Chapter 11: The New Ozai

Nathan:

"New Ozai? For real?" I asked nobody in particular.

I've been there for three days now, and apparently Aang and company left about a week ago, and managed to evacuate all the people who wanted to leave at the time. I wasn't sure if the plan with pentapox was a masterwork or the local Fire Nation militia were just plain retards. Maybe it was both. No matter though, since there were quite a lot things to do. For one, I wanted to actually meet the mad genius, Bumi. He was so interesting of a character in the show I just had to meet him. For number two, there were a few people who got into trouble with the current government ,because why not ignore their rules when you decide to stay in their city, right? My intention was to get to them, get them out of the city and get them somewhere safe. As it was, number one had to wait and I'd have to leave right after I begin number two, so I was stuck. Why was that? I was not foolish enough to challenge the three girls who I knew were still here. Not without bending. Yes, I did recently found out that despite all that other world shit I could earthbend, but I still had nothing more than the absolute basics down. Even that was because I was trying to learn something ever since Huo died. I couldn't afford to die or dwell on my friend's death. This was war.

Right now I was sitting in an inn, at the same table as a group of displeased locals who kindly briefed me on the situation. They weren't exactly the friendliest folk, but that was to be expected.

"Yeah, for real. When the princess showed up, she renamed our city. I hate that name." An older man with graying hair said, and the rest of them nodded in agreement.

"You have to admit it is quite original. There is only New Sozin and New Azul, right?" I spit out sarcastically. Yeah, there was a bunch of colonial towns the Fire Nation renamed like that. "Sucks."

"You don't like the names, do you?" a not so bright man asked. How could he not get it?

"No, I hate it. They are so uncreative it pains me."

As I said that, a woman ran through the door in, looking relieved. She then almost yelled that the princess was about to leave. The occupants of the inn went to see her and her royal procession leave the city. They seemed to like the idea of getting rid of the princess. I joined the forming crowd, wanting to make sure she left before starting the Operation Madman. The crowd reached the main gate, where could be seen a train-like machine made of metal, and a group of fire nation girls. I was pretty far away so I couldn't make out their features, but meh. It was them and they were leaving. I left only after they entered their means of transport, knowing they won't come back.

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I was finally free to begin the mission, but first I'd need to do some research. And what better way to start then by tracking down a group of guards in red. So here I was, in one of those shadier tight streets that were mostly used by thugs. These guys were a regular patrol, and wouldn't know much. But hey, beginnings are beginnings. I waited until they turned around a corner so they wouldn't be seen from the more populated streets. They didn't see me coming. There were only five of them, and I snuck behind one and got him into a sleeper hold and subdued him in silence. That was easy. Then I started the fun part. I snuck behind the other one, and slammed my foot in his knee. He fell on his knees with a yelp of surprise, and I snapped his neck. I know I didn't want to kill if not necessary, but after the north pole I couldn't bring myself to feel for the Fire Nation soldiers. The fact they killed the only person who knew where I was from didn't really help it either.

I took the katana with broken blade, which I called the moon blade because of it's broken nature, and threw it at another soldier. It hit his forehead, and he dropped dead. The last two attacked with their swords. I sidestepped one and blocked the other with my bracer, jumping to the one whose sword I blocked. I twisted his wrist, grabbed his sword and cut his own throat with it. The last one attacked again, only for me to slip to the side and stab my sword through his leg. The man screamed in pain as his legs failed him. I lowered myself to him.

"You will answer my questions, and maybe I'll let you live." I whispered.

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It turned out this man knew nothing of Bumi. However, he also told me who would have the information. Aside from the governor, it would be the Fire Nation captains. There were three of them in New Ozai. Omashu. Fuck, I liked the original name better. The captains would be guarded, but that wouldn't be a problem. I choked that man until he dropped unconscious, and then interrogated the two others. One of them served for captain Yamato before he was demoted because of his gambling habit. I learned the following: Captain Yamato was a top notch firebender, and a good strategist. What he lacked, however, was caution. In short, he believed he was safe here because of the city's conquered status. The captain still kept two to four bodyguards, but that would be easy to take care of. I also knew where to find him. He liked women, and there happened to be a red lamp district in Oma - New Ozai. Now I got dow all I needed. I was nearly starting to enjoy the situation. Except for the city's name, that is.

With this in mind, I made my way down to the said area. The street consisted of sturdy, yet elegant buildings with lamps in various shades of the Fire Nation color. It could be either local garrison, or a fucking bitch business. Not that there was much of a difference between the two. I made my way through the area, taking in the surroundings. Anything I could use for cover or as an obstacle for my enemies would come in handy, so I took note of all of them. Now, I would return to the inn, get something to eat and wait until the evening.

I made my way to the red district once again, though now it was clearly getting darker. I decided to wait for mr Yamato, whoever he was. But the time passed and my target wasn't showing up. It was frustrating. Even more annoying was the sales-girl who tried to stroke up a conversation with me.
"So, where did you say you are from?" she asked cheerfully. I gave her annyoed look. She was getting on my nerves. Don't get me wrong, she was pretty, around my age and all the good stuff. I wouldn't normally mind her attention, but now it was getting in my way.

"Far away. I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh. And how did you get here in the city?" she asked. No name, I noticed. It seemed everyone hated the new name.

"I travel a lot." I let out a sad smile, remembering my time with the dead fighter.

"You do? Where have you been?" she didn't cease her question catling cannon of a mouth. I sighed.

"Few colonies, the Water Tribe, Kutian..." I answered, just to get her to shut up.

"The Northern Water tribe? I heard there was a battle recently, and the Fire navy lost."

"Yeah, and half of the Tribe died that night." I ended the discussion. The girl was puzzled by my sudden shift of attention. I got up and started walking away. She didn't matter anymore. I found my target.

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I tailed Yamato as he walked down the street with two bodyguards of his. All of them were unaware of my presence. The captain was obviously undecided on his host for tonight, since he was strolling down the street, performing some kinky windowshopping. He suddenly stopped before one of the many facilities and made his way inside. His stop was so unexpected that his guards crashed into each other as they didn't want to litteraly run into their boss. I chuckled. This would be easy.

It wasn't. It definitely wasn't as easy as I expected it to be. The facility had three floors, The ground was some sort of desk, where stood an older woman, probably the owner. The next two floors consisted of rooms, where the merchandise was to be used. In other words, bedrooms. I waited for a brief moment before entering myself, and I somewhat regretted the decision. The captain left for a bedroom already, and so did his bodyguards. They were apparently regulars. Oh well...

"Oh hello there! How can I help you?" asked the owner "It's good to see some new faces. So, what type would you like young man?"

I froze in panic. Shit, I didn't think of this! Fuck me! Oh wait, they would actualy do that here. Oh come on, you need to come up with something before it gets too weird.

"Oh, need some details, do you? We have here all kinds of girls! The blondes, brunettes, even redheads. Say, young man, you look like the travelling type, would you like some old fashioned brunette with big tits? Or something more exotic, like a fiery girl with skin like marble?" The woman definitely knew what she was doing. I was here on business, and she still managed to get her words into my head. Even worse, I was starting to consider her offer.

Oh wait. I would have to look like a customer if I was to catch the captain out of guard. Okay, you know you like passionate women, and you could even get some. I ordered the latter, and the owner sent me to a room on the second floor. Alright, now I had some time before the girl would arrive.
I didn't find anything on the second floor, and was about to check the third, when one of the girls walked past me, muttering something about a pig of a captain. I smiled. I was in luck.

I followed the girl all the way to the room she entered. I considered going in, but ultimately I decided against it. I wouldn't want a poor working girl getting caught in the crossfire. I noted which room was it, and left for the mine.

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I stood before the captains room again. This visit went better than expected so far. I was just in time. Captain's girl left the room, and gave me a questioning glare. I pressed a finger against my lips. She noticed my half-bladed katana, and nodded. Good, there would be no disturbances. The door opened, revealing the captain. His face betrayed his surprise as he saw me.

"What are you doing?" he questioned.

I leaned forward and pushed him in the room. He stumbled over the huge comfy bed and fell. I closed the door and jumped at him with a my dagger in hands. His eyes widened in fear. He rolled and the blade missed him by not even an inch. He stumbled away from me and threw a firebending jab as I lunged. But he was panicked and his attack went wide. My blade cut his chest, and I shoulder-bashed him while grabbing his wrist. His arm was straight thanks to the shoulder bash, and I turned around, slamming it in my shoulder. His arm went limp with a sickening crack as his arm broke. I stepped back and hit him with a crescent kick in his head. What I didn't see coming was captain Yamato's unconscious body falling out of window, head first. My target did not only die from the fall - fuck - but also alerted the group of guards - double fuck. The guards ran off alarmed.

I left the room quickly. At the same moment I heard the guards barging in. Shit. I made my way to the exit, hoping to find a hiding place on the way. The soldiers were running up the stairs.

"Shit." I muttered, cursing myself for the fateful kick. The first men in red appeared on the second floor. I looked around in despair, only to see a bedroom door open. A hand grabbed me by my shirt and forcefully pulled me in the room.

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I stood in shock, staring at the door as the guards ran past it. There was only one person more in the room, and that person was a woman. She was slim, with some degree of bounciness in her body, though she was rather petite. Her hair was long and pitch black, and skin pale. She looked quite good, even though I couldn't be really sure with all the make-up. What betrayed her origin were her eyes. Her golden eyes. She was Fire Nation, but she helped me hide from the guards. Just what the hell her deal was?

"Ahem. Wouldn't you mind not staring?" She asked "It's all good you find me atractive, but it's getting annyoing."

"...Right, sorry."

"My name is June." she gave me a sly look "What is yours?"

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I, along with my unexpected ally, snuck out on her sniffy poisonous pet lizard. She found the whole situation aumsing, and decided to help me. Her reason? It was for "the fuck of it". No biggie, right? But it helped me overcome the death of my source of information. Right now the shirshu lizzard tracked the mad king's smell through the city. Thankfully we were unnoticed so far. We skidded from one roof to another in the middle of the night. It would be quite some romantic experience, if only it wasn't the bounty hunter as my companion.

We reached the end of the trail. I jumped from the back of the lizard, and eyed the half ruin of a house before me. Really? This was where the mad genius was kept? I was thinking about what to expect when the bounty hunter appeared next to me.

"Good luck, Nathan." June smiled.

"You ain't coming?" I asked, not surprised much. I was half expecting her to leave me to go by myself for the most part of the ride.

"I'm not. It is for the best I put some distance between us."

"What about the payment?" I was puzzled. We didn't discuss any kind of compensation for her help, and I didn't expect her to just leave without her coin.

"This will suffice." She leaned to me, her eyes giving me the same look as they would to her prey. Then she closed her eyes and kissed me. "You were clearly more fun than prince Scar Face."

"I - what?"

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I stood in a metal room, which was empty aside from the steel coffin hanging in the middle. There was a hole in the coffin, and through the hole came a face I knew well from the show.

"King Bumi." I grinned "The mad genius. It's pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine." Bumi replied before an outburst of laughter. Yeah, he was totaly insane. "But what do I owe it to?"

"Let's say you have a reputation, and there is a friend we have in common."

"Oh, right. That's kind of Aang to send you to check on me." Bumi chuckled.

"Aang has no idea of me being here."

"Oh... OHHHHHHHHH! SO YOU CAME HERE FOR YOUR OWN REASONS THEN!" Bumi roared, half laughing.

"I do. For one I was wondering if you could give me some points on earthbending. That and if you wanted to leave. So, do you?"

"Leaf? I get enough of those!" Bumi grinned.

"Let me restate that. Do you want to get out of here?"

"What, no. It's too soon for me to leaf them." Bumi assured me happily. He was way too cheerful for someone locked in a metal coffin.

"Alright then. And do you mind telling me how to... rock properly?" I decided to play his game of puns. He had nothing else to do here anyway.

"Let me see..." Bumi seemed to lose himself in thoughts for a moment. I wasn't sure if he didn't want me to let him see the sea. Bumi was probably the most hilarious person alive, maybe except for Sokka.

"You do have fighting experience, don't you?" the mad man asked and I nodded in agreement.

"Good, then there is but one thing to say. There is no reason for the traditional rigid stances. You only need to understand the element, feel it as if it was part of you, because-" Bumi chuckled "-it is. Make the rock be extension of yourself, young man. And never let anyone tell you what is possible and what is not. Think like a mad genius!"

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I've leafed king Bumi in his cell and went to the place where the citizens who got into trouble with the Fire Nation were hiding. It was and underground cavern of sort, and the only source of light in there were these green shiny crystals. I found the entrance after much effort, and much to my disappointment the only way inside was through a huge rock. I tried to earthbend it as I remembered from the show. Needless to say, nothing happened. I've been trying to move the rock ever since, and quite ironically even the rising sun found me here, exhausted and asleep on the very rock.

I woke up, still tired from my rock moving trials yesterday.

"Oh come on. move you piece of shit." I muttered and slammed my fist into the rock angrily.

What I clearly didn't see coming was that the rock basically exploded into pieces and I fell straight through the shaft under it.

So, how do you like it? I know, this one is a little - lot - longer than usual, but it was somewhat needed and I couldn't bring myself to divide this chapter in two. I really like Bumi and I hope I got him right. I didn't originally plan on including June, but she did somewhat fit the atmosphere, so there she is. Anyway, I'd be glad if you told me your opinion. I didn't say this word by word, but I will since noone thought of it yet. I accept even OC suggestions, so if you have an idea for a character, feel free to tell me if and when I should include them.

As always, thank you guys.

Khai