A/N: Hey y'all! I'm so sorry that it took so long to get chapter 11 up.My writer's block came back with a vengeance!It took me from the 29th of January to the 11th of February to get a (short) chapter up.I've also begun work on a new story which I will post as soon as I get two or three chapter up.
Y'all wanna hear about the other half of what has kept me from getting this chapter up? There's a girl at the barn who's a Betty Brags-A-Lot, and every time we've been out to the barn she lives at, she's always talking about how her boyfriend is so awesome and nice and adorable and supportive and strong, etc. Well, I'm tired of hearing "Oh, hey (name), sorry I couldn't call, my friend is over and we're playing with my new puppy. I'm still going to the show, your coming, right?" All that mushy-gushy crap. Yuck. And the worst part is, she's in 6th GRADE! And I'll be the first to admit that I'm not absolutely a doll, but she looks worse than me, and she wears horse-pattern sweatshirts! I didn't even think they made those anymore!
Also, everything she wants, she gets. She's not even liked at the barn anymore, and she wonders why I give her the cold shoulder when my other friends are there. She wonders why no one hangs around her anymore. I feel like saying "Well, maybe if you'd quit riding everything and quit showing off, then maybe people would like you somewhat. That's the entire reason I give you the cold shoulder.Also, the fact that you think that you own the damn barn." Ooh, how I'd love to set her STRAIGHT!
I feel as though some of you are saying "GET ON WITH IT!" Patience is a virtue. I still need to add my disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, but I do own a new horse. Short, sweet, and to the point. Ha! (lawyers back off with a pissed experssion on their faces) Sianara ya stupid lawyer-suckers! Now, onto the story.
Chapter XI: Shaiya is Pissed
Training had just ended, and all four trainees were sweating bullets, literally. All were out of breath, exhausted, and weak. All had been training for nearly four hours when the chef, Arleon, walked up to alert Iroh that lunch was ready.
All headed to their respective rooms to change into dry, uncinged clothes. When Zuko, the first to return to the galley, walked in, he found his favorite dish prepared for him. Grilled salmon laced with a delicious vinaigrette dressing. Something of his uncle's creation. He sat down and dug in.
Soon, everyone was in the galley eating. A stony silence descended upon them.
Shaiya decided to begin a conversation. Having never set foot in the fire nation, and having heard rumors about the tuatara, she was very curious.
"Anyone know what a tuatara is?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Iroh looked up. "Why yes. I know quite a lot about them. They are one of only two lizards that differ widely from all other lizards in existence. They, as well as the kiwikania, have survived on the only island in the fire nation that is uninhabited. They are a light green or light brown color, and they look somewhat like a crocodile. Really interesting. They were the favored pet of the Avatar 500 years ago, Avatar Goyemni. She was a very powerful Avatar. She had made up many moves that the modern earthbenders use now." Aang looked up from his bowl of veggie soup flavored like salmon.
The conversation went on quite a while. By that time, everyone had finished their food and all were listening attentively to Iroh explain about the fascinating little lizard.
Iroh just finished the full explanation when he decided that it was time for some laughs.
"Prince Zuko, how about you tell these people your story about your first encounter with the tuatara?" Iroh asked. Zuko nodded, wondering why he did, and began.
"Well, some man was in the capital touring with all the exotic animals he had. Those in question: a liger, hog monkey, labradoodle, and, of course, the famed tuatara. Well, my father thought it would be really cool to have him come and perform some moves with the liger of his, and the liger and tuatara were really good friends. He was in the middle of a trick with the liger when the tuatara decided to crawl across the room to me. I am not a big fan of lizards, and so I freaked out, being only 6 at the time. Well, that sneaky little devil crawled up my leg and onto my shoulder, where he was always perched on the man during explanations and what-not.
"I freaked out and ran to my mother. Thankfully, I inherited the hate of lizards from my dad, so he understood. My mom loved lizards, and she carefully pried the little devil off my shoulder and headed to give it back to the man. As soon as her grip on the tuatara was loosened, he made a beeline straight for me. The little jerk. He left some hefty claw marks in my skin that day."
Everyone was laughing hysterically.
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An entire week went by, no sign of Zhao, which was a good thing, and no sign of the coast of the Fire Nation. The ship was due back to the fire nation in two weeks, and Zuko was acting as though he would die if he didn't check the telescope at least once a day.
Shaiya had another fight with her mother, and Zuko was caught in the middle, again. This time, though, Meiya decided that they would leave the next day. Shaiya wasn't on speaking terms with her mother, needless to say. Onya was pretty pissed, too. She and Sokka were getting pretty close now, and she wasn't ready to leave.
That night was Music Night, and Shaiya and Onya has some songs to sing, one especially, in hopes that it would change Meiya's mind. Aang and Katara were getting pretty close, too, and no one on the ship wanted to see the female firebenders leave. Least of all, Zuko.
"Why the heck does your mother want to leave tomorrow?" Zuko asked, pissed. He was standing with Shaiya on the deck of his ship looking out over the rail as the Avatar and Katara practiced waterbending behind him.
"Ya got me. Best I can figure, she's pissed that I've been sleeping in your bed with you. I could seriously not care less what she thinks. Though, if we do go to the fire nation, I'd like the rest of the Black Chaos Dragons to be there with me. That'd be cool. Only Ina's seen the fire nation." Shaiya replied.
"Well, maybe your mother won't mind if we stop, get them, and then go to the fire nation."
"Zuko, it's useless. Once my mother's mind is made up, only song can change it, which is exactly what I plan on using against her. I feel a need to say 'Mwahaha' but I will restrain myself."
"Good. I'll miss you, ya know." Zuko whispered.
"Pardon, I didn't catch that."
"I… I said I'll miss you." he struggled to get that out loud enough for her to hear him.
"I figured as much, since I'll miss you, too. I really don't want to go." Shaiya said, dropping her chin against her chest.
"What makes you say that?"
"You're a great friend. Everyone makes you out to be some power-hungryasshole like your father, but you're not. I'm glad I got to see the other side of you, Zuko." That hit Zuko hard. There was someone out there that liked him for who he was, not what his title said.
"Thanks. I'm glad I got to meet you, too, Shaiya." Zuko said, edging closer to her.
"Ya know, we've been together for a little over seven weeks now. It seems like just last week I kept that mob from killing you and your uncle." Zuko smiled inwardly. "And now, seven weeks later, I'm standing on the deck of your ship right beside you, headed for the fire nation. And yet, this will all be torn apart when I leave tomorrow." Shaiya sighed.
"I think we should go, Uncle will insist that we begin Music Night right after sunset."
"Yeah, okay." The two turned and headed for the galley for dinner.
As they entered, Arleon brought in some soup, bread, and rice, soon followed by three pots of tea, one ginseng, one jasmine, and one iced lemon. Everyone, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, Onya, Shaiya, Zuko, Meiya, and Iroh, immediately dug into their dinner.
Meiya decided once more to try and pry the truth out of her daughter as to why she wanted to stay with the prince. There was no ring on her finger, so he hadn't proposed. They hadn't had much alone time, minus nighttime.
"So, Shaiya, honey, why exactly do you want to stay? You haven't cleared that up for me, yet."
"Well, mum, it just so happens that I have fun on the ship. Jee is really quite funny, and Iroh presents a really good challenge. I have yet to beat him at Pai Sho."
Iroh smiled grandly at that statement.
"Arleon is a magnificent chef, much better that I'll ever be. The rest of the men have their perks, and there's so many of them it'd take me another two hours to explain. All of them are wonders with the instruments they play at Music Night. And don't even get me started on Iroh's shopping eye."
"And what about Zuko? You haven't said anything about him yet."
"Where do I begin? ...Mother, if you would really like to know this stuff, why do you ask me in public? We all know that Iroh and Onya are gossips, and so's Sokka. Could we just talk outside?" Shaiya asked.
"Why, are you afraid of Zuko finding something out?"
"No. Not a friggin' bit. I'm just a little secretive, and besides, Zuko already knows everything I'd be telling you." Shaiya was struggling terribly, and losing,to keep her cool.
"So, if Zuko already knows all this stuff, why don't you just tell me here?"
"BECAUSE IT'S MY CHOICE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO TELL YOU AT ALL!" Shaiya screamed, slamming her fists on the table and standing up, staring daggers at her mother.
"I never meant to offend you, honey. It's just my job to be investigative."
"That's a load of bull shit! Everyone knows that you're just living through me! You tried and failed at snagging Lord Ozai, and now you just want me to marry Zuko so you can kill us, along with everyone else in the royal family, and take the fucking throne! You're a perverted, insane, screwed up little Bitch! I'M ASHAMED TO EVEN BE RELATED TO YOU! The trouble you have caused me is monumental, and you haven't even bothered to apologize for a bit of it!"
"Since when have I caused you any trouble, honey?" Meiya asked sweetly and innocently.
"Where do I BEGIN? The start of the whole thing was when you decided to barge in on Zuko and me when we were sleeping! Yanking the covers off on a cold morning? What is your mental disability? Then, banning Zuko from his own room when I am in there. Nuts much! I could go on for hours, just to let you know."
"Well, I think I've heard enough. You like him, don't you?"
"I plead the 5th."
"You can't plead to be silent. Unless, of course you do like him?"
"Or, I don't want to hurt his pride by saying I don't. Oh look. Two opposite answers, both equally possible." Meiya and Shaiya were standing toe-to-toe now, breathing hard from yelling. Zuko looked as if he had just seen a ghost. His girlfriend had just suggested that she didn't like him. That's just to counter her mother he told himself.
"Just because you've presented two possible, yet opposite, answers, doesn't mean that I've given up the fight. What about the time you kissed him that same morning that you claim started it all?"
"To keep you from killing the only person smart enough to end the damn war!"
"The fire nation should rule the entire world, don't even get me started on why, either."
"You mean, just because fire lord Sozin was a power-hungry asshole war mongerer and his descendants were too goddang chicken to end the hundred-year-war!"
"No, because fire is the ultimate element, and why should we sit back when we could rule the entire world instead of the smallest island group on the planet!"
"You're really pissing me off, mother!"
"Oh, well, let me apologize for something I didn't do to keep my daughter from getting mad at me."
"You really want to see what mad is! Let me show you me when I get mad!"
A/N: Hahahahaha! Cliffie! I'm so friggin evil! Not.
I'm just really sorry that it took me so long to get this up. I would've written more for this chapter, but I have a huge horse show I'm being forced to go to tomorrow, and I have to leave at 5:30 in the morning to go up to Prosper, Texas (north 20 miles of Keller) to be able to get there at 7 so all three girls can get their horses warmed up before the jumpers classes. Talk about a pain in the ass.
Sincerely,
Raaon Teisha ( insert smiley here )
