Ayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BD howzyagoin'? sweet. Now, you may be a little annoyed that I haven't updated in a while. Well, you can fix this! By reviewing! It motivates me to write. Cus I just can't be fucked if I don't get reviews. Anywho, enjoy the chapter! (P.s I stole a little part out of pirates of the Caribbean, curse of the black purl. You'll recognise it when you see it.)s
Disclaimer: has anyone ever actually been sued for not putting on a disclaimer? Well, I don't want to be the first. I do not own a:tla
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"So, Zuko, have you got a plan?" asked Iroh.
"Well, yes actually, I do."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Well, I'm thinking, we go up to the guards, and tell them that it is there break. The fire nation has such stupid guards that they won't even notice that we are there prisoners and were supposed to be locked up."
"Alright, but what happens if one of them is a bit brighter than the rest and they do actually figure out that we are supposed to be locked up?" inquired Iroh.
"Well, I figure, you can hold them off, and I will get Aang and Katara out of the cell."
"Ahhh, prince Zuko, when will you ever learn to plan ahead?" sighed Iroh.
"Umm, when I sincerely stuff up and almost kill myself?"
"But that has already happened to you!" they had reached the stairs and started to walk up.
"Yeah. Now, what's your plan uncle?" asked Zuko.
"What makes you think I have a plan?" Iroh had a smug look on his face.
"Because you always have a plan. Now, what is it?" Zuko urged his uncle to tell him. They reached the middle of the stairs.
"Okay, what we do is, knock out a guard, you put on his uniform, and then run around the corner telling the other guards that Azula is coming. They will all run back to their places, and we will be able to free our new companions."
"Okay, your plan is better. I wonder were Sokka and Toph have got too…"
"You mean those two children who made the guards chase after them? I'm sure there just about to appear behind us."
As if on cue, well, not really because they didn't appear behind them, they appeared in front of the two relations, by bursting out of the air vent above on the roof.
"Hey guys!" Sokka started, "How you doin'?"
"Never better." Zuko muttered.
"Actually, I could be a lot better if I had some jasmine tea…"
"So do you guys have a plan yet?" asked Toph
"Yes, actually, we do." Zuko told them the plan.
"Great plan!" said Sokka, "but where do we come in?"
Iroh looked thought full "Well, you could help us break through the bars and keep watch."
"Or, we could go and call Appa. It just so happens that I have the bison whistle." Said Sokka.
"Well, whatever we do, we need to get moving before those guards untangle themselves from each other's pants." Suggested Toph.
Zuko looked shocked, "Wha-"
"Don't ask. Let's go!"
They kept running and they came to a guard just at the top of the stairs. He was about to scream but Sokka hit him over the head with the hilt of his sword.
Iroh looked at Zuko, "Okay. Zuko, get into his uniform," he then turned to the other two. "You two, wait for Zuko to tell the guards that Azula is coming, then run out as fast as you can. Meet us at the fence line with your bison."
So they went and did just that.
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"Guys! Quick!"Zuko hissed through the fire nation helmet as he came crouch running towards Aang and Katara's cell. "Azula is coming!" the guards didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled and fell over each other in the process. A few shoves and curses later and all the guards were back at their original patrol positions. Zuko saw a flaw in this, as a couple of the guards were still in the corridor of Aang and Katara's cell. He quickly thought of another lie.
"Guys! Quickly! Get around the corner! She would a expect you to be where you would be if you had been patrolling all night!"
The guards were so scared they didn't even properly process all of what Zuko said. All they heard was, "Azula, around the corner, and hurry." So they did hurry.
Zuko turned around to Iroh, Sokka and Toph, "okay guys! Common!" he shouted. Sokka and Toph ran straight past the two prisoners and around the corner. Zuko didn't know how they would get past the guards, but he was sure they would manage.
"You guys took you're time." Aang commented.
"Yeah, we had a cup of tea on the way here." Zuko joked as he was looking for something to break the bars with.
"Oh yeah? What kind?" asked Katara.
"Gin seng." Muttered Zuko as he turned to Iroh. "How are we gonna break these bars without Toph's help?"
"How could the earthbending girl possibly help you break the metal bars?" Iroh wondered.
"She can bend metal. Something to do with being able to see the earth in it. Now how do we break these bars?"
"That is, truly amazing…" Iroh marvelled. "Now, about these bars…" Iroh looked over them, "I helped design them so they would be fireproof. With the correct leverage..." Iroh turned and picked up the wooden bench behind him. "It should pop right out." Iroh put the bench into one of the bars and pulled down on the other end of the seat. With a grunt, the bars popped up. "There we go."
"I'll call Appa" said Aang. He reached for hid bison whistle only to find he had misplaced it.
"Don't worry; your friends have gone to get your bison. They are meeting is at the front gates. We best hurry, before Azula manages to capture them again."
"alright." Aang and Katara said in unison.
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"Who wants somma this!?!?!?!" taunted Toph, as she threw another fairly large boulder, knocking another Firebender out.
"Toph! Sokka!" yelled Katara. "You're alright!"
"Yes we are, but you won't be if you don't concentrate on making the Firebender that is behind you lose consciousness, you won't be."
Katara quickly turned around and did the same thing to the Firebender that she did to her competitor at the festival. She froze him, guided him up into the air, and brought him crashing back down, knocking out the Firebender instantly.
"Thanks Toph!"
After clearing a path, the four benders of the four nations (plus Sokka) made their way over to Appa. They all jumped on and took off, just as Azula came running out of the prison in her underclothes. She turned and said something to the head general next to her.
"What do you think she's saying?" asked Katara to Aang.
"I can find out." Said Aang. He turned back to face the prison, and concentrated all of his chi on the spot in front of Azula's mouth. He then bended the air around her up to him, forming what looked like a tunnel in the air. There was a very faint sound, and they could make out Azula's voice.
"…..and prepare the shirshu. We can track them down and capture them again while they sleep." She then turned around and walked back into the prison.
"How did you do that Aang?" asked Katara.
"It's quite simple really. It's a little trick I picked up when I was trying to listen in t what the monks were talking about back at the temple. All I do is guide the sound waves that travel in the air, towards me. Then I can hear what people are saying."
"Wow, that's actually pretty smart." Complimented Sokka.
"Yes, indeed." Said Iroh. "But now that we know what they are planning on doing, how do we counter-plan against it?"
"Well, they have a shirshu that will be able to track us easily, given that we were in a cell for twenty-four hours." Said Aang.
"So, what we should do" started Sokka, "Is go and find a town, by some perfume, then go and find a river."
"Why is that?" asked Zuko.
"Because, after we find the perfume, we can go to a river and wash ourselves real good to get rid of our original smell as best we can. Then we can slather ourselves in perfume, completely getting rid of out old smell. We don't have to do it to Appa though, he wasn't in the jail."
"Okay, good plan." Said Toph.
"Yeah, it is." Said Sokka, looking proud.
"Hey don't let it go to your head."
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After everyone smelt like a mid summers breeze, they packed up and started heading back to Kyoshi Island.
"Hey, I just had a thought." Announced Sokka.
"Oh my god it's a miracle!" said Zuko sarcastically.
"No but seriously, how the hell did Appa hear this whistle all the way from Kyoshi Island? And on top of that, how did he get here so fast!?"
"Ummm……"every one looked confused and thoughtful.
"I don't know…." Aang muttered. "But I'm sure it had something to do with the hawk."
"Yeah probably. "
There was a comfortable silence until Aang piped up," So, what's our plan now that we have out of jail?"
"Well, I guess we could go back to chameleon bay and form an invasion plan with our dad" suggested Sokka.
"That seems like the most logical thing to do." Said Iroh.
"What should we do with kuie?" asked Toph "No offense to him, but he's going to be nothing but extra baggage."
"Toph's right." said Katara, "He will only be another mouth to feed. I'm not trying to be mean, but he can't fight or anything."
"I guess we will have to tell him he needs to stay at Kyoshi Island, or do whatever he wants to do." Said Sokka.
"Yeah, I kinda feel sorry for him." Zuko sighed.
"why is that nephew?" asked Iroh.
"Well, he has been a great help, giving us information and all, and now we are just going to kick him out."
"It can't be helped. We need him to survive if we are going to properly regain control over Ba sing se when the war is over." Explained Iroh.
"I just hope he will understand." Muttered Zuko.
"Wow Zuko, I'm surprise you care." Commented Toph.
Zuko looked hurt, "Hey! I have feelings to."
"Really?" asked Toph.
"No." he admitted. "But I'm working on it! I want to be as different from Azula as possible."
Aang looked out to the sky. "Don't we all." He muttered under his breath.
Katara crawled over to him and pulled him into her lap,"Don't even think about her Aang. Just think about, I dunno, what makes you happy?"
"You." He simply stated.
"Then think about me." She said as she started running her fingers through his afro.
"I already am. And I don't ever want to stop thinking about you."
"Then don't."
Aang closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep. It wouldn't be hard for him, as he was resting on Katara's lap and she was lightly caressing his skull.
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"Why not!?!?!" screamed Azula.
"I-I don't know p-princes. They m-may have acquired a d-different….." The guard was having trouble speaking in his fear induced paralysation "s-scent!" he finally blurted out.
"How would they manage to do that!?!?!?!" there was smoke rising from Azula's shoulders.
"M-m-maybe t-they w-washed r-really good and t-then p-put on p-p-p-perfume!" shouted the petrified guard.
"Hmmm. So, wouldn't It be a good idea to go to all the perfume shops at this town, find the one that sold a lot of perfume to a couple of kids and an old guy, and then get the shirshu to track down that smell?" Azula asked in such a nice tone it was scary. Now, the Firebender escorting Azula new perfectly well that when Azula got all sweet, it meant do not fuck up, or you die.
Unfortunately for him, this information was so heavy on his mind it scared him into a silent state, not saying a word and sweating like a pig.
"Well?" asked Azula with a childish smile.
The guard had a silent argument with his mind. "Oh no! she smiled! Talk you idiot! Do you want to die! Speak to her! Say it is an excellent idea! Speak damn you!"
"Well, it doesn't look like you care. It also doesn't look like you value your life. No matter, the captain can still guide the shirshu." She smiled again, before her face turned into a scowl and she shot the Firebender, making him fly into a nearby wall before exploding from all the electricity that was surging through his body.
"Now then. Who thinks it is a good idea to go and search the town to find this new scent?"
Everybody was on their feet praising Azula on how good her idea was.
"Good. Now, let's get moving!"
All the guards started marching alongside the captain and Azula who were mounted on the shirshu. As the beast walked past a wall that was now completely red, he bent down to sniff a random mutilated limb that had found its way to the gates of the town. It recoiled in disgust, making a mental note to not ever sniff anything that looked like a red flying bison turd ever again.
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Katara knelt down and shouted into Aang's his ear, "Aang! Wake up! Were back at Kyoshi!"
"Wha!" he sat bolt upright.
"Common! Everyone else is already inside."
Aang picked up Katara and jumped off Appa. He landed on the doorstep of their temporary home. They both ran inside to be greeted with the smell of ginseng tea already brewing.
"Wow, he was quick to get to the tea wasn't he?" Katara muttered to Zuko.
"Yep. You should have seen him when we went to Ember Island once. There was no tea on the Island, all the plants had been burned from a lightning strike. Which was weird cus there was no storms, and it happened just as we arrived there. He just about went crazy, and as soon as we got back he ran into the kitchen and started brewing large amounts of tea."
Katara laughed a small laugh, "Wow. He really has a passion for tea doesn't he?"
"Yes, yes he does."
Suki turned her attention away from Sokka and Toph when she saw Aang and Katara, "Aang! Katara! I'm so glad your okay!"
"What? You doubted our awesome abilities?" joked Katara
"Well, no, but I was still worried!"
"Don't worry. We can take care of ourselves." Assured Aang.
"Who wants some tea?" asked Iroh as he came out of the kitchen with a teapot and some cups on a tray.
"I'll have some!" said Toph.
Zuko sighed, "Me too. I could do with some calming tea right now."
Once Iroh had served everyone there tea, Suki and kuie asked the others about to tell them the story of their little outing.
"Well, it goes like this…."
They retold there story, and at the end they left one question open; "Where was the hawk?"
Sokka was the first to speak, "Well, who knows, he might be back at his cave already."
"Should we go and check?" asked Aang.
Sokka shook his head, "Not today. Every one's too tired. Let's get some rest first, and tomorrow we can go and see him"
"Your right. Let's all head off too bed. G'night every one!" said Aang and Katara as they headed off to their bedroom.
"Goodnight! Called Iroh as he and kuie went off to their room.
"Night!" called Sokka and Toph as they too went off to the place where their belongings were living.
Zuko turned to Suki, "And then there was us."
"Yes, but we should probably go to bed too. Im sure your pretty tired from your big heroic adventure."
"Your right. I am dead tired. But I don't want to drag you to sleep if you don't want to go."
"Of course I do."
They started walking back to their room, to fall asleep in a bed that was meant for one but shared by two.
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"Did you sell a lot of perfume two a bunch of travellers or not!?!?!?!" Azula screamed into the face of a sly looking merchant.
"Well sir, I didn't not prevent some travellers from buying the limited stock that they may not have brought from possibly buying some perfume."
"….." Azula looked confused, but her confusion quickly turned into anger. "If you value your life" Azula said through gritted teeth, "you will give me a simple yes or no answer. Now, did you sell some perfume to a bunch of travellers!?!?!"
"Well, I do value my life, but I value money more, and I'll bet you some of the money that I own, that you won't kill me. I will tell you, but it will cost you."
Azula was about to shoot the guy in the face, before she regained her sense and remembered that she needed information out of this guy, and every one knows it is better to give a fool what he wants, and then take it back while he's not looking, or in this case, dead.
"Fine. Name your price." Azula said with a wave of her hand.
"Hmmm, let me see….. About….. 20 gold pieces should do the trick."
Azula's lips thinned, "Guards! Hand this idiot his money."
"B-but princess! This is al we have left!" The guard tried to explain.
Azula eyed up the Firebender stupid enough to question her, "You think I don't know that? Just give him his damn money!"
The guard found the gold pieces in his armour somewhere and handed it over to the merchant.
"There. You have your money. Now, did you or did you not sell perfume to a bunch of travellers?"
"Nope!" said the guard with a smile. All around him the other shop owners were watching with curiosity.
"Well do you know who did!?" she demanded.
"Nope!" and with that, he turned to start walking off.
Before he could take two steps, his head was blown clean off with a burst of lightning. The lightning's owner walked over to the now limp body, and picked up her gold. She also took what extra she could find in his coats,"looks like you lost the bet." She muttered under her breath. she then turned to the terrified crowd. "If anyone here wants to tell me if they sold large amounts of perfume to a couple of teenagers and an old man, I'll be right here. In the mean time, I will come to every ones vendors, and… inspect, them."
She turned to go to one man's stall, but before she could, a young woman called her over from behind her.
"I was the one who sold those children and an old man the perfume." She boldly said.
Azula smiled. "Good. Give me a bottle of the exact same smell."
She obliged, but hesitantly. Azula didn't have time to waste in this town, so she jumped back on the shirshu and told the captain to give it a smell. The beast with no eyes got one whiff of the perfume, and took off running. All the guards that were on foot had to sprint to keep up with it.
Azula smiled as she thought to herself. "Now, to sort out a capture plan…."
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To tell you the truth, I'm pissed off with all you anonymous readers. Nah not really, but you could do me a favour and… review! It seems to me, that people only review stories that they like. I reckon they should review stories that you hate to! I welcome flames, but as long as you put something constructive in it! It can't just be, "this was the worst story I have ever read you suck shit and will never make it in this town." That's just stupid. What I welcome is, "This story sucked shit because…" and give me a reason. Now you go do that! Please?