S1E16 · Book One: Water - Chapter Sixteen: The Deserter

Complete story — includes the ending

The kids travel into a Fire Nation town, which is hosting a festival of Fire Nation culture. Unfortunately, Aang's identity is discovered but a strange man, Chey, helps the gang escape. Chey tells the trio about "The Deserter", a man named Jeong Jeong who is the first to desert the Fire Nation army and live. Jeong Jeong initially refuses to teach Aang because he is not ready to handle the destruction fire can bring. It is only when Avatar Roku's spirit intervenes that Jeong Jeong consents to teach Aang. Aang struggles with the hard discipline required for firebending. While trying to prove he was ready for more, he accidentally burns Katara's hands, infuriating Sokka and Jeong Jeong. Katara learns that she can use her waterbending to heal, but Aang nevertheless regards firebending as dangerous and vows never to do it again. Meanwhile, Aang is tracked down by Zhao, revealed to be Jeong Jeong's former student. He fights Aang, but Aang uses Zhao's lack of self-control, pointed out earlier by Jeong Jeong, against him and causes Zhao to burn his own ships. Aang is burned during the fight but is healed by Katara, as Jeong Jeong disappears without a trace.