A/N: Another Iroh story, huzzah! Ok so this one can stand on its own, but it is part of my Avatar series, and takes place around the same time Torn and Lover's Wreck.
And I know it's really late, but this story is in honor of Mako (the actor, not the douche from Korra). Your voice, spirit, and entire being are sorely missed.
"So you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell
Blue skies from pain?"
-Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here
A massive column of fire erupted from the newly converted training grounds. Iroh was sparring with anyone who dared to step into the ring; while most were wise enough to sit on the sidelines, someone was being dragged from the sparring ring.
Two young soldiers were commenting among themselves about the match. One said, "Prince Iroh's really going at it."
"Yeah, he's usually much more calm and collected." The other said, trying to steal the last of the duos fire-flakes.
"Oh, here comes Ping," The first said, grabbing the fire-flakes away from his companion, "Scrawny bastard doesn't stand a chance."
The thin young man stepped into the ring, and they both took attack stances. Iroh advanced first, throwing a fire whip at his opponent. Ping jumped back, barely avoiding the attack. Ping countered with a fire bomb. Iroh easily threw it back, and the challenger flew back at the explosion, and there was a crack as his head hit the ground.
All the spectators in the crowd flinched. The first of the spectators said, "There goes Ping. The Prince is rather brutal today."
"Even more so than yesterday." They both looked across the field as someone came to drag him off the field, "I'm surprised, Ping is usually so fierce."
As the spectators looked on, Iroh called out, "Do any of you have the fortitude to step into the arena with the crowned prince of Fire Nation?" No one moved. As Iroh took several calming breaths, off in the sidelines a young woman came to the side of the man he just bested. Ping pushed her away.
The young woman went unnoticed as a large bearded man finally stepped on to the platform, catching the eye of the prince. Iroh gave a mischievous smile.
"You've come to collect me, Denji?" Iroh asked. Both men bowed to each other.
"You didn't come all the way to the colonies to train, young prince.
"…and that's why we're here, gentlemen; to make sure tragedies like this don't happen again. We need structure…" General Denji's speech went on untiringly.
Iroh sat through the meeting, a small legion of politicians surrounding him. The general that was there to bring order in the Colonies finally concluded his long speech, and Iroh closed the meeting. As people stood to stretch and pack papers, the mayor of the new province came up to them.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Prince Iroh," The mayor bowed. He was a short sickly-looking man.
"Don't get too excited, Mayor Oda" Iroh said, respectfully bowing back, "I'm only here for a few days. I'm just dropping off General Denji to get things settled here in the Colonies," The large, bearded man on his right nodded at the mention of his name.
"I hope," the mayor said, looking at Denji, "The general does not still partake in the cactus-juice ritual…" The rest of the group chuckled quietly as the general pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I shall never live down my bachelor party," Denji sighed.
"Speaking of parties," Oda said, "we do have a get-together planned in the west wing. I hope you two will join us."
"After a long day of planning politics and quelling civil unrest," Iroh nodded, "You can count on it."
The three diplomats walked down the poorly decorated hall towards the west wing. At the end of the drab hall was a large set of double-doors. As soon as they opened for the trio, a wave of noise and light hit them. Inside was a large reception hall with lots of people, tables filled with food, and colored Fire Nation tapestries on the walls.
"Looks like the party got started without us," Denji said.
"But at least you have good food," Iroh said, "Those pastries look tempting."
"And there are a lot of pretty ladies in attendance," Denji said, surprised.
"They have been paid through the entire evening," Oda said artfully.
"That might not be such a good idea," Iroh said, looking cautiously around the great hall.
Oda nodded, "I heard about the incident in the Southern Province. All our ladies have been checked out. You have nothing to worry about."
"Alright," Iroh muttered as he and Denji grabbed a beer from a passing waiter, then they made their way to the buffet table while Oda greeted other guests. As they surveyed the food, a curvy young woman came over to the table, blocking their view.
"So," She said as she leaned forward, "how are you two liking the Colonies so far?"
"Well, um," Denji stuttered before catching his footing, "It seems like you have a well-rounded community here."
"Well rounded indeed," Iroh said, "Denji did you see that bar we passed on the way in, what was it called?"
"The Blue Iguana-Hound?" Denji suggested before taking a drink from his beer.
"That's a gay bar," She said cynically.
"I thought so," Iroh said, pulling on his beard, "Remind me to tell Piandao about it…how that boy struggles to come out of his shell."
"As he should, that boy is a disgrace," Denji said. Iroh frowned as Denji turned back to the young lady, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to invade these mountains."
Iroh watched as the General left with the young lady, and his hand went absentmindedly to stroking his beard as he looked around. There were a group of people with instruments passed out in the corner. Beyond that, the mayor was being coerced onto a table, and once steady, drained his mug. Oda then threw the mug at the band while yelling, "Play you drunkards, I want to dance."
The glass hit the drummer, who woke with a start. The lead singer looked up groggily, muttered "We really need to stop being paid in rice wine," then put his head back down.
As Iroh looked away from the mess, his eyes fell on a sultry young woman in a red dress walking in his direction. She came up to him and introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Lee."
"Good for you, my dear," He said nonchalantly, taking a drink from his mug. Anger crossed her face, but she soon regained composure.
"It must be lonely for you here, dear prince," Lee said enticingly.
"Lonely is as lonely does," He said and started to walk away. Without warning, she blocked his path and gave him a hard kiss while reaching her hand down his pants. "What are you doing, woman?"
"Carving my place in history," She smiled seductively.
"Girl, your place in history is but a footnote to what I am destined to accomplish," He said harshly as she stood there, dumbfounded. He walked away, saying under his breath, "I need some air."
Iroh left the party and made his way outside. As soon as he stepped out from the front doors it started raining.
"Perfect," Iroh sighed as he looked at the dark clouds overhead. The Prince started walking anyways, and he was soon on the outskirts of town. On the end of a narrow street he noticed a small dive-bar. He looked down at his muddy shoes and said, "Curse you, feet, for always leading me to such places."
He shuffled down the dark street, dodging puddles, debating whether or not to he wanted to venture in. As he reached the building, two older gentlemen came stumbling out. One had graying hair and many frown lines, the other was markedly older and had white hair that looked to escape his head in every direction. The younger of the two slurred rather loudly, "Why do I still accompany you to such places?"
The elder chuckled, "The White Lotus is full of mysteries."
As they staggered down the steps Iroh watched them, and soon the older of the pair noticed him.
"Who is this?" The elderly man asked curiously.
Iroh made a small fire with his palm to show his face, "I mean you no harm, old-timer."
"Such a nice young man," He chuckled.
"That's the Prince of the Fire Nation, you twit," the younger man said.
"Ignore him," The older man said to Iroh, "his girlfriend shot his polar-bear dog and then left him for his cousin."
"Not everyone needs to know that!" the younger exclaimed.
"Yeah, and what are you gonna do about it?" The elder laughed, "you're so drunk I bet the young prince could take you."
"Pah," the younger of the duo scoffed, "doubtful."
"I don't mean to brag," Iroh said, "but I've been an elite fire bender since I learned to walk."
"Which was what," the younger of the duo derided, "a month ago?"
"Excuse me?" Iroh said.
"You heard me," He said, barely audible through the drizzle.
"You're lucky I don't fight drunkards, old man," Iroh said as he walked passed them to enter the bar.
"Look at him, he has the walk of a heartbroken puppy," He then sneered towards Iroh, "I bet she left you for a real man."
"Or maybe his cousin!" the older man laughed and stepped to the side as Iroh stepped back into the road.
"Not now!" The aggressor snapped at his companion.
"Interesting last words," Iroh said through clenched teeth before taking an offensive stance.
"Clearly I've struck a nerve," The aggressor said playfully, "I bet you were just her plaything," He taunted while he took a defensive stance.
Without a word, Iroh kicked to create an arc of fire, then leaped forward as the aggressor moved back. Iroh lunged at the older man, creating daggers of fire in each hand in mid-air. Again, the stranger managed to avoid the flames. Iroh landed a column of fire rose from the ground which the older man easily dodged.
Iroh paused, panting, while the stranger jeered, "Your bending is so predictable, all you do is push." The older man raised his hands, palms up, in front of him then elevated them over his head. He then pulled his hands towards his chest, and a wall of muddy water washed from behind Iroh and dragged him to the ground, "Pulling is equally important."
"You forgot doing nothing," The older gentleman said from the sidelines, "You always forget neutral jing, Pakku."
"That's almost as useless as retreating," Pakku said as Iroh tried to lift himself up.
"A fourth possibility," The older man laughed. He shuffled towards the street and held out his hand towards Iroh, who grabbed it with reluctance.
Pakku snorted angrily, "Bumi, you're crazy."
Bumi just laughed again, then said to Iroh, "That was a plucky fight, young man. If my companion here didn't get us kicked out of every bar in town I'd buy you a drink."
"You were the one propositioning every woman we've come across!" Pakku raised his voice.
"Because you need to get laid!" Bumi snapped at Pakku.
"I do not need your help with that!" Pakku yelled back, then stomped off.
"Good riddance," Iroh muttered.
"Forget him," Bumi said as they watched Pakku disappear around a corner, "He's just an angry old man. You should come back to my hotel room, I have some particularly good spiced rum I'd like to crack open."
"Free rum, you say?" Iroh thought for a moment, "What's in it for you?"
"I'd like to know why the Crowned Prince of the Fire Nation is single at this age."
