I am not associated with the show Avatar:The Last Airbender.
OK, since not many people got back to be on that question I'm just making my own decision. So here's the deal. I said at the beginning of the story that Aang and company hadn't seen Zuko since the storm. But as that was just a small blurb in the first chapter that doesn't really affect anything now, we're going to bump it up to them not seeing him since the abbey in 'Bato of the Water Tribe'. Jun's just to cool not to include. So, hope everyone's cool with that and if you're not you should of said something when I asked. But I promise I won't do this with every new show. Enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 7
A smoky haze drifted lazily through the stale air of the cavern. The dull light that seemed to emanate from everywhere but at the same time nowhere barely reached its unwelcome fingers into the dark corners of the cave, and the only noise was the quiet scuttling of feet belonging to small, unnamed rodents that could never be found anywhere but in these dark depths of the Earth. Just a few days before the cavern had been filled almost wall to wall with eager bodies gathered to celebrate the awakening of their master. Now it was empty except for the master herself and two others that had just entered.
The pair of lower demons were almost identical, great ogre-like brutes with long arms, broad chests, and bristling black hair. They both towered several feet above Kameko, however, despite their generous size and bulk, their fear of being in her presence was palpable. She stood before them, arms crossed, a look of expectation stamped across her narrow features. "Well, what is your report," she demanded of the two.
One of the demons bowed low and said, "Your Highness, several dozen attacks were made on smaller Earth Kingdom towns last night. Most were completely successful. The inhabitants were killed or driven out and those that escaped will have reached other settlements by now with their crazy stories."
"But they will not be believed by many," Kameko said, her voice deceptively smooth and silky, thick golden honey that only upon close inspection revealed the cleverly laced poison within. "Which is as it should be. But you say only most were successful?"
"Yes, your Majesty," the other demon spoke up, bowing as the other had. "There was a slight disturbance at one sight." Here, the creature hesitated, reluctant to continue.
"Well, spit it our," Kameko snapped, eyes beginning to glow slightly.
"P…please, your Highness. It was in a portside town, early this morning. An attack was lead and many people were killed and the rest driven away, just as you commanded. But something happened. Six of our own went in. Not one came out."
Kameko hissed softly. "The Dragonblade." She reached up to run a hand through her yellow hair. "That fool of a Fire Lord was supposed to kill him. He will pay for his insolence." She turned back to her servants who immediately snapped to attention. "Call back those who went topside, the demons and the shi1. We want to remain hallucinations and illusions for the time being, see how long it takes for the world to creep back into belief as the attacks go on. There are some who still remember the old tales and will begin spreading the word. All others will regret the day they allowed the threat of my power slip from their memory."
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Dawn was still a few hours away. Although worn and bedraggled, Aang, Katara, and Sokka had not yet attempted to catch a bit of sleep. They were gathered together in the room Iroh had offered the boys, adjacent to the smaller quarters that had been set aside for Katara. The three had been reluctant to take up the offer of staying in the rooms. The proximity was just too close to the same men that they had been running from. But they agreed it would be more sensible than sleeping on deck even with Appa whom Aang had called out of the woods with the bison whistle not long after they had set sail.
Now the trio sat in a circle on the cold iron floor, whispering quietly. Aang had told the others what he had learned and where they were now going. It took him awhile to convince his companions that Zuko, as prince of the Fire Nation, would not dishonor his word by attempting a capture on him. According to Sokka the word of any Firebender, especially the one who had ruthlessly hunted them for the past few months, couldn't be trusted. But in the end even the skeptical warrior agreed that traveling with Zuko was their best option. If they were to make any move to stop this new threat they would have to gather more information first.
"But how do we know they're not leading us into a trap?" Sokka asked. "Maybe they have an ambush waiting somewhere. This whole thing could be a trick."
Katara rolled her eyes. "Then explain to me how they managed to call demons up from Hell and bring the dead back to life."
"Well…they could still be planning something. Using all this chaos to their advantage."
"Maybe," Aang said doubtfully, "but I honestly don't think so. Zuko gave his word. And that Iroh guy seems trustworthy enough; I don't think he'd allow it."
"I agree with Aang," Katara said to her brother. "They seem as disturbed by this as we are. I don't think it's a trap. But we should still be careful."
"Whatever," Sokka said. Then he gave Katara a wicked grin. "So sis, what do you think of the Blue Spirit now?"
She glared at him. "I still say he's the better fighter. Now if you two don't mind, I am going to go to bed." She turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Sokka and Aang to their snickering.
Katara stepped out into the chilly hallway and then paused. She didn't really feel like sleeping. Although her body and mind were screaming at her to lie down and rest, to let all the events of the last few days be shut away and momentarily forgotten, she felt restless. Perhaps a walk would do her some good. She recalled the hatch out on deck that she had noticed Zuko lead the paint down. There couldn't be any harm in going to pay her a visit, could there?
Katara began the lonely walk to the stables, her footsteps echoing hollowly around the empty corridor. All else was silent, the ship's other occupants having bedded down long before. The silence was eerie and Katara hurried along quickly, eager to reach the comforting companionship of another living creature.
Before turning the corner into what she assumed was the stable, judging by the pungent smell of hay and manure, Katara was brought up short by a low clattering and soft voice beyond it. She relaxed slightly when she recognized it as Zuko's and inched forward slowly. Poking her nose around the wall, she saw the prince kneeling next to the paint and wrapping her leg in a bandage.
Katara's heart skipped a beat upon seeing the light smattering of blood seeping through the white cloth, but the injury didn't look too serious and she didn't want Zuko to notice her so she remained silent. She debated a moment whether she should return to her room but before she could make a decision the prince suddenly spoke up. "I can see you there, you know," he said, startling Katara. She tried to pull back around the corner but he turned before she could move. "Can I help you with something?"
The girl stammered stupidly for a moment, not liking the black look on Zuko's face. "I…I was just coming down to see the horse. Couldn't sleep. I didn't mean to intrude."
The Firebender rolled his eyes but his expression did soften a tad. "So, why don't you come over and see her instead of sneaking around in the shadows? If not, then I would appreciate your leaving."
Feeling suddenly pissed with prince's cross, arrogant attitude, Katara stepped bravely forward into the lamplight, determined to show Zuko that she wasn't afraid of him at all. He looked at her for a moment longer before returning to his bandaging. She made a face at him when he turned his back and began to make her way across the hay-covered floor. Glancing to her right she saw a large pen full of the Fire Nation komodo rhinos. One of the reptilian creatures turned to look at her, yellow eyes glinting curiously. Katara hurried past it.
Zuko didn't even acknowledge her approach although the paint nickered contentedly when the girl reached out to scratch her ears. "What happened to her leg?" she asked after a moment.
"Just a scratch," Zuko muttered gruffly, obviously in no mood to talk with her.
Katara pushed on anyways, not too thrilled talking to him either but finding silence more awkward. "Does she have a name?"
Zuko paused and glanced up at the paint momentarily before returning to his work and muttering, "Huang."
"That's pretty." Katara continued to stroke the horse's nose. There was a brief quiet broken only by the crunching of the rhinos chewing hay and the creaking of the ship beneath them before Katara asked the question that had been nagging at her for the last little while. "Why are you helping us?"
Zuko sighed irritably as he stood and dusted his hands off on his pants. "I've already given you my reason: this is bigger than anything between me and the Avatar. And I'm not anymore thrilled to have demons taking over the planet than you."
"No, I guess you wouldn't considering you seem to think that's your job." Katara pretended not to notice the prince's angry gaze, keeping her eyes focused on the newly-dubbed Huang. "But you still didn't have to take us with you. It would have been easy enough to leave us to those demons and run off on your own."
"Now listen here…"
"Katara," she said in answer to his pause.
"Katara. I thought you'd be too clever for those kinds of prejudices. Not all Firebenders are cold, heartless killers. I wouldn't leave a dog I didn't like to be ripped apart by those things."
"Wouldn't you?" Katara asked frigidly, suddenly angry. "All I've ever received from your kind is pain and suffering. That's all you've ever given to anyone. Any stereotype you've been given is your own fault."
"I'd be careful what you say considering you're on a ship full of Firebenders."
"Well, then, I hope they can hear me!" Katara half-shouted awarding her an annoyed glance from horse and rhinos. "You're wrong, you're all just wrong! Everything you do, everything you stand for. You're no better than those demons, invading, killing, driving people from their homes! And you'll never stop until every last brave soul who dares resist you is crushed! You all think you're nation is so superior to the rest but in reality you're lower than dirt."
"We are not all that way, as you should well know," Zuko said in a barely controlled voice, not in the mood to get into a shouting match with the agitated Waterbender.
"Yeah, well I don't believe you're one of those 'all'," Katara snapped back. "In fact, I find you one of the worst of the lot, prancing around in your fancy armor, burning up anyone and anything that gets in your way. And what about this mindless obsession with capturing Aang! All you care about is your own benefit. But I can't think of anything important enough, especially something so trivial as glory or honor, to justify your carrying out this stupidity. If it…" Katara broke off suddenly with a yelp as she ducked out of the path of a huge fireball.
When she straightened, she found herself face to face with a furious Fire Prince. His hands came up to clamp onto her shoulders with a vice-like grip and he yanked her forward until their noses were almost touching. "That one was a warning," he hissed angrily before shoving her away from him.
Katara stumbled but caught herself and then watched in surprise as Zuko half stormed, half limped towards the door. Before exiting into the hall, the Firebender rounded back and glared at the girl. "Just so you know, I don't want to capture you're little friend for glory. And there are things that would justify this "stupidity" of mind. Believe me, it is no trivial matter. So do yourself a favor and shut up about things that you don't understand before I change my mind about helping you." He glared at her a moment longer before walking off.
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The next two days of travel passed uneventfully. Sokka and Aang both took to staying on the ship better than anyone had expected. They had at first been reluctant to interact with the Firebenders at all. But when Aang had been out attending to Appa, Iroh had invited him to play a game of Pai-Sho. Almost immediately an at least temporary friendship had formed between the two. It didn't take Sokka long to discover the galley and he spent much of his time hanging around there. The Firebenders were surprisingly tolerant and hospitable, if a little distant. Zuko, on the other hand, completely ignored them, especially Katara who tended to keep to herself anyways.
Zuko was in his room meditating the morning they arrived at their destination. Iroh knocked on the door but entered before his nephew said anything. The old man's face was grave.
"What's the matter Uncle?" Zuko questioned by way of a reprimand, rising from his cushion.
"We have arrived," Iroh answered, "but it appears we were not the only ones to pay a visit."
"What do you mean?"
Iroh sighed and beckoned for the prince to follow him.
They emerged into the light of a blood red sun as it began its daily ascent into the sky. Zuko flinched slightly. He had never been the superstitious type but he knew well that the rising of the red sun was considered an evil omen. And this morning it would prove to be.
The first thing Zuko noticed apart form the crimson light was the crowd of sailors gathered at the prow of the ship. The Avatar and the Water Tribe boy were there, too, gazes directed at the fast approaching coast before them. Zuko shifted his eyes to the land as well and felt his stomach drop.
Half the town had been completely flattened, buildings toppled and rubble lying everywhere in unorganized heaps. Smoke still billowed from several burnt out fires that peppered the ruins. Any structure that wasn't felled was either leaning haphazardly against its neighbors or suffering from caved in roofs and ripped out walls. It appeared that none had been spared.
Apart from Zuko, Iroh, Aang, and Sokka no one on deck knew exactly what was going on and they were beginning to whisper wonderingly to each other. The attack didn't look Fire Nation delivered and they knew of no one else who would do such a thing. Zuko and his uncle glanced knowingly at each other though. There wasn't much doubt in their minds what had happened and it appeared that this unfortunate town had been hit even harder than the other. They both knew it would be foolishly optimistic to hope that the girl they sought was still around.
As they pulled into the almost empty port, Zuko motioned the two other boys over to him and Iroh. "You two go get the girl and then meet back up here. Perhaps we can still find some clue as to what happened to this girl we are searching for." Once the two had disappeared below deck he turned to his uncle. "Are you sure you will be able to find her shop again?"
Iroh thought for a second and then nodded. "It will take me a minute to get my bearings but, yes, it should be easy enough to find again. However, it is not the shop I am worried about so much as the girl."
Zuko grunted and turned to face the shore. "This attack looked like it happened the same night as the one we were involved in. If she's been driven out, she couldn't have gotten far. If she was killed…" He didn't finish the ominous sentence, not wanting to think about what position they'd be in if this one ray of hope was doused.
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Within a few more minutes, the ship was docked and five figures were making their was towards the town. Iroh lead the way, picking carefully through the rubble and occasionally pausing to glance around. Aang followed right beside him, Momo clinging to his shoulder, and the two chattered nonstop as if old friends and not enemies. Katara and Sokka were a step behind, listening to the others conversation but not speaking themselves. Zuko trailed behind the rest in his usual isolated manner. He was still limping slightly but had otherwise physically recovered from his ordeal. The event was still fresh in his mine, however, and he often stopped to search the shadows between the still standing buildings for any demonic occupants. Although none appeared, Zuko did notice something that seemed to have bypassed the others. The demons and zombies had killed many people before. Yet here there was no sign of any dead bodies. There were dried puddles of blood pooled across the ground and splashed on the ramshackle huts every here and there but that was the only indication that any deaths may have taken place.
Zuko was so caught up in his observations that he almost ran into Katara when the group suddenly stopped. "You couldn't warn a person, could you," he snapped at the girl.
She immediately wheeled around and stuck a finger in his chest. "Well, maybe you should pay more attention to where you're going."
Swatting her hand away, Zuko shifted his attention to his uncle. "Why did we stop?"
"Because I've found our place," Iroh answered simply, waving his hand at a small building to their left.
Iroh hadn't recognized the place at first, just another gutted frame of broken boards in an entire line of them. But, ironically enough, he had caught his foot on something half-buried in mud and rubble and, looking down, had found himself staring into the eerily realistic eyes of the statue of Kameko. His gaze traveled from there to an assembly of other knick knacks that hadn't been immediately visible at first but obviously belonged to that same shop that he had visited not a week or two before.
"Gosh," Aang said, nudging a ripped kite with his foot, "this place was hit hard."
Although the building was still standing, the inside has been completely ravaged. The front wall was torn away from the rest of the structure and lay in splintered shambles around the base. Shelves had been knocked over and merchandise was scattered everywhere both inside and out.
Iroh moved forward into the shop, his boots crunching over wood and broken glass. The four teens filed in slowly behind him. Momo was already darting around, occasionally picking something up and sniffing it curiously.
Katara shook her head hopelessly after a single glance around. "What on earth are we hoping to find? If this girl was driven out when the demons came then it's not like she'd of left some clue as to where she was going. That would have been the last thing on her mind."
Sokka nodded in agreement. "There's no point in this."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Zuko snapped sourly. The other boy didn't say anything. "Exactly. At least this is better than doing nothing."
"But we could be trying to find some other way to get the information we need," Katara retorted. "This place is in shreds! We're not going to find anything."
While the others were arguing, Aang was wandering the opposite side of the building. Personally, he agreed with Zuko although he didn't want to tell his friends that. While the odds of discovering anything in this mess were slim at best, there was nothing else they could do. And who knew, maybe they'd get lucky.
Kneeling to study the floor closer, Aang suddenly froze when his sharp ears caught a soft crack of glass. He casually turned around so as not to alarm the others and immediately spotted where the sound had come from. What Iroh would have recognized as the girl's desk had been lifted off the floor and thrown carelessly aside so that one edge was leaning against the wall, forming a sort of alcove beneath it. The broad piece of furniture effectively hid anyone who might have sheltered between it and the wall. But the crimson sunlight that was slanting in through the front entrance glared right through it and cast an obviously human shadow across the floor.
Glancing over his shoulder at his still bickering companions, the Airbender began inching carefully towards the desk. He came in from the side of the ripped out wall in hopes that it would prevent whoever was hiding from making a break for it. Aang just prayed that it wasn't another one of those walking corpses.
Still a few feet away from the alcove, Aang became aware that the others had stopped talking and were watching him silently. The mysterious shadow apparently realized this too, because it shifted uneasily. Whoever it was, they weren't keen on being discovered. Aang was within touching distance of the burnished wood when the inevitable happened – his foot caught on a thin piece of board and sent him reeling forward.
Now knowing for certain that they'd been found out, the person behind the desk made a run for it just as Aang crashed right into their hiding place. The others were ready though. Zuko's arm swung around, shooting a wave of fire at the fleeing form. Occupied with dodging the flame, there was no way the man could jump the water whip that shot across his path and sent him tumbling over.
He rose again almost immediately but Aang had recovered from his own fall. Using his Airbending, the boy launched two sharpened pieces of wood at the man. They stuck through the cloth at either wrist and forced him backwards, pinning him securely to the wall. He struggled futilely for a moment before going limp and glaring angrily at his captors.
"And who may you be?" Iroh asked docilely as they all moved to surround the man.
"That's none of your business, old geezer," the infuriated prisoner spat, straining against his bonds. "Release me this instant!"
Zuko had picked up a sack that the man had dropped when he'd tripped. Upending the bag, the prince knelt to study the pile of assorted coins, jewelry, and other valuables at his feet. "The guy's a looter," Zuko said as he straightened and joined his companions.
"Ah, yes, that would make sense," Iroh said cheerily. "What better place for a thief than a town that every living soul seems to have abandoned?"
"What do you want from me?" the man asked sulkily, displeased at having his treasures discovered.
"I believe you overheard us," Katara piped up, crossing her arms. "We're looking for the girl who ran this shop."
The man snorted. "That witch? She left days before all this happened. Just packed up and left town declaring that doom and destruction were soon going to befall us all if we didn't act soon." He scowled. "Apparently she was right."
"Well, where'd she go? Do you know where she is now?" Aang asked excitedly.
Snorting again, the man said, "Look, kid, that girl is a sorceress, practitioner of the black arts, speaker to the dead. The world would be a better place without her kind. I've told you what I know and I suggest you don't pursue the matter. So, if you would, please let me down of this dratted wall so I could get on with my life!" He emphasized his last sentence with several sharp tugs at the stakes that still held him firmly in place.
No one moved for a moment before Iroh spoke. "I believe he has told us all he can. There's no point in keeping him here." He glanced at his nephew who nodded and stepped forward. The man cringed away from the Firebender before realizing that he was reaching for the stakes. After a moments struggling, Zuko had the man free. Darting forward, the thief scooped up his loot back into the sack, gave the group a final departing scowl, and disappeared down the road.
"Now what?" Sokka asked no one in particular.
"We know the girl's alive and hopefully safe somewhere nearby," Iroh answered. "We have to find her somehow."
"But where will we start?"
No one knew what to say to that. "Let's head back to the ship," Zuko suggested. "We can decide what to do from there."
The five dejected companions began to thread their way back through the maze of debris, faces downcast. Not one was very hopeful of finding the girl. There was no telling where or how far she could have gotten in the last few days.
They were nearly half-way back to the ship when Sokka lifted a hand to stop the others and cocked his head. "Do you hear that?" They all listened for a second and soon the reverberating footsteps became unmistakable.
"You don't think it's a demon, do you?" Katara asked nervously, glancing around.
"No," Zuko said after a moment, frowning, "but I think I do know what it is."
Suddenly, something huge and furry launched itself over the crumbling rooftops and right into the traveler's path. It hissed angrily and a thin tongue shot out of its cavernous mouth before a sharp command from the rider brought it back into line. Iroh laughed in delight and Zuko sighed in exasperation as Jun reined in her Shirshou and jumped down to stand before them. "Well, this is certainly a surprise," she said coolly.
"And to what do we owe this pleasantry?" Iroh asked happily.
"Chasing down a criminal, as always," the bounty hunter replied. She glanced around. "My shirshou tracked him this way. You didn't happen to see…" her roving eyes came to rest on Katara and a huge grin split her face. "So, Zuko, I see that your little girlfriend came back to you after all."
Zuko glared at the older girl. "First, it's Prince Zuko. Second, I don't have any sort of relationship with that Water Tribe peasant. If I had my way she'd be strung up by her ankles over a pit of voracious crocodiles."
"And I feel the exact same way about him," Katara snapped.
"Whatever," Jun said turning back to her beast. "I'm gonna get moving then."
"Just a second!" Iroh suddenly perked up. "I think you can help us with something."
"The last time I helped you out it didn't exactly end well," Jun answered. "No can do."
"But this is extremely important," Aang said, immediately catching on to Iroh's idea. "Atleast hear us out."
Sighing, Jun turned back around. "Is there anything in it for me?"
"Your life, possibly," Iroh answered.
That got the bounty hunter's attention and she nodded interestedly. "Does it have something to do with what happened to this town?"
Iroh nodded. "Zuko, your sword please," he said to his nephew. The boy handed it over and the old man in turn handed it to Jun. "We're looking for someone, a girl who owned a shop here. I purchased this blade from her no more than a week or two ago. Will your creature be able to pick up her scent from it."
Jun snorted. "Easily. But I would like to know what's going on before throwing myself into it."
"If I can accompany you on the Shirshou," Iroh said slyly, "I will explain everything we know to you. These four can follow on the boy's bison."
Zuko groaned in embaressment and disgust, but Jun just nodded. "If you must."
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1Shi means corpse in Japanese so you can probably figure out what they are. And for anyone who cares, Huang means Phoenix. I couldn't find anything better that sounded like Zuko would use.
Yeah, I know the end sucked, but that's OK. Sorry that there was another long wait, but once again school, homework, church, horses, guitar lessons, etc, etc, etc, you get the idea. R and R!
