Book 5 Water
Chapter 25 Deep Water
The cloudy skies became darker as rain continued to sprinkle down while the scene drifted across the sea as a bobbing vessel came into view. The water craft was mainly made of sturdy wood and hulled metals as it drew closer.
The scene then focused on the men on board, dressed in loose clothing with trade-mark bandannas and gold jewelry. Tension rose as the men stayed on high alert while the sight zoomed in on a pair of two men standing guard.
Play Music: Wolf's Rain-Indiana
Behind them, two long ears popped out from a nearby barrel.
The little lemur managed to glide to the unknown ship from the water tribe fleet. Landing safely, undetected from the watchful eyes of the sailors.
Darting his head out from the barrel, Momo blinked as he sniffed the area around him.
The odd yet familiar scents surrounding him made the lemur then remember his task at hand.
Hopping on the edge of the barrel, Momo spread out his wings then flew up to one of the men in front of him snatching away a cloth.
Startled from the strange creature above his head, the man hollered out in confusion before realizing his hat was missing. Reaching up at the flying animal, the man yelled angrily at the lemur while shaking his fist. The other men on board grabbed their swords and swung at Momo aimlessly while he dodged each blow.
Momo purred in success as he flew in a loop before flying off to other vessel in the distance.
The men ran to the rails before calling out to their captain.
"Capt'tin there be a Water Tribe ship at sea! Looks like der be looking for der leader!" one man said in a raspy tone as he turned to his commander.
The captain slowly walked to the rail and joined his men while looking out in the grey-blue waters. His eyes narrowed and lips frowned.
"Dat be nothin' but a small fleet, men. No one be looking for the Southern Chief. In fact, I reckon most think he's dead." The captain said as he turned to his men with a wide wicked grin as his golden tooth shined at the corner of his mouth.
"So, we just let 'em be, Captain?" another sailor asked as the Captain nodded his head.
"We don't want to stir any trouble. The sea already be brewing a nasty storm. No need to waste our resources" the Captain said he gazed broodingly at the secured cargo near the joined barrels.
"But Captain! That flying monkey stole meh hat!" one man cried out as he rubbed his shaved head.
The Captain turned to tetchy sailor with a daunting stare. Immediately, the man closed his mouth and lowered his head.
The Captain then turned back closed his eyes for a moment before deciding what actions to take next.
"Tell me Peace Maker, what brings you so far out in the middle of the earthen borders?" A man said with a questionable tone as he walked up to the airbender as the travelers boarded the deck.
Aang stood firmly as he noted the title used in his name. With that strongly in mind he thought carefully on how to approach the situation without becoming ambiguous.
"We came from the Earth Kingdom Palace, on a request to discuss further undertaking with the Earth King Kuei and Fire Lord Zuko. Here joining me on my quest is my life partner, Toph." Aang said as he turned to the earthbender beside him. Toph jolted slightly as her face beamed a bright red. Lowering her head down while hiding her embarrassment, Toph remained silent as the airbender continued.
"I apologize for landing here without permission. We're short of supplies and my bison is near collapsing." Aang said as he turned to Appa as the bison blinked and bellowed softly.
Toph then brushed her embarrassment aside the moment she heard the rest of Aang's statement. Turning her head toward the airbender, Toph's eyes narrowed in an intrigued kind of manner as she felt the vibes from the young man waver indicating he was untruthful to the man before them.
Thinking for a moment, Toph bit her lower lip and wondered.
From what she was certain of was that they still had plenty of food and Appa was only in flight for a few hours. On top of that, what was all that about the Earth King and Zuko, Aang was saying earlier?
Toph then realized Aang knew something was off. Whenever there was something strange or the situation called for it. Aang resorted to small white lies, especially to those leading to a problem so he could then flee at any moment.
But what in this circumstance would lead Aang to do such a thing?
Toph looked to her left and then her right slightly. The men on board. Something didn't seem right with them. Their movements were shaky and their gaze timorous. Like they were hiding something or someone…
Yes, she felt the unusual impression the instant she laid eyes on the uncharted vessel. Along with the men's dark armor; all of it seemed quite suspicious.
Turning back to the man, Toph then played along and backed up on Aang's claim. Tilting her head slightly, Toph spoke in the sweetest tone she could muster while gagging on the inside.
"Oh yes, we've been traveling for three days now and need a place to stay to recoup."
Gazing at the petite woman, the man nodded his head as he thought to himself that no woman of her stature should travel in such conditions. The pride of his past still ran deep; he could not deny a damsel in distress, especially one so lovely and frail. Hopefully, Lord Huo will not think twice of her and show mercy. Besides, it has been a while since he has seen any "decent" females on board as of late.
With that in mind the man narrowed his eyes lightly before lengthening out his arm in a welcoming yet strained matter, "Well then, it would be an honor to let the Avatar and his companion stay on our grand ship." The man said as his slanted eyes closed while smiled faintly.
Aang bowed with gratitude as Toph simply dipped her head in thanks.
"Private Cao, please escort our guests to Level B" the man ordered as the private nodded his head and opened the metal door awaiting the travelers.
A dark background was seen as a voice was heard whispering coolly in every direction.
"You're not like any other woman I've ever known..."
The voice faded at the end as the scene then focused on two eyes that opened wide.
The figure rose from their resting place as their hand lightly touched their chest.
"Ozai…" the woman said as her voice trembled.
Closing her eyes, Ursa recalled the moment…The moment she fell in love.
"You shouldn't be so far from the palace." The voice said as Ursa was seen busy reading a book underneath a tree.
"This is the only place where I can read in peace." Ursa said in a slight annoyed tone.
Ursa could not understand it. Lately it seems as though the young prince was always around wherever she went. Not once could she have some time by herself.
At the corner of her eye, Ursa noticed the young prince smirking. Heh, he always gave that cocky grin. The princess thought as she failed to detect the young man unexpectedly stand behind the tree of where she sat.
Prince Ozai turned to the side of the massive trunk and tilted his head down as he gazed at the young woman. While leaning against the side of the trunk of the tree with his arms folded over his chest, the young man huffed out to himself while speaking out in a contemptuous tone.
"How can you read such old tales? They suit no purpose for you or me or anyone else. We are not Gods or spirits. Why waste time reading about the past?" Ozai said as he gave a bored expression.
Ursa smiled warmly as she slowly closed the book.
"Because, they in fact do have a purpose, they give a message to those in the future and to those here in the present. Besides, isn't it nice to imagine the magical wonders of the time back then?" Ursa replied as she tilted her head up at the prince.
Ozai again huffed out in annoyance, "I wouldn't want to imagine anything of the sort. Unless there was some way to obtain that magical wonder then please let me know."
Ursa giggled softly while covering her mouth in a delicate matter.
Ozai then lowered his head while thinning his lips.
"Why…Why do you do that?"
Ursa then blinked as she looked back up at the young man surprised of the serious tone he expressed.
"What do you mean, Prince Ozai?"
Ozai then leaned up off the tree and stood firm before kneeling down on his knee and fronting the young woman face to face.
"To somehow… Always make it so difficult to not like you." Ozai said as he gazed deeply into the girl's eyes.
Ursa was shocked to hear something like what the prince was saying to her. She had no idea that he liked her. She always thought Ozai disliked her due to his constant teasing and crude remarks.
"You're not like any other woman I've ever known..." The man said softly as he leaned in, reaching out to the girl.
Catching her breath, Ursa respond in a trembling tone, "And why… do you say that, Prince Ozai?"
"To be honest…I don't really know." Ozai said as he leaned in closer. Ursa shuddered as she felt the young man's hot breath over her lips. Ursa couldn't understand him. Where was the tough exterior that Ozai had? His cold features and rude comments? This young man in front of her seems so different. So soft and almost demurer like…
The moment the young man's lips were inches a way from Ursa's, her eyes closed and lips puckered. Then much to the princess's displeasure the prince suddenly pulled away.
She then heard his voice speak out in a tone so seductively dark it caused Ursa to open her eyes once more.
The words were deafened to the girl's ears as she gazed into the prince's molten gold eyes. The bright color of gold burned in his irises. Yet the shade seemed darker, like the blazing sun setting just over the horizon, casting a metallic gold hue in the pooling depths of his eyes.
Ursa then wondered, what lied behind those eyes? What laid in his soul?
The young princess then closed her eyes once more and hummed softly while her lips curved into a gentle smile.
Unnoticed to her, Ozai looked at her in a puzzled expression. His previous attitude toward her changed and he seemed to be deep in thought.
Opening her eyes, Ursa tilted her head and giggled.
Gracefully, the young woman stood up and patted out her robes.
"We should be off then. Yes?" Ursa said as she turned and started to make her way down the path to the palace, leaving Ozai dumb-struck underneath the redwood tree.
The scene transcend back to the present with Ursa still resting her hands against her chest as she was seen smiling.
That day…She made up her mind on how she thought of the young prince. What started as an arranged marriage soon became a love affair.
Ursa's smile then faded slowly as she felt the rising pain of mourning return to her.
Ozai was no longer here. No, that wasn't completely true.
"He's exists now, only in my memories…" Ursa said out loud as she reminded herself.
The day she was banished from her homeland was the day she took along Ozai's heart and kept it safe within her own.
She was content with that. Even if it meant Ozai losing himself in the end, Ursa kept what happiness she had left.
For without happiness…How can one ever live?
"What action should we take?" one man said as the scene then focused on a tall warrior grasping on a torn hat as it flapped in the breeze.
"Send out two men to investigate. These are no ordinary pirates." Sokka said sternly as the scene backed up to one of the water tribe men holding the lemur down as he tried to brush off an odd black residue from Momo's white fur.
It would seem while on his task, Momo managed to collect something more than just a pirate's hat. The men aboard that ship seemed to be carrying something powerful. From what Sokka could recall the black powder was named dragon dust. A substance that can ignite into a deadly explosion when close contact by flame.
Sokka knew of only one type of such a lethal powder used. There exists no other group of wayward urchins like the Freedom Fighters of the maple forest in earthen territory.
Eternally prideful, exceptionally mischievous, forever looking for a place to call home.
They were experts at camouflage, hiding amidst the tree tops. Skilled in the art of cunning combat, and savaging the landscape. The Freedom Fighters could not ignore a new face, a rollicking good fight, or the chance of a story when the Avatar and the gang passed by their land.
Yes, Sokka remembered perfectly how those boys were, trapped in the mind set of the war's propaganda.
During his stay Sokka knew their leader; Jet was up to no good. In the end he found out the young man's unspeakable plan to flood a nearby village to kill the Fire Nation recruits along with all of the innocent villagers. In Jet's arrangement, he used the sticky glue from the Fire military base raid and mixed it with dragon dust to blow up the dam.
Thankfully, Sokka saved the town before the wall of water reached them.
Returning back to the present, Sokka turned to his comrade and ordered him to wash the lemur thoroughly as he noticed Momo trying to lick off the black matter.
Gazing to the left, Sokka then thought carefully of his next motive. There were not enough weapons but there are enough men. They will need to use hand-to-hand combat to fight the pirates off.
The problem was they no longer had the element of surprise. Thus they needed a different tactic to use.
The scene then backed away from the ship as the choppy waves splashed against the wooden hull.
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