Greetings fellow fans of this wonderful show. This is my fist post on and I decided to do an Avatar bit. It picks up right where The Western Air Temple leaves off and, if people are interested enough, I'll keep going up till Sozin's Comet. OCs may be added and this story may eventually become an AU. I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. All rights reserved be Nick and the geniuses behind this great show. In fact, I don't own anything, except for a dry wit, sardonic humor, and devilish good looks. Read and enjoy! Rated T for Teens.

The Search for Shang-wēifēng

Chapter One:

Welcome to the Gang

When Zuko woke up, his first thought was that he didn't know where he was. He wasn't in his lavish bedchamber in the Royal Palace. This room was far too modest, with walls carved from limestone rock, a simple wooden bed with a white blanket made from coarse wool, and a window that was more a hole in the wall than anything else.

He then remembered that he had left the Palace days ago. He had renounced his ties to his father, in favor of the Avatar and his friends. The Avatar, a young boy whom he had tracked across the globe. The Avatar, whom he had betrayed in the caverns beneath Ba Sing Se. The Avatar, who had been his enemy for the better part of this past year. Now Zuko's life was in his hands.

Destiny has its poetry does it not Prince Zuko? inquired a dry voice in the back of his mind that sounded suspiciously like Uncle. With a grunt, he got up from bed and got ready for the day.

His twin dao swords hung from the wall along with his portrait of Iroh. The Earth Kingdom knife he had given him, what seemed a lifetime ago, lay on a small, wobbly table that had clearly seen better days. He picked up a towel and slung it over his shoulder, took a bucket with a scrub brush into the crook of his elbow, pulled open the door half eaten by termite-worms, and strode out into the hall on the way to the baths.

The Western Air Temple still unnerved him. He slept poorly, imagining that the strange upside down buildings would break from their under cliff foundations and send him plummeting into the chasm to join Combustion Man. He had already told the Water Tribe boy that wasn't the assassin's name, but he had to admit, it did fit.

As he made his way, he found the Avatar playing a game with the boy in the helmet too big for his head and the paraplegic boy with goggles, and stopped to watch.

The game, it appeared, was keep away with the young Air Nomad and the boy in the wheelchair - Teo he had thought he heard someone call him - tossing a mango back and forth while the helmet kid - Zuko didn't care what he thought he heard, he was not going to call him "the Duke" - was racing back and forth between them, trying to catch it while struggling to keep his helmet from falling off and laughing through it all.

Suddenly, the lemur swooped from its perch atop the fountain, grabbed the mango just as the helmet kid's fingers brushed it, and promptly began to devour it. With a whoop and a shout the Avatar and his playmates went chasing after the chattering primate as it dashed all over the courtyard with its prize gradually growing smaller and smaller as it took more and more bites. The airbender leapt atop a spinning ball of wind he had conjured and was in hot pursuit, with Teo following close behind with a jet of steam released from an apparatus beneath his seat, granting him more acceleration, and, bringing up the rear, was the helmet kid, who didn't seem at all displeased at being last. Finally, the lemur leapt at Zuko with a screech and sought refuge on the Fire Prince's shoulder.

The boys stopped dead. No one moved, except for the lemur who finished off the mango with an audible gulp. Teo and the helmet kid stared warily at Zuko, who for his part, did not know how to respond to all this sudden attention.

"'Mornin' Zuko," said the Avatar brightly, raising his hand in greeting and allowing his air scooter to disappear as he dropped to his feet. With the wide beaming smile he had, you'd have thought the events of the past winter and spring never happened..

For his part, Zuko smiled weakly, and raised his own hand to return the greeting.

The monk's companions cringed outwardly, perhaps expecting a barrage of fireballs, and Zuko quickly lowered his hand and put it behind his back. There was an awkward silence.

"So," said the Avatar, trying the ease the strain he could sense in the other boys. "Think maybe we'll have time for firebending practice today?"

"Be ready after breakfast," answered Zuko, as he turned to continue his walk to the baths.

"Breakfast?" asked the arrow-headed boy. "But -"

"No excuses," Zuko cut him off sharply, without stopping to turn around. "When you accepted me as your firebending teacher you agreed to follow my training regimen. That means, when I say training begins after breakfast, I mean training begins after breakfast."

"But," repeated the Avatar. "It's already half-past noon."

This time Zuko did stop, so suddenly in fact, that the lemur almost fell from its newfound perch. There was another uncomfortable silence.

"In that case," said Zuko, trying desperately to save face. "We'll begin after I've bathed and we've all eaten. No sense firebending on an empty stomach."

"Okay then," said the Avatar. "See ya later."

Zuko could hear Teo and the helmet kid snickering behind him. He didn't know whether he wanted to laugh along with them or smack himself on the forehead. No sense firebending on an empty stomach? he repeated to himself incredulously. I've turned into Uncle! Next thing you know, I'll be going on about the virtues of tea and singing!

Moments later he came across the Water Tribe warrior - he had to remind himself not to think of him as the Water Tribe peasant. He was trying to win these people over - who was examining a map with the long-haired earthbending young man sporting a goatee.

The Water Tribe boy looked up from his work, and - Haru was it? - followed his gaze so that they were both looking at Zuko. While the earthbender only fixed him with a flat stare, the warrior - Sokka? - gave him a curt nod. He was clearly uncomfortable with the new group dynamic, but he was at least making an effort. Zuko returned the nod and kept walking toward the baths, but could feel the cold stare of the earthbender boring into his back, perhaps contemplating sticking a knife there, until he turned the corner.

He wasn't surprised by the boy's obvious disdain for him. Only saddened. The Fire Nation had conquered every Earth Kingdom stronghold, leaving Haru's countrymen either scattered refugees, or cowed beneath the oppressive rule of the occupying governors. Yes, the Fire Nation had more than earned the animosity of the rest of the world. He had seen the plight of these people firsthand during his time as a fugitive in the Earth Kingdom. He didn't blame Haru for disliking him, but it didn't make it any easier to bear.

Lost in his thoughts, Zuko didn't even see the blind little earthbending girl, leaning against a pillar outside the bathing chambers, with her arms and legs crossed lazily, until he was almost on top of her.

"'Mornin' Sunshine," she said brightly.

Zuko jerked in surprise, almost throwing off his passenger again, then peered at the girl - Toph was her name, he was sure - with his good eyebrow raised inquiringly. "Excuse me?"

"That's you're new nickname," answered Toph with a matter of fact wave of her hand. The lemur, apparently having tired of a mount that made so many sudden, unexpected stops, abandoned Zuko's shoulder and came to rest on Toph's, chirping indignantly.

"I don't need a nickname," said the Fire Prince sternly.

"Of course you need a nickname, Sunshine," she said in a patronizing tone that was usually reserved for explaining things to small children. "Aang's Twinkletoes, Sokka's Snoozles, and Katara's the Sugar Queen. If I didn't give you a nickname, it'd be like saying I favored the others over you. And I'm not about to be accused of playing favorites."

Zuko could only blink at her. Clearly, this was her way of accepting him into the group. He felt a pang of guilt. In spite of everything, from the protests of her companions, to the fact that he had burned her feet - accidently, but he did it just the same - she was the first, and only one of the Avatar's companions, who really trusted him. He looked down at her feet. They had healed up nicely, but her upturned heel revealed that her sole was still flaking dead skin. Zuko sighed.

"Alright," he yielded. "But not Sunshine."

"Fair enough," she conceded sweetly. Too sweetly. "How do you feel about Zuzu?"

The Fire Prince flushed at the mention of his despised childhood pet name. How did she find out about that"Sunshine is good," he said quickly. "I like Sunshine."

"Glad to hear it, Sunshine." she nodded. "By the way, I just finished my bath, so..."

"Thank you," he said, eager to be away, and wondering if anyone else knew his embarrassing secret, as he slid open the door and stepped in, only to be met face to face by Katara. Her name was the only one he had no trouble remembering.

He hadn't had any contact with the waterbending girl since the fall of Ba Sing Se, but she clearly took his betrayal there personally, and had nursed a deep grudge since then. And he didn't blame her one but. He had done so much evil, caused so much harm to those she cared for, ever since they had first met at her home in the South Pole, when he had invaded her village in search of the Avatar.

When he had fought against Combustion Man, and won the Avatar's trust, she was the most hesitant and begrudging in accepting him into their group. She also made it clear, when she caught him alone in the quarters her brother had assigned him, that if he made one wrong move, one step back toward the darkness he had left behind, she would kill him herself.

Now here he was.

In the baths.

With her.

Naked.

The shrill shriek echoed throughout the hallowed halls of the Western Air Temple, and reverberated from the canyon walls. Aang, Teo, and the Duke abruptly ceased their latest race through the Hall of Abbesses, and swiftly made for the baths to investigate the clamor. Haru glided gracefully through the stone corridors, followed close behind by Sokka, his black meteorite sword drawn and ready for battle. Yesterday's attack had made them all wary. They refused to be caught by surprise again.

Simultaneously everyone arrived in the hallway outside the baths and gaped at the scene before them. Katara was stalking off in the other direction, still dripping wet, and covering herself with a towel, with a second wrapped around her head, but Aang was the only one who noticed. Everyone else was staring at Zuko.

He looked as bewildered as the rest of them by the fact he was encased up to his neck in ice, and frozen upside down to a stone pillar. He also had an angry red welt on the unmarked side of his face. The welt was conspicuously shaped like a hand.

Toph was rolling on the floor, cackling uncontrollably. Momo was chattering angrily, having fallen from his perch this time, and flew to Aang in a huff.

"What's wrong with Katara?" asked the airbender, as the lemur settled onto his head.

"I don't think Zuko's gotten a full handle on washroom etiquette," gasped Toph between snorts of suppressed mirth. Everyone only looked at her in confusion.

When the tiny earthbender finally regained her composure, she walked over to where she could stand in front of Zuko, and fix him with one of her impish smirks. "That's for burning my feet," she said in a tone from her underground fighting days. "Now we're even. Welcome to the gang, Sunshine."

"Sunshine?" cried Sokka. "Sunshine?"

Soon the Water Tribe warrior was doubled over in laughter and everyone else joined in. Utilizing the Breath of Fire, Zuko sent jets of stream from his nostrils, melting the ice. That silenced everyone. Toph backed out of his way, wondering, perhaps, if she had gone too far, until the ice completely broke away, and the Fire Prince tumbled unceremoniously to the floor.

Sokka snorted. Haru hooted. Aang chuckled. Teo and the Duke chortled while Toph guffawed. With as much dignity as he could muster, the firebending teacher to the Avatar stalked into the baths, and slammed the door behind him.

Alone, he heated the pools of water, disrobed, washed and shaved. When he decided he was presentable, he reached for his drying towel only to find it gone. He then remembered that Katara had taken it in her frenzy to cover herself and leave, forgetting the towel she already had wrapped around her head.

For what seemed the thousandth time that day, he sighed.

It's going to be a long day.

Everyone gathered in the kitchen for their midday meal. The temple had a grand dining hall, but the kitchen was much more cozy, giving the group a sense of hominess. Katara had prepared soba topped with egg and set the table, humming happily to herself until Zuko entered the room. She turned away as she felt her face color. Whether it was from embarrassment or rage she did not care. Bad enough that her scream was still lingering in the Hall of Day-long Echoes, she would not allow him the satisfaction of seeing her shame. Especially after he had seen... had seen...

With a sniff and a toss of her head, she went to serve the noodles to Teo and the Duke.

"Noodles?" whined Sokka. "Again? But we just had it for breakfast."

"We're running low on supplies," answered his sister shortly. "We need to make do with what we have. If you don't like it you could always raid the pantries for some of the airbenders' fruit pies. They're all probably a hundred years past their expiration date, but if you want to risk it, be my guest."

"Mmm-mmm, noodles," Sokka said hastily.

Zuko, for his part, avoided looking at the Water Tribe girl, as he seated himself between Toph and Sokka, but gingerly massaged the still-visible hand print she had left on his face, wincing as it stung. Her waterbending abilities have become formidable over the past months, but he'd wager her left hook was nothing to laugh at either. He's lucky it had only been a slap.

"Alright everybody," said Katara cheerfully, after she ladled a serving to her brother, who immediately began stuffing his face, his earlier protests forgotten. "Dig in."

Zuko looked down at the table, only to find a conspicuously empty space between his spoon and fork. He peered toward the waterbender and found her glaring back at him darkly, but when she noticed him looking, she quickly turned away.

"Excuse me," said Zuko softly. "What about me?"

Katara sat down between Haru and Teo, and began eating her noodles in a study of indifference.

"Excuse me," repeated Zuko, an edge to his voice. He felt his old temper beginning to stir to new life but quickly smothered it. He had to tread carefully with this one.

"Hey Katara," spoke up the Avatar, oblivious to the bit of soba stuck to his chin. "You forgot Zuko."

Katara turned to the monk with a smile so sweet it made the Fire Prince's teeth hurt. "Sorry Aang," she said, emphasizing her friend's name. "But I'm afraid we're running low on noodles, so I suppose somebody is just going to have to do without."

"Huh? What now?" mumbled Sokka through a mouthful of noodles, then stared dejectedly at his now empty bowl.

"Here you go Sokka," smiled Katara, as she served another helping from an apparently full pot, which her brother happily devoured, oblivious to his neighbor's growling stomach. "Would Haru like anymore?" asked the waterbender. "Or maybe Teo and the Duke? How about you Momo?"

Momo chattered in reply from his perch atop the Air Nomad's shaven head, while his mount raised a perplexed eyebrow at his friend.

Zuko's brow furrowed in annoyance, but he said nothing. This would be harder than he had originally thought.

"Here," said Toph, sliding her half-eaten bowl in front of the firebender. Amazement creased his features, followed immediately by suspicion.

"Relax," the little earthbender shrugged. "We're even now, remember? This is a peace offering."

Not entirely reassured, Zuko sniffed the bowl tentatively before cautiously prodding the noodles with his fork.

"Are you gonna eat it, or are you just gonna poke it all day?" demanded the blind girl irritably.

He twirled a single noodle around his fork, carefully and deliberately raised it to his mouth, chewed and swallowed.

"See?" Toph chided. "It's safe. Now finish the rest of it before you collapse from hunger."

The Fire Prince did as he was bidden, and scarfed down the rest of the bowl in moments. No sooner did he finish than another bowl slid in front of him. He glanced in the direction the bowl came from to find the Avatar smiling gently.

"Can't firebend on an empty stomach, right?"

Teo and the Duke snickered as Zuko flushed, but he graciously accepted the proffered bowl and began to eat. He felt Katara's eyes on him, somehow they were even more piercing than the Earth Kingdom boy's, but he ignored her. Right now, that was the best way to deal with her. He ate in silence, occasionally picking up snippets of conversation.

The Water Tribe siblings were trying to talk to the Avatar about whether they should stay in the Temple, or move on to another hiding place. After all, if Combustion Man found them, Azula was certain to show up sooner or later, with more men and more fire power. But the boy seemed more focused on giving everyone a proper tour of the Temple. Haru complimented Katara's cooking, to which she responded with a soft laugh, and another helping of noodles. Teo and the Duke were engaged in an animated conversation involving exploding peanut-butter - he had to have heard wrong. Peanuts didn't explode, did they? Toph sat in silence, but Zuko could sense she was studying him.

Joining forces with these people was what he had set out to do when he deserted the Fire Nation, but now that he had, Zuko felt out of place and very much alone. He put down his bowl, raised himself to his feet, and bowed politely to Toph and the Avatar, thanking them for the meal.

"Don't forget Katara," smiled the Air Nomad, gesturing toward the frowning waterbender. "She cooked it."

Zuko bowed to her as well, receiving only a scoff in return.

"What's your problem?" shouted Toph.

"It's alright," said Zuko, as he straightened and turned to leave.

"Are we still on for firebending practice?" asked the Avatar.

"The temple's not a good area," the Fire Prince answered, without turning around. "We'll need to go topside."

"Okay," said the boy. "Meet me by Appa at the stables and he'll fly us up."

"Alright," the Fire Prince replied, then he turned a corner and was gone.

Immediately Toph rounded on Katara. "Do you still have a burr in your britches over what happened in the baths?" she demanded. "I already told you that was my fault! Sunshine was just my patsy."

"Stop calling him that!" shot back Katara. "He doesn't deserve a nickname."

"Hey, Sokka's the idea guy, Aang's the Avatar, and you're the anal-retentive mother figure. I'm the designated nicknamer-girl," retorted the little earthbender. "That system's always worked for us."

"Zuko is not a part of that system!"

"If he's going to teach me firebending, he'll have to be," Aang pleaded softly.

Katara sighed, "I know we agreed to accept him into the group and everything, but that doesn't change what he's done in the past. What, he helps us fight off some crazed human bomb, and suddenly, it's all water under the bridge? I mean he -"

"Invaded the South Pole, set Kyoshi Island on fire, abducted Aang, and, oh yeah, went totally turncoat on you in Ba Sing Se," Toph cut in with a disinterested drawl. "Have I left anything out?"

"Yeah," said Sokka, who had just finished his third helping of soba. "He also had pirates capture Katara, and then tied her to a tree."

"He what?" demanded Haru, a dangerous expression crossing his face.

"Thank you Sokka," exclaimed Katara, happy to finally have someone on her side.

"Yeah," muttered Toph sarcastically. "Thanks a lot."

"Hey now," said Sokka throwing up placating hands. "I'm just saying, I see where she's coming from, and agree that Zuko has been a real jerk in the past..." he stopped when he noticed the looks Toph and Aang were giving him. "But now...well... look at him. He came here without a contingent of firebending soldiers, without his rhinos, without even his battle armor. In all apparency, he's a renegade who gave up everything so he could join up with our motley crew of misfits against his evil dad and psycho sister. Plus, since he got here, he hasn't called me 'peasant' once."

There was a silence in the kitchen as everyone raised an eyebrow over bland stares.

"That still doesn't mean," Haru muttered. "He can't be a spy."

"That's true," agreed Teo. "The assassin from yesterday was originally hired by him, right? That might have all been just an act to lull us into a false sense of security. For all we know, he could be signaling our location to a fleet of Fire Nation airships right now."

"I don't think so," said Sokka, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "For one thing, if Zuko was leading the Fire Nation here, we'd all be prisoners by now. Besides, he's not the type to needlessly sacrifice his subordinates. For another," he said, gesturing toward Toph. "We have ourselves a very accurate human lie detector who says he's telling the truth."

Toph's cheeks pinked at Sokka's sudden, unexpected praise of her abilities, but said nothing, only touched her black meteorite arm bracelet beneath her sleeve.

"The point is," said Aang. "The Day of Black Sun invasion was a disaster. No offense Sokka, it was a great plan while it lasted, but now we need a new one before the comet arrives. We're running out of time, and I don't know how much help mastering firebending will be without an army to back me up, but as the Avatar, it's my duty to try. And right now, Zuko's the only one who can help me."

Katara sighed in resignation. "You're right, I'm sorry Aang."

"It's okay Katara," smiled Aang. "But you might owe Zuko an apology."

The waterbender's expression instantly hardened. "No way! Never! Not after...after..."

"After you gave him a free show?" finished Toph with a sly, cheeky smirk. This time Katara couldn't help her face flushing with indignation, and was about to throw her ladle at the blind earthbender when the Duke piped up.

"I don't understand," said the boy peeking from beneath his oversized helmet. "What's the big deal? When mom and pop were alive, I used to take baths with them all the time."

All eyes turned to the youngest member of their party, as yet another awkward silence settled over the kitchen

"We'll explain it to you another time," said Haru gently.

"When you're older," added Teo hastily

The Duke looked at them in confusion. "But-"

"When you're older!" everyone unanimously exclaimed.

So, what do you all think? Love it? Hate it? Plz review or I'll just assume no one's interested and move on to another project. 'Til next time! Next: The Art of Mastering Fire.