Chapter 100: A Small Gathering in Ba Sing Se

As soon as Zuko departed the teashop, Iroh began putting plans into motion. He wrote a series of encoded messages and hurried down to the Upper Ring's mail office, to send out with that day's deliveries.

Cha was working the desk and looked up to see the famous Mushi bustling in. He smiled at the old man. "Master Mushi! What brings you down here?"

Iroh smiled at the young man and held up his messages. "I have messages to be delivered, dear friend. Beyond the Outer Wall."

Cha frowned slightly. "You have a lot of correspondence in and out of the city, Master Mushi."

Iroh nodded and held his hands up in a 'what can you do' kind of gesture. "I have a great many across this great Nation. It is always important to keep in touch with those you hold dear. How is your mother doing, by the way? Did she enjoy the tea I sent over?"

Cha smiled and said, "She loved it, thank you again. She's doing much better after that nasty bout of chills she suffered through. She said your tea really warmed her up."

Iroh smiled as well. "I am glad to hear she's doing better. Tell her that the secret is to add cinnamon to the mix. Warms the spirit and the body."

Cha laughed. "I'll pass it along."

Iroh placed his messages on the young man's desk, still smiling pleasantly.

Cha sighed a little, but picked them up. "I'll send out, Master Mushi, but you know, you should be careful. These kinds of deliveries are expensive."

His voice dropped to a whisper. "The Dai Li monitors outgoing messages. They've asked about you."

Iroh just nodded to signal he understood. Out loud he said, "I'll be sure to use my money wisely. Thank you, Cha. I hope you have a pleasant day."

"You too, Master Mushi."


It had taken just over a week for a message to arrive from Pao, informing him that his guests were currently occupying the man's own teashop, ready for the gathering that the Grand Lotus had called.

Iroh made the journey down from the Upper Ring, through the Middle, and to the Lower Ring. From there he went to Pao's teashop, finding it sealed up. The front door was locked and the shutters were pulled down.

The Grand Lotus tapped out a rhythm on the door and it was promptly opened. Iroh found himself staring at a large, muscular man's nipples. Despite never having met the man, Iroh could do the math.

"You must be Pao's son. He speaks of you with great reverence."

The Boulder stared down at him. His lip was curled slightly at the mention of his father. He said in a low voice, "The shop is closed. Private party."

Iroh provided the code phrase. "As the sparrowkeets swarm, so too must the Lotus bloom."

The Boulder nodded and stepped aside, allowing Iroh entry.

When the door was locked behind him, the Earthbender bowed at the waist and murmured, "Grand Lotus."

Iroh shook his head, waving away the title. "I am not one for such titles, especially not in the city. Here, I am Mushi."

The Boulder nodded. "I am the Boulder."

Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Your fighting name, I understand?"

The man nodded again. "My preferred name."

Iroh nodded, understanding. "Of course. Everyone is here already?"

The Boulder replied, "Yes, Mushi. You are the last to arrive."

Iroh smiled and clapped his hands together. "Then we must begin. There is little time."

They went back into the kitchens. Pao was leaning against the cold stove. His eyes were flicking around the room's occupants, though they settled on his son as soon as he entered.

He gave a shaky smile to his offspring and said, "Shi—"

The Boulder cut him off with a growl. "My name is the Boulder. Call me that, or call me nothing."

Pao's smile fell away and he fell silent. He nodded to Iroh.

Iroh examined the rest of the room's occupants. Mohn, of course, was there, as he often was at gatherings. Iroh silently wondered why he was holding a rather cabbage under his arm, but didn't voice the query. He just nodded to the man, and received one in return.

Standing a little to the side of the Cabbage Merchant was a woman dressed in the habit of the Abbey. Iroh frowned, unable to place her; he had addressed his missive to Mother Tana, but this was not she.

He said to her, "I am afraid I do not recall your name, Sister…?"

"Tin." She said, somewhat primly. "Sister Tin. Mother Tana sent me as her envoy."

Iroh nodded, smiling at her. "Sister Tin. It is an honour to have you joining us."

"It is an honour to aid you, Grand Lotus."

Once more, he waved away the title. "Mushi is fine, while we are in the city."

Like the Boulder, she nodded in understanding.

His attention turned to the final member of their small conclave. Stretched out in a patch of sunlight was a white cat.

Mohn followed his gaze and he asked, "Why did you invite the Cat? How did it even get here?"

Iroh shook his head. "I did not invite Miyuki. I sent a letter to Kali, the Herbalist, asking if she would join us. I have a feeling her skills will become useful very soon. Is she not here?"

A husky voice drawled, "No, she's not. Sweet Kali does not travel much these days. Says hers joints protest. She sent me."

The group stared around in confusion. It was Iroh that noted the speaker.

His eyes were locked on the grey-green eyes of the white cat that was staring intently at him. The old Dragon would swear there was a smile on the cat's face.

Realisation struck him. He breathed, "You are a Spirit."

The cat's tail flicked. "Indeed. Miyuki is the name of this feline and it is… pleasing to me, for the most part. But yes, I am Spirit-born."

Iroh bowed low. Sister Tin was quick to follow. The others took a little time.

Iroh said, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, honoured Spirit. Should we continue to address you as Miyuki, or would another name be more appropriate?"

"Miyuki will do. For my real name… Ooh, I'll make you work for that, Dragon."

There was clear amusement in the Cat's tone. Iroh chuckled. "I'll look forward to it, Miyuki."

Mohn's eyes were locked unblinking on the talking cat, as they had been since the feline first spoke.

Iroh said, "Mohn? It is impolite to stare."

That shocked the merchant out of it. "Right, of course. Right. Talking cat, Spirit incarnate. All perfectly normal. Right."

The Boulder chuckled. "Stranger things exist in this world of ours. Talking cats, blind bandits, and re-awakened Avatars."

Iroh nodded. "It is true. Getting to the point of our meeting, I understand you have had dealings with the Avatar? And his Earthbending teacher?"

The Boulder nodded. Absently he massaged his shoulder, as if alleviating an injury. "The Blind Bandit is an adversary that borders on outright terrifying. So small and yet, so strong. A prodigy the likes of which I have never encountered. I would argue she rivals the Avatar in power."

Iroh nodded again. "Yes, having met Toph I would be inclined to agree. It is rare for a Bender to be able to match and overcome an Avatar's strength, but not unheard of. There are others in the world now who could do so."

Sister Tin said, "The Fire Lord, for one."

Mohn added, "Yourself, for another, Iroh."

Iroh shook his head. "I am strong, yes, but the only thing I have over Aang is experience. It will not take long for him to gain what he needs."

The Boulder said, "Your reports indicated that the boy is not ready for Fire."

"Not yet, but soon. He grows closer every day."

Pao asked, "You intend to teach him?"

Iroh shook his head again. "That is not my place, though the Avatar and his friends believe it to be so. However, I am preparing another to take that role."

"Ah." Sister Tin realised. "Your once-lost, now found, nephew. An interesting young man, though I had no notion of your relation."

"You have met Zuko?" Iroh asked.

She nodded. "I know him as a young swordsman named Lee. A promising young man. He has helped the Abbey in the past. Mother Tana had even considered extending an offer to invite him into the Order."

Iroh nodded, understanding. "I must confess, in the time since our reunion, I have considered it. Perhaps one day, but not yet. Another path lies before him."

Miyuki's drawl said, "Such destiny clings to that one. Roads that he has skirted and will yet walk. Scion of bloodlines that have shook the world to its foundations, and yet devoid of the madness that accompanies them. In another life, he would have made a good Avatar. His temperament is suited to many aspects of the Cycle."

Iroh frowned, uncertain as to how to respond. Miyuki, however, apparently didn't expect an answer as she returned to lounging in the sunlight.

Mohn broke the silence. "To the point of this gathering. Why did you call us here, Iroh?"

Iroh nodded. "Right. As you know, the Chapter here is all but gone. Taken in the night by the Dai Li. Only Pao remains."

The Boulder looked to his father, glare receding, and he frowned. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but then closed it again.

Iroh continued, "The Dai Li has also taken possession of the Avatar's animal companion. His familiar."

"The Bison?" Mohn said.

"Indeed." Iroh said. "From what I have been told, he was stolen while they were in the Desert. Taken by Sandbenders who sold him. He then found his way here, to Ba Sing Se, where the Dai Li took him."

Sister Tin asked, "They are using him to control the Avatar?"

Iroh sighed. He nodded. "For now, they are making the boy fall in line. Act as others in this city do."

The Boulder rumbled, "There is no war in Ba Sing Se."

Iroh nodded at him. "Precisely. The Avatar and his friends were making waves, attempting to gain an audience with the Earth King."

Miyuki laughed. "The puppet?"

Iroh winced. "Yes. I tried to warn them, but they went ahead with their plan anyway."

Pao muttered, "The follies of youth."

The Boulder's glare returned at that comment, though he said nothing.

Sister Tin said, "What is their precise situation?"

Iroh sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. "Essentially, they are under house arrest. The only time they are allowed out of the compound is with Dai Li escort. My Nephew was able to get past them once in order to warn me, but he didn't seem confident of being able to do it again. I warned him against trying."

The Boulder spoke. "So, we find the kid's bison. Problem solved."

Mohn nodded in agreement. "That would be the ideal turn of events."

"The only problem," Pao said. "Is that no one knows where the Dai Li's true base of operations lies. Master Gya spent several years searching, as did others in the Chapter, but they were all unsuccessful. There is the official headquarters at the Palace, but that is clearly a front."

Iroh stroked his beard, thinking. His eyes fell on the Spirit-Cat. He asked, "Miyuki, is there a way that you could find it?"

The cat stretched lazily, tail batting idly. "Potentially." She said in that same drawling tone.

She said nothing more.

The Boulder demanded, "Is that a yes or a no? Speak plainly, cat."

Iroh winced. It was seldom wise to anger the Spirits, even if they'd bound themselves to a physical form.

However, Miyuki just chuckled. "It means that each outcome is just as likely as the other."

The Boulder huffed, folding his large arms across his chest.

Iroh said, "If you can try, honoured Spirit, it would be most appreciated."

"I accept appreciation in the form of fried fish, Dragon."

Iroh laughed. "I'll be sure to remember that."

The cat stood, stretched, and then said, "I will see what can be done. Wait for me."

She then wandered over to the back door, stared at it, and then looked up at Sister Tin, who was closest to it.

"If you please, sweet Sister."

Sister Tin nodded. "Of course, yes. Good hunting, honoured Spirit."

The cat laughed. "My hunts are always good."

She left, and the Sister locked the door behind her.

There was silence. Then Mohn summed up their situation. "So, basically, the fate of the Avatar's Bison, and thus the Avatar's emotional wellbeing and the general outcome of the War, is reliant on a cat?"

Pao nodded. "That would seem to be the case, yes."

The Boulder sighed loudly. "We're doomed."

Iroh met Sister Tin's gaze. He grinned. "Have faith, dear friends. We have the Spirits on our side."