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Within the Western Air Temple, Aang and Zuko practice some new moves taught to them by the ancient firebending masters.
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| Zuko
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I still can't believe we got to see real dragons! And learn firebending from them! I didn't think there were any left!
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| Aang
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There were lots of dragons around 100 years ago. [Stops firebending.] They were pretty shy though. Most of them lived way up in the mountains.
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| Zuko
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They didn't seem shy to me.
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| Aang
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One time, when I was a kid, my friend Kuzon and I went looking for them...
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| Aang
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[Flashback begins.] ...But we had no idea what we were getting into!
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| Aang
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[Climbing up a rocky wall with Kuzon while Appa rests below them.] You wait there, Appa, so we can be all sneaky like...
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| Kuzon
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This is gonna be so flamin'! I've always wanted to ride a dragon!
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| Aang
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Let's worry about finding them, Kuzon. We've been to three mountaintops already and this terrain is pretty treacherous.
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| Kuzon
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[Holding up a map.] Yeah, but I've got a good feeling about this one!
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| Aang
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[Confused.] Like you had a good feeling about the guy who sold you that map?
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| Kuzon
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[Uses both hands to unfurl the map.] Exactly! And, see, we're really close! We just have to-- [Loses his grip on the cliff and waves his arms around to steady himself as he falls.] Whoa! [The map falls out of his hand.]
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| Aang
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[Scared.] Grab on! [Lowers his staff and pulls Kuzon up.] Watch your feet, hotman! Last I checked, firebenders can't fly.
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A voice shouts from overhead.
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| Puma goat rider
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HEY! HEY, YOU! [Aang and Kuzon look up.] Come on... don't be shy! I know you can see me... [They peer over the edge of the cliff and see a man on a puma-goat shouting into a cave.] ...Heh, heh. Or smell me! Ha! I know you're trying to sneak up on me... Good luck with that!
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A green dragon head appears from inside the cave, although visible to only the man. The dragon growls ferociously.
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| Dragon
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RRRRRRRRR
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| Egg thief #1
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[Pulls on his puma goat, who rears up.] Giddyup! [They jump off the cliff over Aang and Kuzon.]
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| Kuzon
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Whoa! Look at him go! I wonder what he's running-- [The dragon flies past them, growling and chasing the man.] --From?!? Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man, oh, man!
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| Aang
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[Snapping open his staff.] I'm going after him. He could be in trouble! [Turns around.] Wait... Do you hear that?
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Aang and Kuzon peer over the cliff again and see five people and their puma-goats around the cave. Two are peering at a map. Another is at the foot of a nest, holding a dragon egg.
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| Egg thief #2
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I can't believe this two-bit map was actually legit.
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| Egg thief #3
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Told ya. You gotta trust people more.
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| Egg thief #4
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Very nice. This one will fetch quite a price on the black market...
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| Aang
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[Grabbing Kuzon.] That guy wasn't in trouble! He just wanted to lure the mom away from her egg!
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| Kuzon
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[Making a fist.] What're we gonna do? We can't let them get away with it!
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| Aang
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We won't. If we just rush up there and fight them, we might hurt the egg. [Glances up.] But maybe... Up for some bending, my good hotman?
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| Kuzon
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[Bends a flame as he and Aang lean in conspiratorially.] You know it!
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The thieves are loading the egg onto a puma goat when, suddenly, they hear a roar. The next panel shows Appa roaring, Kuzon blasting fire into the air, and Aang rattling a metal sheet, to simulate the dragon.
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| Egg thief #3
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Could she be back already?
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| Kuzon
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[Sticking his tongue out in concentration.] These fireballs are looking way too wimpy looking...
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| Aang
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Need a hand, hotman?
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Kuzon blasts fire into the air, while Aang airbends into it to make the fire bigger.
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| Kuzon
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Flame-e-o!
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The fire erupts over the cliff edge, causing and the puma goats the thieves to run away.
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| Egg thief #3
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AAAH! RUN!
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| Aang
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[Unstrapping the egg off of a puma goat.] Don't worry, little guy! I've got-- WHOA! [The puma goat rears and runs away, causing Aang to let go of the egg. He catches it before it hits the rocks.] Whew! Uh-oh. [The dragon is back, holding one of the thieves in her mouth.] Umm... I know this looks bad, Mrs. Dragon, but I was actually trying to...
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| Kuzon
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[Waving his arms and firebending.] Hey! Over here, you big chicken-lizard!
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| Egg thief #3
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[As the dragon swings her head toward Kuzon.] Eep! Oh, dear...
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The dragon's tail sweeps into Aang, knocking the egg from his grip, which flies over the cliff. Aang dives after it and catches it before it reaches the ground. The dragon drops the thief and turns on him.
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| Egg thief #3
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Whew! Thank goodness for extra-padded armor!
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Aang gulps. The dragon licks Aang in thanks for saving her egg.
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| Aang
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Hey, it's no problem! [He and Kuzon face the dragon at her cave.] We couldn't let anything happen to your baby.
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| Kuzon
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So, uhh... Could you maybe give us a ride as a reward? You know... just a couple of laps around the mountain? That would be hot! Flamin' hot!
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The dragon snorts flames.
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| Aang
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[Patting a disappointed Kuzon's back.] Maybe we shouldn't push our luck.
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| Aang
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[End of flashback. He sighs.] A lot sure has changed since those days...
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| Zuko
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Yeah. Like the slang.
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| Aang
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Whatever, Sifu Hotman.
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| Zuko
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[Shouting at Aang.] Stop calling me that!
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The end
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