The fire war renaissance

Chapter 33: Quiet Tread

Sorry folks, my laptop was being a weirdo once again, but I was able to fiddle with it all day and get it to work with me.

Also, just to calm everyone's nerves a tad about the last chapter pertaining to the Azula and Aang story line, please remember that this is and always will be a Kataang story, so don't pull out your hair thinking that this is suddenly going to shift to Azulaang…I am going to say, though, that there is a little one-sided action going on.

Also, on a last note: RIP…here lies the summer of BlackRose108 (school starts for me, in three days).

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Quiet Tread

Toph was able to get them fast transportation to the Fire Nation Capital. She said her family had connection to a new inventor named Gan Mo and he was able to lend them a prototype of his new invention to get to the edge of the mainland.

It was a trackless steam locomotive.

Similar to the trackless machine that Ty Lee remembered riding in with Azula and Mai. Only Gan Mo's version didn't involve the polluting effects of the coal that the Fire Nation used previously.

The only problem was that no one knew how to drive it. Iroh had his own plans to summon the White Lotus and promised Zuko that he'd make it there in time, so he was out of the question, and Ty Lee and Mai claimed that Lo and Li were the ones driving the trackless train when they were chasing Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph.

It wasn't a big surprise that Zuko ended up being the one to drive the locomotive across the mainland. He stayed on the course of the map that Gan Mo had given them along with the locomotive of the areas that were able to handle the vehicle's weight and were wide and open enough to not disturb any villages.

Although it was tough to get used to at first, the locomotive served its purpose: it was fast.

Once they arrived at the edge of the mainland, Zuko had a royal airship met them at the water's edge to the capital. A trip that would take two and a half days.

"Wow, it'll only took us a week to get to the edge…I guess that Gan Mo guy isn't just a mad inventor." Toph said when they got off of the locomotive. "Nice driving, Zuko," she added with a snicker.

"Hey, I got us here in one piece didn't I?' Zuko yelled, flushing slightly in embarrassment.

"You did fine, Zuko…just try and steer in a straight line next time." Mai said, trying to be truthful and considerate all at the same time while she put her hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek softly.