Chapter Two is up! The story is still moving a bit slowly, it will pick up soon I promise! There is a little more of Zuko and Azula in this chapter as well. Enjoy!
"So, you decided to come see our main attraction after all, eh," The announcer grinned as the group left Appa and came toward him and the ticket man who had recently appeared at his side.
"Yeah, yeah, a ticket for all of us," Sokka grumbled.
"Okay lets see, Grumpy Boy and the lady in blue plus your dandy friend makes three. Add in the young lady in pink and her mother and that's five. Plus the boy with the tattoos- you look unwell son, the show'll do ya' good- and the little girl makes seven. Seven times two is a total of fourteen coppers for the lot!" The ticket man had walked toward them, palm outstretched.
"Just a second there," Toph said as she stopped the Earth King from dropping the coins. "You said earlier that 'seeing is believing,' correct?"
"Right you are little girl, this show'll blow your, well," the announcer glanced at Toph's bare feet, "ankle cuffs off!"
"Well as you can see my good sir," Toph lifted her head up to look the announcer in the eye, "I am blind."
"Oh, well little girl, I do see that. I'm sorry."
"Then I assume I won't be charged to enter your circus."
"Alright, then sweetheart, I'll make it twelve coppers for you all," he sighed in defeat.
"Thank you," Toph said, allowing the Earth King to give the new amount of money to the ticket man. In turn, the man pulled out seven slips of paper with a stamp that read "Enjoy the show!" in a purple ink. The group each took a ticket and entered the circus to get a good seat before sunset.
"Pump's all good, Yin!"
"Thank you Piang. Are you ready for tonight's show?"
"Of course! You've been practicing the motions for that new move I'm doing, right?"
"Yes I have," Yin smiled at her friend. "It is difficult. I can't imagine the power it takes to actually perform it."
"Aww, there's nothing to it! Besides Yin, you're the performer! I'm just the guy who's got the fire!"
"Thank you," Yin said. She and Piang left the area behind the stage and passed the muscular guards at the end of the stage. When they first started performing, they just went for it, hoping no one would wander back to see the trick. Now, their success could pay for four guards, a pair at each end of the backstage area.
The guards stood watching for any small children who might be wandering around when they heard a faraway growl unlike any other.
"Did the animal tents get any new critters lately?"
"Not that I know of," The other guard answered. "Might have though. Or one of the animals has got a cold."
"Must be it."
Azula sat at the head of the large, stone map. Next to her was Zuko, now clad in royal Earth Kingdom wear. He felt out of place next to Azula's traditional Fire Nation armor. The entrance of two familiar faces didn't help to ease his feelings of separation.
"Ooooh, Mai, doesn't Zuko look so good in green?" Ty Lee quipped giving Mai one of those meaningful looks that girls have."
"Shh," Mai hissed as they walked to take their place on the opposite side of Azula.
Great. Zuko thought. Now everyone knows how unwelcome I am here. No one really thinks I have my honor. They all just see me as my sister's lackey. I'm the heir! Shouldn't I sit at the head of the table? Shouldn't I have my traditional armor? Uncle wouldn't let me look like an idiot. He knows that I should sit above Azula! Zuko stopped his thought in surprise. No, Iroh is a traitor. Azula said he betrayed me and he did. He told me to give up my birthright. He wouldn't have me sit above my sister! He'd have me bowing down to the Avatar. Azula told me so. She is right.
Azula always lies, a voice echoed in his head.
No, no she doesn't. She's a brat, but she loves me. She sent a letter to father praising me.
She betrayed you before.
That was because, well, she thought Iroh had corrupted me too much.
You're trying to justify her past actions because she's telling you what you want to hear. You know she's just using you. Even with a letter of praise, you know your father will never love you. He'll never restore your birthright. She probably didn't even send that letter.
I saw her send it!
She probably told the messenger hawk to return in an hour. I'm sure it came back once you left so she could send the real letter.
She did not! Shut up!
"Prince Zuko?" Azula asked, turning her head down to survey her brother. "You look troubled, is everything alright?" Her voice was sweet and slightly condescending.
"Yes everything is fine. I'm just still worried about Un- er, Iroh."
"Soon you'll see that you made the right choice Prince Zuko" she smiled- or was it a smirk, he could never tell- and turned to face the door.
See? She cares about me!
She's lying! Look at that smirk! She's sure she has you fooled!
That's not a smirk, that's a smile!
Who smiles like that?
Azula's always smiled like that! She has a- a- a facial tic!
Zuko's more logical side was about to point out how ridiculous he was being when the large, circular opening that served as the door to the war room was filled with the sound of rattling chains as ten Dai Li agents lead Long Feng into the room. Two remained by his side and stood at the opposite side of the huge map. The eight remaining members stood on the left and right of it.
"My my, the Council of Five was sloppy. They left their plan right here where anyone could find it," Azula's smirk- or smile- widened as she stared at the map. "It's a shame no one will be able to implement their ingenious plan."
"Council of Five?" Zuko asked.
"Council of five generals loyal to the Earth King," Azula said quickly.
"So, Princess," Long Feng interrupted. "Why exactly have you brought me here?"
"Long Feng, you may have fallen easily into my trap, but you are still the most powerful earth kingdom resident in the world. You know every little thing about Ba Sing Se. You know what keeps the city moving, the facts about each ring, and the complex social order that this city keeps."
"So? What makes you think I'd tell you any of it?"
"Power. I respect you, Long Feng. Your genius doesn't belong in a prison cell. It belongs beside me, ruling this city. Once we receive word from my father, I may be called elsewhere. I need someone to put in control. You are the only person here who has the knowledge and the experience ruling."
"Why should I trust you?" Long Feng went on. "It was my trust in you that lost me the city."
"No, it was a slip up that lost you the city. You didn't stop and think. You were stuck in a prison cell without your power. You were willing to do anything to get out. If you, Long Feng, hadn't been in the worst of positions, you would have seen the signs of my takeover. You would have been prepared. I will not place you back in a prison cell for an understandable mistake. Your brilliance belongs on a throne, Long Feng! It would be a shame to waste it.
Zuko ignored a very familiar feeling about Azula's speech toward Long Feng.
After some thought, Long Feng answered, "I accept your offer Princess Azula."
"Excellent," Azula's smirk- if it was a smirk- widened into a smile. "Dai Li, remove Long Feng's chains."
Zuko felt sorry for Long Feng. He had a feeling that those chains wouldn't stay off permanently.
"Now that that matter has been taken care of, let's begin the meeting," Azula's voice dominated the room.
"Why'd you do that?" The Earth King asked Toph. "I have plenty of money; it was no trouble paying for you."
"Because we may need that money later," Toph said. "Saving the world is probably more expensive than your little change purse can handle."
"At least Toph is thinking sensibly," Sokka muttered.
"Here," Song's mother said, reaching her hand out to the Earth King. "You shouldn't have to pay for us."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all! Really!"
"No, no, we'll pay our way in, you owe us nothing."
The two bantered back and forth until Song suggested that they all spend the night at their home and call it even.
"Well, I think this is the tent we're looking for," Katara said, motioning to a large tent that was blue and red with a huge Yin Yang symbol on the entrance flap. It was surrounded by posters advertising water, fire, and a young girl surrounded by a combination of the two.
The group filed in and found decent seats. Soon, the tent was full to the gills with people who were talking amongst themselves. The effect was a roar of people all trying to talk over one another.
"You OK Aang?!" Katara yelled to the woozy monk next to her.
"I think so!"
"I hate being blind!"
"What?" Sokka yelled.
"I said, I hate being blind!" Toph cried. "It's like everyone's talking twice as loud! I can't hear myself think!"
Suddenly, the stage lit up. The roar of voices ceased as everyone turned to the stage, where the four torches that lined the front of the stage had burst into flames. A tall, brutish man came onto the stage.
"Welcome, welcome, one and all! Are we all excited to see the show tonight?"
"Ow," Toph's squeak was lost under the huge round of cheers. She pulled her feet off the floor and covered her ears until the vibrations from the clapping had dissipated.
"Well without further ado, I am proud to announce the amazing Yin Yang, Master of Water and Fire!"
Yin held her breath as she stood behind the curtains. She was incredibly nervous as always. It wasn't in her nature to be in front of people. What was she doing out here? She was afraid to talk to a room full of people, much less address a huge crowd. She stepped onto the stage and into the torchlight.
"Thank you Piang!" Yin's voice was loud and clear. "I know you are all ready for a fabulous show tonight!" As she spoke, Piang brought an empty bowl out and set it carefully over a hole in the stage. The other two bowls were already set up, and each contained water. He ducked back behind the curtain and began pulling levers and ropes.
Yin raised her hand in mock concern. "There is just one problem. I'm having trouble with my waterbending tonight!" The crowd began to shuffle and whisper uncertainly. "I just can't get the water to move!" As she said "move," she threw her hands up in defeat and turned from the audience, and the water in the two bowls shot up like a fountain. Yin had timed her turn away from the audience so she wouldn't see the water fly. "I mean," she turned back to face the audience, "it won't budge!" She stomped her foot and the water shot up again. Laughter came from the crowd. "Ah, there it goes!" Yin shouted.
The show went on for around half an hour. Yin moved water up and down, and even shot some from straight behind her into the empty bowl up front. Then she made the torches grow. She shot sparks from each one. The show went on in this way until she performed the finale. She pulled a stream of water out of the bowls and a stream of fire from one of the torches. The fire resembled a small dragon. She made complex motions as the dragon flew around her head. One hand out steadied the water stream. She drove the dragon into the stream. Steam filled the stage. The audience applauded loudly. When the stage cleared of steam, it was empty.
"Well, what do you think Katara?" Aang said to his friend. They had decided to remain seated until the crowd cleared out a bit.
"She might have been a waterbender, but I doubt it. She didn't do much more than lift it. The moves were remedial at best. Then again she could be a beginner. When I first started I couldn't do much more than that."
"So now what?" Aang muttered.
"We should try to talk to her," Sokka said. "We can see if she can help Aang master firebending."
"Well, I enjoyed the show!" Song said cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
"It was certainly interesting," Toph muttered, her hand on the ground.
"It was fun to watch," Aang smiled weakly. "And I feel a bit better."
"Oh, I absolutely loved it!" The Earth King was beside himself. I've never seen any entertainment like that, and I've seen a lot of shows! Oh, Bosco would have loved this! Hold on-"
"Wait a second, where is Bosco?" Sokka asked.
"Bosco?" Song inquired.
"My bear! He's the only of his kind!"
"I didn't see one with you when you came in to the apothecary. I just saw the Avatar's bison," Song said, with a worried expression.
"Momo!" Aang shot up from his drooping position!
With that a roar sounded from behind the stage.
"Oh dear," The Earth King said.
This one was a little longer than the last. I heard a few positive reviews of the first chapter, so I hope this one is good as well. Please R&R!
