The evening was spend with their group walking the streets of Omashu, exploring and chatting. They found a restaurant that Ty Lee insisted upon ones she saw the desert they were serving at that place.
A tall pink cake, covered in whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate. It was actually a little surprising that Ty Lee wasn't just skipping the main course entirely to get her cake.
But then again. Despite of Ty Lees small seize, she tended to eat huge portions. Probably because of how much she moved around in a day.
And the main course, a traditional Omashu home dish called "meat ball kung pao." was indeed both unique and delicious.
But apparently not as delicious as the cake. Because apparently one serving wasn't enough for Ty Lee. No, she happily ate two! And Haru was just wide-eyed starring at her.
What really struck Zuko about this city as they continued to explore after… Everybody was just insanely welcoming.
They had warm smiles on their faces and kindly greeted them. If Zuko hadn't known they had all been occupied just a few days ago. Yeah he wouldn't have been able to tell at all.
Zuko could honestly not remember ever have been in a city where everyone was just so warm and welcoming in general.
Then finally Zuko had to ask Katara about it and she agreed, this really was the most welcoming city she had ever been to.
It sucked though every time he came across one of those fire nation additions… Ugly steel factories which had utterly ruined their gardens and in some cases even housing areas.
It reminded Zuko of the steel factory they had destroyed back at the fire nation. Which had utterly polluted an entire river and he started to wonder if there was any way to produce steel without destroying stuff!
All in all, as they all headed back to the palace and went to bed. Zuko could only agree it had been a really great evening.
The next day there wasn't that much to do. Their main concern at the moment was to contact their friends and direct them to Omashu. Not so much else to do.
They would all train the morning to keep their skills sharp and then in the afternoon, go out again.
They didn't get to far from the palace though before Zuko suddenly saw maybe the most wholesome thing he had seen in his entire life.
There was a tea shop. And there was Iroh. Completely surrounded by kids. A little girl on his lap as he chuckled and was reciting an old folks tale while the children were all enthralled while listening to the story.
They were not the only one does. All of the adults were quiet as well as they were listening to Irohs story.
Irohs attention though were solely on the kids and he seemed to be completely in his elements as he smiled and told his story.
Zuko smiled… He knew this story. He remembered sitting on Irohs lap just like that girl was now. And Lu Ten sitting in front of them with crossed legs looking wide-eyed up at his dad. Intensely listening even though he had already heard the story a hundred times at that point.
It was a story about dragons, and a brave warrior challenging the moon and the stars to win his love back. Iroh had loved telling that story the most because it was the story Lu Ten and Zuko had both agreed was the best. Why wouldn't they? It had fighting and sorcery and a brave soldier who prevailed by sticking to his honour.
Somehow right now, it seemed super unfair that Iroh didn't have a million grand children or more to call his own.
"Let's find a place to sit." Katara asked. "I kind of want to hear the rest of the story."
They all agreed in a nod, though they ended up sitting on the ground as there were no chairs left and finally Iroh finished his story making everyone clap.
"Oh you are all so kind." Iroh said just as the tea shop owner came with a cup of tea and offered it to Iroh. "Thank you so much. What do I owe?" he asked.
"It's on the house. Please!" The Tea shop owned smirked.
"Are you sure?" Iroh asked. "I am capable of paying."
"Do you know how much tea I am selling right now?" The Tea shop owned asked. "Usually it takes me a week to earn what I earned the last hour. Please come again!"
"Tell us another one!" A boy exclaimed.
"I don't know." Iroh stroke his beard as he glanced up at the sky in contemplation.
Only for Zuko to call loudly. "What about the one about the three evils?" he asked. "That one was always very fun."
Iroh gasped as he got sight of Zuko and then he beamed. "Nephew!" he grinned all over his face. "Oh all right. I can never say no to my nephew!" he stated. "Truthfully I thought he was too old for fairy tales. That's what he used to tell me." he said in a teasing smile.
And everyone chuckled.
"Uncle. Seriously?" Zuko asked.
"I don't think anyone is ever to old for fairy tales." Katara said. "In my tribe there are times of years where we can barely leave our huts. Then we always sit together and tell stories! Everybody does it."
"Even in the military we would do it." Zhau-Li admitted. "What else would we be doing caught out in the field for weeks with nothing to do?"
"My mom always told the best stories." Haru smiled fondly and Ty Lee giggled.
"I love stories!" She beamed. "And General Iroh. Can I say. You're really good! I closed my eyes and it was like I could see the dragon in front of me."
"I get it." Zuko sighed deeply. "Shut up." and they all chuckled at his expense.
Iroh cleared his throat. "Now then." he said. "The three evils!" and he smiled as he settled in raising a hand before beginning the story. "Once upon a time, in the old days, there lived a young man by the name of Dschou Tschu. He was of more than ordinary strength, and no one could withstand him. He was also wild and undisciplined!"
Everyone else settled in as well and the tea shop owner was beyond happy as he kept running around serving tea and cookies.
Soon enough Zukos group were relaxing as well with each their cup of tea as they just enjoyed the story.
Only after the story had finished did Ty Lee ask the obvious question.
"Sooo… How many here do you think even realize that is the dragon of the west?" She asked amused.
Zhau-Li blinked. "I kind of forgot for a second until you just mentioned it." he admitted.
Haru was quiet. "What? That's the dragon of the west?!" he asked.
They all looked at him.
"You didn't know?" Katara asked.
"How would I know? No one told me." Haru said.
"Oh…" Katara realized. "But you did know he was Zukos uncle right?"
"I guess I just didn't think about it." Haru admitted. "He just seems so… Harmless."
Zuko shook his head. "Yup that's my uncle all right." he said as he took a sip of his tea. "And by the way. I have seen him take down five earth benders without using any fire bending."
"No way." Haru gaped.
"I've seen Prince Zuko take on earth benders without using fire bending." Zhau-Li informed. "And he had the upper hand."
"No way!" Haru repeated even more shocked.
At that Ty Lee beamed as she reached her hand up into the air. "I ones beat the entire terra team of Ba Sing Se's wall defence! And I'm not a bender!"
Now Haru was just lost for words.
"It's true. I saw the aftermath of that." Katara sighed. "Thirty earth benders completely paralysed."
"…. How?" Haru asked.
"Oh it's easy ones you figured it out!" Ty Lee said. "See it takes a while for benders to actually get their bending going. So that gives you lots of time to get close and hit their chi points and BAM!" she said. "With earth benders there is always a couple seconds delay between them starting their attack and actually managing to attack. So if you are quick on your feed it's not that hard!"
Zuko smirked. "Joke is kind of on us. Ty Lee is the only none bender here, and she could take anyone of us in a one on one combat."
"That's so sweet." Ty Lee chuckled. "But I'm not so sure."
"You… Knocked me out in around two seconds." Katara had to admit. "I mean chi blocked my bending. But for me that's kind of the same thing."
"That was ages ago. I am sure you have become so much stronger since then!" Ty Lee exclaimed.
"It wasn't that long ago." Katara replied honestly.
"You can do it Katara!" Ty Lee exclaimed surely. "You are a water bending master and you can beat me for sure!" she held up a fist in the air. "I believe in you!"
Zuko blinked… It sounded like Ty Lee was being genuinely encouraging. And the fact it came across as kind of condescending was absolutely an accident. Still, that was kind of how it came across.
"Oh erhm… Thank you." Katara said.
Zhau-Li hesitated. "Should we… Go train before dinner?" he asked.
Haru nodded. "Probably a good idea."
Both young men sighed, they both knew they were only average benders. There was no way either of them would stand a chance against Ty Lee whom was just blinking innocently at them.
And honestly Zuko wasn't confident he could take Ty Lee either, even if he was the fastest of them… Well aside from Ty Lee herself.
Zuko shook his head. Bending really wasn't everything. Clearly.