As he and Althea left the building for dinner, Zac couldn't keep his mind off of what had happened just moments ago. What he felt looking at Althea was similar to the feelings he had with his exes when they first started dating. The thing was, however, it didn't feel as...foreign as what he just felt was, not as potent.

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he nearly missed Aang and Zuko talking about going to the ruins of the Sun Warriors to learn how to not use rage to firebend. Looking at them, his mind starts whirring once more, although it was now focused on something completely different than what was going on with Althea. [i]Would it be possible for me to do the same thing, but for this darkness?[/i] he wonders, feeling the one thing he fears, which also happened to be the thing in question, stir inside of his chest at the mention of it. Although he was certain that going along wouldn't teach him how to master it, he knows without a doubt that it would be an excellent first step.

Stepping into the light of the fire, having unconsciously hung back in the shadows, he automatically says, "I'm going, too."

Everyone looks back at him in surprise. Such attention would've been enough to make anyone nervous, but, being the person he was, Zac felt no such thing. Finally, it was Sokka who broke the silence: "Why do you wanna go? Last I checked, you were pretty good with that earthbending of yours. And firebending and earthbending aren't exactly the same thing."

Unwilling to back down, Zac, the usual, impish light that would be in his eyes now missing, replaced by the hard glint of determination, looks at Aang and Zuko, saying, "I know that. I just have a problem kinda similar to yours and I know that this is the best chance I have of at least getting some answers."

Zuko looks at Aang and asks, "What do you think? You're the leader, here."