1. The city
The two children huddled in the cold, damp hold of the ship. The hull groaned as it was tugged to a stop.
"I think we're here," said the boy, rubbing bleary eyes. "Do you get any sleep?"
The girl shook her head.
"Things will be better here," he said, adjusting the veil framing her face. "I promise."
Light flooded the hold as the loading ramp was lowered. They watched from the corner as dock workers began hauling off crates.
"Let's go," said the boy, taking her by the hand.
The men were busy with the cargo. The children were stepping onto the ramp when the girl was suddenly pulled back.
"What do we have here?" said the crew boss, holding her by the arm. "Two rats trying to get a free ride?"
The men stopped to watch.
"Let her go!" cried the boy.
"Touching," said the boss. "Protecting your girlfriend, are you?"
"No," said the boy, kicking him in the shins, "saving your life, you idiot."
They ran down the ramp and onto the docks, the crew's laughter falling behind them.
#
Their senses sharpened by hunger, the food market smelled delicious. The children approached the kebab stall.
"Could we have a fried pentapus?" asked the boy. "Please?"
"That'll be one yuan," said the vendor.
"Uh… we don't have any money," said the girl.
"Then what good are you to me?" the vendor replied. "Now scram before I call the cops."
At the end of the market, a man was discarding old cabbages. Some of them were rotten black, but some seemed edible – if you were hungry enough.
They were well into their second cabbage when someone banged on the dumpster. The bigger kid looked down at them. "This is my dumpster."
"Don't see your name on it," said the boy, getting up.
"You can't read," said the kid.
"You can't either," said the boy.
They stared at each other. The boy charged, tackling the kid to the ground. They punched, slapped, pinched and bit at each other, rolling in the mud. The boy stopped the roll against the dumpster and connected a solid punch to the chin.
He sat on the kid's chest and raised his fist. "Now go away."
The kid spat blood at him. He moved his arms, a cobblestone rose shakily to the air. He clapped his hands, and the stone knocked the boy off him. The girl dragged him away, limping.
"And stay out!" the kid yelled after them.
#
"He'll hurt you again," said the girl.
"I'll hurt him more," said the boy. "This time I'll be ready."
The kid was loitering by the dumpster. "Haven't you learned your lesson?"
"I'm a slow learner," said the boy, cracking his knuckles.
A cobblestone flew at his chest. The boy dodged and charged, closing the distance. Dirt blew into his face, but the blind kick connected with the kid's ribs. The boy dodged as the cobblestone returned for his head, wrapped it in the girl's veil, and swung it into the kid's chest.
They stopped, panting, the kid on his back, the boy on his knees.
"That enough of a lesson for ya?" asked the boy.
The kid smiled with bloody teeth. "Yeah. Guess I'm a faster learner."
#
The boy crawled into the abandoned crate, the driest place they'd found.
"You should try to get some rest," he whispered.
The girl didn't reply.
Worried, he turned to look at her.
She was fast asleep.
#
Lazy Liu whistled as he strolled down the street. The sun was shining, the lizard crows were hissing. It was a shame to have to work on such a pretty day. A businessman didn't apologize when he bumped into him, hurrying on his way. People these days. Whatever happened to civility?
"Stop! Thief!"
Liu had already turned the corner and was flipping through the businessman's wallet. It was a shame to have to work, but his flashy new hat wasn't going to pay for itself. Well, he hadn't paid for it either, but you get the idea.
"Didn't you hear the man? He said stop."
Liu looked up. The boy stood defiantly in the alley, blocking his path.
#
"Get outta my way, kid," said Liu. "I don't like hurting children."
"Good," said the boy, "I don't like hurting idiots. Now give me the wallet before I make you."
"Yeah?" said Liu. "You and what army"?
"Just me an' Cobbler," said the boy.
"What, like a shoemaker?" said Liu.
A cobblestone struck his hand, making him drop the wallet. A second hit his hat, landing it in the mud.
"No," said a second kid. "Like I'm'a clobber ya with cobblestones."
"You have no idea who you're messing with!" cried Liu. "The people I work for!"
"Go on," said the boy. "You tell them this territory belongs to Slinger."
More cobblestones floated to the air. Liu ran.
"Is he gone?" asked the girl, moving from behind the crate.
"Yeah, Veil," said Slinger, brushing off the hat. "He's gone."
"Look at the leatherwork," said Cobbler, picking up the wallet. "We'll eat for days!"
#
Lazy Liu walked up the alley, passing coaches casting long shadows in the gaslight.
"Back for some more?"
Slinger was wearing his hat - the hat he'd stolen fair and square. The ground swallowed Slinger's feet.
"Sure," said Larry, another man joining him. "But I brought back-up."
Liu swung with his right but the ground shattered, freeing Slinger. Cobblestones flew at the earthbender, who raised a wall. Slinger punched Larry in the groin, then kicked him the air out of him. The earthbender bent Slinger away, but Cobbler struck him across his back.
"Well, well, well," said a third man, moving into the light. "Look what I found, boys."
Veil struggled in his grasp, an icicle pressed against her neck.
"Wait," said Slinger, raising his hands. "You don't know what you're doing. Just let her go."
Slinger's feet sank into the ground, but he shook his head at Cobbler.
"Isn't that just adorable?" said Liu, struggling to his feet. "First of all, let me show you what that punch felt like."
A coach stopped by the alley entrance, ostrich horses squawking.
"It's the boss," said the waterbender.
"Talk about timing," said Liu, brushing off his suit. "Bring'em."
#
Pipe smoke billowed from the open coach door. Slinger couldn't make out the man inside.
"Just teaching some local rats a little respect, boss," said Liu. "They were hurting our credibility."
The pipe bowl glowed orange as the man inhaled.
"Who was doing the teaching, Liu? You or them?"
"Boss…"
"You know what I think hurts our credibility? Grown men picking on kids. What will the other families think? You know, I was eating one of those cookies today, what do you call them…"
"Cocoaberry cookies?" said Liu.
"No, you idiot, the ones that tell you your fortune."
"Fortune cookies?" said the earthbender.
"Yeah, fortune cookies," said the boss. "Now shut up. So I was eating this fortune cookie. You know what the cookie told me?"
"No, boss," said Liu.
"It said be the leaf. You know what that means?"
"No, boss,' said Liu. "What does it mean?"
"How the spirits should I know?" said the boss. "I'm not a spiritn' philosophist."
"No, boss."
"You, you're giving me trouble, Liu," said the boss. "You're not being a leaf."
"Sorry, boss," said Liu. "It won't happen again."
"Hey kid," said the boss, flicking embers into the wind, "this your territory?"
"Yeah, boss," said Slinger.
"So how do you propose we settle this little turf war of yours?"
Slinger looked at Veil and Cobbler.
"We wanna work for you, boss," said Slinger.
Slinger cringed as the boss chuckled and spat. "That's what I call being a leaf. Here's the deal, kid: I won't hesitate to burn you if you cross me. That clear?"
"Yeah, boss," said Slinger.
"Moon-peachy," said the boss. "Now get me outta here."
#
The young girl walked down the street in her sleeveless summer dress.
"It's a dangerous neighborhood."
"Oh?" said the girl, running her fingers down long black hair.
"I… I could walk with you, if you like," said Cobbler.
"Thank you," said the girl, curtsying. "That would be very nice of you."
They walked on.
"Nice girls like you don't usually come here," said Cobbler.
"My family's looking for property," said the girl. "I wanted me to get a feel for the area. Are the criminals here bad?"
"Uhm…" Cobbler hesitated. "Not too bad, I don't think. I could make sure they didn't bother you, I could."
"That's very sweet," said the girl.
"I don't know that any places are available now," said Cobbler, "but that can be arranged. Do you see anything you like?"
"Oh yes," said the girl.
"Which one?" asked Cobbler.
"All of them," said the girl.
Cobbler stopped. "I'm not sure I… Hey!"
Ice sprung up his legs, reaching his shoulders.
"We're taking over, idiot," the girl said sweetly.
An ice-seller cart stopped before them, two men jumped off.
"Took you love long enough, Pen," said one.
"Vinegar and honey, boys," said Pen.
They heaved Cobbler into the back, where Slinger and Veil were already struggling. With a crack of the whip, the ostrich horses were off.
#
Slinger, Veil and Cobbler stood dripping in the warehouse.
"You're lucky they left out the concrete shoes when they sent you swimming," said Liu.
"If they wanted us dead, we'd be dead," said Slinger.
"This is why children can't hold territory!" cried Liu.
"We weren't the only ones they sucker punched!" Slinger cried back.
"Enough, you two," said the boss, stroking gray sideburns.
"But boss," said Liu, "this kind of disrespect…"
"I said enough!" cried the boss. "Contact the Typhoons. I wanna talk. Settle this like civilized people."
#
Cobbler looked over Slinger, Veil, Liu and the others, standing at attention. The boss sat at the table. Across from him sat the very Tentacle Tian, in flowing blue-gold robes. Behind her stood the Typhoon goons. He recognized the men from the cart. Pen was playing with her hair.
"There's a code for a reason," said the boss. "All-out war is bad for business. People could question your good faith."
"Your men are alive," said Tian, clicking long lacquered nails. "There's your good faith."
"And the territory?" said the boss.
"The strong eat the weak," said Tian. "Be thankful for what I let you keep."
"Here's my proposal," said the boss. "You give me my territory, you walk away alive."
Columns of water broke through the floor, trapping the boss and the crew.
"You dare threaten me here, in my docks?" said Tian. "You are very brave – or very stupid. My terms have changed: you lose everything."
Cobbler watched helplessly as water submerged the boss's head. The poor man even looked like he was laughing.
The columns collapsed as Tian and the goons convulsed in unnatural positions.
"Abomination!" cried Tian, seething.
Cobbler's spine froze. Wasn't it a tale to scare children?
The boss stood, still laughing. "Here's my counter-proposal. When you meet the daisy-fish, tell them Yakone sent you."
Tian groaned as her right leg stepped forward, then her left, bringing her closer to the water. The goons struggled uselessly in their places. Tian fell like a stone.
#
Cobbler finished walking the perimeter of the warehouse. It was about as interesting as the first two times.
"You're supposed to be scouting too," he muttered.
"Scouting's beneath me," said Pen, combing her hair with her fingers. "Call me if there's anything you can't handle. Like a book."
"Can't believe the boss kept you on," said Cobbler.
"The man recognizes talent," said Pen, looking him up and down. "And he clearly needed it, dirt boy."
"Name's Cobbler."
"What, like a shoemaker?" asked Pen.
"No," said Cobbler, "like… never mind. What kind of a name is Pen, anyway?"
"It's short for pentapus," she replied. "One of the Typhoons thought it was funny…"
An icicle sprouted from her waterskin to Cobbler's neck.
"…I showed him it wasn't."
Two coaches drew up before the warehouse.
"Quit it," said Cobbler. "They're here."
#
Cobbler looked over Slinger, Veil, Liu and the others. And Pen. Before them sat Yakone, as he had that night. As he still did in Cobbler's nightmares. Across from him sat Sparky Sen, his Ember goons behind him.
"Terrible what happened to Tian," said Sen, stroking his long black moustache. "You don't get that very often – waterbenders drowning."
"Accidents happen," said Yakone.
"Lots of rumors going around about how it happened," said Sen.
"Merely rumors," said Yakone.
"A few more accidents like these and you'll own the whole city," said Sen.
"I'm glad you understand the situation," said Yakone. "Step aside. I'll let you down gently."
"An interesting proposition," said Sen. "Here's another one. How about we go down together?"
"You wouldn't dare," Yakone growled.
Metalbending police crashed through the windows, metal wire ensnaring wrists and ankles.
"Police!" cried Chief Beifong. "Everybody freeze!"
#
"It's over," said Toph, binding Yakone's hands. "You're under arrest, Yakone."
"What is Republic City coming to?" said Yakone. "Used to be a man could have a civilized conversation with his business partner. Even if said partner is a two-timing weasel-snake."
"We have dozens of witnesses," said Toph. "We know what you are. Take him away."
"Chief," said Deputy Jin, "what about them?"
Four kids stood among Yakone's goons.
"Children, Yakone?" said Toph. "What, was your rap sheet not big enough? Take them too, I'll sort them out at the station."
A girl shrieked as an officer dragged her away.
"Wait!" cried a boy. "I need to stay with her!"
"Relax, kid," said Toph, "it's a short trip."
"You don't understand!" cried the boy.
A veil drifted to the floor. Toph froze when she heard the sound. A sound she hadn't heard in thirty years. The back wall exploded into splinters.
"Blasting jelly?" asked Jin, dazed.
Another detonation tore a hole in the roof.
"No," said Toph. "Everybody out!"
"But, Chief…"
"I said out!" cried Toph.
The warehouse collapsed in flame.