Chapter 10: New Friends

P'li's POV

After I ran outside to follow Femke, who had ran off crying before me, I first saw nothing, though I had a feeling she must have stayed close by. My feelings were normally correct, so I wondered were she was hiding… poor girl… I had to endure Mogui for nine years until Zaheer and the others came to free me at long last. And I always believed in what Zaheer was doing, but this… this was painful to do, even though I understood why.

'That said, she needs someone to be there for her right now.' I thought as I used my senses as Mogui had taught me to find Femke. At first I got nothing, and just when I wanted to walk on to see where else she could be in the forest, but that was when I heard a song.

"When I saw you guys dancing in the sun, a shadow fell on my heart

You were the worst mistake she ever made

And she laughed too loud at your jokes, yes I know you were funny

But I couldn't laugh... because I knew where it would lead.

Now the anger has drowned out all the jokes, she doesn't laugh anymore

See the pain in her smile

And she's tried, yes she's tried to run away, but you would not let her go

You are her ball and her chain

Now I wish you were dancing in the sun, but the steps were all wrong

So release her from her chains now

With your jokes you imprisoned her heart, you never gave her a chance

She never knew you couldn't dance...

Now the anger has drowned out all the jokes, she doesn't laugh anymore

See the pain in her smile

And she's tried, yes she's tried to run away, but you would not let her go

You are her ball and her chain

Now I wish you were dancing in the sun, but the steps were all wrong

So release her from her chains now

With your jokes you imprisoned her heart, you never gave her a chance

She never knew you couldn't dance"

I heard a soft trembling voice sing. I looked up now and saw her, sitting on a high rock near the waterfall, sobbing as she was singing this. A deer was standing next to her, nuzzling her every now and then, as if the little animal felt she was sad as well and wanted to cheer her up.

'Though I wonder how it can be the deer isn't afraid of her, like that kind of animal normally is.'

I thought wondering as I watched in awe how some other smaller animals came to her as well, making the brunette smile.

"You all want to cheer me up. That's sweet of you and you know… I feel a lot better already."

She smiled, which made me look up with a raised eyebrow. She was talking to those animals like they understood her and she understood them.

'That means she either has a special gift… or she is a lunatic.'

I thought as I heard her sing that same song again as before, but this time without sobbing, all the small animals made a noise, like they were cheering for her, only to sprint of when a small dry branch broke under my foot because I had wanted to go over and listen from up close.

"Hey P'li, uhm… Is there something I can do for you?"

Femke asked, a little unsure when she saw me and when she looked me in the eyes, I saw they were droopy and red from crying, which made me instantly feel sorry for her situation again.

"Yes. And no. I was just… I just wanted to say I'm sorry you had to endure that just now."

I said, hoping she would understand what I was talking about so I didn't have to mention our lie, which would give me me less chance to mess up and I had to admit I'm not very good at comforting people.

"That's okay, I had it coming anyway. It was just a matter of time and this just played right in her hand."

She said, the last part with a broken voice, before she started to sob again.

'Now what do I do?'

I thought as I looked at her with widened eyes. I have been sad myself quite often and Zaheer always came to comfort me, but it had never been the other way around, so I never had to comfort someone else.

"Don't cry Femke. Please don't. Stop."

I stammered as I walked over to her, feeling very awkward since I had no idea what I was doing, so I just put my arms around her and hugged her, hoping that would do the trick. And in a way, it did. Femke now placed her head on my chest and started to sob uncontrollably.

"That's it. Let it all come out."

I said, letting my instincts take over, figuring that something deep inside me knew what I had to do. I just had to let it take over and then she would feel better. Somehow.

Femke's POV

After the blowout, I headed into the woods, not intending to show those thugs I was crying and thankfully in the forest I found some comfort by the local inhabitants; the animals. Now I hear people think 'But Femke, how can they comfort you if you can't even understand them?' Well, the answer is quite simple; I CAN speak the language of the animals. No, not like Tarzan; raised by animals and later taught to be a human. But in every world i traveled to as a fairy, there are special villages in the woods that give criminals that want to change a second chance in life. Living with what mother nature gives them. They built up a complete new life and that's where I learned some of my skills since I have been a criminal as well. Not a super criminal. I never actually killed someone or anything. I still do have a old revolver with me and I wasn't hesitant to use it when I need to bluff myself out of a situation (since it IS a weapon, even though it isn't even loaded, but no one knows that…)

"You all want to cheer me up. That's sweet of you. And you know, I feel a lot better already."

I beamed at the animals, and it was the honest truth. Here with the animals, surrounded by only nature, I already started to feel better. Safer. This was where I belonged. That was until I heard a dry branch crack and all animals ran off, thinking they were in danger. But as i looked up, I saw it was just P'li

'How did she find me? I thought I carefully erased my tracks.'

I thought as I looked at her, standing there with her arms wrapped around herself as she looked at me with a sad look, she was opening and closing her mouth, almost like she wanted to say something but then decided against it.

"Hey P'li, uhm… Is there something I can do for you?"

I asked her as I looked at her, though it must be clear to her that I have been crying my heart out ever since that blow out and I instantly saw the calm look P'li had worn when she had reached this place turn into pity.

"Yes. And no. I was just… I just wanted to say I'm sorry you had to endure that just now."

P'li said as she rubbed with her hand over her arm, a little unsure, like she had never had these kind of talks before. Would that be possible? I mean, she had to be at least a few years older than me so she should have been able to have these kind of talks before. Ore she must have had awful youth.

"That's okay, I had it coming anyway. It was just a matter of time and this just played right in her hand."

I said, my voice trembling as I remembered everything that had happened in the past few months. First Tarrlok, who seemed so kind, and yet something was up with him. Soon I found out his father was the criminal mastermind and bloodbender Yakone, that was okay with me though. He was a nice guy, or he seemed to be a nice guy, so it didn't bother me too much. And even when he turned against Korra and kidnapped her I thought I was able to talk with him and get him out of this mess before it was too late, which thankfully worked. All because it turned out that Tarrlok, along with his brother and equalist leader Amon turned out to be my half brothers. The whole unalaq thing left me cold. He was the one trying to manipulate me into helping him free Vaatu and make chaos rule the world, I didn't even like him. Especially since he publicly kissed me. No, what bothered me was that Korra refused to believe in me. Believe in my powers, Believe that I can really help people in my own way. And now, my dear half brothers were in jail and I didn't know when I would see them again and Korra ripped my heart out.

'I already knew she didn't like me. Why does it still hurt so much? While I knew she hated my existence.'

I thought as I wrapped my arms around my knees and started to sob uncontrollably again, feeling miserable to the bone.

"Don't cry Femke. Please don't. Stop."

P'li's voice stammered from out of the distance as I heard her footsteps close in on me clumsily before I felt two arms wrap around me warmly, making me instantly drop my head in her chest and started to sob uncontrollably, unable to stop myself.

"Life hurts. I know that one, but everything will become better when you want give new things a chance." P'li's voice said with a hint of wiseness in it, which made me smile up at her thankfully, before frowning.

"How come? What happened that you? You know the feel?" I dared to ask now, which made P'li look up at me shocked for some odd reason, before she looked at the ground under her with a sad look.

"As a child, I was sold by my parents to an evil warlord who wanted to mold me into a weapon because I have this." She said as she pointed to the tattoo on her forehead. The third eye tattoo I had seen on that other combustion bender that Sokka had named 'Combustion Man' back in the day.

'What I would give for him to make up a cool nickname for P'li as well.' I thought as I looked at her face with a stern look, before deciding t was rude to stare at her like that and just react to her comment.

"Wow. That must have been rough."I calmly said as I placed a hand on her shoulder, looking at her sadly, which believe me, was an honest sad smile. No one deserved that fate not even Firelord Ozai had deserved that if he had been a Combustion Bender and I really hated him after all he had done.

"It was a tough time. I was only five years old. All on my own. Only a hand-full of guards and the warlords wife pitied me. But unless the warlord named Mogui wasn't there, they couldn't do much. But it kept me alive and kept my hopes up that everything would get better someday."

P'li said as she wrapped her arms around her legs and put her chin on her knees, looking out before herself with a dull look in her eyes.

"I had a few happy memories there though. Miss Ting always managed to get me inside during the winter festival and then treated me as a equal. It was wonderful. No pain, no pressure, no hunger. For one evening in the year. I was just normal. Just a normal child with a special power."

The combustion woman continued. Her eyes glinting as she told me about those one days a year that she could be happy. As she spoke I observed her with pity in my eyes. She was very tall with pitch black hair and kind gleaming orange colored eyes, in which gleamed a happiness she must feel now. Now she was free at last but deep down, I saw all the sadness and hurt she had been through. Bags under her eyes told a story of a lack of rest and small, almost invisible scars told me she must have been abused long ago.

'Probably by that Mogui guy. They seem to be old, though I wouldn't be surprised if those White Lotus Guards have abused her as well. They're not what they used to be anymore during the time of General Iroh, The Dragon of the West.'

I thought as I placed a hand on her back, gently rubbing her over her back in a comforting way after which she smiled at me thankfully.

"It's okay now though. With Zaheer and the others I have a great life, traveling the world, doing my job to bring peace."

P'li smiled gently as she looked at me, showing kind orange eyes in a gentle face, torn by fears, abuse and sadness.

"So, now that you're here and all, what is your plan? Do you have anywhere to go?"

P'li asked me after a long, awkward silence. At this I looked up and thought for a moment before shaking my head.

"Well, I had a plan, but I don't know. Maybe I'm overreacting and will get sorry later."

I calmly replied as I thought about busting out my brothers after getting to Toph then get out of here. I knew I would be happy with them again but doing that would mean I couldn't show my face around here for quite some time. Which would mean I had to leave behind Su and Opal, who had been very nice to me and had believed me when I told them I was related to them.

"Well, if you like, maybe you could stay with us."

P'li said, stumbling a little as she turned very red, which looked awfully cute on her in the light of the sunset.

"Well, if everyone agrees with me staying i would be more then happy to."

I smiled after considering this for a moment. Yeah it would most likely make Korra angry at me. Again. But after today that meant nothing to me anymore. I would love to join them, be with them. Learn from them. Zaheer was an airbender and pretty skilled for someone who just got airbending. Maybe he could teach me to airbend as well. If I had to courage to ask him to teach me, of course. And I had seen Ghazan and Ming Hua use some awesome skills during that battle.. Maybe if I was lucky, they would let me join. I could learn a thing or two from them.

"It would sure be awesome to stay for a while but I would also love to go home. Be with my half brother and my daughter again."

I said with a sad look as I thought about my brothers, who were still locked in jail, even though they had tried to change, even helping me stop Unavaatu during the last battle by protecting the innocent people of Republic City when the two giants fought. And Toph, whom Aiwei had confirmed to be alive and whom I missed dearly.

P'li's POV

"It would sure be awesome to stay for a while but I would also love to go home. Be with my half brother and my daughter again."

Femke said, sounding very sad as she said this, and I completely understood why. If I had a family I would gladly return to them as well. But i don't. They sold me and I would never see them again. But that didn't keep out that I did feel her pain of missing her loved ones.

"I understand. Even though my parents sold me to that Warlord. I didn't hate them. If i had a chance to see them again I would take it with both hands."

I said with a smile on my face as I looked at Femke, which made her turn to look at me with a shocked look, most likely not understanding why I was saying this. Like everyone, since no one knew how exactly I ended with the Warlord. No one except Zaheer and our people. The only one's that ever truly understood me. Cared about me the way I am.

"P'li.. Be honest with me now. How did you end up with that Warlord? I want to know the truth."

Femke suddenly said as she grasped my hands, forcing me to look her in the eyes. Her eyes were so sad. It made me instantly regret not wanting to tell her the truth about my past, all because I was afraid of how she would react if I were to tell the truth about my past. About Mogui. About everything. But now i knew I should have told her. She is worth trusting.

"My parents sold me to that warlord named Mogui because they hated me. I was five years old when it happened."

I said as I looked at my lap with a sad look, remembering the day I was sold like it had happened yesterday. The big mansion, my parents' wide grins when they got that sack of gold pieces for me. His whip before my feet as I begged my parents to let me go home with them and of course, the nine awful years of loneliness, hunger and cold that followed. That only had small spots of light when Mogui's wife Miss Thing or the kind soldiers that pitied me took me in and gave me food, shelter and most importantly; hope that one day, everything would be better.

"That's horrible! What kind of foul creature can treat an innocent child like that!?"

Femke gasped as she looked at me with a shocked look in her eyes. Seemingly she was unable to understand what my situation must have been back then. I don't blame her. It all did sound awful, even Zaheer said I was lucky I survived. Though it was new to me that a total stranger (I can't say I really know Femke already) would see this. Which was odd, yet also it felt nice someone finally understood my position.

"Mogui was the worst person in the world to me. But since my parents sold me, I had no one else."

I replied with my head bowed, which made me unable to see Femke close in on me until she had put me in her lap and wrapped her warm comfortable arms around me, gently hugging me as she sang that song again. And as she did the animals closed in on us again which made Femke smile.

Femke's POV

All this time I listened to the story of P'li with an awestruck look in my eyes. That girl had been through so much at such a young age. It was horrible! Let alone that it should be illegal! And I think it was illegal. Though I knew from Toph when we were younger that during and even after the war it had been very hard for the police and the world leaders to make sure every region and village in the Avatar's world obeyed those rules.

'At least on earth there are facilities that check on human rights in every country in the world. The poor girl has absolutely zero experience with love except the love of her friends. It's downright child abuse!'

I thought as I looked at P'li looking sadly at her lap. Making up my mind fast, I closed in on her, carefully putting her in my lap when I was close enough. I immediately noted how light she was. She was light as a feather. Something I knew was a bad sign. A normal human being her height should weigh at least 50 kilos. She must be far under it.

'Probably a combination of the lack of food in prison and that Warlord that made her so far underweight. Maybe i can correct it. If they allow me to stay that is.'

I thought as I started to sing again, which made the animals come back out from where they had been hiding and sniff us. P'li looked up with widened eyes, not believing the animals weren't scared of her now, which almost every animal and person was in this world and all because of what Combustion Man did. It was horrible for me to imagine that there were most likely more Combustion Benders in this world. All suffering because of the choices this one man made.

"They're not afraid because they see you're not gonna harm them. Just as they know I won't harm them."

I explained to her as I petted a deer on its head, which then sniffed P'li curiously and just as P'li looked up it gave her a lick, which ended up on her nose because she moved. This made her giggle just as Zaheer and the others came to us making the deer run off fast.

"What's going on with the deer?"

Zaheer asked as I put P'li next to me fast so they wouldn't think I was being romantic with her, since that wasn't the case. I only tried to comfort her a little.

"It came to say hi. I have a strong connection to animals."

I explained as I looked after the deer with a smile on my face.

"We're sorry you had to go through Korra scolding you. I never intended that to happen."

Zaheer now said as he looked at me with a sad look in his eyes.

"Don't mention it. I'm okay now, thanks to P'li."

I said with a smile on my face, which made P'li smile as well. Probably thankful I mentioned she had been the one that cheered me up.

"P'li is good with that."

Zaheer smiled at P'li thankfully as he walked over to her and gave her a kiss, which made P'li beam at him happily.

"Zaheer, wouldn't Femke be a great addition to the team? She said she would like to stay if everyone agrees."

P'li popped in now. Zaheer looked at her with a stern look, and I saw Ming Hua look at me sternly as well, seemingly not liking the idea of me joining at all.

"She would. But do you think she could agree to our... mission?"

Zaheer slowly asked as he gave P'li a stern look, which made P'li look at me with a small smile.

"Maybe if you explain she might. You can explain better than me."

P'li smiled, but before Zaheer could start to explain their case to me, a raindrop fell on my nose. Soon followed by more raindrops.

"We best take cover first or we end up in a storm."

I smiled at Zaheer who now nodded before we all headed to the cave I ran from, knowing that I had made some new friends.

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A/N:

And with that I end this chapter. Sorry it is a bit long and it took me a while but I suffered a serious writers block on this story until I came across this nice beta reader named Deannabear who is gonna help me correct my spelling and grammar. I hope to continue the story a bit faster now.

I needed this big chapter to show the way Femke and P'li are bonding accordingly since it's gonna play a big part in upcoming chapters.

I'm gonna make a background story for each of the Red Lotus members (I have an idea already on how each of them came to be Red Lotus members) which will be included in the story as it progresses, so keep what P'li already told here in mind. More about it will follow.

Ming Hua (obviously) didnt approved Femke joining the team. The reason behind it and how it's gonna be solved in the end (if it's gonna be solved) will follow later.

Well, that was all for now. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!