Ryu Aang and Sokka were flying on Appa's back, tailing a Fire Nation Ship.

Ryu: Off all the stupid ass ideas Katara's had, this is EASILY the worse!

Sokka: Tell me about it!

Ryu: Seriously, if we're caught, the Fire Nation finds out I'm still out there, and things go even FURTHER south!

Aang landed Appa, as he quickly went to find Katara. After a few minutes, the two had returned.

Ryu: Katara, 12 hours are up. Grab Haru, we're leaving.

Aang jumped back onto Appa, as Katara didn't move.

Katara: I can't.

Ryu: Yeah you can! Literally just a hop down!

Sokka: There are guards everywhere, come on!

Aang: Katara, what's wrong?

Katara: I'm not leaving. I'm not giving up on these people.

The boys looked at each other hearing this, before climbing on board.

Sokka: What do you mean you're not leaving?!

Katara: We can't abandon these people! There has to be a way to help them.

Aang: Maybe she's right. What do you say guys?

Sokka: I say-

Ryu: *Whisper* GET DOWN!!!

They avoided a light.

Ryu: You've gotta realize that we can't get sidetracked because of something like this! Newsflash, if I stopped to save every person I saw on this journey, we wouldn't have met!

Katara: Ryu, I can't believe that you're the one saying this! Sokka I get, but you know how wrong this is! Earthbenders are being oppressed here and you really don't want to do anything?!

Ryu: Tch, let's just hide for now!

They moved to the crate area.

Sokka: *Whisper* We don't have much time, what are we gonna do?

Ryu: If I'm right, and a lot of the time I am, these people have had their spirits crushed. And I'd bet every piece in my bag that YOU failed at encouraging them.

Katara: ...

Ryu: -_- And point Ryu.

Ryu: 4 Points

Ryu: Anyway they wouldn't even have a way to fight back. There's no one in the world that knows how to bend metal.

Katara: Can't you just bend a rock from under the water like you did before?

Ryu: I can't exactly do that on command.

He looked up, before seeing the smoke coming from the engine.

Ryu: ... -_- Sometimes being the grandson of a mad genius is a blessing, and a curse.

TIME SKIP!!

Ryu: -_- And an even bigger curse is that someone people don't try hard to stop the crazy.

Ryu was in the interior of the Fire Nation shipyard, where massive amount of coal used to fuel to ships lied.

Ryu: Welp, here's to going overboard.

He put his arms out to his sides, before stabbing his hands into the burning coals. After taking a breath, he closed his eyes and focused. After a few seconds, the eyes of the dual bender shot open.

Ryu: HRAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!

He flung his hands up, as he was floated up be vast amounts of coal, shooting up the funnel and into daylight. Everyone was shocked seeing the coal pour out, with Ryu bending it in the center of the crowd. All eyes were on him, as he began to dust himself off.

Ryu: Earthbenders!! I know exactly what you must be feeling right now, but you can't just stand by and do nothing anymore!!! These men have taken you from your family, or any love ones you may have had!!

He bender earth up and flung it towards the other benders.

Ryu: Will you really stay cowards when you finally have a chance to take back your lives?!!! YOU OUTMATCH THESE FIRE NATION SOLDIERS IN NUMBER, AND STRENGTH!!! DON'T SHAME YOUR HOMELANDS, AND FIGHT!!!!

His voice echoed through the ship, and quite possibly beyond that. After a few moments, the first piece of coal was thrown by Haru.

And after that, he'll broke lose, with the prisoners fighting back.

Ryu: And THAT'S how it's done Katara.

Not even waiting for the girl to respond, Ryu joined the fight, dodging a weaving fire blast, before forgetting the earth he provided, using his bare hands to fight. Striking with brutal force in vital points, guards fell down after simply 3 of his strikes. The warden of the shipyard tried to hit Ryu with a fire ball, but seeing this coming, he did a one hand round off to dodge to the right. Finally using his bending again, he stomped with coal getting under the feet of the warden, making him fall.

Ryu: I think it's only fair for you all to put the nail in the coffin.

Haru, his father Tyro, and the other Earthbenders made a cloak of coal under the Firebenders that were left, making them float.

Warden: No, wait!! I can't swim!!

Tyro: Don't worry. I hear cowards float.

And just like that, they released the earth as it dropped the firebenders into the sea. Soon enough they all boarded the ships to leave.

Tyro: Thank you young warrior. You gave us hope and courage the fight.

Ryu: I'm not who you should thank sir.

He turned around and pushed Katara forward.

Ryu: If it weren't for Katara, I may not have risked this crazy plan.

He walked off, jumping onto Appa.

Sokka: You know Ryu, I've noticed that your combat when it comes to hand to hand is pretty spectacular.

Momo flew on top of the teens head, making him laugh.

Ryu: Hey pal. What, do you think I'm just gonna rely on my bending and weapons?

Sokka: How exactly did you get so good at it?

Ryu: Just... Training.

He laid back, sighing.

Ryu: Anyway, I'm tired. Wake me up when something good happens.

A FEW DAYS LATER

Ryu: -_- This is THE FARTHEST thing from good.

Many days had passed, as Aang had quite the faithful encounter with a spirit that haunted the land destroyed by fire nations soldiers, and then the spirit of the Avatar before him. Roku.

Now they were going to his Temple in the Fire Nation.

Ryu: Seriously, I do literally all I can to stay far, far FAR away from the Fire Nation. Now when I travel with others, I flying STRAIGHT back into their waters!

Aang: I'm sorry Ryu, but I have to do this.

Ryu: *Sigh* I'm not mad, I just need to rant out loud. Aang, I swear to God you better not doubt our friendship after this. EVER!!!

Aang: I'll note it!

Katara: GUYS, WE HAVE TROUBLE!!!

Sokka: YEAH, AND IT'S GAINING FAST!!!

Ryu looked back, seeing a Fire Nation ship. And sure enough, Zuko was aboard it.

Ryu: Okay I'm here cause of my friend, you're just a dumbass!!

A flaming rock was shot towards them. Ryu got up and pulled his hands back, before breathing in and out, putting the flames out as well, with the rock missing. They all looked forward, seeing a blockade of ships.

Ryu: Aang, make Appa go faster!

Aang: What?!!

Ryu: Don't worry about the attacks, I'll take care of them!! Just trust me!!

Aang made Appa go faster, as fiery rocks were indeed thrown at them. Leaping off the Bison, Ryu punched two that were nearly about to hit them. As he fell back, he began to bend the rubble, causing debris to spiral around Appa at rapid speeds. This redirected and protected the group against many other rocks, with tiring out Ryu slightly.

Ryu: Come on...

Once the onslaught seemed to stop, Ryu relented with the spiraling stones. However one final attack came, pushing the boy over the edge. His eyes went slitted, as he pulled a fist back, before fire bending the boulder. After a few moments, the extreme he caused it to crack and explode, as the group had passed the blockade.

Ryu: Phew.

He slumped over, now really tired.

Ryu: -_- You're welcome.

He face planted down.

Sokka: How do you always manage to pull out some crazy bending when we least expect it?

Ryu: *Muffled* Questions later, I'm tired.

Ryu closed his eyes, and slowly began to think to himself.

Ryu: '... I can't even believe I'm back in this land.'

The other four looked at the tired Ryu.

Katara: 'It's still hard to believe Ryu's around our age with strength and skills like his.'

Avatar: 'What have you gone through to be such a strong bender?'

On Zuko's ship, Iroh was looking in the distance where Appa was flying.

Iroh: 'Ryu, I can only imagine your nostalgia. It's been a whole 2 years since you escaped.

FLASHBACK

A 10 year old Ryu was in fire nation room, as he had a special audience. Iroh, the future Fire Lord Ozai, and the current Fire Lord of that time, Azulon. A young and unscarred Zuko was there, along with his younger, and FAR more sadistic sister, Azula.

Azulon: This is who you have decided to train Iroh?

Iroh: Yes. The boy is gifted in ways no other normal bender has come close to.

Ozai: Please. I doubt he would be a match for one of my own.

Iroh: Perhaps a demonstration would be an order.

Azulon: Very well.

Iroh looked at Ryu, as the boy looked back, waiting for a cue.

Iroh: ... Begin.

Ryu took a breath, before the marks on his arms and under his shirt began to glow. That's when purple flames surrounded his hands.

Azula: 'Purple Fire?'

After raising them, he swiped his hands down, as the flames circled the young boy, and raged up, before ceasing entirely.

Zuko: 'His fire is so powerful.'

Ryu punched to his right as a fireball flew out, before he jumped and did a high kick, allowing a lash of fire to follow. Once landing, he did a spinning round house kick, with flames following behind it. He then made two fireballs in his hands, before flinging them outwards, and controlling them while they burned in the air.

Ozai: 'This control is unlike any I've seen from even soldiers in the fire nation. This isn't an ordinary child.'

Ryu merged the two fireballs together, before spreading his arms out, with the flames flying through the air, and finally dispersing. After doing so, he let out a breath, bringing his arms down.

Iroh: I believe that's proof enough.

Azulon: ... It looks like you found nothing short of a true prodigy my son.

Iroh bowed, while Ryu's marks ceased to glow, as he bowed as well.

Azulon: If he is to continue being your student, then I'll allow him to remain at the palace until he is of age. Unless, he continues to impress, in which case, his future could be... promising.

Iroh: My thanks, father.

Ryu stayed completely silent, as he followed Iroh out of the room.

Iroh: Alright, we're alone now.

Ryu: -_- Please don't tell me I'll have to be completely silent every time master.

Iroh: Ahahaha! To be honest you could use that as a lesson in patience! And that's not just a joke!

Ryu: Are you being serious?

Iroh: Yes. You know there are options of fighting called Jing, correct?

Ryu: Positive Jing for attacking and Negative for retreating right?

Iroh: Yes. And there is also Neutral Jing. Doing nothing.

Ryu: Wait wait wait, there are 3 types of Jing?

Iroh: Actually there are 85, that's a COMPLETELY different lesson for another day. It is the key to your Earthbending. It involves listening and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Ryu: ... I'm not sure if I could master that.

Iroh: It could be a long an arduous journey if you look at it that way. OR, if you think more optimistically, it could be mastered within just a short lunch. Learning those three open up a path to the others, so stick to that, my student.

Iroh patted Ryu on the head.

Iroh: You are safe while I am here.

Ryu: ...

FLASHBACK END

Ryu let himself sleep, as Appa flew Team Avatar to the island Roku's temple was on. As he slept, they got progressively closer to the island. And now sure he was asleep, Sokka asked a question.

Sokka: Hey Aang, you got any idea what those tattoos on Ryu's arms mean?

Aang: Why do you think I would know?

Sokka: I mean look at you.

Katara: Wow. Just lumping them in the same boat since they both have tattoos?

Sokka: Hey, they both bend multiple elements, and one is a hundred and twelve years old. I think I get a pass here.

Aang: Well I have no idea. Why don't you just ask him.

Sokka: I would but...

Ryu heard Ryu lightly snore.

Sokka: I'm not chancing him taking it personally next time he wakes me up...

Momo landed on Sokka head, making noises.

Sokka: Hey, you've never been earthbended into the sky!

TIME SKIP!!

Ryu: -_- No matter what kind of Avatar thing you have to do here, I'll say it a thousand times. THIS. THIS is the worse idea you could have possibly had.

Appa hand landed, as even though Ryu rubbed his side, he looked at Aang. He then looked back at the flying bison.

Ryu: Good job boy.

He rolled on his side, as Ryu scratched under his chin, while Katara rubbed his belly.

Katara: Awww, you must be so tired.

Sokka stretched.

Sokka: AHHH, NOPE! I'm good! Refreshed and ready to beat some fire benders!

Ryu: -_- One, she was talking about Appa, and two-

Ryu pointed to himself.

Sokka: Uhhhh... Well I was talking to MOMO.

He gestured to the upside down flying lemur.

Momo: O_O ???

Katara: Didn't answer the second part.

Sokka: ...

They began walking to a temple, as Ryu was immediately on edge.

Ryu: -_- *Whisper* 5 pounds of Nope in a 10 pound bag.

Sokka: *Whisper* I don't see any guards.

Katara: *Whisper* The Fire Nation must have abandoned the temple when Avatar Roku died.

Aang: It's almost sundown, we better hurry!!

They ran up the stairs, before into the temple. Once inside, if it wasn't already up to the maximum, Ryu's guard was now. While they tiptoed, he immediately heard something.

Ryu: *Whisper* Guys!

They all turned to a door, seeing old men in fire nation attire.

???: We are the Fire Sages. Guardians of the Temple of the Avatar.

Aang: Great! I am the Avatar!!

Sage: We know.

Ryu: DOOOOOOOOIDGE!!!!

Three sages sent fire blast at the group, as Ryu got in front to bend them away.

Ryu: -_- Next time we're going off of my stealth plans.

CHAPTER END!!