Well, yeah. Here is another chapter. Sorry if it took so long to put up another chapter. Got a nasty writer's block here. Well, i hope you'll forgive me for the inconveniece and keep on reading!
Chapter 12- The Prince, the Uncle, and the Gaylord.
"Did you really think that you could get away so easily?" I looked up, it was another fire bender. We were surrounded. Wherever we went, we were bound to run up to one. Maybe fire benders did take over the world. "And I see that you've brought us a gift."
The man walked over to the two kids in blue clothing. Sokka tried to hit him, but soon fell as soon as the, clearly older and more experienced, fire bender struck him down. He groaned in pain as he hit the ground. Katara moved to get away, but he soon grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Let...me...GO!" She struggled. Myra set the air bender down and started slapping his face. I could hear her pleading for him to wake up. After some time, it worked. He roused from his sleep.
"Wha-? Katara!" As he stood up, another fire bender grabbed him.
"Let them go." I said as I slowly had the water creeping up the beach behind the unknowing fire benders.
"Who are you to say so, my peachy water bender? Do you really think that water would save you and your little friends from death?" The man holding Katara asked. Katara elbowed him hard in the stomach. "Fucking little girl, you'll pay for that." He held up a fist and Katara cringed. His hand was about to come down but was stopped.
"Ah, Commander Zhao, how pleasant it is to see you here." I had heard that voice before, it was Iroh.
"Uh- G-General Iroh!" The commander stammered. And whenever there was Iroh, sure enough, Zuko was following. "And prince Zuko." I didn't like the way he addressed Zuko. Something happened between them, and well it only seemed natural to snoop.
"Commander Zhao." Zuko addressed. He soon looked past him and to our little group. I quickly turned to Myra to avoid his gaze. "And you two?"
"Oh you know them two? I had just caught them shortly after you arrived. Do you know them?" Zuko didn't answer.
"Yes, they're our hired hands." Iroh said in his place.
"How irresponsible, for a prince to find out that he had lost two servants – and two pretty ones at that." Myra and I shared our snort/cough.
"It doesn't concern you with what I do with my servants. You have your own wives, go back home to them." Zuko answered.
"That is enough Zuko." And to Zhao he said, "Thank you for finding them for us Zhao. Come along Riena, Myra."
"But, what about -?" I started. I looked back at Katara, Aang, and Sokka. What was going to happen with them? We couldn't possibly just leave them there.
"Come." Iroh commanded again. And so I reluctantly followed him. But suddenly he stopped. "Oh, Zhao, would you be as so kind to accompany us for dinner tonight?"
Zhao stopped short and then answered an affirmative. "And do invite those guests of yours. They must be starving." I sighed a relief. Maybe all hope was not lost for them.
"All right." He responded reluctantly.
"I'll expect you tonight then?"
"Yes sir."
And so we left them on the beach.
That night, we were getting the ship ready for the dinner and guess who got to do all the work? Myra and I carried a pail of water from the bottom of the ship to the top making sure that it was absolutely spotless. And quote "I should be able to see myself" from Zuko. (Sigh) There was no way to please him.
After a while, the job was done and we saw tiny lights flickering along the beach. Myra and I stood proud at our work. The place was spotless, well the floors were. Then suddenly, we saw footprints leading around the hallway. We followed them all the way toward the front where we saw Iroh and Zuko addressing Zhao.
"Good evening Commander." Iroh said in his happy voice.
"Good evening." He returned. Iroh nudged Zuko in the back and he too said good evening. Zhao looked around and smiled.
"It seems apparent that our little prince is growing up. I'm guessing that you've just tamed your little prisoners? Of course once you get more experience, you'll learn how to get your captives to fear the very presence of you." He turned, not letting Zuko answer, and brought the others in. Katara and Sokka looked worn out as they shuffled their legs toward the dining hall. Did something happen while we were away?
Myra and I sneaked off toward the other end of the hall. Commander Zhao, Katara, and Sokka went in and sat at the table. Zuko sat the end. Iroh sat to his right. Zhao sat at the other end. Did they always want a reason to fight? In the fireplace, a warm fire was burning. Then after they all settled down, a gong rang somewhere and food was set on the table.
As the food's aroma floated around, I could see that Sokka was looking hungrily at the platters. Katara on the other hand, had her mind somewhere else. Then it came to me. Where was our little bald friend? Zuko and Zhao tried so hard to avoid eye contact as if something would blow if it were to happen.
"So, I am guessing that you have found the avatar?" Iroh asked as sensing the silence. The flame in the fireplace started to dance wildly.
"Yes, we have. Now that you mention it, Zuko, when were you planning to get back to the Fire Nation?" Zuko looked up from his food and shrugged.
"Maybe later this summer?" He responded. The Fire Nation? Isn't that the place where my father was supposed to be? Could there be a chance that he would still be alive? Would he still be there?
"That is exactly the same time we're going!" Zhao said acting surprised. Was this guy gay or what?
"Then maybe you would like to join us in our voyage back?" Iroh asked. Never mind. I guess Iroh was.
"Sure, why not?" Zhao said. Hmm, something happening? I looked from Zhao to Iroh. Zhao was smiling, Zuko was picking at his food, and Iroh was drinking tea. Myra on my right was picking stuff out from her fingernails. A fire bender's life was confusing for me. Then suddenly, the fire started to get bigger and now seemed angry.
"There is no room here." Zuko said.
"Then I guess we'll have to make room. I'll go and order that we move our supplies to my ship and we'll just spend some quality time then? I hope that your uncle will approve." Zhao looked up and Iroh nodded an approval. Hmm. Quality time huh? I looked at Sokka and Katara. Sokka's plate was now empty and he was snoozing peacefully. Katara didn't touch the food and was, like her brother, sleeping.
"Well, well, it looks like these too have had too much to eat." I cut in, hoping that I could find a better place to keep them. "I'll just move them into a room."
"You won't mind would you?" Iroh asked.
"Not at all." Zhao said as he started to take a swig of wine. He hiccupped and raised his glass. "MORE!" He bellowed to the servant carrying the urn of wine.
Myra came over to take Sokka. She had more muscle than I did and was able to carry him out the door. With me, I just shook Katara up and led her out. When we were all in a room, she began to worry.
"Where's Aang? Where is he?" Katara asked as if she was in a bad dream. Myra and I looked at each other.
"Wasn't he supposed to be with you?" Myra asked, yawning.
"Oh no! He's still in the ship."
"Don't' worry, he'll be okay." Myra assured her.
"No, he won't. I don't think that he'll be able to survive the night! You don't know what he did to us when you left. Please, we must get him!" If that didn't make us teary eyed, her eyes did. Mann, she must be really in love with this kid.
"Fine, fine." I said.
"What! Are you crazy?"
"Well," I looked at her," After all this time, I thought you already knew that much." She shook her head. I mean, this was easy, get into the ship, get Aang, and go! We'll just use our powers and use some of our womanly powers -
"So, how are we supposed to get out and inside the other ship?"
Lol. Some title i have up there.
