Okay, sorry for the delay! I actually finished this chapter on Monday (if I can remember correctly), but then I couldn't get onto my profile for some reason! I think some of you may have had a similar experience, and I'm not sure why it happened, but at least it's over now! So here you are, chapter eleven!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, or the Pokémon Special/Adventures manga.
Ruby sat dispiritedly on a cushion in the general's tent, sipping at a cup of tea that Blaine insisted he drank, and staring at Flannery from across the low, polished wooden table.
"And you're sure that they've entered Omashu?" He sighed, his red eyes flashing as they found Blaine.
"Positive, m'lord. They're nowhere to be found in the camp, and from what Flannery tells me, Omashu is the most likely place for them to be." Ruby turned back to the second-in-command of the camp.
"Why is that? I know that Omashu is the closest city where they can hide, but isn't it possible that they escaped on their flying bison?"
"With all due respect prince Ruby, they wouldn't." Flannery gulped, and shifted uncomfortably on her cushion. Ruby sighed, and gestured for her to continue.
"I-I didn't know that th-they were enemies of the F-Fire Nation, and I t-told them about the general b-being captured…"
"So they decided to try and rescue their mother on their own." Ruby sighed a second time, as he finished her sentence for her and put his cup down, "Ah well, it's not like they can do anything particularly harmful with the information. Besides, it will only benefit us if they actually succeed. It might make taking Red and Gold in a little more difficult if we add the general to the mix, but we needed some way to break her out. We can set a trap for them when they come back out of the city."
"Wh-what if they get captured by Birch too?" Flannery questioned tentatively.
"...I'm really hoping that it won't come to that. I don't want to get involved with that man. You could say that we have a.. history." Ruby closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
"So… we want them to succeed?" Flannery asked.
"Yes."
"So if there was any way to possibly aid them, then you should speak up now Flannery." Blaine stated, topping off her cup with freshly brewed jasmine tea.
"Well, I was just thinking that.. if we were to attack the walls again, it m-might provide them with a distraction and an opportunity to free the general…" Flannery stammered, not touching her china cup.
"That's a good idea.." Ruby muttered, "And that would also give us the chance to set up a trap without any interruption from the guards on the wall." He nodded decisively.
"You want to go through with this plan then, m'lord? The general's life may be at risk if we try to attack." Blaine asked.
"Of course. It'll be a gamble, but I believe that the abilities of Red, Gold and the Avatar should be sufficient to get her out before anything happens. They'll have the element of surprise. Alright then, inform the soldiers will you Flannery?" She gulped, nodded and exited the tent quickly, leaving her tea to go cold on the table.
"Ah, what a shame." Blaine shook his head and stared sadly at her cup.
"Blaine." Ruby said, in a deeply serious tone.
"What is it?" Blaine questioned, slightly alarmed at the tone of voice the prince was using.
"I still haven't restocked my yarn!" Ruby shouted.
"Ah. Right away." The manservant sighed in relief.
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"Y'know Gold, I thought this was a good idea, but I should've known better." Red squeaked.
"Are you saying this isn't a good idea? Are you kidding? It's genius! When have I ever had a bad plan?" His brother laughed.
"Every plan that you've made in the past week has been terrible." Red grumbled. You couldn't really blame him for his nerves. The two firebenders (plus Pika, who had come out from hiding in Red's shirt and was now wrapped around his head) were sitting in a small clay crate, and teetering dangerously at the brink of an incredibly steep, not to mention high, slide of sorts. Despite his fragile position, Red had to admire the ingenuity of the Omashu delivery system. Since the entire city was built on a mountain, gravity easily pulled parcels and crates down the steep runways, whereas to go up, it implemented the powers of earthbenders. It was foolproof. And much faster than the messenger hawks the Fire Nation used. But it was also probably not meant to be used as a slide.
"Well what're we waiting for? Let's go!" Gold shouted excitedly. Red took another glance down at the dizzy spiral of rooftops leading down to the road which was a very long drop below him, and tried to swallow down the fear. No dice.
"Gold, I-I don't think we should- maybe- no, wait! Stop! NOOOOOO!" Under normal circumstances, Red would have been embarrassed at the piercingly high scream he let out, but these were far from normal circumstances. Gold gleefully pushed off, and they hurtled into space, the bottom of the crate barely scraping the track as they were as good as freefalling. The track began to flatten out slightly, and they hit it with a resounding thud. Then they were hurtling forward at a speed neither of them had ever experienced before, and they were whipping around a huge bend, and then the positions had been reversed. Red was laughing hysterically as the wind threw his messy hair back and tugged at the corners of his mouth, while Gold screamed at the top of his lungs and started to look slightly sick when they hit two more tight turns and a sudden drop. Red's laughs quickly changed to screams of horror once more when the runway flattened out again and he saw a crate sitting motionless before them. They both sighed in relief when two of the earthbenders standing on a platform off of the track raised the crate to the next level, but then screamed yet again when another crate was lifted back in front of them. They crashed into it, and fell off of the track spinning downwards and gripping the sides of their box for dear life. Pika screeched as the bottom of the container hit the shingles of a roof and slid onto another building below, somehow only gaining momentum as opposed to losing it.
They fell onto another roof, and from that flew through a window, bounced off of the floor (with an ominous crunch of china, as if they had accidentally just crushed a masterpiece some artist had been working on), and out through another window. Red tried to yell an apology over his shoulder, but the ferocious wind whipped the words away before they could escape. Somehow, their crate had found its way onto another track of the delivery system. Red barely heard Gold give a pained groan, and fervently hoped that the track would run out soon, as he really didn't want to be barfed on, on top of having the living daylights scared out of him. It couldn't get any worse, right?
Red immediately regretted thinking those words, as he noticed another crate had appeared behind them and was carrying a rack of spears. Unfortunately, the pointy ends were facing towards the two brothers. Red thought that he probably should try and maintain some calm in a life-threatening situation such as this, but he couldn't help it. So he screamed. Again. Then he grabbed the front of Gold's shirt and forced him to duck into the safety of the crate and beneath the spears, while he himself leaned as far forward as he could to try and avoid being impaled.
"...nough.." Red made out Gold's moan over the wind.
"What?!" He asked, well, shrieked is more accurate.
"Had.. enough.. feel..si..ck.." Gold managed, and began forcefully rocking the crate sideways.
"Gold! Stop! We're gonna fa- AAAAAAAHHH!" Red yelled, as his younger brother succeeded in rolling the container over the low restraining wall of the track and into a freefall once more. They landed with a heavy crash, and the sound of splintered wood filled the air.
"MY CABBAGES!" A cry rent the air, and Red opened his eyes to discover that he and Gold were quite unharmed (aside from Gold staggering up and immediately barfing), but the same couldn't be said for the cabbage stand that they had landed on. A man was standing above them, pulling at his hair and hopping from foot to foot in rage.
"Y-ya ruined mah cabbages!" He shouted again, pointing accusingly at Red.
"Oh. Umm… I'm sorry Mr…" Red began.
"Bill! Th' name's Bill! And Ah hope you git thrown in jail for a few days ta think about what'cha did to my precious stock! Here're the guards now!" Bill said angrily. Red glanced over at Gold. Gold gave wiped his mouth and gave him a shaky thumbs-up.
"Told ya my plans always work. And wasn't that kinda awesome?" He grinned. Red shoved him over.
"Halt! We're taking you two into custody for the unwarranted destruction of roof shingles, a custom-made piece of pottery (Red winced as he remembered the tinkling sound of crushed china), and the vicious murder of cabbages!" The first guard stated officiously.
"You can murder cabbages?" Gold questioned.
"Shuttup!" Bill wailed.
"Please come quietly or we will have to use force!" The guard continued, ignoring the interruptions. Red and Gold willingly held out their hands and two more men came up and cuffed them. The two firebenders were led away from the smashed pieces of the crate and cabbage stand, and as Red walked he wondered how on earth their plan was working so smoothly.
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Yellow was barely paying attention as she was led into a huge building in the center of the city and through multiple sets of doors flanked with armed guards. The woman in front of her never stopped, and Yellow followed her automatically, the task of walking being shoved into a corner of her mind as the rest was occupied with concern for her friends. She didn't realize the woman had stopped until she ran into her.
"Oh! I-I'm so sorry.." Yellow's apologies trailed off as she gazed at the room she found herself in. It was long and wide, the walls and floors were constructed of polished stone blocks and everything seemed to be tinted green. Yellow realized that the cause of this was the glowing green crystals that formed the only light source in the space. An emerald carpet led to a large throne, that gave off an air of both elegance and power. The same could not be said for the man crumpled in its seat. His face was lined with worry and regret, and he was unkempt in every aspect. The air was heavy, and if Yellow hadn't know better she might have thought that he was the old king that she once came to visit, worn down by the one hundred years that had passed since their last meeting. Indeed, the current king Birch was a spitting image of his grandfather, but he seemed a man ragged beyond his years. The weight of a city at war was pressing heavily on his shoulders. Birch looked up as Yellow stood in the center of the hall, and a brief smile crossed his lips.
"Ah! The Avatar I presume?" He orated, in a voice dripping with false confidence.
"Y-yes, that's me. My name is Yellow. Thank you for letting me into your palace, king Birch." Yellow replied in a quiet voice.
"Not at all my dear! And did you say your name was Yellow? Surely not the same Yellow that my grandfather was always speaking of?" Birch said, jovially enough.
"The very same, sir."
"But it's been one hundred years! And you can't be any more than thirteen!"
"Fourteen, actually. I was frozen in an iceberg you see."
"Ah! It all makes sense now. Don't worry, I won't hold a grudge for your disappearance. Although, the Earth Kingdom is in sore need of your assistance in the war." Birch said seriously, and leaned forward in his throne.
"I know sir, and I intend to make up for my long absence. I wasn't even aware that there was a war until I woke up not that long ago!" Yellow said.
"Hmm. That's good to hear. Now excuse me, but I think we will both be more comfortable sitting at a table together with food to shove in our faces, no?" Birch hauled himself to his feet and straightened his lab coat. The he beckoned Yellow to follow him. He led her through a few more impressive, echoing hallways and through many more doors flanked with armed guards before reaching their destination. It was another lonely room with too much space, and in the center, a long table had been laid with a full feast. Birch took the seat at the head of the table, and motioned Yellow to sit at the foot. She perched uncomfortably at the edge of her chair, and tried to ignore the awkwardly heavy silence.
"Take some food, Yellow." Birch offered.
"Oh, thank you for the kind offer king Birch, but I'm a vegetarian and most of the food here seems to be meat dishes." Yellow politely declined.
"Shame." Birch sighed, and tore voraciously at a pig sow leg.
"I'm sorry sir, but I couldn't help but noticing how empty it is in here. Does anyone else live with you?" Yellow said, attempting to strike up some sort of conversation and quell the terrible silence. Birch's back abruptly straightened, and he stared coldly at Yellow. His leg of meat clattered as it fell on the plate in front of him.
"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to offend-"
"It's alright. You were just curious, I understand." The king waved away her hasty apology, "But, I admit I did want to speak with you about a more personal matter. Which involves your question, incidentally."
"What is it?" Yellow asked, curious despite touching upon a sensitive subject.
"It's my.. my daughter, you see.." Birch began breathing more quickly, "Six years ago she was injured in a Fire Nation raid. I-I've searched the kingdom for someone to help her.. but in private. I've tried… tried to keep her safe."
"Is she here, king Birch?" Yellow questioned in a quiet voice.
"No! No, heavens no. I can barely keep my own city safe, can you imagine what would happen if they were to get in? ...I sent her away, to somewhere else in the Earth Kingdom. She should be well protected, there's a very trustworthy guardian looking after her… but I want to be absolutely certain. And I want to know if there's any way to help her. And who walks in but the Avatar? ...Yellow, I can't imagine anyone better to look after her. Can I please ask you for this favor? Can you please find my daughter and see if there's any way to help her?" Birch looked at her with wide, hopeful eyes. Yellow gulped.
"B-but how-"
"And there's no need to worry about avenging her or anything!" Birch said hurriedly, "I'm already taking care of that! I won't saddle you with killing anyone-"
"Killing?" Yellow asked, horrified.
"Yes, yes, I've captured one of the Fire Lord's top generals, she's being held in a cell beneath the palace. She is to be executed quite soon. But you don't need to worry about that. All I ask is that you go to my daughter. Will you do this for me? Please?" The king pleaded. Yellow's mind was in turmoil. On one hand, she didn't want to refuse the simple request, especially from the grandchild of her old friend, whom she hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to before being trapped in the ice. But on the other…
He's planning on killing Red and Gold's mom! Yellow thought frantically. The king was still staring at her with those pleading eyes. If she stayed quiet much longer, he would suspect something was up. She needed to say something, anything!
"Yes, of course I will your majesty!" Yellow blurted. Birch smiled.
"Thank you so, so much Yellow. Just hearing that has already reassured me." The king slumped in his chair, relieved. Yellow was saved from miring in the horror of what she had just heard when a tiny man with round spectacles and a lab coat that matched king Birch's rushed into the dining hall.
"Ah! Yellow, this is my assistant-" Birch began wearily.
"I'm sorry for the interruption king Birch, b-but.. THEY'RE ATTACKING!" The assistant screeched, and promptly started hyperventilating.
"WHAT?!" The crumpled and defeated man was instantly replaced by strength and rage, "They dare… well. They know that the life of their general is at risk, so it'll be their own fault when she dies. And then the Fire Lord will wreak havoc on them for the death of his top general. Come, why don't we take care of her now?" Birch stood decisively, a strange, hungry fire burning in his eyes.
"Come along Yellow. I'm sure you're just as eager to see a blow struck against the Fire Lord than I am to avenge my daughter." The king said jovially.
No, no I'm not. I won't let you. Yellow thought fiercely, and clenched her fists, And I'm going to find an appropriate time to tell you that this is wrong! Outwardly, she smiled.
"Coming your majesty!" She said cheerfully, and trotted after him.
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"Reeeeed, I'm booooooored." Gold whined from where he was lying on the single metal bed-frame. The cell where they had been thrown into was, in Gold's words, 'too gross and uncomfortable to be a holding cell.' And Red had to agree. It was pretty dismal, and it made him think of how much worse a permanent jail cell would be. The metal bed-frame that Gold had occupied was without blankets, pillows and mattress, and the only other object (for it really couldn't be called furniture) adorning the space was a bucket. No need to ask what that was for. The cell was dank, dripping, and dim. And neither of them was eager to spend more time than necessary in it. To Gold's dismay, Red had decided that they wouldn't leave the cell until there was no guards in sight. By his reasoning, if the guards knew that there were firebenders in the palace, they would send a lot more troops after them than if they thought it was just a couple of kids.
"There's nothing I can do about that little bro." Red sighed from where he was sitting perched on the end of the bed-frame. Gold flopped over onto his stomach, placed his chin on his hands, and flashed Red his signature grin.
"We could talk about loooove~" Gold said in a sing-song voice. Red stiffened.
"Bad subject at the moment." He forced through clenched teeth.
"Oh, right." Gold seemed to shrink slightly, "Sorry." They sat in silence for a few minutes, while Gold tried to think of something else to talk about.
"I still can't believe that you let Crystal go so easily, I mean, you're usually so persistent." Red finally spoke, startling Gold.
"Maybe, but it took a lot of pestering to get her to a point where she could talk to me without trying to maim me. I didn't want to push it, she's too serious for her own good, y'know? And besides, we'll meet again. I can feel it!" Gold jumped up and stood on top of the bed-frame, one hand clasped dramatically over his heart and the other flung out wide. Suddenly, the ground rumbled slightly and Gold fell face-first into Red's lap.
"What's happening?!" Red jumped up, and Gold rolled off and onto the floor.
"Red, bro! Not cool!" He yelled as he struggled to get off of the gross, wet cement. Red absentmindedly pulled his brother up and dusted him off.
"It's gotta be earthbending, but why?" Red muttered, using the bed as a stepping stool and trying to peer out of the tiny, barred window that was placed so high up the wall it practically touched the ceiling. A fireball landed on the ground directly outside of the window and exploded. Sparks flew through the window bars, and Red fell backwards in shock.
"Sozin's BEARD!" He shouted.
"What's happening?" Gold asked excitedly, jumping to try and peek through the window.
"Get down! The Fire Nation's attacking, and from what I can tell, the earthbenders are fighting back!" Red hissed, grabbing the back of Gold's shirt and pulling him away from the window.
"Wait, the Fire Nation's attacking?! Right now?! Why the heck would they do that?!" Gold questioned incredulously.
"I don't know, seeing as one of their own is captured… Oh no. Oh no, no, nonono, this is bad!" Red gasped, realization dawning on him.
"What's bad?" Gold looked at him confusedly.
"If they attack now, then.. then.. the king might hurt mom!" Red stammered.
"Oh my god.. then what're we waiting for?!" Gold yelled, realizing the enormity of the situation. He rushed to the door, flames already dancing over his hands. They flashed white as he placed them on the door handle. The handle flared red and oozed downwards, melting away until all that was left was a hole. Gold kicked the door violently, and it flew open, giving them a clear view down the hall. There was not a guard in sight. Red silently thanked his lucky stars as he raced through the prison corridor, and wondered if the Fire Nation had intended to create the perfect distraction. But it wouldn't matter if they didn't find their mom in time. Red briefly wondered if Yellow had gotten out of the camp safely, and if she was hiding in the mountains with Chuchu, or safely flying away to find and earth and waterbending master…
"This way, Red!" Gold panted, indicating a flight of stair that led down into inky blackness. The sickening stench of mold and rotten food wafted up from below. Definitely what they were looking for. Another rumble as the palace shook in its foundation. Dust trickled from the ceiling, and Red had to wonder just what the earthbenders were doing to make the ground shake this much. The brothers rounded a corner, passing miserable inmates and sputtering torches. They had to be getting close now, any minute they would find the cell where there mom was kept, they had to, before…
King Birch stood in the hallway in front of them. His eyebrows were raised in shock and he was wavering, unsure of what to do. He was standing before a thick, iron door with a ring of keys clutched tightly in his hand, and next to him was…
Yellow.
Do you guys remember Bill's accent? He had one in the RBGY arcs, but then lost it in the newer series. Which is unfortunate because it's hilarious XD (Sorry to torture you Bill, we all love you!) Also, I may have put in the king Birch's father was the one Yellow was friends with in a past chapter, but while writing this one I realized that that didn't make sense with the one hundred year gap, so I changed it to his grandfather. Sorry if that was confusing. And hahaha! I'm not giving you Sapph that easily! Muahahaha! I feel evil..
Hope you like the chapter! And reviews are very much appreciated!