3. At a Busy Market, You Can Meet All Kinds of People pt.1

The small seaport was unexpectedly busy. It looked like everybody was headed for the local market place. The port hosted more merchant ships at once, so the people got attracted from the whole neighborhood. As Ming noticed, General Iroh got really delighted at the opportunity of going shopping as well and left with the men charged with restocking. Ming, above all, needed to restock his own supplies of medicines and herbs which would help Riun to get back on his feet.

There were lots of people in the town, but it didn't go unnoticed to Ming that their group, thanks to their red uniforms, was standing out of the crowd. People were moving out of their way and tried to not look their direction. Actually, Ming was already used to such behavior, especially when they visited places outside the colonies of the Fire Nation. Although You Feng wasn't officially one of the colonies, it was under the authority of the Fire Lord. Small ports on islands around the Southern Air Temple didn't even have other option. The South Pole couldn't offer them any kind of protection for over a very long time.

General Iroh didn't seem to be the least bothered by the worrying looks of the bypassing. He was happily walking from a stand to stand and persistently bargained about prices with the merchants. Just before everybody would go their own way, Ming reminded them about the agreed time for their meditation and everybody went after their given task.

Ming started to ask the people for the local healer. "That would be Lady Mimasu," said an older man with big bushy eyebrows frowning. Ming noticed how he held his wife protectively behind him.

"I guess. But could you tell me where she lives?" He didn't stop smiling at the distrustful elder who would surely send him on a made up way, so he tried his best to look affable and friendly.

"She lives in a small house behind the town. The main road to the inland will take you there."

"Thanks," Ming was turning to leave when the old man added: "But don't be surprised when she starts to speak about cursed spirits or the Avatar or some other nonsense. She's got bats in the belfry ever since she lost her husband."

"Well, thank you for the warning. I'm sure I'll manage," Ming assured him. "All I need is few herbs." The old man's eyebrows formed an angry line, but then he just nodded and took his wife with him.

So Ming turned the way the old man showed him. The main road turned out to be pretty busy with more and more people rushing to the market. Only when he was completely out of the town he realized he was completely alone. How is it even possible? Asking for directions was out of question for now and he couldn't see the house the old man told him about.

Ming would turn to head back into the town, but then he noticed smoke rising from behind the group of trees to his left. He decided that there is nothing to lose, if he will check through the small forest and look, if the old bushy brow man didn't make a fool of him.

When Ming entered the woods, it seemed like he wasn't near a busy market town, but miles away from the nearest settlement. Ming wasn't sure, if it was because of the deep silence or something else (cold?), but he got chills all over his body. He crossed the small grove, and truly, a small house appeared before him. It had something what looked like a greenhouse overgrown by some strange big-leafed plant with blood red flowers, which were the biggest flowers he has ever seen. When he came closer, Ming saw that clouds of butterbees were surrounding the flowers and the plant's sweet smell hit him hard in the nose. Beside the house, there was also a ramshackle fence, which held pigchickens, goatsheep and lamacows, all of them together.

Since the smoke was rising from the house's chimney, he hoped that he would find the healer at home. Or maybe in the corner of his soul, he hoped that he wouldn't. Somehow this place gave him the creeps. He adjusted his backpack out of nervousness and before he knocked on the door of the strange house, he tried to put a smile on his face just like in the town, to not scare the old lonely lady that was going to open the door for a Fire Nation soldier.

Ming lifted his hand to knock but before he could do that, the door opened. Ming was so startled, he jumped back, still holding his hand in the air. A smiling woman appeared in front of him, probably a bit younger than himself, with long thick black hair falling on her back and intense dark eyes. She said nothing, only leaned on the door frame and with a mysterious smile on her lips and observed the man on her porch.

For a moment, Ming didn't know how to react, but when the silence became awkward, he finally recovered. "Hello! I-I'm looking for lady Mimasu, the local healer?"

"Hm," the woman only nodded, but otherwise didn't move. She didn't stop smiling and small sparks were playing in her eyes. Ming just couldn't figure her out.

"I would like to buy some medicinal herbs or get some advice on…"

"This is not a shop. I don't sell any herbs!" aloofly declared the woman suddenly, even her smile disappeared. She straightened up to look him directly in the eyes. Ming was surprised when he realized that she was the same height as him, while Ming himself wasn't among the shortest. "But if you need anything, then just let yourself in," she said with a warm voice again.

Ming just incredulously watched at her as she disappeared in the house. Well, he was warned that the healer is not all there but this was a different kind of not-all-there as he was expecting. He imagined an old lady mumbling some curses to imaginary people. This unpredictable, but still somehow interesting woman, surely wasn't anything he expected.

Still standing at the front door, Ming realized that he is hesitating, if he should enter or not. It seemed like she was charming him into the dark house with her smile and then she would trap him and curse him. An image of a black cauldron, with various limbs boiling in it, appeared in his mind. Ming had to scold himself inwardly for that ridiculous picture. How old was he for such ideas? Definitely too old. Then he finally stepped inside.

The house was cozily furnished, even though the room was a bit messy. Books, herbariums, vials, bundles of dried herbs were scattered all around the room, on the tables, pillows, cabinets, the shelves, even on the ground. Ming had to be careful where he was stepping.

"Would you like a cup of green tea?" The voice just behind his back made him jump again. The woman was standing there holding a tray with a steaming pot and again with that impish smile. Ming was quite a collected man, but this woman somehow managed to make him feel uncomfortable.

"N-no, thank you. I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Please, Mr. soldier…" she made a pause like she was waiting for something. Ming didn't get what she was meaning by that but when she cast a curious glance, he got it.

"Ming, my name is Ming."

"Ming, you have to sit with me, just for a moment. There is always time for a good cup of tea." It sounded almost like a command, so he sat down. The woman was clearly pleased. He took one of the cups and warmed his hands with it. Only then he noticed that the table is actually a decoratively carved Pai Sho board.

The general would surely like this woman. Tea and Pai Sho. Two most important things in his life right after his nephew, thought Ming.

"Do you play Pai Sho?" she asked after noticing what he was looking at. She watched him over her own cup of tea with a penetrating look, like she was trying to see the answers before he would say them out loud.

"Just a little. But one of my commanders is a big fan. He would surely like your table."

"There's no doubt," came a mysterious respond again.

For a moment, they were only sipping their tea. Lady Mimasu, although she never introduced herself as such, was watching him the whole time making Ming feel even more uncomfortable. He really hoped that she was not waiting for symptoms of some poison she put in the tea to show. Ming got almost scared by that thought. He never saw her actually pour it. The tea was already served in the cups.

"So tell me, what do you need exactly?" The strange woman, pulling him out of his silly thoughts, put her cup back on the table and tilted her head to listen.

"I need to buy some ordinary painkiller medicines, something against inflammation, for fever reduction…" Ming stopped when she lifted her hand. A stern expression appeared on her face again, like she wanted to scold him right there.

"Ming, please, stop right there. I already told you, I'm not selling anything here."

"But in the village they directed me here…"

"If you need something, you can just ask for it and I will give to you. If somebody in a dire need of medical treatment, we can't ask him to pay," she was smiling again. Ming was only more and more confused.

"Just come after me," she said and stood up. Then she left to the next room. Ming put the half-finished tea back on the table and hurried after her.

The strong smell of mixture of all kinds of herbs and flowers hit him in the nose right away. The side room was a bit smaller than the previous and served as a storing room. There were shelves on each wall filled with little sacks, vials of all colors and bundled herbs, but this time it looked like they were ordered into some kind of system. Ming was quite amazed by the amount of the collection.

"So once more, what do you need?"

"Thanks for everything, I guess," said Ming on his way out. "You truly don't want anything in exchange?"

"How many times, do I have to say no?" Lady Mimasu was still persistent in her answer.

Ming's backpack was so filled, he wondered how it hasn't burst already. He had never had so many medical supplies with him, he doubted that he even needed so much of them, but lady Mimasu didn't want to hear anything about too much.

"One can never know if something is going to happen. Every medic needs to be prepared for an emergency." Ming couldn't argue against it. And if she was giving them to him even without payment, then he had to stop protesting.

When they were already outside the front door and Ming was about give his farewells, the strange woman surprised him again.

"Just a moment, I'll give you one more thing." And she was pulling him alongside the house. Ming wanted to protest when he noticed the setting sun and remembered the meditation hour he promised to the crew. How long have I been here? But until he could say a word, lady Mimasu already stopped by the greenhouse.

"Here, take these with you," she said while tearing three huge blood red flowers off the giant plant. "It's an extremely rare plant called Agni's Eyes. It grows only in the deepest forests of the Fire Nation's main island. My husband was able to garner its seeds many years ago during his journeys. Actually, he was the one who discovered its effects. See, he was a great florist expert. The flowers bloom only during the winter solstice season, you are lucky to be here." She wrapped the flowers into a light cloth, carefully not to break their petals.

"You can put one flower into a cauldron of boiling water and you get something like a strong energy booster, but only for firebenders. It reacts with the inner fire and exemplifies it. The juice's effects can last even for a few days."

"What would happen if a non-bender drinks it?"

"Well, he would suffer of insomnia for probably a week and that's not even the worst of it. I really don't recommend drinking, not even a small cup for a non-bender or any other type of bender. Actually, I'm not really sure about the effects on other benders."

Ming was stunned. This strange plant could help all of the firebenders on their ship. It would help Riun for sure. And not only to them…

"How did you know we need this?" Right after that he realized he asked the wrong question. "Why would you tell me about this? A Fire Nation soldier?" He imagined someone like the infamous captain Zhao, would love to get a hold of a plant with effects like these. The woman smiled again, but Ming could see a slight reflection of worry in the lines of her face. Then she looked him in the eye.

"Let's say, I am a good judge of character. Somehow, I have a feeling that I can trust you to keep the effects of Agni's Eyes a secret." She smiled on him now more assuredly. She put the fragile flowers in his hands and winked. But it seemed like the wink wasn't meant for him because she was looking just above his right shoulder. He looked behind his back but saw nothing. The meadow in front of the house was empty, except the animals. Only a light wind caught his hair.

"Well, I believe, you're in a bit of a hurry. You should probably go and take care of those soldiers of yours. They will need their strength soon enough." Ming didn't understand what she meant by that and she didn't even left him an opportunity to ask.

She was already back in her house, leaving Ming alone with the animals behind the fence. Even they seemed strange. For such a big herd they were remarkably silent. And all of them were looking on him. That made him feel really unwelcomed, scared even. Holding the flowers carefully, he rushed away the same way he came.

Remembering the old man's warning, Lady Mimasu was a strange woman indeed, but definitely a different kind of strange than the man described.

The town was now even more filled with people than before he left. The sun was setting incredibly fast and Ming set a brisk pace trying to squeeze through the mass of people who were gathered on the market square without breaking the petals of the flowers he was given.

Ming felt a bit embarrassed when he realized he'll be the last one to get back to the ship, when he was the one who was reminding the others. At least he had a compensation in his hands.

He looked ahead trying to find the easiest way out of the crowd, when he noticed a couple of red uniforms in the front. Ming felt a bit glad that he won't be the last one after all. He headed right for the red group loafing by one of the stands offering liquors. Ming couldn't say he approved when they still had a meditation session ahead of them.

"I'd like to see the face of that little princess. Zhao never fails to make him go spitting fire. Shu said that those five months ago when Zhao paid him the last visit, the prince's face was darker red than his scar!" That comment earned a round of laughter from the group of four Fire Nation soldiers who, as Ming figured, were obviously not from their crew. "One day His Royal Bratness will challenge him to an Agni Kai."

"Now that one I'd love to see!" They were so loud that the other people made a large circle around them fearing to step closer to the already drunk soldiers. Even the liquor seller looked nervous.

Fortunately, Ming managed to stay out of their view. The crowd was at least that much helpful. The last thing he would like is to be caught in argument with men from Zhao's crew.

What was Zhao even doing in these parts of the world? There was nothing of interest for the Fire Nation Navy here. Somehow, they managed to meet the not-quite-pleasant captain once in every few months. These times, Captain Zhao would always, more or less directly, mock the Prince. And that led to worsening of the Prince's mood for several days.

Ming hurriedly found his way back to the docks. Maybe there was a little time to warn the General and the Prince before the inevitable visit from a certain captain. Running on the pier, he realized he wasn't that lucky when he saw a group of five men leaving from their ship led by no other than the tall captain Zhao himslef. Ming stood aside and saluted to the higher ranked officer as the group walked by. The pleased look on the man's face didn't go unnoticed for Ming, as well as the smirks on the faces of the rest of the soldiers.

So much for the meditation session, thought Ming sadly.


Zuko was waiting for the men to return for a while now. Some of them have returned but some were still out, probably with his Uncle. Some of the soldiers were already preparing the cushions for the meditation.

The sun was already low, when the most of the men returned with all of the supplies they obtained. His uncle was among the last bringing a brand new tea set with him while two other men were bringing the rest of his purchase. Now that was very typical of his Uncle. Buying unnecessary junk. The only one, who hasn't returned ye,t was Ming. The one who was supposed to lead the mediation.

Zuko was getting really impatient when he finally heard steps on the gang-board. He looked their way, but it wasn't Ming who was coming, but someone he would rather never see again in his life. Captain Zhao was somehow always there, when he was in his worst mood to make things even more unbearable. The man had a nose for it. Now, he was approaching Zuko and Iroh with his usual vicious smile with four other men following.

"General Iroh, Prince Zuko, I heard you were in the port when we arrived. I came to give you my greetings," he greeted them without even looking on the prince.

"Captain Zhao," Zuko gritted through his teeth.

"If you or our uncle would be interested, I would like to invite you on my ship for a cup of tea, Your Highness. Maybe you could tell me about your recent travels. You're still looking for the Avatar, aren't you?"

"Yes, we are." Zuko refused to give him a longer answer.

"Then you can surely join us on my ship and tell us some details from your journey. I still have that ginseng you're fan of, if I remember correctly, general." His Uncles face lightened up.

"Well, one cup of tea would be …"

"No, thank you. We still have supplies to load and weʼre leaving early tomorrow."

"I see," he said looking on the pillows set up around the deck. "Maybe I can send to you some of that ginseng over, or more cushions if you need them. For a group nap, maybe?" Zuko was getting really annoyed.

"In any case, both of you are welcome on my board. We're staying here for a few days. If you need something, I'm ready to assist."

"Thank you, captain, I assure you, we won't be needing anything. Now, if you excuse me," with that Zuko stormed off the deck.


A/N: I know, OCs, OCs everywhere, but I promise, it is a set up for Zuko's story.