Chapter 9

They had begun the search for information on the Avatar shortly after arriving in the harbor. Pagi had gathered ten pages of possible clues and was heading back to the ship. She was surprised to see Zuko talking with a man who looked to be a pirate. He had turned and left before she made it all the way to Zuko.

"Who was that?" Pagi was truly curious as to why Zuko would talk to such an untrustworthy person.

"He is the Captain of a band of pirates. He had something stolen by the Avatar and his friends. He had agreed to help us find them." Zuko was smiling with delight.

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She had been against the idea of working with pirates. She had seen many of them in the ports which they had stopped at and none had seemed like quality people. Zuko didn't care what she had to say though. He saw an opportunity to catch the Avatar and he was taking it. Pagi made it clear from the beginning that she would stay aboard to watch over the boat.

She was sure that the pirates and Zuko would catch the Avatar this time so she came up with a plan. She walked down the halls until she reached the brig. There was no one around, as she had expected. Zuko had called all of the men out onto shore to help bring in the Avatar. She crept into the cell and hid an extra key into the corner. She covered it with a scrap piece of metal and smiled at herself. She would help him escape. Zuko had made it almost too easy.

She felt that small ping of guilt again for betraying Zuko but she pushed it off. She was doing the right thing and she assured herself that it was for the good of the world.

Just then the boat began to move. She ran from the room and up toward the deck. The deck was full of pirates and Zuko and his men where all standing on shore. Pagi watched as the pirates sailed toward their own ship. She was unable move again. It had become a more frequent problem now that they were living a more spontaneous life. She had begun to hate this feeling.

It was then that she realized that the pirate's ship was being manned by the Avatar. Before she knew it they were catching up with them but only to find themselves falling over the edge of a waterfall.

Pagi was unable to do anything but watch herself fall into the water below. Thankfully the cold water pulled her from her motionless state and she began to swim for the surface. She was underwater for what seemed like hours. Seconds later she broke the surface and began swimming for shore. As she swam she realized she needed a plan. She was alone with a group of pirates and she had to act fast.

"Look what we got with the ship" A tall lanky man smirked at her after they had reached the shore.

"Take a step toward me and you will see just what you got" Pagi would not let them intimidate her.

"What should we do with her?" Another man asked looking to the captain.

"I will tell you what" Pagi spoke to the captain. "I will help you get past all the fire nation blockades and maybe even get you some work for the fire nation if you get me to Gaoling."

"How can you do that?"

"I am in very good graces with the Fire Lord" She smiled when they began to nod.

"Okay. We will get you to Gaoling, but you must help us learn how to get by the Fire Nation."

"Deal" Pagi stuck out her hand and the Captain shook it.

Pagi stayed with the pirates for some time. She had been a huge help to them and had given them all the information they needed to get past the Fire nation.

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They had stopped for the night in a small town and she had made her way out to the woods to practice. Since it was dark she had taken her glider because it wasn't often she was able to use it. She climbed into a tree and snapped the glider open. She dropped from the tree and slowly floated around the forest. She loved the feeling and she slowly began to pick up speed. She circled back around and landed on the tree again. Once her feet hit the branch she heard the movements of someone.

There was someone watching her. She heard the bushes below and to her right move. With a sweep of the glider she blew back the bushes to reveal one of the pirates kneeling on the ground. She jumped from the tree and ran toward him. He had drawn a sword and took the fighting stance.

"The Captain has been wondering why you keep sneaking off."

"Well he will never find out." She circled him waiting for him to make the first move.

"Don't be so sure of that" He smiled as though he had the already won.

"Make a move and we will see who will make it back to the ship." With that the pirate lunged at her with his sword. She stepped to the side quickly and used her glider to knock him off balance.

He regained his footing and advanced again. She blew him back with a gust of wind. Before he could stand up all the way she hit him with another gust sending him into a tree. He groaned in pain and she walked toward him. She raised her glider in the air above his head but before she could knock him unconscious he began to laugh.

"What is so funny?" Pagi saw nothing for him to laugh about. She had beaten him without any problems and now she was going to leave him here.

"I was just buying time"

"What?"

"There were two of us. The other has already made it back to the ship by now."

"You were just stalling" Pagi felt her stomach jump into her throat, and for a second was sure it would leap right out of her. Before giving it any more thought she raised the glider and smashed the man across the head. He fell to the ground and she opened her glider jumping into the air.

She flew above the trees looking for the other man. When she spotted him she felt her heart sink. He was standing on the deck of the ship pointing to the woods and talking to the captain. She dropped onto the ship and with a quick flash of the glider blew most of the men off their feet.

"Well, I knew you had a secret but I would have never guessed it was this big." The captain, who had not been knocked over, smiled at her.

"It is a secret you will never have a chance to tell." She had made up her mind. These men wouldn't live to see tomorrow if they even thought about telling anyone.

"What makes you think we will tell? I just wanted to know what you were up to. I have no intentions on telling anyone about you. Plus this new found ability could really help us out." The captain was sincere in his words and Pagi could tell.

"Good." Pagi was glad they had already chosen the not to tell. She would have hated to hurt them and she didn't know if she really had it in her.