His Badness Level

Chapter 4

Jasmine Dragon

Sokka went on his way to teach those girls that snuck up on him a lesson. He was determined not to be showed up by the opposite gender. He came across a cabin like hut that contained the training warriors.

Sokka smirked and peeked his head into the door and entered with a smirk, "Ahh, sorry to interrupt your dance lesson," he began to bend down and limber up, "but do you happen to know a place where a guy can train?"

The warriors stopped and looked at him- the leader stood forward, "Well, you're in the right place. Sorry about yesterday I didn't know you were friends with the Avatar." She apologized.

Sokka stretched his arm, trying to show off, "It's alright. Normally I'd hold a grudge, but seeing as you're a bunch of girls I'll make an exception."

Suki held back a smirk as she looked slightly to her teammates, "I should hope so. A big strong, man like you? We wouldn't stand a chance."

Sokka rolled his neck, feeling accomplished. He was sure it was just a fluke they had beaten him, and he was right. "True," he planted his hands on his hips, "but don't feel bad. I'm the best warrior in my village."

He was the only warrior in his village.

"Wow!" Suki said with fake enthusiasm which Sokka didn't hear, "best warrior, huh? In your whole village?" she leaned forward with her hands on her hips as Soka crossed his arms over his chest, "I bet you wouldn't mind giving us a demonstration?" she looked back with her eyes to her teammates.

"Oh," Sokka rubbed his chin, "well, I-I mean," he was hesitant to the situation. He hadn't seen them fight, so he was unsure of it.

Suki faced her teammates, "C'mon girls, wouldn't you like him to show us some moves?" she smirked as the others murmured in agreement.

Finally lightening up to the idea he agreed, "If that's what you want, then alright." He walked up to Suki and pushed her upper body back, "Stay right there." Suki did as she was told and stayed completely still.

"Alright," he walked back to where he was, "This may be a bit hard, but try to block me." He approached quick but not fast enough. As soon as he pulled his fist back, Suki jabbed him in the shoulder pushing him back.

Sokka grabbed his shoulder and cleared his throat, "Good, of course I was going easy on you. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea. "Let's see if you can handle this!" he rushed forward and tried to round house kick her torso, Suki ducked and pushed him off with her shoulder. Sokka flew back and crashed into the wall behind him.

Suki yawned and opened her fan with a smirk.

"That does it!" Sokka ran forward and pulled his fist back, Suki step side and grabbed his wrist with one hand and his shoulder with the other. She pivoted in a circle and when she got enough momentum she whipped off Sokka's waist tie and tied his leg and his wrist together.

Suki held back a laugh, "Anything else you wanna teach us?"

That fluke idea? Yah….it wasn't a fluke.

"Lady Ember, we're docking on Kyoshi Island in fifteen minutes." Jun bowed and gave her a playful smile as Ember nodded, "Thank you, Jun." she giggled as he exited the room.

Her spirits were lifted but she was still broken from what had happened earlier. She held in a sigh, her papa told her every time she sighed she'd lost a little piece of happiness inside herself. That and she'd get wrinkles.

Ember was beginning to miss the sea breeze. Usually, the smell made people sick if the boat was rocking too hard, but she had steady from her father so she flowed the waves. Ember missed the salty smell and she was tempted to leave her room and risk running into Zuko. Instead, she walked to her room and opened the window as much as it could go and took a seat. She propped her chin on her palm which leaned on the window frame and took a whiff of the air. She smiled.

She took down her hand and looked down to her flipped over clipboard. She frowned and turned it over to look at the battered, tear stained paper with the drawing. She headed over to her desk and on her tippy toes she grabbed a pencil and her red pencil crayon.

Ember couldn't blame Zuko for his anger- it was her fault, but she still decided to color some red in up to his neck. She looked at the big happy face she'd drawn- it didn't look like him. Zuko didn't smile. He smirked, he scowled, he frowned but he never smiled or grinned. He wasn't like mama.

She put the clipboard down and gazed out the window, perhaps she should have asked why we were docking. Zuko never docked his ship unless he could get something from the island or place we docked at. Perhaps, for supplies? Ember shook her head; they stopped for supplies only days ago.

She drummed her fingers along the window frame and gasped. Was it Aang? Did Aang land on Kyoshi Island, was that why? Ember jumped off her seat and exited her room with no hesitation- uncle Iroh would tell her. She looked side to side and double check the hallways for Zuko, she wasn't in the mood to be yelled at or glared at or to be given the silent treatment. That was the worst. She remembered when papa did that because she ate his moon peach.

The most likely place uncle Iroh would be in would be his room, Ember nodded to herself at her genius thinking. She marched quietly to her uncles' room, miraculously not bumping into Zuko or any of the guards that roamed the halls. Though, running into Jun would be nice- she could have easily asked him and the retreat to her room.

She knocked on his metal door and waited for a response.

"Come in, Ember."

On one hand she was glad he was there so she wouldn't have to search the whole ship, on the other hand since he knew it was her, he probably had some kind of logic to why she was there.

None the less, she entered, "Hi uncle Iroh, how did you know it was me?" She grinned and immediately jumped onto his mattress, creasing his covers.

Iroh chuckled, "No one on this ship has as dainty and small hands as you do." he patted her head and stood from his bed and grabbed his hot kettle filled with tea on a table.

"Okay, two things," she held up three fingers. Iroh brought two glasses and set one beside her as he gently pressed down one finger to make it two, "Uhm, right." She laughed nervously, "One, why do you have tea here? It's not the kitchen uncle." She scoffed thinking she had stated the most obvious fact in the world.

Iroh smiled, "Tea is a wonderful thing, Ember. It does not only belong in the kitchen or at the table. I drink it here as well." He answered.

Ember nodded, "Second, why're we landing?"

Iroh's smile faltered but he put his cup to his lips to cover it up, "Prince Zuko has found the Avatar."

Aang took his under aged fangirls to the lake he started at to ride the Elephant Koi. Aang treaded in the water as the girls leaned back and waited for the Unagi to arrive.

Aang, sensing their boredom called out, "Uhm, I'm sure it'll be here any minute." The girls looked and nodded reluctantly.

One of the girls sighed, "Where is it, Aang? It's getting late!"

Aang felt worry wash over him and responded nervously, "It'll be here any minute." He repeated.

Some of the girls stood and apologized that it was getting late and they had to get to their parents. Koko frowned and stood to, "I'm sorry, Aang, maybe tomorrow!"

His fangirls disappeared on the way back to the village. Aang sighed sunk alittle lower into the water. He fixed his gaze onto the road back to the village and in a blur Katara walked down it.

Aang lifted his head and grinned, "Katara! You're here!"

Katara smiled shyly, "I wanted to make sure you were safe, you got me really worried." She admitted.

Aang tilted his head, "But back there, it looked like you didn't care." He frowned.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too, I did let all that attention go to my head. I was being a jerk." Aang replied, still treading the water.

Katara smiled playfully, "Well, get out of the water, you big jerk!" she hollered. Aang laughed and dove under and began swimming back to the shore.

Katara gasped as a huge fin popped out of the water as Aang hadn't noticed it yet. It swam by him creating a wave that flew Aang a couple meters ahead, "Gah!"

The Unagi emerged from the water, with Aang on top.

~
"Are you sure, you want to do this Ember?" Iroh's worry lines took over his forehead as Ember nodded, "Uncle Iroh, you talk a lot about destiny and stuff like that, right? I guess… I'm just taking all of your advice." She gave him a smile.

Iroh chuckled, "I shouldn't have given you the advice. You best be careful, Ember. A lot of bad people are out there and if you're alone, no one can help you."

Ember nodded, she was still struck by how easy her uncle had taken the fact that she wanted to travel alone. I mean, she was just five. Though, she thought to herself if she could handle being taken away from her parents and being shouted at, she could handle traveling alone. Of course, she wouldn't be able to go very far- it was an island she was docking at.

"The Avatar has supposedly landed on the island, since you have met him, perhaps he could take you along." Iroh advised as he opened up his dresser and pulled out a sling bag.

"Here."

Ember took it and lifted it, "How did you know I was going to make this choice? It feels like there's enough food to last me a couple days," she shook the bag, "and enough gold pieces to last a week."

"When you have been around as long as I have, you tend to sense things. I have one more item."

Iroh bent down slowly and reached under his bed. "This doesn't do so well for my back."

Ember chuckled and helped him off the ground with a plastic bag in his hand, "Do not open it now. Once you get outside of this ship find somewhere to hide and until the Avatar comes out you stay there." Iroh instructed.

Ember nodded and sucked this in like a sponge, "Then what?"

Iroh shrugged, "Shape your own path, young one."

Ember rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her hip and with her free hand she accepted the plastic, "Gee thanks."

Ember headed for the door. Was the right path? What if it wasn't? It was too late now, anyway. She couldn't back out after all she'd done so far. She placed her hand on the door knob and inhaled sharply before turning back to her sadly smiling uncle. He waved, "I shall miss you my Jasmine Dragon."

Ember gave him the best smile she could muster up and left his room. She stealthily walked around the guards and took the long way to her room and entered.

"Pfff, they all say this place is soo heavily guarded, I don't think so." She chuckled evilly under her breath as she went for her desk. Checking through her dresser would be pointless, with the gold pieces she got, she could buy new clothes.

She removed her bag from her shoulder and set it along with the plastic bag, on her bed. She climbed up her book ladder and opened up her drawer. She pushed aside the trinkets and picked up the scroll.

She opened it up to see a younger Zuko, he looked different but it was still him, "Mama doesn't know this, but I mentally told her I would take care of you." She whispered to the picture. She waved and rolled it back up. She grabbed some paper and set it on her bed.

Ember went to her window and closed it. She sighed, she would miss the sea breeze. Her hand brushed the clipboard and she looked. The corners of her mouth twitched upwards, "Atleast you're getting better." She whispered as she gently picked up the clipboard like it was a porcelain doll. With her free hand she picked up her red pencil crayon and a pencil and headed to her bed.

She climbed up onto it and opened the nap sack uncle had given to her. Delicately, she put in the clipboard then paper and utensils and finally the scroll.

She hesitated with the scroll but put it in anyways, "I'll bring you out later brother."

Ember didn't find it weird she was talking to a piece of parchment. She was unique and no one could take it away from her.

Ember slung her bag over her shoulder and with a determined face she head out.

'Oh Agni, I hope this was the right choice….'

It was about sunset and Suki and Sokka were still at it. Suki had taught him the fan was a mere extension of his arm and that it was about using the opponents force against them. Suki thought he was doing pretty well for a beginning. And a boy.

Though, she'd never say it him.

"Hm, not bad." Suki cracked a smile.

Sokka returned it with one of his own.

"Firebenders! They have arrived at our shores!" Oyagi frantically called upon them, "Hurry, girls!"

Suki sprinted to the scene leaving Sokka in the dust, confused and more importantly somewhat insulted, "Hey, I'm not a-" Momo landed on his shoulder, "Oh whatever!"

The villagers retreated to their huts and stayed silent and hidden from them. Zuko, on his rhino with three other benders were at his side, "Come out Avatar. You can't hide forever."

He was met with silence.

Zuko glared at the faces that peeked through their doors, "Find them."

~
Ember sneaked by each of the room with ease- most of the warriors were out destroying and trying to capture Aang. Ember felt bad for the villagers; if Aang didn't act fast they would completely burn the place to ruins. She quickened her pace, if she was too slow and didn't catch him while she could her efforts would be in vain.

The draw bridge was still open- she looked both ways on the deck and saw no one. She breathed a sigh of relief and ran for it. Easy, almost too easy…

Ember shook off the level of difficulty to get off the ship and ran towards the village in hopes of catching up to Aang.

She saw Zuko's rhinos and felt a pang of worry- was he alright? She pressed on and pushed him to the back of her head, any thoughts of doubt would make her move three steps back to where she had started.

Katara grabbed all the kids and huddled around them pushing them towards the hut before the battle could rage on any closer to them.

"C'mon hurry up. In there." She ushered them slowly with gentle voices. Some of the children had gotten separated from their parents so she took it upon herself to take care of them for now.

From the corner of her eye she noticed a little fire nation girl approach her, "Um, excuse me, but is the Avatar here?" she fidgeted with her fingers.

Katara raised a brow, why would a kid like her be looking for Aang? Was she the girl that helped him escape. She couldn't be sure. "Maybe." She answered. Katara wasn't a mean one, but she was protective of Aang at the moment. What if she was sent by Zuko to confirm his suspicions?

There was a gust of wind that sent their hair flying. Katara looked up for the source of the win- Aang. The little girl smiled like a child getting a new Christmas present.

"Aang!" she exclaimed with great joy, "You got away!"

Aang was surprised she was there but nodded, "Yah." He looked at Katara, "We have to leave. Look what I brought this place, the only way I can still save the place is leave." He frowned.

Katara nodded, "I think that's best." She rubbed his back.

Ember gulped- it was now or never. "Could I….come with you?" she tugged on his pants and looked up, "please?" she added quickly. Iroh had taught her manners.

Aang looked at Katara, "Please? It obviously took a lot of her to get off of the ship in one piece and without anyone noticing." He pleaded as he picked her up.

Katara contemplated the fact if she was a spy but brushed it away, "Welcome to the group." She said reluctantly with a smile.

~
TBC