Katara tilted her head, but Aang lit up with excitement.
"No, she's right. We are here!" He said with happiness.

"Wow... it's amazing!

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"Even I've never seen an upside down Temple," You mumbled in awe as Appa flew down to land in a clear area.
"It's so different from the Northern Air Temple. I wonder if there are any secret rooms," Teo suggested as Haru grinned.
"Let's go check it out!" He said as he, The Duke, and Teo ran off to explore.

The colony ran with them as Aang wanted to follow, but Katara held her arm up to block him.
"You guys go. I think we need to talk about some things," Katara told the others as they nodded and wandered off.
"I'll race you, Duke!" Haru told the small boy.
"I told you, it's The Duke!" He whined and chased him.

"Why can't I go?" He asked the waterbender.
"We need to decide what we're gonna do now, and since you're the Avatar, maybe you should be a part of this," Katara explained as he sighed and sat down.
"Fair enough. So, what's the new plan?" He asked you all.

"Well, if you ask me, the new plan is the old plan! You just need to master all four elements and confront the Fire Lord before the comet comes," Sokka simply said.
"Oh, yeah. That's great, no problem. I'll just do that," Aang sarcastically said and laid on his back.

"No one said it's easy monk boy," You tried to reassure him, but he just shook his head.
"Well, it's not even gonna be possible! Where am I supposed to get a firebending teacher?" He asked you.
"We could look for Jeong Jeong!" Katara suggested with a smile.

"Yeah right. Like we'll ever run into Jeong Jeong again," He blew out some air.
"Who's...? oh, never mind. If it's important I'll find out," Toph sighed and crossed her arms.
"Oh well, guess we can't come up with anybody. Why don't we just take a nice tour around the temple?" Aang stood up and opened his glider, running off to fly away, Momo follow behind.

"What's up with him?" Toph asked you, making you shrug.
"Peer pressure can do a lot to you," You mumbled as Twig rubbed against your hand.
"There's gotta be someone who can teach him firebending," Sokka thought to himself, and you only know one person, but they wouldn't agree in a second.

'He'll probably say something like, "Hello, Zuko here",'

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"Aang, can we talk about you learning firebending now?" Katara called out to him as you all rode Appa to follow him.
"What? The wind is too loud in my ears! Check out this loop!" Aang shouted back and flew around in circles.
"Aang, I think we should be making some plans about our future!" Sokka suggested as he guided Appa down to a clear area to land.

"Okay, we can do that while I show you the giant Pai Sho table!" Aang smiled and showed the giant table with tiles.
"Oh, you're gonna love the all-day echo chamber!" He beamed at you, making you smile and place a hand on his head

"I think that'll have to wait," Toph interrupted everything and pointed out to the edge, revealing Zuko standing there. Your eyes widen as everyone was shock or angry to see him.

"Hello... Zuko here,"

"Z-" You couldn't even finish your sentence as you immediately pulled by a water whip wrapped around your waist. Katara covered your mouth and wrapped a arm around your waist while giving Zuko a death glare. Everyone pushed you behind them as they got ready to attack Zuko.
"Hey, I heard you guys flying around down there, so, I just thought I'd wait for you here," He said with an awkward smile.

Appa then gave a roar, before licking Zuko. Twig also ran up to climb on his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek. That made your eyes widen in shock and you struggled to get out of Katara's grip, but it was too strong.
"I know you must be surprised to see me here," Zuko rubbed his neck.

"Not really, since you've followed us all over the world," Sokka raised and eyebrow.
"Right. Well, uhhh... anyway... what I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed, and I, uhhh, I'm good now, and well I think I should join your group, oh, and I can teach firebending to you," Zuko stammered, not knowing how to talk to other people normally.

"See, I, uhhh-" Toph cut him off with a tilt of her head.
"You want to what now?" She asked, dumbfounded.
"You can't possibly think that any of us would trust you, can you? I mean, how stupid do you think we are?!" Katara shouted at him with anger.

"Yeah, all you've ever done is hunt us down and try to capture Aang and (Y/N)!" Sokka growled as you tried to pry off Katara's hand from your mouth.
"I've done some good things! I mean, I could have stolen your bison and tiger monkey in Ba Sing Se, but I set them free. That's something!" Zuko motioned to Appa and Twig, who licked him.

"Appa and Twig do seem to like him," Toph mumbled, but Sokka shook his head.
"He probably just covered himself in honey or something so that they would lick him. I'm not buying it!" Sokka raised his boomerang.

"I can understand why you wouldn't trust me, and I know I've made some mistakes in the past," Zuko tried to negotiate with them.
"Like when you attacked our village?" Sokka pointed out.
"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Katara shouted.

"Or when you burned (Y/N)'s body with your fire?" Sokka hissed at him, motioning to your scars, but you tried to shake your head.
"Look, I admit I've some awful things. I was wrong to try to capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the Water Tribe. And I never should have sent that Fire Nation assassin after you. I'm going to try and stop-" Zuko apologized, but Sokka aimed his boomerang at him.

"Wait, you sent Combustion Man after us?!" Sokka yelled at him.
"Well, that's not his name, but-" Zuko started, but was cut off.
"Ohhh, sorry. I didn't mean to insult your friend!" Sokka rolled his eyes.
"He's not my friend!" Zuko shouted as Toph pointed at him.

"That guy locked me and Katara in jail and tried to blow us all up!" Toph glared as he turned to Aang.
"Why aren't you saying anything? You once said you thought we could be friends. You know I have good in me," He told him, and Aang turned his head to you, and you tried to speak, but Katara's grip was strong.

"There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done. We'll never let you join us," Aang said sternly, and Twig drooped his ears at his words. Zuko took a step back, but turned to you at last, and you both made eye contact.

"(Y/N)?" He said in a faint voice, looking at you. Even if Katara held you away from him, you could see desperation and regret in his eyes. You wanted to say something, anything, doesn't matter what, but you couldn't talk to him, everything he said and did washed over you like a huge wave, so you just looked away with conflicted emotions.

"You need to get out of here. Now," Katara demanded, and Zuko raised his hands out.
"I'm trying to explain that I'm not that person anymore!" He pleaded, but Sokka stood in front of you.
"Either you leave, or we attack," He glared at him, and Zuko got onto his knees.

"If you won't accept me as a friend, then maybe you'll take me as a prisoner," He said as he raised his arms up, and you finally got out of Katara's grip as she sent a wave of water at him.
"No, we won't!" She shouted as Sokka grabbed your wrist tightly, making you wince slightly.

"Get out of here, and don't come back! And if we ever see you again, well, we'd better not see you again!" Katara declared as everyone stood in front of you, which made Twig hop off of his shoulder and climbed onto Appa.

Zuko shakily got up, gave you one more look, before leaving, making you close your eyes in frustration.

'I'm sorry Princey,'