In Gaoling four pairs of eyes gazed at each other intently. Two blue, one grey, and one gold. Silence reigned eerily in the Bei-Fong family den and Sokka felt a small void suck up sound. To him, the silence deceptively created more sound that kept the boy on edge.
Glancing at Katara briefly on occasion, Sokka kept his eyes focused on Mai's hands and Ty Lee in general. Prepared for any instant strike Sokka's heart beat faster than he could have imagined or liked.
Katara, equally on edge, kept her unease below physical expression.
Mai rolled her eyes as Sokka checked her hands for the fiftieth time in the past fifteen minutes. Mai's boredom engulfed her thoughts and the dark girl felt as if she were home. Be silent, don't speak unless spoken to…just like home. Wee. I may kill myself tonight.
Ty Lee admired the furniture and compared them with the Earth King's Palace decorations. Ty Lee contemplated. Did these people steal this stuff from the Palace? They look the same…sort of. Weird. These people are mega-rich, or something, aren't they.
Mai broke the silence with a small sigh and the other three eyes immediately focused on her. Mai blinked, that was weird.
"Um," Ty Lee said softly and then pointed to Katara. Sokka immediately tensed and was ready to spring into action. Mai quickly reached for a stiletto, ready to lodger the blade in the Water tribe boy's neck the second he lunges. Katara instantly grew on edge.
"I love your hair."
Sokka's jaw dropped for a second, but he immediately went back into a spring load stance. Mai shrugged and let go of her stiletto and stared at the ceiling.
"Um…thank you?" Katara was utterly perplexed.
Ty Lee smiled, "you're welcome. But seriously, how do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Put your hair in those little loopy thingies. They connect to a roll of hair behind your atlas, right?"
"My what?"
Ty Lee blinked, "Oh sorry. It's that last part of your spine that connects to your head. I'm talking about the back of your head basically."
Mai closed her eyes and smirked a little, unbeknownst to the Water tribe siblings. Both Katara and Sokka gazed at Ty Lee with stunned amazement.
The acrobat looked perplexed, "Was it something I said?"
Katara shook her head, "No. To um…answer your question, there's a roller that you can't see that clips onto my hair. It clips onto one part of my hair; I put my hair over it, clip my hair again underneath the first clip, and then braid the rest of it. Then I have two beads at the end of my bangs, like the ones you can see here, and the beads at the end click into the roller behind my head."
"Wow. That's long. It must be a pain to do that everyday."
Katara shrugged, "I got used to it. It's the main style of hair in my tribe, so I learned quickly."
Ty lee smiled more, "I never met anyone from the Water Tribe before you two, so I didn't know. I like the fashion though. It's neat."
Mai remained silent and still, Ty Lee is nuts. It's official.
Ty Lee giggled and pointed to a bewildered Sokka, "and he's soo cute in that outfit."
"Where'd you get the name Atlas from?" Sokka said; his head tilted.
"I don't know. They just told me all the parts of the body at the Fire Nation Royal Academy for Girls."
Katara slyly gazed at her brother in the corner of her eye and giggled inside, nice decoy. I bet Suki would have loved to see this…speaking of which, I wonder where she is.
"Anyway," Sokka said, "you're seriously Azula's friends?"
Katara instantly snapped out of her thoughts and gave Sokka a meaningful look. Sokka shrugged in surprise.
"You mean why are we friends with a crazy, sadistic, power-hungry, and incredibly talented firebender who happens to be the Princess of the Fire Nation?" Mai spoke up with a blank face.
Sokka blinked, "um, yeah."
"Good question. I'm not sure."
Ty Lee shrugged as well.
Sokka returned, "Yeah because you know she's crazy, sadistic, and all those other things you mentioned right?"
Mai's face became blanker, a subtle change but not unnoticeable, "are you serious?"
"What my brother so eloquently put is that we're wondering why you guys have never questioned Azula's decisions and actions. I question stuff about my friends all the time, and sometimes I get back crap, but most of the time we work and grow off of each other's questions about one another."
"I know what you mean," Ty Lee said, "but I guess we never got around to it?'
"Sounds right to me," Mai replied.
"Don't you guys have a lot of free time?" Sokka said, "We've only fought a few times. You guys couldn't have been searching for us all that time could you?"
"For the most part," Mai responded, "Azula also sought after Zuko too."
"Azula was looking for Angry-Jerk?"
Mai raised an eyebrow, "Angry-Jerk?"
"It's a nickname I came up for him ever since I met him," Sokka declared.
"Zuko's angry a lot, but he's not a jerk," Ty Lee replied.
"What!" Sokka and Katara nearly shouted.
Ty Lee huffed a little, "you heard what I said. He's not a jerk. He…"
"He nearly got the Avatar, the world's last hope for peace, killed by Azula. Not only that, but he came to our village, scared the crap out of us because we were defenseless and used our grandmother for ransom because he thought we hid the Aang!" Katara interrupted.
"Zuko's chased us as long as we've known the Avatar and he's caused a bunch of trouble. He burned the village on Kyoshi Island is…he's…he's just a jerk! There's nothing good about him!" Sokka added.
"No." Mai replied calmly, "He's just confused. He's a nice person. There is a good side to him. It just hasn't been shown because he's not sure what to do."
"His plan was to capture the Avatar ever since we've known him. Where's the confusion in that?" Sokka cried.
"Zuko was exiled," Ty Lee said.
"We know tha…"
"By his own father!" Ty Lee said heatedly, "I don't know how he got that scar, but it really hurt him. He was a different person the last time we had seen him as kids. Very different."
"How different? Huh?"
Katara raised her arm in front of her brother's chest, "sorry. It's a natural reaction. His face had been what we associated with pure evil for the longest time."
"Still is for me…"
Katara glared at Sokka, "as I was saying. I believe you two. Back when you captured me and the Dai Li put me in a prison cell, Zuko was there. But he was different. He was solemn and he didn't want to fight. He looked depressed and he wasn't angry at all."
"You were with Zuko? Why didn't you tell me?"
"There's no real point in telling you now, Sokka. It already happened, and you, Aang, and Toph were busy."
"Busy trying to find you."
"What? Did you want me to just pop up and say 'hey Sokka I'm right here?' You know, because I was trapped and everything."
"Look I don't want to argue…"
"Okay," Katara nodded, "me neither. The deities know Toph's been going nuts lately."
"Yeah what's with that?" Ty Lee said.
Katara and Sokka froze, "um, what?"
Mai slapped her forehead lightly, "she's saying that your blind friend had an odd aura or something. She's weird like that."
"Not weird," Ty Lee chided, "I just have the ability to see auras, and the color shows how the person is feeling. We saw your friends, and the little girl was muted greens and reds. That's a sign of internal confusion and unhappiness."
"What color is Mai?" Katara asked.
"Light grey. It means she's kind of emotionless and she doesn't have a whole lot of personality."
"I never would have guessed," Sokka retorted blandly. His sister lightly slapped the back of his head.
Mai rolled her eyes.
Ty Lee giggled a little, "you're a little green but mostly tan. You've got a lot of knowledge most people don't normally know. But you're still cute."
Sokka rolled his eyes, "please. I know you think I'm cute, I have no idea why, but I've got a girlfriend. Sorry, but I'm taken."
"It's okay. It doesn't really bother me."
"Kinda hard to fraternize with the former enemy there, Ty Lee," Mai relaxed and lounged in her seat.
"Yeah, but you're too worried about Zuko to care about cutie here, are you?"
Mai shrugged and the water tribe siblings both appeared a little uneasy. Getting the sense that the siblings felt out of place, Ty Lee reverted back to them. "Um…so…how is everything going?"
"Good I guess," Katara responded, "we're a little stressed, but that happens. What about you two?"
Mai shrugged, "I don't know. Not really in a caring mood right now."
Ty Lee tensed in deeper thought, paused, and then spoke. "I'm not really sure. I'm a little worried about Azula's safety but I'm not at the same time."
"Sheis pretty strong," Katara remarked, "I'm not trying to brag but if Zuko, that moron, didn't interfere with our fight she probably would have lost, and Ba Sing Se wouldn't have been captured."
"Zuko is angry and confused," Mai said, "I would not have put that move past him. He seemed like he just wanted to go home."
"I'm not sure what Azula offered him," Ty Lee added, "but it must have been good because normally Zuko likes to avoid Azula at all costs. Especially when we were younger."
"The only times he would be forced to play with Azula was when Fire Lady Ursa told him," Mai continued.
"What about Fire Lord Ozai?" Katara said. "Did he do anything with Zuko? Our dad may have left us two years ago to fight in the war, but he always played with us when he had free time."
"He is the chief of the Southern tribe," Sokka compiled, "but he balanced work and his family out well. My sister's basically asking if Ozai was like that."
"To Azula, yes," Mai answered, "but for Zuko, absolutely not."
"So Ozai is one of the reasons why Zuko is so messed up?" Katara concluded.
The Fire Nation girls shrugged, "we're not sure. Zuko doesn't talk about himself much at all. We hadn't seen him in years before a few weeks ago."
"But you're connected through Azula," Sokka remarked, "so if Azula spilled anything about him…"
"She doesn't care enough about him to pay attention," Mai answered, "if Azula paid attention it was to find Zuko's weaknesses and exploit them."
"Cruel," Katara said with distaste.
"Tell me about it," Mai agreed.
Ty Lee's mouth twitched into a knowing smile, but kept silent.
A knock.
Zuko and Azula gave each other a quick glare, both attempting to restrain themselves from each other, and they turned to a rickety wooden door.
"We're here," an unnamed voice called to Fire siblings, and thuds of boots faded away.
Zuko sighed and led his sister out the door and onto the deck. Azula gave the ship a disgusted face, eying the décor with distaste.
Breaking out into the deck, the fading orange sky gave Zuko a small pain in his eyes. Pakku stood by an extended plank that led to a small dock, and gave the siblings a motion over. Zuko turned to his right and was faced a hilly but pretty landscape with a small village in the distance. The sight looked very Fire Nation to the Prince.
Walking over to Pakku, Zuko gave the old man an honored bow, "Thank you very much for your services. Our gratitude is beyond words."
Pakku nodded, "it is of no concern. I believe life will be greatly changing in the near future for the better. We must go though. Good luck on your journeys."
Zuko bowed deeper and turned away with Azula following. Walking down to the dock the pair stared ahead at Kyoshi village.
"Oh, Prince Zuko," Pakku called from behind them and Zuko froze. Caught, the Prince turned with Azula to face the old man aboard the ship. Pakku gave the young man a hard look, "Admiral Zhao gives you his regards from the ice sheets. Remember that."
Walking away, Pakku gave his tribesmen a command, and the crew prepared for leaving the dock. Pakku disappeared from the Fire siblings' sights, and they made eye contact for a second.
"So now what oh so smart one?" Azula chided the unscarred side of her brother's face.
Zuko had a faraway look, lazily observing the town. Seeing, but also unobserving, Zuko replied, "I don't know, let's just go to town."
"Hold on. You're in no state to deal with any opposition. We should rest for a bit so you can get your jumbled thoughts together."
Zuko's mouth dropped and he turned with surprise to his sister, "are you…the uncaring Azula, worried about someone else's health? Is purgatory freezing over?"
"No and no. You're a mess and you're going to get me killed unless you shape up. There's a tree over there, on your left…oh, maybe you can't see it too well."
"I can see it fine," Zuko growled and stalked over to the large tree. Azula walked a few steps behind him with an evil smirk upon her face,I know how to win no. I know how to escape and conquer you, Zuko, and the rest of the world. I've got control again.
"I'll be okay Azula. Let's just go."
"No need," Azula remarked more casually, noticing movement in the corner of her right eye, "they spotted us anyway."
Zuko immediately focused on an old man and a very young girl walking towards them. His face remained impassive as the old man glared at him.
Azula yawned.
The old man and the girl stopped a few feet away from the pair, and villagers seemed to appear rapidly – all marching to the Fire Nation siblings. Keeping eye contact with Zuko the old man announced his name as Oyaji.
Zuko bowed, "my name is Lee and this is my sister Ty Lee."
Azula quickly looked at him and Zuko thought she was positively insulted,or is she? She just gave me a smirk…whatever…
"Lee and Ty Lee?"
Azula smiled, "our parents, whoever they were, had a wonderful imagination, don't you think?"
"Ty Lee believes our parents are dead, but they could be here. We just want to find our parents and reunite. We've been slaves for a year now and we had just escaped," Zuko explained.
Oyaji pondered, "I understand your reasons, but we have been the subject of swindle in the past more often than not. Please forgive me. My heart goes out to you, but I cannot allow you passage onto Kyoshi Island until I have discussed your appeal with the town elders. Although…I have to ask, if you were both slaves then why is your sister Ty Lee chained and you are not? For the most part that is."
Zuko pointed to Azula, "she's crazy and I'm not."
Oyaji was curious but also a little indignant, "I don't really see how insulting your sister is helping your appeal. In fact it makes you a little more suspi…"
"Actually he's right," Azula piped up, "I am a little crazy and it's a fact. It's not an insult to me. I nearly killed the overseer so that's why I'm chained more than my brother. We couldn't find the key in time before we had to flee. He's not chained like me because he bent to the will of the overseer and didn't face up or rebel. My brother tried to be a good slave and try to rise through the ranks. A little spineless if you ask me, but that doesn't really deflate his character at all."
Azula kept a poker face as a façade, and laughed on the inside,never in our lifetime would he have the finesse for success through manipulation.
"I understand what you mean, but at the same time your brother's motives may have been the safest given the problem you both faced." Oyaji responded. "Anyway, please wait for a bit. I'll have Koko here," gesturing to the little girl, "fetch Suki. Suki is a wonderful ally and leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. She and I will discuss your appeal and come to a decision." The old man gave them a smile, "I can't imagine why she would say no, so hopefully this will be quick. We're not out to shut you down and I would like you both to remember that. We are an understanding people here."
Zuko nodded and Azula's expression didn't change as the girl ran off towards a large green hill. Watching Koko disappear from his sights, Zuko felt a twinge of guilt, I set this place on fire a while ago…I never really realized how nice this island is.
"So you're going to let me stay with Aang until after the Day of Black Sun. and then I have to come home, right?"
Lao watched his hopeful daughter's expression and then he stared down a nervous Avatar. He sighed, "Please give me some time to discuss this with your mother."
Toph seemed miffed but swallowed it as Lao continued, "Now please tell me, Toph or Avatar Aang. Why are your enemies in my home?"
Aang rubbed his back and smiled bashfully, "well they followed us, but I don't think they're going to be our enemies. They seem to want to help, and they're just looking for their friend."
"Who are they?"
"They're from the Fire Nation," Toph answered, "their names are Mai and Ty Lee I think."
"Are they firebenders?"
"No they're not sir," Aang responded.
"Okay. Who is their friend and why are they your enemies?"
"They're friends with Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, and Azula tried to kill me," Aang said. "I'm the Fire Nation's biggest obstacle in their quest for world domination."
"And they'll be able to do it, Avatar or no Avatar, by the end of the summer when Sozin's Comet falls. The Day of Black Sun is the best chance we have at striking when the Fire Nation is most vulnerable – which is a time crunch as it is since the eclipse lasts for eight minutes."
"It's eight minutes?" Aang said to his friend, "I thought it was more like five."
"Sokka said eight last time I heard him."
"Okay…maybe we should plan around five anyway."
"Sounds wonderful but now's not a good time Twinkle Toes."
"Excuse me, dear. You called him Twinkle Toes just now?"
Toph rolled her sightless eyes, "yes Dad. I did. I have a sense of humor. Something I developed outside of the house."
Lao gave her a hard look, "Your manners will need to be fine-tuned young lady."
"Bite me."
"Go to your room."
Toph mumbled angrily as she walked away.
After the blind girl left, Lao apologized to Aang at his daughter's behavior. "I don't know what's come over her. You didn't do this to her did you?"
"N-no sir. She was like that when I met her."
"I see," Lao leaned forward a little, "I have heard my daughter's perspective on her decision to run away from her home, but I am interested in your perspective on these matters. If you may, I'd like to hear your account of the past events since Toph had left Gaoling."
"Well, sir. I'll be honest and say I didn't know Toph ran away at first. She told us that you guys said it was okay, but we didn't really believe her anyway."
"So you let her run away knowing she was a liar?"
"Not exactly. My friends and I didn't piece things together until a few weeks after Toph joined our team."
Lao nodded.
"I think she really missed you and it hurt her to run away," Aang continued, "but I think she also felt like she was trapped and she wanted to be free and enjoy life and make some friends. Something similar happened to me a hundred years ago so I know how she feels in a sense."
Lao's hands rested underneath his chin, "would you be so kind as to divulge your experiences? I admit I'm very unfamiliar with the feelings of being trapped."
A pang wrenched through Aang's heart and he gulped, "I was told that I was the next Avatar earlier than the normal age. Usually the Air Nomads would unveil and start training the Avatar at the age of sixteen, but they told me when I was twelve because they felt war was coming."
"Are you referring to this current war?"
"Yes. I was alive when it started, and Fire Lord Sozin destroyed my people looking for me. I had run away a day before the ambush because I wanted a normal life. I didn't know the ambush occurred the day after I left, but it still hurts to know that my people were wiped out basically because of me."
"So you shrugged off your responsibilities just so you could live a normal life, and it cost you the lives of your nation?"
Aang hung his head, "yes."
Lao straightened, "you're not a very convincing person. By that logic, you're telling me I should keep my daughter locked away more than ever. I'm sure that's the opposite of what you want?"
Aang said nothing. A tear slid down his face.
Lao sighed, "I appreciate your story young Avatar but I'm afraid it only gives me all the more reason to keep my daughter here and knock some etiquette into her."
Aang wiped his face and made eye contact, "I'm sorry Mr. Bei-Fong, but maybe my friend Iroh can do a better job than I could? I've never been a parent so it's hard for me to understand how you feel about Toph."
"Hmm, perhaps. Although is he not having a game of Pai Sho with my wife?"
"I think so. Maybe he's done?"
"I'm not sure myself. Please give me some time to contemplate your thoughts. My wife and I will discuss this tonight with my daughter."
"Okay."
"Our guest rooms are currently full and I apologize for the inconvenience. There is an inn a short walk southeast of my estate. I am sure they will have some vacant rooms. Just say you're scheduled for a game of Pai Sho with my wife tomorrow. The will understand what you're talking about."
Aang rose from his chair and bowed, "thank you very much for your hospitality."
"It is my pleasure," Lao replied, "if only my daughter were as polite as you…"
Aang sat back down, "actually, I learned Earth Kingdom etiquette from her. She told me once that she knows Earth Kingdom etiquette, she just chooses not to be polite."
"That is a little disconcerting…thank you for that tidbit. As soon as my wife is finished with her game I'll have you and your friends escorted to that inn."
"Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. Now let us meet up with your friends again."
A young woman, dressed in her Kyoshi uniform performed an exquisite set of moves under the scrutiny of her leader. Suki smiled on the inside, proud of this younger girl and her immense improvements in style.
"Good work," the leader commented at the conclusion of her subject's performance, "I saw a few shifts in stance that need to be rendered. Other than that did you splendid. I'd help you out but…" Suki smiled a little sadly as she wiggled her right arm. With her arm in a sling, Suki felt a little mischievous, as if she were playing hooky, as she kept the façade of a broken arm. She knew very well that her arm had healed completely a month after she had returned to Kyoshi Island.
The performing warrior bowed and sat at the other side of the Warrior Dojo. Suki sighed a bit, still despairing over the ambush. She gazed over at her two friends who had traveled with her that fateful day. Both girls chatted with each other without the marks of Kyoshi.
Suki felt horribly guilty. Shame gnawed on her as one of her friends painfully stood with a walking stick. Having had serious damage to her right leg the girl walked constantly with an omnipresent ache. Running was out of the question for the girl. Any shift of weight onto her leg was agony for her.
Suki's head bowed. The other friend rose with the other girl, helping her friend stand. This girl kept a blindfold over her eyes ever since the fight.
Only Suki and the blind girl's friend knew what lay underneath the cloth. Suki shuddered. Watching the Fire Princess weld her friend's eyes shut for information gave the leader nightmares for weeks on end.
The leader herself sustained minor injuries; in her own mind. Compared to her friends' tragic circumstances, a broken arm, gash on the leg, and a burn on her stomach seemed miniscule. Suki thought she was branded as lucky with the price of her friends' injuries. For the first month upon her return, she hated herself and saw her leading skills as completely inadequate.
"Um…Suki?" a timid voice said.
The leader blinked in small surprise; a little startled to see a girl in blue appear instantly. Or at least she believed it to be instantaneous, "Hi Koko. Sorry about blanking out. How can I help you?"
"There are these two people on the island searching for their mom. Oyaji wants you to come and talk to him. He's at the base of the village, near the beach."
Suki smiled, "of course Koko. I'd be happy to go."
Her warriors stood at full attention as Suki rose to her feet. "I'll be gone for a little bit," she announced, "Akemi and Xiu. Could you two come with me please? The rest of you, find a partner and spar for a while. When you feel it right, incorporate strategies from the other disciplines but stay true to Kyoshi's art. Oh, and above all, have fun." Smiling, Suki left with Koko and the pair of warriors.
"Oi Suki!"
Suki paused and turned to her blind friend, "yes Sachi?"
"May Qiao and I come along?"
"Of course, if you don't mind standing around."
Qiao smirked, "I don't mind. Beats sitting. Let's go."
Suki smiled at the beautiful days as her friends walked down a small road. Admiring the nearly constant snowy conditions around her she felt more at peace with herself.
Walking down a small hill she spotted a grumbling Oyaji and smirked a bit; laughing at the old man's habitual gruffness. Knowing he was incredibly kind at heart she had always questioned his distrustful façade, but never found a moment to truly question him about it.
Curious to see these supposed intruders, Suki assumed the outsiders were Earth Kingdom refugees and imagined herself back at the dojo in very little time. With a small patch of forest blocking her view from the outlanders, a tiny spark of excitement grew within her. Kyoshi knows we could use new people here, Suki thought playfully.
Glancing at her friends and Koko, she noticed a mix of emotions stewing within the other girls' faces. Akemi and Xiu were passive. Her close friends, Qiao and Sachi, seemed impartial and Suki took note at this; knowing her friends were usually quite expressive people. Koko seemed a bit oblivious but also a little apprehensive
Is something wrong here? Suki pondered for a brief second, and she laid her ocean blue eyes upon the Fire Nation siblings.
She froze.
Zuko and Azula slowly made eye contact with the warrior.
Oyaji gave Suki a curious glance.
Suki flipped her fans out violently; her face etched in hatred. Suki boomed a ferocious war cry and she rushed at the siblings – fully intending murder.
Author's Note:
Hello everyone. I have to admit that I'm a little hesitant about leaving notes like this for stylistic purposes (I feel author's notes like this actually detract from the story and the work presented in each chapter and each story) but I feel that this note is necessary. I'd like to thank all of those who have read this story so far, and especially those who have left reviews. I'm not trying to come down like a stern teacher, but I must insist that you please review. I need the feedback desperately. just to let everyone know, the amount of hits for this story are a little over 900 and I've got 10 reviews. In other words I am receiving 1 review for every 90 readers.
I'll admit this is the first time I've ever done an Avatar fanfic, and I really need to know if my characters are believable. Also, I'd like to know if this story interests you - what I'm looking for specifically is my audience. I'm not sure who I'm writing this for, maybe myself, maybe others. I don't know. At the moment I'm writing what I think will be interesting. So i'd like to know how interested are you in this story? Do some parts bore you? Do you feel that this story is written for someone above or below your levels of interest?
What does everyone thinks about the plot? How believable is this story? I would love to hear your thoughts. I encourage you to please review so I can make this reading experience better for you.
I know my profile is blank right now, but that doesn't mean I don't exist. If you want to pm me advice please do so. Also if anyone would lie to volunteer as an editor of sorts, please let me know. I would be happy to return the favor.
Well I guess that's all for now. Once again I'd like to thank those who had previously left reviews, and I encourage you to let me know what you think as you read through the story.
Oh, also. I am writing two versions of this story. There is this version that is broken up into chapters, but I am actually writing this story in one, long file. If anyone would like this chapterless but more cohesive version please pm me. I won't bite.
Thanks again and I hope to keep your interests on high with this humble story of mine.
Caladbolg
