The Fifth Element
It was evening when the ship pulled into the single dock of a riverside fishing village. Many of the villagers were still out and about as twilight had just set in. When they saw the Fire nation ship, however, many retreated into their crude earthen huts. Some however, met the landing party as it disembarked.
"Welcome to our humble village." said one old man to Zuko as he approached. "We are simple folk here, but we will do all we can to make your stay a pleasant one."
Zuko was in no mood for pleasantries, nor was he in an accommodating position. His uncle had been slowly but steadily getting worse and he feared he had little time left. "Where is your healer old man?" he demanded. These were simple Earth kingdom folk and they would bend to the will of the Fire Nation.
The old man before him nodded and the look of apprehension on his face grew slightly. "That would be I, my lord. How might I serve you?"
Soldiers of the Fire Nation immediately surrounded the man and led him into the ship, to Iroh's chamber. The old man knelt by his bedside and looked him over. He called for several herbs, which runners fetched immediately and he began to chant.
The old man began his work. He crushed herbs or burned them. He mixed a miasma of pastes and brewed several teas. As the room began to smell of chamomile and other more foul substances Iroh was not looking any better and Zuko grew foul tempered. "What is taking so long old man? How is my uncle?" he spat.
Finally the old man sat back, fear written clearly on his face. "My prince," he stammered, as he turned around towards Zuko, still on his knees. "I cannot heal him." He prostrated himself at the prince's feet. "Please. Do not take it out on my people. This man is beyond my meager abilities as a healer."
Zuko fought the urge to kick the man in the face. "Tell me why I should not."
Out of desperation the old man sat up. "I know of another my prince. Spare my village and I will tell you."
The prince's eyes narrowed hatefully. "If you -don't- tell me, I will burn your village to the ground."
The old man sighed in the knowledge that he had little choice. His conscience warred on him. The girl had always been so kind to their village. She had even saved a few lives of people he cared about. But, he rationalized, if he did not tell Zuko of her, all of her work, his village, his people, would all perish under the flames of the Fire Nation. Loyalty to his people won out. "There is a girl, a mute girl, who comes to our village rarely. She has healed many of us, some who were suffering from strange afflictions like your uncle. If anyone can heal him, it would be her."
A ray of hope. Zuko took a step back. "Where can I find this girl?"
The village leader pointed upriver. "She travels regularly to the ruins there, as the base of Mount Bali. She gathers rare herbs that grow there, that are protected by the spirits."
Zuko nodded once and his soldiers drug the man off his boat. Minutes later, they were headed towards Bali.