Published July 23, 2011
Several blocks away, a teenage girl quietly entered a little teashop. It wasn't bad for a Lower Ring business, but she wasn't interested in buying tea. Instead of taking a seat and looking at the menu, she made a beeline for the Pai-Sho table in the corner, where a tall boy with shaggy black hair sat, chewing on a piece of straw.
Smellerbee sat down opposite from the boy. "May I have this game?" she asked formally.
"The guest has the first move," Jet said, gesturing to the game board. Smellerbee looked over the pieces carefully, and then moved a white lotus tile.
"I see you favor the white lotus gambit," Jet said slyly. "Not many still cling to the ancient ways."
Smellerbee smiled. "Those who do can always find a friend."
"Then let us play."
The game went by quickly. The two players moved their tiles rapidly, barely waiting until the other person had made their move. When the game ended in a tie, the tiles were arranged in the shape of a lotus flower.
"Welcome, sister." Jet stood up. "The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."
Smellerbee stood and followed Jet to a door in the back of the shop. He knocked on the door, and a little wooden panel swung open. Pipsqueak bent down to look out the window. "Who knocks at the guarded gate?"
Smellerbee replied, "One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries."
The panel closed. A moment later the door swung open for them, and Smellerbee entered the secret room. Lu Ten, Sneers, The Duke, and Pipsqueak were already there, seated on a couple crates of blasting jelly. Longshot came over and took her by the hand, leading her to a small table set with tea and cups, courtesy of Lu Ten's father, Zuko's uncle, the teashop owner. It was Zuko who had offered to use his uncle's teashop as a meeting place; they were both sympathetic to the Freedom Fighters' cause.
Jet closed the door behind him and locked it securely. "I don't know where Zuko is," he said, looking at the assembled Freedom Fighters. "He should be here by now. I guess we'll have to start without him. Pipsqueak, your report?"
"The Water Tribe warriors are storing weapons at the Zoo. Clubs, spears, boomerangs, shields."
"The tide is turning," Lu Ten reported. "Ba Sing Se is coming to our side."
"The time is near," Jet said. "But don't let the excitement get to your heads! It's easy to swat soldiers like flies, but the Dai Li will be harder to fight – and hardly anyone will dare to stand up to them."
"What are you saying?" Sneers asked.
"We need a sign," Jet said. "Something to rally the people, call them to our side."
Suddenly there was a loud pounding on the door. The Freedom Fighters froze, exchanging concerned and frightened glances. Jet dutifully got up and went to the door, looking through the panel before letting the person in. Zuko burst into the room, panting, his skin even paler than usual.
"Zuko, you're late," Jet said shortly.
"You look like you've seen a spirit," Pipsqueak said.
"Was it the Painted Lady?" The Duke asked eagerly.
Smellerbee poured him a cup of tea. "Come on, Zuko, have some tea and tell us what's up."
Zuko did as he was told; his mind was still out of focus, puzzling over what had just occurred. He sat down by the small tea table, looking absentmindedly at the teacup Smellerbee passed him. "A spirit – maybe. She was just like one – there one minute, gone the next, with no explanation. Actually, the only times I've ever seen her were when I didn't expect it, and then she was gone …" Zuko shook his head and took a sip of tea.
The Freedom Fighters exchanged glances, and then burst out laughing. "I don't believe it!" Sneers exclaimed, smiling wickedly. "Zuko's fallen in love!"
"Oh, it's been coming on for a while," Lu Ten said casually. "Toph told me Zuko had been asking about that waterbender girl, and then Toph made a point of telling the girl herself –"
"What?" Zuko rounded on his cousin. "Toph told her that – that I like her? Before what happened today?"
"Yeah, it must have been a month or two ago."
Zuko ran his hand through his hair. "So – so she already knew who I am?"
Smellerbee rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I think he just said that."
Pipsqueak regarded Zuko thoughtfully. "I've never seen you like this before." The Freedom Fighters knew Zuko to be calm, cool, and confident when facing danger. But when it came to Katara, he was nervous and unsure of himself.
"It's time for us all to decide who we are," Jet said with conviction. He looked at each of his friends in turn, as though challenging them. "Have you asked yourselves what's the price you'll pay? Are these secret meetings just a game to you? Or are you willing to sacrifice everything so others can be free, and have a chance to live?"
Everyone was silent as Jet's words sank in. He gestured to a cloth pinned onto the wall of the secret room. "Remember why we chose these colors for our flag? Red, the blood of angry men, the dawn about to come. Black, the dark of the old ages, and the night that's finally going to end."
Zuko looked at the flag, but with Katara still on his mind, the colors meant different things to him. Red was the color of desire; black was the color of despair.
The Freedom Fighters felt the earth tremble beneath them, but it did not seem to disturb anyone. Suddenly a hold opened up in the dirt floor, and Toph and Aang came crawling out.
"Do we have enough ammunition? Are we ready to start this revolution?" Lu Ten asked.
"Listen!" Aang said, trying to get the Freedom Fighters' attention.
Smellerbee spoke up. "We have star daggers by the box."
"Are you deaf?" Toph demanded. Aang knew she must be very frustrated to have asked such a rhetorical question; she was blind herself, and would have taken it as an insult if anyone ever asked her sarcastically, "Are you blind?"
"I still think we should use the blasting jelly," Pipsqueak said.
"LISTEN EVERYBODY!" Toph screamed. The Freedom Fighters fell dead silent. Aang took a breath and announced solemnly, "King Kuei is dead."
Everyone was silent as the Freedom Fighters absorbed the news.
The Duke came over to his friends. "When did this happen?" he asked.
"Just a little while ago," Toph answered. "The news is spreading through the Upper Ring – I overheard a messenger tell my parents. We snuck out right away – I thought you guys should know as soon as possible."
Jet nodded his thanks. When he spoke, his voice grave and determined. "Kuei is dead. The people's man, the champion of the poor. His death is the sign! This is the rallying point we need! The spark that will kindle the flame." He turned to Toph. "When's his funeral?"
"In a few days," Aang said.
"That's when our revolution will take place! At his funeral they will honor his name. Like us, the people will be upset and want to fight back. We'll build up a barricade in the town square." Jet stood as if to leave, and the others followed suit. "Sneers, you go to the Water Tribe warriors, and tell them our plan. The rest of you, spread the news around the Lower Ring that Kuei is dead and we're going to strike. We'll need all the help we can get."
"You can count me in," Toph said confidently.
Zuko frowned. He didn't like the idea of the kids participating in a battle, if you could call it that. "You're from the Upper Ring. We're fighting for the poor people's rights. This isn't your fight."
"I hate the Dai Li as much as you do," Toph argued. "You guys are my friends. I fight with you."
Aang stepped forward. "If you're going, I'm going."
Toph smiled her thanks. Aang hesitated, then leaned over and kissed Toph on the cheek. Before she could react, he slipped out the door of the secret room, following Jet and the others.
Smellerbee smiled at Toph's bewilderment. "This is so sweet!" she said, her voice dripping with sweet sarcasm. "You and Aang, Zuko and Katara, Longshot and me …"
"Triple date?" Lu Ten suggested with a wicked smile.
Toph blushed furiously; but Zuko could tell she was secretly pleased.