Chapter 36: When the Hammer Falls
When Jade came to herself, she was literally by herself.
In the dark.
Sitting on a cold metal floor.
Her hands and feet bound tight with thick metal cuffs.
She struggled wildly against them, her heart hammering along with the clattering of metal chains that strained with each movement her body made.
"HELP!" she yelled, but her voice was muffled by a cloth that gagged her mouth.
Still it was enough to alert whoever was outside her cell. For that was where she was.
She stilled as she saw the steel sheet slide away from in front of the small bars of the equally small window in the door and a metal mask peer in and hiss.
"Hey! Quiet in there. Or else it's both our-" the hissing voice stopped and slid it's mask away to reveal the face of a young slightly round faced dark haired man. "Jade? Is that you?"
"Hanmph?" Jade blinked tilting her head as she registered the face.
She'd seen it many times as a youngster back in her home village, but he'd been just a boy in her class then. One of her many young friends who she would run around and play in the mud with. A friend that used to come over to her family home after school and eat her mother's cooking with so much gusto…she'd never forget a face like that, even after nearly three years of not seeing it while at -
She stiffened as the young man quickly opened the cell door and rushed towards her.
"Han!" She gasped as the young man, Han, ripped the gag from her mouth "What are you doing here?"
"Captain Wang just had me transferred from another ship! It's my first shift. But never mind that! What are you doing here?! Why aren't you up with your dad and Shen?"
"Let's just say I was in the wrong place at the wrong time" Jade huffed as she tried to rid her mouth of the taste of starchy cotton.
"Spirits why do you have these? These are like, only used for the worst of the worst war criminals?"
Jade barely could contain the eye-roll as Han cried out dramatically, rattling the chains on her wrists.
"-I mean I heard the Admiral was paranoid but this is just-and for his own niece?! For crying out loud you can't even bend!"
"That's not quite true young man" a voice drawled from the open doorway behind Han's back "If I know anything about my niece, it's that she can bend others to her will quite effectively indeed"
"A-Admiral Z-Z-Zhao" Han stuttered, jumping up to his feet and backing away from Jade so fast he almost got whiplash. "I-I didn't-this isn't what it-sir-"
"Get out of my sight you snivelling wimp! If you want to splutter like a fool then go to General Iroh, I daresay he won't mind listening to you grovel like a sick pig"
Zhao's tone was sharper than a blade, but Jade kept her mouth shut as she watched a fearful (nearly pant-wetting) Han scarper out of the door and down the corridor.
Once his footsteps had vanished, Zhao crouched down in front of his niece eyes gleaming with malice as he glared at her.
"So…what have we here? The daughter of the Lucky Jade seducing her guard to free herself from captivity. I would commend you for your effort had it not been such a deplorable action."
"OH please" Jade sneered in his face "Girls were using their looks to get their way, long before I ever needed to do so. And for your information, I wasn't seducing him. I was just talking"
"Just talking?" Zhao hissed "Like how you were just going through my quarters and looking for my secret plans so you could sabotage them?"
"Not much of a secret if you keep them in such an obvious hiding spot" Jade spat, though internally she couldn't help but wonder.
But no…that old scroll couldn't possibly be the secret plan? I mean what on earth did it mean by Moon and Ocean?
But despite how much she tried to hide it, something of her confusion must have shown up in her face because Zhao's smirk widened nastily.
"Ah…so I see Kira managed to stop you just in time then. And yes, I know about Kira" he added when she blinked up at him in surprise "In fact you could say I asked him to keep an eye on you since you were well enough to sneak around on your own. And I must say he did a much better job than last time. Though admittedly you were so absorbed in your own task to even notice him. And speaking of noticing…"
Jade leaned away in revulsion as her uncle hissed into her face, his hot breath fanning the stray strands of brown that fell before her eyes.
"Did you really think I would not notice the sleeping draft in my tea?"
Jade felt her heart stop in her chest.
"you knew?" she bleated before she could stop herself and Zhao chuckled.
"Know? My dear, it was your mother's favourite trick in the book during the siege of Shān-yùnqì. In fact, I'm disappointed that you didn't take the extra initiative and put pure poison in my cup instead considering what I did to your stupid boyfrie-guh!" Zhao leapt back with a cry as Jade's spit hit him directly in the eye both her eyes each a green flame of fury.
A flame that only grew brighter even as her uncle's hand swiped sharp and hard across her face.
"Insolent brat" he hissed but Jade was not phased one bit.
"The only insolent brat here is you Zhao" she snarled through bared teeth, nostrils flaring like a crazed beast "You're just using this invasion as a means to prove to your Daddy Dearest that you're better than my father. Well, have I got news for you. It won't matter what the hell you do. Grandfather is not an idiot. Yeah, he hates me and my mother because we're earth benders, but he also knows a weak idiot like you could never succeed him as his heir. And not for anything else other than the fact you lack the balls for the job!"
"Shut up!" Zhao growled and with a hard swipe he slapped her face again, and again and when she collapsed on the floor he kicked her hard in the stomach barely missing her only just healed injury.
But despite the pain, Jade continued ruthlessly, each sting of each hit only pushing her onwards as she hissed:
"You-you think you're so powerful with your fleet" she wheezed as she tried to sit up again "But take all that power away and what are you? Just a coward who can't even stand up to his own father like a man"
Another kick but this time Jade was ready to catch his foot.
With a small twist, he tripped backwards stumbling into the wall with a heavy thud.
Jade meanwhile quickly sat up and gingerly scrambled to the wall where she attempted to stand up her whole body trembling uncontrollably, even as she glared up at her uncle who was now straightening himself up with a hollow chuckle.
"It takes a coward to know a coward" he sneered as he straightened up and loomed over her "You lecture me about having no spine when you skulk about drugging my drink and hiding behind your father and brother and Lord Iroh like a child. You think that just because you're talking big now that you're somehow all grown up. Well you're not! Welcome to the real world my dear niece. It's a horrible disgusting place where you've got to prove yourself worthy of your words before you can attain glory"
Jade clutched at the wall as her legs buckled but she kept her glare firmly fixed on Zhao as he dusted himself off and stalked over to her grabbing her by the roots of her hair before shoving her cheek up against the wall hard.
"You should be thankful I'm still keeping you alive. Had you tried to pull any of these stunts on your grandfather he would've sent you to walk the plank, even if you were of his blood. Indeed, I was very tempted to let the Golem finish his job on you, but I think handing over the daughter of the Lucky Jade to the Fire Lord will be far more satisfying punishment. Especially when I tell him you are the reason his son is dead."
"You monster-" Jade struggled only to wince as her head was shoved harder into the wall.
"You call me that now" he hissed into her ear "but you'll see you'll all see. Soon I won't just be Admiral Zhao. Soon I'll be Zhao the Legend, Zhao the conqueror, Zhao the Moon slayer!"
"M-moon slayer?" Jade grunted and Zhao's smirk widened.
"Yes, you heard right Moon Slayer. You see for the past century, many great leaders, your grandfather included, sought to eliminate all the water benders from the water tribes. Yes, they managed to eradicate nearly all of the Southern Tribe's benders, but none of them ever came close to completely and utterly destroying their sister tribe, and all because they lack the vision to do so. You see, like the Fire Benders gains their power from the sun, all the Water Benders all over the world share a common source from which they gain the power to bend, in this case that source is the moon"
"You want to…to d-destroy the moon?" Jade spluttered. "B-but that's impossible, the only way you could do that is if you destroy the moon spirit and the moon spirit is in the spirit world and only the Avatar can reach it with his powers."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Zhao smirked, softly his eyes glinting with mad triumph. "If you think me ignorant of the ways of the spirits my dear, you are sorely mistaken. I will kill the moon spirit. And you will not get in my way"
"You're insane…" Jade breathed.
Zhao's lip curled as he leaned in to hiss in her face.
"Maybe…but I've outsmarted you. And once this invasion is over, I will have such fun tearing you apart before I hand you over to the Fire Lord-" he quickly stopped as a dark shadow appeared in the doorway of the cell.
"Admiral, your brother's looking for you. Might I suggest quickly moving on before he discovers where you're actually keeping his daughter." a gruff voice hissed and Jade looked up just in time to see Kira's face smirk from his helmeted disguise.
"Yes, I will. Thank you, Kira. You've been most helpful." Zhao clipped as he shoved Jade back down to the ground and strode over to the door. "Stay here with her and watch her like a hawk. I'll deal with Ruishi"
"Of course, Admiral" Kira stood aside respectfully to let the man pass, but not before Zhao turned his head back to glare at Jade's form as it slid to the floor.
"You know" he muttered, and his voice was as cold and deadly as ice "before your mother came along my brother was an incredible man. We may have had our differences in the past, but I always admired his strength and his brilliance. But now all I see is a pathetic shadow of a man, whose only focus in life is to grovel at the feet of you, a little conniving mud wench. I wouldn't be surprised if, deep down, he is so ashamed of you that he regrets ever bringing you into this world. I know I would be"
And with that, he shut the door behind himself, plunging both her and Kira into semi-darkness, the room only lit by the light streaming in through the bars in the small cell door window.
Jade stiffened as the Golem of the East turned to look back on her brown eyes gleaming.
"Hello Miss Jade, miss me?"
When the black snow began to fall, Aang's heart sank.
He'd never seen such a phenomenon before in his life, not even from a hundred years ago. But even so, he knew the cause.
He could see it now in fact, looming up over the horizon, rows and rows of black smog floating atop of a line of dark metal ships.
The Fire Nation had come.
Though he had always known they would stop at nothing to stop him from saving the world, Aang never thought that they would go to such extreme lengths.
He wondered, vaguely if Prince Zuko was leading the charge.
But the young air bender quickly dismissed the idea at once. Though he was the prince, as far as Aang had seen, he did not have much influence over any of the other warships or the officers that led them. Moreover, Zuko seemed to prefer working alone, just as he had done that night at the Fire Nation Stronghold.
No, someone was leading this fleet, someone sinister, he could feel it in his gut.
Though who it was remained to be seen…
"This will truly be one for the history books General Iroh. Just think, centuries from now people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the Last of the Water Tribe Civilization. You're here to see it" Admiral Zhao Shi's smirk was smug as he and Lord Iroh gazed out from the helm of their great warship onto the great wall of ice and the white city that it protected.
But Lord Iroh just sighed softly. Unlike his comrade beside him, his face was grim and somber as he looked out over the grey skies that shrouded the blue skies overhead.
"Be careful what you wish for Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects"
"I suppose you speak from experience. But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Sei" Zhao snorted, callously relishing the sadness that splashed over the older war general's face as he shook his head grimly.
"I hope not…for your sake"
For all our sakes…
Iroh added in his head as quietly, but reluctantly obeyed Zhao's command to deliver a message to the ship's captain.
As he walked away, the old lord couldn't help but notice, the strange victorious glint in Zhao's eyes.
He knew that the younger man was a proud narcissistic megalomaniac, but there was something in the way he smirked that told Iroh that he'd already achieved something…something he, Zhao, thought would clear the way for his victory.
Just what has he got planned?
Oddly enough Iroh could just imagine the young voice of Jade answering his question inside his head.
"probably something horrible that spells out trouble for us all"
Iroh paused in the middle of the red lit corridor
Hold on a moment, where is Jade? I didn't see her at breakfast this morning with her father or her brother.
He could feel his heart hammering as he tried to rack his brain for his last memory of the young earthbender.
Now that he thought about it, he had not seen her at dinner last night either, nor had his nephew in disguise delivered a morning report about her condition, something he had been adamant about since they'd first set sail a few weeks ago.
Oh Zuko, my poor boy. I'm so sorry I must put you through this.
Iroh sighed softly to himself.
He knew Zuko wouldn't just settle for hearing Jade was okay. No, he just had to see her for himself, and then practically shadow her every step, in disguise, just to make sure nothing happened to her.
It was sweet, if rather intense and full on. But then so was Zuko.
And oddly enough so was Jade.
Jade was not someone to let something slide to the wayside that easily, especially if it concerned doing the right thing. Iroh frowned as he mulled over his observations of her behavior from the past week or so.
Following hearing the news of Zuko's "death", she had gone very quiet, withdrawn. Of course, in public she maintained the front of being a frail, heartbroken woman grieving for her lost love, and in many ways, she was, but behind all that Iroh could see the spark still burning in her eyes.
No. She may have been hurting physically and emotionally, but her light was not snuffed out yet. If anything, the spark had now ignited and fanned into a flame. A flame that often, blazed with fury whenever she made eye contact with Zhao.
The thought was enough to send a horrible jolt run straight through Iroh as he stopped dead in the middle of the corridor.
That must be it. That must be why he's in such a good mood…something's happened to her, something terrible…
He clenched his fists as he began to now pace very fast away from his spot, nearly colliding with a familiar looking guard.
"We'll be landing soon. Do you have a plan?" he whispered as the guard slid down his face mask to reveal the scarred face of his nephew.
"I'm working on it uncle" Zuko hissed, but he sounded haphazard, stressed.
"What's wrong? Were you seen?" Iroh muttered worriedly but Zuko shook his head.
"No, no one's seen me. But that's not the problem. It's Jade. She wasn't in her room last night and now I can't find her anywhere. I went to Chan to see if she was in sickbay but Chan said she went to serve her father tea last night and never came back."
"I see." Iroh murmured sadly.
"Do you think Zhao has done something to her?" Zuko gulped, feeling his gut sink as his uncle looked down to the ground.
"I don't know. But wherever she is I'm sure she's not safe anymore. Especially not since Kira returned."
"I still can't believe he survived" Zuko hissed, his fists clenching. "I mean, he fell off a cliff-"
"I know, I don't understand it either. But whatever the case, he is here and Jade is in danger as long as he walks around this ship."
There was the thud of footsteps and both uncle and nephew stiffened, the latter quickly sliding his mask back over his face.
"I'm going to go look for her" he whispered as he caught sight of a couple of guards walking around the corner of their corridor.
"Check the brig first then. Zhao might just have kept her secured and out of the way for now before he does anything" Iroh whispered already beginning to walk away just as Zuko quickly dashed down a corridor and out of sight.
"How on earth did you survive that drop?"
Kira blinked as the young green eyed girl snarled from her spot against the opposite cell wall.
It was the first time she had spoken to him in half an hour, and her eyes were just as full of hatred and wariness as when he'd first entered the room.
Despite his hatred for her, he couldn't help but admire her tenacity. Most of his normal victims would be peeing their pants by now. But then again, Jade Shi certainly wasn't a normal girl.
"The same way you survived that accident I made for your mother Lien, Lucky"
Jade's fists clenched tight as she heard her mother's name slip from this atrocity's mouth, but she sucked in a deep breath. No…making a scene and causing trouble now would just invite him to kill her.
She needed to get the upper hand.
But how was she going to do that when she was half bound and he was standing over her-
Standing…on both his legs…but I burnt his left one off with lava. How can he be standing?
Her eyes flickered down to his left foot. It was standing stock still and supporting his body.
A prosthetic…
"I see you've got a new leg" She narrowed her eyes, hiding her surprise as Kira made no move to unveil it as he snorted.
"Yes. I do"
Odd…I'd have thought he'd be jumping at the chance to show off his survival to me…but what could it be?
"Is it metal?" she asked, her tone light but her gaze still hard. "I've heard the fire nation has made some remarkable progress in the way of metal prosthetics"
"No. it's not metal" Kira rolled his eyes with a very knowing smirk, but Jade was not dissuaded.
"Wood then?"
"Yes, like I, the Golem of the East would ever lower myself to such a substandard material" Kira snorted as he pried himself off the metal wall eyes flashing.
Jade stiffened in her spot as he made to tower over her.
Then suddenly she felt a hand at her throat.
"What-" she spluttered as the assassin dragged her up the wall by the neck, squeezing her windpipe tight in one solid grip.
"Your uncle said I couldn't kill you. But he never said anything about teaching you a lesson or two and by the spirits have I got some lessons for you little brat. Don't worry-" he added when she looked at him in terror "-I will just knock you out…for now"
"Ah-" she gasped, her hands clawing at his fingers. But it was of no use. For all the good it did she might as well have not struggled at all.
She was about to just let herself go limp in defeat but at the last second she twitched and her leg kicked out and hit his prosthetic one…only to come into contact with something solid. Something that sent a jolt of her chi running straight through her like an electric pulse as vibrations bounced off it.
Earth…he's earthbending a new foot?!
Had she not been fearing for her life she might have marvelled at the other Earthbender's immense skill. But now her awe was quick to turn into a lightbulb as with a final effort she forced herself to look pointedly over his shoulder.
It worked like a charm.
Despite himself, the minute Jade had looked away his eyes followed hers towards the door behind his back.
But there was nothing there.
"Ahhh!" he cried out as with a hard shove, Jade thrust him off, letting herself drop to the floor as she reached for the knee of his left leg. With a sharp palm strike she felt the solid substance beneath her hand crumble into smaller fragments from within the boot which shot off the end of the man's pants with a loud whoosh as the Earth within it was forcibly dragged away.
Kira stumbled backwards, a combination of shock and confusion preventing him from acting as Jade swiftly refused the earth in a large sphere that she let hover over her hand, before pushing it straight at his gut.
There was the sickening crunching sound of bone breaking as it hit her captor in the ribs, but Jade didn't stick around to watch him squirm. Pocketing a small amount of the earth, she reached down and snagged the cell door keys and ran out the door, locking it just in time as Kira all but flew at her in a furious mass of snarling spitting rage.
The crash of flesh against thick metal and the animalistic roar of pain and fury nearly made her wet her pants as she all but charged down the corridor and up the stairs that led out of the brig.
In a panic, she quickly shut the door to the staircase behind her, accidentally trapping the two guards that had been standing on the other side.
But Jade didn't care. All she wanted to do was put as much distance as possible between her and that monster and the other monster called Zhao.
Zhao...
Jade gulped as she finally came to a stop a few floors up, panting and rasping for breath through a burning bruised throat.
He's mad. Wanting to mess with the spirits. Just how does he think he could ever get away with such a thing? And for that matter who would want to mess with the moon spirit. The Water tribe aren't the only ones who need the moon everyone in the world knows we need it to keep the ocean in balance. Wanting to destroy it…that's just insanity…but then again when has Zhao ever proven himself to be sane?
"I need to stop him" she gasped up at the ceiling, her eyes leaking as stress and fear both caught up with her in one savage swoop.
She knew what she had to do. But if she did there was no going back.
"I need to stop him…" she whispered even softer to herself. "I'll have to warn Aang…and to do that I would have to…to…"
She gulped unable to bring the words in her head out into the open. Not because she was afraid, but because if she did the pain she felt would increase tenfold.
But if she didn't resolve herself now, thousands- no millions- of people would feel that pain all over the world.
Her fist clenched tight by her side as she shut her eyes.
"I'm sorry dad…I'm sorry Shen…I'm sorry Zuko" she sniffed biting down on her trembling lips "But I need to do this"
And with that she ran further into the depths of the ship.
"ARGH! You little brat! How dare you! I'll teach you to mess with the Golem of the East!" Kira bellowed as with a large blast of red hot molten rock he practically liquefied the lock to the cell door.
With a casual flick of his wrist he quickly shot two small bullets of lava straight between the eyes of the two unfortunate guards that had come to investigate the commotion.
Within a few seconds both had fallen dead to the floor, their foreheads smoking and glowing with heat.
Damn…I've got less earth.
He growled as he began to mould the remaining dirt around him back into a rudimentary prosthetic. He couldn't quite make a fully solid looking leg, but he could make a rather clumsy pegleg with a small foot on the end that was roughly matching the other one in height.
It was rather pathetic, but it would have to make do.
With a growl, he stumbled clumsily over the threshold of his cell, grasping at the door as he almost fell over.
That little witch! I'll kill her now. I don't care about the payment. Forget the hit. Now it's personal.
"Just you wait little Lucky. I'll find you and squash you like the worm you are" he hissed as he hobbled to the door.
But even as he melted the lock and opened the door a blast of blue fire burst forth in his face.
It didn't hit him, but it was fierce enough to have him stumble and trip backwards onto his behind at the bottom of the stairs.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't daddy dearest." Kira hissed, though his tones were laced with fear. And for good reason.
The look on Ruishi Shi's face was positively terrifying. His expression was blank and icy, but both his brown eyes were blazing with ferocious wrath that seemed to burn like two hot suns straight into the face of the fallen assassin as he stalked down towards him.
Despite himself, Kira couldn't help but shudder at the sight of the man. He had heard of Ruishi's terrifying temper whilst in disguise on the prince's ship. But hearing of it did not do the real thing any justice whatsoever.
Had Kira known just how terrifying the man could be, he might never had dared cross him so brazenly.
And that was before the man had even opened his mouth.
"I warned my brother there would be consequences for his actions towards my children." Ruishi's voice was a deep rumble and put Kira in mind of a dragon ready to spit fire. An image only furthered as the man's hands suddenly lit up with bright hot blue flames.
"Now I guess I'll have to make you a demonstration"
"Wait-please, I was only doing this because I was paid to by your brother. If you want i-i-could-" Kira stuttered as Ruishi advanced on him, the blue light of his flames casting sinister shadows around his chiselled features as he spat.
"Save your breath Golem. I know my brother hired you, and I know you are the one responsible for the death of my wife, as you almost were responsible for the suffering of my daughter."
Kira gulped as Ruishi stopped before him, his brown eyes flashing with that horrible fire.
"And unfortunately for you, I'm not as merciful as she is"
He raised his hands.
There was a flash of blue fire, and a scream as blood splattered the walls.
Deep red blood mixed with earth.
When Zuko heard, the scream echoing from the brig down below, his insides ran cold as the icy waters they were sailing in.
"Jade" he whispered horror seeping through him as he ran helter skelter down the stairs and around a corner, just in time to see someone trudge up the stairs that led down to the brig.
"Ruishi?" Zuko stopped in his tracks, eyes widening behind his metal mask as he looked over the older man.
The front of his uniform was stained with blood and burns as were his knuckles, and his eyes were dark and grim even as they darted in Zuko's direction.
The prince almost flinched away as he caught sight of the terrible fire in that gaze, which was quickly snuffed out by relief and recognition as the older man sighed.
"Prince Zuko. I would've thought you'd be with your uncle"
"I-I was looking for Jade. I-I thought Kira had done something to her." Zuko was too shocked by the blood on the other man's uniform to even bother being afraid of his identity being revealed.
Indeed, he couldn't help but shudder a little as Ruishi turned to snarl back down the stairs, a horrible glint in his eye.
"Oh, yes he tried. But I'm quite sure he won't ever try to hurt anyone ever again"
"So you-" Zuko gulped unable to meet the older man as he looked him in the eye directly.
"yes"
"And Jade-"
"No. She escaped on her own before I found him" Ruishi smirked with a little pride. "She is quite smart that way. As I'm sure you're aware."
"Yeah…she is smart" Zuko looked down to the ground, still unable to look at the man.
He knew Ruishi was reputed to be ruthless in a real battle, but given the way he had acted whilst serving with himself and his uncle aboard the ship and the way he was always so caring and gentle towards Jade and Shen…
As if sensing the disguised prince's thoughts, Ruishi sighed heavily, his face and shoulders relaxing considerably as his face saddened.
"It had to be done. It was the only way I could ensure my family's survival with my brother in command. One less pawn for him to manoeuvre on the board."
"I know" Zuko nodded quietly.
"I know what I've done is questionable and probably very terrible" Ruishi said patiently and calmly "But I love my children and I am willing to do anything and everything in my power to keep both of them safe from harm, no matter what the consequences"
"I understand" and indeed Zuko did understand, but that didn't make the reality of the situation any less sinister or frightening, and neither did it lessen the small stab of envy in his heart as Ruishi walked over to him.
"Zhao will hear the news soon." He muttered quietly "and Shen and I will need to do some damage control. That should clear the way for you to find Jade. When you do take her to your uncle. He's got more sway over most of the men and should be able to keep you both safe till this mess is over"
"I will" Zuko murmured stiffening slightly as Ruishi reached out and put a warm but firm hand on his shoulder.
"I know you will. You are a good man Zuko. And you may not see it now, but you do not need the Avatar to regain your honour. You are quite capable of regaining it on your own merit. When you do I am sure you will become a Fire Lord we can all be proud of."
"I…" Zuko was forced to gulp down a large lump that had suddenly gotten lodged in his throat.
He'd only ever heard his uncle say words like that. But he'd always fobbed them off as it being said out of fondness and not true belief.
But to hear it from a man like Ruishi Shi…
"I'll find Jade and keep her safe" he mumbled softly "I promise"
And with that he ran back down the corridor, missing the small sad smile as Ruishi Shi watched him vanish from sight.
"Thank you Prince Zuko."
When Jade snuck into the ship's massive armoury she was surprised to see it devoid of any living being.
So far so good. Now I just need to change into sturdier thicker gear.
She gulped as she quickly ducked her head around a couple of weapons stations. Behind them she could see a couple of suits of fire nation armour and their thicker undergarments.
That'll have to do.
She quickly reached for the nearest one.
"If you're going to go undercover at least select something that's small enough to fit"
Jade squeaked in terror as she wheeled around.
"Shen" she sighed in relief as her brother strode up to her and wrapped his arms around her tight.
"Are you alright? I heard Zhao tried to imprison you in the brig."
"He did but I got out" Jade sighed as she briefly squeezed him back before pulling away.
"Oh no" Shen frowned as he looked down on her face "I know that look. What are you planning to do now?"
"Do?" Jade blinked her heart sinking as her brother quirked a brow at her.
"Don't give me that. You may have Lord Iroh and the other Captains looking the other way but I know when you're scheming something"
"Okay, first off I don't scheme." Jade rolled her eyes "and secondly, I don't know if you've noticed but Zhao's still trying to kill me so yeah I've got to think of something if I'm going to live"
"Then if that's the case disguising yourself as a guard won't work. You're too small and your hands are too feminine. Plus, let's face it, you stink at imitating men's voices." Shen frowned as he looked over the uniforms and then to the door.
"Maybe I could pass you off as a junior private but that will only buy you a little-"
"I need to get off this ship" Jade steamrolled over the top of him.
"You what?" Shen spluttered.
"I need to get off this ship." Jade repeated firmly
"get off the ship…What are you saying?" Shen looked at her completely befuddled "You need to hide, not leave. Besides where will you-"
"The Water Tribe" Jade growled grabbing a pair of thin sais and stashing them in her belt. "I need to find the Avatar. Zhao's planning something to do to the Water Tribe. Something bad. I need to warn Aang, only he can put a stop to this-"
"Jade-Jade stop. Stop" Shen grabbed her arm before she could walk away "I get it, you're scared and confused and you want to stop Zhao. But going to the water tribe and warning the Avatar-that's…that's serious that's…that's treason"
"Shen I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but you and I are the bi-products of treason" Jade spat and Shen shook his head.
"I know. But that was fifteen to eighteen years ago. I'm talking about the here and now. I understand you want to do the right thing, but turning sides now… You could be killed or worse-and-and think of father. What would he do with himself if you were hurt-heck forget him, what do you think I would do if I let you hurt yourself like this-"
"It's of you I'm thinking Shen" Jade groaned softly "You and me and father. None of us are going to ever be free to be happy as ourselves if the Fire Nation keeps going on as it is under men like Zhao. We all know it. Something needs to be done, before we all end up like mom"
"Like mom huh?" Shen glared down at her his eyes shining a little with hurt and fear "Is that what this really is. You want to stop Zhao not only to save the world but because you want to prove yourself, worthy of mom?"
"No." Jade growled, defiantly "I'm doing it because it's the right thing. Because I'm sick and tired of having to wait and cower under the feet of those monsters that will stop at nothing till the world is only ash and fire. Because I'm tired of standing and waiting around for them to continuously keep taking the people I care about away from me."
"You're talking about the prince? Aren't you?" Shen muttered.
Jade felt her heart sting but forced herself to swallow down her grief as she straightened up, fists clenching by her sides.
"We can't continue doing this Shen. We have our bending, we have our brains, we should be using them to make a difference, not hide away and let everything around us rot. We're a part of this world and as a part of this world, we have every right to determine how it continues on. And right now, I want to end this war. And to end this war…we need the Avatar. We all do, Earth Kingdom, Water Tribe…even the Fire Nation"
"You're not going to back down from this are you" Shen shook his head, his face in his hands as his sister shook her head.
"No. I'm not. And I'll leave with or without you…though I'd prefer it if you and father both came with me."
"We might not be able to" Shen murmured softly and sadly "especially father. Our hands are too tied. One wrong move and we'll die."
"the way I see it Shen, we're all doomed to die anyway once the invasion is all over." Jade grunted "and I don't know about you but if that's going to happen, I'd rather die on my own terms, fighting for what I believed in"
"Well we can't all be as brave or as daring as you" Shen snorted grudgingly but then sighed heavily again.
"I'm not brave" Jade shook her head "I'm just asking you to be brave enough to help me get off this ship."
"…Argh! Damn you lucky. Damn you." Shen growled but Jade could see the reluctant acceptance in his brown eyes, and the sadness which he was quick to mask with a small cough.
"Fine. I've got an idea, but you're going to have to follow my lead. It might be risky but it's probably our best bet."
"What do you have in mind?" Jade quirked a brow as her brother quickly grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the room.
"You'll see. But first let's find Dango. If you're going to go in disguise at least get something that fits you"
When Zuko had left the brig to Admiral Zhao's ship he didn't quite know what to think.
Ruishi Shi murdering an assassin in cold blood. Jade missing. Zhao plotting something terrible and to top it all off an invasion of the enemy was underway.
He knew he had been banished for dishonouring his father and his own station but just what did he do to deserve this mayhem?
"Not here either" he muttered darkly to himself as he chanced a glance into the ship's large armoury. It was empty of life, its only occupants some mannequins and fully stocked weapons racks…
wait…somethings wrong here…
Zuko squinted as he looked along a wall on which several racks of different sharp weapons were gleaming in the dim light. In the middle of these, stood a rack that seemed uneven, for two of its Sais it was supposed to hold were missing.
It has to be her.
The corners of his mouth twitched upwards as he dashed forwards to examine the rack in closer detail.
Very few soldiers used sais for hand to hand combat, more often usually favouring the lances or spears, or even the occasional dagger for close combat.
So she came here and armed herself…
Zuko mused in his head as he carefully inspected the room at large again. It was then his eyes caught sight of the small cabinet to his left. The one which stored the spare thick white winter apparel
But it's fairly warm inside the ship…she wouldn't need it unless she was going to be up on deck or outside in the…cold…
He stopped in his tracks, eyes widening as comprehension dawned horribly on him.
She's not going up on deck…she's-
There was a loud groaning sound from his side and Zuko quickly turned to see a dark shadow of dark metal cross over one of the small porthole windows to the port side.
The dark shadow of another warship as it slowed down to anchor itself side by side with its leader's ship.
Craning his neck Zuko peered out the window.
His vantage point was just close enough to make out the face of Zhao as he dismissed several officers and their crew. Heart hammering, Zuko watched them walk over a long narrow metal bridge over to the new ship, the smallest one of the group standing out starkly, even though she was garbed only in servant's robes and keeping its long brown-haired head down as it followed the ship's captain back aboard his vessel.
"Jade?" Zuko breathed, horrified as he backed away from the window.
Swiftly he began to run. His legs carrying him faster and faster up the different levels of the ship, till he was sprinting up onto the deck.
But already, the bridge had been retracted and the other ship was beginning to drift away. However, it was not too far away that he could not still see her frightened but determined face.
"NO! WAIT!"
"NO! WAIT!"
As soon as the yell had been barked over the distance between the ships and their roaring engines, Jade's stomach gave a massive backflip.
She knew that voice, and she knew that yell.
But no…it couldn't be…you're dead…
However, despite her brain's insistence she still could not help but turn around to see where the voice had come from.
"Zuko" she breathed softly as she looked over the great divide.
And there he was.
Standing fully decked out in a guard's uniform, his metal mask of his helmet held tightly in one hand, leaving his scarred pale face free for all to see.
He's alive… All this time…
Jade's heart stung horribly and she felt her eyes burn as if she had acid thrown into them as she watched the prince's face swiftly grow smaller and smaller, till it all but vanish from sight.
She would've stayed longer to watch the ship vanish into the distance with the rest of the armada, but the ship's captain gruffly ordered her to get into the command deck and batten down the hatches with the other servants and civilian crew.
Jade had immediately set about to doing as she was told, all the while her thoughts looping back around to Zuko's distraught and very much alive face.
She wasn't sure what to think now. Her heart was like a tumble drier of grief, joy, fear, anger and a good mixture of everything else.
But the worst thing had to be frustration.
She'd only just managed to accept he was dead and had been ready to avenge him, and now here he was, not dead, and calling out her name to stop her leaving.
Just how is that possible?
I was too late…
Zuko cursed himself as he quickly slid back down below deck, slipping the metal plate of his mask back in place in his helmet. It was a good thing Zhao hadn't been there watching over him from above. That would've really spelled trouble.
And speaking of trouble.
"For spirits sake what is that girl thinking?!" he groaned his head in his hands barely looking up as he felt someone walk up to him.
"I suggest you go back below deck for now Lee, or should I call you your highness" the soft voice of Shen Shi hissed in his ear as a hand tugged him back.
"Unhand me at once" Zuko snapped on autopilot, swatting the older male's hand from him as he started to storm off towards the stairs that led below deck.
However, before he could even get one step down, a loud voice called.
"Atten-hut! Adrmial on Deck!"
"Damn it" Zuko cursed as he quickly backed away just in time as none other than Admiral Zhao himself strode up on deck, followed by General Iroh, his face a scowl as he looked over all his officers who stood quickly to attention in several organized rows.
"Which of you was it?" he snarled approaching the closest officer. "Which of you let the brat-I mean my niece leave my ship?"
When no one spoke up, Zhao turned on Shen who had stepped forwards.
"Boy explain yourself!" he barked.
Zuko watched anxiously as Shen eyed his uncle warily but stood his ground firmly.
"I did not know my sister would be leaving the ship sir. If I had, I can assure you that I of all people certainly wouldn't have let her go."
Zhao looked if possible even more angry, but upon finding no logical retort, he instead growled to himself in frustration.
"That little brat, just what does she think she's doing? Someone get me Lieutenant Kira-"
"Lieutenant Kira is currently indisposed" a new voice rose from the deck stairs. "and will be for quite some time since he has so inopportunely taken the initiative to desert his post."
Everyone turned to see Ruishi Shi striding up, his uniform clean and polished, and his face stiff and set as always.
Had Zuko not seen him below in the brig before, he might never have guessed that the man before him had just murdered someone. His hands were calm and still, and his countenance was as cool as a sea cucumber.
The only thing that gave away his ire was his eyes, two blazing orbs of brown with golden rings flaring from the centre as they locked onto his younger brother who bristled and took a small step back as he approached him.
"So I take it Jade is no longer with us aboard this vessel?" he asked, glancing at Shen.
For the faintest of moments, Zuko thought he saw the youngest male Shi give his father the tiniest of nods. But then the moment had passed and Ruishi turned back to look at his frustrated brother.
"Yes she is. Snuck aboard our first attack ship just now as luck would have it. How no one could've seen her leave-sneaky brat" he added more to himself than to anyone else.
The corners of Ruishi's lips quirked upwards for the tiniest second but then quickly fell as he strode up to the front of the ship, and looked out over the waters to the rapidly shrinking boat as it sailed swiftly towards a distant white wall of ice.
"Lien, my love wherever you are watch over our Jade. Keep her safe." He whispered softly.
"So that's just it? You're just going to let her go? After all your fuss to protect her?" Zhao scowled in confusion as he came to stand behind his brother who just smiled sadly.
"She's old enough now to know what she wants to do with her life. And you forget," and now he smirked back at his brother "She isn't called Lucky for nothing"
There was a loud bang in the distance and both men turned quickly back to look over the bow. There in the distance the first attack ship had launched a flaming rock from its catapult straight into the large wall of ice of the Northern Water Tribe.
"So it begins" Zhao hissed as he turned his back on his brother and started walking away, just as someone from the lookout post on the command tower shouted.
"Look there! Up in the air! It's the avatar!"
He shows himself already?
Zuko stared wide eyed in astonishment, as he and the rest of the crew around him ran forwards to watch in awe as the small orange and yellow dot flew through the air towards the ship in front of them, followed by a big hairy bison.
"There, what did I tell you." Ruishi smirked quietly to himself "Lucky"
When Jade saw the small yellow and orange figure hurtling his way through the air on a glider towards the ship, she could've almost laughed out loud…had she not been so scared of the thundering of firing catapults.
Just her luck that as soon as she left Zhao's side the Avatar would show up. The absurdity of the situation was such that it completely drove Zuko's appearance right out of her head.
"Wait miss what are you doing?" someone tried calling out to her, but already she was dashing back up onto the deck.
"Aim and FIRE!" the captain on deck roared and at once his men quickly set about arming the catapult.
They were just about to set fire to the stone projectile when a blast of air smashed into nearly half of the soldiers present, knocking them back hard into the sides of the ship.
Jade's face split into a wide grin as she caught sight of the young Avatar weaving his way around the remaining soldiers, smirking as one by one he took out each of their catapults until only three remained.
There was the crunching of heavy footsteps and Jade quickly turned to see a heavily muscled man with a long black beard suddenly swing two heavy chained hammers towards the back of Aang's head.
"Aang look out!" she cried.
"Jade?" Aang blinked turning to face her, only to cry out in alarm as the heavy hammer missed his head.
It struck the sides of the catapult's metal scaffolding instead, and was quickly accompanied by a mass of fire.
"Oh no you don't!" Jade hissed as through the corner of her eye she saw Aang suddenly get tied up by the hammer wielder who raised his voice to his comrades.
"Now men, Fire!"
The fire bender's raised their fists, only to stop as they heard the crunching of something solid breaking apart.
Horrified by the sound, their eyes swivelled sideways.
"What the?"
"Lady Jade?"
"UNGH!" Jade flung her arms forwards, releasing the chunks of stone she had been holding up.
Most of them hit their mark, but some of her victims dodged sideways and instead turned their fire on her.
She dodged their moves quickly, thanking her lucky stars that her father's training was kicking in of its own accord as she swiftly moved into close combat, unsheathing her sais to knock the flats of them against her enemies helmeted heads.
Within the minute, nearly all the firebenders in front of her had been knocked out or slammed hard onto the floor.
But Jade barely paid any of them any attention as something hard and solid suddenly hit her on the back, sending her flying front first onto the deck.
"JADE!"
She felt a sharp pain in her head as she fell down hard, and then…blackness…
"JADE!" Aang called out worriedly from where he had been chained as he saw the girl suddenly drop down.
The man with the two hammers chuckled nastily as he suddenly raised his hammers and pointed them at Aang.
"now it's your turn" he grinned.
Aang struggled hard, but it was no use. The chains were too tight.
WHAM!
Something white and hairy bowled headlong into the man shoving him overboard with a loud grunting roar.
"APPA!" Aang exclaimed happily as the great sky bison broke the chain holding him in one swift bite. "Thanks for the rescue buddy"
Appa turned to grunt at his master happily as the young Avatar quickly rushed at him and hugged the top of his head.
Then suddenly the entire world began to tilt.
"Woah!" Aang looked over the side of the ship and saw that the Water Tribe's water benders were in their low ships and bending ice to scuttle the ship from the sides.
There was the creaking of metal and stone as broken weapons, catapults and armoured people slid down backwards to the stern, a brown haired girl sliding unconscious in their midst.
"Gotcha!" Aang quickly caught Jade and using his Airbending brought her up onto Appa's back saddle.
"Appa Yip! Yip!" he cried and at once with a flick of his flat tail, Appa rose into the air.
"We gotta get her to the Water Tribe! She'll be safe there" he called to Appa, who groaned loudly in agreement and quickly flew down towards the water tribe boats.
Amidst them, Aang quickly spotted one of Master Paku's oldest students and quickly directed Appa to him.
"Avatar Aang, what is it?" the young man nodded respectfully as Aang quickly jumped to Appa's back and picked Jade up.
In a smooth and light jump he brought her down to the boat below and into the Water Bender's arms.
"A prisoner?" the Water Bender narrowed his eyes but Aang shook his head.
"No, her name's Jade and she's a friend. She tried to help me but got hurt. Please could you take her back with you? When she wakes up she might be able to help us."
The Water Bender looked warily at the girl in his arms, but nonetheless nodded, sighing heavily.
"I'll see what I can do"
"Thanks" Aang smiled brightly as he quickly remounted Appa who swiftly took to the skies again, much to the awe and fear of the waterbenders around.
"You heard the Avatar" the head Water Bender barked "Head back to the city quick!"
"Yes sir" the water benders around him shouted and raised their hands together in unison.
With a smooth pulling and pushing motion, the ocean around them seemed to pull away as the boats were smoothly and quickly pushed back through the water.
Had she been awake, Jade would've marvelled at the sight of so many water benders working like this.
But now all she could do till she woke up, was lie in darkness and a dreamless sleep, as she drifted far from home, far from her family…
And very far away from Prince Zuko.
Hey guys,
Sorry it took me so long to update. Got a new job then I moved house and all that just piled up on top of everything. My inspiration to write for this fic was a little dimmed, but it's being slowly renewed so there is still hope.
Just before I leave you I just want to know what you guys think of the new cover. I drew it myself using a slight combination of the ATLA and LOK styles (I will admit i'm pretty proud of how it turned out). It's kinda how i imagine Jade to look if she were actually in the series (though the stupid FF image manager chopped off part of her head :P). Or at least this is how I imagine her to be in Book 1…and on that note I am happy to announce that I will be splitting the story into the three "books" just like the series.
So on that note I hope you enjoy the remaining chapters and feel free to leave suggestions for what you'd like to see happening next book. I don't know if I'll get to all the ideas but anything to keep the inspiration flowing is a great help.
hope you enjoy and keep reviewing
Adieu
FuzzyBeta