Chapter 37

Choppy Waters

Zuko

I watched in silence as Jet was dragged away by the Dai Li. I would have felt sorry for the guy if he hadn't been a threat to my uncle and I. He wasn't a bad person but I could't afford giving him my pity.

Uncle placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and gave me a small nod when I looked at him. The crowd slowly dispersed either back to their business or back into the tea shop. One of the soldiers who had stood up for me against the Dai Li stepped forward and reached to clasp my hand.

"You're a damn good fighter, son, we need someone like you in the army." My mouth became dry with the praise. They wanted me in the army, the avatar wanted me to be his firebending teacher, I had never had so many people want me. In hindsight that was a little sad, I realized.

I returned to the tea shop and quietly went back to work, cleaning up the splintered wood and spilled tea. Avoiding any more attention. Despite my sincere wish to go unnoticed everyone I passed congratulated me. A few even tipped more then usual.

"Did you hear the avatar was in Ba Sing Se?" After three years of searching and all my mixed feelings regarding that subject if Aang's title was ever mentioned I was going to hear. I slowly moved to mop closer to the table discussing. There were two men, both earth kingdom, judging from the way they dressed and looked they were better suited for the middle ring.

"Someone mentioned it earlier, I wasn't really paying attention. What happened?" The man's companioned grinned and leaned in closer.

"Apparently he is looking for people who wish to support his cause and fight the firenation."

"You're kidding." The other man gaped.

"I'm just getting started. Apparently he has quite a group with him. Water tribe royalty, a nobel woman as his earthbending master and... a girl of all four nations." I dropped the mop. Maddi was here and now she was introducing herself as the girl of all four nations?

"Where did you hear this?"

"It's been going around for some time, someone mentioned something about desert traders, that was the original source I think." The second man shook his head as I tried to return to mopping again, only to discover my hands were shaking.

"So these people are all here, in Ba Sing Se?"

"That's what I heard."

"You're insane." The two men laughed, dropped several coins on the table and left. I just stared at the table for a moment, completely lost within my own mind.

Katara

I had become leery of anyone waiting outside my door since the event with Joo Dee yesterday. So when I opened the door to find myself face to face with a man I instinctively reacted, throwing him down with a ice-hard bolt of water before I looked to see who it was. It was an earth kingdom man in his forties. He had green eyes two thin strips of moustache and an equally thin strip of black hair hanging from his chin. His outfit was clearly that of nobility, green and black with gold detailing. He looked completely shocked before he laughed.

"Please forgive me, I did not mean to startle you, I was looking for the girl named Maddison."

"What do you want with her." I asked, wary. Pala was my friend, my first friend outside the water tribe and like a big sister to me at times. Other times she made me crazy with her unwillingness to tell us what was going on. I had a feeling that if anyone was looking for her it was probably because she was in trouble. Papa had an annoying tendency to get into trouble, much like Sokka.

"Just to talk. My name is Long Feng and I am the Earth King's cultural minister." I paused, unsure. This man was powerful. I didn't want to offend him. At the same time my worry for Pala grew. What had she done to cause this? Still, I couldn't exactly argue, but I could make sure that she would be safe.

"Just give me a moment." I turned briskly and walked back in, shopping forgotten. Snapping the door closed I sighed then headed straight to Pala's room. Outside I waited a moment then knocked. I knew that Pala would respond if she was in there. I felt some small part of me hoping that she wasn't. That way I could tell this Long Feng fellow to leave and try again later. I bit my lip. Actually I didn't want him coming back at all. Something instinctual was telling me that something was very wrong.

"Hey." I jerked, blinking and looked up to see Pala looking at me. Despite the fact that I had been growing a lot recently I was still shorter then her. Not that I had a lot of chances of being taller. Both my mother and gran-gran were shorter then Pala.

"Is something wrong?" She asked. I could tell that she noticed I was uncomfortable.

"There was someone asking for you." Pala's face turned into a frown, brow forced down. It caused her already dark eyes to look almost black.

"Got it, wait here." Cold fury knotted in my stomach. I was not going to just stand by. I waited for her to head down the hall before rushing to Aang's room. Sokka had announced earlier that he was going to train for a few hours and he wasn't back yet. Aang and Toph though were still at home.

"Oh, hey Katar-" Aang was cut off when I grabbed him by the arm and began to drag him down the hallway.

"Whoa, slow down there. What's with all the ruckus?" Toph stepped out from behind her door and yawned extravagantly.

"Pals has a visitor, Ba Sing Se's cultural minister. I don't trust him something is… off about that man." I explained. Toph grinned like a feral cat and cracked her knuckles.

"Cool, this place was getting really boring."

Maddi

I took a deep breath. Long Feng was standing on the other side of the door and the thought terrified me. Biting my lip I hoped that I could trick him, if I was very, very lucky I might be able to pull the wool over his eyes.

I opened the door and plastered on a smile that I hoped looked genuine and not like I was trying to copy Joo Dee.

"Minister, what a surprise." I stated, "please do come in." Inside I was shaking in my shoes but I needed to portray a visage of calmness. I silently begged any spirits listening for the best acting skills they could lend, if only for a short time.

"Thank you, you're Maddison I presume?" Long Feng asked, cold green eyes fixed on my like I was roadkill and him a vulture.

"Thank you." This was bad, very, very bad. Why was Long Feng here in the first place? What had I done to cause this unusual ripple?

"Would you like some tea minister?" I asked, letting him take a seat at the table.

"No thank you, we have much to discuss you and I." I was sure that shiver ran through my whole body. Had he seen it? My eyes raked him over, he was wearing his usual garb, green with a black coat over top and bright gold detailing. Clear signs of his wealth and power. Had he met Azula yet? To my shame I realized I didn't remember when he and Azula had met. My memory was faded until the tales of Ba Sing Se and Lake Laogai but after that it became foggy again.

"About what minister?" I winced as my voice cracked. The predatory look in Long Feng's eyes intensified. Damn that man to the darkest pits of hell, I mentally hissed.

"Maybe I should be asking you that, Palartok, Maddison, Girl of all four nations and spirit guide. Quite a hefty tittle, even for a girl of your age." I was petrified, unable to move, carved out of glass. He knew. How did he know? I hadn't used that entire title to anyone but… my thought trailed off, landing on the sand benders. Apparently my dramatic rescue of Appa had created an effect far beyond anything that I could have imagined. But there was something I could use to one up him. Using my anger at him as fuel I laughed. Long Feng's face contorted as I laughed at him.

"Well, I must admit I didn't realize that my lies would reach such influential places." I chuckled, "I made up the most impressive name for myself that I could manage and used it to scare away those savages who were trying to steal our bison." For a split second I thought I had won, that I had checkmated him in this verbal duel. I was wrong.

"So I am assuming that the story of La herself raising you from the dead is also false." Where was he getting this information? I felt a shiver run through my spine. I was in major trouble if the rumours had reached the North Pole. Who else had heard about me? I realized with a sinking feeling that the ripples had become choppy water when I wasn't looking. Was there anyway to fix this? I looked at Long Feng and realized with a sinking heart that I couldn't repair damage already done. I couldn't time travel, dimension travel had been far to much for me as it was.

"What else do you know?"

"Just that there is a very large bounty from the fire nation with your name on it, both names actually." His eyes were raking over me but I stood erect and refused to move or shy away.

"Is that why you are here? If so I must say I'm underwhelmed." The subtitle barb was there and I could tell that he noticed it but didn't care.

"No, I'm more curious how you knew Joo Dee's purpose. Who was your mother and where were you born?" I stared at him in complete confusion. That question had been quite a bit left field.

"What?"

"Well you are to young to be a Joo Dee who left or even one who somehow managed to escape which leaves your mother." My mouth dropped open in shock. What was he doing?

"You're telling me this why?" I asked, choked. Long Feng smirked.

"Because if I discover that what I have just told you is passed around there will be… dire consequences. If you won't answer me though I'll be on my way." He stood and walked to the door before turning back for a tiny moment.

"I can guarantee that I can turn your life into a living hell. Anyone you associate with will find themselves in just as much trouble and as you already know, I have eyes everywhere."

The door shut. I sunk to the floor, quietly shellshocked. How was I supposed to do anything with the Dai Li breathing down my neck? How was I supposed to take steps to change what was going to happen? How was I supposed to get in contact with Zuko and Iroh?

The door to the stairs swing open, causing me to shoot to my feet in alarm. Katara, Aang and Toph all stood there. We were quiet for a long moment before I coughed and spoke.

"How long were you there?"

"Since you opened the door." Toph replied, nonchalant. Katara sent the girl a betrayed look but the young earth benders remained oblivious.

"We can't just let him threaten you like that." Katara decided. I choked a laugh.

"You can't stop him. Not yet at least. He's the most powerful man in this city with a army that will do whatever he says."

"I thought that was the earth king?" Aang whispered.

"The king takes care of the culture of Ba Sing Se while his 'cultural minister' does everything else." Toph snorted at the irony from my sentence while Katara looked scandalized. Aang though was looking meditative and thoughtful.

"But the king still has the support of the people and his other ministers… Ba Sing Se has a council too right? I can't see that changing in a hundred years." I scrunched my nose in confusion.

"I don't know, wait, I thought you never came here before."

"I didn't but one of the other monks wanted me to learn about political powers around the world," he grimaced, "I had to do a whole unit on Ba Sing Se." I nodded, accepting the answer.

I sighed and turned away towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Katara interjected.

"Outside,"

"Excuse me?" I turned back to Katara, incredulous.

"What?" I asked.

"You're not going anywhere without one of us." I gaped at Katara in horror.

"You're giving me a babysitter? I'm older then all of you, Sokka included."

"And you were just threatened by the most powerful man in Ba Sing Se to use your own words." Katara reiterated. I glared but quickly gave it up.

"Fine, Toph, you coming?"

"Why not? There's nothing else to do here anyway."

Zuko

It was late afternoon, the lunch crowd had left for the most part. Three patrons were left and I was washing the unoccupied tables when a familiar voice asked.

"Lee? Is that you?" I spun gasping. Standing in the entrance to the small tea shop was Maddi. She had changed in the months I hadn't seen her. The burn tan had paled, leaving small brown speckles across her face and her hair had lengthened, her bangs were just at the same level as her eyebrows and her braid fell down to the small of her back. To my shock she smiled brightly then rushed forward and hugged me. I stiffened at the sudden contact. She ignored it and whispered in my ear.

"Play along, and call me Tara." She pecked me on the cheek and pulled away. I was glad that she had moved on to my uncle because my face felt uncomfortably hot.

"Mushi! It's been a long time!" She exclaimed as she hugged him too. She must have whispered something in his ear too because Uncle Iroh laughed and hugged her back.

"Tara! I'm so glad to see you again," 'he grinned sending me a look, "I'm sure Lee is very pleased to see you as well." Tara' smiled brightly.

"Mushi, Lee, you remember my little sister, Toph, don't you?" Maddi turned to gesture at a small girl standing behind her. I looked at Maddison amazed, there was no way she would pass for Toph's sister. Toph was pale and short with thick black hair while Maddi was tall, tanned with thin brown hair. The two girls couldn't be more different if they tried.

"Of course I do." My uncle laughed but his eyes were sharp. Maddi turned to the shop's manager and smiled innocently.

"Please sir, can you spare my cousin and uncle for a little while?" I find myself glad that our manager wasn't someone who paid much attention to details. He nodded and waved us off to the back room.

Once in the storage room Maddi shut the door and then the window's shutters. Only faint trickling light illuminated the dark shelves.

"To what do we owe this visit?" Uncle asked, "not that I mind but I am curious why you sought us o here and how you knew our aliases." I blinked in shock, I hadn't noticed that Maddi had known what names we were using here. Lee could be easily explained, it sometimes seemed like half of the earth kingdom and fire nation used the name Lee but Mushi had been inspired by my uncle swelling after he had turned a poisonous plant into a tea. He was lucky to be alive.

"You're in danger."

"We're firenation royalty in the capital of the earth kingdom, of course we're in danger."

"In about a week you won't be the only firenation royalty in Ba Sing Se." Maddi retorted sharply. My mind jumped to the only conclusion that made sense.

"Azula? What is she doing here?"

"What she's always doing, trying to take over the world in the name of her father." She retorted. She began fiddling with a black cord that hung around her neck. A necklace that dipped below her neckline so I couldn't see what it looked like.

"How do you know this?" My uncle asked softly. He wasn't suspicious or upset, just curious and a little worried. Maddi though, acted as if he had just accused her of something. Her eyes went wide and her body stiffened.

"I can't tell you just yet, just be careful. Especially about anything that involves the palace. If you get an invitation to the palace get the heck out of there and leave Ba Sing Se."

"Seriously? You're not going to tell them?" Toph asked, she continued to look straight ahead and I realized with a jolt that she was blind.

"Toph, not now."

"If you had your way I don't even think Sokka would know. You kept it a secret for over two months."

"Toph, not now." Maddi's words were clipped short, her face was tense but her hands were shaking.

"What-"

"Toph! Now is not the time! I will tell them later but right now I don't even feel safe to speak about it while in Ba Sing Se." We were silent for a while before Maddi sighed.

"You're not the only ones in danger. The five of us are as well and there was recently a not to subtile threat directed towards me."

"Why have you been introducing yourself as girl of all nations? Why do you call yourself that?" I blurted. Maddi blinked and looked up at me in surprise. Her mouth quirked into a small smile.

"Because I am from 'all nations' in a way, I was adopted into the water tribe, Aang has practically done the same, I look earthkingdom and I support the true Fire Lord." I felt heat crawling up my face again, my mind flashing back to when she had said something similar months ago. My uncle looked surprised then his gaze became very piercing.

"If someone is from all four they might as well be from none." Maddi stiffened again while Toph laughed outright.

"Are you going to say it or am I?"

"Toph!" Maddi cried, scandalized but Toph only laughed. Maddi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Well are you?" Maddi sighed.

"You're spot on the mark Iroh, I may appear to be from all four nations, but I'm from none." She closed her mouth then and sent a pointed look at Toph.

"And that's all I'm going to say on that matter. I just want you two to be careful." She paused, "And do not trust either the Dai Li, any woman who calls herself Joo Dee or the king's 'cultural minister' those people are for our group to deal with."

"If you life is in danger shouldn't you be leaving?" I asked. Maddi shook her head.

"I can't leave while my friends are here, there are things that need to be done too, things that I have... insight into." She turned to leave but paused and turned back.

"The offer is still up for both of you, we would love to have you join us. We will never turn down anything you can offer us." She turned away and walking step in step with Toph, left us alone. Once again leaving me to think about what she had said. Why did she have this effect on me? Why was it that every time I met her no matter what she said something always remained stuck in my head.

"Long live Fire Lord Zuko."

"I support the true Fire Lord."

"I may appear to be from all four nations, but I'm from none."

Who was she really? I was beginning to believe only the spirits knew.

Maddi

I slept fitfully, nightlong nightmares plagued me. They ranged anywhere from the usual death of that man at the North Pole, to my family to seeing Azula killing Aang. It seemed like it was all I could do manage. Nightmare after nightmare. I had done everything I could but now it was all up to the choices everyone else made. I just prayed that I had done enough to Change the World and not destroy it.

A/N I posted early because I was feeling down and needed a pick me up and I've found that my story is a perfect way to do that. So what do you think? I guess there is a lot that happened to think over but I hope that it was good. I'm kind of unsure about my strength in writing Katara (she was hard and I'm not sure I did a good job with her). Anyway let me know what you think.

Princess Kassie Out.