This took a little longer than I wanted but the important thing is I got it done. For those disappointed for the lack of Aang Zuko and Katara action in the last chap I hope this makes up for it. This chapter also makes a reference to The Firebending Masters as will the one following it. Shout out to taffy0823, superkawaiifoxy, Akriloth Warrior, badculture (you make a good point, I'll try to come up with some new material. can I still make a reference to cactus juice? cuz I got an idea I think is very funny) charizardag, mystery writer5775, Talon88.1, Khajmer, and Luiz4200. I own nothing but Shang-wēifēng and my OCs. Read and enjoy.
The Search for Shang-wēifēng
Chapter Nine:
Yuan
Zuko watched the small figure in black warily, waiting for her to make the first move. Then, all at once, her form blurred and vanished. The Fire Prince looked about frantically for his opponent when that strange whirling noise came again and he turned to find the deadly shuriken spinning towards him. He had no time to duck this time so he swung his sword and batted it away. Just then the assassin appeared and, made several gestures that were strangely familiar and a blast of air moaned from out of nowhere and snaked around the Fire Prince. Then the whistling sound came from behind and Zuko turned to find that the shuriken was impossibly spinning back at him.
He couldn't duck this time.
No time to parry it away.
Suddenly a second blast of air came and sent the deadly star wobbling away and embedding itself into a nearby tree trunk. Zuko turned and saw the Avatar standing with Katara his gray gaze shocked and intent on the veiled figure.
"You're an airbender," he whispered.
The figure in black said nothing but produced twin kunai knives in each hand and lunged at the Avatar who ran to meet his opponent with his staff. The assassin swiped at Aang's stomach, but the monk leapt into the air and brought the staff down on the figure's head only to have it blocked by the other kunai. The assassin twirled and sent a drilling kick at Aang's chest, conjuring a whirlwind that sent the boy flying. He whirled through the air and, utilizing his airbending, floated gently to his feet, just in time to see the figure in black charging at him, throwing a kunai straight at his heart.
Suddenly the knife was encased in ice and fell harmlessly to the ground. The assassin turned and leapt into the air just in time to avoid a jet of water slamming into her. Katara retracted the liquid and bent it into a water whip ready to snake at the black garbed figure. Then all at once Zuko lunged at the assassin, swinging his swords and shocked to see the tiny kunai knife parrying his dao swords blow for blow.
"Watch out Zuko," cried Aang as he earthbent a tremor toward the assassin. Zuko broke away from their duel and the black garbed figure leapt to a tree branch to avoid the crackling earth where she once stood.
All three advanced on the tree, but the assassin only stared at Aang with her cold slate eyes.
"You're the Avatar," she said. It wasn't a question but the inflection she used demanded a response.
"Um," Aang hesitated before answering. "Yes?"
"Then you're head is mine!" the assassin hissed as she flung her remaining kunai at the monk who blocked it with his whirling staff. But the knife was just a diversion. With improbable speed, the black garbed figure bounded from the tree and dashed to recover her giant shuriken.
"No you don't!" said Katara, sending her water whip snaking around the assassin's legs. She leapt out of the tendril's reach and continued to rapidly advance upon her weapon, but just as she reached for it, a blast of air knocked her aside and she slumped against a tree trunk unconscious.
All eyes turned toward Appa who had his back to them and his tail up.
"Nice going buddy," congratulated Aang cheerfully.
Appa bellowed proudly.
- - -
The assassin glared at them balefully as the trio loomed over her. When she regained consciousness, the sky was a plethora of oranges and reds as the sun sank behind the western hills, and they had bound her arms and legs. The Fire Prince had wanted to gag her as well so she wouldn't be able to airbend at all, but he conceded that they needed information first.
"Who are you?" demanded Zuko.
"Did Azula send you?" added Katara.
"How can you airbend?" asked Aang.
The veiled girl snorted, tilting her chin up so that she seemed to be looking down at them. "Beat me! Cut me! Brand me! Do as you wish! I will never allow outlanders to reach Shang-wēifēng!"
They gaped at the figure.
"Shang-wēifēng?" repeated Aang. "You're from Shang-wēifēng?"
"Ack! You-you tricked me!" squeaked the assassin. Then Zuko grabbed her veil and yanked it off. "Hey!" she protested. Aang gazed at her face. She had slim features with a narrow nose and small frowning mouth. Her dark brown hair spilled down her back and her antenna-like bangs covered her forehead. She looked like an Air Nomad but her airbending was unlike any the young monk had encountered. Aggressive. Savage. Deadly. It was so far from anything airbenders were supposed to be.
"Give that back you filthy outlander!" demanded the black garbed girl, baring her teeth at Zuko.
"Who are you?" repeated the Fire Prince. "And why are you trying to kill us?"
"My name is Yuan," answered the bound airbender haughtily. "And I owe you no explanations."
Zuko sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "We're wasting time. I don't think we're getting anything out of her."
"Maybe you should try bribing her with a necklace," muttered Katara under her breath.
"What was that?" demanded the Fire Prince dangerously.
"Nothing," said Katara quickly. After Zuko's earlier outburst, she had elected to ease back on the insults. No matter how much fun it was. She was still shaken by the possibility that his own father would scar him. To her, Fire Lord Ozai was little more than a faceless shadow that spread darkness and despair to all the world, so she had always imagined him to be particularly cruel. But to do such a thing to your own child...
"We should explore the Sun Warrior City while there's still daylight," said Aang placatingly. "Let's go Zuko. Katara, you stay here with Yuan."
"Me?" squeaked Katara. "Why me?"
"Zuko knows more about these ruins than either of us," answered the Avatar. "Besides," he said taking the waterbender aside and lowering his voice. "I think the two of you need some time apart. Especially after what you said before."
Katara opened and closed her mouth several times, and stopped when she realized she must look like a fish. He didn't have to say it like that, she thought. It's not like I meant for him to take it personally. Oversensitive jerk!
"Fine," she sighed - she was not pouting! "I'll stay and watch crazy ninja girl. But hurry back, okay?"
"Don't worry Katara," smiled Aang, before turning to Zuko. "Ready?"
"Yes," answered the Fire Prince curtly.
"Let's go Sifu Hotman!"
Zuko stopped short and turned very slowly toward the young monk. "Don't. Ever. Call me that."
"O-okay," answered Aang shakily before following his prospective firebending teacher into the ruins, leaving Katara with a sullenly silent Yuan.
- - -
The Avatar and the Fire Prince walked down the wide street that cut through the Sun Warrior City like a river through a canyon. The City itself was in good condition considering its age. But for the buildings overgrown with ivy and faded wall paintings and crumbling statues of majestic dragons, the pyramids themselves seemed almost untouched by the ravages of time. There was something else too.
"There's something familiar about these buildings," said Aang. "Kind of like the Fire Sage Temple on Crescent Island."
"The Fire Nation and the Sun Warriors were once one people," said Zuko quietly. "But according to the ancient texts, a great schism took place and the tribe divided, one half remaining here, the other migrating to the archipelago where the Fire Nation exists today. Even so the Sun Warrior's influence, like their architectural styles, continue to shape my country in small ways."
"It's like the monks used to tell me," said the Avatar, cheerily. "Sometimes the shadows of the past can be felt in the present. So you really think we'll find something that'll help us firebend?"
Zuko only nodded in answer.
"The past can be a great teacher!" Aang smiled. Then he cried out as he tripped over a wire and the ground before him opened up to reveal a spiked floor. The Avatar only just saved himself by spinning his staff like a propeller and flipping gracefully over the pit to land safely on the other side."
"Zuko?" he panted. "I think the past is trying to kill me!"
"Amazing," said Zuko bending down to examine the trip-wire and the trap it triggered. "I didn't think a booby trap would still work after so long. Then to took a few steps backward and with a running leap ran alongside the stone wall and came to rest beside Aang.
"If there are more of those things laying around," said the airbender, looking around tentatively. "Maybe we should go back."
"No," said the Fire Prince firmly as he continued to make his was toward the large pyramid in the center of the city. "The Sun Warriors were dragon-worshipers, they're our only link to the origin of firebending. We keep moving."
"Hold on," Aang said, following after the Fire Prince. ""When I was a kid there were dragons everywhere, but, since Katara and Sokka found me in that iceberg, I haven't seen a single one. Alive," he added remembering the spirit of Fang, Avatar Roku's animal guide, whom he had encountered in Senlin's Forest where he found himself trapped in the Spirit World.
"Something happened to the dragons, Zuko," the airbender said carefully, as they reached the stone dragon-flanked stairs that lead up to the pyramid's entrance. "Something you're not telling me."
The Fire Prince took a long measured breath before climbing the stairs, and said, "A hundred years ago, my great grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, began the tradition of hunting dragons for glory."
Aang gasped in horror. How could anyone wantonly wipe out an entire species for sport?
"Dragons were the first firebenders," continued Zuko. "So warriors were given great honor for defeating them and were even awarded the title of Dragon. My Uncle, the Dragon of the West, won his title before I was born, by killing the last dragons."
"But," Aang said, as they reached the top of the stairs. "I thought your Uncle was...I don't know...good?"
"He has a complicated past," said Zuko sadly. "A family tradition it seems."
The Avatar was about to say more when his eyes fell on the fresco. "Zuko," he said nervously. "I thought you said the Sun Warriors and the dragons were friends."
"Looks like the dragons had a funny way of showing it," the Fire Prince agreed, taking in the image of a man standing atop a high platform with dragons coiled around it breathing fire upon him. Beneath it was a door over which was hung a sunstone.
Zuko turned around and there was a tall pinnacle with another sun stone on top of it some distance away.
"I bet that sun stone opens the door," the Fire Prince said quietly. "But only when sunlight hits it at just the right angle...on the solstice."
"Monkey feathers!" Aang swore. "The solstice again?! We can't wait that long!"
Zuko thought a moment, watching as the sun gradually sank beyond the western horizon. "Maybe I can seeped things up a bit," he said drawing his sword and angling the blades so that they caught the beam. "Come on," he pleaded as he tried to reflect the captured light against the sunstone atop the pinnacle. "Come on!"
At last, the sunstone caught the last of the fading light, just as the sun disappeared beyond sight, and reflected it upon its twin over the door and it groaned in protest as it slid open.
Zuko sheathed his blades and Aang peered inside.
"I don't care what everyone says, Zuko," said the Avatar smiling at the Fire Prince. "You're pretty smart."
Zuko's lips quirked before he questioned whether that was really a compliment. Then he frowningly followed Aang into the room.
- - -
After Aang left with the Fire Prince, Katara had set up a campfire and began cooking dinner. She had gathered a few nuts and berries, to which Momo helped himself, and still had some noodles left over from the Western Air Temple as well as a pair of mangos which she fed to Appa. From her place against the tree, Yuan watched the proceedings impassively.
The waterbender, shot a worried glance toward the ruined city. What could be taking them so long?
"Strange."
Katara's head whipped toward the captive airbender. It was the fist she had spoken since Zuko's earlier interrogation. That worked out great, thought the Water Tribe girl sardonically to herself. All we really learned was her name. She hesitated a moment. Maybe she could learn more about Shang-wēifēng if she tried being friendlier with this strange girl.
"Are you hungry?" asked Katara, offering a bowl of noodles.
"It's rather difficult to eat," Yuan answered dryly. "When your hands are tied behind your back, don't you think?"
"Oh right," the waterbender agreed sheepishly. "Sorry."
They sat in silence for a moment before Katara prompted, "What did you mean when you said strange?"
"I was under the impression that the Water Tribe and the Fire Nation were traditional enemies," answered the airbender.
"Yeah," said Katara. It was true that the two nations had never been friendly though they coexisted peacefully prior to the war. But why bring that up now? "Zuko and our group have something of an understanding," she finished
Yuan looked at her with those unnerving slate eyes, so like Aang's yet so unlike at the same time.
"So," she said at last. "You are not lovers?"
Katara stood up so fast that she knocked the pot of noodles over. "Of course not!" she shouted. "Are you crazy?!"
"I apologize," said Yuan. There was no inflection in her voice that said she meant it as anything more than a statement of fact. "I was mistaken. I meant no offense." Then, blushing a little she added, "I just thought the idea of it was romantic."
Katara relaxed, and flushed when she saw the mess she made. Stupid Zuko, she thought angrily to herself. She'll figure out just how it was the Fire Prince's fault later.
"You're an odd one," said the waterbender, as she righted the pot and Momo helped himself to the dirty noodles. "First you try to kill us, and now you worry about offending me."
"I didn't try to kill you because I want to," said the airbender simply. "Only because I have to."
"Because we're trying to get to Shang-wēifēng?" inquired Katara.
Yuan, looked away pointedly.
"Sorry," said the Water Tribe girl. She hesitated a moment. "Why did you attack Aang in particular?" the waterbender said, trying to change the subject. She might not learn where the Hidden Valley was but she might at least learn something about the Air Nomads living there. "When you found out he was the Avatar, I mean."
The airbening girl's face hardened. "The Fire Nation forces pushed my people to the brink of extinction - drove us into hiding - and all because they were looking for him. It was his duty to protect us and in our hour of need he abandoned us. I will never forgive the Avatar."
Katara was startled. They hadn't considered that the surviving Air Nomads might blame Aang for the loss of their civilization, but if the rest of Shang-wēifēng felt as Yuan did, they might not receive the help they were seeking against the Fire Lord. Quite the contrary by the look of things.
"It wasn't like that," said Katara.
"As if an outlander would know anything of such matters," snorted Yuan.
Katara frowned. How rude! she thought vehemently to herself. This girl could give Zuko lessons in self-importance.
"Someone is coming," the airbender suddenly said urgently.
Katara sank into a crouch and peered about tentatively.
The surrounding twilight was still and silent but for the chirping cricket-hoppers. Then Appa groaned and Momo hissed and the waterbender could make out several dark shapes moving about outside the campfire's ring of light.
"Who's there?" challenged Katara.
The figures in the darkness did not answer.
"Show yourselves!" demanded the Water Tribe girl, bending the water from one of her skins threateningly.
She was surprised by a barrage of fire balls scorching the earth before her feet. Firebenders! Appa bellowed in fear and rage. Momo shrieked and leapt to the sanctuary of Katara's shoulder.
The waterbender sent the tendril of water whipping toward her antagonists. Shouts and cries rose up from the shadows and another volley of fireballs careened towards Katara. Then, utilizing her lessons with Hama, she bent the water from nearby plants, adding it to her own and hardened it into an ice shield, blocking the enemy projectiles. Then she bent it back into liquid form and sent a wave crashing into the firebenders. The sounds she heard after that were thoes of retreat.
"Not bad," said Yuan, who had suddenly appeared beside the waterbender. "Not bad at all."
Katara looked from the airbender to the tree she was once bound to. The ropes had been undone and were lying in limp coils around the tree's roots. She then turned back to face Yuan who now had her shuriken in hand, smirking.
"Now," said the airbender. That smirk was almost a sneer. "Where were we?"
- - -
Aang looked around the chamber curiously. It was full of statues arranged into a circle, each figure in a different pose.
"These things mean anything to you, Zuko?" he asked looking towards the Fire Prince.
"No," sighed Zuko. "Maybe this was a waste of time after all."
The Avatar scrutinized the statues again. They had to hold some significance, otherwise why bother sealing it off except for the solstice. The figures were arranged in a circle, each posing in a strange formation. A few were in the same form, creating a pattern. Almost like a...
"Zuko," called Aang. "I want you to dance with me!"
The Fire Prince blinked at him. "What?!"
"Just do like the statues are doing," explained the airbender imitating the statue in front of him. "Maybe it'll trigger something."
Zuko grunted but reluctantly obeyed, hopping in front of one statue after another and mimiking the poses of each one until they met in the middle. Everything was still.
"Well," said Aang sheepishly. "That's disappointing..."
Suddenly, there was a loud grinding noise and the center of the floor opened up and pedestal with a golden egg-shaped object rose from the compartment.
"What is it?" Aang asked.
"I'm not sure," whispered Zuko, stepping towards the object.
"Zuko wait," said the Avatar warily. "I don't think we should touch that."
But the Fire Prince had already lifted it off its pedestal. All at once the doors grinded shut.
"You had to pick up the glowing egg, didn't you?" grumbled the monk.
Before Zuko could retort, a wet sloshing sound filled the chamber. Fire Prince and Avatar turned as one and saw that the room was rapidly being filled with yellow blasting jelly.
"We have to get out of here!" barked Zuko, climbing a statue to get away from the rising mush.
"We've been sealed in!" protested Aang leaping atop another stone figure.
"Then earthbend!" shouted Zuko.
"I don't know how sturdy this place is!" the Avatar shouted back. The jelly was already up to their statues' torsos. "I could bring the whole pyramid crashing down on us."
"There!" said Zuko, pointing to a grate in the ceiling. "We need to get to that."
They leapt from statue to statue, until the Fire Prince's ankles became stuck in the still rising gelatin. But with an almighty bound Aang grabbed hold of the grating bars with one hand and offered his other to Zuko and pulled him up with him. Soon they were up to their necks in blasting jelly with their faces pointing up and their hands clenched around the bars.
"At least the jelly stopped rising," muttered Zuko.
"Now what?" asked Aang sourly.
- - -
"Help!" called the Avatar. The stars were shining in the heavens, all the celestial wonders of the universe were lain bare. They seemed to mock the two trapped in the hardened blasting jelly. "HELP!" repeated the monk.
"Who are you yelling to?" demanded the Fire Prince grouchily. "Katara won't hear us from the encampment."
"It's been hours," insisted Aang. "She should come looking for us soon."
"With that assassin to watch she'd better not!" gritted Zuko.
"Well," growled the airbender, his patience wearing thin. "What do you think we should do?"
Zuko hesitated before answering, "Contemplate our place in the universe?"
"HELP!" cried Aang desperately.
"What's that?" asked a voice.
"Who's there?" inquired a second who was soon joined by others.
"People!" exclaimed Zuko.
"We're saved!" clamored the Avatar.
Figures appeared above the grate. With a few movements and jerks they managed to pry it free and pull the two out of the muck. They crawled from their prison and peered up at their rescuers, bare-chested men with elaborate headdresses and intricate patterns painted on their bodies.
"Sun Warriors!" whispered Zuko.
"Trespassers," hissed a big man.
I love where Aang pays Zuko a compliment and Zuko's not sure how to respond. I'm also interested to know what you all think of my OC Yuan. Next: Katara the Waterbending Bombshell vs. Yuan the Ninja with the 'Tude. Place your bets. Plus Aang and Zuko must face the judgment of the Firebening Masters. The nature of their test may surprise you. Tune in for Trial by Fire. Shibui out! R&R plz!
