A/N: Great apologies...I just realized I forgot to post the proper Chapter 16 which was supposed to be the Southern Air Temple. I just corrected it. That's what I get for trying to multi-multi-task. So sorry.
Also, thanks again for the reviews, especially iRedeem's Zhao is a "disgusting old man" comment...seriously, I've been laughing ever since I read it, like Mr. Burns: "...what was I laughing at? Oh, right, that crippled Irishman" (for any Simpsons fans out there). Of course, we will be encountering Zhao again in the future.
One afternoon as they were sailing north, Iroh and Chiara were playing Pai Sho on the bridge while Zuko and Lieutenant Jee practiced firebending on the deck. Suddenly, Zuko and Jee started falling towards the starboard side of the ship.
"Someone's changing our course," said Zuko.
Zuko stormed onto the bridge. "What's the meaning of this mutiny?" he demanded of the helmsman. "No one told you to change course."
"Actually, someone did," said Iroh. "I assure you, it is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko."
"Is it something to do with the Avatar?"
"Even more urgent. It seems I...uh...I've lost my lotus tile."
"Lotus tile?"
"For my Pai Sho game. Most people think the lotus tile insignificant, but it is essential for the unusual strategy that I employ."
"You've changed our course for a stupid lotus tile?"
"See, you, like most people, underestimate its value. Just give me ten minutes to check the merchants at this port of call. Hopefully, they'll have the lotus tile in stock and I can get on with my life."
Zuko sighed and then angrily blew out a stream of fire.
"I'm lucky to have such an understanding nephew," said Iroh.
Chiara quietly laughed to herself at the two as she waved away the smoke.
After they arrived at the port, Iroh, Zuko, and Chiara disembarked.
"I will check these shops," said Iroh pointing to the pier. "Prince Zuko, you take Chiara to the shops on the other side. We will meet up here."
"What if you both find your stupid lotus tile?" asked Zuko, clearly annoyed to be on such a pointless mission.
"Then I will have a spare," he said.
Zuko, feeling anxious and impatient, was ready to head back out to sea.
"I can't believe we're wasting time looking for a stupid game piece," he grumbled as he followed Chiara into the first shop.
"I'll try and make it quick," she said.
She looked around and then asked the merchant who did not have any lotus tiles. They visited a few more shops with no luck. After entering another shop, Chiara was looking around when a seedy looking man approached her.
"Such a beautiful young woman. Is there something I can help you find?"
Chiara was uncomfortable with the way the man was eyeing her.
"I'm just looking for a lotus tile."
"I'm sure we have some in the back room," he said. "Follow me."
"I'll just wait here."
"But if you enjoy Pai Sho, you'll want to see what else I have to offer."
"No thank you. Just the lotus tile."
The man hesitated, but then he disappeared in the back.
"What is it?" another man asked him.
"An opportunity for a very big sale," he whispered.
He opened the curtain slightly so the other man could see Chiara. The man's eyes widened.
"She would bring a large sum. I know a buyer who would pay a fortune for her." He looked at his partner. "Get her back here."
He nodded and walked back out to Chiara.
"I have some tiles in the back, miss, but I believe you'll be quite interested in some other items I have. If you would just follow me I can show you."
Chiara suspected something was not right. "No thank you. It's not that important. But thanks for your time."
She turned to leave, but the man took hold of her wrist and started pulling her towards the back. "I insist. I'm sure you'll want to see this..."
Chiara pulled back, but the man tightened his grip on her.
"Let go of me," she demanded as she continued trying to break free of his grip.
"You'll fetch a fair price with that beautiful skin..."
Suddenly the man screamed as he released her and gripped his arm to his chest, his skin burned where Zuko had grabbed him. Zuko had his left arm around Chiara as he held her close, and with his right arm he sent out a flame that set the store on fire.
"You will never touch her again!" he said deeply.
He took Chiara out of the store as the two men tried to put out the fire.
"Thank you," she said as they continued walking.
Zuko took her right hand and held it on his upper left arm in the same manner in which she often walked with Iroh in public areas.
"This stupid tile isn't worth this!" he said.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
He looked at her. "It's not your fault they're disgusting perverts. It's not worth losing you."
"He wasn't going to get me in that back room."
"From now on you don't leave the ship without a weapon," he said.
"I can fight without weapons. I was just hoping to break free of him without getting violent first."
"Pigs like that deserve to be treated with violence first."
They went into the rest of the shops on their route, Zuko not relinquishing her hand the entire time, but they had no luck in locating a lotus tile, so they started walking back to meet Iroh. Passing by the store that was still on fire, flames were beginning to grow through the roof, but they just walked by it nonchalantly while a crowd had gathered to see it and others were trying to help put it out. Suddenly, they nearly tripped over a cabbage that had rolled out in front of them. Chiara giggled as she reached down and picked it up placing it back on a very damaged looking cart with other bruised cabbages.
"You wouldn't happen to be shopping for cabbages, would you?" asked the merchant.
"No," she smiled. "But if you have a lotus tile, that would be great."
"Just my cabbages," he said.
When they arrived at the meeting point Iroh walked up to them.
"What's going on down there?" he asked as he saw the black smoke billowing into the sky in the direction from which they walked.
"Who knows," said Zuko blandly as he shrugged.
"Any luck with the tile?" Iroh asked Chiara.
"No," she said.
"But it could've been lucky for the perverts who intended to sell her on the black market," growled Zuko deeply.
"What?" asked Iroh.
"Some perverts tried to kidnap her because of your stupid tile," he said, his voice louder and angrier.
"Hmm," said Iroh thoughtfully as he looked at the black smoke. "I trust you took good care of her."
"That's not the point!" yelled Zuko.
"Well, we've checked all the shops on this pier," said Iroh seemingly oblivious to Zuko's anger. "Not a lotus tile in the entire marketplace."
"It's good to know this trip was a complete waste of time for everyone!" yelled Zuko.
"Quite the contrary," said Iroh. "I always say, the only thing better than finding something you are looking for is finding something you weren't looking for at a great bargain."
Several of the crewman walked by carrying items Iroh had purchased.
"You bought a tsungi horn?" asked Zuko.
"For music night on the ship," said Iroh. "Now, if we only had some woodwinds." He looked around, and seeing another shop he began walking towards it. "Ooh, this place looks promising," he said as he pointed. Chiara and Zuko followed him inside. "Oooh, that is handsome!" He picked up a jeweled monkey statue. "Wouldn't it look magnificent in the galley?"
Chiara laughed as she watched his excitement.
"We lost the Water Tribe girl," said one of the men in the shop whose words caught Chiara's attention. "And the little bald monk she was traveling with," he continued, now catching Zuko's attention.
"This monk, did he have an arrow on his head?" asked Zuko as he walked over to the man.
Chiara followed him.
"What's it to you?" asked the man.
"You're after the Water Tribe girl; I'm after the monk," said Zuko. "Maybe we can help each other."
"The girl stole a waterbending scroll from us."
Zuko and the pirates made plans to team up together. Taking one of Zuko's boats up the river, he, Iroh, Chiara, several of the crewman, and the pirate captain sailed alongside the pirate ship. Iroh and Chiara were below deck where she was strapping on her sword sheath.
"I don't trust these pirates," she said softly to Iroh.
"Nor do I," he said. "But I think we can handle whatever might happen."
"Shouldn't we stop to search the woods?" asked the pirate captain who stood out on deck with Zuko.
"We don't need to stop," he replied. "They stole a waterbending scroll, right?"
"Um hmm," grunted the pirate.
"Then they'll be on the water," he said as if it were obvious.
That night, as Zuko and the pirate captain kept an eye on the shore, they discovered Katara practicing her waterbending. Bringing the boat ashore, Chiara remained with Iroh while the others went after Katara.
When they returned with their prisoner, Iroh and Chiara walked over to the tree where they had tied her.
"Tell me where he is," Zuko demanded of her, "and I won't hurt you or your brother."
"Go jump in the river!" she said angrily.
"Try to understand, I need to capture him to restore something I've lost," said Zuko calmly as he walked around the tree behind her. "My honor." He leaned close to her from behind speaking in her ear. "Perhaps in exchange I can restore something you've lost."
He held her necklace in front of her.
"My mother's necklace," she said.
Her words touched Chiara's heart and she looked at her as Zuko walked in front of her.
"How did you get that?" demanded Katara.
"I didn't steal it if that's what you're wondering. Tell me where he is," he demanded.
"No!" she said adamantly.
"Enough of this necklace garbage," said the pirate captain. "You promised a scroll."
Zuko pulled the scroll out from behind him. "I wonder how much money this is worth?" he asked as he lit a fire underneath it.
The pirates gasped. "No!"
"A lot apparently." He looked at the pirates. "Now, you help me find what I want," he demanded, "you'll get this back and everyone goes home happy. Search the woods for the boy and meet back here."
"Fine," said the pirate captain grudgingly as he turned away.
While the pirates were off searching for the Avatar, Chiara approached Zuko.
"May I see the scroll?" she asked.
He pulled it out and handed it to her and she unrolled it.
"Do you have a light?" she asked him.
He produced a small flame and held it near the scroll so she could look over it. As she was studying it, Iroh came over and stood next to her. They could not say anything with Zuko standing nearby, but they both recognized it to be authentic, and Chiara was already familiar with the movements. When she finished examining the scroll, she rolled it up and handed it back to Zuko.
"Anything interesting?" he asked.
"Nothing I haven't seen before," she said.
"What? Where?"
"When the General and I traveled around we saw bending scrolls."
"Too bad we don't have a waterbender on board," said Iroh.
Chiara placed her hand on Iroh's arm as she turned away and laughed to herself.
"That would've come in handy all these years living on the water," she said.
As Iroh laughed Zuko was wondering why they found it so funny and thought it might be another joke about the ice damaging the ship.
As it got later, they set up camp, and while Zuko was standing near the water lost in thought, Chiara walked up to him.
"May I ask a favor of you?" she said to him.
"Let me guess, release the prisoner, don't capture the Avatar?"
"Oh, those are so much better than the one I was going to ask for."
He laughed at her response. "What were you going to ask for then?"
"So is that a 'no' to your suggestions?"
"A big 'no.'"
She smiled. "Then would you return her necklace?" Before he could object, she continued, "She won't betray the Avatar for it. This," she said touching her diadem, "is all I have left of my mother. And I would never choose it over you."
His heart softened at her words, and he could not help but comply with her gentle plea. He pulled it out, lifted up her hand, and placed the necklace in it.
"Thank you," she said tenderly.
Chiara started walking towards Katara holding her necklace.
"That belongs to me," said Katara angrily. "How dare he give that to you! You're just another thief."
Zuko heard what she had said, and it reminded him of how Azula treated her, so he stormed over to Katara.
"Don't you dare talk to her like that!" he said deeply.
"Prince Zuko...," started Chiara.
He took the necklace from her. "She was going to return this to you," he said holding it up in front of Katara. "Forget it now."
"It's okay," said Chiara trying to calm him down. "She's just upset."
"I don't care," he said. "This peasant has no right to insult you. You are a member of the royal family. If she can't treat you with respect, then she doesn't deserve this back."
He turned and stormed away.
"I'm so sorry," said Chiara to Katara.
"No," said Katara. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't realize you were giving it back to me. It's...it's all I have left of my mother." Tears fell down her cheeks.
Chiara felt bad. "I understand. This is all I have left of mine," she said as she touched her diadem. "That's why I wanted to get it back to you."
"You...you seem so different," said Katara. "Why are you with them?"
"Chiara!" yelled Zuko. "Get over here!"
Chiara bowed towards Katara and then walked over to Zuko.
"I don't want you talking to the prisoner," he said.
"You didn't have to get so upset with her or call her a peasant."
"She had no right to call you a thief..."
"She's tied to a tree at the mercy of strangers. She has a right to be upset."
"But she didn't have to take it out on you," he said. "You're the last person here to deserve it."
Her heart stirred at his words.
"I'm going to make the General some tea," she said. "Would you like some?"
"No."
She tenderly placed her hand on his arm before she turned away, but then she turned back to him.
"May I offer some to the prisoner?"
"No. I don't want you talking to her," he repeated.
She nodded her head and then went to make Iroh some tea. Later, however, she brought Zuko a small bit of food.
"You should eat something," she said.
He took the food and she tenderly caressed his back before returning to Iroh's side. He was touched by her concern for him, and he began feeling a small twinge of guilt for refusing her request to offer tea to prisoner.
By the time the sun came up, the pirates had captured Aang and Sokka and brought them back to the camp. Chiara and Iroh were standing near Katara who was still tied to the tree.
"Nice work," said Zuko when he saw Aang standing before him.
He approached them holding the scroll as Sokka struggled with his restraints.
"Aang, this is all my fault," said Katara.
"No, Katara, it isn't," said Aang.
"Yeah, it kind of is," said Iroh.
"Give me the boy," Zuko demanded.
"You give us the scroll," said the pirate captain.
"You're really gonna hand over the Avatar for a stupid piece of parchment?" asked Sokka.
"Don't listen to him," said Zuko. "He's trying to turn us against each other."
"Your friend is the Avatar?" the pirate captain asked Sokka.
"Sure is," said Sokka. "And I bet he'll fetch a lot more on the black market than that fancy scroll."
"Shut your mouth, you Water Tribe peasant," yelled Zuko.
"Ouch," said Chiara softly.
Iroh gently patted her shoulder.
"Yeah, Sokka," said Aang, "you really should shut your mouth."
"I'm just saying, it's bad business sense," said Sokka. "Just imagine how much the Fire Lord would pay for the Avatar. You guys would be set for life."
"Keep the scroll," said the pirate captain. "We can buy a hundred for the reward we'll get for the kid."
He started walking away.
"You'll regret breaking a deal with me," threatened Zuko.
He and his soldiers began attacking the pirates with fire blasts, and then a fight broke out and the pirates threw smoke bombs making it difficult for everyone to see. As soon as everyone was involved in the battle, Chiara pulled out her knife and cut Katara free. Though Chiara immediately left, Katara saw her and was surprised that she had freed her.
"Thanks," she said, but Chiara had disappeared.
After freeing Katara, she immediately went to find Aang, and when she found him she pulled her knife out again.
"Greetings, Avatar Aang," she said.
"Hey, Chiara."
She cut him loose. "I love your sky bison. He's so beautiful."
"Thanks. His name's Appa," he said. "Have you seen Katara?"
"She's around here somewhere, probably looking for you."
She turned and left in the smoke and on her way back, she found Sokka, so she pulled out her knife again.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said as he backed up. "I don't like to hurt girls, but..."
She cut him loose and then disappeared.
"Thanks, mysterious beautiful stranger," she heard him call to her.
When Chiara stepped out of the smoke, she saw Zuko fighting a pirate; she also saw the pirate captain sneaking up behind him, so she immediately drew her sword and stopped his attack on Zuko who had just turned around to see it. She began fighting the captain, but then Zuko took over fighting him with fire blasts and blocking his sword attacks as Chiara turned to fight the other pirate. When another one came up behind Zuko, Chiara quickly kicked her opponent away and blocked the one ready to strike at her prince, and then she began fighting the new opponent. During the battle, a fourth pirate managed to snag the scroll when Zuko's back was turned. As the smoke began clearing, Iroh stepped in between the pirate captain and Zuko.
"Are you so busy fighting you cannot see your own ship has set sail?" said Iroh to the pirate.
"We have no time for your proverbs, Uncle," said Zuko.
"It's no proverb," he said pointing at the pirate ship now being commandeered by Team Avatar.
"Bleeding hog monkeys," said the pirate captain.
At his words, everyone stopped fighting, and Chiara walked over to Iroh and Zuko. Not only was the pirate ship sailing away, but Zuko's boat had been stolen by some of the pirates.
"Hey," said Zuko spotting it, "that's my boat!"
Zuko wanted to run towards it, but one of the men on board started mooning them as they went by, so Zuko quickly grabbed Chiara and covered her eyes.
"Maybe it should be a proverb," said Iroh thoughtfully.
"Come on, Uncle," said Zuko releasing Chiara before running towards his boat.
They ran along shore until they reached the waterfall where Zuko looked over the edge.
"My boat!"
"I just love that sky bison," said Chiara as she watched Appa flying away in the distant sky.
Iroh was out of breath and was breathing hard as he caught up, but then he started laughing.
"Prince Zuko, you're really going to get a kick out of this. The lotus tile was in my sleeve the whole time."
Zuko grabbed the tile from Iroh and threw it over the waterfall.
"Honestly, Prince Zuko, was that necessary?" asked Chiara.
"I lost a boat for that stupid tile."
"You have another boat," she said. "But there was only one lotus tile."
"That's my wise girl," said Iroh.
"I hope you both enjoy walking back to the docks then," said Zuko as he walked away.
Eventually, they made it back to the ship at the pier and set sail again.
Meanwhile, Aang was talking to Katara and Sokka as they were flying away on Appa.
"Do you guys remember the girl who was with Zuko?" asked Katara.
"Yeah," said Aang, "that's Chiara. She just cut me loose, and she's the one who freed me when I was on Zuko's ship."
"She freed me too," said Katara.
"Did she have big, beautiful green eyes and a long braid?" asked Sokka.
"That's her," said Aang.
"So she was the mysterious beautiful girl. I thought she was going to attack me at first, but she just cut me free and then disappeared."
"Zuko had my necklace, and she was going to give it back," said Katara sadly.
"What happened?" asked Aang.
"When I saw her with it, I didn't realize she was bringing it to me, so I called her a thief. Zuko got upset and took it. He said I didn't deserve it back because I didn't treat her with respect."
"So who is she?" asked Sokka.
"I told you," said Aang. "Her name's Chiara."
"I mean who is she to Zuko? Why is she with him?"
"I asked her," said Katara. "But Zuko called her away before she could answer. He said she's a member of the royal family."
"Maybe she's his sister," suggested Aang.
"Why would she help us then?" asked Sokka.
"When I first met her, she said the war was devastating to the Nations and that the world needs me," said Aang.
"You don't think it's a trick, do you?" asked Sokka. "She's trying to convince us she's an ally, and then...WHAM! She stabs us in the back."
"She seemed pretty sincere," said Aang. "On Zuko's ship she begged him to take her prisoner instead of me and even take her life instead of mine."
"What did Zuko do?" asked Katara.
"He said that her life wouldn't restore his honor, so she stood in front of me to protect me, and she wouldn't move, even when Zuko threatened her."
"That doesn't sound like a trick," said Katara softly. "Maybe she really is an ally."
