Author's comments will be after the chapter is finished, as per usual because I don't want to spoil anything. I hope you enjoy reading!
Chapter Seven: The Oasis in the City Jungle
The images of Raya's first televised battle against Zola were plastered all over the internet within minutes of the fight. People all across the web were already asking who the mysterious Would-be Avatar Assassin really was, with rumors that the woman was a dark secret of the Fire Nation during a time of supposed peace. But the support of the Avatar and her skills was almost overwhelming to the budding warrior. As she prepared for the final test of her Fire Bending skills, which would be taking place in front of all of the Elders of the White Lotus, her parents, Len, Zuko, Minoru, Achak and Mei, she had a skip to her step on the Island that she just couldn't keep hidden from anyone. Not only would people have no choice now but to believe her stories about Zola, they knew about her talents and were accepting her more than her classmates ever did at the school she went to.
"Raya, after the test, I have arranged a private meeting with the Governors and the Chief of Police." Achak said as he walked with her to the training grounds- which were mercifully empty of most Airbender Acolytes. "I thought that this would be a better...er... situation rather than being pressured to meet everyone in front of the cameras at the ball."
"Really? You're still on about that? Please, I'm over that now. I mean, sure I'll be happy to meet everyone, but I think I should apologize to Harmony's parents. I was really stressed out about everything at the time of my explosion and all." Raya shrugged, Rikki striding alongside her as per her usual routine gave a low bark of encouragement as though the Tigruf could understand what her mistress had said. Raya absentmindedly reached over while they walked to scratch the Tigruf behind her ears.
"You are growing wiser by the day, Raya. I'm sure the Governor and his family will be more than happy to accept your apology. Now, it is time for your test." Achak said once they made it to the training grounds.
"Rikki, why don't you go join Zuko and Len?" Raya suggested, and the Tigruf trotted off with Achak to join the party.
Rosafa, Borra, Burim, Zuko, Len, Minoru, Mei, Adrian, Hana and now Achak and Rikki were all gathered underneath what looked like a simple, makeshift stand with a wooden rooftop to protect them from the elements.
"Avatar Raya Bion, you have come here today seeking the final test to prove your skills as a Firebender, before moving on to the other elements." Borra announced, stepping forward.
Raya now stood in silence in front of the woman. When she did not say anything, Borra smiled. She knew the young Avatar had to be tense.
"Your opponent will be Master Rosafa. If you can best her in a no holds barred, all out Firebending match, then your Firebending training will be complete." Borra said as Rosafa stepped forward.
Rosafa, while she looked older, certainly moved rather gracefully for her age. Raya spotted the look of worry on Zuko's face at the fact that she had to face his grandmother in an all out cat-fight but she disregarded it as she took off her jacket to provide herself with less restrained movement. Rosafa in the meantime removed her own deep crimson cloak from her shoulders, which revealed the outfit beneath. While the woman had graying hair, she wore a Tuscan Red shirt, which was sleeveless with a Chinese style collar. Her pants were black, at the waist was a fiery gold belt with Tuscan Red buckling, and her boots were heavy duty black leather with red buckles. At her right wrist was a small Tuscan Red arm-band, while on her upper left arm was a larger deep red arm band with the Fire Nation emblem patterned all around it.
"Are you ready, Avatar?" She asked, her amber eyes looking into the Avatar's multicolored ones.
Raya swallowed. Never before had she ever been judged like this; on her swiftness in combat, her ability to act instead of react, and her skills in battle in general. No one had ever looked twice at the girl with the strange arrow markings on her skin and the red hair until she announced she was the Avatar. But she put those thoughts out of her mind. She had to focus on the matter at hand as Rosafa stood before her, slowly sliding in to a fighting stance typical of a Firebending Master, the action which Raya imitated to show that she was ready.
There was a tense moment of silence between the two, during which no one made a sound- except for Rikki panting where she sat. Then, without warning, Raya made the first move. One of the things she learned from Zuko was to act first in order to gain the upper hand. Blue flames were blasted at Rosafa who ducked quickly, sending her hands arching over her head at the Avatar in response to the attack.
Spinning while ducking, Raya barely dodged the red-orange flames Rosafa sent at her before jumping into the air with her legs swinging around, blue flames ripping through the air from the base of her feet at Rosafa. It was the first time she'd used this attack against anyone, her having wanted to keep this skill a secret, even from Zuko until the day of her test.
"That's new." Len commented, to which Zuko nodded while Rosafa was busy sending several fire bombs at Raya- who blocked each of the bombs.
There was nothing but total concentration on Raya's face over the next hour as she fought with Rosafa, who proved that age had nothing to do with skill level and endurance. At least in her case. The two were evenly matched, matching blow for blow, block for block. Raya stared at the woman with growing respect and admiration as she geared herself up for the final blow.
Lightning suddenly crackled around her arms as blue flames sparked in the palm of her hands. It was one of the many new techniques she'd been working on during her late hours of practice at night, the combination of fire and lightning.
Rosafa's eyes went wide at the sight of the two elements being used at once, quickly bringing her hands forward, ignoring the sweat pouring down her face and to her neck, red-orange flames sprang forth in the form of a giant ball of fire which met the even larger pillar of blue flames and lightning that shot from Raya's arms and hands, combining to form a glowing, roaring and crackling pillar of pure energy and flames. When Rosafa's ball of fire met Raya's pillar of lightning and blue flames, the explosion shook half the Air Temple Island, while the ground at their feet trembled, nearly sending the nearby spectators to the ground.
When the smoke cleared, Raya blinked at the damage done to the cement of the Airbender Acolyte training grounds around them.
"Wow..." She blinked, astonished at herself and Rosafa.
"I should be more impressed at you." Rosafa signaled the clear end to their battle by dropping her hands to her side. "For the first time in hundreds of years, you've managed to find a way to combine two elements into one, potentially deadly attack."
"Is the fight over then?" Asked Len rather quickly.
"Indeed. Avatar Raya has passed her Firebending Training with flying colors." Rosafa nodded, walking to the point where her cloak was and throwing it back over her sweat-covered shoulders. "She still needs to learn personal restraint when it comes to her taunting, attitude and all around behavior towards her opponents, but other than that, I see no reason why she cannot move on to Air Bending training."
Borra and Burim looked at each other before Borra smiled.
"If Master Rosafa says Raya is ready for the next phase, then we should trust her judgement. She's the one who taught Prince Zuko here, after all." Borra commented.
"Yes!" Raya couldn't help it as Rikki ran over to her, practically bounding for joy at her Mistresses' own excitement being so obvious. At least now, with her finally having mastered Fire Bending, and surprised her teachers with her lightning prowess after Zuko taught her the basics, she'd have more of a chance at defending herself if Zola, or anyone else like Zola, ever turned up again.
"Nothing like finally being done with Fire bending, eh Raya?" Asked Len, who was also grinning ear to ear.
"We are so proud of you, sweetie." Hana rushed over to her daughter as she grabbed her black coat.
"Indeed. I knew you had it in you!" Adrian rubbed his knuckles on Raya's head, effectively messing up her hair even more so than it already was from the fight with Rosafa. "You dueled like a real champ!"
"Daddy!" Raya's face was bright pink at the showering of affection she was getting from her parents, putting her coat over her arm instead of putting it back on. She was way too hot and sweaty for any kind of jacket at the moment. Then an idea struck her. "Hey Master Achack, after I meet with the dignitaries and whatnot, can I go into the city to celebrate? I mean, I haven't actually been off this island except for the Dance, and that was a total disaster."
"Well..." Achak thought for a moment, before he was abruptly treated to Raya giving him a pleading 'Bambi-eyed' look that his own daughter used on him whenever she was desperate for some fun off the island, or wanted something super expensive. Sighing with dread as he heard Len chuckling and Zuko fighting back his laughter, he nodded. "All right. I dare say you've earned this freedom. At the very least, take Zuko and Len with you."
"Sweet... Hey, what about you, Minoru?" Raya looked over at the ever busy Television reporter.
"Can't, sorry. I'm gonna be busy preparing for the weekend news." He shrugged. "Hey, at the very least can you send me some of that herbal tea from the shop on Twenty-eighth and Pine street? I'm nearly out."
"Sure thing." Nodded Raya, before her attention was turned back to her parents. "Thanks so much for coming, guys."
"No problem. I'm anxious to see what kind of Air Bender you'll become now!" Adrian said, making a swipe to mess with his daughter's hair again, but this time she ducked and he wound up nearly smacking Rikki upside the head instead.
"HA!" Raya said, pointing her finger at her father. "Didn't get me that time, did'ja?"
Adrian shrugged as Rikki barked rather loudly at him and Hana watched fondly with a small smile on her face.
After Achak said he'd be taking her parents back home, Raya decided it was time at last for a break while the Elders of the White Lotus went into the main Air Temple Building. Finding a bench under a shady tree, she took a seat and Rikki put her head on her Mistresses' lap, staring up at her with expectant eyes until Raya started stroking her on the head and behind her ears.
Zuko and Len looked at each other, suddenly feeling slightly awkward at being left alone with Raya.
"So, Firebending Master now." Zuko decided to start the conversation.
"All thanks to you." Raya said with an embarrassed smile.
"I am proud of you, all that you've accomplished since you became my student." He went on. "And now that we are no longer teacher and student... think we could still be friends?"
"Of course. I don't see why not!" Raya blinked at the statement, noting how awkward he and Len were. Especially since Len, who was normally quite eager to join in on a conversation, was now rather quiet. Almost shy. She then got an idea. "Rikki, stay with Len. And after the meeting is all done, make sure he doesn't try and bolt or anything."
Rikki gave a lard bark that showed she understood her master's command quite clearly.
"HEY!" Len shouted as Rikki stood right next to him like a protective guard-dog.
"Ok, let's go, Master Achak." Raya said as Achak raised an eyebrow at how his son behaved at pretty much being cornered by the Avatar and her Tigruf. She walked with Achak away from the training grounds as Hana and Adrian smiled, Hana chuckling at how her daughter was pretty much taking over the island.
"I'll go with you. I know some of the delegates and can help break the ice with them." Zuko said, after rushing to catch up with them.
Len watched the trio depart before looking back at the Avatar's parents, Elder Rosafa, Elder Borra and Buim. Then he glanced down at Rikki, who barked at him, and he sighed, rather annoyed at today's turn of events.
Once they were in the room where all the Governors and delegates were waiting, Raya stopped, blinking in shock at the crowd.
"Don't worry, this'll go by before you know it." Achak saw her sudden stage freight and put an encouraging arm on her shoulder before pushing her forward.
"Uh..." Raya looked around at all the faces, most of whom she'd only seen on the television or internet. She never thought she would actually get to meet them in person. When the crowd all had their eyes on her and were quite plainly judging her on her battle-worn appearance, she having just come from her final Firebending Test, a lump formed in her throat. "Hi." She croaked out, not sounding like herself at all. Man, I suck at this. Was her first thought.
"Ah, Miss Avatar. Such an honor to finally meet you. We've all seen your battle with that horrid Fire Nation Assassin from the other night that was caught on film. If it weren't for the fact that we all knew you'd been training under the great Prince Zuko II, and that you were the Avatar, we would never have been able to believe that you could become so skilled in Firebending in just a month's time." A familiar face, Nianzu the Police Chief of Republic City stepped forward.
"Ah, Police Chief. Still ever the brown-noser I see." Zuko smiled in an unspoken warning.
"Well, I certainly know when I need to get on a person's good side right away." Nianzu said shamelessly with a cocked eyebrow at the Prince.
"Right, because you know that even WITH your armor, I could still burn your butt to extra crispy if you ever went too far." Raya caught on rather quickly, with the result of Nianzu choking, Zuko blinking rather blankly between the two, and Achak spluttering uncontrollably for several moments at the tones that were used in the conversation.
"Raya, there are plenty more delegates that you need to meet you know." Achak said after hastily regaining his composure.
As Raya was pulled away from Nianzu, the chief of police turned to the young prince.
"Well, she can certainly hold her own in a conversation." Nianzu commented.
"You have no idea." Zuko replied with a despondent sigh before following Achak and Raya to the next group of people waiting to be introduced.
By the time the meeting was finally over with, Raya felt more exhausted than after she'd dueled with Elder Rosafa. She'd shaken hands, given so many smiles that her mouth felt sore and she had a headache from trying to remember so many names of everyone in that room.
"Man I could use a couple of pain killers." Raya dragged her feet out of the claustrophobic room at last with a final wave of rather well impersonated joy at having met everyone. The only thing she was joyful about right now was being out of there.
"Well, you toed the end of your deal rather well, Raya." Achak said as Zuko joined them moments later, and he handed his young ward a couple of pain killer tablets, before walking over to a water jug- Raya took both the medicine and the water gratefully. "So now, if you are still up to it, you, Prince Zuko and Len can all go to the mainland to celebrate your completion of the Firebending training."
"Great. As soon as this medicine kicks in though. I thought Firebending training was evil... but facing the politics of society? Now THAT is true evil." She groaned as she sat on a nearby bench, and leaned back to close her eyes.
Achak and Zuko looked at each other in silence, both mentally agreeing to give Raya the peace of a few minutes' silence while she waited for the pain killers to kick in.
When they were back outside thirty minutes later, Raya was feeling much better and much more willing to spend an evening with her friends.
"Well, here's our big girl." Adrian said when he finally spotted his daughter walking over to the group with a bit of a spring in her step. "I see the Air Temple is still standing, so it must have been a success."
"Yes, very much so." Achak nodded as Raya blushed at her father calling attention to the fact that for once, she didn't loose her temper, even though she nearly came close to doing just that many times during the meeting. "She did really well."
"So, I see Rikki managed to keep Len from running off." Raya commented, changing the subject from her rather quickly, finding... Rikki sitting on Len who was flattened face down to the ground.
"I'd really much rather you call off your pet before she kills me, please. She's already farted a number of times while you were gone." Len looked up as Rosafa, Hana and Adrian burst out laughing while Burim wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or scold them for not helping the young Air Acolyte with his rather precarious situation.
"Let me guess, you tried to bail on us while we were gone?" Asked Raya as she snorted with laughter at the sight. Len glared at her. "All right, all right. Rikki, c'mere girl." Raya called, and at the command, Rikki sat up from Len to trot over to her master rather joyfully at having fulfilled her duty given to her earlier that day.
Len righted himself up with a quick blast of air bending to dust off his clothes.
"Sorry about that, but I did warn her not to let you vanish on us." Raya said as she scratched Rikki behind her ears.
"Yeah. And you guys were no help at all once Rikki pinned me." Len snapped at the other adults in the group.
"Come on, we're wasting daylight. Your dear old daddie says we can go to the mainland now that all my work is done for the day!" Raya said suddenly, grabbing Len by the arm and dragging him over.
"We'll travel back with you then." Hana and Adrian said. "It'll be such a nice change of pace taking the boat."
"Yeah, no offense Master Achak, but flying bison really aren't my thing." Adrian nodded fervently at his wife's suggestion.
"No offense taken, Mr. Bion. In the meantime, I shall take the Elders of the White Lotus back to their homes in the mainland. We need to discuss a few things." Achak said rather pointedly to Rosafa, Borra and Burim.
"Well, my grandson, you have fun and be safe tonight." Rosafa smiled once she knew she was going home on Eira, not a boat.
Achak didn't bother asking for extra security around Raya tonight on her way to the main land, since he knew perfectly well at this point that her parents were skilled Waterbenders themselves. So after the proper farewells, the party separated, with Achak hopping aboard Eira at the driver's seat, Rosafa, Borra and Burim in the passengers' saddle. While Raya, Adrian, Hana, Zuko and Len made their way to the boats that connected the island to the main land for those who didn't own a flying bison. Raya had to tell Rikki to stay on the island while they were away that evening since a giant Sato-car sized Tigruf would not fit well on the boat.
"Look, the city lights are being turned on!" Raya exclaimed as indeed the lights were being turned on while the boat drifted away from the island. Every member of the group watched the sight as the buildings grew bigger and bigger in their line of view until with a soft bump barely noticeable, the boat reached the shoreline.
"See you in a few hours, Avatar!" The captain of the vessel called as the group disembarked. Raya waved at the man before turning to her parents, suddenly feeling a bit awkward again.
"We're so proud of you, Raya." Hana said with a teary-eyed smile at her daughter.
"Thanks, momma." Raya mumbled, hugging her mother as her father patted her on the head fondly.
"Here's a little extra something for tonight. You've earned it." Adrian said, handing Raya a wallet full of money.
"Wow... for me? But don't you guys need it too?" Raya blinked at the wallet, then looked up at her parents.
"Don't worry about us. Consider it a graduation gift." Hana waved her hand with a 'don't even bother trying to argue against it' look.
"Thanks so much you guys. I love you!" Raya threw her arms around both of her parents in a last hug.
"Hey, c'mon, I thought you said we were burning day light, Raya?" Len asked.
"Oh! He's right!" Jumping, Raya suddenly pulled away from her parents, stuffing the wallet in her coat pocket. "You can get home all right?" She said, looking up again into the faces of her beloved mother and father.
"Yes, we're big kids, we can handle ourselves. Now go out and have some fun, Raya." Adrian grabbed his daughter's shoulders, turned her around, then shoved her right at Zuko and Len- both whom grabbed an arm of hers to keep her from hitting the ground.
"Good night, sweetie!" Hana called, as Adrian waved.
"Bye!" Raya called over her shoulder while her two friends helped get her straightened back out on her feet again.
"Your dad must have a strong arm." Zuko commented.
"Heh..." Raya felt rather embarrassed that Adrian got the better of her again.
"Well, where to, all mighty Avatar?" Asked Len. "This is your party after all."
"Hmm..." After several moments of thought, Raya knew exactly where she wanted to go. "I've got it! C'mon, it's not that far from here!" She then grabbed both Zuko and Len by the arm, dragging them down the street and around several street corners before they reached her destination where she finally let go.
"Here? But it's so dingy." Len looked doubtfully at the sign of the place he and his family always overlooked when they were in the city. The sign in front of it read:
"Chuck's Eatery, serves the best Fizzy Drinks in town!"
"Oh come on, you've never been in here?" Blinked Raya at Len.
"Nope. My family is all vegetarian. That's a carnivorous eatery, isn't it? Can't we go to my families' favorite spot?" Len asked, looking queasy at the site of the restaurant.
"Nope. And besides, don't judge a book by it's cover, this place also has Vegetarian meals that you can enjoy. Not that I've ever had them. I'm a carnivorous Avatar, and quite proud of it." Raya then put her hands on the small of Len's back and shoved him to the door.
"Ok! Ok! I'm going!" Len half shouted at her. "Yeesh." He added in an undertone as Zuko chuckled, walking in without an argument in sight.
Upon entering the building, Len's dread increased. It wasn't anything like the fancy restaurant he and his family went to. It was loud, crowded and cramped. As large as it was, it felt like he and Zuko could barely squeeze in.
"Hey Chuck!" Raya called to a generally enthusiastic crowd. The man behind the counter at the other end turned around, with the result of both Len and Zuko jumping back.
Chuck was both the owner and chef of the restaurant, with dark brown hair in a block-cut style at the top of his head, and brown eyes. He was a large man, who looked like half the time he ate the food he cooked and served up here himself, with wide shoulders, a beefy neck, and a laugh that could be heard miles away.
"Well if it isn't my favorite customer!" Chuck called over the crowd as they greeted her.
"Chuck, old man, how are you?" Raya said, sitting at the bar table like she owned the place. "I brought these two stiffs to have a taste of real food." She jerked her thumb at Zuko and Len.
"Uh, Raya, I thought you didn't get along with people in this city?" Asked Len in a whisper.
"Just because I didn't get along with people doesn't mean I didn't have my favorite haunts when things went really bad." She replied as Chuck handed her a menu, then Zuko and Len as they took a seat on either side of her.
After a few minutes, Len was surprised at the menu to find a Vegetarian section, and ordered a prospective looking platter of all things vegan, and a fizzy drink that he'd always wanted to try. While Zuko decided to go carnivorous and ordered a burger and fries, with a caffeinated fizzy drink that was sure to send him climbing walls by the night's end.
"So, what'll it be Princess?" Chuck said when his massive form strode in front of Raya and her friends at the counter.
"I'll have your number thirty four with extra cheese and bacon, and make the drink a blue fizz." Raya handed her menu back to Chuck.
"I'll have your number twenty three, with cheese on the fries and an extra large black fizz." Zuko said with confidence.
"Feeling brave are we, Prince Zuko?" Asked Chuck with a small laugh that made his belly roll while he took the menu, before turning to Len. "And what'll the resident Air Acolyte be having tonight?"
"Your number fifty with the red fizz." Len caught on to the language of the eatery surprisingly quickly today after watching the other two and a few other customers place their order.
"I'll get those drinks out to you right away, and you know the standard waiting period for the meals, right Princess?" Chuck laughed as he put the menus back in their slot next to the cash register at the end of the bar table.
"Why does he call you Princess?" Asked Zuko when Chucko left to fill their drinks.
"I spent so much time around here during the summer getting to know him and everyone here, that I was practically the princess of this eatery. He doesn't have any nieces or nephews, since he comes from a small family, so he treated me like his niece once he started hearing about all the problems I'd be having at school, or even during summer break." Shrugged Raya. "Guess you could call this place my oasis when I was growing up. My parents always knew they could count on Chuck here to take care of me, and by the time they'd come over to pick me up, I'd generally be calmed down and happy again. No matter how bad it always got, I could always come here to talk to him. Sometimes during the hotter months, he'd give me free ice creams."
"And today, these meals are on the house." Chuck said, placing each of their sodas in front of them.
"What? Why?" Blinked Raya.
"After seeing the way you roasted that would be assassin on the internet networks, and knowing all along that you would amount to something greater than the kids picking on you, I figure you have earned a break. Just so long as you keep coming here whenever you get the chance, do we have a deal?" Asked Chuck.
"Sure!" Raya held out her hand, and the two shook on it.
Zuko and Len looked at each other, not sure how they felt about the tale behind her attachment to this place, as she returned to her drink in silence for a few moments.
"This is tasty." Len commented on his own drink before abruptly belching out really loudly. "S'cuse me." He mumbled. It was always bound to happen, whenever he drank something with caffeine and sugar, he was bound to start belching.
Next thing they knew, Raya belched out an even louder one than Len.
"Nice one, Avatar!" One of the regulars in the restaurant called back.
"Thanks, Ted!" Raya called back with a bit of a hiccup and wave. She and Len looked at each other, then over to Zuko- who felt like he was being cornered, or put on the spot to join in.
"You know, growing up around royalty you're discouraged from making rude noises like that." Zuko began. He hadn't even taken a sip of his drink yet. "However..." He added when Len and Raya looked at each other with raised eyebrows. He took a long draught from his glass, and a few seconds later, everyone was staring at him as he belched louder than he even thought possible.
"You're all right, Princey!" Chuck laughed from his griddle as Zuko was patting his chest a little.
"Yeah, not bad for an amateur." Laughed Raya. She took another sip, and before long, the three were engaged in a belching contest. Which in the end, Raya won. All in all, she thought, it wasn't a bad way to pass up ten minutes while waiting for their meals to get to them. Here, it wasn't like people would talk bad about them, or even judge them for acting rudely. After all, it wasn't a five star restaurant where you had to wear fancy clothes or anything. But it was a well known eatery.
"Here you go, kids." Chuck said, placing Len's plate in front of him first, then Raya and then Zuko.
"Thanks, Chuck! It looks great!" Raya said at once, looking at her platter. The burger was huge, about the size of a half circle plate one would serve a large roll on, and roughly three inches thick, filled with meat on the inside, three different kinds of cheeses, lettuce, cabbage, and a sauce that looked rather similar to Thousand Island dressing. Her fries on the platter were really sweet potato fries with a spicy cheese sauce poured over them, and laced with a heavy helping of bacon bits. Chuck refilled their drinks as she observed everything before taking a bite of her fries.
Zuko's plate was similar, except without cabbage, and several slices of bacon on the burger itself. His fries were regular potatoes, with two kinds of cheese sauce, onions, and peppers.
Len's plate was full of his favorite vegetables, which surprised him apart from the fact that they were all fresh and rather crisp. The sauce was thick and home-made, and rather spicy, which was a good balance in his opinion in relation to his drink.
"You know, by the end of this, we may just unwind you yet, Prince Zuko." Raya commented after taking a large swallow of her burger, then her fizz drink. And after that, letting out another loud belch.
"Always gotta have the final word, don'cha?" Asked Len, who had surprisingly come close to beating her in the belching contest a few minutes earlier.
"Yep." Nodded Raya without skipping a beat.
After finishing their rather loud, crowded and filling meal, the three left, saying goodbye to the good-natured owner of the restaurant.
"Well, now that we're all fed, and more wired than a kid experiencing fizz drinks for the first time, where do we wanna go next?" Asked Zuko.
"I need to make a run to the art store, then we need to go down to that tea shop Minoru mentioned. Next will be your choices, kay?" Raya looked between them, walking backwards.
"An art store? Didn't you just get some art supplies a few weeks ago?" Asked Len, blinking in confusion.
"Yeah, but I can go through pencils like no tomorrow once I get going on a project, and I need more colors and solvent." She shrugged.
She took them to a seemingly inconspicuous shop in the middle of a street, with a yellow over hanging that read 'Republic City Art Store'. Once inside, she said hello to the cashiers, and other employees, before heading straight to the art pencils section where, within half an hour, she'd selected over fifty pencils, acting like a kid in a candy store all the while. Then after moving on to the oil solutions isle, she grabbed a big thirty two ounce container of odorless mineral spirits.
Once they were done there, they made their way to the tea shop to get Minoru's herbal tea, and then it was up to Zuko and Len where they went next. Zuko was still so full from their dinner, but took them to a higher-end sweet shop in what Raya called "Snob hill alley" of Republic City, where they each got something sweet to enjoy later. Even Len had fun picking out "Fancy" Versions of his favorite candies. Then Len took them to Republic Park, and a small oasis there reserved for the Air Nation Acolytes. That was where they spent the rest of the evening, talking, joking around and in general having fun.
"Well, guess it's time to head back." Raya sighed when the park's tower clock struck the ten o'clock at night mark.
"I gotta admit, I had fun with you guys today." Len shrugged as they made their way back to the boat.
"Ditto. Been a while since I last hung out with anyone." Zuko agreed, realizing as he said it that he was starting to talk like a city person rather than a Prince of the Fire Nation.
Raya glanced back at Zuko and Len, smiling at the two of them while walking and in general enjoying herself while they got on the boat. For once, nothing terrible happened to interrupt her good times. For once, she was able to live a bit of a life without worrying about anything, and got to know her two teachers, now her two friends. After all, there were certainly a few things in life that you go through and can't wind up as friends. And sharing a good meal, and a belching contest were two of those things...
The shadow of Zola loomed over him in the dark depths of the island prison owned by the Fire Nation. Looking up through the shadows, seeing her face only by the moonlight gleaning through the small cell window, he saw the mask lit up, silhouetted by the darkness of the prison. This man had long, unkempt black hair, which looked like it hadn't been brushed in at least five years. He wore the prison garb of the Fire Nation Prison Center, with heavy chains at his feet and hands, keeping him tethered to the ground. Unlike most Fire Nation residents, his skin was pale from being in jail for such a long period of his life. Dead, amber eyes looked up at the woman who was seeking his assistance as his breath rose in a mist in front of his face.
"And why would the great Zola be seeking the help of Daiyu?" The man asked.
"Because... I have been seeking to kill the Avatar. And I know you, and your Bloodbending skills are perfect for the task that I need done." Zola hissed back. "If you can achieve the task I have requested, then I can make it so your criminal history never existed. You will have a clean plate, and be able to move about freely. I know the Avatar has never faced someone with your caliber. And it will not be something she will expect."
"Very well." Daiyu gave a barely seen smirk, looking at the guard who was passing them, then Zola suddenly jumped back from him as the guard started acting like he was being controlled by a marionette, being forced to hover over to the cell, then open it before hovering to the prisoner and unlocking each of his painfully heavy shackles.
"Y-you'll never get away with this!" Was all the prison guard could say before he hit the ground, falling unconscious at once.
"Oh, I believe I already have." Daiyu sneered, stepping over the man, and closing the cell door behind him. He turned to Zola. "No need to look so scared. I would not dare Bloodbend my only chance at freedom." He added with a chuckle. Then he paused, looking up at the window where the quarter moon shone through. "I'll need a change of clothes, Zola." He hissed.
"Of course." Zola smiled beneath her mask...
Author's Comments:
Of course I gotta end on an ominous note after Raya and her buds have a good time in the town. Can't let it all be cheerful and happy, can I? And YES, I finally brought in Bloodbending! Can't wait for the scene where I really employ it, ya know? Daiyu was just showing off with the guard. He's capable of much more.
While I'm aware that this is a smaller chapter, this is one that I really wanted to show what Raya was like during times of peace, without loosing her temper at anyone. She's getting better at self control, no?
And what is this task that Zola has asked of Daiyu? Well, that'll have to wait!
I also need to apologize for taking so long to get this out to you guys. I've had a lot of family emergencies to take care of. My Dad being diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer, for example. It really shook up my world, quite literally. And took a while for things to calm down. Also, my mom and dad got remarried! Yay! Now I'm a house sitter at what is loosely called the 'family home' in a small town, in the middle of nowhere-ville.
So, with all that said and done, I hope you enjoyed this light, easy chapter! Yes, it is part of my initial plot. It's not a worthless filler, even though it may seem like it! I needed a way to show Zuko and Len opening up, and how Raya sees to it that that happens. It may seem like Zuko's only purpose in this story is as Raya's teacher, but there is more to it than that. You'll see it much later on, even Len serves a purpose here. I wouldn't make a character with only one use, now would I?
Anywho, on to the next chapter, which will hopefully be much longer than this!
