BOOK 2: EARTH
CHAPTER 16: THE UNTOLD TALES OF EARTH
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APPA'S LOST DAYS
Four Weeks Ago ...
"Library sinking. Library sinking!" Toph shouted as runs up to the library and punches both fists into the library to stop it from sinking. Her feet slip in the sand, so she pauses to solidify it. She struggles to stop it from sinking again but time is running out.
There in the far off in distance closing fast are three sand-sailers. As they closed in The sandbenders direct a sand blast at Appa.
"Who's there?" Toph demanded as she struggled as hard as she could to not let the building sink.
Through her seismic sense she can see fuzzy images of sand-sailers circling Appa and the sandbenders jumping out. Things were about to go down.
"No! Stop sinking!" Toph grunted in her struggle.
Appa growling as sandbenders tie him with ropes. One sandbenders tugs on a rope tied to Appa's head. Appa lifts his head, sending the sandbender flying and tumbling through the sand. Two more sandbenders let go of their ropes and scatter to avoid Appa's tail. Appa becomes more annoyed.
"Don't make me put this down." Toph warned.
Toph lets go of the library and earthbends a slice of sand at the sandbenders, but misses completely. She grabs the library again. "No! Stop sinking! NO!" Toph finally grabs the library.
"Put a muzzle on him!" Ghashiun ordered.
One sandbender throws a rope around Appa's mouth, but Appa breaks it and makes the sandbender fall down. Another sandbender throws a rope around Appa's horn and Appa's sends the sandbender that tried to put a muzzle on him flying through the air. Appa takes off, but a sandbender throws a rope around Appa's leg and uses sandbending to secure his feet. The other sandbenders follow his lead and they all force Appa to the ground. A sand-sailer sails next to Appa. The sandbenders use their sandbending to drag Appa with three sailers.
Toph, still holding onto the library. Regret that she couldn't save her large furry friend. "I'm sorry, Appa." She sniffles and closes her eyes.
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The sailers crossing the desert as fast as drugging a heavy animal would allow. Ghashiun lowers his mask and signals them to stop. "Ransack his saddle. Who knows what treasures are stashed in there!" he said.
Two sandbenders run up to Appa, who growls when they approach. "He's tied up good. He can't hurt you."
The two sandbenders jump onto Appa's saddle, stirring some sand. Appa sneezes, sending the center sailer into a sand dune. Ghashiun and a sandbender talk awhile while the two sandbenders threw the contents of Appa's saddle in the background onto the ground. "What's your father gonna do when he finds out we lost a sand-sailer?" the sandbender asked with concern.
"Nothing. It's the one we stole from the Hami Tribe." Ghashiun said. He then turned to the others. "Did you empty the saddle?" the sandbenders approached with Sokka's club among a sleeping pad and parasol. "That's it? Nothing but garbage!"
"Doesn't matter. We'll still make a profit from selling him to those beetle-headed merchants." Replied a Sandbender while he jumps off Appa. The other sandbender picks up the parasol and opens it, he seems to like the finer things in life.
In small camp of merchants which the sandbenders bring Appa to using the two remaining sand-sailers, three merchants walk around Appa's head to bargain with Ghashiun.
"How's his temper?" the first merchant asked.
"Uh, pretty good." Ghashiun said causing Appa to roar, startling two of the merchants. Ghashiun just chuckled. "Most of the time." He added.
"I bet someone will pay a fortune for him in Ba Sing Se." the second merchant said to his colleague.
"All right, you've got a deal." The first merchant said.
Ghashiun with two sandbenders on either side of him. He is handed a box which he opens and closes before walking to the side. A large beetle drags Appa onto the merchants' caged sled.
Suddenly Appa hears as the high-pitched bison whistle that Aang always had. Appa begins rocking the sled.
"He's your problem now!" Ghashiun laughed as he sailed away with his sandbenders.
"What?" the second merchant asked.
Appa slams his tail against the ground, and starts flying.
"We need the shirshu spit darts." The first merchant said.
The second merchant quickly pulls a dart out of his robe. "Got 'em! Okay big fella, you're gonna take a nice little snoozle." He blows three darts at Appa's feet. Appa quickly collapses to the ground.
Elsewhere in the endless desert Aang flies over the sands in search of Appa. He blows his bison whistle.He glides down and lands on a dune. "Appa! Aaappppaaa!"
While he stares across the horizon, it begins to dawn on him that he is not going to find his friend out here. The tears well up in his eyes. "No ... NO!"
Overcome by anger, he slams his staff on the ground, creating a large mushroom-shaped cloud of sand. From Appa's point of view a tiny mushroom sand cloud is since from far away. Appa's sighs as two merchants begin to talk.
"We've gotta get rid of this one. He's too much trouble."
"We could sell it for parts."
Appa's vision starts blacking out. When he regains consciousness a circus trainer standing outside a cage. "I understand you've had a rather hard time lately. That's too bad. You probably felt you had no choice but to behave outrageously, like a wild animal." the trainer reaches forward to pat Appa on the head. "But don't worry. You won't anymore. Because I am going to break you." the trainer says darkly.
Appa's cage next to other animal cages inside a large circus tent; the trainer rolls a cart of cabbages and gives one to a platypus bear. He passes Appa, who tries lifting his chained legs and biting off the chains.
The trainer walks up to Appa to show him a cabbage. Appa drools at the sight of it. "Hungry? Don't worry, I'm going to feed you too. But not yet. First, I'm going to show you how you'll earn it." The trainer gives a cabbage to a lion vulture and opens the cage.
The lion vulture flies around the room and the trainer uses a fire whip to control it. Appa pays little attention to the man and looks at the cart of cabbages. He uses air suction to bring the cart closer to his cage and sucks up a cabbage. Cut to the lion vulture flying through two hoops and making loops. It grabs the third ring with its beak and throws it at the trainer, who catches it. Appa continues sucking cabbages into his mouth while the trainer's back is turned.
"Of course, when you perform, the hoops will be flaming. And if you are careful, you won't get burned." Appa belches loudly and the circus trainer quickly turns around. "You're about to be sorry." Firebends a whip and creates a fire in front of Appa's cage, causing Appa to panic. "It's obvious that whoever your previous owner was, he had no idea how to handle you properly." He then begins to whip at Appa threw the causing him to cry out in pain. He continued on until carnival music plays and people gather round the entrance.
A small boy walks past, but walks back when he sees Appa try to suck up a bale of hay in the tent. The boy looks questioningly at Appa, who licks the bar of the cage. The boy looks understandingly at the sky bison and the boy's father walks behind him. "I'm gonna to go get a bag of sizzle crisps. Stay here and stay away from that monster. Behave yourself or you'll regret it." The boy flinches slightly as his father moves on.
The boy runs into the tent and rolls the bale of hay right up to Appa's cage. Appa licks the boy's face in appreciation and starts munching down the hay. The boy runs away once he hears voices.
"He's a difficult creature, stubborn and willful. I need more time with him. It's too risky right now."
The trainer walks in front of Appa with the circus master. "Too risky? What are you talking about? This is the circus, home of fear and danger. I want the wind buffalo to perform tonight."
"If you don't behave yourself, you'll regret it." Firebends a flame in front of Appa, causing the bison to reel back in fear, and walks away.
The boy peers out the tent flap at Appa, reassuringly smiling.
"Let's go." said the boy's father came to get him.
The boy waves at Appa. "See you later, buddy."
Appa sighs and puts his head on the cage floor. Inside the circus tent the show was in full swing; two women perform by holding three spinning plates in each hand and five men in the background with painted faces form a human pyramid. The two women walk to the sides to reveal two platypus bears balancing on balls. The crowd applauds at this spectacle. In the front row, the boy from earlier tries to get some sizzle crisps from his father, but the man holds it away from the boy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now for something truly special. A noble beast, so magnificent and rare, it hasn't been seen by human eyes in generations. I give you ... the wind buffalo!"
The circus master gestures toward a curtain which drops to show Appa dressed in a costume complete with make-up. The audience laughs at the creature, while the boy looks at it with concern. Appa walks onto the center ring.
"Up." the trainer commands. Appa shakes his head and turns around in a circle. The audience laughs. "Up, you insolent cow!" the trainer summons a firebending whip and snaps it at Appa.
The boy stands up, "Run away! Get away from him!" His father makes him sit back down.
Appa flies up into the air, swirling. The crowd gasps and starts clapping.
"Fabulous!" the boy's father says.
Appa flies through a fiery ring and stands on a platform with one leg. The boy, who looks concerned. Appa flies through a second ring and his costume catches on fire. Appa knocks down the next ring with his tail. The ring hits the trainer on the head and knocks him down. Appa lands and looks at the laughing crowd. He focuses on the young boy and sees Aang laughing in a flashback. Appa shakes his head, and his costume hair falls off.
"Go, you can do it." the boys encourages.
Appa takes off, but a blast of fire stops him. "Get back here, you stupid beast!" The trainer creates a fire whip.
Appa knocks the man up into the air with his tail. The trainer flies out of the circus tent. Appa flies out of the tent through the ceiling, leaving his costume behind. The boy looks up at Appa flying away and smiles. Appa flies over the desert and sees a large crater. He remembers the library had been there before. Appa lands in the center of the pit and looks around. He tries digging with his chained feet, but gives up and falls asleep.
Appa flying over the desert and his stomach grumbles. Purple egg which Appa tries to eat, but a gilacorn snatches it and runs away. Appa flies to a cactus, scaring away a jackalope. He eats the cactus, but roars in pain and spits it out due to the sharp prickles. Appa flying again, this time more wearied. He sniffs for food and flies toward the Si Wong Rock, buzzard wasp nests. Appa flies into one and starts eating, but quickly flies out when the buzzard wasps start attacking. Appa uses airbending to knock down all of the buzzard wasps, which scatter afterward. Appa lands, panting, and licks the honey on his feet and arms until he stops and begins to rest.
To Appa flying across the setting sun. He finds a barn, takes a drink out of the trough, eats some hay, and falls asleep. In his dream, he sees the Eastern Air Temple. Five baby sky bison fly through the air, and circle around their mother. They gather close to her.
An Airbender Sister by the name of Iio holds a bowl of apples for the young airbending monks. "Choose well. A sky bison is a companion for life."
Sky bison family landing and Iio throws the mother an apple. A younger Aang offers the apple. Appa sniffs the apple and Aang gives it to him. Aang hugs Appa, who returns the affectionate gesture by knocking Aang down to the ground and licking his face.
"I guess this means we'll always be together." Aang laughs as Appa continues licking his face.
At the same time Aang, who is dreaming while camping at the Serpent's Pass. He laughs and holds his arms out in the same manner as seen in Appa's dream. "Always."
Appa suddenly wakes up to the sight and sound of a farmer wielding a pitchfork. "Ahhh! It's some kind of monster!"
Appa stands up and the farmer backs away. The farmer's wife enters the barn and holds up a torch. Appa backs away from the flame, standing on his forelegs. The farmer and his wife run away screaming. Appa breaks a hole in the ceiling to escape. Farmer and wife as they watch the sky bison fly away.
Appa flies over the Serpent's Pass. Iroh was looking overboard until he gasps when seeing Appa fly overhead. Zuko stir from his sleep while sitting up on the deck floor.
"Uncle? What are you looking at? Is there something out there?" Iroh asked.
Nervously Iroh lies to Zuko in order for him to know what flew over them. "Uh, it's nothing. Go back to sleep."
Zuko lies back down and Iroh sighs. On top of the ship they traveled on Indra was enjoying the night as well when he too noticed Appa. He narrows his eyes in make a mental note of it before moving on.
Appa flies down to a forest and crash lands in front of a tree growing over a passage. Front of the passage where a boar-q-pine runs out of the shadows toward him. Appa roars at the boar-q-pine, which tackles him and they fall down a cliff. They stop rolling when they reach a clearing, Appa's fur being prickled with some of the boar-q-pine's quills. The boar-q-pine roars at Appa, and Appa roars back. They start to circle each other, the boar-q-pine charges at Appa, knocking him into a tree which falls down. Appa grabs the tree with his mouth and throws it at the boar-q-pine, who jumps over the trunk and charges at Appa. Appa stands on his rear legs, grabs the charging boar-q-pine, and throws it to the side. The shot changes to a farther distance where the dust from the sliding boar-q-pine rises above the tree tops and scatters some birds. The boar-q-pine stops sliding and runs away, squealing. Appa pants and grabs a quill from his leg, roaring in pain.
He survived this battle but he needed rest Appa flies over the hill and walks into the passage, collapses and falls asleep. Outside of the passage times moves on from evening to night, and it starts raining. The next day a Kyoshi Warriors began to stock up on rations by picking the berries from the bushes. A Kyoshi Warrior picks up a clump of Appa's fur on one of the bushes.
"Must have been some fight." A Kyoshi Warrior commented.
Suki, who had rejoined the warband remembered seeing that fur from somewhere and rushed over. "Wait, let me see that. No, it couldn't be." Appa's trail of fur on the cliff. Suki follows the trail and gasps when she reaches the top. "Appa? Oh, no." Appa, who backs away into the passage in fear as Suki walks up. She stops and kneels down, putting several berries and an apple on the ground, stands up and backs away. "It's gonna be okay, Appa. I have to leave, but I'm gonna be back soon with help." Suki walks down the cliff. Appa walks up the fruit and looks at it. At a Later time while Appa rests in the passage Suki leads five Kyoshi Warriors up the side of the cliff. "No sudden movements. He's been lost for a while and he looks like he's hurt. He's shy around people and scared. Stay low and stay quiet."
"I can't believe you found the Avatar's bison. Didn't you just see the Avatar a few days ago?" a Kyoshi Warriors asked.
Suki nodded, "Yes, so he can't be too far from here. It's our responsibility to get Appa back to him safely. This could be our most important mission yet." The Kyoshi Warriors peer over the top of the hill at Appa, who growls and shakes his head at the intruders. "Give him some space!" The other Kyoshi Warriors take a step back. Suki takes a step forward. "Appa, it's me, Suki. I'm a friend." Appa growls and Suki who slowly approaches him. "I want to help you. You're hurt. We can help you feel better. and we can help you find Aang."
Appa softly growls and Suki places her hands Appa's nose and Appa lies down with Suki kneeling in front. Appa licks one of the warrior's faces. Appa's ear suddenly picks up footsteps thundering. Lightning strikes a nearby tree, causing it to fall down and blocking the pathway. Mai, Azula, and Ty Lee arrive on mongoose lizards.
"My, my, you're easy to find. It's really astounding my brother hasn't captured you yet." Said Azula Holding a clump of Appa's fur.
The Kyoshi Warriors stand in front of Appa. Appa growls at Azula and the Kyoshi Warriors draw their shield fans. "What do you want with us?" Suki asked.
"Who are you? The Avatar's fan girls?" Azula asked back.
"Oh, I get it. Good one, Azula." Ty Lee said.
"If you're looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck." Suki stated.
Mai sighs. "See, I knew this was a waste of time."
"No Avatar, huh. Well, that's okay. Any friend of the Avatar." She jumps off the mongoose lizard. is an enemy of mine!" Azula firebends at Appa, who the Kyoshi Warriors protect by moving their shields together. Azula firebends at Appa. The Kyoshi Warriors protect him by moving their shield fans together. Ty Lee and Mai jump off their mongoose lizards. Mai faces two Kyoshi Warriors and throws three shurikens, pinning a Kyoshi Warrior to a tree, who looks at the weapons on her right arm in confusion.
"You're so colorful, it's making me nauseous." Mai throws a bunch of darts at the second Kyoshi Warrior.
The Kyoshi Warrior unsheathes her sword and uses it to deflect the darts. She swings at Ty Lee, who manages to get behind the Kyoshi Warrior and perform chi blocking.
"You're not prettier than we are." Ty Lee adds.
Suki defends Appa from Azula's firebending blasts with her fan shield. Azula summoning blue fire. Suki takes the blast and deflects it to the side where it sets the fallen tree behind them on fire. Appa looks frightened at the flames.
Azula grins darkly, "Afraid of fire, I see. That's good. You should be."
Suki unsheathes her sword. "Go, Appa! Fly away from here!" Appa obeys and flies up and Suki charges Azula with her sword. Azula jumping up and knocks the sword out of her hand and into a tree. Azula fires another blast at Suki, who blocks it with her shield. Suki tries kicking Azula, but Azula uses the opportunity to knock down Suki. Azula, preparing to strike another firebending blast. A Kyoshi Warrior in the background throws her fans at Azula, who ducks and kicks a firebending blast at the other Kyoshi Warrior and pursues her. Suki stands up and waves a torch at Appa. "Get out of here! You have to find Aang! We'll be okay!"
Appa backs away from Suki and flies away. A blue firebending blast hits Suki's shield. Suki steps back and wields her fan. "Don't you know fans just make flames stronger?" Azula asks they charge at each other, Azula firing another blast and Suki deflecting it. They battle would ultimately rage until the Kyoshi Warriors fell. They just were trains in dealing with some like Azula.
Appa flying near the tree tops, which fades to an aerial view of a river, which Appa flies over with a flock of birds. Soon he flew over a fleet of Water Tribe ships on one of the ships, Hakoda looks up and watches the sky bison. Appa flying through the mountains and soon reaches the Eastern Air Temple. Appa remembers when he was a calf and his siblings running through the air temple. Memories of this past fade in and out with the present as Appa walks through the hollow halls; continues walking and finds a circle of railing, in the past Appa and his siblings gnaw at railing, in the present Appa gnaws the now dusty railing and coughs. When he did he remembered the day he and Aang meet Dante for the first time at the Southern Air temple.
Then
In the medical wing of the temple Dante was resting in a bed after being brought in last night. A Sister came to check up of him over was as surprised to see Dante's wounds have completely healed. He groaned and sat up rubbing his eyes. He saw the healer and noticed she had a blue tribal arrow on her forehead. Dante blinked in knowing where he was. "Looks like I got lucky."
"What happen to you? You were badly hurt" She asked.
"I had an ulcer and bled out of my ass." Dante said.
"Ulcers don't leave sword wounds and claw marks." She said.
"Yeah . . ." Dante pulled back the sheet and realized he was naked due to them wrapping his wounds in bandages him last night. "Oh sorry I didn't know I was . . ."
The Healer simply laughed. "The mighty people can do great deeds and yet are reduced to shy children when people see their nakedness. We have prepared some clothes but you first need a bath."
Dante eyebrows rose up slightly. The chance of getting a bath by an Airbender Sister was unexpected but she was pretty and kind and funny so he didn't mind if she washed him. Unforchantly she was going to wash him with the others who were about to have their bath at this time. Dante sat on a stool as the sisters scrubbed on the noisy Airbender children, some protested in being washed. Dante began scrubbing away the dirt with thick brushes; Dante gritted his teeth in annoyance from the rough housing of some the kids.
Next, Dante was sitting in a stone tub with hot water as the Airbender children played loudly in the tub all around him, why he got stuck here is beyond him. Afterwards, he dressed in the air nomad robes provided for him. Afterwards he explored the vast temple passing some monk who bowed in greeting. Dante pasted roses of cylinders on the wall; some children pushed past laughed as they play, all the while running their hands over the cylinders. These must be to symbolize a spiritual bless of Air he guessed. Dante shrugged and walked over and did what the children did. Finally he saw the children play with their Wind Buffalo pets and stopped to watch. Soon one of the Sisters came and into the courtyard called the children's attention.
"Good morning, Sister Iio." The children greeted.
"Morning children, gather around with your sky bison. It is time for today's lesson." Sister Iio said.
Dante decided to turn and leave them be. He saw monk Gyatso standing there watching the children. "Won't you join them?" he asked.
"I'm little to old for story time." Dante said.
"No one is never too old for story time. Come." Gyatso smiled and guided him back to the courtyard. "Sister Iio, our guest wishes to sit and listen to your lessons if that is alright."
"Of course." Iio nodded.
The children giggled as they watched Dante go and sit in the back. Dante looked beside him and saw one of the kids sitting beside him was a little bald boy with a baby sky bison.
"So what is your name?" he asked.
"My name is Aang and this is friend, Appa. What is yours?" Aang said.
"My name is Dante." he replied.
Appa went over and sniffed Dante before snuggling up against him. Dante had no choice but to smile and scratch Appa's head.
"Who's a good boy?" he asked in amusement.
Now
Outside the air temple Appa crosses a bridge. Appa reaches a balcony and sees a man meditating and looks over-joyed. Appa runs over to the man knocking him down and licks the man's face.
The old tan wise man blinks in confusion. "Hello. I am Guru Pathik." He introduced himself. Appa flies to the back of the balcony and growls at the guru. I know I'm not the person you expected. And I didn't expect to be licked by a giant tongue just now. The world is full of surprises."
Appa growls at the guru. Pathik lies down and closes his eyes. Later, he opens his eyes and looks at Appa, who growls in return. Pathik closes his eyes again and later opens one eye at Appa. Appa snorts in return.
It is now night time, this time Appa asleep and snoring. Pathik stands up and rubs his hands together. He walks over to Appa and places his hand on Appa's upper stomach. "Oh, dear. You've been through so much recently. Hurt and betrayed. So twisted up inside. You're still full of love. Ah. But fear has moved in where trust should be. I've been expecting you and the young Avatar for quite a long time. I had a vision many years ago of helping him. That's why I came to the Eastern Air Temple. Oh, your emotions are so turbulent. Like swirling storm clouds."Pathik puts his hand on Appa's forehead. Let the clouds in your mind be gentle, peaceful ones. Appa purrs and drifts into a deep slumber.
Appa wakes up and looks around hostilely. He notices some fruit right in front of him and gobbles it up and follows a path of fruit. Appa approaches on top of the raised platform which platform Pathik feeds a bird some seeds while another bird perches on his head and two squirrels.
"Someone looks very well rested, judging by your bed head." Appa, whose fur on one side of his head is slightly messed up growls shaking away the bed head.
Under a moonlit night Pathik meditates while Appa paces behind him twice and collapses. Pathik opens his eyes and places his hand on Appa's side. He stands up, holding a scroll. "I have prepared a message for Aang. May I attach it to your horn?" he asked Appa. Appa mutter in agreement and Pathik ties the scroll to Appa's horn. "You and the Avatar's energies are mixed. You have an unbreakable bond. By reading your energy, I can sense where Aang is." Appa licks him. "Funny, what invisible strings connect us all." Pathik places his hand on Appa's forehead. A path of light illuminates a pathway. "I'll see you again, great beast."
Appa flying toward Ba Sing Se at night. He flies over a wall. Another shot of Appa shows two Dai Li agents on the roof who descend once they see Appa. Appa continues flying over the city and his eyes widen when he hears a high-pitched whistle. Three pygmy pumas standing on a roof top as Appa descended to the ground. Aang asleep with his bison whistle and a curled-up Momo at his sides.
Long Feng blowing on his own high-pitched whistle. Long Feng steps out of the shadows. Appa growls at him and takes a step back, leaving a single footprint in the mud. Long Feng earthbends the slab of rock beneath him, causing it to swirl around and capture Appa underground. Appa's footprint in the mud was the only clue to show that Appa was indeed here.
However there was a witness. Walking on the roof top quietly and stand in a spot that over looked lot was the little boy called Indra. He witness Appa's capture by Long Feng. Indra jumped down and walked over to the footprint and placed his hand into it. He sense what Appa went through and who he encountered.
"You have come a long way. But fear not … you are still a very important piece in the great game." Indra said.
THE FIRST TIGER
The sun shined one again through the window as Team Avatar awoke from their peaceful slumber, well almost everyone. Falling out of his hammock onto the floor, Dante sat up, popped his neck and rubbed his eyes in exhaustion of another miserable bad dream filled night.
"Good Morning, Dante." Sokka said. Dante looked at Sokka cause to be spooked a little. "Man, your eyes are red." He said in shock.
"You should see it from in here." Dante grumped.
Katara decided to go into the bath first before the boys and Toph never liked bathing anyway so she figured she would have sometime to herself. Little did she know that there was a guest in the bath that neither she nor the other knew about. She stepped out to get something she forgot and Asura, the kid Dante brought home last night, looked through the window from outside and saw the bath awaiting, hot and inviting.
"A bath, alright." Asura muttered and climbed inside. He quickly removed his dirty clothes and stepped in with a closed his eyes in a satisfied sigh. "This is nice."
However nice Katara returned back to the bath. Asura quickly opened his eyes and ducked under the water. Katara returned with a new sponge she bought and began to undress. Asura wanted to see who had entered the bath and peeked out of the water to look around. Asura eyes widened as he saw the smooth bare skin of Katara.
"She's cute." Thought Asura as he watched her undo her braid and let her hair down freely. Asura ducked back under the hot water as Katara turned around and stepped into it.
Outside in the den Aang played with Momo as he tried to get a grape from the bunch as he lowered it and jerked it back up before Momo to snatch it. Suddenly Katara screamed from inside the bath startling everyone outside. Then a torrent of water burst through the door and wash over everyone sending the screaming out the front door.
Aang looked as he saw Katara at the top of steps of the house to see Katara wrapped in a towel. He blushed at the thought of her being naked in front of him.
"What is all that all that about Katara?!" Sokka exclaimed.
"That guy!" Katara said pointing at the Asura, who is sitting in a puddle of water naked.
"What the hell is your problem?" Asura said.
"You're were in the bath with me!" Katara shouted.
"WHAT?" Aang and Sokka shouted shock.
Dante lay on the ground with his arms crossed with an unsurprised expression on his face. "Asura. I told you I would bring you water to wash in."
"I'm surprised the rest ya'll do not noticed." Toph added.
"You two knew about him?" Katara asked.
"He's homeless and I decided to give him a home. I told Toph ahead of time just so most of the bases are covered." Dante explained.
"Well you could have told us." said Sokka.
"This kid is not your run of them mill orphan. He's got skills and a good heart. I think he would make an excellent addition our merry band of idiots. You can't always go on first impressions."
Asura stood up and Katara adjusted here towel to cover herself up more while avoiding looking down at Asura nakedness.
"He gave me a place to live and you tried to drown me base on my faux pas. Nice." Asura said sarcastically.
V, who left early for a morning stroll, came back to find everyone on out-front soaking wet. "You have a water party while I was gone?"
"Katara try to kill a homeless dude Dante brought home with him." Sokka said.
"And she water nuked the bath where he discovered him." Dante added.
"Oh. Well that will explain why you front porch is dripping wet." V pointed with his cane
"Don't worry I got it covered." Aang said, he bent a strong air current at everyone causing everyone's to either to but also turns their hair, clothes and blow back mess. Momo puffed out in fuzzball and Griffon to lose his feathers.
Once Aang blow-dried the inside of their house, they decided to have a sit down with their new tenant, Asura.
"I'm been on my own for a long time. I go from to town to town. Sometimes I don't have money so I steal. So far it worked until Dante caught me. He gave me something to eat and he said he lived with the Avatar. So which one of you is it?"
"I am, My name is Aang. And this is Katara, Sokka, Toph and Valen or V." Momo leaped on the Aang's shoulder not wanting to be left out. "Heh, and this is Momo."
"Nice to meet you all. I'm sorry for intruding on your bath I swear I didn't know." Asura apologized to Katara.
"That's alright; it's not a big deal." Katara said. She was always quick to forgive.
"So what are you guys doing in Ba Sing Se?" Asura asked.
"Two reasons. One we are trying to find Appa, He's Aang's Skybison that helped us get around in the air. And the second reason is we discovered the Fire Nation loses their firebending on a solar eclipse which is coming up in a few months." Sokka explained.
"The Day of Black Sun?" Asura said.
"You know of it?" asked Katara.
"Very few people in the other nations know of it. However everyone in Fire Nation knows it because only those born in the homeland call it 'The Day of Black Sun'." V said.
Everyone is was surprised on hearing this. "Are you from the Fire Nation?" Sokka asked.
"I . . . yes. I was orphaned when troops took me from my home. I am a firebender but I have a . . . condition." Asura said in a sad tone. "I can firebend, but I can't create the fire. I can only manipulate it from different sources. However that does seem to stop them from trying to round me up."
"What do you mean?" Aang asked.
"He means the Fire Nation's National Guard began rounding up the all children of a certain age who could Firebend for testing. Those that didn't pass the test were returned to their families. Those that did well . . . they kept them to be trained in the Fire Nation Youth army."
"That's horrible." Katara was shocked upon hearing it.
Asura clenched his fist. "But I and my brother, Indra, escaped but we got separated. I'm been trying to find him in the world, so here I am. But in the meantime maybe I can help you find you bison."
"That would be great, but we don't know where to look without the Dai Li keeping an eye on us." Katara said.
"Long Feng knows something." Aang said.
"But he's the wrong guy to talk to, he knows stuff but he would tell unless it suits him." Asura said rubbing his belly due to it groaning. "I'm hungry."
In a café Team Avatar and Asura sat at a table and had breakfast. Sokka gulped down the excellent food with a happy expression.
"Maybe you should eat some fruit, so you don't get … clogged." Katara suggested. Sokka gladly accepted it and began to hiccup. "And slowing down would be good too." She added.
Dante rested his face on a palm his arm on the table and sighed; He looked to his right and noticed a cute girl eating alone. He decided to go over and introduce himself.
"Hey Sokka, I bet your boomerang that I can get score a date with that girl way over there and get her to laugh just within one minute of me being there." Dante wagered.
Sokka looked at his boomerang and at the girl and back at Dante with a serious glare. "You're on." he said
Dante got up and walked over to the table where the girl; sat. "Good Morning."
The girl who was deep in thought suddenly looked up at the handsome guy smiling at her "Good morning." She greeted back.
"Is this seat taken?" he asked.
"Ah no, make yourself at comfortable." She said.
Dante took a seat with the bowl he brought with him.
"My name is Jin."
"My name is Dante."
Jin cocked her head to the side with interest. "That's an interesting name."
"Yours too."
"It's a name my dad gave me."
"Same here." Dante raised his hand the air while taking a slip from his cup.
Jin laughed and Dante winked at everyone else at the other table. "He made her giggle." Aang said.
"Hold it, hold it. He still has to get her to go out on a date." Sokka said starting to look nervous.
Jin laughs and accidently slipped some food on her chest. "Oops, pardon me." Jin grabbed a cloth and began to whip off her mess. Dante then noticed that as she did her breasts beneath her shirt moved about. Shirt she wore still obscured any clue as to how big they are. "I think that's good enough, thankfully this is just an everyday shirt . . ." Jin took off her necklace to make sure that it didn't get messy – And that's when everything went to hell.
The necklace in Jin's hand IS Dante's Ruby necklace that his mother gave him on his, Vergil and Valen's birthday. Jin wiped it off and put it back on around her neck. She returned her attention back to Dante who was looking in the opposite direction. He turned back around and wished to ask her a question. "Say, do you like dancing?"
"Yes, certainly. I know a place where people can go dance nightly. I'm planning on going there tonight. Say would you like to go with me?"
"Sure." Dante said.
"Alright it's a date."
"Great." Dante smiled.
Dante told her that she can find him at the upper ring at a small house. Jin left the café and Dante returned to the table where the gang finished eating. Sokka was eager to learn the news. "So did she accept?" he asked eagerly.
"Yep . . ." Dante answered simply while staring out at nothing.
"OH GOD NO!" Sokka yelled while holding his boomerang close to him.
". . . But you can still keep it." Dante said next.
"WAAH! . . . What, why?" Sokka asked.
Dante leaned forward placing his head down on the table.
"Are you okay, Spitfire?" Toph asked.
"Is there something wrong?" Katara asked, worried if things are alright.
"Yeah . . . got me a date with a pretty, cute girl, who is wearing my necklace that I lost." Dante said nonchalantly.
"Your necklace . . . the one you told me you lost in a battle?" Katara guessed.
"Yep." Dante said miserably.
UPPER RING
It was now the afternoonback at the house, Dante prepare for his date in the bathroom; he felt nervous which a first in a long time was. He wondered how was he gonna tell her that the necklace once belonged to him.
"Okay maybe I can tell her like this: 'Jin . . . you look nice. Oh I see you wearing the necklace. That once belong to . . .' – damn it, not like that. Alright how about this: 'Hey sugar.' . . . I sound desperate!" The Nephilim eventual hung his head and sighed; he looked over at Shadow the black panther was sitting at his feet wondering what Dante was doing. "Shadow, what am I to do? I gave the necklace up and now it returns to me around her neck. What do you think I should do?" he asked the demon panther.
Shadow could not speak (or would not) but he spoke with the language of all catkind. Shadow responded with a blink.
Dante knows that gesture. It is the universal sign that mean "I'm okay with you." or "I'm okay with it."
"Really?" Dante gave the beast a questioning stare.
Shadow responded not further, but got up and left into the living room. Dante was given a suggestion and it was perhaps the most stupid, idiotic . . . and the most sensible thing to do.
Dante came out of the bathroom. Everyone else was busy doing various things, Aang was playing with Momo, Sokka was learning a martial art from Toph, V was reading on a pile of pillows next to Shadow, Griffon was perched at a window making rude comments at whoever passes by, Asura was sleeping and Katara was cooking something in the hearth. Dante decided to sit and wait for Jin to arrive while playing a song on a long-neck string instrument he bought at the market called as Gishgudi. He sat against the wall and began to play while singing the lyrics played in his head.
In those days
In those distant days
In those nights
In those ancient nights
In those years
In those distant years
In those ancient days when
All things had been created
In ancient time when
All things were given their place
When bread was first tasted in the scared shines of the land
When the ovens had been lighted
When the heavens had been separated from the earth
When the earth had been separated from the heavens
When mankind had been established
After a half hour a knock came to the door. Dante abruptly paused his song but putting his hand over the strings to make his Gishgudi abruptly silent. Dante put it to the side and stood up. Everyone was watching him as he went the door slowly and opened it. Jin was once again in an evening on the town attire. She gave a friendly smile.
"Hi!" she said
"Hi!" he said
"I'm here."
"A little early."
"Yeah, I know it's I guess wanted to see where you lived so badly."
"Okay, um why don't you come on in?"
"Thanks."
Jin entered in the living room to see other teens sitting around with smiles on their face. "Oh, Jin this is the people I live with: Katara, Sokka, Toph, V, Asura and Avatar Aang. Gang, meet Jin."
"It is nice to meet you." Katara greeted.
"Hey, baby." Sokka flashed a grinned handsome grin.
"Yo." Toph gestured in hello.
"A pleasure to meet you acquaintance." V bowed.
Asura shot a wink at her.
"Hello." Aang waved.
Jin waved. "Hi it's nice to meet all of you." she sat down with them on the circle of pillows they made.
Jin was a tomboy but was naturally shy, however once she got the ball rolling in a conversation her alright. A bit sly as but she was smart. She knew how to get a boy out shell – by asking questions. It is not an original strategy but she made it tailored to her skills.
Dante knows she is wearing his necklace. He could feel it, feel it against her chest, her heart. It was a part of him as he was a part of it. He appeared calm but was nervous. He could feel his excitement swellup. He felt like crap. He then felt a reassuring hand Katara who was sitting beside him at the time with a reassuring hand on his. Katara gave him a warm encouraging smile. He decided he was going to go for it.
"Jin . . . I have to tell you something."
"Hmm . . . What is it?" Jin asked curiously.
"Well . . . I forgot to compliment you pretty ruby necklace."
"Oh thanks, it is nice isn't it?"
Everyone agreed with her with a simultaneous nod while Asura was confused on what happening. "Psst. Avatar guy, what's up?" Asura whispered.
"Dante lost his necklace in a battle and he thinks this girl is wearing it." Aang whispered back.
"Oh." Asura nodded. He then got an idea to force the girl to give up the necklace. "ALRIGHT TOOTS, DROP THE STOLEN MERCHANDISE AND TAKE TWO STEPS BACK!" Asura shouted as he jumped up in a fighting stance.
"Huh!?" Jin became shocked by this surprise ambush.
"Asura!" Dante snapped at him.
Jin became shocked as to being accused of theft.
"I'm not a thief! This necklace is mine."
"It's okay, we didn't think you're a thief." Aang said to calm everyone down.
"Why would . . . what is going on?" Jin turned to Dante with the most important question she asked today.
Dante exhaled in exhaustion and decided to come clean. "I believe the necklace your wearing was once mine."
Jin cocked a brow in confusion. "No, I got this from my uncle."
"Your uncle?"
"Yes."
Katara then suddenly had an idea as how Jin's uncle got the necklace. "Was he by any chance in the army?"
Jin looked at Katara "Yes, how do you … how do you know that?"
"A hunch. Dante, didn't you tell me at one point that you lost it in a battle?" Katara asked.
Dante sighed. "Yes."
"Would that battle by any chance be the 100 Day siege?"
Dante nodded. "On target, as always."
"Wait a minute; were you in a soldier in the city's army?" Jin asked.
"Uh-oh." Sokka said quietly as he watched the scene. He may have trouble trusting Dante sometimes but he not gonna like seeing Jin reacting to Dante when she finds out the truth.
"Yes I was . . . but . . . not on the same side." Dante said with a slight shakiness in his tone.
"What do you mean?" Jin asked.
Dante sighed as he came clean. "I am a firebender. I fought on the side of the Fire Nation in siege." Dante finally admitted.
Jin's eyes widened in shock; but before she could respond Dante stood up an abruptly and walked to the window. He looked out at the horizon over the buildings and the sunset that is approaching. "When I was a child, a group of boys were caught stealing from the local shop. My father was furious when he found out. I protested to him saying: "but I didn't take anything" he said back to me: "Maybe not he said. But . . . you were there.""
"Who are you?" Jin asked.
Dante took a moment before turning around to face everyone with the truth.
"My name is Dante Sparda . . . Commander of the first battle-ready prototype, the Sabertooth Tiger tank. And I was there."
In the middle of the destruction of the lower, middle and upper rings the Fire Nation forces were walking into a city that could become a maze of traps and ambushes at any moment. But if Earth forces did so it would cause their positions nearby to be discovered. Stragglers used hit and run tactics at the enemy, but the main army of the city was doing a wide sweep across to hunt down the remaining Fire forces so they can regain part of it before they came again.
The last Tiger tank rolled into the temple district where the command center was situated in the middle ring. Tobi and Dante had opened the hatches on the turret to have a better look around. But all they could see was ruin, fire and death. Both brought on by their forces and the army of Ba Sing Se city.
"Where are they? Where's the big offensive?" Tobi asked. He could see where the command center was but now a ghost town is all that remained. The command center was abandoned and there were no visible sigh as to where they went.
"Sir? What's happening?" Tobi asked again.
"I'll find out." Dante reassured him. "And you pull yourself together, Tobi!"
Dante went back inside to where corner where he put his documents of the 'current' orders to follow.
"Great Spirit Almighty." Lu Ten laughed to himself as he witness the destruction around every turn. "It's all falling apart." It seems like Ba Sing Se failed to protect itself but it also seemed like the Fire Nation will not raise their red banner over it. It seems nobody will claim this once glorious city. "What do we do now, Dante?" Lu'Ten asked.
Dante didn't answer Lu Ten's question. He felt about as desolate of answers as the ruins around them but he knew the answer was nearby, somewhere. Dante order Lu'Ten to park into the temple that was bombed out. Dante got out the tank and stood in front of its headlights.
"Where is the big offensive? They were supposed to be here." Tobi asked again.
"We're alone." Dante sees a desk behind some sandbags with notices about any new updates. Surely if the big offensive had to leave they would have last the latest update on orders. "Stay where you are. I'm going to find a notice." Dante summoned Rebellion on his back and walked down the rubble to the desk.
Everyone in the living room was hanging on as Dante told the story. Sokka wished he had something to eat while listening for it was good story so far, almost as if he was seeing it first hand in his imagination. Asura is new to the group and for the first time he was listening to Dante's war stories. Katara noticed that Jin had brought her legs closer to her chest to rest her folded arms on her knees. She eyes were glued to Dante as she listens to history. He was magnetic.
"There'd be a time for thinking, for reassessment, on the other side of all this when my men were safe. At least, that's what I told myself. I struggled to recognize my own lies." Dante admitted before continuing.
He found the correct notice and began reading it:
"To all mobile forces that have returned to here at the temple! Defend the bridgehead at all costs."
The bridge, It was the one of the only one the Fire Nation have left standing to allow they forces in and out of the middle ring. He intended to get his men out that way. Then he turned to his left to the sound of approaching Earth Troops, dozens of them. They have found them.
"All Fire Nation forces! The temple is surrounded! Lower your weapons! You cannot win this fight!" announced the Earth commander.
Instinctively Dante to a defensive pose with one of hands resting on Rebellion's hilt. He figured they would show up at some point. He slowly took one step back at a time to try to get closer to the tank. Tobi looked at him through the scope before looking that Earth soldiers that arrived. Then Dante heard the sound of a shell being loaded into the tanks main gun . . .
"For the Fire Nation! WE ARE HERE TO FIGHT FOR FIRE NATION!" Tobi shouted.
Tobi took aim and pulled the trigger firing the shot at a group of Earthbenders that were trained to take out Fire Tanks. The explosion killed them and the ones caught in it and the shockwave knocked back anyone who was around it. Having their answer Earth soldiers attacked while the some tried to head for cover.
"Son of a bitch! Are you out of your mind?" Dante yelled at Tobi.
"Dante, hurry! Back in to the panzer!" Lu Ten called out.
Dante sprinted back to the tank narrowly escaping the incoming boulder that landed to his right and another hit the armored front of the tank. Dante opened the hatch and dropped inside.
"Quiet! Both of you! Keep us either moving or in cover!" Dante ordered.
"Earthbender Strike team!" Lu Ten indentified the enemy unit to their right.
The mercenary loaded the next shell and Tobi fired it at them. The shell reduced them to ash. "Confirmed hit!" Tobi said.
Another strike team came up to their left. Tobi fired it at them. The shot was deflected by a slanted rock wall the strike team bended.
"That shot deflected." Dante stated.
They returned fired with a couple of explosion stone orbs that that create a smoke screen in the Sabertooth's face. Tobi steadied his hand as he looked through the scope to try and see through the smoke. He saw a movement indicating that they were still there. He pulled the trigger and the shell obliterated them.
Dante looked through the view port up top to see the battlefield. "More of them! Show strength!"
The Sabertooth rolled out of the temple and headed for the bridge. Some of the Earth Troops jumped on to the tank causing Dante to open the hatch and attack them with firebending. However he was strangled from behind a Earth soldier dragged him out of the tank and onto the ground.
"Commander!" Tobi shouted.
"We have to keep going, he'll catch up." Lu Ten drove the tank forward.
Dante pulled out his dagger from his belt to stab the soldier in the face. He got up and ran after his tank. The Earth soldiers saw him coming and charged at him.
"URAAAAA!" Dante shouted the battlecry of the Fire Nation Red Army.
He slashed and burned with his dagger and Firebending at the troops as they came for him. He kicked a swordsman to the ground before spinning around to backslicing another. An explosion impacted near them sent him and the Earth soldiers tumbling. Dante quickly got to his feet and head for the tank. Another soldier tackled him to the ground. Dante elbow her in the face though she planted a dagger between his shoulder blades. He rolled over and stabbed her in the lungs before getting back on his feet to reached behind and pull the blade out. He now had two daggers to use. Turning them backwards he performed speed kills as he jumped, rolled and slide his way to the tank. He jumped aboard, opened the hatch and dropped inside.
"Took a detour?" Lu Ten called from the front.
"Eh . . . traffic was hell." Dante sighed.
The Sabertooth turned as they finally reached the bridge. The skyline over the city of Ba Sing Se was orange with devastation smoke and ember rose in the blackness of the night sky. Some say most of the city burned in such a way that I could be seen for miles around, maybe even from space. Dante's awe at the sight of the homestretch before him ended when the bridge suddenly exploded right as they crossed on it.
The sabertooth jerked downward as it rolled over the rubble stopping at the street below the bridge. Inside the tank the red light flashed signally that there was a major problem at hand. Dante opened the hatch see the bridge was totally destroyed. The only thing that remained was the ends that connected the middle ring with the lower ring.
So close, yet so far.
Then Dante heard a nose behind hand turned around with his hands ready to strike with firebending . . . but then he lowered his hands at the sight of his battle brother.
"Lu Ten . . ." he said.
At first Dante thought he was going to set down to catch his breath. That was what he hoped. But when he saw the Lu Ten's eyes he knew that wasn't the case.
"They lied to us!" Lu Ten pointed an accusing finger at the direction of the destroyed bridge. "They blew the bridge and left us to die."
"We don't know that, Lu Ten." Dante said.
"How can my father allow this?" Lu Ten asked Dante, as if he knew.
"Iroh wouldn't never have left you behind, you know that. Come, We need to-"
"What?" Lu Ten asked with beginning to laugh, "Show strength? Huh? Heaven have mercy." He then gestured to the devastation around them, "Maker help us . . . the things we believed, Dante. Look around you. The things we've done to the world. I can't keep going. Even if they give us compensation I can only look past the money to see the destruction we caused! It's over."
"No, Lu Ten. Come. Don't do it." Dante could feel what Lu Ten was about to do.
"It's over, Dante." Lu Ten turned around and began to limp away. Dante was lost of words. His friend, the son of a highly decorated general is refusing to be a part of the war anymore. It took a lot but ultimately Dante respected Lu Ten's decision and watched him walk away from all this.
Suddenly an arrow hit Lu Ten from behind causing an explosion. Lu Ten was knocked to the ground forcing Dante to turn to Tobi who had a bow and a quiver of flash arrows. Dante glared at Tobi who in heisted a moment before answering him.
" . . . He was a deserter." Tobi said. Dante gritted his teeth. He felt rage at what he just saw and heard. He wanted to kill Tobi for what he done. . . But he didn't.
"LU TEN! LU TEN!" Dante yelled at the top of his lungs. Tobi watched his commander rush over to help the fallen comrade
"I know he was your friend. But he was a deserter. We're stronger together. Right? The weak don't survive. THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS! Say it! It was like that!" Tobi's voice was breaking up as he could feel his tears coming.
"Just give up damn it!" an Earth soldier called out.
They were found again. Tobi fire the arrows at the Earth troops. The Mercenary opened another hatch to attack with his psychic combustion bending.
"You need to get back in the tank!" Tobi called to Dante.
Dante watched as Lu Ten, or what was left of him, drew his final breath and fell silent. Earthbenders launched a rock at him only to be blown apart by the Mercenary. Dante shield Lu Ten's body from the blast which caused his ears to ring. He looked behind to see the battle raging on. He then turned back to his dead friend not knowing what to do.
He asked himself a question: How many people died around me over a promise? Dante promised Iroh that he would keep his son safe. But he was stupid enough to make a promise, so why did he? Not knowing the answers and having failed his friend, Dante accepted his fate that loomed all around him.
He reached to his ruby necklace that his mother, the angel Eva gave him on his birthday. With a heavy heart he pulled it off while shedding a few silent tears. He dropped it near Lu Ten's head to mark his friend's final rest. Lu Ten died in believing that the honorable thing to do was not to fight but to walk away. He was not wrong. However Dante wasn't going lose anyone else because they want to fight. He stood up and turned around to face the Earth troops in front of him. Tobi noticed Dante raising his hands up as a sign of surrender.
"NO!" Tobi screamed in rage as his tears finally poured from his face as he turned his firebending away from the enemy to commander to kill him for his disgrace.
Dante closed his eyes, knowing that it was better to surrender honorably than to fight pointlessly. It also seems that this whole journey he and his crew in the Sabertooth seem to go the way the lyrics Fire Nation Panzer song went:
Whether it storms or snows or the sun smiles on us,
The day burning hot or the icy cold of night.
Dusty are our faces, but joyful is our minds, yes, our minds.
Our Panzer rushes past the stormwind.
With thundering engines, too fast as lightning,
Towards the enemy, sheltered in their trenches.
Ahead of our comrades, in the fight all alone, yes all alone.
So we push deep into the enemy lines!
When before us a hostile foe appears,
Full throttle is given and we close with the enemy.
What does our life matter for the Nation's army? Yes, Nation's army.
To die for the Fire Nation is our highest honor.
With barriers and tanks the foe blocks our path,
We laugh about it and don't drive upon them.
And even if their hands start shaking morosely and furiously, yes their hand.
We search for ways, that no one else found.
And if we are abandoned by treacherous luck,
And if we don't return home again,
If death's arrow finds us, and fate calls us away, yes, us away.
Then our tank shall become an iron grave!
Talk about ironic, Dante thought to himself at the time. Dante opened his eyes as he paused his the telling of his story.
"If Tobi tried to kill you, then what happened?" Jin asked really wanting to know what happened.
"The Mercenary. He knocked Tobi out and used a smoke grenade to allow us to escape. The three of us returned with Lu Ten's body to his father. But Iroh was so heartbroken he couldn't continue in the siege, thus it was brought to an end. Without Iroh's brilliant mind we were almost pushed back to the shore on the same trail that we blazed. But he returned home to bury his only son. Tobi was so shaken by all that happened, and all that he had seen that he didn't even rat Lu Ten out for desertion. Probably out of fear that I would kill him for killing Lu Ten. What happened to him when he returned to the homeland after the siege, I know not."
A moment of silence filled the room. "That's the saddest thing I ever heard." Katara said in sadness. Sokka could only sadly agree sadly.
Toph was silent. Toph was silent but her pale green eyes look like they were made of glass.
"And that's my story. What's yours?" Dante asked Jin in a casual tone.
Jin was quiet before answer. "My uncle . . . said he found my necklace in the rubble. It was so pretty that he knew he had to give to me." Jin said.
Dante nodded in understanding. "My mother gave it to me on birthday, a symbol of her and my father's eternal unconditional love for me and my brothers. I gave it up because I make a promise that I couldn't keep. I never make promises unless I know it can be followed through. My mom and dad did the same thing but were taken away from us when we were small."
Jin nodded forlornly, she finally understood. "Jin, I'm not telling you this because I wanted you to feel sorry for me. There are bigger things going on here, I want to help save the world and that is all there is to it. I simply told you just so you could understand – if not go run out to tell the Dai Li, who may not even care about us since they are aware of us after we crash the palace party."
"Really?" Jin asked and turned to the rest of the group. Everyone nodded in confirmation.
Given all that she has heard Jin, she felt sympathy for Dante in all that he went through . . . all he was willing to give up to stop the Fire Nation and end the war. Feeling what she should do next. Jin walked up to him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "The thing is … how can I not. You gave up your birthday gift that your mother gave because you realized you couldn't keep a promise. But that don't mean you failed. You cared about your people some much that you are willing to turn you back on your country."
"Sometimes I feel like I don't. I want to believe I'm about as heartless as a . . . well, as a Heartless, or whatever. But if I do then I would end up like my younger brother, Vergil." Dante said.
"Mom said she and dad would always be us, even if we couldn't see them." Valen said.
Dante nodded. "I guess from time to time we crumble from under the weight." Dante added.
"But getting back on your feet, that takes guts, guts that you have." Sokka for second time gave a word of praise to Dante. Dante nodded in accepting it.
"So are we going to go to the dance?" Jin asked.
Everyone was surprised in hearing Jin still wanting to go to the dance with Dante "You still want to go with me?" he asked.
"I did ask you." she said.
"I thought you wouldn't because I'm' a firebender." He pointed out.
"Well that would stop me . . . but I heard that some Firebenders are good dancers, can you prove that?" Jin flirted.
Dante looked at his friends and everyone smiled back at him. He smiled and stood up. "I don't dance much but I can get down." Dante flirted.
The dance was in one of the oldest building in the city. Still standing to this day and one of the buildings that survived the Hundred Day Siege. The dance was every two weeks and people all over the lower and middle rings came to join in. Dante and Jin walked through the double doors and into the lively atmosphere.
"Food!" Sokka cheered. He walked over to the buffet.
"Hopefully we won't be kicked out of this one." Toph said.
"What do you mean?" Jin asked.
"It's a long story." Aang said sheepishly.
The some came to a raised platform to make an announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen, I like to present the first song of the night by a local band and singer. They to be played a traditional lullaby from for the Earth Kingdom's past. We hope you enjoy it."
The gang and Jin to a seat on the floor and watched as the musicians and the singer and take their place on stage. Then music then began once the leader gave the signal. It started off with elegant string and flute combo. Then the whole band began to build the intro to the song the singer will sing.
Sleep sleep baby
To take a nap on the mat
Sleep in the dark till it is gone
And the big light come
Illuminate all the neighborhood
The song was about as a hypnotic as any lullaby. This one made Dante remember a something from the past when he returned home from the siege with Iroh.
He walked through the walled gates of his manor to see a little girl playing with a dog in the front yard. She saw him and ran to him causing Dante to smile, he opened his arms and catch the little girl who giggle and kissed his cheek. He returned it with a kiss to her forehead.
Tomorrow your father will return home
With money from the lemons he sold
He will bring you clothes and a scarf
To keep you warm in the winter months
My beautiful one, with the lovely handpicked black hair
Whoever does not love you or kiss you
Knows not what they are missing
Dante walked to the steps as he carried the girl. He saw a noble woman in Fire Nation nobility robes smiling upon Dante's return. The two exchange a kiss and she place his hand on her visible swollen belly under her robes. Dante set the girl on the floor and he presented a gift of a red scarf to her.
Was this a dream or a memory conjured by the song. He knew not for there was something telling him to no dwell on it. If it was real then it was the past and the past had to forgotten; forgotten for their sakes. But the little girl will always be his Little Tiger.
Dante and Jin dance with a lot of spins and poses. They looked at each other and saw the light of shining in their eyes. They truly liked each other. When the dance came to an end they almost pouted. But they decided to take a walk on the night while the Gang returned home. Two walked to a bridge where the lights reflected off the water. Jin wrapped her arm around Dante's to bring him closer the two look at each other, wanting to enjoy the night a little more. The night seems to have that rare dream like quality.
The next morning Dante laid in his in his hammock. He opened his eyes to the sound of a bird chirping awaken him. He adjusted himself and found he was not alone in the hammock; lying up against the left side of his chest is Jin, awake and smiling at him.
"Morning sleepyhead."
"Morning."
Judging by the fact they still had last night's clothes on meant they probably fell asleep after talking to each other. The thing is Jin was worn out from the dance that all she could do was talk with him. Dante on the other hand came clean about who he was during the siege that it felt like a tremendous weight was taken off his shoulders. He hadn't slept so peacefully in years.
"I need to use your bathroom."
Dante carefully got out of the hammock and pointed her in the direction. She exited the living room and Dante stretched his arms and twisted his torso from side to rid it of its stiffness. Then he noticed the he was not alone in the room. On the other side of the room everyone was staring at him with amused looks on their faces.
"Morning." He said.
"Good morning." Everyone said at the same time.
Dante blinked at the weird way everyone was behaving. Jin came back about and Dante followed her outside into the sunlight.
"Thanks for the last night. I enjoyed it." she said.
"You're welcome it was nice." He said.
"So you think we can do this again sometime?"
"Uh, don't know. I still have to help the Avatar on his quest and that could take a while. I rather not try to . . . you know when there is a war going on. It's a rule I have."
"I see." Jin looked a little sad upon here it. "But I just want to let you know that I think you are a wonderful person. Despite you being a Firebender, you are good."
"Firebenders are not all bad. They are no more evil that an Earthbender, Waterbender or even an Airbender. Like my friends for example. It is just takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bushel."
Jin nods understandably. "Yeah, but regardless no matter what I won't forget you."
Dante nodded. "I just hope I don't forget you."
Jin thought for a moment about that and reached into her shirt removing ruby necklace from around her neck and put it around Dante's neck. Dante felt a warm feeling as she did. "Base on what you told me in the hammock last night I don't think you will." Jin said.
She reached and pulled his head forward until their foreheads touched. They close their eyes for a few moments before she turned and stepped back. She waved at everyone and began to head home. Dante sighed and turned to the front porch to see everyone standing staring at him with a smile on their faces.
"Last night, please tell me you guys didn't see . . ." Dante began to say.
"No. We didn't see anything." Katara said with giggle at the end.
"But we wish we did!" Sokka smirked.
"Oh man! You such a kisser!" Griffon laughed.
Dante nodded, "You know what I don't care. I feel . . . I feel . . ." Dante voiced tried to think what this was he was feeling.
"Happy?" Katara guessed.
Dante thought for a moment before nodding. "Yeah . . . I think I'm I am happy." He smiled.
Everyone expect Katara went back inside. She went over to see how Dante was doing. "So your necklace was a birthday gift from your mother."
"Yeah, I got a ruby. Vergil has a sapphire and Valen has an amethyst."
Katara touched her necklace. "This was my mom's." She could feel the sad memory of her mother.
"Is she?" Dante asked, though he probably knows what the answer was.
"Yes." she nodded sadly. "Then I guess you and I have a lot in common. We both lost our mothers. But we are surrounded by people who love us."
Dante nodded and with one last look at the rising sun the two returned inside the house to begin a brand new day.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Well … this chapter a tad difficult to do but I got'r'done.
People think it is easy writing chapters. That we writers of the literature persuasion can just come up with a chapter right off the bat. Well be are not: it takes great trial effort to make a mistake while you are writing. It take greater trial and effort to get it right. I may be the God of the Internet but I'm not perfect. Things take time. And I have a lot of time on my hands.
So in conclusion … Dune Official Trailer, THE BATMAN Trailer (2021) and The HU Band
Review and rant.
;3