Avatar: The Last Airbender, AU "Fighting the Phoenix" Book 1

Chapter 50 "Preparing For The Test"

It was the next day at the top of of large temple.
Aang, Azula, Lu Ten, Zuko stood in front of a large blazing wall of fire. Tribal members stood beside them like guards. In front of them was the Sun Warrior Chief Cho and his daughter Tia.

Tia was not wearing her clothes she normally wore. Instead she was wearing a plain red top and a red sort skirt. Her hair was up in a ponytail instead of the traditional Fire Nation top knot style, and she wore a golden hair pin that was similar to a royal prince or princess's crown. Like Azula's crown. She had no shoes on her feet. Golden craved cuffs where on her wrists and bare feet. Her face was covered in a coat of red a pale white paint. She looked like a young sun warrior girl and resembled her father.

Chief Cho cleared his to get everyone's attention. Once everyone was paying attention, he began to speak, "If you're going to see the masters, you must bring them a piece of the eternal flame."

Chief Cho turns away from the four teenagers and stares at the Eternal Flame.

"This fire is the very first one," Chief Cho explained as he raised his arms in pride and turns back towards the four, "It was given to Man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years, even before the first Avatar.

Zuko looked bewildered, "I don't believe it."

"Wow the very first flame in all the universe, this seems unreal," Azula spoke with a voice of amazement.

"I agree with you Azula. Even though I was here once, it still is to unreal of me," Lu Ten explained.

"You will each take a piece of it to the masters, to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending," Chief Cho explained.

"Um, Mister Sun Chief Cho, sir? Yeah... I'm not a firebender yet. Couldn't one of my friends here carry my fire for me?" Aang asked as he was unsure if he should carry the flame.

"No," Chief Cho answer sternly.

Aang gulped at looked more nervous now as Chief Cho hand's "pulls" the fire towards his palms.

Chief Cho turned to his daughter. Tia looked like she was awaiting her father's approval. Chief Cho gave her a nod to answer her question.

Tia approached the Eternal Flame and pulled the flames out just like her father did.

"This ritual illustrates the essence of Sun Warrior
philosophy," Chief Cho explained as he and Tia turned around to the group and split the fire equally into four.

Chief Cho gave Azula and Zuko the two pieces of fire while Tia gave Lu Ten a piece of fire as well.

"You four must maintain a constant heat. The flame will go out if you make it too small. Make it too big, and you might lose control," Tia explained to the four.

Zuko staring coolly at the flame and proceeded to cradle the flame in his hands.

Aang was the only one who still hasn't collected his flame.

"I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous," he explained as he proceed to gather it into his hands. The fire grows slightly and he looked relieved and in awe.

"It's like a little heartbeat," Aang whispered.

"Fire is life, not just destruction," Chief Cho replied.

Aang looked at the flame and reassured himself with a smile.

"You will take your flames up there," Chief Cho pointed to a rocky mountain nearby and the four turn their heads toward that direction, "The cave of the masters is beneath that rock," Chief Cho explained as he and the other Sun Warriors prepared to leave.

Chief Cho was walking away when Tia grabbed him by the arm.

"Quick question father, why is Lu Ten taking part in the test?" Tia asked.

"Oh um your friend Lu Ten has been for- I mean he volunteered to help his two cousins and the Avatar," Chief Cho answered with a sheepish smile.

Tia glared at her father suspiciously.

"What are you up too?" She asked.

"Nothing sweetheart, Lu Ten is just volunteering and paying his debt for kidnapping you," her father answered and tried to change the subject.

"Dad for the last time I was never kidnapped!" Tia scream at him.

"You never know that, he could have drug you and raped you!" Chief Cho reasoned with her.

"Um not offensive sir but she was the one who snuck into my ship and plus I was only 11 and had no interest in girls," Lu Ten interrupted the two.

"Whatever you 19 year old creep," Chief Cho spat at him.

"DAD HE'S FUCKING 21," Tia shouted.

Azula, Aang, and Zuko just stood there wondering what would come next.

"Dad get out I want to wish Lu Ten and the others luck," Tia explained to her father.

"Alright fine," Chief Cho answered as he walked away.

Tia turned around and faced the four.

"Good luck you guys," Said Tia as she walked away.

"Tia wait!" Lu called to her.

Tia stopped in her tracks and looked at her boyfriend confused.

"What is it?" Tia asked.

"I uh just want to say I love you," Lu hesitantly answered.

"Um I love you too? Lu your acting strange just like my father," Tia looked concerned.

"Oh look at the time! Come on guys we have to go see the masters!" Lu Ten shouted and ran away.

"Um sorry Tia I guess that's also our cue to go. See you later," Aang said as he hesitated to carry the flame.

With that the four began their journey to the mountains.

( One hour later)

The four benders finally finished walking down the stairs of the pyramids temple.

They were now traveling through the ruins of the ancient city. Everyone was silent until Lu Ten started humming which was started annoy his cousin Azula.

"Ugh can you please stop humming Lu," she commanded.

"No," he answered.

"But it's annoying," Azula hissed.

"I think it's pleasant," Aang interjected.

"Oh please all he is doing is making noise," Azula tried to make an excuse.

"Oh look who's talking. Me and Aang couldn't sleep at all without hearing you making sex noises!" Zuko yelled.

Azula's face turned red from the embarrassment that Zuko revealed. Lu Ten began to chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Azula wanted to know what her cousin thought was funny.

"Oh nothing. Just thinking of the fact that you actually care," Lu Ten mocked.

"So what, it's not funny?" Azula pouted.

"It's funny," Lu Ten really thought it was funny.

"Yeah whatever," Azula shrugged and continued their journey.