"We're almost there" Lillian said leaning over the basket. Zuko walked up beside Lillian and stared at the mist covering the abyss where the temples were built, "We should start descending and hide the balloon in that forest over there." Zuko pointed to the dark green forest outside the temple grounds. Lillian nodded, "So how do we do that exactly?" Zuko sighed and shrugged, "We need to extract the heat from the power oven slowly." Zuko stated, "Okay, so... You do that and I'll steer!" Lillian grinned. Zuko widened his eyes, "Have you steered this thing before?" Zuko asked slightly nervous, "Not really, but how much different can it be from flying?" Lillian shrugged...

----

"LEFT LILLIAN!!!"

"I AM PUSHING LEFT!"

"OH AGNI! WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREEEEEE!!!!!"

"Tree?--- TREE!!!!!!"

----

Zuko crawled out on his hands and knees from a bunch of bushes, "Next time.... I'll land..."

Lillian fell out of one of the trees and landed on top of Zuko.

"Any landing you can walk away from was a great landing!" Lillian cheered still laying on Zuko, "Is that what they tell you when you learn to land?" Zuko groaned pushing Lillian off of him, "Nope, just that you need to retract or be attacked!" Lillian shrugged. Zuko started at her blankly, "okay?"

Lillian stood up and dusted herself off, "Well, thanks for the ride Prince Grumpy, but I need to go!" Lillian saluted Zuko as she started off towards the temple, "Uh wait! Lillian!" Zuko called. Lillian turned and raised her brow, "Yeah? What is it?" Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, "uh... see ya around?" Zuko smiled softly. Lillian turned on her heels as her cheeks grew hot, "Yeah, uh sure... See you later." Lillian mumbled and then ran towards the temple.

Zuko placed his arm over his head, "Stupid!"

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Lillian rushed through the forest towards the cliff. The wind howled in her ears and her hair flew freely behind her. She ignore the pain in her side. Day of black son might have failed, but if they had Zuko on their side then maybe not all would be lost? Maybe with him they'll be able to defeat Ozai and restore balance to the world and finally live in peace. But The other's wont trust Zuko so easily and neither will she, even though they've known each other since they were children. As much as she wanted too believe him that he had change and meant what he had said, he will have to prove himself.

Lillian rushed down the stairs and leaped over the large gaps that were made for the airbenders, "Hey. what's up with Kasai???" Sokka's voice whine from below. Lillian leaped between the gaps to the lowest temple and landed right beside Sokka,

"Ahhhhhhhh" Sokka held out his space sword,

"H- hey... g-guys miss m-me?" Lillian gasped lowering Sokka's sword with her fingers.

"Lilly!" Katara embraced Lillian.

"Phew.... now about that invasion plan!" Lillian gasped with a hand in the air...

"But before that...." Lillian fell over and placed her arm over her eyes... "REST!"

Aang and Toph giggled at Lillian and Katara shook her head.

Sokka still remained in his stance with his sword in hand...

"What did I just miss???"

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Lillian laid on her back as Katara healed her side, "what happened to you?" Katara asked slightly worried as Lillian's face filled with pain, "its a long story... I kinda followed my grandfather to the prison and that's where I ran into z- I mean trouble. My grandfather asked me to fight off the guards and I didn't think the eclipse would affect me as badly as it did." Lillian groaned as Katara bent the water away and into the water fall," that's the best I can do. " Katara sat back on her legs," I have another problem.... " Lillian mumbled sadly. Katara raised her brow and tilted her head," something I need to heal?" Katara asked. Lillian shook her head and then held out her hand exposing her palm. A small puff of smoke and a small orange flame popped," my fire bending... It's gone" Lillian whispered. Katara's eyes widen in surprise. Katara and Lillian looked at each other with concern, "how am I going to teach Aang if I can't bend my own element..." Katara stood and pulled Lillian up, "we'll figure something out..."

"figure what out?" The Duke asked as he picked his nose, "nevermind that! Let's go explore the temple!" Haru said. Lillian and Katara exchanged looks, "yeah, you guys go. We need to discuss further plans." Lillian said, "but first... I need to get someone. Just make sure everyone is ready for a shock." Lillian said to Katara as she walk out the temple.
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Lillian walked through the forest towards Zuko's camp,

" hello... Zuko here!"

Lillian leaned against the tree as she watched Zuko talk to himself

"but I guess you already know me... You know... When I tried to capture you, yeah I guess I should apologise for that. But anyway I'm good now! And I can help Lillian teach you fire bending, and we're considered to be really good at it.. I mean you saw when we chased you" zuko sighed and fell to the floor,
"you know... Uncle would tell you to look with in yourself to find your other self." Lillian hummed as Zuko jumped up alarmed, "Lilly! Your back!" Zuko said happily, "in good time too, these poor trees have to listen to your impressions. You could cause them to fall into winter early." Lillian shrugged. Zuko stared at her blankly, "ha-ha, your hilarious." Zuko rolled his eyes, "come on, let's go." Lillian held out her hand for Zuko to take hold, "where we going?" Zuko asked with a raised brow taking Lillian's hand. Lillian began pulling Zuko towards the temple, "to meet your new firebending student." Lillian grinned.

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Zuko stumbled behind Lillian as she led him to where the others were, "Lilly! Wait!" Zuko cried as they leapt over the gaps.
Lillian paused by a pillar and shoved Zuko behind it, "stay here and wait for my signal." Lillian ordered sternly only to receive countless nods from Zuko.

Lillian turned on her heels and stepped into the courtyard, "hey, whose out-" Toph was silenced with Lillian's hand, "I need to talk to all of you but this will mostly affect Aang" Lillian began. Aang sat up paying attention, "Start away sifu-hotman" Aang grinned. Lillian and Katara exchanged looks, "about that... We have a problem, we'll I do. But I also have the solution." Lillian stood in the middle of the gaang, "On the day of black son, after I destroyed all those battlements, I followed my grandfather to the Palace prison where he went to find a friend. When. The eclipse hit my strength was badly drained but I could for some odd reason still firebend but not to my full potential. I was weak and I was injured. I was surrounded by the Palace guards ready to hand me over to Ozai. " Lillian paused as she shivered at the thought. Aang's face saddend, " you got hurt and we just left you... "Aang said sadly," but then you had the strength to fly here? " Sokka stated beside Toph. Lillian shook her head," I couldn't transform. My strength was gone and so was my bending. No matter how hard I try, I can't bend a single flame. I can't teach you firebending." Lillian said looking down sadly. Sokka hit his head, "can't you just go to the cloud temple and train with the red lady?" Sokka asked nervously.

Lillian watched as Katara smacked Sokka's arm, "she said she had the solution..." Katara added.
"yeah, but I doubt you guys are gonna like it." Tophs said pointing behind the pillar.

Everyone looked at Lillian confused, "Promise to hear us out..." Lillian said only directing her attention to Aang. Sokka and Katara looked confused but Aang nodded his head, "you have my word.." Aang stated.

"You can come out now." Lillian called. There was a few seconds before Zuko stepped out from behind the pillar, "Hey... Uh Zuko here." Katara and Sokka took there stances but Lillian stood in front of them, "just hear me out and then we can attack him." Lillian growled causing Zuko to start sweating, "wait what?"

"When I was in the prison surrounded by guards... I didnt have the strength to fight back, Zuko was the one who saved me. He could have left me behind but he picked me up and allowed me to escape with him. His found his path Aang... You saw it when he rescued you as the blue spirit... He just never realised it then. He wants to stop his father as much as we want to. " Lillian said. Aang looked over at Zuko, " I'll admit that I've done things that I'm not proud of and I don't expect you to accept me into your group or even trust me but I - "

" wait a minute... You think after everything you've done, we'll just forgive you and light candles with you? And how can you expect this from us Lilly? " Katara growled between Zuko and Lillian.

" Aang needs a firebending teacher, I lose my bending and Zuko is a master compared to me. I don't know any other fire benders that are willing to teach the Avatar right now or even available. " Lillian hissed as she took on Katara. Aang stood up, "Enough... Lillian, are you sure? About Zuko, do you think we can trust him?" Aang asked seriously, "I am. If not I can still kick his ass..."

Aang turned to everyone, "we will discuss this tonight over with the others, for now I think it's best that you two don't join us as this has to be discussed by the group." Aang said slightly as he gave a sad smile to Lillian, "I understand, we will be waiting for your answer, but please Aang, I'm not acting as your friend, I'm acting as your protector right now. And we can't concern ourselves with past actions as this will keep us from our futures." Lillian said sternly. Aang nodded as Lillian walked out of the courtyard pulling Zuko to follow.

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Lillian and Zuko walked in silence to the camp site, "I think that I should have said more..." Zuko groaned, "nah, they would have shot you off the temple before you could finish your awkward greeting,." Lillian shrugged. Zuko started at her unamused, "But let's not worry about that now, let's just get some rest..." Lillian said holding her side lightly. Zuko nodded in agreement, "thank you Lilly... For everything." Zuko smiled. Lillian returned a smile "no problem, just remember if you hurt any of them I will shove you off the cliff side before you can said Agni." Lillian said innocently.

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The next morning Aang meditated near the stairs as Lillian stalked down, "Hey little buddy, how you holding up?" Lillian asked, Aang looked up at her with a new shimmer of hope in his eyes, "I'm good. I spoke to the others. No one is happy about this but we all know that I need to learn firebending and with you at my side I am positive that Zuko won't try anything. But also.... I think he is meant to be my firebending teacher, it's hard to explain but. " Lillian raised her hand, " I know, he's helped me a lot along the way. His good Aang and he means well, I'm just glad he finally found his way. " Lillian said smiling as she twirled the transparent crystal." I'm glad we could agree on this without having the temple blown up." Aang said tilting his head, " yeah, me too. " Lillian laughed.

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Zuko walked with his bag over his shoulder and Lillian trailing behind him as Sokka showed them their rooms. Kasai pounced around catching Momo's shadow, "so here it is. Your rooms, uh unpack... Lunch soon." Sokka grinned uncomfortably as he showed Zuko his room and gestured to the room across as Lillian's, "Thanks Sokka." Lillian smiled causing Sokka to blush and nod, "see you two at lunch." Sokka whispered walking out.

Lillian unpacked her things and sat on her bed, "Finally... I can relax..."

"give me one reason to think that you might hurt Aang or Lillian, then you won't have to worry about your destiny."

Lillian sat up at the sound of Katara's voice,

"I'll put an end to you, permanently!" Katara hissed before storming out of Zuko's room. Lillian stood against her door panel watching with her arms crossed, "I get the feeling Katara doesn't like you" Lillian said from down the hall. Zuko groaned from his room, "what makes you think that?" Zuko asked stepping out, "Just a mutual feeling we share." Lillian shrugged.

Lillian bedroom door closed leaving Zuko alone, "I have a feeling we won't be hanging out like we used to..." Zuko said sadly.

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Hello everyone.

Sorry that this chapter took a while. My laptop decided to give in and now I have to type off my phone which takes FOREVER.

Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please vote and comment. Until next time...

Whoop whoop