An Alliance of Traitors
Disclaimer: "Avatar: the Last Airbender" – among the things I regretfully do NOT own.
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CHAPTER NINE
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd as soon as they caught sight of the Avatar's flying bison. With jubilant cries the people of the Northern Water Tribe greeted the young airbender, the Southern Water Tribe Warrior, and the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. The new arrivals smiled brightly at the spectators and waved back at them as Appa landed with an airy thump on the icy structures of the North Pole. The three passengers dismounted quickly and ran to meet all the people who had gathered there to see them.
Right in front of the excited crowd of Water Tribe members was the leader of the group, Chief Arnook, who welcomed Sokka and Aang back with open arms. The Avatar and the chieftain greeted each other warmly while the Northern Water Tribe leader and the Southern Water Tribe Warrior exchanged the customary pleasantries accented with the warmth of friendship between two men who had a great respect for one another. Seeing each other again, Sokka and Chief Arnook couldn't help but share a moment of silence for the memory of Princess Yue. But their sadness soon passed and they began to talk of happier things. This was followed by Sokka making the necessary introductions between the leader of the tribe and the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors.
Chief Arnook was very pleased and impressed by Suki and welcomed her immediately although a few of the other Northern Water Tribe people were giving the girl strange glances. Suki took everything in stride. After all, Sokka had already briefed her on the highly patriarchal society of the Northern Water Tribe. She wasn't so surprised by their reactions because she was more than used to narrow-minded male chauvinism. With an amused smile, the Kyoshi Warrior remembered that even Sokka had underestimated female capabilities when he first met her. Thankfully, some people were open to change and progress, although it would take some time. But, Suki thought, glancing at Aang who was in conversation with some of the other waterbenders, she figured that this was one part of his mission. The Avatar was put here not only to face the Fire Lord and end the century-long war but also to bring about harmony and unity among the members of all Four Nations. And she felt extremely proud to be a part of this mission.
After the formalities and greetings were over, Chief Arnook quickly invited the three of them to dine at the palace. Sokka and Suki quickly accepted but Aang raised his hand to politely decline. The waterbenders looked at the Avatar with some disappointment but he shook his head with a smile.
"As much as I'd like to catch up on old times, Chief Arnook," Aang replied to the chief's queries, "I only came here to drop Sokka and Suki off. I am on my way to consult Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple on a matter of great importance. But you can be sure that once all this is over, I will return to the North Pole and share a meal with you."
"I understand you perfectly," Chief Arnook answered with a smile, "and I know that you have many important duties to attend to. But keep in mind that you will always be welcome at the North Pole."
"Thank you very much," Aang said, with a bow, "it was just a pity that Master Pakku wasn't here."
"The last I heard from him," Chief Arnook explained with a mischievous smile, "he was enjoying himself reforming our alliance with our sister tribe. I suspect that there is more to that little trip of his than international relations."
Aang and Sokka looked at each other knowingly and smiled back and nodded at the chief. They were all aware of the one person Master Pakku truly wanted to see at the South Pole. And they all hoped that things would go well with the waterbender. There were certain joys that were long overdue.
Aang then made his farewells to the people of the North Pole and then quickly jumped on Appa's back. With a short "yip yip" from the Avatar, the sky bison waved his large tail and lifted off. All those standing at the icy platform waved goodbye at the airbender and watched him leave until the massive bison was but a speck in the eastern sky.
After that, everyone proceeded to the interior of the reinforced Northern Water Tribe fortress city, the crowd talking excitedly about what had just transpired. Sokka, Suki, and Chief Arnook all proceeded to the Chief's residence where they would discuss the involvement and alliance between the Northern and Southern Water Tribes.
"I'm glad to report," Sokka told the Chief, "that all our plans for the solar eclipse were successful. We've effectively set the stage for Aang's eventual showdown with the Fire Lord before Sozin's Comet arrives. As long as we sort out a few kinks here and there before that time comes, I have no doubt that we will finally see the end of this war."
"That is what everyone here is hoping for," Chief Arnook said, "and you can be assured that my people and I will do whatever it takes to help end this war."
"So will mine," Suki added with a determined look, "I'm sure that it is high time for the members of the Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom to unite against the tyranny of the Fire Nation."
"And your arrival at the North Pole is most timely," Chief Arnook told Sokka, "the last I heard, your father, Chief Hakoda, is only two days away from the city. I'm sure he will be glad to see you here."
Sokka gave the chief a very grateful and excited smile after hearing this piece of news.
"That's wonderful, Sokka," Suki congratulated the young man, "you'll be able to see your father again after so long."
"It has been a while," Sokka agreed, "and this will really help with our discussions and the fortification of the alliance between the Water Tribes. Wow, the universe is being rather kind to me these days."
Suki and Chief Arnook laughed at the young man's excitement and optimism. Sokka looked slightly embarrassed but quickly recovered and smiled back. Chief Arnook put his arm on the young man's shoulder and the three of them proceeded to the interior of the Northern Water Tribe city.
--
The winged serpent soared through the trees. After a short flight, it spied its destination and with a smooth, swift movement, Sicca wound himself around the outstretched arm of his mistress. The small serpent felt the comforting stroke of a familiar hand along its scaly body.
"So," said a young girl's voice, "what news does Sicca bring us today?"
"Let me see," replied an older woman as she unwound a small scroll from the winged serpent's body, "this should be interesting."
"Well, it should be," countered the younger girl, "if I could read that, I wouldn't take my time about it."
"Aren't we a little impatient?" the other lady replied with slight amusement, "just give me a few moments, will you?"
"I guess I'm just really excited to have some more to do," the other girl answered, "I'm not really one for spending days on end planning and strategizing. I'm a person of action, you know."
"One thing I am well aware of, my dear," said the older lady, "and that's what makes you one of the most useful members of our merry little band. However, some people are born to take care of the boring stuff."
"No kidding," was the curt but amused reply.
Golden eyes scanned through the message on the scroll and a satisfied smile graced the features of the regal lady.
"Well, you should be pleased to hear the news, Toph," Melisande told her young companion, "everything has gone according to plan. Sokka and the Kyoshi Warrior arrived safely at the North Pole while the Avatar has proceeded without incident towards the Eastern Air Temple."
"That's good to hear," Toph replied, not hiding her relief at the news about her friends.
Although the blind earthbender loved to put a tough façade, she was deeply concerned about the others and couldn't help but be a little worried when they had split up. But with this news, she felt glad that she would not have to be bothered by such inconvenient emotions anymore. But she also knew that her current companion, Zuko's aunt Melisande, was very similar to her. Although Toph had known the firebending master only for a short time, she already liked the latter exceedingly. They both had the same sense of humor and the same aversion to sentimentality. Toph appreciated Melisande's wry wit and vice versa. The earthbender had also noted that Melisande was an extremely powerful fighter, just like her, who also had interesting talents unique to her.
And what Toph liked most about Melisande was that the first time they met, the earthbender had not sensed any pity or sadness from Melisande towards her. Instead, Toph had sensed that Melisande was fascinated and impressed by the blind earthbender and this pleased Toph very much. And she felt even more pleased when the lady had invited and requested her to help with the recruitment of new members for their secret rebel Fire Nation rebel troops. They both knew that this was a very risky endeavor but Toph was flattered that Melisande trusted her abilities enough to invite her. And naturally, the earthbender had accepted the offer without a second thought nor the slightest hint of hesitation.
And thus she had helped Melisande during the period that Aang and Zuko paid a visit to the Sun Warriors. And now, Toph was among the rebels once more, lying in wait for their enemies, engaging in secret raids for weapons, as well as prison breaks here and there. The blind earthbender was doing all she could to be able to help make Aang's mission as easy as possible. Plus, she really enjoyed hanging out with Melisande and acting as a mysterious rebel.
"What about your nephew and Sugar Queen?" Toph asked the older lady.
"There isn't any direct mention of Zuko or Katara's whereabouts," Melisande replied mysteriously. Toph was nonplussed, since she sensed that Melisande wasn't telling her everything. And since Melisande was not nervous, Toph had a pretty good feeling that Zuko and Katara were quite all right.
"It says here," Melisande continued, unrolling the small scroll further, "that there have been sightings of the strangest sort from various villages along the coast of the Fire Nation. The villagers claim to have seen wandering spirits in the environs of their homes."
"Wandering spirits, huh?'" Toph replied with a grin.
"Indeed," Melisande proceeded, "beings with strange appearances who, apparently, were not as ethereal as the local myths and legends supposed since these wraiths were seen liberating slaves and prisoners, healing the sick, and in many cases, giving new hope to the forlorn people."
"Sounds like these spirits are on some kind of saving mission," Toph commented with amusement, "they seem really humane to me."
"Although the accounts on the spirits' appearances vary from village to village," Melisande read, "depending on the local folklore and the power of word of mouth, there are certain consistencies about the general description of these not so supernatural entities. They always come in a pair, for one. The male figure is always dressed in black, with dual swords, and a distinctive blue mask. The female figure, on the other hand, dons a conical hat with a long, flowing, white veil. And her face is painted with beautiful and intricate designs."
"The Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady," Toph said aloud with a smirk, "are those being described. I can't say I find those very original."
"That seems to be the case," Melisande agreed with a knowing smile, "things are going well for our supernatural couple, don't you think?"
"Well, they seem to be attracting a little more attention than what is necessary," Toph criticized although with a similar grin, "but as long as they stick to their part of the plan, it isn't an issue with me. I didn't know that they both shared a tendency to be a little theatrical."
"I don't know about Katara," Melisande replied, "but in Zuko's defense, let me just say that such things run in my side of the family."
The two women laughed heartily at this last statement while Sicca, well accustomed to such exchanges, merely hissed softly at the two, as if reminding them to get back to work. Melisande stroked the serpent affectionately before reading the rest of the scroll. Hearing the sound of unrolling, Toph raised her eyebrows in curiosity.
"You aren't finished reading the message yet?" Toph asked.
"Mm-mm," Melisande replied, shaking her head.
"Wow, how did everything fit in one small scroll?" the earthbender asked with awe.
"Well, it's all written in code," Melisande explained, "that only a select few of my trusted spies can encode and decode. So everything is pretty concise and we can make the most of even the smallest scrolls."
"This would all be really interesting," Toph commented, "if I could relate. But whatever. What else is written?"
Melisande smiled at the earthbender's nonchalant setting aside of her blindness. The former duchess knew very well that Toph didn't really mind being blind so much and in fact, the girl constantly put her condition in jest. The firebender turned her eyes back to the scroll with a smile.
"Ha," Melisande said with amusement, "it looks like Fire Lord Ozai has become paranoid after all the strange events during the solar eclipse."
"Really," Toph said with glee, "what did he do now? Impose complete control over the Fire Nation."
"Not quite," Melisande answered, "that would be too showing of his nervousness. He wants to retain the image of staying completely in control. He still let the festivities proceed after the eclipse since there was no attack anyway. The circus artists and the other performers still put up their elaborate shows. However, after the celebration, no one was allowed to leave the Fire Nation."
Toph whistled at this.
"I know," Melisande agreed, "he wanted to make sure that no one else escaped this time."
"No one else?" Toph asked, "Did he know about us?"
"Thankfully, no," Melisande explained, "however there was the issue of another failed assassination attempt – by Princess Azula."
"Ah," Toph said with an understanding smile, "the plot thickens, I see. This makes me appreciate my father a lot more. He may have been overprotective and annoying, but he loved me, just not in the way that I wanted him to. But at least, I never wanted to KILL my dad. The Fire Lord is really messed up!"
"You couldn't put it any better," Melisande agreed, "seeing what he has become today, I hate the fact that we are related by marriage."
"But there was a time that you wanted to marry him, wasn't there?" Toph teased Melisande slyly.
"I hate to admit it, but it's true," Melisande sighed, not losing her temper at all, "there was a time, when my brain was addled enough, and my heart so changeable. But so much has changed and today, we are all such a far cry from who we were before."
"I guess you're right," Toph said on a more pensive note.
"Anyway," continued Melisande, "the entire Fire Nation has now become a large prison that no one can escape. He is sowing fear and dread into the hearts of his people, daring them to defy him. The Fire Lord is finally showing exactly how threatened is by all these unseen attacks. All the better. We exist to make him squirm."
"Hopefully, he'll be nervous enough to slip up a lot when he finally meets Aang," Toph added, "the Avatar may have mastered all four elements and the Avatar State but I don't know if he might have the guts to do what has to be done in the end."
"When his destiny is upon him, he will have no choice," Melisande replied. Toph nodded with a serious expression on her face. Melisande continued reading the scroll.
"Here's something interesting," Melisande read, "apparently, Fire Lord Ozai didn't even bother digging up his son's 'corpse' and simply burned all the rubble that surrounded Zuko's 'dead body', not even giving his son a proper funeral."
"That's pretty convenient, isn't it?" Toph said with a grin, "I didn't expect him not to suspect that it was all a ruse."
"Well, you have to realize," Melisande explained, "that Ozai constantly underestimates his only son."
"I guess you're right. But there's one little thing I want to know. Just how exactly did Azula plan to kill her father, anyway?" Toph asked curiously.
"According to my sources," Melisande replied, "she poisoned his tea. I don't know. It seems like a fool-proof plan to me. If it had succeeded, it might have saved us a lot of trouble."
"No kidding," Toph agreed, thinking hard about how much easier it would have been if Fire Lord Ozai had already died. Undoubtedly, it would have been less dramatic, but a lot more practical. The earthbender thought back to the day of the eclipse, and to Zuko and Ozai's confrontation. And then it dawned on her. The earthbender's sightless eyes went wide with realization.
"Oh monkeyfeathers," Toph exclaimed with a snap of her fingers.
"What's the matter?" Melisande asked with concern.
"I just remembered," Toph explained, "Zuko said that his father was just about to drink some tea when he arrived at the palace."
For a few moments, neither bender was able to say a word, each taking in the irony of the circumstances. A small gust of wind blew against the trees surrounding their camp and some birds could be heard twittering nonchalantly. The silence between the two powerful benders was so palpable, a knife could have cut it.
However, the moment soon passed and they had to recover from the shock.
"I guess destiny has really decided that only the Avatar has the power to end the Fire Lord," Melisande said finally, "although it really would have saved so much trouble. What a pity."
"Oh well," Toph conceded.
"Anyway, the last part of this message came from my dear sister," Melisande continued.
"What did she say?" Toph asked eagerly. The earthbender felt a fondness for the twin sisters and she always noted that something interesting always happened when the two women communicated to one another.
"She says that she received an unexpected visitor at her prison cell," Melisande read, "her daughter Azula dropped by to give her the news of Zuko's 'death'."
"I wonder why she wasted precious escape time to tell her 'deranged' mother that," Toph said.
"She probably just wanted to gloat," Melisande explained, "Azula has always been envious of Ursa's preference of Zuko and now I suppose, she wanted to torment her mother for that preference. Not that Ursa was the least bit concerned. But she did have to put up a little act of grief and despair in front of her daughter."
"Well, I hope she was convincing," Toph commented.
"Of course she was," Melisande argued, "remember how theatrics comes from our side of the family?"
"Oh, right," Toph said in reply. Melisande's eyes narrowed as she read the rest of the message from her sister.
"And this unexpected visit has proven to be a blessing in disguise for us," Melisande concluded, "it seems that you're finally going to get the action that you've been itching for."
"Finally!" Toph cried jubilantly, "so, where are we heading?"
Rolling the scroll once more, Melisande gazed pensively towards the horizon. Her golden eyes narrowed as she imagined what she was about to face.
"Ba Sing Se," she replied simply.
--
A hooded figure entered the dark establishment inconspicuously. Not one of the patrons of the tavern looked up from their drinks or conversations. Everyone simply minded his own business. Now was not the time to meddle in other people's affairs. So much was happening in the war and it seemed like things had only gone from bad to worse. The Avatar had pretty much disappeared and there was not much hope for any good change before the comet's arrival.
The large stranger walked to the bartender and ordered a drink. When he heard the order, the man at the bar looked at the customer strangely but merely shrugged afterwards. After all, he had received far stranger orders in his time. He nodded and went to prepare the drink while the customer looked around for a vacant table.
The hooded man spotted a pai sho table in a lonely corner of the room where an elderly gentleman sat by himself. The stranger motioned to the bartender that he would be sitting there before resolutely walking over to the pai sho table. The old player looked up at the new arrival without flinching and politely invited him to play. The stranger accepted and sat at one end of the table.
Fumbling for a few moments in his sleeve, the new player soon brought out a pai sho tile and laid it on the table as inconspicuously as he could. At the sight of the design on the tile, the older player's eyes widened slightly in quiet realization. The man turned to the hooded stranger with a meaningful glance and the latter nodded back at him gravely.
"I see you favor the White Lotus gambit," the elderly player said simply, "not many still cling to the ancient ways."
--
"So," the princess said with a sinister smile, as she twirled a lock of her hair in one of her long-nailed fingers as she sat on the Earth King's throne at the majestic palace complex
, "the Earth King is not as big an idiot as I supposed. Someone gave him a tip-off about my arrival and he took the quickest chance to escape. It is of no consequence. At least this shows that he knows better than to stand his ground against me. Without the Avatar and his little friends, Ba Sing Se doesn't stand a chance."
"But from what I hear," Ty Lee said, as she cartwheeled around the throne room, "there is a group of powerful earthbenders who are forming some sort of resistance, to protect Ba Sing Se from another invasion."
Azula's only response to this piece of news was to laugh derisively, sending chills down Ty Lee's spine. Mai sat on one side of the throne, looking as glum as usual, and saying nothing as the princess cackled menacingly.
"You're hilarious, Ty Lee," the Fire Nation princess told her companion, who looked away with embarrassment, "do you honestly think some rag tag bunch of earhtbending peasants will be able to stop me. I have control of the Dai Li, the best earthbenders around. Besides, even without the Dai Li, I have no doubt the three of us can take on whatever defenses this city has left. The three of us were able to infiltrate it before, even while the Avatar was here. Now that he isn't, how much easier will it be?"
"You're right, of course, Azula," Ty Lee agreed, not wanting any trouble, after all, the princess had a point. It simply wasn't the acrobat's hobby to take over other kingdoms and she found less enjoyment in doing it than Azula did. Mai gave a bored yawn, looking as uninterested in anything as usual. Azula motioned to one of the Dai Li agents whose head was bowed, waiting for permission to speak. The spy faced the princess and waited for her command.
"Who are these new earthbenders, anyway?" Azula asked the man, "who have the audacity to think of going against me?"
"They aren't from Ba Sing Se, my lady," the spy replied, "they are a group of earthbenders from other provinces of the Earth Kingdom who have gathered to set up defenses for the city. According to my sources, they claim to be friends of the Avatar."
"So even in his absence, the bald airbender set up some security measures," Azula observed, "not bad. I didn't think the boy would be this forward thinking."
"Maybe it wasn't the Avatar who came up with this idea," Ty Lee suggested, "maybe it was that cute Water Tribe boy who is always with him."
Although Azula cringed at the description of the Water Tribe boy, she had to admit that Ty Lee was onto something.
"Well, he does seem like the person who makes all the Avatar's plans," Azula agreed.
"Even that imaginary attack during the solar eclipse," Mai added.
"You're right," Azula said, "I've got to give it to him, he's pretty clever for a peasant from a backwater country. But provincial wit is nothing to our superior plans."
The ruthless princess turned her attention back to the prostrate spy, who awaited more instructions.
"So, this motley crew of earthbenders from the provinces," Azula began with a raised eyebrow, "how many are there of them?"
"Not many, my princess," the spy answered, "according to our sources, only about three dozen earthbenders in all. Most of them are strange wrestlers from some underground tournament in the Earth Kingdom."
This time, all three girls couldn't help but laugh at the pathetic number of the resistance. Even Mai managed to chuckle at how daring and stupid these earthbenders were to try and go against them. Thirty-six earthbenders against an army of Dai Li, a chi-blocking acrobat, a blade-specialist, and a deadly, firebending prodigy. The odds certainly weren't good for the resistance.
"And are you sure," Azula said in between loud laughter, "that there are not more reinforcements coming from beyond the city."
"There are none that we know of, princess," the spy replied, "and even if there were attempts from the outside, the Dai Li have thorough control of the outer walls. Ba Sing Se is as impenetrable a fortress as it ever was."
"Good," Azula said curtly, "there is absolutely nothing to be worried about. Defeating these fools should be very amusing indeed. Is Long Feng, by any chance, the leader of this idiotic uprising? I should think he knows better."
"Long Feng isn't their leader, my lady," the Dai Li agent explained, "based on our investigation, the resistance is a young earthbender by the name of Haru."
Ty Lee giggled at the name and Mai only rolled her eyes.
"Haru, huh?," the Fire Nation princess said, not looking in the least bit impressed, "he doesn't even sound threatening."
"Well, if any of them are planning to overthrow you, Azula," the dark haired young noblewoman said dully, "then they'd better do it now. I'm getting bored just sitting here doing nothing."
"Yes, let them deal the first blow," Azula said, leaning comfortably back into the throne with a smug air, putting her fingers together, and her narrowed eyes sparkling with a murderous glint, "so that I'll know just how much I'm going to crush them."
--
And thus begins Part Two of the story. Hope you guys are still interested. Things are going to move a lot faster now, at least from my view of things. There is so much I want to write but I have very limited time.
I have only one question for you, dear readers, do you want Haru with or without the infamous mustache? I personally find the facial hair absolutely hilarious but if you don't really fancy him with it, then I can still change that. Thank you.