The Golden Wolf Warrior
By: Agent-Ayu
Chapter 9: The Bounty Hunter
Note: This chapter took me a while to write because I had to re-watch 'Bato of the Water Tribe' numerous times to figure out. There was no way I could have a chapter focused on that because I'd just be repeating the show. Finally after talking to a good friend who is like a little sister to me (and said person is someone I made sure I made an Avatard knowing she would love the series), I suddenly came up with the idea of having a chapter focused on the antagonists. Especially Princess Cazu, since she will be meeting Team Avatar in the future. Though personally (and you'll see later in the story) I don't think of Cazu as an antagonist.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.
Azula walked through the village annoyed. Like Sokka she couldn't believe how many people were putting their lives in the hand of one old woman. She was more annoyed at how Katara convinced her to have them stay a while longer.
"She is going to be the end of me." Azula mumbled as she turned the corner.
The firebender smiled when she saw Katara at a fruit stand, but like many times before her smile quickly faded when she saw Aang walking up to the waterbender. Azula couldn't understand why he kept trying when it was obvious Katara had no interest for him. She walked up behind Katara causing Aang to walk the other direction away from Azula and Katara.
"Ugh. Papaya please."
"Papaya? Katara, you hate papaya." Azula pointed out.
"I know, but Aunt Wu-"
"Argh! I don't want to hear anything more about that woman. You hate papaya and I'm not going to let you force yourself to eat it because of that woman! Give me that." Azula forcefully took the fruit out of the waterbenders hands and gave it back to the fruit stand merchant. "We'll take a mango instead."
"Azula!" Katara protested.
"No. I'm not going to let you become like these villagers. You're forbidden to go see Aunt Wu again. I forbid you to see her." Azula exclaimed as she took the mango from the merchant and walked away.
"Are you trying to get on my bad side?" The waterbender was irritated at how Azula was ordering her.
"I'm not trying to get on your bad side. I don't want to see you be like them. You're becoming obsessed with these fortunes. You're better than that. I love you when you make decisions on your own and think of some of these amazing ideas I know you have. I prefer that over some mindless person who depends on others to tell them what to do."
Katara blushed at the firebender's compliment. She was also blushing because Azula said, "I love you" even though it wasn't those three words by themselves.
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"Where did you learn to redirect heat?" Sokka asked as they flew away from Makapu Village.
"It's going to sound weird, but I heard a voice telling me how to do redirect the lava's heat. Redirecting the heat felt really familiar, as if I've done it before." Azula explained.
"You just keep getting weirder and weirder." Sokka screamed as a fireball flew over his head just barely missing him.
Aang looked over his shoulder at Azula. "I may be wrong, but isn't redirecting heat a very advance firebending move?"
"I don't know Aang. I would assume so since it's hard to control the fire's heat. But to redirect the heat is something different. It just felt natural."
"May be another connection to Roku?" Aang guessed.
Azula groaned. "I'm starting to get annoyed with how everything you think I do has something to do with my great-grandfather. What if I'm just as powerful because of me not because of him? Besides the voice did not sound like Roku, it was much deeper and not as warm."
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Two days had gone by since the Yu Yen archers lost track of the Avatar and his friends. All they had to bring back to the recently promoted Admiral Zhao were Azula's two broadswords.
"No Avatar. No traitor. All I have is that girl's damn swords!" Zhao threw Azula's swords across the room smashing it against the nearby wall.
Zhao and his crew were preparing to set sail back to the Fire Nation capital. Fire Lord Akuzo summoned him to a war meeting the Fire Lord was going to hold upon the Admiral's return to discuss on their next attack. The Admiral knew exactly what their next attack should be and he knew that the Fire Lord, Generals, and Admirals would agree with him.
"Admiral Zhao!" One soldier ran up to the admiral. "Admiral, there's a woman and a beast attacking one of our ships!"
"What?" Zhao and the soldier walked out of the tent.
He saw woman riding a Shirshu. The woman had just placed Earth Kingdom low-life onto the back of her Shirshu and was about the leave.
"Halt!" Zhao commanded. "You're beast damaged one of my ships. You are in my debt."
"Yeah, right. It's not my fault your crew allowed a stowaway onto it to begin with. I'm not paying you back. Not even a copper piece." The bounty hunter started directing her Shirshu the other direction.
The admiral shot a fireball towards the Shirshu's feet. "Money was not what I had in mind. Your Shirshu can find anyone correct?"
"What of it?"
"I want you to find someone for me. Two people actually, the Avatar and a Fire Nation traitor in Water Tribe clothes. When you find them and bring them to me I'll pay you two times your weight in gold." Zhao smirked.
The bounty hunter quickly thought it over. "Make it three times my weight and you got a deal."
Zhao nodded in agreement before ordering one of his men to retrieve the swords. If anyone could find the Avatar and his friends it was going to be the Shirshu. The soldier bowed to Zhao as the swords were passed from the admiral to the bounty hunter.
"Keep the swords. I'm sure the owner would appreciate their return." Zhao said sarcastically.
The woman took hold of the swords and held it out to her Shirshu's nose. The Shirshu took a good whiff of the swords before starting to track for the scent. The bounty hunter had just gotten onto the saddle before the Shirshu took off leaving the Fire Nation port.
"Admiral Zhao. How can you trust that bounty hunter to capture the Avatar?" Colonel Shinu asked.
"I don't." Zhao gave a signal with his hand. Riding Ostrich Horses the Yu Yen's took after the bounty hunter. "This ensures will be getting both the Avatar and the traitor. Have all the soldiers move the cargo from the destroyed ship onto a new one. Pronto, if they're not done in an hour we're leaving without them."
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The Yu Yen archers followed the bounty hunter to a tavern several towns away from Pohuai Stronghold. They waited outside for the hunter to finish her business of dropping off the bounty she captured.
An old man laughed as he and the bounty hunter walked out of the tavern. "June, I swear you and Nyla have to be the best bounty hunters in the whole world!"
June smiled at the compliment as she tied the sack of gold into one of the pouches of Nyla's saddle.
"Your father would be proud of the two of you."
"I know. Well got to go. Have two more bounties to capture. You see those archers over there?" She pointed towards the Yu Yen. "Their boss ordered them to follow me as if I can't capture his bounties without their help."
The old man laughed again. "I know you and Nyla will succeed without a doubt! Safe travels June."
The bounty hunter held the broadswords out to Nyla's nose again so he could get a fresh scent. She immediately jumped on the Shirshu's saddle and sprinted northwest with the Yu Yen archers closely behind.
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After four days of quick sailing from Pohuai Stronghold to the Fire Nation capital, Admiral Zhao briskly walked through the palace heading directly towards the Fire Lord's war room. He didn't even bother resting. Zhao had sent word to the Fire Lord that he would be ready for the meeting the day he arrived to the capital.
Zhao pushed the curtains to the war room forcefully as he entered. Fire Lord Akuzo was seated at his throne platform, as the other generals and admirals were sitting on the cushions on the ground closer to the map of the world. Being the newest admiral Zhao would be seated the furthest from the Fire Lord.
When he didn't see any spot on the floor for him to sit, he looked up at Fire Lord Akuzo in confusion. All the other generals and admirals looked grimly at the map knowing why there wasn't a spot for the new admiral.
"Admiral Zhao, I want you to seat up here on the platform as my right hand." Akuzo announced.
The new admiral smiled smugly as he walked past his superiors to sit at the Fire Lord's right hand. Zhao walked up the platform stairs proudly and bowed to Fire Lord Akuzo before sitting.
"We will begin this meeting in a few minutes when Princess Cazu arrives."
Just as the Fire Lord finished the curtains to the war room separated revealing Princess Cazu. All the generals and admirals, excluding Zhao, shifted in their seats to bow with their foreheads touching the ground to show respect as the princess passed them.
"Princess Cazu, welcome." Akuzo gestured to the spot at his left.
Like Zhao, Cazu walked up the platform steps and bowed to her father before sitting on his left hand. Her face didn't show it, but she was irritated at her father. Ever since he declared himself Fire Lord he had ignored her and would only ask for her if he needed her. Cazu wanted to yell at her father, but she knew it would only end badly. It would end with her fighting in an Agni Kai against her father.
"Now that we're all here, General Shu, your report."
"Thank you my lord." General Shu bowed his head before standing up. "As we know we've been attacking the Earth Kingdom for nearly a hundred years, especially towards the walls of Ba Sing Se. I recommend that we set our sights for Omashu."
"Hmm… interesting. I like that idea. Omashu is the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom. If we conquer Omashu we will have bigger support in the Earth Kingdom. What do you think War Minister Qin?"
"I find the idea very beneficial to our success. As you know I have a mechanist up in the Northern Air Temple who in exchange for his freedom and safety he is making our machines to use against the other nations. It would be best for us to have a base for us to attack from away from the Northern Air Temple and that way we can try out our new machines closer to Ba Sing Se." Qin explained.
"Alright then. General Shu, I'm granting you permission to assemble an army to invade Omashu. Admiral Zhao, you've mentioned to me before of your plan to invade the Northern Water Tribe. Please explain some more of your plan." Akuzo directed.
Zhao stood up and bowed before stepping down the platform. "I've told Fire Lord Akuzo this several times in the past. When I was young Lieutenant serving under our General Shu in the Earth Kingdom, I discovered a hidden library, underground in fact, in the Si Wong Desert. I tore through scroll after scroll. One of them contained a detailed illustration and the words 'moon' and 'ocean'.
"I found out that the Moon and Ocean spirits have giving up their immortality and mortal forms living in our world. The scroll contains the locations of both the Moon and Ocean spirit in the Northern Water Tribe. If we can arrange a massive attack on the Northern Water Tribe, I have no doubt we can distract them as I get rid of the Moon spirit." Zhao explained.
"Why just kill the Moon spirit? Why not both spirits?" One of the higher-ranking admirals asked.
"Because the waterbenders draw their power from the moon." Cazu explained.
Everyone turned their attention to the Fire Nation princess. "Like us firebenders, we draw our power from the sun. Water is our opposite. So the opposite from the sun is the moon. By getting rid of the moon the waterbenders become powerless. Am I right, Admiral Zhao?"
"You are very right, Princess. Fire Lord Akuzo, you've wanted to eliminate the Water Tribe since the beginning of your reign. We have a chance to eliminate them now!"
Akuzo looked over towards his daughter. He was upset that she spoke out of turn, but would do nothing of it since she had contributed information. "I will think it over some more. For now let's focus on conquering Omashu. This meeting is adjourned."
All the admirals and generals, including Zhao, bowed towards their Fire Lord and Princess before walking out of the war room. When the curtain stopped moving Akuzo turned his attention to Cazu.
"I don't ever want you to speak out of turn again. You may be the Princess, but my Generals and Admirals have more experience on the battlefield. You are here to listen and learn. When you are allowed to speak I will let you know. Dismissed."
Cazu got up from her seat and walked as quickly as she politely could out of the war room. When she exited she saw the generals and admirals talking amongst each other. She briskly walked away from the war room towards the Turtle Duck pond in one of the many courtyards of the palace.
Ever since she was crowned Princess of the Fire Nation she had seen one of her servants more in one week than she has her father in nine years. When she was little she always came out to the Turtle Duck pond. It was here did she find company from the Turtle Ducks.
"Princess Cazu." Cazu looked up from the pond to see one of her personal servants. "A letter came in for you during the war meeting. It's from one of our colonies in the Earth Kingdom. I think it's from your special someone." The servant winked before walking off to continue her work.
The princess blushed knowing fully well who the letter was from now. She carefully unrolled the letter and read through it. While reading she inhaled the sweet aroma of the incense that merged with the paper. Cazu smile kept getting bigger and bigger the more she read. She read the letter three times before looking up to the sky.
"Believe me Ty. If I could, I would have visited you a long time ago."
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"The spirits of water bear witness to these marks. For Sokka, the mark of the wise, the same mark your father earned." Bato marked Sokka's forehead before moving onto Katara. "For Katara, the mark of the brave. Your courage inspires us."
Azula smiled when Bato marked Katara's forehead. She briefly had a flashback of when Tsukihiro, Teruko and herself earned their marks. The firebender smiled wider when Bato moved in front of Aang. Earning her mark of the trusted was one of the best things of her life. She became part of the tribe.
"And for Aang, the mark of the trusted. The same mark Azula earned. You are now an honorary member of the Water Tribe."
Aang looked down to the ground. "I can't."
"Of course you can!" Katara exclaimed.
"No, you can't trust me." Aang backed away while rubbing the mark off of his forehead hanging his head even lower.
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Aang sat on Appa's head while Azula was in the saddle finishing the touches to Katara's necklace. Azula was upset with how quickly Katara and Sokka wanted to abandon Aang because he tried keeping them from seeing Hakoda.
"Good luck." Wished to Aang and Azula. Katara looked at the firebender sadly. Azula's back was to her causing Katara to feel bad about going with Bato and Sokka.
"I guess we should be leaving now shouldn't we?" Aang asked the Superior Nun.
"That would be best."
With a quick shake in the reigns Appa began walking out of the Abbey. "I'm such an idiot, Azula!"
Azula didn't say anything as she finished the last touches to the necklace. Once she was sure it was going to stay she placed the necklace in her pocket.
"I can understand your reaction and their reaction. You were worried they would leave you to go see Hakoda, and that's understandable they gave the impression that they were going to drop everything just to go see him.
"Sokka and Katara hadn't seen him two years. They hadn't even heard from him or the other men in two years. But, you didn't give them the credit they deserved. They knew getting you to the North Pole is more important than seeing Hakoda right now." Azula climbed out of Appa's saddle to sit on his head with Aang. "They're being irrational right now. I miss Hakoda just as much as they do, but I'm making sure you get to the North Pole."
Aang smiled. "Isn't Hakoda like a father to you?"
"Yeah… he is. He never pushed me but I think he's been hoping I would call him 'dad' ever since I became part of the tribe. For years, I've tried so hard to remember my parents' faces, but whenever I do… I only see Hakoda and Kya. They've never treated me differently from Sokka and Katara."
Two benders didn't speak as they continued their way through the woods.
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The two water tribe teens jumped when the Shirshu jumped out of the woods in front of them. June looked over at the two when Nyla brought his nose up to Katara's neck. He was sniffing Azula's necklace.
"Hmm… I'm pretty sure that admiral said it was a Fire Nation traitor not a Water Tribe girl. Then again Nyla smelled that same scent on a cat." June said dryly towards the two.
"You're after Azula?" Katara panicked.
"I don't care to know the names of my bounties, but since you know her. You can save me the trouble of finding her." June cracked her whip causing Nyla to shoot his tongue out towards the teens, paralyzing them.
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The Yu Yen archers positioned themselves over the Abbey away from view. They were waiting for the Avatar and Fire Nation traitor to appear. Suddenly a group of them were knocked out of their hiding spot causing the other archers to look at one another in confusion. As they were about to focus their attention back to the Abbey, fireballs were shot at them.
Azula made sure to pay close attention for the archers. "That was for attacking me a week ago!" She readied herself waiting for them to shoot arrows at her.
Aang was gliding above the Abbey about to attack the other archers when all of a sudden Nyla busted through the Abbey's doors a second time. Azula lost her focus from the archers as Nyla was running up to her. She instinctively ran away from the Shirshu only to have his tongued lashing towards her. While running after Azula, Sokka and Katara managed to fall off of Nyla's saddle.
Nyla's tongued lashed out as far as it could just barely hitting Azula's leg causing her to fall to the ground hard. Because of her momentum, she slid across the ground slamming into a near by wall. With her leg paralyzed she couldn't do much. Just as Nyla was about to strike Azula again, Aang came crashing down to the ground using his staff to create a giant air current smashing Nyla and June into a near by wall.
Two of the nuns had dragged Sokka and Katara over to Azula, keeping them away from the battlefield. "Aang! That thing sees with its nose." Sokka shouted.
June cracked her whip commanding Nyla to get up. Once he was up he started charging towards Azula. Aang created his air scooter whisking him close to Nyla's nose so the Shirshu would catch his scent instead of Azula's. With the fresh new scent Nyla naturally followed Aang completely ignoring Azula.
"I get that it was can see and track with it's nose. How was the Shirshu able to track Azula? There's now way she could have anything with Azula's scent." Katara questioned.
Azula's eyes widened. "She initially didn't have my scent. But those archers did! I lost my swords when they attacked Aang and I back when you and Sokka were sick. I knew it! They are working with the Fire Nation." She suddenly saw some of the archers aiming towards Aang.
As best as she could Azula got up and shot a series of fireballs towards the archers before falling to the ground again. "Argh! I am hating the fact one of my legs is paralyzed!"
Miraculously the Superior had come out of one of the broken walls and forced the three teens to sniff out of a bottle curing the paralysis. By this time Nyla, June, and the archers had surrounded Aang.
"That thing sees with it's nose right, Sokka?" Azula asked.
"Right. So let's give it something to look at!"
"The perfume?" The Superior asked.
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With all the archers and June paralyzed it was easy for the nuns and the four travelers to tie them up and leave them near a town where they can be picked up by the Fire Nation. It took several hours to go to a near by Fire Nation colony and back to the Abbey, giving Appa enough to time inhale all the paralysis perfume cure needed to recover.
"Safe travels to you." The Superior wished them as they bid farewell to each other.
Once in the air everyone let out a big sigh. "Let's hope to never experience that again!" Sokka groaned as he stretched. "Hey, what are you smiling about Azula?"
"Even if it wasn't for that bounty hunter I knew you two would return."
"Getting rather confident aren't you?" Katara teased as she leaned her head on Azula's shoulder.
"That's because I have a good reason to be confident. You see at some point you would have remembered that I still have your necklace in my possession. And of course Sokka, being a very protective big brother that he is, would not have let you come back alone." Azula explained confidently. "I'm glad you did because it is about time that your necklace was returned to you."
Katara suddenly felt something dangle around her neck. Azula held the necklace around the waterbender's neck showing everyone the necklace looking exactly like it had before it broke. Katara gasped as she quickly took off Azula's and was about to tie her necklace until she stopped and handed it to Azula.
"Please?" Katara asked softly.
The firebender felt her heart melt with how innocent Katara made only one word sound heavenly. She took the necklace and tied it around the waterbender's neck. Once the necklace was tied, Katara brought her hand up to the pendent and felt the familiar carving.
Azula had just barely gotten her own necklace around her neck before being tackled to the center of the saddle. Katara wrapped her arms around Azula's neck, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Before anyone realized Katara kissed Azula on the cheek and was hugging the firebender tightly again. Azula buried her face into Katara's shoulder silently thanking the spirits as she blushed.
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As Cazu was getting ready for bed, the same servant who had given her Ty Lee's letter earlier that day walked in.
"Princess, one of the other servants found this out in the marketplace. She was showing it to the other servants for gossip, when I saw it I thought you would have wanted to see it."
The princess took the rolled up paper from her servant's hand. "Thank you, Zeng." Zeng bowed and left the princess' room immediately.
Cazu sat on her bed as she unrolled the paper. When she opened it she saw a wanted poster. Not just any wanted poster, a wanted poster of a Fire Nation traitor.
"Wanted, by order of the Fire Lord: Traitor to the Fire Nation. She is a firebender in Water Tribe clothes and is likely to be found with the Avatar. Permission is granted to kill on sight. Caution: Highly skilled with broadswords and firebending." Cazu read outloud.
She rolled up the wanted poster and placed it on her bedside table. "A firebender from the Water Tribe huh?" Cazu smiled as she began plotting how to get out of the Fire Nation capital in her father's good graces to track the wanted firebender. "Whoever she is, I will find her."