Well, I promised it wouldn't be a 10 month hiatus, right? (Actually, it was 9 months this time)...*silence*….yeah, we've all done this dance before, you can throw eggs at me now.
MOOOOOVIN` ON.
Enjoy the somewhat exciting start to Fire War Renaissance Part 3!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter Twenty-Five: Don, Part One
"What a pleasant surprise!" Iroh exclaimed when he opened the knocking door and found his nephew, his nephew's wife, the Avatar, and six Kyoshi Warriors standing in greetings.
"Sorry to barge in Uncle, but I'm afraid this isn't going to be a friendly visit." Zuko reported with no other prelude, knowing that time was short and there was no time to have long winded greetings. Iroh's face grew serious in no time at all and he let the huge mass of people into his tea shop.
"I always enjoy your company, but if this isn't a strictly freelance visit than do what is the problem?" Iroh asked instead.
"We have to stop a rebellion." Suki blurted. She wasn't in the mood to peppy banter, and always was a little annoyed when people started beating around the bush (though, ironically, she had no problem when she did it herself).
"A-a rebellion?" Iroh mumbled. He looked over at Zuko, and he quietly confirmed the matter.
"Well what are you doing here, then?" Iroh couldn't see why they were in Ba Sing Si to stop a rebellion. That is unless…
"Well, actually," Aang started. "That's the bad part. You see, the rebellion is kind of…here."
Iroh was just silent, though he did close his eyes—a classic "Iroh" sign of discomfort, Zuko noted—this just signaled the explaining to continue.
"Seems that the Dai Li has started up again," Mai explained, "it has been for a while, and now they're starting to mobilize themselves into a threat. They even captured me and Aang."
"I can't say I'm not surprised." Iroh finally said calmly. "I just don't understand how the Dai Li could've led themselves without Long Feng…" Iroh gulped. "Azula isn't helping them is she?"
Everyone giggled slightly at this.
Azula had been standing quietly behind Zuko the entire time, clearly out of sight to anyone who didn't already know she was there. She did step out at this point, though, a little amused to see Iroh's shock.
"Alright," Iroh admitted. "Now I'm confused."
"So are well, still, kind of." Zuko admitted as well. "We'll explain everything, but we need to tell you the plan so we can get it in motion." Iroh nodded slowly, but then turned to his tea shop, busy with customers and waiters.
"I'm sorry, but it'll have to wait until tonight when my shop is closed," Iroh informed. "But why don't you sort everything out, then tell me everything when the shop closes."
"I guess that can work." Zuko sighed, but then smiled just as quickly. "But first," he started. "You have to serve us some tea."
Iroh smiled. "Nothing would make me happier."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Momo found a comfortable spot on Toph's shoulder while she made her way out to the yard to practice some earth and metal bending. She had just finish having some breakfast and just decided now was as good a time as ever. But a tiny, petty thought kept nagging at her brain and she couldn't let it go.
"Mom," Toph asked when she passed the rose garden and sensed her mother there, probably enjoying the breezes of the cool winter air. "Do you know where Yuexi is?" She didn't have her routine breakfast with him like she had been for the past two weeks and then when she wandered about the manor and still couldn't find him and it…well, it bugged her.
"Actually, no I haven't" Poppy reported. "Though I do remember him saying something about archery yesterday night, since he has the day off maybe he's gone off to practice?" Toph just shook her head numerous times without speaking.
"Okay," she said to herself quietly. More loudly she said: "I didn't know Yuexi was an archer."
"Why, yes, he an outstanding archer. If this manor was attacked I wouldn't feel afraid as long as long as Yuexi had a bow and arrow." Toph lifted an eyebrow and smirked.
"Hmm," was all Toph said.
"Seems like someone is worried?" Poppy teased a little and set Toph aflame.
"So what if I am, he is my boyfriend right? Am I not obligated to feel worried if we don't adhere to our morning routines?"
"You're absolutely right, dear." Poppy snickered.
"Sorry Toph," Yuexi's voice entered the scene, scaring Momo right of Toph's shoulder. Yuexi came up from behind her—Toph was utterly surprised that she didn't sense him sooner—and hugged her shoulders, pulling her against him a little more. "I should've had breakfast with you, but I…"
"It's alright, you don't have to explain everything to me." Toph cut him off and turned to hug him herself, though she did so very robotically since she realized her mother was only a few feet away. Poppy just smiled a quietly etched herself out of the picture, giving the two some privacy.
"I didn't know you liked to do archery." Toph repeated for his sake.
"Yeah, my father taught me when I was little, him and my mom both were archers. It's how they met each other, actually." He told her while he stroked Toph's hair evenly, noticing just how thick it had gotten in just the past two weeks. It was almost unruly in a sense that even her ponytail began to look more and more unkempt.
"Okay, what's wrong?" Toph groaned into his shirt what seemed like hours later.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been stroking my hair for five minutes." She informed him. "It's a little creepy." Yuexi's laugh rumbled against her.
"It's just…well, are you going to do anything with your hair?"
"What's wrong with my hair?" Toph asked a little bitterly. She pushed away from him and put a hand on her hip. Yuexi gulped. Toph was obviously not amused by his comment. He knew that making any kind of statement about a woman's appearance, especially their hair, was like wrestling with a platypus-bear: you might win if you're lucky.
"Nothing, nothing, it's just…you know it's seems a little, uh…"
"A little what?" Toph arched a brow.
Yeah, Yuexi told himself, he had definitely painted himself into a corner on this one.
"A little…"
"Toph!" Poppy's called while she ran up to the couple.
"Yeah, Mom?"
"I just wanted to tell you before I forgot, your hair needs a good cutting, so I arranged a hair dressers appointment for this afternoon."
"But-" Toph groaned.
"Toph," Poppy interrupted firmly. "You're hair is a nightmare, I can't have you walking around with hair as spiky as a boarcupine." She said and turned. "Oh, and Yuexi"—Yuexi straightened up—"I've got some business to take care of today, so make sure Toph gets there, this afternoon, alright?"
"Y-yes ma'am." Yuexi agreed and let out a breath of relief when Poppy pranced off. Toph turned back to him and punched him square in the shoulder before stomping off.
And Yuexi was left to rub his shoulder in relief and just a little bit of confusion.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Iroh sat in utter shock when Zuko and the others finished telling him about the Black Jade rebellion and everything in between. But something told Zuko that Iroh was more shocked at Azula's story than anything.
"Well, this is certainly new," was all Iroh said. "What do you plan to do?"
"We have to infiltrate them somehow," Aang explained, "we have to know what they up to and how to stop them before things get out of hand. A rebellion right after a major war could start up another one. Especially a rebellion as big as this one."
"True," Iron said, fingering his beard in a pondering manor. "But, you all can't go." Everyone looked at each other at that moment. They had never really gone as far as to who was going to go and who wasn't.
"Uh," Aang said. "We haven't really gotten that far, but I guess you're right."
"So let's just get right down to it, who's staying and who's going." Suki propped. She knew she had to stay awake for the conversation, but she was starting to feel fatigued, like she did every night when it got too late.
"I think us Kyoshi Warriors should stay behind." Ren suggested. Anci sat up at this.
"What?" Anci exclaimed. "Why can't we get a piece of the action?"
"Because," Ren elaborated. "We need to have some people on the surface for back up. The Black Jade isn't some place we should send a whole barrel of people to spy."
"Ren is right," Mai agreed. "I think it should be a small job, maybe only three or four people."
"So then let's pick who those people should be." Iroh said. "We're going to need people who can get the job done as quickly and quietly as possible."
"Right, Azula should probably be one them, since she's knows the Dai Li better than anyone." Zuko offered.
"Or at least she did." Mai added. "Do you think it's the best idea to let Azula go down there when she can barely remember her own name?"
"Hey, that's not fair, I can definitely remember my own name," Azula defended herself, though rather childishly.
"Whether she can remember them or not, the skills are still there. And who knows maybe being down there will trigger some of her memories?" Aang said. "I say she should go."
"Fine," Mai agreed. "But someone needs to babysit her."
"I'll go," Zuko elected, "she is my sister after all." Sitting next to him on one of the couches Azula smiled fondly at her brother, obviously touched by this small comment. Zuko felt a little odd, for all the years him and Azula had been siblings he had never gotten that kind of smile from her. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he felt like he had finally done something notable as a big brother.
"Won't work," Suki butted in.
"Why not?" Zuko asked.
"I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure Long Feng and everyone down there knows what their new Fire Lord looks like." Suki said. "The scar is just too noticeable."
Azula sighed. "She's right."
"I'd offer but I have to stay with the girls, so I guess you'll have to go Mai." Ty Lee said sadly.
"Fine," Mai tried to conclude. "So it's decided. Me, Azula, and Aang will go."
"Whoa, wait," Aang interrupted. "We never agreed on me going. I mean, if Zuko can't go because of his scar than I definitely can't go. My full body tattoo is way more noticeable than one scar."
"But you're the Avatar, we need you down there to lead, I mean, you should be the first to know everything right when it happens, we're not going to leave you as back up."
"But-" Aang started protesting but was stopped by Mai's firm look locking with his apprehensive gaze. Her eyes were almost devilish. "What?" he asked after a few seconds of eye contact.
"How long does it take you to grow hair?"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Yuexi was relieved that Toph was deciding not to be difficult and just let him take her to the hair dresser not a long ways away from the Bei Fong's manor. It was true that Toph had a personal hair stylist, Ching, but she didn't reside at the manor. She owned her own shop in the markets of Gaoling and made personal visits to Toph when she needed a hair style for a party or other kind of social event. But she was very busy that day and couldn't leave her shop for a long period of time. On occasions like this, Toph would just go to Ching's shop.
"Nice of you to come, Toph, I haven't seen you since the party a few weeks ago." Ching greeted. "I see you worked things out with you friend here." She mentioned when she noticed Yuexi and Toph's gathered hands which Toph ripped hers away when she realized they were still holding hands since they left the manor.
Toph wasn't exactly used to being out with Yuexi in public and she was sure they were getting plenty of looks in the store.
Ching laughed. "So what kind of party am I working with you for?"
"Actually my mom just said I need a cut." Toph explained. Ching made her way over to Toph and pulled her ponytail right out in one swift tug, letting her long unruly hair flow down in a fanned out mess.
"Hmm," Ching observed. "Yeah, it's definitely time for something to be done here, your hair's more uneven than the Great Divide." Toph just nodded. "So, did you have anything in mind?" Ching knew that Toph never really cared what was done with her hair just as long as it wasn't going to be in Toph's way throughout the day. She wanted something sturdy and flexible.
"Not really." Toph shrugged. "Just give me the usual, I guess."
"Oh come on, don't you want to mix it up a little?" Toph was silent. "What does your, uh, friend think?" She looked up at Yuexi. He blushed.
"Well," Yuexi started. He didn't want to paint himself in a corner like he had that morning so he decided to think before he spoke this time. He looked down at Toph who was standing perfectly still between him and Ching. Her wild hair framed her slim face in a stunning manor that he couldn't think of anything else but the way she looked at that moment. That is until something completely different popped into his head, and, once again, he spoke without thinking.
"How about something short?" He said.
"Short?" Ching said.
"Short?" Toph repeated as well, but she sounded more unsure of the idea than anything. "The last time I had short hair I was three."
"Hmm, short hair…I like it, thanks Toph's friend." Ching said before pulling Toph to a chair.
"Actually, it's Yuexi," Yuexi corrected while they walked away.
"Alright then, Yuexi." Ching called back, and Yuexi went to sit in the waiting chairs, though he couldn't help but notice Toph's cheek color faintly when Ching said:
"Way to go Toph, that's Yuexi's a looker."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
When Mai suggested Aang grow out his hair he said it would probably take around three weeks minimum to grow up a good enough stubble to cover his arrow. Mai wasn't too happy about this, saying they needed to leave for the Black Jade sooner than three weeks and Aang said he couldn't exactly do anything to speed up the process.
So somehow him, Mai, Azula, and Zuko all found themselves in the markets of Ba Sing Si shopping for new clothes to blend in when they made their way down to the Black Jade—except for Zuko who just came along to make sure Azula didn't get into trouble. Mai plopped a rather large hat down on Aang's head. It was a simple circular style and matched the Earth Bending uniform from Master Yu's school which he had decided to wear to the Black Jade. He'd obviously, though, have to wear sleeves underneath the tunic long enough to hide his arm and hand arrows.
"That should shield your head while the rest of your hair grows in. It's big enough to cover your forehead so it'll do." Mai said, referring to the hat. Aang looked up at her from under the rim and sighed. He supposed he didn't have that much of a choice.
Azula and Zuko were at the cart across from Mai and Aang, looking at dresses for Azula to wear.
"Geez, I don't know what you would want. These dresses all look the same to me." Zuko groaned from the side of the cart while Azula was trying to decide between two dresses and asked her brother which one he'd like best.
"Well, a lot of help you are." Azula sighed and after a few more minutes of looking between the two dresses she finally picked a sky blue one. Zuko smirked when he finally paid for the dress and realized that Azula losing her memory had really changed her completely. The old Azula used to say wearing light colors made a person look weak and now she would be bouncing around the enemy's grounds in a sky blue dress. She brought a long sleeve yellow shirt and leggings to go underneath the dress since it was a summer dress and it would probably be cold down there.
"So are we done?" Zuko asked Mai when they all met up with their new clothes. Mai just took one look at Azula and sighed before answering.
"Almost."
"Oh spirits, what else do we have to do?" Aang groaned, seemingly just as miserable with shopping as Zuko was. Mai ignored Aang's comment and walked towards Azula, pulling a piece of her hair between her fingers before turning towards Zuko.
"I might be able to get away with going down there with just a different hair style but we're going to have to do something with Azula's hair to make her look different." Zuko let his head drop.
"You're right, Long Feng will definitely recognize Azula more than anyone."
"Alright so we'll just slap a hat on her too." Aang said and took a hat from the cart and put it on Azula's head. It did absolutely nothing. "Or not," Aang lifting the hat off her head and putting it back on the cart. Azula blew some hair out of her face in annoyance.
"You're going to have to get a haircut, Azula." Zuko told her calmly and Azula pouted. She didn't need to have all of her memories to know that she loved her long hair, but she was willing to do whatever it took to help out the cause.
"Alright," She agreed sadly and Zuko placed an arm around her shoulder while they went to find a hair dresser.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Let's go," Yuexi heard Toph's voice before he saw her for a quick second before she dashed out the door. Ching walked up slowly.
"Go easy on her," Ching told Yuexi and he nodded before leaving to chase after Toph. About half way down the market he finally caught up with her. He saw the back of her head, and so far, it looked pretty good.
"Hey, why'd you run out so quickly?" Yuexi asked. Toph stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face him. Her still gaze was fixed determinedly ahead while she spoke.
"It looks stupid, doesn't it?" She asked quietly.
"What…no, of course it doesn't." Toph could tell Yuexi wasn't lying, and for some reason it annoyed her even more that he really did think the world of her. Toph just made a sound between a groan and a sigh and tugged out the clip Ching had put in to hold her bangs back. Her long bangs, which Toph refused to let Ching cut, feel beautifully in front of her blank eyes. Yuexi just laughed and walked up to cup her cheek and turned her head upwards.
Her hair was cut at an angle, with the longest portion of it dangling at the base of her neck and it got progressively shorter along the angle as it got up to the back of her head. Yuexi pulled her bangs back with his hand and clipped them back in place before stepping backwards.
"You look beautiful just like that Toph," he told her, "you don't have to hide behind you hair anymore." Toph didn't say anything and she didn't smile, she just fell into step beside Yuexi as they walked back to the manor.
But Yuexi knew that at least some of his words had sunk in when she tugged his hand in hers and held it there all the way back to estate.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Kyoshi Warriors and Zuko would stay back at Iroh's tea shop in close range while Azula, Mai, and Aang made their way to the Black Jade.
Mai had had to pull some risky strings but she was able to go down to the lower ring and find someone who knew the whereabouts of the Black Jade and how a civilian could get down there. Mai had offered to find out since the Fire Lord or the Avatar asking around the lower ring how to get into a rebellion was a little questionable.
The man Mai found and sought help from was a scout/recruiter for the Black Jade. He was always above ground in the city to get new recruits to join the Black Jade in a quiet and non-obvious manner. He got them in contact with Jojo, who Mai told the man she had met down there, and Jojo was at the tea shop the next day to lead them down to the Black Jade as soon as the sun set.
"Now are all of you sure about this?" Iroh asked when nightfall had finally come around. He looked primarily at Azula who, to no surprise looked the most frightened out of the three.
Her new hairstyle was definitely a nice change of pace and made it easier for everyone to not think of her as the old Azula. She, too, had decided to go with a short hairstyle. It was fairly simple and just was cut on even levels stopping at her chin. It was incredibly short compared to what Azula was used to, but she was getting used to it. She turned towards her uncle, blue dress fanning as she turned.
"I'm going to do my best, Uncle." She told him as confidently as she could. Iroh just sighed and nodded, giving his niece perhaps the first hug he could remember in years, Zuko following suit and embraced his sister and spent a little more time saying goodbye to his wife. Though he was sure he had gotten the point across that he was going to miss her well enough the previous night.
"You be careful and watch after those two, okay?" Zuko told Mai after they were done nuzzling and telling each other how much they'd miss the other. Notably though, Mai was going to be the oldest one going so she would have to act as sort of the mother.
"I will," she told him and with one more kiss Jojo, Mai, Azula, and Aang made their way down the stairs of Iroh's tea shop and to the unknown territory of the enemy. The Black Jade.
Man, I should've just titled this chapter "Haircuts".
Just a hair references for Azula, her new hair looks kinda similar to Eureka in Eureka7 during the last season. Not totally similar but about that length. As for Toph, I feel her hair is pretty straight forward. Her hair wasn't originally supposed to be cut in this chapter, but after re-reading some reviews from forever ago I decided to use an idea suggested from "Alastor Xeaphon Vega" to give Toph some short hair!
Housekeeping time!
Alright, so this is Part three and as you can probably figure out, is going to be dealing a ton with the Black Jade. I still planning the last couple chapters to this whole part but I'm pretty sure part three will be up to chapter 33. I'm not sure about part four for right now.
Over all, I'm guessing this story will be around six parts long, but that's just an estimate right now.
The next couple chapters will be dealing with Aang, Mai, and Azula, but don't worry, everyone else will be re-visited. And as for Sokka and Katara, you're going to have to wait about three chapters to see what they're up to. Sorry. My original plans for them was to have them be side stories to the main plot, but everything I thought of really was just pointless rants and whatnot. Toph and Yuexi will be developed further for the time being, as you can see, which I feel is vital to the story before they step back into the action. So if you like too cute for Sesame Street Toph/Yuexi stuff rejoice! And for fans of the other ships, mainly Kataang, just hold out a little longer. You will get your fix in this part, so don't worry.
Thank you:
Kimjuni2, peanutbuttergirl1997, Katsumara, Silvereyes12, Alastor Xeaphon Vega, NeverTooLate03, Private LL Church, bubblylady, 4everMaiko, blue-kataang, and Frost-EVA-04…
…for reviewing chapter 24.
You all rock, and I will be updating every Friday like I did last time, so no more 9 month long breaks for a while.
And on a closing, and more serious note, I'd like everyone to know that this chapter is dedicated to a very special writer who I'm sure we all know: Lyralocke.
Sadly, she passed away on the 15th of last month. I'd like it if we all kept her and her wonderful works in our memories and hearts.