So, if you check out my Favorites list, you'll notice I have a Book 4 there. The author, aka Arashi, offered a challenge to do a "lost chapter" set after the latest update, calling for shipping shenanigans aboard an airship with the main cast. Sounded good to me! I encourage readers to check out the Book 4 first, but it's not really needed to read this; I do enough info-dumping.
On a separate note, aka Arashi and I are working on a project together- an Avatar webcomic. Check out my profile for links and an explanation!
aka Arashi's Book Four: Air - Chapter 8.5
Airship of Love
Previously on Avatar... According to MAI:
So even though the Avatar AND A FEW FRIENDS successfully brought an end to that war-thingy that everyone was so excited about they apparently didn't make a clean sweep of it and within a week of bringing their HEROIC JOURNEY to a close had to deal with a conspiracy of all their old enemies plus a few new third-raters. It started in Ba Sing Se where there was a big happy parade for which Katara wore her best feather bikini HUH I KNEW THAT GIRL WAS A STRUMPET and Sokka wore the most FABULOUS collection of furs I'd ever seen HONESTLY I WOULDN'T HAVE MINDED IF HE WENT WITH A FEATHER BIKINI TOO and then while they were distracted Ba Sing Se tried to retcon Fire into the element of Happy or something and when the Avatar objected HE LIKED 'HAPPY' BUT HE DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME LEARNING FIRE AND DIDN'T WANT IT TO GO TO WASTE LIKE HIS JUGGLING SKILLS they declared him a traitor and tried to capture everyone and Iroh lost his tea house and Toph had to admit that no one liked her. Then they left.
Meanwhile Sokka had gone on a camping trip in order to feel more manly or something WHY IS CAMPING CONSIDERED MANLY IS IT SOMETHING ABOUT THE LACK OF BATHROOMS but he fell in a ditch and broke every bone in his body and had to be dragged back out to civilization THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ABOUT A KILLER DRAGON BUT I THINK NATURE SHOWS ARE BORING AND ANYWAY IT DIDN'T EAT SUKI. Aang had gone to play with pirates in order to feel better and met a pirate guy who didn't wear a shirt and thought he was Agni's gift to women and together they stole some mail and found letters from ex-Fire Lord Ozai which proved he wasn't exactly proving too pretty for prison and Aang was sent to go save everyone by a mysterious pirate lady who was probably Zuko's mother ALL MYSTERIOUS LADIES ARE ZUKO'S MOTHER DON'T YOU KNOW. Of course he was too late and by the time he and Iroh and everyone EXCEPT KATARA WHO WENT TO PICK UP SOKKA WITH THE FAMILY CAR arrived here I had been captured by Azula SHE SNUCK UP ON ME and Zuko had been captured by Ozai ZUKO IS JUST REALLY BAD WITH TRAPS and we had to bust ourselves out and then run away in Iroh's new Airship WHICH OF COURSE WASN'T EQUIPPED FOR ANY ACTUAL FIGHTING so it got shot down and the bad guys escaped and Sokka is practically dying and now the bad guys are going after the Southern Water Tribe WHY I DON'T KNOW MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ICE FOR THEIR DRINKS. Oh, and there are Kyoshi Warriors and Yu Yan Archers living on our Airship. I don't know why.
Prologue - Meeting of Minds
On the bridge of the White Dragon Imperial-class airship (the only Fire Nation asset that hadn't been seized by the illegitimate Phoenix King's New World Order), two of the wisest fighters in the world were in conference. As is often the custom when the fates of all the nations were at stake, the discussion did not begin until the highest quality tea was available to its participants.
Iroh, former general, master Firebender, and famed Dragon of the West, sipped his Jasmine and sighed. "Do you understand the concept of 'morale?' "
Toph Bei Fong, hero warrior, champion fighter, master Earthbender, and the inventor of Metalbending, swallowed a mouthful of her own tea and nodded. "Yeah, that's where people who are strong and happy do their work well, and the weak whiney people are slow and unreliable with their jobs."
"Succinctly put." Another sip of tea. "I've been keeping an eye on everyone, and I'm worried that the initial euphoria of all our friends reuniting is beginning to wear off."
Toph said nothing, but listened carefully.
"I don't it consider the fault of anyone aboard, or something unnatural. Considering the challenges we face, the setbacks we've suffered, and injuries we've sustained, we're actually doing quite well at keeping our spirits up. It is a testament to everyone's strength and sense of purpose. However, we are in dark times, and- perhaps it's just an old man being worrisome- I sense shadows settling down on hearts. I would like to do something, something small but effective, to improve everyone's moods. What do you think?"
Toph finished her tea and set the cup down. "I can kind of get what you're saying. Like, Katara's happy to be with Aang, but every time she looks at Sokka, she tightens up inside."
"Yes."
"And I agree that it should be small. I don't think anyone is going to miss what you're really doing, except maybe Aang, but if it's something small, they'll be okay with it. And it would take less effort from you, which we have to worry about because we're trying to run this ship on a skeleton crew. So, what are your ideas?"
"My first was a dance party in the bomb bay!"
"No."
"Yes, I thought that would be the reaction. Do you have any suggestions?"
Toph twisted so that instead of sitting politely at the low table, she would be lounging in front of it. "Well... it should be something that isn't a rule, you know? Like, if you make Zuko do it, he'll hate it. And even if you let people decide to do it themselves, you'll still have the grumps and the people who are too busy giving it a pass."
Iroh stroked his beard. "Something inescapable..."
"And it should-" Toph abruptly cut herself off, and only spoke again a moment later. "Like I said before, Katara's all happy whenever she's with Aang. Everyone important has someone they can make kissy faces with; I mean, we practically have to post a guard on the hallway connecting the Kyoshi barracks with the Yu-Yan barracks. We might as well make use of all that energy."
Iroh nodded slowly. "Love is perhaps the greatest healer of all."
"If you say so."
The old man slowly poured himself another cup of tea, carefully took a sip, and then suddenly jumped to his feet with a big grin. "I have it! We'll do music night!"
"I thought we said no dance parties," Toph laughed.
"I misspoke. You see, back when Zuko and I were searching for the Avatar on a ship together, I instituted a music night to help bring together the crew and provide a little entertainment. My favorite times were when we'd get a moving romantic song! So, we'll get everyone to listen to beautiful love songs, and we'll let nature do the rest. I'm sure everyone aboard knows at least one good tune, and wouldn't mind singing it."
Toph sat up. "But how are you going to broadcast it so that..." she trailed off and she extended her senses through the bridge cabin around them, and remembered the Announcement Carrier Pipes that Sokka had once used to invite another Airship crew to a fake Birthday Party. "Oh, I get it. I hope the singing will carry well."
Iroh polished off the rest of his tea, cleared his throat, and approached the speaker horn. "We'll have to see. Do you know the old tune, 'Love is in the Gifts You Give?' "
To Be Continued...
